Have you ever noticed how tangled up relationships can get?  And do you ever hear any of these comments among family and friends? – He said this.  She said that.  I don’t like her?  He makes me crazy!  Relationships can be difficult at times, but as I get older, I am learning that a little kindness and love generously given here and there can untangle some of the worst situations.  Our kids are not immune to the tangled webs of relationships around them either.  So why not try this super Bible school activity that features a portion of Ephesians 4:32, which says: “Be kind and loving to each other…” to help your kids learn that God can use kindness and love to untangle the worst of relationships.

Here’s what you do:

This activity will require some preparation.  Before your children arrive to their class, cut a piece of yarn about 20 to 30 feet long per child.  On one end of the string tie a nametag of a child in the class.  On the other end, attach a small treat such as a lollipop.  Attach the strings to walls or furniture, carefully weaving them in and out among each other.  You are now ready to play the activity.

When the children arrive, give them time to be curious about the tangled web of yarn.  Now say the following:  Do any of you have any relationships that feel like they’re all tangled up?  For example, maybe your sister won’t speak to your brother.  Or maybe whenever your aunt and uncle come over, they are always fighting.  Or maybe there is someone at your school who isn’t very nice to you.  Do any of you have relationships like that?  (Wait for kids to respond.)  Well, this tangled yarn you see is a picture of how messed up our friendships can get.  Is there a way to get things untangled?  I think there is.  And I think the answer can be found in a portion of Ephesians 4:32, which says: “Be kind and loving to each other…”  Today we are going to practice being kind and loving with this Bible school activity called “Got Relationship Tangles?”.  I am going to give you a quick relationship challenge.  I want you to pretend you are in the story.  You must give me one way you could show kindness or love in the situation.  Once you have participated in 2 different situations, you can go find your name attached to one of the pieces of yarn and then untangle your piece to find a treat on the other end.  Eventually, I hope all your kind and loving responses will clear away the tangled mess in our room and you will be rewarded for your right choices!

Here are 12 relationship challenges to give to your kids:

1. Your friend asks you if (he/she) could look over your shoulder today at your math test.  You say that wouldn’t be right.  Your friend gets mad at you.  What do you do?
2. Your grandma gets frustrated with you because you don’t call her on the phone very often.  What do you do?
3. Your friend gets jealous because you want to have lunch with some other friends today.  What do you do?
4. Your family is low on money right now.  You want a new bike and keep bugging your dad about it.  Your dad gets mad at you for not understanding that there’s not enough money for a bike.  What do you do?
5. You forgot to send a thank you note to your aunt for a gift.  You’re afraid she’s mad at you.  What do you do?
6. Your friend just found out that (his/her) parents are getting a divorce.  What do you do?
7. Your mom promised to take you out for ice cram after she was done with her chores.  But after she got done, she forgot about her promise.  What do you do?
8. Your baby brother is crying.  Mom is busy doing laundry and you are busy with homework.  What do you do?
9. You just found out that your best friend told another friend of yours that (he/she) didn’t like coming over to your house.  What do you do?
10. Your friend forgot to bring her lunch money again.  She always asks you if she can borrow some money, but she never pays it back.  What do you do?
11. Your dad is always busy and doesn’t spend very much time with you.  What do you do?
12. Your teacher praises you for working hard in English, but she says you need to work harder in math.  This makes your upset.  What do you do?

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John 14:6 is probably one of the most beloved and memorized Bible verses of all time.  It says, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father accept through me.”  Simple, but most profound.  Help your kids memorize this amazing Scripture by playing this very fun Bible school activity, which I call “Way, Truth, Life Dice.”

Here’s what you do:

This game takes some preparation, but your kids will appreciate the time you spent.  First, you want to make 5 large dice.  I went to my local box store and bought 5 – 7” cubes.  I then went on my computer and created some nice words: way, truth and life.  Place 2 of each word on each die.  Therefore, each die will show 2 of each word.  Next, make 12 cards. Four will say “Way”, four will say “Truth” and the last 4 will say “Life”.  Place these in a bucket or hat.  Now, have ready your list of multiple choice questions found below.  Finally, before playing the Bible review game, have the children memorize John 14:6.  The faster they memorize it, the better their team will do.

