Echoes - Amazon S3 · 2018-12-07 · Echoes curriculum is one of the most widely-used resources among the African-American church. Rich in African-American imagery and history, alive

Uniquely designed to meet the needs of the African-American church and community with real-life application of biblical truths.

Echoes curriculum is one of the most widely-used resources among the African-American church. Rich in African-American imagery and history, alive with family situations and storylines, and leveraging a shared quarterly theme—Echoes serves you better!

Lessons are easy to use, teacher friendly, and are certain to keep your students engaged with relevant Scriptural content that applies to everyday lives. Echoes offers a unified scope and sequence that strengthens the entire church body through shared quarterly themes.

AGES

Toddlers to Preteen

FORMAT

Age graded classroom setting

SCOPE & SEQUENCE

Toddler–Elementary: 2 years Elementary & Upper Elementary: 3 years

MAXIMUM LESSON TIME

60-90 Minutes

Unified scope and sequence for Elementary–High School, along with the Superintendent’s Handbook.

EchoesALL GENERATIONS GROWING TOGETHER

ECHOESCURRICULUM.COM

The Creative Teaching Aids (CTA kits) are so valuable! The kit makes teaching the lesson a breeze with all the fun games, puzzles, charts, puppets and extra resource material. It is easy to use and a real asset to each lesson.

—DOLORUS NEVELS, CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR, CHRIST TEMPLE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, OBERLIN, OHIO

WHY YOU’LL LOVE Echoes TOO !

The Echoes Sunday school material has been a vital part of my formation and education since my youth and it continues to be my literature of choice. I am delighted to say that now a new generation of Christians are being nurtured by Echoes at the church. While serving as pastor in Michigan, Virginia, and Colorado Springs, Echoes proved to be accessible, insightful and invaluable. Now in Pennsylvania, I am blessed to be attending a church where Echoes is the chosen literature.

—REV. DR. CLARENCE W. DAVIS FORMER PASTOR, FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

As a Bible believing and teaching church, we have found that Echoes curriculum provides us with a better structure—enabling us to cover a range of scriptural topics in a shorter time frame.

—DR. ALLEN MCFARLAND, SR., SENIOR PASTOR, PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA

Since we’ve begun using Echoes literature, its teaching aids and other supplementary materials, our attendance has increased … everyone seems motivated to learn more and more about God’s Word.

—PASTOR MARVIN MCALLISTER, MULLINS, SOUTH CAROLINA

2 EchoesCurriculum.com

Preschool, Early Elementary, Elementary, & Upper Elementary lessons are organized in 4 sections:1. Life Need connect with

each other and with God’s Word.

2. Bible Learning study God’s Word together and find key themes and takeaways.

3. Bible Application explore key themes and takeaways through activities and crafts.

4. Life Response respond to God’s Word by applying it to everyday life.

Teaching methods complement life experiences of ethnically diverse students. An educationally excellent mix of teaching tools match developmental abilities and reach every student’s learning style: visual, active, and auditory learning.

EchoesCurriculum.com 3

17EARLY ELEMENTARY | LESSON 1

1

Jesus Wants Us to Trust Him

THEME FOR UNIT 19: Jesus Shows His LoveUNIT MEMORY VERSE: Luke 1:37

LIFE NEED (5 MINUTES) Play a game and discuss experiences with trusting people

BIBLE LEARNING (10–15 MINUTES) Teach with pictures about Jesus showing Peter to trust Him

Review with questions and an activity

Materials: Bible, “Jesus Walks on Water” Teaching Aid 4, � annel board, Storytime for Lesson 1

BIBLE APPLICATION (10 MINUTES) Review the memory verse with actions

Make a Bible story scene

Materials: Early Elementary Make-It/Take-It for Lesson 1

LIFE RESPONSE (10 MINUTES) Read a story about a child trusting Jesus

Talk about times children can trust Jesus and plan to trust Him this week

Materials: Storytime for Lesson 1 and Storytime Parent Page

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lesson

BIBLE BASISJesus encourages Peter to walk on water with Him. Matthew 14:22-33

BIBLE TRUTHJesus wants us to trust Him.

MEMORY VERSENothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

LESSON AIMThat your students will learn that they can trust Jesus.

Understanding Your StudentsYour children have usually developed trust in caring adults through their years of experiences with the care and nurture of parents and other caring adults. As the children begin socializing on their own and choosing their friends, they gain a sense of what other people are like. They can decide who to trust as a friend. Let them see the love of Jesus in you and your class. The experience you help provide can in� uence them to trust Jesus daily.

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See what is happening in each step and

what supplies are needed.

Shows children how to apply the

lesson to life.


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EARLY ELEMENTARY | LESSON 118

The next several lessons explore ways that Jesus showed His love during His ministry. Emphasize the Jesus Peter trusted is the same risen Savior of Easter.

