I thought I should update regularly on how the children at our church are responding to a Charlotte Mason Sunday School, in case it might help someone else who is looking to start a new approach or are just curious if it is possible in a church setting.
We have finished six weeks of Children's Church and our numbers have been anywhere from 3-10 depending on the week. We always have a minimum of two teachers in the classroom.
The Bible lessons are being read from the Bible- I have found it better to pause halfway through a chapter at an appropriate place for the children to give me a narration before reading the rest of the chapter. At first, their narrations were one-word responses of words that jumped out at them. I'm not sure if that's because that was all they could do (this was totally new for all) or if it was just a minimal effort thing. However, this past Sunday, all the children gave me excellent narrations and one even wanted to act it out while talking through the scenes. I think they just needed to get the hang of it and for the older kids, I just needed to be very clear in what I was asking... so now I ask, "Who wants to retell the story for me?" or "Who can tell me the story again in your own words?" I also have to say here that it is really very powerful to read Scripture directly to the children. I'm not sure how many are hearing it read aloud at home or not, but I can see that it is new for some of them and I have the privilege of speaking the very words of God to them.
The art pictures are going over very well and they do a great job narrating with them. They are always curious to see the picture.
The hymns we're singing are fun for the kids, because we have instruments that I let them use during the instrumental parts. They really like shaking their instruments and this past week they really gave good effort in singing the chorus.
We laminate the month's verses and give them to the kids to take home. I also send a note home encouraging the parents to read them together once a day. We are aiming for 2 verses a month but I really think I'm going to add more since they are so capable of learning more.
And the nature painting is a hit. It is so good for them to use their hands and to appreciate each object that is brought in for painting. Some of the paintings are VERY basic (especially from the 4-5 year olds) but with time they will only improve. Right now, we are using palettes and I am squirting watercolor paint onto their palettes and re-using the old paint from the previous week. This is probably the most cost effective way to do this with a group of kids but I can see how it is hard to mix colors with a small plastic palette and my dream would be for them to each have their own tin of colors, even just primary colors ... we shall see.
I have to also share here a story from yesterday's lesson time... I had been debating in my mind about reading all of Matthew 4 or just the first half (Jesus being tempted in the wilderness). I finally decided just to read all of it. I'm so glad I did. When I asked for narrations, the last child to give me a narration mentioned the end of the chapter, specifically these verses:
"So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them." Matthew 4:24
And as he was narrating, I was trying not to cry because this sweet child has health problems, the kind that only Jesus can heal. It really affirmed to me that the Holy Spirit will use the Word of God individually with each child! How thankful I am that it is Him teaching and not me.
In case you would like to have my lesson plans, these are the passages and art pictures we have been learning the past six weeks:
Week 1: Genesis 1, Creation of Animals by Tintoretto
Week 2: Matthew 1:18-2:12, Adoration of the Shepherds by G. Honthorst
Week 3: Genesis 2, Creation of Adam by Jan Brueghel the Younger
Week 4: Matthew 3, Baptism of Christ by Jean-Baptiste Corot
Week 5: Genesis 3, Expulsion from the Garden of Eden by Thomas Cole
Week 6: Matthew 4, Temptation of Jesus by G. Dore
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