Here’s how to play:

Divide your class into 2 teams.  Show the class the dice and show how each die has the words: way, truth and life on them.  Have one child come up from the first team.  Let him pick out a card from the bucket.  This card will tell you what type of question to ask.  If the child answers correctly, let him roll each of the 5 dice.  He wants to roll as many of the word that he picked out of the bucket.  For example, if he picked a “Way” question, he wants to roll as many “Ways” as he can.  For each “Way” he rolls, he gets 100 points for his team.  Finally, he can earn an extra 100 points if he can correctly recite John 14:6.  Play until both teams have answered the questions.  The team with the most points wins.

Way Questions

Proverbs 4:11 says this: “I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.”  Life can be difficult sometimes.  It can be easy to lose your way and get lost and forget what’s really important.  This verse says that God will guide you with His wisdom so you’ll always know what to do and where to go.

God will guide you with His:

1. seeing eye dog
2. lies
3. wisdom

Isaiah 30:21 says this:  “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”  This verse shows that God will never steer you wrong.  If you will only listen to Him, He will show you the right and true ways to take in your life.God will:

1. show you the right and true way
2. get you lost every time
3. forget to ask for directions

I Corinthians 13 is the famous chapter on love written by the apostle Paul.  The Bible says in I Corinthians 12:31 that love is the most excellent way to follow.  The Bible also says that God is love.  So, it makes sense to always follow God who is the most excellent way.

God is:

1. love
2. uncaring
3. not worthy of following

Proverbs 14:12 says this: “There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.”  It’s important to understand that you will not always know which way to go in life.  In fact, life can sometimes get very confusing.  You might think you know the right way to go, but until you get God’s direction, you better stay put.  Not following God can lead to danger.

Not following God:

1. can get you all the ice cream you want
2. can lead to danger
3. is the best thing to do

Truth Questions

Psalm 43:3 says this: “Oh, send out your light and your truth – let them lead me.” Is there any leader in your life that you follow?  Maybe it’s your mom or dad or teacher.  You probably follow them because you trust them to be truthful and honest.  God wants you to follow His truth.  You can always trust Him to lead you in the right direction.

God wants us to follow:

1. His angels
2. Dishonest people
3. His truth

Proverbs 12:19 says this: “ Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.”  Have you ever told a lie and were then found out?  Unfortunately, most of us can say,”Yes”, to this question.  Here’s another question.  Have you ever noticed how things that are true are told over and over again through every generation whereas most lies fizzle out over time?  For example, it is true that God made you, God loves you and God will always take care of all your needs.  These are truths that will never go away, but will always stand the test of time.

God’s truth will:

1. eventually become lies
2. always stand the test of time
3. make me grow wings

In Isaiah 30:11, there were some stubborn people who didn’t want to hear the truth of God.  Instead, they were willing to hear lies!  God‘s truth made them uncomfortable.  God’s truth might make you feel uncomfortable too sometimes, but I hope you’ll always remember that when God speaks truth to you it’s because He loves you and wants what is best for you.  Never ignore God’s wonderful truth.

Sometimes God’s truth might make me:

1. feel uncomfortable
2. fall asleep
3. have the hiccups

John 8:32 says this: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Have you ever noticed how lies can get people’s lives tangled up in a mess?  God’s truth does just the opposite.  It frees us and allows us to live lives that are not only pleasing to God, but also pleasing to those around us.

God’s truth:

1. is not important to know
2. locks us up in chains
3. frees us to live lives pleasing to God and others.

Life Questions

Proverbs 8:35 says this: “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.  But whoever fails to find me harms himself, all who hate me love death.”  This Bible verse is very clear in describing where true life comes from.  It can only come from God.  And when we find God our life will be blessed.

