Volunteering to teach Sunday School to the young children of your church can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, with a little bit of prep work and the right supplies, you’ll be able to map out your lessons so you’ll have a solid plan in place ahead of time. There are a number of essentials that every well-prepared Sunday School teacher should have. While some of these are available for free online, you’ll also find a wealth of great Sunday School materials for sale.
1. A Good Curriculum
No matter how well you know the Bible and all the lessons it can impart, there is no substitute for a strong written curriculum. Make sure to know the general age range of your students before selecting one. An age-appropriate lesson plan ensures the material will be easily understood and absorbed by your pupils. If you are very ambitious, you can even create your own curriculum. Write one that focuses on specific themes that are woven throughout the Bible, or make one based on different Bible stories.
2. Craft Supplies
Young children are very tactile learners, so incorporating a hands-on activity into your Sunday School lesson is sure to get their attention. Consider filling a plastic tub with things like glue sticks, markers, construction paper, stickers, feathers, popsicle sticks, cardboard, and other similar items. Check to see what your church has on hand. You may discover items you can utilize for your lessons, saving you a trip to the store. Base your craft projects on something from a specific Bible story. For example, you could have the children make cotton ball sheep to go along with teaching Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep found in both Matthew and Luke.
3. Games
Sunday School games provide a wonderful way to reinforce key concepts you’ve covered in class. Searching online will yield a range of game ideas that only require basic supplies you may already have on hand, or that are easy and cheap to find at the store. Young children can get restless when having to sit for an hour or more, so having a game break with something active can help them to regain focus.
4. Age-Appropriate Books
Having age-appropriate books on hand can be very useful when teaching Sunday School. There’s a good chance your church will have a collection for your use. Browse through your available options and pick a few out for the upcoming Sunday. Public libraries also provide an option for finding books to read to your class.
5. Chalk Board or Whiteboard
Drawing and coloring materials can encompass a wide range of items. If the room you are teaching in doesn’t have a chalkboard or whiteboard, consider buying a small one that you can put on an easel. As an alternative, you could use a large pad of paper. Make sure to have kid-friendly markers for using with these.
6. Coloring Supplies
A quick online search for free printable coloring pages will bring up many options. Print out multiple options and take them with you each Sunday, even if you don’t have plans for using them. If you get through your lesson sooner than expected, passing out coloring pages or plain paper to draw on can be a good way to fill some empty time.
Leading a Sunday School class should be a rewarding experience and one that you’re able to enjoy for as long as you’re needed. When you have the right tools and materials in place for teaching your young students, you’ll find that the class will go much more smoothly. It just might become the favorite part of their week.
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