 In God’s Image
The
Religious Education program begins with Kindergarten: In God’s Image,
a catechetical resource for four- and five-year olds. This resource
affirms the child in all areas of growth and celebrates the wonder of
childhood as a trace of God. The
metaphor “a trace of God” is used throughout the resource to express
how the activities, growth and very being of the child are gifts and
reminders of God.
Family,
Friends and Communities http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/fam-com.html
One of
the first units in the Kindergarten program involves an exploration
of themselves, their unique characteristics and how they are part of
the larger community of God. This website is a wonderful collection
of ideas teachers can use to compliment their current lesson plans. Because, at this age, incorporating crafts
and other hands-on activities, is invaluable, this website offers a
variety of activities as well as interactive ideas to keep students
involved and excited. This
website has a number of links which provide a natural development from
self to family to community.
It is worth a glance. --Virginia
DiBiase
A to Z Teacher Stuff
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/BuilderV03/LPTools/LPShared/displayunit.asp?UnitID=895
This
is a great website that has a lot to offer for any subject area. I was particularly impressed with the
lesson: “We’re all the same on the Inside”. Using brown and white eggs, you have a
“hands-on”/tangible demonstration showing the students how we’re all
the same on the inside even though our outsides may seem different. In addition, this website offers a number
of other links to such sites as: “My family and Me Book”. This particular site encourages the link
between home and school as students are challenged to work together
with their family to make a book.
This is a great way to kick off the school year and learn about
the students in your class. The
site: “A to Z Teacher Stuff” also has a variety of related arts and
crafts that can be incorporated into your lessons as well.
“The Shape of Me” uses a variety of shapes to help students create
self-portraits. It also
suggests reading Dr. Seuss’ The Shape of Me and Other Stuff to
incorporate literature into your lessons as well.
Together with the class, we can celebrate the unique qualities
that make us all special in the eyes of Jesus.
--Virginia DiBiase
Kinderkorner
http://www.kinderkorner.com
Theme 3: What's Your Name? Kinderkorner is a resource
website for teachers and others interested in Early Childhood Education.
The website is owned by Victoria Smith, an "educator, literacy
coach, and freelance writer with extensive experience in teaching Kindergarten
and Grade One". It includes on-line thematic units, teacher resources,
and workshop information. The Thematic Unit from Kinderkorner that would
support Unit: Me, Theme 3: "What's Your Name?" is: What's
in a Name? It includes songs, poems, and games that help children learn
to identify, read, and write their name.
A to Z Teacher Stuff http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes
Theme
7: My Senses. A to Z Teacher Stuff is a website that is "teacher
created and designed to help teachers find on-line resources more quickly
and easily". The website includes lesson plans, thematic units,
teacher tips, printable pages and more. To access information from this
website that would support Unit: Me, Theme 7: My Senses, click on the
category 5 Senses and this will display many links to lessons and activities
that are appropriate for this unit.
Christmas
Nativity Crafts http://www.first-school.ws/activities/bible/nativity1.htm
Theme 16: A great unit in the Kindergarten program
is that entitled "Church Times" where the birth and coming
of Jesus is explored. The theme allows the students to enter into the
holy season of Advent and Christmas. This website offers a great deal
in terms of bible stories, art, music, crafts as wll as links to other
Nativity resources. The resources are not just for print, some are also
interactive. For example, there is an on-line colouring page entitled
"Jesus is Born" where students use the mouse-pad to paint
a picture. I have found that students of this age have really enjoyed
making Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus puppet characters and acting out
the special night when our Saviour was born. This website can be used
in addition to existing resources to help Jesus become part of our lives.--Ann-Marie
Plescia
Welcoming Baby Jesus http://www.dltk-bible.com/guides/baby_jesus.htm
Theme 16: This website also relates to the unit celebrating
Jesus' birth. It is a great tool for teachers and has many practical
ideas and resources to be printed or used on-line, such as Christmas
plays, prayers, songs, crafts and bulletin board or flannel board pieces.
Through these supplemental resources, we as educators can help Kindergarten
students delve fully into the wonder and joy of the story of Jesus'
birth and bring him into our lives. --Ann-Marie Plescia
Preschool Education http://www.preschooleducation.com/art66.shtml
Unit 22- Cultural Days. This website is an article based
on how a teacher can use the Christmas theme in different ways. The
site looks at celebrating diversity and meeting children’s developmental
needs.