After feeding the 5,000, Jesus quickly excused everyone so He could � nd seclusion. He did this to spend time alone with God (Matt. 14:23) and because the people were persuaded to force Him into being a messiah of their design. “After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (John 6:14-15). Away from distractions, Jesus could seek His Father’s will on the direction of His ministry. Also from His mountain view, Jesus could see the disciples on the water (Mark 6:48). The Sea of Galilee is about six miles wide.

Jesus went out to the disciples “during the fourth watch.” This was the Roman guard shift from 3:00 to 6:00A.M. The disciples would have been exhausted because they had been rowing since sundown. When

they saw a � gure walking on the water, it could have stirred up current superstitions about the deep waters. “When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terri� ed. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear” (Matt. 14:26).

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (v. 29). We shouldn’t think Peter was showing off. He was fully trusting Jesus to give him supernatural power.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (v. 30). Peter’s faith weakened when he considered the human risk of trusting Jesus.

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ (v. 31) Jesus reaching out for Peter is more than a rescue by human strength, it is a second display of how He will never abandon us even though we stumble.

Respond to God’s desire that we put our trust in Jesus (Ps. 20:7; John 14:1).

Classroom TipsUse this week’s lesson to help children begin to learn to trust Jesus.

The children might think that you are so capable that you don’t need to trust Jesus. The lesson can be for you, too! Let the children see that you also are learning to trust Jesus more and more. Be open to telling in appropriate ways how Jesus has taught you to trust Him. You will model how your children can learn to trust Jesus.

The activity in Step 1 will get your students involved with others in thinking about different people and things they trust. Be certain to � t this into your class time to get children ready for the Bible lesson about how Jesus wanted Peter to trust Him.

Children may talk about superheroes who rescue people from dangerous situations. They believe these superheroes will save the day! If this conversation comes up, let them know that Jesus is much greater and more powerful than the superheroes. Jesus rescues us from our sinful ways. We can trust Him. He will always be with us.

Understanding the Bible

Worship Activities Teach the song, “Show

and Tell,” from the DisKit CD found in the Creative Teaching Aids packet.

Collect offerings from children. Lead children in a prayer of thanks or you may choose a child who wants to pray for the offering.

Dear God, we will learn that nothing is impossible with You. Help us to trust You and believe that You are always with us. Thank You for showing Your love to us. We love You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Use Classroom Tips along with

Understanding Your Students to make themost of your learning

time together.

Begin eachlesson with songs

and prayer.



1

The opening activity suggested below helps your students get involved in the lesson while getting them thinking about what it means to trust someone.

Ask children to get into teams of two or three students each. Then have teams spread out around your room and sit down. We are going to play a quiz game. I will ask some questions, one at a time. Each team must talk together to decide your team’s answer. When your team has an answer, you all stand up. Encourage them to try to be the � rst team standing.

Suggested quiz game questions are given below. Possible answers are suggested, but each question could have many reasonable answers. The important part of this activity is getting your students involved with each other in thinking about people and things they depend on. Keep your quiz game moving along at a lively pace. Recognize the � rst team that stands up. But be sure to ask the other teams for their answers too. Their ideas are also important to help the children consider the different people and things they trust. Feel free to make up your own questions or adapt these to your students’ situations.

Who do you depend on to get you up for school? (Mom, dad, alarm clock, the sun, my dog, and so on.)Who do you expect to give you lunch today? (Mom, dad, grandma, people at a restaurant, etc.)When you have a birthday party, who do you expect will give you nice presents? (Family members, friends, party guests, etc.)When you don’t feel well who do you depend on to help you get better? (Mom, dad, doctor, teacher, school nurse, etc.)

Good teamwork to get your answers. You depend on many different people and things. To trust means to depend on someone or something. We trust doctors to help us get well. You trust your mom to wake you in time to get ready to go to school. There are many people we trust. Today’s Bible lesson is about trusting. Let’s listen to our Bible story to learn about someone who wants us to trust Him.

Life Need 5 minutes

Objective: By playing a game and talking together, the children will get ready to learn that Jesus wants us to trust Him.

1

Before ClassGreet your students by name as they enter your class. I am so happy to see you today. We will have a great time learning about Jesus today. In advance, remove and display the Spring Attendance Chart from the Teaching Aids packet. Write the dates and children’s names on the chart and provide small stickers for them to place in each square. Children may also color in a square or mark it with an X. Children with offerings may want to give them right away, so provide a simple basket or other container for this.

Getting StartedThese activities will prepare your students for the Bible story of Peter walking on water.

Sink or Float: This activity will help the children see that not all things � oat on water. Put an inch or two of water in a sink or � at bottom pan or dish. Provide common items such as a paper clip, pencil, scrap of paper, coin, crayon, cotton ball, and so on, for the children to put into the water. Let them experiment with what things do in water. We will learn about a miracle that happened in water.

