Techniques for Techniques for Teaching Teaching ChildrenChildren

Teaching KidsTeaching Kids

How do children learn?How do children learn?

How do children How do children learn differently learn differently than adults?than adults?

More open, less More open, less analyticanalytic

Eager to learnEager to learn Short attention span Short attention span

(about 1 minute per (about 1 minute per year)year)

Need practical, active Need practical, active teachingteaching

More concrete—not as More concrete—not as able to think in abstract able to think in abstract or general termsor general terms

How does that work out in How does that work out in practice?practice?

They need fast-paced, interactive They need fast-paced, interactive teachingteaching

Use multiple sensesUse multiple senses Dramas, stories, puppets showsDramas, stories, puppets shows Games, activities, action songsGames, activities, action songs

Action-oriented (not theoretical)Action-oriented (not theoretical) Frequent changes of activitiesFrequent changes of activities Put what they learn into practice, showing Put what they learn into practice, showing

others and through community projectsothers and through community projects

Teaching through games:Teaching through games:

When can you use games? Why?When can you use games? Why? Divide into small groups.Divide into small groups. Give out the handouts, Give out the handouts, Memory Memory

Verse Games, Review Games, Verse Games, Review Games, and and GamesGames Prepare to demonstrate one game.Prepare to demonstrate one game. What is the purpose of using games?What is the purpose of using games? What is the purpose of this game in What is the purpose of this game in

particular?particular?

StoryingStorying

Read and act out the health story, Read and act out the health story, Bad Bad Medicine Medicine (but don’t ask the questions (but don’t ask the questions yet)yet)

When can we use stories?When can we use stories? Health storiesHealth stories Islamic Incidents and storiesIslamic Incidents and stories Other storiesOther stories

Why tell stories?Why tell stories? What can children learn from storying?What can children learn from storying?

Telling the StoryTelling the Story

What are some other ways to tell the What are some other ways to tell the story?story? PuppetsPuppets Flannel graphsFlannel graphs Dramas, mimesDramas, mimes Children can draw pictures or Children can draw pictures or

illustrationsillustrations Use songs or poemsUse songs or poems Add sound effects and different voicesAdd sound effects and different voices Use an object to illustrate the storyUse an object to illustrate the story

Understanding the StoryUnderstanding the Story

How would you introduce the story?How would you introduce the story? What questions do we ask after a What questions do we ask after a

starter or story?starter or story? Think SHOWD:Think SHOWD: Observation questions: What did you Observation questions: What did you SSee?ee? Interpretation questions: What is Interpretation questions: What is

HHappening? appening? Why?hy? Application questions: Does this happen Application questions: Does this happen

in in OOur place? What should we ur place? What should we DDo about o about it?it?

Asking QuestionsAsking Questions

Why do we ask questions?Why do we ask questions? Give some examples of questions for Give some examples of questions for

the story the story Bad Medicine:Bad Medicine: Observation questionsObservation questions Interpretation questionsInterpretation questions Application questionsApplication questions

When can you ask these questions?When can you ask these questions?

Involving the ChildrenInvolving the Children

How can you involve the children in the How can you involve the children in the story?story? They can name the characters or change They can name the characters or change

the animals.the animals. They can act out the story.They can act out the story. Ask them questions during the story, such Ask them questions during the story, such

as, “What should he have done instead?”as, “What should he have done instead?” Have them give another ending to the story.Have them give another ending to the story. Ask them to relate the story to their own Ask them to relate the story to their own

lives.lives.

Adapting the StoryAdapting the Story How could you adapt the story to your How could you adapt the story to your

culture or context?culture or context? Change the names and the details to fit your Change the names and the details to fit your

context.context. Adapt stories to match the ages of the children.Adapt stories to match the ages of the children. Use shorter stories with younger children.Use shorter stories with younger children. Focus on health needs that are common in your Focus on health needs that are common in your

area.area. Change the time period or context. Tell a Bible Change the time period or context. Tell a Bible

story in a modern context or an urban context.story in a modern context or an urban context. Change the illustrations so they fit your culture.Change the illustrations so they fit your culture.

Tell the StoryTell the Story

Finally, the children will practice Finally, the children will practice telling or acting out the story.telling or acting out the story.

Sometimes there is a coloring page.Sometimes there is a coloring page. During the week, they will tell the During the week, they will tell the

story to their family, friends and story to their family, friends and neighbors.neighbors.