True life only comes from:

1. God
2. believing in yourself
3. taking your vitamins every day

In the book of Jeremiah 10:23, Jeremiah wrote this prayer:  “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.”  Jeremiah understood that even though he could walk and talk and breathe and eat on his own, every part of his life belonged to God.  And since his life belonged to God, he should let God lead his life.  Without God, you wouldn’t have a life.

According to Jeremiah 10:23, a man’s life:

1. isn’t worth very much
2. is not his own
3. belongs to the President of the United States

John 1:4 says this:  “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”  This Bible verse is talking about Jesus.  Jesus is both life and light for those who believe in Him.  For the Christian, our life does not end here on earth, but continues in Heaven forever and ever.

Jesus is both:

1. hot and cold
2. short and skinny
3. life and light

John 6:35 says this: “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”  Have you ever been hungry and thirsty?  Of course, we’ve all experienced growling stomachs and parched throats now and then.  But did you know that this Bible verse says that if we believe in Jesus we don’t ever have to be hungry or thirsty?  It’s not talking about real food or water.  It’s talking about all the things in life that really matter like love and friendship.  When we believe in Jesus, our lives will never go hungry for anything we need.

This verse is talking about:

1. believing in Jesus
2. spaghetti and meatballs
3. believing in ourselves to get what we need.

Game Tip: You will notice that some of my answers are silly.  I have found this to be very effective with my kids.  They are listening to the truth being told them as well as waiting for the “funny bone” line.

Next, if you liked this Sunday School/Homeschooling idea, then sign up today to receive Scripture Lady’s Free Email Kid Tips packed full with creative ideas and receive 6 FREE Bible Review Games to help your kids get excited about the Bible! Just click here:http://myfreebiblegames.com to receive your  6 FREE Bible Review Games today!

I really enjoy learning definitions to words.  For example, I remember sitting in my youth group years ago and hearing our teacher say that sin, in its foundational definition, means to miss the mark.  In other words, sin puts us off track from where God wants us to be.  Our elementary kids need to understand this and realize that all “miss the mark” and sin at times.  That’s what Romans 3:23 says.  Here’s the complete version:  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Here is a fun Bible school activity you can play with your kids to help them memorize this important Bible verse.  It’s called “Missing the Mark”.

Here’s what you do:

This game can actually be played indoors or out.  If you are cooped up in your classroom all the time, you might want to grab a piece of sidewalk chalk and head outside.  Otherwise you will need to make the following grid, I will describe, on your floor with some masking tape.  Make a 12-square grid, but then put a 13^th square right in the middle.  I suggest making the grid about 1.5 yards long and wide.  Next, label each square, except for the middle one, with one word from Romans 3:23 along with a point value of 200, 300, or 400.  The middle square gets a point value of 500.  There are 12 words in Romans 3:23 including the reference.  Do not place them in any kind of order.  They should look scrambled on the grid.  Finally, grab a beanbag or some other object that will throw and land nicely on the grid.  You are now ready to play the game.

Here’s how to play:

Before beginning the game, say the following:  Have any of you ever shot an arrow?  (Wait for responses.  If no one has shot an arrow, ask if they’ve ever seen someone shoot an arrow.)  I’ve shot an arrow and I hardly ever made the bulls eye.  I always missed the mark.  Did you know that’s kind of what sin is like?  It’s like missing the mark or falling short of where you should be – where God wants you to be.  Romans 3:23 says this: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  This verse means that we are all sinners and we all miss the mark at times and do wrong things that displease God.  Let’s play a game called “Missing the Mark” to help us memorize this important Bible verse.

Divide your class into 2 teams for this Bible school activity.  Give a child from the first team the chance to throw the beanbag.  He should try for the middle square.  If he succeeds, he must look away from the grid and recite Romans 3:23 by heart.  If he does so correctly, he earns 500 points for his team.  If he lands on a square with a word on it, he can earn the points on that square by saying the verse while looking at the grid.  However, before he says it, you the teacher, must erase the word in the box.  Play continues to the next team.  Eventually, it will get harder to recite the verse as the words are erased.  On any turn, if the beanbag lands on a square whose word has already been erased, then the teacher erases a different word on the grid, but the child only earns the points of the original square.  The team with the most points wins.

