Capacitación Christmas II

This is a continuation of the story Capacitación Christmas . . .

During the registration process, participants had been divided into four groups.  Following worship, the groups each went their separate ways, to each of four different activities.

Part II:  Story Time
Story-telling with illustrations
Story time included three different ways of experiencing the Parable of the Sower from Luke 8:11-15.  The team first introduced vocabulary from the story, talking about words like "parable."  This was fun for the team because while teachers in the US usually need to explain what the word "sower" means, the Spanish translation used the word "farmer" which is a familiar word.  We really learn a great deal from each other when discussing vocabulary!

Acting out the story
Next, the story was told in simple language, using large illustrations which the team prepared ahead of time.  As a reminder that the story is more than just a tale but is the
Word of God, the group read the passage from the Bible, using volunteer readers.  The leaders asked questions about the story and how it applies to our lives.  Participants were encouraged to share and to talk about ways they plant God's word in their hearts and can help each other and their communities to be "good soil."

Then, the group was asked to dramatize the story.  This was pretty fun - to see the adults interpret the story by being seeds and growing or wilting or being eaten by birds.  They were very imaginative!!

After experiencing the story in three ways, the group shared ideas about other ways in which Bible stories can be taught to children.  Ideas included using action figures, having the kids draw their own illustrations, and providing coloring pages which illustrate the story.  Participants were each given a little stack of coloring pages which illustrate the "Parable of the Sower."

Part III:  Arts & Crafts
We thought a great deal about ways in which communities could provide the items needed to make craft projects.  Children can use corn husks, cobs, bottle caps, recycled paper scraps, fabric scraps and sticks from frozen treats, along with easily purchased or donated items such as tissue paper and yarn for their artistic creations.
Participants work on their seed cross designs

Finished crosses and tissue paper ready for making papel picado
The project used to reinforce the story, "The Parable of the Sower" was made from corn husks, dry beans and dry corn, and recycled cardboard.  Each participant traced and cut out a cardboard heart (we had some pre-cut for children of participants) and used a hole punch to put one hole on each side of the heart.  We had pre-printed "May the word of God be planted in your heart.  Luke 8:11-15" as the story-reminder on small pieces of paper to save time.  Participants glued that paper and the seeds onto the hearts.  Then, corn husks were glued onto the back to create a cross, with the heart at the cross's center.  Yarn was added so that the cross could be hung on a wall.

After participants finished making their crosses, they were able to fill extra time by making papel picado, (cut paper - like paper snowflakes) from recycled tissue paper.  We used the papel picado to decorate the art area as the day went along.

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