5 New Things in Shine Curriculum
1. Teachers Helping Teachers Shine Blog
Use the QR code in the teacher’s guide or subscribe at www.ShineCurriculum.com/blog to receive weekly emails for teachers. This blog replaces Companion magazine from previous years. Watch for opportunities to submit your story related to the theme of the month! The theme for August is “Getting Ready.” How do you prepare your classroom or worship space? What supplies do you gather? How do you start communicating with families? Send your ideas and tips (max 200 words) to blog@shinecurriculum.com. Feel free to include photos!
2. The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible
The source of the Bible story for Elementary groups (grades 1–5) will now be The Peace Table! In addition to the stories, the book includes maps, prayers, Bible background information, peace paths, and other peace content to accompany the sessions. Be sure each classroom has at least one copy of The Peace Table and consider purchasing copies for families to use at home. Don’t miss the free printable Peace Path Bookmarks found at www.thepeacetablebible.com! Children can check off each story as they read the 12 peace paths in The Peace Table at home.
3. PreK–Kindergarten Student Booklets
The booklet pages for younger children have been reworked so that there is a page geared for preschool children and a page geared for kindergarten children each week. Three sessions include bonus pages. The pages are completed during the session and then sent home each week. While there is no longer weekly content for families in the booklet, you can direct families to the Shine Families website (see below) for activities.
4. Younger Elementary and Older Elementary Student Booklets
Spotlight magazine has been replaced with booklets for younger elementary (grades 1–3) and older elementary (grades 4–5) children. Each booklet has two pages per session, with occasional bonus pages. The pages are completed during the session and then sent home each week. Booklets include scripture-related activities, Bible background information, prayer prompts, word searches, crossword puzzles, mazes, games, and stories of children who are making a difference in the world.
5. Shine Families Website
Have you heard about the Shine Families website?! Check it out at ShineFamilies.org and share it with your families. There are weekly devotional ideas, downloadable activities, etc. for use at home.
5 Tried and True Things in Shine Curriculum
1. Approach to faith formation
Shine sessions continue to prioritize the biblical story, teach Jesus’ way of peace, emphasize spiritual practices, encourage open-ended reflection on scripture, connect the Bible with daily life, foster relationships, and make learning fun.
2. Session Plan and Extras
The session plan for each age level remains the same and is explained in greater depth on page 4 in each Teacher’s Guide. Media connections are still included with each session and posted on Pinterest for ease of use. The Fall 2023 board can be found here and is organized by session: Pinterest Fall 2023. Additional resources, demonstration videos, tips for teaching, recipes, templates, song lyrics and motions for Everybody Sing, and much more are found at www.ShineCurriculum.com/Extras.
3. Print and Digital Teaching Kit Options
Apart from student materials, the curriculum products you will need are included in the Teaching Kit. The kits for all age levels contain a teacher’s guide, two Bible memory posters, and two additional posters. The PreK–Kindergarten kit also has 13 story pictures, and the Elementary kit has “Follow the Story” Cards. The kits are available in print and digital formats. Digital teaching kits include permission to share the session materials among teachers in your church. If you purchase a printed Teaching Kit, you can also purchase additional printed Teacher’s Guides as desired.
4. Junior Youth Student Devotional
Quest continues as the student piece for junior youth (grades 6–8). This at-home devotional provides a Bible story summary, prayer practice, articles to read, writing prompts, puzzles, media connections, action ideas, and more. In addition to the devotionals you order for youth, purchase one more for the teacher to have during the session. This allows the teacher to introduce the upcoming content to youth and guide discussion about the previous week’s content.
5. Everybody Sing
Music is a central part of the Shine curriculum. The Everybody Sing double album includes Worship Songs for Children recorded by The Walking Roots Band and Songs for the Seasons written and recorded by The Many. Do the children in your group like to use song motions? Find them here:
· Worship Songs for Children Motions PDF
· Songs for the Seasons Motions PDF
Listen to sample clips of the songs here: Everybody Sing Samples
Get Connected
Find Shine on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Join the Teachers Helping Teachers Shine Facebook discussion group to interact with other teachers who are using Shine curriculum. Reach out to us with questions or concerns.
· Website: www.ShineCurriculum.com
· Email: contact@ShineCurriculum.com
· Facebook: Shine: Living in God’s Light | Harrisonburg VA | Facebook
· Facebook Discussion Group for Teachers: Teachers Helping Teachers Shine | Facebook
· Teachers Helping Teachers Shine blog: www.ShineCurriculum.com/blog
· Blog email: blog@ShineCurriculum.com
· Instagram: @ShineCurriculum4kids
· Pinterest: Shine: Living in God’s Light www.pinterest.com/shinelivingingo