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| Hello- I have a question for all you CM professionals. I had a meeting with my CM team yesterday and a topic came up for the second time. There are a few team members who want a scope and sequence for our CM. For instance, what should a 6th grader know when they go into youth? Does a 2nd graders know all 66 books of the Bible. Etc. etc. It was even brought up that we include the Youth Pastor by asking what he expects of an incoming jr. higher. My question is this: Does your ministry have a scope and sequence in a written document or do you have broad goals and let the spirit lead? I have been struggling with this since I began a year ago. I would like an idea of what others are doing. Thank you so much- Kate
Kate Radford
Children's Ministry Coordiator
Carmichael, CA 
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Scope and Sequences are descriptions of Curriculum. Curriculum by definition, is an organized and systematic set of lessons that cover a prescribed body of knowledge in a specific order over a prescribed period of time. Simply put - Scope and sequences tell you what you will be teaching and how long it will take you to teach it.
In Bible curriculum, 2-4 year Scope and Sequences are broken down into major topics "units of study" and the major topics or units into individual lessons. Each lesson in the curriculum has specific goals and objectives.
Goals and objectives describe what student behaviors you should be observing after the lesson to indicate that learning has occurred. It's what the child should know or demonstate by a specific time and a description of evidence of that the learning has occurred. For example, if what you want the child to learn or the "goal" is that the child knows the books of the Bible. The observable behavior or "objective" could be "At the end of 5th grade, the child can recite the books of the Bible in order." (knowledge) OR "At the end of 5th grade, each child can locate any book of the Bible with ease and self-selects to read their Bible daily. " (knowledge application)
If your team is seeking to measure Biblical knowledge gained or applied, then review your Sunday School curriculum's scope and sequence. If it's not teaching what you want the students to learn or demonstrate, check out other curriculum that more match learning objectives. If the curriculum you are currently using just needs a little tweaking, add in the extra lessons that cover the missing pieces to fill in those gaps.
HOWEVER, If your team is looking for a measure of life transformation, then your team should look closely at the lessons within your curriculum to insure the lessons cover more than simple Bible knowledge. Lesson goals and objective's should, at least, describe knowledge application and better yet, synthesis - internalizing and personalizing what you learned and applied. (An example of synthesis might be; After studying the story of the Loaves and Fishes, the child chooses to share their personal snack with the class.) Knowledge application and synthesis are evidence of changes in behavior "changed lives" or "life transformation". Effective Bible Curriculum are evidenced by life application goals & objectives!
For example, A child may learn what it means to share their faith as evidenced by the ability to recite the "ABC's" of salvation. OR The child's life has been transformed as evidenced by the child choosing to tell another child about Jesus' love. Both are observable and measurable, but one is simple head knowledge and the other knowledge application & synthesis or life transformation.
FYI - All of Group curriculum are designed for life transformation. Each lesson teaches one Bible Point using multiple relational, experiential, applicable and learner based activities that guide students to not only learn God's word, but willingly respond to God's word through observable behaviors.
Lisa B from NC
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| Lisa- Thank you for your response. I do know what a scope & sequence is. Maybe I worded it wrong. I think they are looking for a way to measure a child's growth while they're at our church as well as prepare them for the youth group. They made a comment about having a check & balance for their teaching team...to make sure they're doing what they're supposed to be. Does that make sense? Any other ideas? Maybe I'm not explaining it clearly. Thanks! Kate
Kate Radford
Children's Ministry Coordiator
Carmichael, CA
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Thanks for clarifying.
What a great exercise it would be for the team to write down what they want the children to be doing by the time they leave the Children's program... as a brainstorming exercise for the team. List observable behaviors your team would want to see. i think that is where you may want to start.
Lisa B from NC
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