This week in RE the K-2nd and 3rd-6th graders continued their lessons of the Bible while the preschoolers learned how to cope with feeling sad and the infants and toddlers celebrated snow…or lack thereof!
In the 3rd-6th grade classroom, we discussed the story of Cain and Abel. After God favors Abel’s offering over Cain’s, Cain becomes jealous and ends up killing his brother. We talked about the story, what we do when we feel jealous, and what lesson we should take away from this Biblical tale. Then we practiced gratitude even when we don’t like the gift given to us or, as we called it, “present face.” We concluded the lesson by writing “get well” cards to Larry who is still recuperating. We miss you Larry!
In the K-2nd grade room they discussed the story of Adam and Eve. Molly asked the students what they would make when creating the world…grass, dirt, dog poop! Then the kids created their first “humans.” However, Molly reports that most of the first brings actually ended up being serpents, butterflies, and dogs instead. The world is much more interesting that way… 🙂
In the pre-K room, the preschoolers discussed the feeling of sadness. They shared what makes them feel sad and what they do when they feel that way. Then they sang some blues songs and brainstormed ways to make themselves feel better when they’re sad. They concluded their lesson by eating blue cupcakes – those will make anyone feel better!
In the nursery, the infants and toddlers talked about snow. Katherine and Courtney were both out, so Sam Zeller filled in. He read Snowy Day and then made snow with the kids. They each got to decorate snowflakes and then they threw them into the air and let them fall all around them. A pretty good substitute for real snow! They concluded their lesson by building buildings and knocking them down, a Sam favorite!
If you would like to continue these lessons at home, here are some suggestions: for 3rd-6th graders, discuss sibling rivalry and healthy ways of coping with anger and jealousy. Biting, scratching, and hitting don’t count! For K-2nd graders, create gardens of Eden out of play dough, twigs, leaves, etc. What do your first beings look like? For preschoolers, write down a list of things that make your child feel sad and then a list of things that make him/her feel happy. Post it somewhere in your house to remind them of happy and sad feelings. Then sing “Favorite Things” together – a classic Sound of Music song about feelings. For infants and toddlers, take advantage of the beautiful, non-snowy weather we’ve been having and play outside. No cocoa needed these days!