Curriculum Facts

CURRICULUM

ORANGE

Who writes this curriculum?

It’s not one person. It’s a huge team of educators, theologians, counselors,
therapists, pediatricians, parents, and kids pastors. Every quarter of curriculum
involves 70-100 contributors all of whom align around Jesus and the Great
Commandment.

What theological training do these writers have?

All of the content goes through a team of writers and editors with degrees in
theology, ministry, education, psychology, counseling, human development, and
language.

Why did you choose this curriculum?

I don’t just want my kids to experience information. I want them to experience
life transformation. This curriculum teaches kids in a way that they can
understand, remember, and apply Scriptural truths to their lives.
The truth is there are lots of curriculum creators who focus on theology, games,
and interesting illustrations, but Orange’s focus on adolescent development—
teaching with the whole kid in mind—gives me confidence that our kids will walk
away remembering what they heard and living differently because of it.

Why would we teach a virtue-based curriculum?

We organize our scope and cycle around what Jesus said matters most, which is
to “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” We actually believe the Great
commandment was positioned by Jesus to give context for Scripture and the
practices of the New Testament Church. That’s why every month we will highlight
a virtue or character quality that is anchored to what Jesus emphasized about
love. We want to give kids and families at least one creative way to apply the
stories and truths from the Bible to their practical life experience. Our hope is that
families can engage in practical conversations that shapes their
faith and character.

April 2021

Small Group Guides

I combined the K3 and 4/5 SGL guides together beginning the 2nd week in April.

K3 are at front and 4/5 are last pages.

January 2021

Virtual Small Group Guides

This PDF includes K-3rd grade and 4th-5th (preteen) groups.

Week 5 will be on February 7.

What We are Teaching Sunday December 13, 2020

Overview

SAY THIS
God's peace is for everyone.

BIBLE STORY
Luke 2:8-20
Shepherds Visit
MEMORY VERSE
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord."
Luke 2:11, NIrV

LIFE APP

Christmas is celebrating Jesus, God's greatest gift.

What We are Teaching December 6, 2020

Overview

SAY THIS
We can have hope because God keeps His promises.

BIBLE STORY
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus Is Promised

MEMORY VERSE
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord."
Luke 2:11, NIrV

LIFE APP

Christmas is celebrating Jesus, God's greatest gift.

Activities

Option 1

What You Do:
· Welcome kids to the group by name.
· If a kid brought an offering, invite them to put their offering in the offering container.
· Compete in a singing challenge based on “Jingle Bells.”
· Instruct the kids to sing the chorus of “Jingle Bells” or play it on a phone or another device that plays music.
· Then, challenge the kids to see how long they can sing a nursery rhyme song to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”
· Here are some nursery rhyme song ideas:
o “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
o “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
o “Wheels on the Bus”
o “Frere Jacques”
· The winner is the kid who can sing the most lyrics of their song without going back to singing “Jingle Bells,” pausing for a long time, or laughing!

Hope Undercover
[Live for God | Application Activity]
Made to Play: an activity that encourages learning through following guidelines and/or working as a group

What You Need: Paper plates, marker, small items, spoons, and buckets

What You Do:
· Set the covered plates at one end of your small group area and the two buckets at the other end.
· Give each kid a spoon.
· Create two teams and line each team up behind a bucket.
o One at a time, each kid will run to their set of plates and scoop off some of the items on the plate.
o They will run their full spoon back to the other end of the room and dump the items in the bucket.
o If anything falls off their spoon while they’re running, they have to go back and place those things back on the plate—without losing more off their spoon!
o Once a kid has put an object in the bucket, the next kid can remove items from the plates.
o The team who empties their plates of items to reveal “HOPE” first, wins.
o Optional: If you’re using more plates with random letters for older kids, teams must play until they have a set of cleared-off “HOPE” plates.
· Make sure all of the small items are gathered up and put inside the buckets.
· Save the plates to use again during prayer time.
· If you used Christmas candy as your plate-covers, let kids have a piece while you talk together.

What You Say:
“Aha! At the end of our game, hope was revealed! This reminds me of how, as time passed, God’s people got more and more details about God’s big promise to send a Savior to rescue everyone. His promise got clearer and clearer.