Next, if you liked this Sunday School/Homeschooling idea, then sign up today to receive Scripture Lady’s Free Email Kid Tips packed full with creative ideas and receive 6 FREE Bible Review Games to help your kids get excited about the Bible! Just click here: http://myfreebiblegames.com to receive your  6 FREE Bible Review Games today!

Can you list some kindnesses of the Lord?  For example, He is kind enough to surround us with friends.  He is kind enough to take care of all our needs.  He was kind enough to create the beautiful world that we live in.  Of course, those are just to name a few.  There are so many kindnesses that we should proclaim to every one we meet.  In fact, Isaiah 63:7 encourages us to do just that.  It says, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord.”  Pretty simple, but very profound.  Here is a fun Bible school activity you will want to try with your kids to help them memorize this wonderful Bible verse.  I call it “I Will Tell Relay”.

Here’s what you do:

For this Sunday school lesson bible game you will need 2 cans that are the #10 size.  This is usually the can that holds 28 oz.  Cut off both ends with a can opener and make sure that there are no sharp edges anywhere.  You may even want to place tape around the edges.  These cans will be passing from arm to arm, so safety is very important.  Make sure the cans are clean and wrap each can with a different color of construction paper.

Before playing the game, take time to introduce Isaiah 63:7.  Ask the kids to help you make a list of the kindnesses of the Lord much in the same way I did at the beginning of this article.  As they say a kindness, write it somewhere on each of the cans.  Now, have the class say the Bible verse together several times so that they begin to memorize it and are ready to play the game.  Finally, explain how the game is played and help them understand that as they are “shaking hands” and passing the “can of kindnesses” they are representing what it is like to share the Lord’s kindnesses with everyone they meet.

Here’s how you play:

Divide your class into 2 teams. Have them form 2 parallel lines facing each other about 3 to 4 feet apart.  Have the first person in each line place the can on their arm.  After talking about the verse, tell the children that on your word, “Go!”, the first person in each line must pass the can to the person next to them by shaking hands through the can.  Each person can only use one hand to pass the can.  In other words, they cannot use their other hand to help them in any way.  Once the can gets to the end of the line, the last person must pass the can to a teacher or helper and say Isaiah 63:7 to that teacher or helper.  If he says it correctly, he takes the can back to the beginning of the line and steps away.  There is now one less person in the line.  The game proceeds as before.  If a child does not say the verse correctly, he must go to the beginning of the line and start the can again.  The first team to “get rid of” all their teammates is the winner of this super Bible school activity.

Next, if you liked this Sunday School/Homeschooling idea, then sign up today to receive Scripture Lady’s Free Email Kid Tips packed full with creative ideas and receive 6 FREE Bible Review Games to help your kids get excited about the Bible! Just click here: http://myfreebiblegames.com to receive your  6 FREE Bible Review Games today!

Isn’t it interesting how there are so many great Bible pairs in the Bible?  Alpha and Omega, David and Goliath, Joseph and Mary are just a few of the great examples peppered throughout God’s wonderful Word.  Now how about “lamp and light”?  Did you guess Psalm 199:105?  This illuminating verse says the following:  “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  How true.  How true.  But do your kids know it’s true?  Why not play this fun Bible school activity that uses a game of pairing important Bible people or things together while also promoting the memorization of the verse.

Here’s what you do:

Before playing the game, you will need to do a little preparation.  First, take a stack of index cards and write one word each from Psalm 119:105.  Put the reference on a card as well.  Place these cards face out either on a pocket chart (this is my choice) or on a table in mixed up order.  Finally, make sure you have the list of Bible pairs ready, which I have provided for you down below.  You are ready to play the game.

Here’s how you play:

Begin by saying the following:  Who can tell me what goes with salt?  (Wait for response of “pepper.”)  Who can tell me what goes with spaghetti?  (Wait for response of “meatballs.”)  You guys are great!  You know common everyday pairs, but do you know the pairs that come from the Bible?  For example, what goes with Noah?  (Wait for response of “ark” or “flood” or something comparable.)  That’s right!  Now how about the word “lamp”?  (Wait for response.)  That one’s a little harder.  Maybe our Bible verse that we are going to memorize will give you a little hint.  It’s Psalm 119:105 and it says this: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  Now who can tell me the pair that goes with lamp?  (Wait for response of “light”.)  Super!

