What are the main advantages of Hands-On Bible Curriculum?
Most importantly, kids stay connected and engaged during Bible
lessons and therefore remember their "message" for months and years
to come. They have so much fun learning; they actively participate
and keep coming back. Preparation is easy for teachers, and the
Teacher Guide and Learning Lab® make every lesson captivating and
creative. The flexible content and materials allow you to readily
customize lessons and economically accommodate attendance
variations.
What is "One Point Learning"?
Group has found that cramming a number of points into a brief
lesson usually results in limited retention and impact on kids'
hearts and lives. Hands-On Bible Curriculum lessons each focus on
one specific Bible Point, and use a variety of activities to
reinforce that message. The goal is to send children home with one
life-applicable piece of Bible truth each week. Weeks and months
later, they'll still remember what they've learned and be able to
use it in their daily lives.
What are the lessons for each age level? Is there a scope & sequence?
Check
out the two-year overview and updated, detailed scope &
sequence for upcoming quarters here!
I know Group is not affiliated with any church. Do you have a statement of faith?
Yes, we do. Visit our corporate website or just click here
to read our Statement of Faith and Group's Faith in
Action.
Do you have an evaluation guide to compare Hands-On with my current curriculum?
We want to give you resources that will help you evaluate
Hands-On Bible Curriculum in your church. The best way to do that
is to go to our samples pageand download
the Bible lessons for each age level. Then compare your current
curriculum with each Hands-On Bible lesson by downloading and
using this free evaluation guide.
Does it take long to prepare lessons?
We know that volunteers can't spend hours on lesson preparation.
That's why we've streamlined the Teacher Guide and designed it to
help teachers adequately prepare with minimal time. And each
Learning Lab has most of the materials that aren't already in the
classroom. Preparation is a cinch, so you can spend time building
relationships with your kids!
What does R.E.A.L. Learning stand for?
Hands-On Bible Curriculum is Relational, Experiential,
Applicable, and Learner-based. Every activity is purposefully
designed to involve the child and communicate the biblical point of
that day's lesson. Children don't just memorize a lesson in their
head; they embrace the biblical truth with their heart. R.E.A.L.
Learning ensures Group resources produce lasting, life-changing
results. Watch Hands-On Bible Curriculum in
action to see how R.E.A.L. Learning works!
What's it like to teach Group's R.E.A.L. approach?
It's actually easier, because the spotlight isn't on the
teacher, but on both the teacher and students. Rather than being a
lecturer doling out information to passive young minds, the teacher
becomes a guide or facilitator, helping children discover God's
truth through classroom activities and personal sharing. While this
may be an adjustment for some lecture-oriented teachers, once they
try it and see the results for themselves, they're likely to commit
to the R.E.A.L. approach for life. Click here to read more about R.E.A.L!
How are the Learning Lab gizmos used?
The Learning Lab objects serve an important function in
attaching a visual and tactile reminder of the point of the lesson.
This isn't a new idea. Jesus often used everyday objects (sheep,
stones, and fish) to teach about God and His kingdom. In the same
way, Hands-On Bible Curriculum uses captivating objects to capture
children's attention, engage their senses, clarify the lesson's
point and lock it into their long-term memories. And new Bible
Discovery Paks help kids dig in to Bible exploration in fun,
memorable ways.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum sounds like fun, but are kids REALLY learning?
For years we've heard "Okay, we've had enough fun. Now let's
look at a Bible story…" when all along Sunday school should have
been "Okay, let's keep the fun going. Let's act out a Bible story…"
Hands-On Bible Curriculum makes Bible learning as fun as it was
meant to be for children. The multi-sensory experiences and
activities make lessons unforgettable. Bible truths go deep into
the hearts and minds of kids, causing long-term learning and life
change.
How can Hands-On Bible Curriculum help teachers maintain control in the class?
The lessons are active, so your classroom is full of happy kids
having fun. (Remember, they're still learning in this process, but
they have less reason to act up.) Students pay closer attention to
a teacher that's having fun with them. Our Teacher Guide also
directs you to develop an attention-getting device (such as a
hand-clap rhythm) to refocus attention and lead the children into
the next activity.
Why are there no student books?
With Hands-On Bible Curriculum, the Bible is the student book!
You can also make as many copies of the reproducible handouts in
the Teacher Guide as you need for your class, making it easy and
convenient to accommodate visitors and new class members, plus
fluctuating class size. Need a Bible? Check out
the new Hands-On Bible®.
Why was Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum developed?
Hands-On Bible Curriculum was developed to meet a big need. The
research and word from the churches was alarming-children simply
weren't learning as well from traditional classroom approaches that
involve lectures, reading exercises, fill-in-the-blank pages, word
puzzles, and the like. Education experts have proven that today's
students learn more, retain more, and use their knowledge more when
they're actively involved in the learning process-using all of
their senses.
