Many of you probably have already noticed the new lesson plans added to the Discoverers Level. These were created for churches who want their level 1 clubbers to cover only 6 doctrinal themes per year like the older levels rather than going through all 12. While this was requested by some churches, many churches still use the original method.
There are definitely some advantages to stretching out the curriculum in this way. If you are a smaller church, it may be easier to keep all of the kids learning at the same pace. This also may be helpful for churches with a lot of younger children or children who aren't as good at memorizing. The additional lesson plans may also be of help to those using the 12 themes in a year approach, but who may be getting through the material faster than anticipated.
There are some definite advantages to sticking with the program the way it was designed, as well. Because these children are so young, you can only go so deep with them on a particular truth. The goal at this age is to get the material in, and pray that the Lord would grant understanding to them as they get older. Some teachers find that staying on a theme too long can start to take away some of the excitement as well as superscede the understanding level of the children.
What are your thoughts? Are you extending the Discoverers' curriculum or following the original method? Are you using your own variation? If so, what blessings and roadblocks have you faced along the way?
As a note for those interested in using the additional lesson plans; these new lesson plans are in the process of being renumbered so that
it teachers will be able to match up lessons with questions according
to which scenario they are using. The new numbering will be posted shortly.
By the way, if you have not downloaded new lesson plans in a while, you may be encouraged to find a craft or activity idea in each lesson plan to help you as you teach.