Move It!

My parents live across from a beautiful park, and as we ate our Easter brunch we were able to look through the windows and watch crowds of people enjoying the sunshine there. The view was lovely, but it wasn't until we put on our walking shoes and joined all the people on the paths that we were able to really experience the park. As children's ministry leaders we have regular opportunities to help our kids experience God through stories from Scripture. In her book Trail Mix, author Jessie Schut explains how to make those experiences meaningful:

Imagine what would have happened if Jesus had taken his followers into a classroom, seated them in rows, and lectured them about the kingdom of heaven. Suppose they all dutifully took notes and completed workbook sheets. Could they have become effective disciples by passing a test, or reciting the assigned memory work? Not likely!

 Jesus knew what he was doing when he expected his motley crew of followers to get their hands dirty as they learned about the rudiments of discipleship. They chatted as they fished, acted as crowd control during healings, rustled up food and donkeys to support Jesus as he carried out his ministry. Their apprenticeship involved action as well as observation, questions, discussions, and listening.

Jesus didn’t have a flannel board, worksheets, or gold stars to assist his lesson presentations. The world was his lab, and, as Jesus’ partners, the disciples pulled on their own backpacks and set out to do his bidding.

 Too often Sunday school gives kids a passive learning experience: we expect them to sit and listen. Jesus used active learning principles in his “classroom.” Passive learning is predictable. Active learning involves new discoveries. Passive learning is boring. Active learning is an adventure. Passive learning encourages spectators. Active learning gets everyone out on the playing field.

 Active learning means indulging liberally in role-play, group work, games, simulations, field trips, service projects, drama, debates, panel discussions, action rhymes, puppetry, brainstorming, experiments, and more.

Okay, you say, I surrender. I know active learning is important. But doesn’t it take extra planning? Isn’t active learning a risky business? If children have too much fun, will they get anything out of the session? How can I be sure that I’ll get all the information covered? It’s noisy, and I may lose control. And when and active learning activity flops, the failures are often spectacular. How will I survive?

Those are valid questions. Whenever you step out of stiff lecture shoes into action sneakers, you’re taking a risk. You may need to do extra work to prepare for your class. You won’t always know if kids will get what you think is important information. It could be noisy, and you may lose control. Occasionally, your carefully planned activity will flop.

But your goal is not primarily to save time, to control kids, to dole out important information in measurable doses, or to get a reputation as a grand success. The goal of your efforts is helping kids grow and learn so they will become joyful disciples of Jesus. To achieve that goal, you’ll do whatever it takes.

Which would you be more likely to remember: the lecture on three ways Joseph was faithful, or sitting under a black blanket so you could imagine what it felt like to be alone in a pit? What would make a bigger impression—the worksheet on hunger statistics, or the 30-hour famine you experienced with your group?

 Kids—and adults too!—learn by doing. What activities can be part of your teaching so children are engaged in actively learning God’s story? Try one this week!


-- Excerpt from Trail Mix by Jessie Schut, copyright 2004 Faith Alive Christian Resources.