Firm Foundations (Children's edition)

From SPARK

One-sentence summary

Fifty lessons for children to understand the Bible.

Description

Five book set based on the adult course, Firm Foundations. It was specifically written for third and fourth graders but the studies may be adapted for a variety of ages.

The chronological teaching method used in these lessons is being accepted all over the world in a variety of cultures and languages. It is based on God's pattern for revealing truth – by building one principle upon another.

Book 1 – The teachers manual teaches how to use these lessons.
Book 2 – Lessons 1-12 gives an introduction to the Bible. It then looks in detail at the Creation, followed by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. This group of lessons ends with God's provision and judgment and the birth of Cain and Abel.
Book 3 – Lessons 13-25 presents God's dealing with Cain and Abel. It goes on to tell of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and God's deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt. The final lesson in this group covers the giving of the Ten Commandments.
Book 4 – Lessons 26 -38 study the Tabernacle, God's judgments and deliverance of Israel from captivity. It ends with the fulfillment of the Promise, by the birth of Jesus and his early ministry.
Book 5 – Lessons 39 – 50 begin with Jesus feeding 5000 people. It includes Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and other key stories in his final days of ministry. This series of lessons end with the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
The workbook includes review sheets for each lesson and short plays/skits to help make the lesson meaningful.

Each lesson includes the following:

A review sheet for the children that covers major points of the previous study.
A one-page skit which ties the lesson theme to the children's own world.
Plenty of teacher preparation that includes lesson overview and goal.
Each lesson is presented in clear, easy-to-read outline format.
Themes and Scripture portions are clearly marked.
Helpful teacher notes and Scripture references are in the side columns beside the outline.
Visuals, review sheets and skits may be photocopied for classroom use.

Other materials that come with this set of five books include the following:

A set of 3 full-color maps that are 17”X22”.
One full-color 17”x77” chronological chart that shows the events covered in the lessons.
A set of 15 colorful teaching posters of various sizes.
A variety of visuals to be used as posters or on an overhead projector.

Considerations

The short stories included with each lesson are very Western culture oriented and will not be usable in many cultures.
The plays/skits are also very western and will not be very useful in many cultures.
The actual Bible stories are not presented. A Bible translation is needed. If not available in a given language, some source of Bible story will need to be found.
This material appears to be more of a lecture type teaching rather than storytelling. It is facts and doctrine.
There is a great deal of material in this program and much of it will need to be adapted for use with non-Western cultures.
There is not a great deal of difference between the adult and the children's edition of this Firm Foundations material.
Both the adult and children's editions have been translated into a number of languages.

Limitations

Guidelines for Use

Where to Obtain

Link to Producer or Source Organization

New Tribes Mission

Cost

Cost for the set: $55.21 (if purchased from New Tribes Mission) as of June 2006.

Producer/Owners

Author/Artist/Producer

Author: Trevor Mcllwain with Nancy Everson

Current copyright owner

For contact information, see New Tribes Mission

If you are interested in translating this book into a minority language, contact New Tribes Mission (NTM). Working together you will make a Creative Commons License agreement.

Other Information

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