Home

Have you noticed how much young children love nature? They

love to see, touch, and feel the common things of nature that we

tend to take for granted.

nature center" in your

classroom is a good way

teach

little

ones how great God is! The center need not be

elaborate.

Simply

gather the seasonal items of nature in your

area

that

are

safe for

young

children to handle. Check for

sharp points,

poisonous

leaves, or

items

that could be unsafe if

swallowed.

nclude pine cones, gourds,

natural

sponges, bark, bird nests,

interesting

rock

(too big to swallow)

and small plants. For

summer

display

flowers

sea

shells, and live goldfish. Set

the

items on a low

table

covered

with a vinyl cloth

with

hand

held

magnifying glass, a

picture book on

creation, and a

children's

Bible.

Read Genesis 1:1 to the children. Each week add something

new

and

encourage

children

to bring items

from home

to share

with the

class.

Celebrate

creatio

with your class--and

take time

thank

God for His wonderful

works!

Nature Centers

Teaching Tips

Bible review games

should be fun for everyone

including visitors

to your church

and children with

limited biblical knowledge. Always

consider the age

background

and experiences of

the

children and

vary your questions accordingly. And

don't forget

have fun yourself!

Why use games?

To involve children in the learning process
To help students retain what they've learned
To evaluate their knowledge and understanding of

what you're teaching them

To encourage social interaction
To help motivate children to study
Because children love to play games!

How do I use games effectively?

Choose games that are age-appropriate
Explain ground rules clearly
Save competitive games for elementary-age children
Teach cooperation with non-competitive games
Emphasize good sportsmanship, not just winning
Use point penalties to discourage poor sportsmanship
Reward winners with recognition
Balance ability of teams as much as possible

When should I use games?

To help children recall previously covered material
When children need a change of pace
At the end of class for review
To teach a Bible verse
To help students get better acquainted
When the church service is extended
During transition times to help children "switch gears"
and refocus on the next activity