Standing
Committee on Education Children's
Religious Education ProgramsDear Expediters
You Can Do It! Day
Human Rights Day
Quaker Christmas Wrap
A Sculpted Crèche Scene
Looking Forward and Looking Back
Upcoming Events
Nifty Ideas
Dear Expediters,
There will be a one-day Yearly Meeting session, Saturday March 24, 2001 at Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia. Children and adults are invited to participate. As always, an interesting, Spiritually based program for infants, toddlers, Kg – 6th graders during the morning and afternoon of the session will be provided. We select only the most experienced and committed leaders to care for your children during that time. Look for information in the mail in January.
The CYPYM Group is working very hard right now on the Residential Yearly Meeting packet on Integrity, which will be age-graded for Kg – 12th grade. Please allow three or four weeks between March and July, 2001 to teach the lessons in the Integrity packet: 1) truth-telling, 2) being true to oneself, 3) faithfulness to the Light, and 4) seeking spiritual unity in community. If you have any suggestions for what you would like included in the curriculum, please let Marty or Claire Wilson, Clerk, know at (610) 872-2109 (evenings).
Marty Smith, editor
martys@pym.org
You Can Do It! Day
Please take a look at the flyer(s) enclosed and distribute the information to First-day teachers, adult RE leaders, RE committee members, youth leaders or parents in your meeting who might be interested in You Can Do It! Day on Saturday, January 13, 2001. The Religious Education Concerns Group, which is sponsoring the day, has amassed an excellent line-up of workshop leaders from local Meetings, all with considerable experience in religious education. For details call Marty Smith at (215) 241-7008 or 1-800-220-0796, #7008 or E-mail her at: martys@pym.org. Cost of registration is $10.00 and is due Jan. 8.
Human Rights Day
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated worldwide, Dec. 10, 2000. The document codifies the right to freedom of religion and expression; freedom from arbitrary arrest; freedom from discrimination because of race, sex, or other distinctions; the right to equal pay for equal work; the right to education; and the right to an adequate living standard, including food, housing, medical care, and social security. Perhaps teachers could talk with their classes about the Declaration and how it reflects two basic tenets of Friends: peace and equality. Susan Campbell of PYM’s United Nations Working Group is available to talk with teachers about ideas for the Day: (610) 664 -7578 or Suspeace@aol.com.
Quaker Christmas Wrap
In Gwynedd Meeting during the Christmas Season, the middle school First-day class has found an enjoyable and creative way to raise money for local families in need. They begin with rolls of white newsprint. Using stamps of Christmas scenes or symbols, purchased from a craft store, and non-toxic ink, the class decorates the newsprint, making it into wrapping paper. Another way to make the blocks, and to design Quaker symbols as well, for printing is to cut the stamps out of half-potatoes. Their teacher, Scott Penniman, divides the class into three work groups: one to roll out the paper, one to cut it, and one to stamp it. After the paper dries it is rolled up and secured with a rubber band or cellophane tape and sold for $4.00 to meeting members, family and friends. The class sends their proceeds to an interfaith network which, in turn, gives the money to families for food and gifts.
A Sculpted Crèche Scene
Here is a way for all ages to participate in the creating of a Nativity scene during the Christmas Season. Susan Ploeg of Willistown Meeting explained that one can purchase bright white DA™ Ssculpting clay, (or use Sculpey™ clay), both of which can be purchased from AC Moore craft store. With all ages together, or in separate classes, the teacher reads or tells the story of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-20). Then separating into groups by age using the clay, the youngest might create the animals, the elementary ages might do the three kings and angels, and the oldest could make Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Susan had traced around the outside of each of the figures. After the figures have dried, they can be painted with acrylic paints, or left white. Then one can dress them up with scrap material, using a hot glue gun to attach the clothing. Finally, all of the clay figures can be arranged inside a clementine crate or similar box. A peaked roof can be added, with sticks for authenticity.
Looking Forward and Looking Back
This was an idea which was used with an older First-day class of girls in Mt. Holly Meeting as 1999 turned into 2000. Teacher Margaret Mansfield asked the group to make a scrapbook which reflected the answers to the following questions: (I changed the dates so you might use it in the current year):
- What was the best thing that happened to me in 2000?
- What is the best thing that happened to my family in 2000?
- What things about 2000 really bugged me?