Today we are going to play a game where your team will have to guess some pairs in the Bible in 30-second intervals.  For each pair you get right, your team will get 100 points.  At the end of 2 rounds of guessing (each team gets to have a turn), whoever has the most points will get 30 more seconds to place our Bible verse all scrambled here in perfect order.  If the team is successful, they will earn an extra 100 points.  We will play several rounds.  By the way, if you cannot think of the pair fast enough, you can say, “Pass” and I will go onto the next pair.

Tips for Success with this Bible School Activity:

You will want someone to be the scorekeeper and someone to keep time.  When you say the first part of the pair, add on the word “and” afterwards.  Only accept the pair that is on your list as a correct answer. You can reuse the pairs after going through the list.  Scramble up the words of the verse after each attempt.  Pick one child from each team at a time to play the game and let the rest of the class know they must be quiet and not shout out any answers.  Finally, have fun!

Bible Pairs:

• Noah and the ark
• Joseph and his coat of many colors
• Abraham and Sarah
• Adam and Eve
• Daniel and the lion’s den
• Alpha and Omega
• Joseph and Mary
• The burning bush and Moses
• The dove and the Holy Spirit
• Jonah and the whale
• Quail and manna
• 30 pieces of silver and Judas
• Jonathan and David
• Samson and Delilah
• Chariot of fire and Elijah
• 10 Commandments and Moses
• 40 years in the desert and the Israelites (or Jews)
• Pillar of salt and Lot’s wife
• Sodom and Gomorrah
• Ruth and Naomi
• Solomon and the temple
• Jacob and Rachel
• Isaac and Rebekah
• Falling walls and Jericho
• Cain and Abel

#1  – The first grade is the doorway to the child’s entire education. It must be a positive experience because it will affect the rest of his life.   If he learns to love school in the first grade, he will enjoy in the rest of his school years.

#2 – Your decision to homeschool you first grader is a great responsibility. Don’t panic. Don’t stress out. Yes, this is an important time in the life of your child, and you may not feel prepared or capable. Relax. Have fun. Your child will learn every thing he needs if YOU enjoy school.

#3 – Make your first grader the #1 most important member of the family. Let him feel that first grade is very important. You can show it in small, simple ways.  For example, let him sit beside you when you read, even if he is not the youngest child. Let him have special school crayons or pencil for use only  when doing school work.

#4 – Don’t let the preschoolers do the first grade workbooks. They see older children doing it and it looks so fun.  Make it a special part of first grade, that only those special first graders get to do.  Then when your preschooler gets to first grade, it will be new and exciting.

#4 – Play learning games like word games and letter games. Include lots of pre-school activities. But at the same time, don’t let play distract form studies. Keep a good balance between work and play. Think of it as a balance.  Work is on one side, play on the other. If the work side gets too heavy, the child may end up disliking school, get grumpy about doing his work, makes your job of teaching harder, and learn almost nothing. On the other hand if the play side of the balance gets too heavy, the child learns no study skills which will be a disadvantage when he gets in higher grades.

#5 – It is important to teach the child to finish his school work in a timely manner. You need to expect work from him, and he needs to know that it is expected of him. Work is in fact a frame of mind. So using this balance of play and work, make his work pleasant so that it seems more like play.

#6 – Focus on reading. Reading is the base that the child will build his entire education on. If he learns only this one skill in first grade, he will be prepared for the rest of his school years. Center your first grade curriculum around your reading program. Of course the other subjects are important, but phonics, writing, spelling, and language can all be incorporated into the reading program. History can be taught during story time which is important to any reading program.

#7 – Math is also very important. Choose a good math course that will continue on and build through each grade.

