Welcome to Grace Montreal Church's website for Children's Ministry. This blog is to be a resource to the teachers for GMC Sunday school as well as for the parents of GMCKidz.

Currently, we are looking into how to best teach God's children through curricula. Please be praying for us during this discernment process.

We are always looking for more volunteers. Please keep this need in prayer, and read the information on the role on our blog to consider serving our community in this way!

Church website: gracemontreal.com

Please contact: Rebecca Hall - gmckidz@gmail.com

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Schedule Planning

Schedule (for 45 minutes):


Active Centers (20-30 minutes) *** choose two or three depending on time***
- Activity Centre: depending on demand for space
- Block Centre: not for our group
- Art Centre: great for our space
- Science Centre: could be too messy or require too much space
- Read-Aloud Centre: great depending on activity level of other centres

Snack (5 minutes)

Bible Story Center and Worship Center (10-15 minutes)

Instant Activity or Puzzle (5 minutes, or as time allows)
- requires information from the individual books



What are the special needs of young children?

- unable to sit still for long periods of time. Alternate seated activities with activities that allow children to exercise their large muscles.

- Schedules and timetables have no meaning to the preschool child.


What activity centres are provided in the Leader's Guide?

- The Active Game Centre provides a change of pace and a chance for young bodies to move. All the games for young children should be non-competitive.

-The Art Centre activities provide enjoyable and meaningful are experience for children.

- The Block Centre encourages children to lift, carry and build with blocks, giving them opportunities to develop motor skills, use their imaginations, care for materials and make decisions.

- The Science Center provides the kid of firsthand experiences that are essential for young children to learn. Exploring God's creation helps a child begin to sense the extent of God's love, His care and His wisdom.

- The Bible Story Centre allows Bible thoughts to impact the mind, feelings and behaviour of a young child, by relating those truths to the child's world of family, home and friends.

- The Worship Centre actively involves young children in the basic elements of worship: music, God's Word and prayer. INCLUDE: the bible reference because it is invaluable even if it is not obvious that they are taking in that information. Also repeat the verse at least 8 times in a variety of ways (different voices, volumes, movements, actions).

- The Read-Aloud Story and Activity Centre, a contemporary story picture from Read-Aloud Story and Activity Book helps each child understand and apply the session's Bible truth to his or her own life.

- The Kindergarten Puzzle Centre provides puzzles to engage your kindergarteners and provide a springboard for Bible learning.

- Instant Activities are not a separate centre but are simple, quick activities that you can use at any time during your session.


How do we plan each session?
Do the devotional before each session.

Choose the activities appropriate for each session (depending on time, space, or required materials).

Doing the preparation early will go a long way, and will enable you to enjoy the lesson with the children.