The Discover The Discover Triad: Triad:

Three Facets of Three Facets of a Dynamic a Dynamic

Sunday School Sunday School ClassClass

Discover: Discover: To remove the covering To remove the covering

or to completely uncover.or to completely uncover.

Triad: A Unit of ThreeTriad: A Unit of Three

Pixel: three colored dots: Pixel: three colored dots: red, green and bluered, green and blue

Cluster of three cities:Cluster of three cities: the Piedmont Triad in the Piedmont Triad in

North Carolina North Carolina

Musical chord: three notes Musical chord: three notes played simultaneouslyplayed simultaneously

Winston-SalemWinston-Salem

GreensboroGreensboro

High PointHigh Point

The Sunday School TriadThe Sunday School Triad

ScriptureScripture

StoriesStories

ShepherdingShepherding

Discover ScriptureDiscover Scripture

Sunday School got its start in Sunday School got its start in England when Robert Raikes had England when Robert Raikes had a vision for helping the children a vision for helping the children

he saw running around the he saw running around the streets on Sunday – their only streets on Sunday – their only

day off day off – – learn to read and write learn to read and write and be good citizens.and be good citizens.

His Textbook?His Textbook?

The BibleThe Bible

Discover the BibleDiscover the Bible

Use the materials Use the materials provided to play the provided to play the

Bible games listed for the Bible games listed for the age group you teach.age group you teach.

Preschoolers Don’t Read Preschoolers Don’t Read InstructionsInstructions

By God’s design, By God’s design, they are active, they are active,

discovery learners.discovery learners.

Discovery BoxesDiscovery Boxes

Pull an item from the box.Pull an item from the box.

As a group, write down as many As a group, write down as many creative ways you can think of creative ways you can think of

that the item can be used to help that the item can be used to help preschoolers discover Scripture.preschoolers discover Scripture.

Teachers Must Give Up Teachers Must Give Up Control in Favor of Control in Favor of

Activities That Allow Activities That Allow Learners to Discover.Learners to Discover.

Never tell a child anything you Never tell a child anything you can lead him to discover for can lead him to discover for

himself.himself.

Curriculum Curriculum and and

Learning CentersLearning Centers

Participation is Participation is the Evidencethe Evidence

ofofDiscovery LearningDiscovery Learning

ArtArt BlocksBlocks BooksBooks HomelivingHomeliving MusicMusic PuzzlesPuzzles Science and NatureScience and Nature

Preparation Is a Preparation Is a Pre-requisite To Pre-requisite To

Discovery Learning.Discovery Learning.

How can a teacher prepare for How can a teacher prepare for the session?the session?

How can we help a preschooler How can we help a preschooler prepare for the session?prepare for the session?

An Essential Part of Learning An Essential Part of Learning for a Child Requires the Use of for a Child Requires the Use of

Questions.Questions.

Answer the question that is asked.Answer the question that is asked. Take all questions seriously.Take all questions seriously. Answer simply and honestly.Answer simply and honestly. Never embarrass a child about his Never embarrass a child about his

question.question.

An Essential Part of Learning An Essential Part of Learning for a Child Requires the Use of for a Child Requires the Use of

Questions.Questions.

Be a good listener without judging.Be a good listener without judging. Make time for conversation.Make time for conversation. Get on a child’s level.Get on a child’s level. Pray for God’s guidance in Pray for God’s guidance in

answering.answering.

Discover StoriesDiscover Stories

StorytellingStorytellingMythsMyths

Myth 1:Myth 1:

The Story Should Be The Story Should Be Saved for Group Saved for Group

Time.Time.

Myth 2:Myth 2:

The Bible story is the The Bible story is the end of the story.end of the story.

Myth 3:Myth 3:

The Bible story can The Bible story can be told when the child be told when the child

is able to talk and is able to talk and communicate.communicate.

Myth 4:Myth 4:

I need lots of props to I need lots of props to tell the story so the tell the story so the children will listen.children will listen.

I Love to Tell the StoryI Love to Tell the Story

Use an open Bible when telling a Use an open Bible when telling a Bible story.Bible story.

Sit where you can establish eye Sit where you can establish eye contact with each child.contact with each child.

Grab the children’s attention with Grab the children’s attention with the first sentence.the first sentence.

