Curriculum Review: Children

Curriculum Review: Children

    Over the years I have had the opportunity to review a number of curriculum lines for Sunday School, Children's Church, Mid Week Club and Vacation Bible School. The following reviews are for the curriculum lines carried by Kregel Bookstores. I highly recommend ordering your curriculum through Kregel as they are able to provide you with top service as well as provide money saving benefits for your church. You have many options available to you as far as where you order your curriculum and resources, however; Kregel Bookstores offers benefits designed to save you money and help provide information you need to make the curriculum selections best for your church's needs unmatched by any other curriculum/resource provider.

Kregel Bookstores Curriculum
Services and Benefits

Free freight on initial shipment of each quarter

Extras stocked for Kregel customers during the first six weeks of each quarter

Generous Returns allowed on unused materials from each quarter

Free teacher training - available for those within a 50 mile radius of Grand Rapids, MI, by Lynda Freeman, author, editor and national speaker

Free phone and e-mail consulting help with training on "how-to's" by Lynda Freeman.

Samples available on consignment for churches interested in a change.

Quarterly reminder packets provided for churches.

Partnership Plus Savings available on other products carried in Kregel Bookstores.

Automatic Order Options available

One stop shopping - fourteen different lines of Sunday School curriculum are available.

Consultation/recomendations readily available by phone, email and/or regular mail

Contact us for Children's Church, Mid-Week Club, Youth and Adult options, too!

Complete curriculum resources for every church size and all ages - youth and adult resources as well!

Sunday School Quarterly Curriculum Choices -
Preschool and Elementary
Call or email Kregel Bookstores for current pricing
1-616-459-9444,
or email Kregal Ministry Resources at, mr@kregel.com
Quarterly Curriculum Order Form

WillowCreek Resources/ZonderKidz

Ages - Kindergarten/1st Grade, 2nd/3rd Grade & 4th/5th Grade
1. Quarterly curriculum comes in a box with all components needed -
Large Group Teacher's books
Small Group Leader's guides
Director's guide
video
2. Ten week curriculum comes in a package with all components needed -
CD with all lessons ready to print out
DVD with drama and training portions
Music CD

Favorite Features:

New International Version for ease of understanding

Scripturally Sound

truly a resource any size church can utilize and do so tremendously effectively!

complete, tremendously helpful director's notebook - must read! excellent!

explanation of core values and Promiseland values

emphasizes necessity of being a child-targeted ministry with creative lessons that are relevant to kids, now

stresses necessity of involving kids intentionally in small groups and keeping kids safe while they have fun

explains staffing options and stresses importance of consistent, committed volunteers who are serving according to their giftedness

ideas on how to support and encourage volunteers

active & interactive curriculum so children will be engaged, remember, understand and live God's Word

heavy focus on intentionally developing relationships with kids

music, video, drama focused to help kids learn

reproducible

unified scope and sequence - focuses on going through the Bible one year and then the second year focuses on living your life according to the "5 G's" - Grace, Growth, Group, Gifts and Good Stewardship

focused, intentional scope to build on a solid Biblical foundation while helping children know what the Bible teaches about how they can know God and live a life that glorifies Him every day

flexible lesson options allow you to adapt and fit to your church size and setting

children have the opportunity to understand how to live God's Word while connecting with an adult and other kids in a small group

teacher friendly resources allows volunteers to serve according to their giftedness, building on the strength of your volunteers and truly freeing them to enjoy serving - tremendous!

lessons truly designed to teach as children learn, so they do really learn and experienced changed lives!

Group Publishing

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student's Book

Driving Home the Point flyers

Favorite Features:

Scripturally sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Unified scope and sequence . . . all children learn the same Bible lesson the same week.

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Goes chronologically through the Bible on a three year scope and sequence

Provides opportunity for children to tell how they lived the lesson from the previous week.

Written to provide the tools for teachers to develop relationships with their students while the students develop relationships with each other

Active, interactive Bible lessons to involve children in unexpected ways so children experience the lesson, remember, understand and live God's Word for changed lives - excellent!

Heavy emphasis on living out what God's Word teaches

Written to teach in ways that students remember and understand.

Each lesson has options for the teacher.

Excellent music to go with the lessons.

Each lesson includes a Bible Background to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Resources to encourage and equip parents to teach their children at home - excellent!

Each activity teaches the point of the lesson.

Colorful, visually engaging student resources.

Combined with other components of the FaithWeaver family of curriculum - Kid's Own Worship and FW Friends - the strength of the unified scope and sequence across the curriculum adds to aid children in understanding and living God's Word, worship and thank God for the application as well as serve Him as they live the application - excellent!

