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It's "a whole church ministry..."
In 1999 over 100 volunteers transformed our
classrooms into colorful and exciting environments designed to
encourage and enhance learning. This program has been described as
“a whole church ministry disguised as a children’s program.”
Every five weeks, a theme or Bible lesson is the focus for
“workshops” designed to teach that lesson by engaging the
children’s multiple intelligences.
Children ages three through fifth grade attend
the beginning of the worship service and then go to the chapel where
they meet their “shepherds.” The three- and four-year-olds are led
to their Worship Wonders program upstairs. Approximately once every
six weeks we all meet for family worship when the theme of worship
may include what the children have studied in CrossWalks. Children
learn to worship by experiencing worship, and we celebrate their
presence among us.
CrossWalks meets year round. In the summertime
we consolidate classes and include additional themes not covered
during the school year.
Here's how it works...
- Classes rotate to a different workshop each
week and learn the story in different ways for five weeks.
- Repetition helps memory retention and
provides opportunities for in-depth exploration.
- Classrooms are transformed into customized
workshops.
- Children love the variety and want to come.
- Teachers teach the same lesson for five
weeks using their specific talents.
- Shepherds stay with each age group
throughout the year providing warmth and welcome to the children
and help for the teachers.
- The schedule is in First Things and on the
CrossWalks bulletin board.
The Workshops
The Oasis – Room 208
Bedouin tent dimly lit in a silhouetted oasis provides a
storyteller’s paradise and a perfect place for reflection.
A Joyful Noise – Room 210
Through musical expression and movement, the students experience the
Biblical story while praising God.
Martha’s Table – Room 209
Cooking in an ancient kitchen and eating on the rooftop awaits
students in this room.
Noah’s Art – Rooms 205-207
More than just a craft room, children and youth will interpret the
stories through many mediums of artistic expression.
The Temple School – Room 212
Here students actively learn Biblical skills including geography
lessons with maps painted around the room.
The Parable Place – Room 213
Puppetry and dramatic expression are a natural in this “theater in
the round” set in the hills of the Galilee region.
The Red Sea Cinema
The aroma of warm popcorn, theater seats, and movies ami d
the parted Red Sea provide an exciting place to get an overview of
the story.
Biblical Bytes – Room 206
Computer research, games and creative writing are done in this room
filled with up-to-date equipment. |
