ENGAGING YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN
GODLY PLAY
The Godly Play program engages and encourages these 'Why' questions amongst the participants. After the Storytelling aspect of the class time, we ask the children 'wondering' questions: I wonder what you thought the best part of the story was? I wonder where you are in the story? I wonder how the people in the story felt?
The answers that the children give are often profound and engaging for the other children and the adults in the room. The adult may guide some answers after the children who want to respond have responded, but sometimes, their wondering aligns with what we as adults wonder. You are welcome to join the class if you or they are unsure about the new space. Adults typically delight in the creativity and wondering, too.
The children then have the opportunity to do the "work" they choose to do. They may choose to retell the story using the props the Adult Storyteller used. They may choose to work with a different story that they enjoyed in previous sessions. They may choose to create art based on the story or their wondering. They often continue to talk to the adults and other children in a way that mixes the Bible Story with their favorite book or tv character or world that becomes a giant intermingling story of fantasy and amazing feats.
We invite your children ages PreK4 through 1st grade to join us on Sunday mornings at 9am in the Godly Play classroom in Gregg House, the mid-century modern building behind the church. Proceed upstairs at the office end of the hall to the second room on the right. Two adults are always present in the Godly Play room, the Storyteller and the Doorkeeper. If you have questions or want more information, contact the Reverend Kendrah McDonald at [email protected] or 512-476-3603.
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