#8 – Don’t forget art. Drawing, coloring, and cutting all improve eye-hand coordination which in turn will help delve lope reading and writing skills.

#9 – Keep a fast pace. First graders don’t have a real long attention span.  Alternate between math and reading throughout the day so that the child doesn’t get tired of doing one subject.

#10 – The first year of school will take more of your time than any other year. If the proper foundation is laid in the first grade, the child can almost take himself through his lessons the rest of his school years.

Lily Ann is a mother to six bright children. She has enjoyed great success in the area of homeschooling. She is always looking for ways to improve and loves to learn new things. Please visit her website.

Originally posted 2009-05-20 13:28:58.

What’s your favorite food?  Chocolate chip cookies?  Lasagna?  Bacon and eggs?  Now what’s really better?  Your favorite food or God’s Word?  I hope you said, “God’s Word.”  The psalmist thought so in Psalm 119:103, which says: “How sweet are your promises to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth!“ Every word in the Bible can nourish our souls.  Here’s a fun Bible school activity that can be played much like Bingo.  But this game will introduce your kids to foods listed in the Bible and the contexts in which they’re found.  It’s called “God’s Groceries”.

Here’s what you do:

This game will take some preparation, but your kids will be blessed by your effort.  Prepare 2 identical sets of 18 different picture cards of foods found in the Bible.  (I have provided you with a list below.)  Make your cards about 2”x 2”.  Laminate them for long-term use.  Place one set of the cards in a bucket out of which the kids will pick.  Take the other set of cards and divide them into 2 sets of nine and place each set in a 3 x 3 grid on a table or in a pocket chart.  Have the list of questions ready that are found below.  You are now ready to play the game.

Here’s how you play:

Divide your class into 2 teams.  Begin by saying much of the same that I said in the opening of this article.  It’s a nice opener for the game.  Each team will get a bingo grid that they are trying to get 3 in a row on.  Let a child come forward and answer one of the Grocery List Questions.  If he gets it correct, he gets to take out a card out of the bucket and match it to one of the cards on either grid.  Hopefully, the card will match a card on his team’s grid, but it might match the other team’s grid.  This is OK.  In fact, it makes the game a little more fun and competitive.  Play alternates between the two teams.  The first team to get 3 in a row, wins.

List of Foods: (Just a sample)

Cinnamon, garlic, dates, olives, nuts, raisins, beans, cucumbers, onions, bread, corn, fish, quail, pigeon, goat, lamb, butter, cheese.

Grocery List Questions:

When asking the question, read the verse and say the word “blank” for the missing food.

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the (________), and the garlic:  Numbers 11:5  (onions)

This verse is talking about the Israelites when they were wandering in the desert.  They were complaining about the food situation and were remembering back to days when they at least had this kind of food that looks like a ball and when people cut it, it often makes them cry.

What Bible food is it?

And it came to pass, (that) David…brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and (__________)…2 Samuel 17:28  (beans)

If you’ve ever gone camping, you know you must pack food for your journey.  This verse shows a time when David was camping out in the wilderness in the land of Gilead.  One of the foods they brought for their campout were these tiny little things that when cooked become kind of mushy and people love to put them in their burritos with cheese.

What Bible food is it?

Then Jacob gave Esau (________) and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:34  (bread)

Poor silly Esau!  If only he had cared more about the things God had given him, such as his birthright, than thinking about his stomach, this Bible story might have turned out differently!  Jacob gave his brother a pot of stew and this doughy food that is often used to make sandwiches.

What Bible food is it?

And he took the seven loaves and the (________), and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. Matthew 15:36  (fish)

How was Jesus going to feed all the people who came to hear him speak with only seven loaves of bread and this food that is often caught with a pole and a worm on a hook?  He fed them by a miracle!

What Bible food is it?

These are the (animals) which ye shall eat: the ox, the (________), and the goat… Deuteronomy 14:4   (sheep)

In the Old Testament, being a child of the Lord meant that you could only eat certain things.  This verse shows a partial food list of meats they were allowed to eat.  The missing meat comes from an animal that is not known for its intelligence and likes to say, “Bah” a lot.