Word Writing: Today’s lesson theme is about trusting Jesus. Help your students start thinking about the word trust. Print TRUST on the board or piece of paper. Let the children write the word with play dough or blocks on a table, or on the board. We will learn more about what it means to trust.

“Attendance Chart” Teaching Aid 1

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Students connect their own experiences to the

Bible story, all in the context of African-

American culture and community.



In advance, separate the � gures from Teaching Aid 4. Attach velcro, found in your Teaching Aid packet, to the back of the � gures. Put them in the order you will use them. Have your Bible open to Matthew 14:22-33.

BIBLE STORY(Place Jesus in the upper right of your � annel board. Put the water across the bottom.) Jesus was teaching His disciples and a large crowd of people near the Sea of Galilee. When it was late in the afternoon, Jesus told His disciples to get into a boat and go across the water to the other side. (Place the boat with the disciples on the right end of the water. Add Peter, Figure 5, so he appears to be standing in the boat.) The disciples rowed the boat out over the water. (Move the boat to the middle of the water.) Jesus dismissed the crowd of people so they could go to their homes.

As the sun went down, the disciples rowed across the Sea of Galilee, the people walked home, and Jesus went up on the side of a hill. He walked up there by Himself to pray.

Jesus prayed all night. The disciples were in the boat all night too. They had come up against a storm. (Place the cloud, Figure 4, above the boat.) Even though they rowed very hard, the wind and the waves kept pushing against them. They were a long way from the land out on the water. Jesus knew where His disciples were and the hard time they were having. He would use this time to show them an important lesson.

Very early in the morning before the sun came up Jesus went out to the disciples. Jesus didn’t take a boat, He walked on top of the water! (Move Jesus onto the water at the right side of the boat.) When the disciples looked up and saw Jesus walking on the water, they were terri� ed. They thought He was a ghost.

Jesus called out, “Don’t be afraid. It’s Me.” Peter wanted to be sure. He said, “Lord, if it’s

really You, tell me to come to You on the water.”“Come,” He said. Jesus wanted to be trusted.(Remove Peter from the boat and place him on the

water facing Jesus.) Peter climbed out of the boat trusting Jesus to help him walk on the water. One trusting step after another, Peter walked on the water by God’s power. (Move Peter toward Jesus.) Before Peter got to Jesus, he saw the wind and became afraid. He stopped trusting Jesus to help him walk on the water and began to sink. (Slide Peter partly down behind the water.) Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus could still be trusted even when Peter was sinking. (Move Jesus to Peter. Bring Peter up.) Right away Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter. Jesus said, “You trusted Me for a while. Why did you stop?”

Jesus helped Peter back to the boat. (Put Jesus and Peter behind the boat so it appears they are standing in the boat. Remove the storm cloud.) The wind and waves stopped. Peter and the other disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus. They were learning to trust Jesus.

BIBLE STORY REVIEWDistribute Storytime for Lesson 1. Have students complete page 4 and answer the questions.

Bible Learning 10–15 minutes

Objective: Children will learn how Jesus showed that He wanted Peter to trust Him.2

Storytime, Lesson 1, page 4

“Jesus Walks on Water” Teaching Aid 4

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Present the Bible story as a storyteller,

using a variety of visual resources.

Words in italics give teachers

directions. Words in bold give a

suggested script.

For easy reference, look for

these reductions and match them up with

the resources you need.



1 MEMORY VERSEHelp students � nd the memory verse on page 4 of Storytime. Read the verse together: “Nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37. Our memory verse is in this poem. Say the following rhyme while you do the motions. Then repeat each line, pausing so that the children can repeat it and imitate your motions.

Jesus’ miracles showed His great power(Show muscles.)

And they showed us His great love.(Put both hands over heart.)

That’s why we can boldly shout:(Cup hands to mouth as if shouting.)

Nothing is impossible with God.(Shake index finger, point upward.)

Let’s say our verse one more time together: “Nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37.

Collect the Storytime papers and put them away until the end of class.

HANDCRAFTPuppets are favorites with children. Let your students make their own stage and puppets to use while retelling the Bible story of Peter learning to trust Jesus.

Have children color both sides of the page before assembling the project. Show the page as you explain how the children separate the pieces and fold the water to make a stage. Point out the small rectangle shaped hole that they should punch out for Peter to slip down below the water. Punch out the boat with the three disciples and fold back on the broken lines. Tape the ends together, and stand the boat on top of the

sea. Punch out the � gures of Jesus and Peter. Fold the � gure of Jesus back on the center broken line, and back on the broken lines by Jesus’ feet. Tape the tabs together without overlapping them. Encourage the children to get into small groups to present their puppet Bible stories.

