Welcome to Witness!

• Overview of Witness

• Structure of Witness

• Components of Witness

• Planning and Preparation

• Enrichments

Overview of Witness

A witness is

someone who:

• KNOWS the word

• GROWS in faith

• SHOWS service

To witness is to:

• SHARE the word

• EXPRESS faith

• LIVE service

Overview of Witness

• Witness is based on a strong biblical

foundation

• Witness includes Bible stories tell the

salvation story

• Witness provides resources for age-

appropriate teaching and learning

• Witness helps kids apply the gospel to daily

life—witnessing/evangelism

Ages and Components

• Curriculum for age 2 through grade 8

• Learners are grouped by age/grade (Ages 2-3,

Pre-K/K, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6,

Grades 7-8)

• Main components

– Teacher Guide

– Learner Resource

– Teacher Class Kit

Using Witness

• Two-year cycle of resources: Year Red

and Year Blue

• Two 15-week semesters each year

– Semester 1: Old Testament stories, Advent and

Christmas sessions

– Semester 2: New Testament stories, including the

ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus

• Sessions are undated

Bonus Sessions!

• In addition to 15 Core sessions, 5 Bonus sessions per semester

• When should you use Bonus Sessions?– During Advent or Lent (Seasonal Preparations)

– When more movement is needed (Field Trip)

– When Sunday school begins in August or runs through June

– When the text is read during worship

– When the topic fits!

More Bonus Sessions

• Five Bonus areas for each semester

– 1. Teachings of Jesus (most from John)

– 2. Connections between the Old and New Testaments

– 3. Field Trip

– 4. Seasonal Preparations (Advent, Lent)

– 5. Worship (A place to pray, sing, celebrate, give)

Scope and Sequence

• Year Red Scope and Sequence: pp. 12-13 in Planning Guide

• Year Blue Scope and Sequence: pp. 14-15 in Planning Guide

• For each session– Session number

– Space for notes

– Bible story and text

– Faith Trait

• Many stories are the same between the Lower and Upper age/grade groups

Components

• Teacher Guide

• Learner Resource

• Teacher Class Kit

Components: Teacher Guide

• Core session sections– Page 1: Session-at-a-Glance

– Page 2: Bible Background, Age-Level Connection

– Page 3: Ready for the Story

– Page 4: Explore the Story

– Page 5: Live the Story

• Bonus session sections– Page 1: Bible Background, Ready for the Story

– Page 2: Explore the Story, Live the Story

Components: Teacher Guide

• Lots of support for teachers before

and during sessions

• Support for session preparation

– Bible Background – for digging into the story

– Teacher Prayer – for using as a personal devotion

– Question for Reflection – for thinking about the story’s

meaning for you

– Learner Goals – for planning how learners will know

the story, grow in faith, and show service to others

Components: Teacher Guide

• Support throughout the session– Factoids – for learning more about the Bible

story and its context

– Transition Tip – for planning how to move between activities

– More Movement – for getting out the wiggles

– Kid Connect – for making connections between you, learners, and the stories

– Teacher Boost – for affirming you as you answer the call to teach kids and nurture their lives of faith

Components: Learner Resource

• Leaflet for Lower Levels (Age 2–Grade 4)– Page 1: Activity to prepare for story

– Page 2: Bible story

– Page 3: Witness activities

– Page 4: Witness at Home

• Magazine for Upper Levels (Grades 5 – 8)– Four pages of activities for Ready, Explore, Live the

Story

– Brain Builders, Bible Connections, Creative Corner, Digging In

Components: Teacher Class Kit

• Posters: Bible art, contemporary images

• Activity Cards: Faith Traits, storytelling,

game cards

• Reproducible Sheets: Bonus session learner

resources, session activities, Go Global!,

puppets, games

• CD: song or comedy track for each session

Finding Your Materials

• Make sure you have necessary

materials to plan and prepare

– Age/grade level Teacher Guide

– Age/grade level Learner Resource Lower grades: take-home leaflets

Upper grades: booklet

– Lower or Upper Teacher Class Kit (posters,

activity cards, reproducible sheets, CD)

Getting Ready

• Review the Scope and Sequence chart for the semester

• Check with your education planner to determine if all age/grade levels will learn the same story each week

• Make sure the seasonal sessions (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter) are planned on the appropriate dates

• Plan if and when you’ll use Bonus sessions

Preparing your mind and heart

• Read the Bible Text

• Review the Key Verse and Big Idea

• Read the Bible Background and Factoids

• Use the Teacher Prayer

• Consider the Question for Reflection

• Review the Learner Goals

Planning Your Session

• Review the Session at a Glance chart to identify needed materials and preparation

• Review each part of the session– Ready for the Story: How will you prepare learners for the Bible

story?

– Explore the Story: How will you present the Bible story to learners?

– Live the Story: How will help learners apply the Bible story to their own lives?

• Make sure you have your own copy of the Learner Resource – look for when and how it’s used

Highlights

• In addition to teaching the Bible story, plan how you will use…– Big Ideas to sum up the story in a sentence

– Faith Traits to build character and strengthen discipleship

– Witnesses in the World to support learners in exploring how they can witness to others near and far

– Go Global! activities (5 per semester) and accompanying Reproducible Sheet to connect kids to other places and people

Use Your Teacher Class Kit!

• Review Teacher Class Kit contents

– Posters Some posters can be used during every session

(Big Ideas, Faith Traits) Some posters are specific to one or two stories

– Cut out the Activity Cards before the session

– Make copies of Reproducible Sheets and Pages before the session

– Listen to the CD track for each session