Children's Bible Study

[TheresaL]

A friend of mine will be teaching a third grade PSR class and asked for my help. She wants to include a Catholic bible study in her curriculum. I searched the web and found a few, but I don’t know if they are faithful to Catholic teaching. Does anyone know a good quality Catholic children’s bible study?

 

[puzzleannie]

Great Adventure Bible study by Jeff Cavins has modules for kids, you can buy the workbooks and teachers’ guides without the tapes, which are expensive.

Catholic Youth Bible and Catholic Children’s Bible from St. Mary’s Press have bible studies on OT and NT for teens, and for middle grades. We got the children’s bibles and workbooks donated so will be using it with a post-communion middle grader class as alternative to “regular” CCD. Supplemented with other resources, they will cover the same ground over 4 years as the regular Grade 3-6 textbooks, but in a different order, and more bible based.
I think Breakaway Bible is the actual name of the kid’s bible (GNT translation Catholic edition).

the bible study resources on catholicexchange.com also have some kids programs, with this one you have to register either as a parish or as individuals, so it can get pricey.

I strongly recommend if you are just starting a scripture based program you get one of many resources out there based on the Sunday lectionary,

 

[Linnyo]

In Scotland, we use a programme called Alive-O. I like it but some criticise it for being ‘old fashioned’ and not always age appropriate but I just adapt the bits I don’t like.

 

[Tabitha]

I strongly recommend if you are just starting a scripture based program you get one of many resources out there based on the Sunday lectionary,

Can you recommend some? I’m trying to find something based on the Sunday readings with a brief explanation of the readings with questions after for the kids to answer. I’ve seen this set smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=3345 which is almost what I’m looking for but it has no questions but instead has activities.

I’m also looking for a teen bible study book where the student is asked to read 1-2 chapters of scripture, gives a brief commentary of the scripture (very brief, 1-2 paragraphs), with basic questions to answer. That’s basically what I want for the Sunday readings.

We’ve just started going to this Baptist family bible study which does this. Where we simply read a chapter of scripture and then answer simple questions. My 11 and 14 yr olds like this format and asked for us to do this at home. Which I prefer because I don’t intend to keep going to this Baptist group.

Thanks,
Tabitha

 

[puzzleannie]

some lectionary based programs for children:
like all catechetical resources, they come with a caveat, they are not perfect, they are starting off points for the catechist who must be knowledgeable enough to supply deficiencies.

Pflaum Gospel weeklys, by grade level, with leader guides and support materials on their website. downside is you have to purchase a magazine for each child.

the most complete for a parish-wide program is the Word to Go (formerly Celebrating the Lectionary) upside is these are reproducible.

Footprints (23rd publications, reproducible, not a stand-alone program, an aide to memorizing and meditation on gospel)

Celebrating the Gospels (Liguori, goes along with Journey of Faith for Children RCIA program)

Complete Children’s Liturgy book cycles A B & C (23rd pubs)

Sunday Weekly Leader guide and support resources, from Treehaus Communications (this is a CLOW resource but contains resource for teaching on the gospel

the chapter study method you describe above is way over the heads of most elementary school children, and should not be introduced until 6th grade or for advanced 5th graders. this is the traditional recommendation of the Church. I would be extremely wary of any method or resource used in a non-CAtholic setting since it will encourage and expect private interpretation.

You also want to have a clear idea in your mind, or for your program, on what you are trying to accomplish.

Do you want teaching based on the Sunday Gospel?
Do you want faith sharing with the Gospel and other readings?
Do you want a guided meditation based on the Gospel and other readings, whereby you will gradually introduce the method of prayer with scripture called lectio divina?
Do you want to foster meditative reading and prayer with scripture?
Do you want an intensive study of one portion, verse, chapter, book or topical readings from scripture, using reference works and research tools?

choose your resources accordingly.

there is another warning I should offer as well. Your friend should begin with asking her DRE what is the curriculum and syllabus for 3rd grade in her parish, and what is the diocesan requirements for teaching 3rd grade?