Back to School

The summer break will be over for us this week. Classes at the high school began Monday for Sarah and Matt. Remy's first day of his last year in college began today, and Chris flies to Oklahoma City on Friday before heading back to the seminary the next morning.  


Things will be quieter at home during the day, but I expect the level of school-related activities  evenings and weekends to rise. For example, band activities include 10+ football games and 9+ band contests/festivals/performances, all before the Christmas break. Then there's the work Chuck and I will do as Co-Treasurers of the band boosters this school year. Yes, a husband and wife team now manage the budget for a band booster organization! 


We may be busy now, but our time raising kids is winding down. I'll be teaching religious education classes next month and hopefully, for years to come, after being away from it for several years. I'm looking forward to using my gifts of teaching, writing, and crafting to lead young people closer to God as I enter the next phase of my life.






 

Silly Bands for Christians

My copy of RTJ's Creative Catechist arrived in the mail last week! It's a great magazine for religious education teachers, who will be back in the classroom next month. An article I wrote for a game using "Faith Bands," the Christian version of Silly Bands, appears in this September issue.

Here's another game using Faith Bands(TM) for kids ages 8 and above. It's a simple 10-20 minute activity that promotes visual learning, reinforces biblical teachings, and requires team cooperation. Players may sit on the floor or stand behind a table.

Classroom set-up:  Floor mat or table for each team.

Supplies needed: Two or more packs of Faith Bands bracelets (12 per pack, 1 pack per team).

Object: Be the first team to arrange your set of 12 Faith Bands bracelets in the order pictured on the reference guide in the pack.

Rules:

1.       Divide the class into teams consisting of three to four players.

2.       Ask your students to provide the meaning of the symbol associated with each of the 12 Faith Bands bracelets in the pack. 

3.       Empty pack of Faith Bands bracelets in a heap, one heap for each team.

4.       Distribute reference guides, one for each team.

5.       Teacher announces start of game.

6.       Team members assemble Faith Bands bracelets from heap in order pictured on reference guide.

7.       Game ends with first team to finish.

8.       Team placing the most bracelets in the correct order pictured on the reference guide wins.
 

Copyright ©2011 Esther Locascio. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.