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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 11/7/2009 6:08:00 AM
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Hello,
I was just contacted by our two 5th grade teachers with concerns that they have about Buzz. They said that they are getting through the lessons very quickly (approximately 20 minutes) and that they do not feel there is enough "meat" in the lessons. These sentiments were echoed by our 4th grade teachers as well.
I am not ready to give up on Buzz yet. I must admit that I have not taught with Buzz, but I am going to fill in for one of our 4th grade teachers this Sunday so that I can try it myself. I'm thinking that perhaps after having used another curriculum at our church for many years, this may just be an adjustment thing.
I am looking for suggestions to give our teachers on how to supplement the material to perhaps make it a bit more in depth. I would appreciate any suggestions that you could offer.
Blessings,
Ginger
Ginger Burcker
Older Children's Ministry Coordinator
River Oak Church
Chesapeake, VA
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/10/2009 6:14:57 AM
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| I find that I am doing research each week to supplement our buzz curriculum. My kids like crafts that tie in with the lesson and I like to provide a snack that also ties in. The weekly teacher tips from our previous material were helpful. It would be nice to have a site for teachers that wanted a little bit extra, to supplement the "everything is in the box".
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/13/2009 9:44:04 AM
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Hello, We understand your concerns and appreciate your suggestions. There are definitely some things you can do in order to add some “meat” to the lessons, without having to spend a significant amount of time preping each week or exhausting funds purchasing extra items not found in the box. Here are some suggestions:
• Playing any active games several times so kids all get a chance to try out various roles. • Learning and singing the Key Verse songs each week. (We just mention them in the QS, but could do more with them.) • Make sure that all kids get to answer during debriefing, and have leader ask volunteers to share their answers with the large group. (Could add journaling here, too. Kids write their answers, get in pairs and share, and then share with the whole group.) • Stop during play of the actual metaphor game to debrief how what kids are experiencing in the game can be related to that week’s Bible story and Point. • Where appropriate, share some of what the leader learned in the Journal as to background for the Bible story. • Read the Bible story again. While reading, have kids draw or sculpt something about the story. Afterward, have kids share their artwork with everyone else and explain how it connects to the story. Once again, thank you for raising your concerns. I hope these suggestions will contribute to your ministry, and I pray that your kids will continue to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Blessings, Shawn Vander Lugt Editor: Curriculum Group Publishing, Inc. 970-292-4102
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 11/3/2009 9:46:41 AM
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| Our 5th graders are doing pretty good with the lesson plans for the most part. We have trouble with the beginning activity which is the "boggle." The kids are supposed to shake the box containing letters and write down all the words they can with the letters. After doing it four weeks in a row they are bored with that activity. So now they switched off the beginning activity with the 3rd and 4th grade class, but they are complaining that they are bored with it too. That is the only party of the lesson that I wish would have more variety. I have to try and think of another beginning activity for them to do or they will just have to do a straight discussion time (about their week) for the first 10 minutes (which isn't as much fun as a game). I agree that the other lessons are more fun for the kids. I think the 5th graders would like to play more games like the 3rd and 4th graders get to do.
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/13/2009 9:44:04 AM
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It may be beneficial to really encourage kids to talk about the word or words they made and connect that to something they experienced throughout their past week. For example, if someone came up with the word “joy,” each kid could spend some time sharing an event from the past week when he or she experienced joy. Buzz Bond is specifically designed to help kids get to know each other better by sharing experiences, emotions, and events that touched their lives throughout their week. Hopefully, by encouraging this type of interaction, either as a large group, trios, or in pairs, kids can get to know each other better and meaningful bonds can be formed and continue to grow throughout the year. Blessings, Shawn Vander Lugt Editor: Curriculum Group Publishing, Inc. 970-292-4102
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