How it works:

 

We take one Bible story and, instead of trying to teach every detail of the story in 45 minutes, we spend five weeks learning about that story.  Children are grouped by ages and travel to a different workshop each week to learn something new about the Bible story.

 

For example, our first rotation of 2006-2007 focused on the story of Joseph.  The kindergarten and first grade class traveled to Tent Tales, our story-telling room, for their first week.  There they saw a video that brought Joseph's story to life.  The next week, the K5-first grade class went to Cabin Creations, the art room, where they made a colorful windsock and learned more about Joseph's special coat.  Next they traveled to Mystery Mountain, where Mrs. Katy used brownies to show about jealousy and favoritism.  Who knew brownies could teach so much?!  The next week the class traveled to Bug Bytes, our computer lab, where they used the computer to look up more information about Joseph's story.  They finished the rotation in Tree House Trivia, the game room, where games and activities reinforced the Bible story.  Our other grade levels attended the same workshops over the 5 weeks- they simply visited each workshop in a different order.

 

Why it works:

 

The rotation model is based on years of research that suggests that we all learn in different ways.  It's called the multiple intelligence theory.  So we use hands-on activity, art, stories, games, and technology to bring each story to life.  Because each workshop- and therefore, each week- is different, kids don't get bored.  And the repetition of the story each week helps to reinforce the details.

 

Rotation Sunday School is also easier on  teachers.  A teacher commits to teaching five weeks.  Better yet, they only have to prepare one lesson.  Because they have a different age group each week, they teach the same lesson five times.  (Although, to be fair, some adjustments have to be made because the lesson for K5-1st grades has to be different than that for 5th graders!)

 

The Plan:

 

Trinity's Faith Forest is now in our second year of a 5-year plan.  It is our hope that after participating in Rotation Sunday School for these five years, students will have learned major Bible stories and key points of the Christian life.

 

During 2006-2007 we began with the story of Joseph and then looked closely at the 10 Commandments.  We'll spend 5 weeks talking about how to use our Bible, another 5 looking at friendship through the story of David and Jonathan, 5 weeks on serving God, and finish the year with 5 weeks studying Pentecost. Throw in a rotation at Christmas and another at Easter on the Passion narrative- we've got a full year planned!

In 2007-2008, look for rotations on the Beatitudes and on the creation story. We'll look at prophets in the Bible and explore how we have prophets today. We have an exciting rotation on prayer planned including making our own prayer labyrinth and building a prayer wall. It will be an exciting year!

Come find out more about Rotation Sunday School!  Join us on Sundays in the Faith Forest!