Curriculum Review - Large Group/Small Group - Deeper In 4 Children from kidz Connection

Today is the first day of my 2015 Sunday school Curriculum Reviews. All this week we will be taking a look at Large Group Sunday school curriculum resources. I'm happy today to share information about a new curriculum - Deeper In 4 Children from kidz Connection - It's All About the GROWTH. 

The first thing I need to say about this curriculum is, I write it. Since I write it, while I certainly want to be un-biased in my review, it really isn't highly likely this will be the most un-biased review you will ever read! Deeper In 4 Children is almost completed and will be a complete curriculum - meaning it includes materials for Sunday School and Children's Church each quarter in one zip file. You could use the materials for Sunday School and children's church or use one week's materials for two weeks by using the Sunday School materials one week and the second service materials the following week. You will find Deeper In 4 Children gives you many options which allow you to "tailor" it to the best "fit" for your ministry. 

It also focuses on engaging children in opening their own Bibles, researching the Bible lesson and then sharing what they learn in the large group. It truly does get children to "go deeper" into God's Word. I want children to understand and experience how God's Word is for them - not just for adults. I want children to understand and experience how to find information in God's Word and I want children to be able to understand and experience how to know and walk with God. Deeper In 4 Children is being written to do these things. 

Having said these things . . . allow me to share with you some information about Deeper In 4 Children from kidz Connection!

• Publisher - David Freeman Publishing 
• Website - www.kidzconnection.us
• Price - $75 per quarter for Preschool/Early Elementary and $75 per quarter for Elementary . . . or free as I give it to any church if they can not afford it.
• Type - Large Group/Small Group
• Scope - Through the Bible, but based on a topic - each series of lessons work from Genesis to Revelation with the goal of providing children a complete view of what the entire Bible has to say on the topic/focus for each year.
• Available for Preschool/Early Elementary and for Elementary age children.

Strengths -

• Biblically Sound
• Unified Scope and Sequence
• Entirely reproducible - and you are welcome to make as many copies as you need for use in your ministry for no additional cost.
• Includes an optional Second Service lesson each week - use it for Children's Church, Mid-week, a longer Sunday School or for the following week making each quarter of materials last for two quarters.
• The optional second service involves children in personalizing the Psalms or Proverbs and then praying them back to God.
• Children are intentionally engaged throughout the lesson by researching a specific portion of the Bible event and then sharing what they learn with everyone during large group - this allows children to help teach the lessons.
• Scope is built around a topic - Grace, Obedience, Talking with God and Walk of Faithfulness are currently available with Relationships and Heart for God and others still in development - and follows this topic each quarter through the Old and New Testaments, so children are able to fully understand what God's Word has to say about it from cover to cover. Quarter one focuses on "Why" I need Grace, or to Obey or to Talk with God, etc. Quarter two focuses on people from the Bible who did or did not choose Grace, or to Obey, etc. Quarter three focuses on how my life changes when I choose Grace, or to talk with God, etc and the fourth quarter each year begins with one month of review for the entire family and two months spending time in the Gospels to see Who Jesus is and how He shows His great love for me!
• Optional Second Service lessons involve children with science projects and other object lessons, engages children in personalizing and praying the Psalms back to God and end with the leaders praying Scripture for each child in a blessing.
• Each week has activities for children to do during the week to live what they learn.
• Each quarter has a "Put Feet to Their Faith" service project.
• Parent flyers are included, so parents are able to continue the learning at home throughout the week.

Would like to see - 

• Music to go with the lessons
• Colorful graphics
• Teacher Devotions (in development)

It is my desire to see children intentionally engaged in the teaching of the Bible lesson during large group time with the guidance of their Small Group Shepherds and Lead Teacher and then involved in real and meaningful conversations in small group time, so they are able to remember and understand God's Word. I want them to be able to take what they learn out the doors of the church and live it in their everyday lives for genuinely changed lives. Deeper In 4 Children; kidz Connection is written with the goal of providing the tools churches need to do exactly these things.

Some of the churches using kidz Connection have reported their children love being able to participate in the teaching of the Bible lesson with the dramas and "can't wait to come back the next week to see what they will be doing"! I have had churches report they have children get saved each quarter and their parents love how all their children are learning the same lesson the same week! They said their teachers love the creativity and the way the kids are intentionally engaged throughout the class time. I have also had churches use it where they said their teachers thought there were too many things to do. I recommend downloading the sample lessons and trying them - you may find Deeper In 4 Children; kidz Connection is a great "fit" for your ministry!

As soon as it is ready for release - in May - I will be holding a give-away of your choice of one year for free; so watch for details on the give-away! I'm also offering a special where when you purchase two quarters, you will receive one quarter for free!