Introduce the story with a song or Introduce the story with a song or picture.picture.

I Love to Tell the StoryI Love to Tell the Story

Open the Bible to the correct Open the Bible to the correct reference as you begin the story.reference as you begin the story.

Use simple words the children can Use simple words the children can understand.understand.

Vary the tone, volume, speed and Vary the tone, volume, speed and intensity of your voice.intensity of your voice.

Change your voice to represent Change your voice to represent different people, actions, or different people, actions, or emotions.emotions.

Tell the story straight through and Tell the story straight through and avoid interruptions.avoid interruptions.

Help preschoolers to recall the story Help preschoolers to recall the story by asking simple review questions.by asking simple review questions.

Thank the preschoolers for being Thank the preschoolers for being good listeners.good listeners.

I Love to Tell the StoryI Love to Tell the Story

Sharing your own story Sharing your own story is a key element of is a key element of conveying God’s conveying God’s

message for message for preschoolers and preschoolers and

their families.their families.

Discover Your StoryDiscover Your Story

Some questions to help you get Some questions to help you get started:started:

What teacher influenced you the What teacher influenced you the most? Why?most? Why?

What are your gifts? Talents? What are your gifts? Talents? Hobbies?Hobbies?

What are your favorite things?What are your favorite things? What are your pet peeves?What are your pet peeves? What has God done in your life?What has God done in your life?

Storytelling CircleStorytelling Circle

As important as it is for us to share As important as it is for us to share our own stories, it is equally important our own stories, it is equally important

for us to discover the stories of the for us to discover the stories of the preschoolers that we teach.preschoolers that we teach.

Discover ShepherdingDiscover Shepherding

Traits of a Good ShepherdTraits of a Good Shepherd

Is comfortable sitting with the flockIs comfortable sitting with the flock

Watches for signs of dangerWatches for signs of danger

Pulls back straysPulls back strays

Helps the sheep find foodHelps the sheep find food

Soothes and guides sheepSoothes and guides sheep

Know YourKnow YourFlockFlock

CuriousCurious ActiveActive CreativeCreative SensitiveSensitive Limited Attention SpanLimited Attention Span Explores LimitsExplores Limits Literal MindedLiteral Minded

Preschool CharacteristicsPreschool Characteristics

LoveLove TrustTrust AcceptanceAcceptance IndependenceIndependence FreedomFreedom SecuritySecurity GuidanceGuidance Sense of AccomplishmentSense of Accomplishment

Needs of PreschoolersNeeds of Preschoolers

VerbalVerbal VisualVisual ReflectiveReflective RelationalRelational PhysicalPhysical NaturalNatural MusicalMusical LogicalLogical

Learning ApproachesLearning Approaches

SensesSenses CuriosityCuriosity Hands-On ExperienceHands-On Experience SatisfactionSatisfaction RelationshipsRelationships ImitationImitation PlayPlay RepetitionRepetition

Ways Preschoolers LearnWays Preschoolers Learn

Discovering FamiliesDiscovering Families

Find someone in the large Find someone in the large group you do not know. group you do not know. Take three minutes to Take three minutes to

discover and record things discover and record things you have in common.you have in common.

Did anyone find more than 5 things Did anyone find more than 5 things you had in common with any of you had in common with any of your partners?your partners?

Did you find that you have more in Did you find that you have more in common with strangers than you common with strangers than you thought?thought?

What are Families Looking for What are Families Looking for in a Church?in a Church?

As a group, make a list of the top 10 As a group, make a list of the top 10 things parents of preschoolers are things parents of preschoolers are looking for in a church.looking for in a church.

Discuss the reasons why parents of Discuss the reasons why parents of preschoolers choose YOUR church.preschoolers choose YOUR church.

Ministering to FamiliesMinistering to Families

On your index card, write down up On your index card, write down up to five problems that families you to five problems that families you know are experiencing.know are experiencing.

As a group, list ways that churches As a group, list ways that churches can minister to the families listed can minister to the families listed on your cards.on your cards.

Be Intentional in Helping Be Intentional in Helping Preschoolers Discover Preschoolers Discover God’s Love for Them God’s Love for Them Through the Use of:Through the Use of:

ScriptureScripture

StorytellingStorytelling

ShepherdingShepherding