Preschoolers Today http://preschoolerstoday.com/resources/articles/culturaltraditions.htm
Unit 22 - Cultural Days. This website would definately
support the unit on Cultural Days. Christmas is one of the biggest and
brightest times of the year in North America, especially for children.
It important to show the children that there is more than one way to
celebrate the holiday. This website provides many traditions and customs
that others, especially children, celebrate around the world. It will
provide a resourse for teachers to use when acknowledging students'
own special family traditions celebrated in the unit, as well as, it
will be a useful tool in explaining how others in the world celebrate
this special day. The website also provides links to other useful resources
on cultural traditions.--Christina Barillaro
PBS Teacher Source http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/prek2/issues/603issue.shtm
Unit 22 - Cultural Days This website helps to link
celebrations between school and home. As we have become aware of the
growing religious and cultural diversity in our communities, we as teachers
should reconsider new ideas for teaching special cultural days. The
website suggests for teachers to invite families to take turns sharing
their traditions with the class throughout the year. One approach to
celebrating the holiday season is to unify celebrations from different
religions and cultures and offer an opportunity to teach about those
religions or cultures. Through celebration of both familiar and unfamiliar
holidays, young children can learn about music, dance, food and traditions
of diverse cultures and religions. By honoring the family traditions
of students, this website suggests that we, as educators, can strengthen
the links between home and school.--Christina Barillaro
Gardening with Kids and Teens http://www.kingdomquest.com/gardeningforkids.html
Unit #26 "Trees are full of life!" In this unit children learn
how important trees are to us. They learn that they grow from a seed
and turn into a beautiful gift. Children learn all the things that trees
give us and how important they are. It is also mentioned that Jesus'
cross was made from wood. This is why the tree remains a symbol of Christianity
and it reminds us of God's love.
When entering the website mentioned above click on Biblical Gardens-
Bible lessons through gardening. Many topics are listed ie., God Made
The Trees, Planting Seeds. I clicked on God Made The Trees and I found
a beautiful religious poem for shared reading thanking God for trees.
Underneath the poem were also craft ideas for teachers relating to the
poem. On this site you may also find parables that relate to the themes
listed. --Diana Iannuzzi
Child Fun Family Website http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=157
Unit #26 "Trees are full of life!" This
website has activities relating to many themes in the kindergarten religious
document.
I found a section titled "God made a beautiful world". The
activity asks children to glue paper rolls together and then to decorate
the rolls. The teacher is then to punch holes on the outside edges and
tie a string around. The children have made binoculars which they will
use on an outdoor nature walk to view all the beautiful creations of
God. During the walk their teacher may also want to provide real binoculars/
magnify glasses to view nature up close. On this website I also found
a lovely prayer sung to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".
This prayer is called Thank You and in this prayer children are thanking
God for nature seen around them. --Diana Iannuzzi
edhelper.com http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceK1.htm
Unit #26 This web site provides
lesson plans from grades K-12. It ranges by category i.e. Arts, Drama,
Geography, Language, Math, Social Studies and Science. The particular
category I chose was Science, specifically Springtime and Flowers. The
web site lists a variety of discussion questions which serve as a wonderful
lead into the unit of discovering and appreciating the world of plants.
Questions to the effect of "sowing" and "weeding"
which tie in nicely with the Parable of the Sower. This web site also
provides pre-writing traceable stencils, ideas for dramatic plays, food
and nutrition activities as well as math related tasks such as measuring
plant growth. Overall, this web site encompasses cross-curricular objectives.
Preschool
Lesson Plan Activities - Plants from the Bible Craft http://www.first-school.ws/activities/bible/plantsbible_p.htm
Theme 26 & 27 – PlantsThis site offers a few
references to specific Bible passages which discuss the importance of
the creation of plants and trees by God in our world. Along with these
references are a few suggestions on how to introduce the importance
of trees and plants, as well as their significance to special holidays.
(ie: Easter) This site also provides a template for Plants From the
Bible Wreath. This is an easy craft that requires few materials and
minimal time. It could be used for the older grades as well.--Lisa Pangilinan
Name of Site Tree Activities http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/education/pdf/tree_act_k.pdf
Theme 26 & 27 – This site
is dedicated to trees. It offers the teacher a variety of facts about
trees to be shared with the students. This site also incorporates a
number of visual art lesson plans to engage students on the importance
of God’s creation. Included are a number of poems about God’s creation
which could be used to introduce each visual art lesson. As well, this
site offers a few poetry lessons. Although some of the activities were
meant for the older grades, it could definitely be made to satisfy the
needs of students in the primary grades.--Lisa Pangilinan
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