SEGMENT 1:  READINESS

This first part of the program starts on time, or before time. But don’t rush into the presentation of lesson content. Relational, innovative, style-one learners find it difficult to apply their minds to the new learning until they know that everyone is comfortable, everyone is friends. They want you to begin by getting everyone talking to each other, either with an ice-breaker or with readiness activities.

The style-one learning question is: Why do I need to learn this (the story and objective)?

For the first 15 minutes, give kids the opportunity to work on an activity, alone or in small groups. The activity might be

1. A question to ask each other (Who is the smallest and the largest person you know? Or were you ever lost? Tell me about it.)
2. An activity that helps them experience something relevant to the topic. (Discover the shortest adult in church. Look up the Guinness Book of Records for a short person. Draw a picture of the place you would least want to be lost.
3. A chance to explore the meaning of a text. (A dictionary search, a Bible encyclopedia study of the sycamore tree, or the taxation system, etc.)
4. A study of several texts, so as to learn what the Bible says about the main concept.

At the conclusion of each activity, the kids show or report their findings. A discussion of what they experienced in these activities, help them see WHY they need to study more about the topic. Notice that the Bible lesson has begun. While getting comfortable with each other and answering the learning question they began to study. The debriefing discussion may conclude each activity or be woven into the lesson presentation of segment 2.

Know Your Objective

Narrowing the Objective

Missed Opportunity

Total Time Teaching

Divide Your Time
1 - Readiness
2 - Lesson Content
3 - Application
4 - Sharing
Variations
Conclusion

go to "Segment 2 -- Lesson Content"