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Small Groups Children’s Curriculum, Year 1

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Progressive Christian Spiritual Curriculum

Compassionate, Intelligent, Inter-Spiritual, Non-Dogmatic

 

Group Curriculum with Teacher’s Handbook and DVD

 

Are you searching for a way to connect children with an authentic spiritual experience that is inter-spiritual, creative and multi-layered?  A Joyful Path is truly progressive Christian curriculum that is inclusive, joy-full, compassionate, and intelligent.

 


 

A Joyful Path- The Inner Wisdom Series

 

Spiritual Curriculum for Young Hearts and Minds

 

This behavior-over-belief curriculum connects children with their own inner wisdom.  It teaches interdependence, self awareness, respect for nature, stillness, forgiveness, prayer, meditation, and integrity.  Using the Bible and other wisdom stories, A Joyful Path helps children learn how to follow the path of Jesus in today’s world.

 

“The great need in the Christian church is for a Sunday school curriculum for children that does not equate faith with having a pre-modern mind.  The Center for Progressive Christianity has produced just that.  Teachers can now teach children in Sunday school without crossing their fingers.  I endorse it wholeheartedly. ~John Shelby Spong, Author, Jesus for the Non-Religious

 

“One of the major challenges for Progressive Christians in the years to come is paying more attention to “equipping the saints.” The dictionary meaning for “equipping” is “to supply with intellectual, emotional, or spiritual essentials.” It is derived from an old French term which means “to put to sea, to embark.”

 

ProgressiveChristianity.org has picked up this challenge and provided congregations and parents with two years of relevant and imaginative curriculums for the 21st century. They have taken the lead in reframing Sunday school teachings and made them into invaluable resources for “equipping the saints” as they head out on the sea of our culture. Whether you are a parent, a Sunday School teacher, a preacher, a spiritual seeker, or just someone who likes to look at ideas from a child’s point of view, this one’s for you.” ~Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

 


 

Using This Curriculum

 

This package is intended for Small Groups of 6 children or less. The following is included in this Package:

 

1) 1 Full color 38 lesson teaching Handbook- with 4 sections on Teaching and Using this curriculum

 

2) 1 DVD -The DVD has all the lessons in digital format- to use on any media device. Simply insert the DVD into your computer or laptop and you can email the lessons to your smart phone, tablet, or laptop. Open up the lessons and print from the file. Print out the Affirmation Art work or the Full Page Story Art to send home with the children. Or email the lessons to different teachers. The DVD has a Teacher Training Video included as well as a short Promotional Video to share with parents or members of your faith community. If preferred we can email you the link to the PDF digital download link for the full handbook if DVD’s don’t work for your system. Just email us at: contact@progressivechristianity.org

The price is a little higher than our our IN-HOME package because we are assuming you will be teaching in a faith community with more children than just one family.

This spiritual curriculum is intended for 6 to 10 year olds but may be adapted for children slightly older or younger. The lessons are written for a classroom setting and are also appropriate for use at home.

 

A unique and important aspect of this curriculum is that the lessons are both heart-centered and experiential. Through stories and activities, children’s bodies and feelings are engaged as well as their minds. Giving children experiences that are real and meaningful helps them integrate and apply the ideals of Progressive Christianity to lives right now. Experiential learning also helps to create a solid foundation for a child’s life-long spiritual journey.

 

*NOTE: We are happy if you blend your curriculum resources together — you don’t have to abandon your own denominational curriculum in order to enjoy A Joyful Path. We get emails from churches all the time about using more than one curriculum and how A Joyful Path blends well with almost any denominational curriculum out there.

 


 

What is included in A Joyful Path?

 

This curriculum is designed for teaching in a group environment. This package includes: 1 full color teacher’s handbook with 38 lessons and 1 DVD. The DVD is useful for churches or larger groups who have more than one teacher using the curriculum or more than one classroom or just larger class size in general. The DVD has each lesson in PDF format and a teacher training video as well as the promo video. With the DVD teachers can share the lessons via email or print out the lessons, directly from their computer.

 

The full year has 38 lessons which include:

  • A Teacher Introduction

  • A Teacher Reflection or Meditation

  • Bible Verses

  • Wisdom Quotations

  • Fun and Creative Activities- Art, Crafts, Music, Movements, Meditations

  • Spiritual Affirmations with a Full Page Affirmation Art

  • An Original Story with Story Art

  • Discussion Questions

Plus Teacher Introductory Pages which include Classroom Management Tips, Bringing Nature into the Curriculum, Using the Affirmations, and Using this Curriculum

 


 

What Is A Joyful Path Year One Like?

 

In A Joyful Path, Year One, we focus on behavior over belief. Focusing on the teachings of Jesus, Year One is all about supporting children to find their own inner wisdom and to connect to the Spirit and God Within All.

 

Topics Covered are:

Energy

The body

Feelings

Heart nature

The Will

The Intellect

God Within All

Letting Go

The Universe

Prayer

The Bible

The Life of Jesus

Christian Holidays

Kindness

Nature

This curriculum can be spread out over 2-3 years but also can be done in one year. (click here for suggested supplemental materials)


This curriculum teaches bravery, courage, inclusion, stillness, forgiveness, humility, concentration, discovering divine energy, non-greed, service, truthfulness, kindness, gratitude, protection and care for the environment, creativity, letting go, finding god within all, and more.

“At last, Sunday School lessons for which no apology is necessary.” ~James R. Adams, Author of So You Think You’re Not Religiousand From Literal to Literacy.

 

Here is a list of our lessons:

The Stories of our Tradition- The Bible and how we use it

A Spiritual Teacher- The Jesus Story

The Nameless One- Who or What is God?

A Pocket Full of Coins- Discovering Divine Energy

A Lion in the Garden- Forgiving and Healing

The Confusing Coat- Learning from Mistakes

The Dangerous Road- Connecting with Kindness

Brother Wolf- Being an Instrument for Blessing

Blind Eyes See- Experiencing God as Light

Are Two Words Enough?- Expressing Gratitude

The Lonely Shepherd- Experiencing God as Joy

The Monkey and the Well- Concentrating Our Energy

Touching the Moon- Practicing Humility

The Greedy Gambler- Non-Greed

Nathan Leaves Home- Remembering God’s Presence

The Christmas Surprise- Experiencing God as Love

Wild Mountain John- Filling Our Minds with Goodness

Monica’s Complicated Quilt- Opening Our Hearts in Prayer

The New Neighborhood- Loving others through Service

The Falling Sky- Asking for Guidance- Discernment

The Magic Potion- Learning Patience

Three Hundred Peanuts- Work Creativity

Rachel Dreams of the Sea- Self-Expansion

Shoe Laces- Sharing

Nothing Fancy- What is Success?

19 Dangerous Trips- Willpower and Courage

Who Is In-Charge?- Self-control

The Brave One- Courage

A Drop of Water- Stillness

New Life- Easter

Standing Tall- Palm Sunday

A Heavy Load- Letting Go

The Changeless Spirit- Security

6,000 Tries!- Perseverance

Do Unto Others- Truthfulness

A Choice- Willingness

One Love- Inclusion

She Is Everywhere- God in Nature

Click here to see A Joyful Path Year Two Options

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