Jesus walked on the water. Peter trusted Jesus when he got out of the boat and began to walk on water, but then he became afraid and stopped trusting Jesus and began to sink. Even when Peter was sinking, he still believed Jesus would save him. Jesus did save him. Jesus is the Son of God and has the power to do things that we cannot do.

Just like Peter, we can trust Jesus, too. Jesus has enough power to help us with any problem.

Share this story with someone and tell them that Jesus wants us to trust Him.

3 Bible Application 10 minutes

Objective: Students will learn that they can trust Jesus.

Make-It/Take-It, Lesson 1

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Where the Bible Truth connects with life through a variety

of activities which may include a memory verse or a craft.

All artwork emphasizes an

African-American perspective.



Read aloud “The Swimming Lesson” to your students from pages 2 and 3 of Storytime for Lesson 1. Depending on your class, your students may want to read with you. They can read the words represented by the art spots on the rebus as you point to them or you may choose a � rst-grader to read the story.

PRESENT-DAY STORY]Dr. Chan signed Li up for swimming lessons. Li thought it would be fun to swim across a pool.

Dr. Chan took Li to his � rst lesson. Li looked at the pool. It was big! How could he ever swim across it?

He heard a whistle. It was time to swim!

Li was afraid of how big the pool was. He thought of when Jesus walked on the water. If Jesus walked on water, I can trust Jesus to help me swim. Li prayed, “Dear Jesus, I trust You to help me. I know You can do anything.”

Li joined other children in the pool. The teacher showed how to blow bubbles in the water. They played until she blew the whistle.

Li showed his father what he learned. Li knew one day he would swim across the pool.

CLOSING ACTIVITIES What do you think are some times that Jesus wants you to trust Him? (Some possible responses might be when school or home life is rough, when they’re afraid of the dark, when they have a hard time with friendships, and so on. If appropriate, tell your students that Jesus wants us to trust Him but that

doesn’t mean they shouldn’t ask for help from others who care about them. Jesus gives us families and people to care for us and help us when we need it.)

There are a lot of times that Jesus wants us to trust Him.

When will you trust Jesus during this coming week? (Allow some time for the children to volunteer their plans to apply this lesson. Reinforce their desire to trust Jesus.)

You have good plans for trusting Jesus during the coming week. We can tell Jesus about our desire and our plans to trust Him this coming week. Let’s take time right now to talk with Jesus about our plans to trust Him.

Dear Jesus, we want to trust You more and more each day. You have heard each child say their plans for when they will trust You. Please help them to trust You. In Your name. Amen.

Make sure children have their Make-It/Take-It puppet projects, Storytime for Lesson 1, and the quarterly Storytime Parent Page. Explain to parents that this page provides them with the Bible lessons and memory verses being studied this quarter as well as family activities for the quarter.

Say a personal good-bye to each child. Remember your plan to trust Jesus this week. He is always with you.

.

4 Life Response 10 minutes

Objective: Children will talk about times Jesus wants them to trust Him and plan to trust Him at home this week.

Storytime, Lesson 1, pages 2-3

Storytime, Parent Page

Storytime, Lesson 1, page 1

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Students practice the Lesson Aim in

class, then apply it totheir own lives during

the week.

Weekly take-home papers help students

learn their memory verse and apply the Lesson Aim.

Shortened Bible stories and present-day stories

reinforce the lesson at home.

The objectivehighlights the Lesson Aim as students take what they learn and

apply it to life.


10 We’re here to help—just call 800.323.7543

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Take It Home


Add more flexibility and fun with these resource options.

P MPRINT MUSIC V VIDEO D DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Teacher’s Commentary P DTips help teachers understand students, with helpful suggestions for enhancing their Sunday school experience. Follows a four-step learning cycle to help teachers reach every child the way God made them.

Creative Teaching Aids P D Essential audio and visual resources to go with the Teacher’s Commentary. Enhances lessons with appealing Bible art posters, a quarterly attendance chart, and a music CD featuring four original worship songs (stereo and instrumental) that correlate with each of the three units per quarter.

Student Activity Pages P DIn-class student books for each lesson, including Bible study pages and activities.

Craft Book PIn-class student craft books are full of hands-on projects and crafts. These age-appropriate craft projects can be done by the students with little or no help from the teacher.

Take-Home Pages P DTeachers can use these in-class/take-home papers to help Bible lessons thrive in students’ hearts and hands.

Superintendent’s Handbook P DWith this Handbook you and your teachers will be able to better follow God’s calling in your Christian education ministry. This enables you, the Sunday school leader, to guide all your classes toward a common goal, age-appropriate and biblical discipleship.


Documents

Echoes - Amazon S3 · 2018-12-07 · Echoes curriculum is one of the most widely-used resources among the African-American church. Rich in African-American imagery and history, alive