What Bible food is it?

Surely the churning of milk brings forth (________), and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife. Proverbs 30:33  (butter)

This Bible verse uses a yellowish food that is often added to popcorn at the movie theatre.  This food is smooth, but wrath or anger is not.  It’s better that you stir up this food rather than a bad temper.

What Bible food is it?

Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like (_________)?Job 10:10  (cheese)

Poor Job!  God allowed him to go through a lot of hardships.  No wonder he felt like God was poking him and forming him into this kind of food that is often served with crackers in many different varieties, such as cheddar and swiss.

What Bible food is it?

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an (________), will he offer him a scorpion?  Luke 11:12  (egg)

This verse shows that God will always give His children what is best.  He is our Father.  Would a good father ever give his child a scorpion if he asked for this kind of food that is often scrambled in the morning and served with bacon?

What Bible food is it?

And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat (________) and wild honey… Mark 1:6  (locusts)

John the Baptist must have made an interesting dinner guest – especially if he ever requested this kind of food which is really just a green hopping insect that was also one of the plagues found in Exodus.  Do you think they were crunchy?

What Bible food is it?

And thou shall not glean thy vineyard, neither shall thou gather every (________) of thy vineyard; thou shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:10  (grape)

After the Lord led Moses and the children of Israel out of Egypt, he had a long talk with Moses and gave him a list of do’s and don’ts.  This Bible verse shows how God wanted his children to take care of the poor and stranger by leaving some of this food on the ground for them to take.  This food is often found in clusters and grows on vines.  They are usually green and purple.

What Bible food is it?

Moreover the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, “Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet (_________) half so much… Exodus 30:23 (cinnamon)

While the children of Israel were in the desert, God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle where God could dwell.  God gave detailed instructions of how he wanted it built.  He even wanted this sweet brown spice, which is often used with sugar to make ooey gooey rolls to be a part of His dwelling place.

What Bible food is it?

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of (________). Genesis 19:26  (salt)

Lot’s wife had a difficult time trusting in God.  Because of her lack of trust, she turned into this white food that is often a spice on every kitchen table.  Be careful!  Don’t put too much on and don’t look back when God tells you not to!

What Bible food is it?

Over the past 10 years, a number of studies have examined the connection between fine arts education and academic achievement. To this musically-trained author, the results have not been surprising.

Fine Arts are generally considered the areas of music, drama/theatre, dance and art, characterized by purely aesthetic value. While these subjects have been traditionally handled as individually taught classes, the studies referred to focused on the benefits of teaching the arts “across the curriculum”.

This isn’t a new concept. Reading and writing are easily adaptable and have become increasingly taught as part of the study of history and science. Applying fine arts in this same way has been shown to encourage creative thinking and a deeper understanding of academic learning, especially in math and the sciences. Art studies have also been shown to raise verbal and math SAT scores, when compared to those of students receiving no art education. Teaching through the arts helps students experience concepts rather than just talk about them. It also allows material to “sink in” via multiple modes and thus foster learning regardless of the student’s learning style.

An absolutely wonderful application of these principles and findings is the Master’s Academy of Fine Arts. This is a fine arts program designed specifically for homeschooled children aged 5-18 years old. Classes meet once a week and students study drama, art and music within a historical context. World History is broken up into the 6 time-periods that comprise a Master’s cycle, each lasting a complete year. And since it’s inception in 1992, when it opened in the Atlanta, GA area, 3 levels have been developed:

1) The Master’s Academy of Fine Arts – an exposure-level program designed to lay a foundation in arts education;

2) Building on this is the Master’s Academy of Visual and Performing Arts – geared toward junior high and high school students; and

3) Terebinth – a non-traditional, college-level program for the arts which began its pilot year in the fall of ’07.

In 1995, the administrators of MAFA decided to make the program available to homeschoolers across the US, and it has grown steadily since then. Today, MAFA satellites operate in 16 locations

Our family has been involved in The Master’s Academy for 2 years now. It has been a highlight of our kids’ week and they always finish the morning with lots of new information, ideas and projects to talk about and pursue on their own time. Master’s has developed a love and interest in both music and history for our 2 boys, and our daughter is looking forward to being a part of things next year. I eagerly anticipate what’s to come!

