Throughout the next few months we will be adding six additional Discoverers lesson plans for each Doctrinal Theme and renumbering all Discoverers lesson plans to make it clear where the lessons fit.
The original four Discoverers lesson plans for each Doctrinal theme were written using the Q&A from the Discoverers B TruthBook as the main point for each lesson plan. This works for most churches as they study each Doctrinal theme for 3-4 weeks. The Key Truth and the Q&A studied in the lesson plan goes along with the Doctrinal Theme that is studied.
However, we have some churches who have requested additional lesson plans for this age group for some of the following reasons:
- Their older levels are studying just one Q&A a week and they want to keep the Discoverers on the same Q&A as their older children. To do this, it would be helpful to have one lesson plan for each of the Q&A studied in both Discoverers B and Discoverers C TruthBooks.
- They have different classes for children in Discoverers B and Discoverers C and would like to have lessons to specifically address the Q&A in Discoverers C TruthBooks. The additional Discoverers lesson plans are being written using the Q&A from the Discoverers C TruthBook.
- They use the Discoverers Teacher Lesson Plans for their Developers. They like the graded down format and extra activities within the lesson plans. However, some of these churches are covering just one Q&A a week and would like a lesson plan for each Truth.
- They do not want to teach the same TruthTime Lesson plans two years in a row. Having more lesson plans available allows them to rotate through the lesson plans.
- They are using a 12 month curriculum year and want extra material for those months that have five weeks.
By adding additional Discoverers lesson plans we are adding to the flexibility of the program. Any lesson plan listed under a specific Doctrinal theme can be taught for that Doctrinal Theme. The director for your program should decide how your church will use the lesson plans. Churches who were happy with the four lesson plans can continue to use the program as they have in the past (these lesson plans are labeled with a "B").
Flexible Discoverers Scenarios
- Separate Classes for Discoverers A, B, and C: If your church uses TruthBook A, B and/or C each year AND teaches the children separately, use the Discoverers lesson plans written for the TruthBook studied in that classroom.
- TruthBook B has 4 lesson plans for each Doctrinal Theme
- 12 Month Curriculum Year: use all 4 lesson plans for each Doctrinal theme.
- 9 Month Curriculum Year: use 3 lesson plans for each Doctrinal theme.
- TruthBook C has 6 lesson plans for each Doctrinal Theme
- 12 Month Curriculum Year: choose 4 out of the 6 lesson plans to use.
- 9 Month Curriculum Year: choose 3 out of the 6 lesson plans to use.
- TruthBook A has only 1 lesson plan for each Doctrinal Theme because they have just one Q&A per theme. However, teachers teaching from this TruthBook should use lesson plans from the other TruthBooks as well or else they will only be covering 12 lesson plans. Most churches use the lessons from TruthBook B when teaching a class that uses TruthBook A. We will note the question from book A in parenthesis - 010101B(a). Please remember: Any lesson plan listed under a specific Doctrinal theme can be taught for that Doctrinal Theme.
- Rotate Curriculum: If your church is rotating every other year between Book B and Book C, use the Discoverers Lesson Plan written for the TruthBook being used during the curriculum year.
- TruthBook B has 4 lesson plans for each Doctrinal Theme
- 12 Month Curriculum Year: use all 4 lesson plans for each Doctrinal theme.
- 9 Month Curriculum Year: use 3 lesson plans for each Doctrinal theme.
- TruthBook C has 6 Lesson Plans for each Doctrinal Theme
- 12 Month Curriculum Year: choose 4 out of the 6 lesson plans to use.
- 9 Month Curriculum Year: choose 3 out of the 6 lesson plans to use.
- All 10 Q&A - One Question each week: If your church studies all 10 Q&A for each Doctrinal Theme covering just 6 Doctrinal Themes a year, you will use all 10 Discoverers lesson plans for each Doctrinal Theme.
- The Discoverers curriculum was written using the same 10 Truths for each Doctrinal theme that levels 2-4 memorize. In some cases we have reworded or simplified the question for the child, and for theme 7 the children learn the 10 commandments like the children do in level 2.
- Please note: if you are trying to make sure the Discoverers are learning the same Q&A each week that the older levels are learning you will want to review the Parallels document or the TruthCard file for the order of questions and answers.
- TruthBook B was designed by choosing the four Q&A that we believed were most important for the preschool child to know. TruthBook C used the remaining six Q&A from the 10 Q&A covered for each Doctrinal theme.
- TruthBook A was designed by choosing the one Q&A that we believed was most important or easiest (in some cases) for a 3-year old child to know.
Understanding the Numbering of the Discoverers Lesson Plans
Discoverers Lesson Plans will have a six digit number plus a letter at the end.
- First two numbers = level number (Discoverers will be 01)
- Second two numbers = Doctrinal theme number (01-12)
- Third two numbers = Q&A Number (You can match up the Q&A number with the Discoverers lesson plans by going down the first column and then down the second column of any given page [Doctrinal Theme] in a TruthBook. As a reminder, the order of Q&A in the Discoverers lesson plans and Discoverers TruthBooks do not necessarily follow the order of the Q&A in the older levels for that theme. Note number 3 under Flexible Scenarios.)
- Letter = TruthBook Letter (B, or C)
- We will note the question from book A in parenthesis - 010101B(a).
Updated Lesson Plan Files
Over the past year we have been editing our Discoverers TruthTime Teacher Lesson Plans. If you downloaded your lesson plans some time back, you may want to download the updated files. The updated files contain more activities, craft ideas, illustrations, and content. Please remember: our lesson plans are designed with more content than most teachers can teach in a lesson time period. This is done so that you can pick and choose the points and illustrations God lays on your heart as you prepare to teach the lesson.
Original Ideas for Crafts or Activities
Do you have an original idea for a craft or activity that goes well with one of the Discoverers lesson plans? We would love to hear your ideas. You may feel free to post your idea in the online form, under the lesson plan description, or email it to us at clubs@kids4truth.com. Sharing your ideas helps make K4T better for others. Remember: we currently have a monthly contest for the most creative, helpful, or interesting forum post each month. The monthly contest winner receives a $15 gift certificate to the Online Store.