Leader's planning guide

Teacher's Book

Learning Lab

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Reproducible resources.

Topical Scope and Sequence . . . goes through the Bible on a topic basis rather than chronologically.

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Written to provide the tools for teachers to develop relationships with their students while the students develop relationships with each other.

Active, interactive Bible Lessons to involve the students in unexpected ways so they will experience the lesson, remember, understand and live God's Word for changed lives - excellent!

Heavy emphasis on a point for each lesson to aid students in living out what God's Word teaches.

Each activity teaches the point of the lesson.

Written to teach in ways that students remember and understand.

Each lesson provides options for the teachers.

Each lesson includes a Teacher's devotional to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Resources to encourage parents to teach their children at home.

See review below in the Children's Church Resource section. Many small churches find this an excellent choice for multi age Sunday School classes.

Cook Publications

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student's Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound.

NIV for ease of understanding

Two year scope and sequence to take children through the Bible

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Excellent music to go with the lessons.

Engaging, interactive, active lessons to involve the children so they will live God's Word.

Designed to build relationships between teacher and children and children and other children.

Each lesson has a Bible Truth and God Print taught throughout each activity - excellent!

Each lesson includes a Teacher's devotional to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Active, interactive Bible lessons to involve the children in unexpected ways so they will experience, remember and understand and live God's Word for changed lives - excellent!

Heavy emphasis on living out what God's Word teaches - excellent!

Written to teach in ways students remember and understand.

Options in each lesson for the teacher to select from.

Colorful, visually engaging student resources.

Resources to encourage the parents to continue to teach their children at home - excellent!

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Two year scope and sequence to take children through the Bible.

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Review of previous lessons built in to each lesson - opportunity for kids to tell how they lived the lesson from previous week.

Each lesson includes a Teacher's devotional to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Options in each lesson for the teacher to select from.

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Two year scope and sequence to take children through the Bible

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Each lesson includes a Teacher's devotional to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Options in each lesson for the teacher to select from.

Colorful, visually engaging student resources.

Missionary lesson option built in to each lesson.

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Two year scope and sequence to take children through the Bible

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize

Each lesson includes Teacher devotional and Bible background to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Options in each lesson for the teacher to select from

Colorful, visually engaging student resources with artwork that reflects the Black community, family and church

Unified Scope in the area of Bible themes and some Scripture base as well

Lessons include a "Life Response Time" to focus on the application

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

Two year scope and sequence to take children through the Bible

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Each lesson includes a Teacher's devotional to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Gospel Light

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Two year scope and sequence to take children through the Bible

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize

Each lesson includes a Teacher's devotional to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Options in the lesson for the teacher to select from

Resources to encourage parents to continue to teach their children at home

Excellent music to go with the lessons.

Colorful, visually engaging student resources

Concordia Publishing House Our Life in Christ

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resource Pack

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Three year unified Scope and Sequence so all ages study the same lesson the same week - excellent!

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize

Each lesson includes a Teacher's Devotional/Bible Background to aid the teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students

Options in the lesson for the teacher to select from

Resources to encourage the parents to continue to teach their children at home

Colorful, visually engaging student resources

Available in braille and Large Print - excellent!

Includes information on kids with special needs and how to effectively Minster to them - excellent!

Active, interactive activities to engage the student so they will experience, remember, understand and live God's Word for changed lives - excellent!

Focus on applying and living out God's Word in the student's every day life

Regular Baptist Press Regular Baptist Press (RBP is available only in the KJV)

Teacher's Resources

Teacher's Book

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

Each lesson includes a Bible Background to aid the teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students

Two year scope and sequence

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize

Standard Publishing

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resources

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

Preschool in the NCV and Elementary in the NIV for ease of understanding

Each lesson includes a Bible Background and devotional to aid the teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students

Two year scope and sequence

Colorful, visually engaging artwork

Options for learning centers and options in the lesson for the teacher to select from

5th & 6th grade lessons focus application on topics related to the kid's lives

4's and 5's and Primary unified in scope and sequence

Teacher Tips in the lesson to aid in making the curriculum teacher friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active and interactive activity choices to aid students in experiencing, remembering, understanding and living the lesson

Questions at the end of each lesson to help teacher evaluate the teaching they just completed - excellent!

Urban Ministries UMI

Teacher Book

Teacher Resources

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Unified in Scope and Sequence

Complete Bible Background information for teachers

Illustrations are colorful and engaging and reflect the Black community, family and church

Union Gospel Press Union Gospel Press

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resources

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

Through The Bible

Teacher Book

Teacher Resources

Student Resources

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

Works with any Bible translation

Flexible for any format - Sunday School, Children's Church, Mid Week Club, Christian School and Home School

"Hidden People Profile" - includes information on unreached people groups - excellent!