- What are my “top ten” favorites for the year?
- Who and what are especially important to me?
- What are my wishes for 2001?
- What are my worries about the future?
The teacher’s hope was that with the dreams for the coming year and memories of the past year in mind, the girls could better understand the issues in their lives. They could use role plays, work on problem solving, and conflict resolution skills, and just plain have fun.
From the Mt. Holly Meeting Newsletter, Feb. 2000
Upcoming Events
- For Middle School (Grades 6-8):
January 19-21, 2001: Where Stories Can Take Us
At Haverford Meeting, around the fire with hot chocolate, we will have a chance to tell our own stories from many different traditions, to be enthralled by the stories of others, and to practice telling our own stories. We will tromp in the snow, if there is any, sing, play games, bake, worship, do art, and make and deepen friendships. Cost is $40.00. Registration deadline: January 12, 2001. Call Melanie Douty, Middle School Program Coordinator, for details: (215) 241-7171 or by e-mail: melanied@pym.org.- Young Friends (Grades 9-12):
February 23-25, 2001: Young Friends Peace/Revolution/Activism Gathering
At Burlington Meeting House, Burlington, NJ. Look for details in the January mailing or call or e-mail Cookie Caldwell after the Christmas Gathering. E-mail: cookiec@pym.org. Phone: (215) 241-7222.
- Nifty Ideas
Bible Stories through Pictographs
May, 2001
This month’s Nifty Idea comes to us from First-day teachers, Martha Boston and Sallie Jones, of Birmingham Meeting. This year they have used Pictographs by Standard Publishing Company, for teaching the Old Testament with great success with their middle elementary students. The packet on Joseph, for example, contains several 10-12”- high characters, each one numbered with felt material glued to the backside, and scenes from the story of Joseph. Teachers either read or tell the Bible story. Then the children choose the characters or parts in the story they wish to be and the pre-cut characters which represent those parts. As the Bible story is told or read a second time, the children act out the story by placing the pictograph on the flannel board. The First-day class was very interested in the Bible Old Testament stories, Sallie and Martha report, with each child vying to take on a character and manipulate the Pictographs.
The Birmingham teachers are toying with the idea that the stories of famous Quakers could be told in the same way using the concept of Pictographs, with children creating the characters which will be used in the story. According to Dana Eynon, author of the teacher’s manual for Stories about Joseph, ready-made flannel boards can be purchased from a religious bookstore. “They are made of one-quarter-inch fiberboard covered with flannel, with cloth-taped edges. The standard size is 36” by 24” inches, which folds to 18” x 24”. However, you can make your own flannelboard if you wish. The preferred size is 36” by 24”, since figures and backgrounds are made to fit this size board. You can use plywood, beaverboard, or sturdy cardboard. Cover one side with flannel. A light shade of blue flannel is most suitable, since it makes a good background for object lessons and can serve as the sky for Bible scenes. Fasten the flannel securely and tightly to the board by tacking it to the back. The figures you put on the board need to be 10”-12” high and numbered for easy identification. Oaktag or heavier paper work best with strips of material similar to felt glued on the back.”*
*from “Stories about Joseph”, Pict-O-Graph, Teacher’s Manual by Dana Eynon, illustrator: James Seward, Standard Publishing Co., 1982, available from Border’s Bookstore and from SonShine Bookstore (Moorestown, NJ) at http://commerce.parable.com/Sonshine
Thanks Sallie and Martha for your intriguing idea!
First-day School Teachers in Quaker Meetings often need new ideas and ways of teaching. Something that has worked for you might be just what other teachers are looking for. Please send your ideas to Marty Smith, by e-mail at: martys@pym.org or to 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Published by Religious Education Concerns Group, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Office: 1515 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Toll free number: 1-800-220-0796Marty Smith: (215) 241-7008 (E-mail: martys@pym.org);
Cookie Caldwell: (215) 241-7222 (e-mail: cookiec@pym.org);
Melanie Douty: (215) 241-7171 (e-mail: melanied@pym.org);
Mary Anne Crowley: (215) 241-7221 (e-mail: maryc@pym.org);
Gene Hillman: (215) 241-7182 (e-mail: geneh@pym.org)
or: 1-800-220-0796, with the appropriate extension number.
Last modified: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 at 04:22 PM