Standing
Committee on Education Children's
Religious Education Programs
Dear Expediters:
I know that several Meetings have begun to teach the Yearly Meeting packet, Truth in Action. Thanks very much for taking the time to use the packet! By the middle of May detailed information and registration materials for the Children’s Program during Residential Yearly Meeting should arrive in your Meeting. Please see that each family gets a flyer for the July sessions.
I also know that several Meetings have begun to work on the new Yearly Meeting banner. As that is happening, the following banners (from previous years) are waiting for their Meetings to pick them up at the RE office at 1515 Cherry St.: Germantown (3); Rancocas, Exeter, Swarthmore, Atlantic City, Centre, Crosswicks, Birmingham, and Seaville.
As you wind down your RE program for this year and look ahead to the next, keep in mind that the RE staff are available throughout the summer and into the fall by phone, e-mail or in person (by a visit) to provide teaching ideas and resources.
Marty Smith, editor
martys@pym.org
Making Silence
From Faith At Work, Spring 2001, comes this thought about the value of silence. When Kathleen Norris was working as an artist in an elementary school, she struck a bargain with her third graders. First they got to make lots of noise, which came quite easily for the delighted class. After making noise however, she asked them to ‘make silence.’ The rules for making silence were simple: Don’t hold your breath or make funny faces; breathe normally and quietly. She found that over time, the children were able to get into this ‘making of silence.’ One little girl from Norris’ class in North Dakota had this to say after making silence: "Silence reminds me to take my soul with me wherever I go."
New PYM Curriculum on Integrity
For those of you who did not receive a Yearly Meeting Packet, Truth in Action, it is quite teachable, having used it successfully myself with middle school and high school students. Even though the testimony of Integrity is quite abstract, it is broken down into four chapters, each on an aspect of Integrity: 1) truth-telling; 2) being who you are; 3) being faithful to the Light; and 4) acting out of unity within community. What makes the testimony even more tangible are the stories, songs, games, crafts, role plays, and queries which reinforce or enrich each aspect. Three of the chapters end with a sample lesson plan which teachers can use: one for early elementary, one for older elementary, and one for middle school youth. Truth in Action can be purchased from FGC Bookstore for $13.00 with shipping and handling by phoning 1 (800) 966-4556 or by e-mail at bookstore@fgcquaker.org.
CYPYM Assistant Is Back Again
CYPYM and RE Working Groups are delighted to have once again, the creative and resourceful assistance of Brenda Rose Simkin in planning the Children’s Program for Residential Yearly Meeting. Brenda Rose was the chief organizer of the March 2000 Children’s Program at Arch Street Meeting House. She will be on hand to take your offers of assistance in the Children’s program which will be held in July at DeSales University (formerly Allentown College). If you have suggestions for Children’s Program or wish to volunteer, Brenda Rose can be reached in the office Wednesday afternoons at (215) 241-7075 or by e-mail at brbumkin@msn.com.
Parenting and Spirituality
Chestnut Hill Meeting is developing a way to support and nurture the spiritual lives of parents and their children. The Parenting and Spirituality Group gathers together monthly to listen to readings on topics such as “learning from our children to love unconditionally.” The group sits in silent worship for a short while, which is followed by worship-sharing. It is an opportunity, led by Cornelia Kietzman, for anyone connected with caring for children to reflect and connect with the spiritual aspects of that caring. If your Meeting would like guidance in organizing such a group, Cornelia can be reached at (215) 849-9998 or cornelia@campoutlaw.com.
Upcoming Events
- Children's Program (Infants-5th grade):
July 17-22: Residential Yearly Meeting
Infants and toddlers will be under the care of Maria Alvarado. Three- and four-year olds will do as much as possible with the theme of Integrity, but will mostly be playing with one another. Wednesday through Saturday mornings, Kg-1st, 2nd 3rd, and 4th–5th grades will be led by two teachers each, who will do games, stories, singing, crafts, and drama related to the theme. In the afternoons there will be swimming, art activities, and creative writing, and a trip to Lost River Caverns. In the evenings there will be a Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, games, storytelling, and singing. Watch for the flyer in the mail; register by June 23 (or by July 6 at the latest) on the form enclosed or in the YM Agenda Booklet. For further information or questions, call Brenda Rose at (215) 241-7075 or Marty (215) 241-7008.- For Middle School (Grades 6-8):
July 17-22: Residential Yearly Meeting
Activities will include a one-day hike in the Lehigh Valley Gorge, a day of service, game-playing, singing, art activities, and discussions around the theme of Integrity. Flyer in the mail, questions to Melanie Douty, Middle School Friends Coordinator (215) 241-7171 or melanied@pym.org. Registrations due by June 23.- Young Friends (Grades 9-12):
July 17-22: Residential Yearly Meeting
Under the leadership of Cookie Caldwell, Young Friends will stay in one dorm and have a gathering within a gathering program during the adult sessions at DeSales University. Flyer in the mail. Call Cookie for details: 215-241-7222 or cookiec@pym.org.
August 19-25: Camp Onas
Young Friends, under the leadership of Fleur Frascella, will spend the week at Ottsville, PA. “The American Teen, Relationships and Sexuality.” The focus will be on how to make emotionally healthy choices in the midst of media pressure. How to respect ourselves and care for each other. Look for a flyer in the mail. Register by Aug. 13. For information or questions, e-mail Fleur at tribalbellydance@hotmail.
- Nifty Ideas
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 if you like at: martys@pym.org or to 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Bible Stories through Pictographs
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 teachers 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 18×24. However, you can make your own flannelboard if you wish. The preferred size is 36×24, 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, Teachers Manual by Dana Eynon, illustrator: James Seward, Standard Publishing Co., 1982, available from Borders Bookstore and from SonShine Bookstore (Moorestown, NJ) at commerce.parable.com/Sonshine.
Thanks Sallie and Martha for your intriguing idea!
Published by Religious Education Concerns Group, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Office: 1515 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Marty 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