Colorful, bright and visually engaging resources

Options to allow the teacher to fit the lesson to their class

Takes children from Preschool through Jr. High all the way through the Bible, in depth

Teacher Friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize

Augsburg Fortress

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Resources

Student Resource

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

CEV for ease of understanding

CDs with reproducible activity/take home papers

Training resources available - excellent!

Options for active and interactive learning so students with be engaged, remember, understand and live God's Word

Unique and interesting props in the Bible Storytelling Kit

CDs with Seasonal Reproducible lessons/ideas

Flexible format to be utilized in a number of settings - Sunday School, Children's Church and Mid Week

Information on caring for/feeding volunteers - excellent!

Includes age level insights

Information on health/safety concerns - excellent!

Staff commissioning information - excellent!

Volunteer applications, student registration forms and tips for teen helpers

Unified Scope and Sequence across the ages

Leader planning guide - excellent!

Most activities connect to the point for the lesson

Children's Church Resources
Group Publishing

Kit with Teacher's Book, Teacher's Resources and CD

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Unified three year scope and sequence, matches the scope and sequence of FaithWeaver Sunday School curriculum and FW Friends Mid-Week curriculum

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize

Each lesson includes a Bible background to aid teacher in understanding and living the lesson to more effectively present to students.

Written for multi-age settings . . . also works well as a Sunday School curriculum for small churches with multi-age classes

Options in the lesson for the teacher to select from

Resources to encourage parents to continue to teach their children at home

Excellent music to go with the lessons

Focus on worshipping and thanking God for the application to the lesson.

Active, interactive activities all teach the point for the lesson by engaging the kids in unexpected activities so they will experience, remember, understand and live God's Word in their lives - excellent!

Written to teach in ways children will remember and understand.

Heavy emphasis on living out what the children learn.

Designed to build relationships between teachers and children and children and other children.

See review above . . . many churches find this an excellent choice for Children's Church curriculum.

Cook Publications Noah's Park Children's Church Curriculum

Kit with Teacher's Resources, Teacher's Book, music CD and Puppets

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Solid.

NIV for ease of understanding.

Reproducible resources.

53 lessons in the kit.

Unified across the ages.

Each lesson includes a short story, Bible lesson, puppet story, music, snack, games and craft.

Excellent ideas for when the Pastor goes over in the "Overtime Ideas"

Each lesson has a main point, repeated throughout the lesson as each activity ties in with and teaches the point.

Bible lessons are active, interactive involving the children - excellent!

Designed to teach older elementary kids to serve as helpers - the Park Patrol - excellent!

Crafts include a "home link" with ideas for families to do and talk about together to continue the learning at home - excellent!

Praise and Worship

Kit with Lesson Book, craft book, reproducible worship bulletins, object lessons and a praise songs cassette

Favorite Features:

Complete kit with one year of lessons

NIV for ease of understanding

Flexible format to fit time/setting

Available for preschool, early elementary and upper elementary age children

Options for puppets

Options for activities

Augsburg Fortress

See review above as this resource is flexible enough to utilize for children's church as well

Gospel Light Publishing

See review below in the Mid-Week Club curriculum as this resource is flexible enough to utilize for children's church as well.

Regular Baptist Press
Children's Ministries - Rejoice in God's Truth

Kit includes Leader's Guide, Melodee Bell Music charts, Reproducible Pattern Book, Colorful Bible Pictures

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

Complete resource with lessons for a year

Includes Options for special lessons on Holidays and special days

Reggie Raccoon puppet available

Melodee bells available

Through The Bible

Please see review above in the Sunday School Resource area as this curriculum is flexible enough to also utilize for Children's Church

Standard Publishing

Please see review above in the Sunday School Resource area as this curriculum includes a second hour curriculum for children's church in it's preschool Sunday School curriculum

Big Idea

Three separate kits with Teacher's Books, CDs and Videos

Favorite Features

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Three kits available

Each kit includes resources for Preschool, Elementary, Youth and Family

While there are only ten lessons in this resource there are 30 hours of activities, with a little creativity, these lessons could be stretched for at least 30 weeks, possibly even longer

Reproducible resources

Active and interactive resources so students experience, remember, understand and live God's Word

Emphasis on understanding and living the point of the lessons

Activities tie in with and reinforce the lesson

Familiar "Veggie" friends add to the fun

Mid-Week Club Curriculum
Group Publishing

Director's Guide

Preschool & Elementary Station Leader's Guides

Preschool & Elementary Circle Leader's Journals

Preschool & Elementary Student Journal

Preschool Dog tags

Elementary Key Chains/tags

craft kits

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Unified, three year scope and sequence - continues to build on the lessons taught in FaithWeaver Sunday School & Kid's Own Worship Children's Church, but stands on it's own as well.

