Sunday School Lesson 4

The F Language
10-12 yrs old
6 weeks long

Method : Basic interaction- group discussion; Q&A session; problem solving.

Relationship building : Teacher-to-students; Students-to-students

Purpose : To prepare them for the journey through life with the Lord.

Emphasis :

1. Group discussion : Critical analysis and response filled arguments
• support the least supported one - if they are wrong, try not to hurt his/her feelings. Instead, compliment his/her courage to speak up in front of the whole class and show your admiration towards his/her critical thinking skills.
  
• look out for the quiet ones by asking them for their opinion- bear in mind that everyone has an opinion, whether or not they are on the fence.
• discourage discouragement from other students, especially those that hurt, e.g 'stupid', 'lousy', 'bad', etc. by regulations.
• By regulations, disallow students to get personal in the arguments, e.g 'that's why your parents don't love you' or 'that's because you stink'.
  
2. Q&A : Answers to unanswered questions
• if you don't know the answer, just say, "I don't know, but we can find out together." Do not assume you know an answer. And if you don't, assure yourself that it is not due to your incompetence that you don't have an answer to all of life's questions. Neither is it your responsibility to answer them all. And most of the time, the simplest questions are the hardest to answer.
• it will help if you prepare students beforehand that you may not know all the answers to the questions they throw at you, but you will try your best to guide them.
• keep to your words; if you say that you will find out together with them, do it. If necessary, ask someone spiritually senior.
• if in any way you get shaken up by their questions and the fact that you can't answer them, always pray. The devil may be using this to test you. Thus the reason why many teachers avoid Q&A sessions. God honors you for choosing to take up such an important challenge for the sake of the young ones. If they can think it, God can answer it. If God can answer it, the devil can't. But if you don't answer it, answers will come to them from somewhere else.
  
3. Problem solving : Practical Solutions to real life problems
• one of the most important sessions during their childhood life. This is where true relationship building takes place between teachers and students and sometimes, students among themselves. The most important thing is to Love them. And if you love them, encourage them. Respect them. Go through it with them, pray with them. And follow up the matter.
• if necessary, have private counseling sessions for those who are going through extremely personal problems. Discernment is important. Ask God to show you who are the ones that need personal time with you. Sometimes the happiest ones have the biggest issues. And sometimes the ones with the best behavior are going through the most. It's hard to tell.
• Follow up is very important. Most of this takes place during the week. Make sure you chat with them, e-mail them or pray with them during the week.
• Remember : Even if you fail in every other aspect of being a teacher, but is close to them, you have succeeded beautifully. It is through your relationship with them, not your lessons, that they are shaped.

Topics:

• Family
• Friends

• Future
• Focus

• Fortune
• Fame

• Failure
• Feelings

• Fun
• Freedom

• Fear
• Faith

Week 1 : Family and Friends


Week 2 : Future and Focus


Week 3 : Fortune and Fame


Week 4 : Failure and Feelings


Week 5 : Fun and Freedom


Week 6 : Fear and Faith