To find out more about MAFA, or to find a location near you, visit their homepage at www.mafa.net.

Originally posted 2009-06-03 07:13:31.

Leadership education is a method of bringing up your kids to become respected future leaders, successful businessmen, revered church leaders and righteous statesmen in the community. These are leaders who seek change in our community. It’s a parent’s hope that your children will become excellent future leaders.

People wonder why one child receives leadership education and the other receives training to become a follower. The thing is, a child who is schooled in the right way to think, will more likely become future leaders. When young people think outside their comfort zone, when they work on their own way, and use it in life, then they grow to become tomorrow’s leaders, doing what is right.

How is do you train children to think? How can you do this in your curriculum. . .  for free?

Andrew Kern, which hails from Circe Institute, says that the quality of your life depends on the quality of the questions being asked. Since childhood, young leaders are asked the right questions. These questions go beyond the literal sense, evaluating and analyzing ideas before they do it.

Asking questions of your students is free and easy, as well as extremely effective. Questions should allow your children time to think and ponder. Your responsibility is deciding which questions are the best ones to ask and then leading a discussion with your students.

When a question is brought forth, then a decision must be made. As your kids answer the question, they are being trained to make good decisions. At times, these decisions are offered through a mentor. It’s best to give your students a lot of time to practice answering questions with you near them. A nice topic to start questioning is from the classic book you are reading together.

Choose a classic book on your students’ reading level. Have them read the book daily and write down their thoughts about the book. Once or twice a week you, as the teacher and mentor, lead a Socratic discussion. Begin by asking simple, literal questions to give your students confidence in participating.

After the simple questions, ask questions that use comparison. This might be simply comparing two people in the story or settings. Put the ideas on the whiteboard or blackboard to bring forth more communication. The main thing here is that you ,the mentor, must not answer your own question. If your child cannot answer the question, then rephrase it and wait for them to answer back. Silence is great at allowing our children to think on their own.

Leadership training is absolutely necessary in today’s curriculum for your students. Questions and discussions are the beginning point of educating our children to be leaders who can think on their own.

If you sense your child getting frustrated with a particular skill, do not panic but take a break. Learning is developmental, just like riding a bike. If your child is not developmentally ready to ride a bike, you are not going to continue to put him on it day after day. You may wait a few weeks or months and try again. Apply this concept to your teaching.

It is important to realize that most learning occurs in waves. The peaks of learning are referred to as “light bulb” moments. It is when your child grasps a concept that you have worked on for days, weeks, months, or even years. Some children need a lot of variety and repetition, while others seem to almost teach themselves. Take your time and progress at your child’s own pace. Most importantly, do not rush to keep your child on “grade level.” Children can catch up on years of learning in a matter of months.

For example, I once taught a child in third grade who was reading on a first grade level. He had a “learning spurt” which moved him into the head of the class for reading by the end of the school year.

Sometimes there is not a developmental issue, but you may need to focus on the underlying problem. When your child is struggling with a concept, take a step backwards and analyze the problem. One example of focusing on what is causing the problem in your child’s learning is if your child needs help with handwriting to stop having him practice writing letters sheet after sheet. Let’s go back to the underlying cause, which is more than likely weakened muscles in your child’s hand and arm. Counteract this weakness with strengthening your child’s hand and arm muscles. Another example is if your child is struggling with fractions. Go back and review the multiplication and division facts. These facts set the foundation for fractions. One step backwards may lead to two steps forwards!

Tamara Chilver is an elementary teacher, home educator, speaker, author of Homeschooling with TLC in the Elementary Grades and Tutoring Your Elementary Child with TLC, and creator of the television program Flip Your Family. Tamara’s approach gives parents teaching tools to enhance their children’s education and empowers them with confidence. For more teaching tips, visit TeachingWithTLC.com.

Originally posted 2009-04-03 16:37:27.