“Way back in the beginning of God’s Story, when the first people broke their relationship with God, God promised to fix it. Then, later in God’s Story, God promised Abraham that the world would be blessed by his family. Later in God’s Story, God promised King David that one of his descendants would be King forever. Then in God’s Story, God promised, through the prophet Isaiah, that the Savior would pay for our sins. As time went on, God’s promise of a Savior got clearer and clearer. Then, God kept His big promise. He sent Jesus. We could see our hope! That’s what we celebrate at Christmas! All through the Bible, we see that God always keeps His promises. [Bottom Line] We can have hope because God keeps His promises.

“What promises of God do you have hope in?” (Invite kids to share. If the kids are having trouble remembering the promises God has made to them, remind them that God has promised to love us, to be with us, to forgive us, to give us strength and courage, to take care of us, etc.)

Optional Discussion Questions for Older Kids
If you lead 4th, 5th, or 6th graders, consider asking these discussion questions:
· God’s people waited a long time for a Savior to rescue them. What do you think kept God’s people watching for a Savior all those years? How would you have felt?
· What’s one of God’s promises that you have a hard time feeling is true?
· What are some ways you can help yourself remember that God will keep every single promise He has made to you?
· What would you say to a friend who struggles to have hope? How could you show them that [Bottom Line] we can have hope because God keeps His promises?

 

What We are Teaching November 29, 2020

Overview

SAY THIS
Get in the habit of being grateful.

BIBLE STORY
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Exodus 12
Lord's Supper / Last Supper

MEMORY VERSE
“Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good. His faithful love continues forever.”
Psalm 136:1, NIrV

LIFE APP
Gratitude is letting others know you see how they've helped you.

Activities

Option 1: What You Do:
· Greet the kids by name as they arrive. Let them know you’re grateful they’re there!
· If a kid brought an offering, show them the offering container. Thank them for their gift!
· As the kids arrive, steer the conversation toward their Thanksgiving celebrations (if you’re in the United States). Ask questions like:
o “How did you celebrate Thanksgiving?”
o “What did Thanksgiving remind you to be thankful for?”

2. Gratitude Garland
[Live for God | Application Activity]
Made to Create: an activity that explores ideas through the process of drawing, building, designing, and problem-solving

What You Need: “Garland Template” Activity Page, construction paper or cardstock, hole punches, yarn or twine, pencils, markers or colored pencils, and scissors

What You Do:
· Give each kid two template leaves, scissors, pencils, and markers or colored pencils.
· Encourage the kids to trace the templates on several different colors of paper and cut out the leaves. Show them how to trace a small circle inside the hole punch so they’ll know where to punch holes in their leaves.
· Then, have the kids punch holes in each leaf.
· Direct the kids to write something they are grateful for on each leaf they made.
· Ask older kids to help younger ones thread the twine or yarn through the holes in the leaves to make a garland.
· Tie knots between the leaves so that they won’t fall off the twine.
· Set the garland aside for kids to pick up when it’s time to go.

What You Say:
“You all thought of so many things that you’re grateful for! I can see that you know how to [Bottom Line] get in the habit of being grateful.

“Many of you shared what you were grateful for during Thanksgiving Dinner this week, and you got to hear what your friends or family members shared as well. What did someone else share that they were grateful for? (Invite answers.)

“We can learn from people around us how to [Bottom Line] get in the habit of being grateful. Our parents, grandparents, and other adult friends have learned how to be grateful over their whole lives and probably have a lot of advice to give us on how to keep up the habit.

[Make It Personal] (Share something that an older adult taught you about the habit of gratitude. Maybe they went through a tough time and are grateful for the lessons they learned; or they are grateful for a relationship that has grown over time; or they have possessions or other blessings that they are grateful for if they didn’t have them when they were younger.)

“These leaves look like Thanksgiving, but the garland looks like Christmas! Consider this the perfect decoration for your room, hallway, or some other place in your home between these holidays. Put it somewhere that you can see it often and remember to [Bottom Line] get in the habit of being grateful.”