Teacher friendly curriculum - easy to understand and utilize.

Designed to provide small groups for children and encourages relationships between the Circle Leader and the children as well as between the children.

Active, interactive Bible lessons taught in unexpected ways children will experience so they will remember, understand, and live in their every day lives.

Non-competitive games with focus on teaching the point for the night so kids have fun playing the games while learning at the same time.

Club includes, Bible Lesson, Music, Craft, Memory Verse, Games, Object Lesson, Snacks and is flexible enough to fit any format/time frame.

Children are presented key tags for things all children can do - living out the point, taking part in the service project, helping with the Bible lesson, etc.

Each quarter has a built in service project the kids work on - Operation Kid to Kid - to provide an opportunity for kids to actually live what they are learning - excellent!

Heavy emphasis on living what they are learning

Evangelistic opportunities built in to the curriculum

Written to teach in ways children remember and understand.

Options for the station leaders.

Cook Publications
See review above in the Sunday School Curriculum Resource section. - This could be utilized for mid-week with a little creativity.

Gospel Light

Kit with Teacher Resources, Teacher Books, Music CD, Music Video

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

52 lessons in a box - three different kits currently available

Reproducible Resources

Through The Bible

Please see review in the Sunday School Resource area as this resource is flexible enough, that with a little creativity, could work well for a mid-week resource.

Augsburg Fortress

Please see the review in the Sunday School Resource area as this resource is flexible enough that it could fit well for a mid week resource

Big Idea Veggie Tales

Please see review above in Children's Church Resources as this resource is flexible enough that, with a little creativity, could fit well for a mid week resource

Sunday School, Children's Church, Mid-Week Club
Single Book Resources -
Preschool and Elementary Ministry
Call or email Kregel for current pricing
1-800-776-0988
or e-mail rgillett@kregel.com
Non-Quarterly Curriculum Resources Order Form

Group Publishing

Wild & wacky
Bible Lessons
on
Obedience, Prayer and Courage

Teacher's Guide

Videos

CD

Object Lesson

Posters

Inflatable Shark

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active, interactive lessons designed to involve the students so they will experience, remember, understand and live the point for changed lives

Options for teachers to choose from to fit their class, time and kids

Flexible format - able to be utilized in a number of settings

Written to be able to be utilized in mixed age classes

Resource provides 13 complete lessons

Reproducible resources

Unique options for science experiments that tie in with the lesson - kids will be able to go home and show their parents the object lessons!

Little Dogs On the Prairie
    - A Lotta Love and a Little Off the Top
    - Pride, Prejudice and Fudge
    - Lyin', Cheatin' and a Hot Lollipop

Teacher's Guide

Video

Stickers

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active, interactive lessons designed to involve the students so they will experience, remember, understand and live the point for changed lives

Options for teachers to choose from to fit their class, time and kids

Flexible format - able to be utilized in a number of settings

Written to be able to be utilized in mixed age classes

Each resource provides seven complete lessons

Reproducible resources

Bold Bible Kids

Teacher's Guide

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active, interactive lessons designed to involve the students so they will experience, remember, understand and live the point for changed lives

12 complete lessons designed to help children understand how to develop Godly character in their own lives by learning about kids from the Bible

Reproducible resources

Options for teachers to choose from to fit their class, time and kids

Sunday School Specials

Teacher's Guide

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher Friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active, interactive lessons designed to involve the students so they will experience, remember, understand and live the point for changed lives

Four resources, each with 13 complete lessons

Designed for multi ages classes - children ages 4 - 12

Reproducible resources

Wee-Built Bible Town

Teacher's Guide

Favorite Features:

Scripturally Sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher Friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active, interactive lessons designed to involve the students so they will experience, remember, understand and live the point for changed lives

13 complete lessons for preschool age children

Unique lessons involve preschool age children in building a Bible times village as they learn about Jesus and His love for them

Reproducible resources

First & Favorite Bible Story Lessons for Preschoolers
    Volume 1 & Volume 2

Teacher's Guide

Favorite Features:

Scripturally sound

NIV for ease of understanding

Teacher Friendly - easy to understand and utilize

Active, interactive lessons designed to involve the students so they will experience, remember, understand and live the point for changed lives

Each resource includes 13 complete lessons

Reproducible resources

Curriculum Table of Contents

'Round About the Church - Curriculum

Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated July 27, 2002
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda at LyndaFreeman@roundaboutthechurch.com