“Shine,” the new Christian education curriculum from Brethren Press and MennoMedia, is now available to congregations for the fall quarter. Also available now are two starter kits: The Shine Starter Kit containing a quarter’s worth of “Shine” materials and more; and the Shine Multiage Starter Kit for congregations with a range of age groups, from kindergarten through grade 6 in the same classroom.
“Shine” is for Early Childhood (ages 3-5), Primary (kindergarten-grade 2), Middler (grades 3-6), Multiage (kindergarten-grade 6), and Junior Youth (grades 6-8). “Shine” does not include resources for senior highs, so Brethren Press is updating Generation Why curriculum for use by church youth groups.
“Shine” is a Bible story-based curriculum designed to be easy to use, emphasizing thoughtful theology and grounded in the belief that children are partners in ministry. “Shine” will be new every year, allowing the publishers to continue to keep the material fresh and responsive to user feedback. The “Shine” scope and sequence covers much of the Bible in a three-year outline.
“Shine” lifts up these theological convictions:
— We are known and loved by God.
— Jesus said that becoming “as a child” is key to entering God’s kingdom.
— Together, young and old can shine the light of Christ in the world around us.
A peek into some of the student books from the “Shine” curriculum.
Using “Shine,” children and adults will learn together what it means to follow Jesus. Through imagination, boldness, creativity, and a sense of mystery, children can help inspire Christ’s church. Drawing from current brain research, “Shine” sessions include a variety of activities to engage learners of all kinds. Each session includes options for children to explore the Bible story through active movement, creativity and the arts, and engaging student leaflets for Early Childhood and Primary and student books for Middler and Junior Youth.
The “Shine” session plan has a fresh look, including spiritual practices, age-appropriate ideas for nurturing the inner life of the spirit, peace notes with ideas for forming compassionate peacemakers, media connections that offer a variety of online and print ideas to make connections to the lesson.
“Shine” products include a teacher guide for all age groups; the new “Shine On” story Bible for Primary, Middler, and Multiage teachers, which also is a home connection product; student leaflets for Early Childhood and Primary; student books for Middler and Junior Youth; resource pack with story pictures for Early Childhood; poster pack for Primary, Middler, Multiage, and Junior Youth; annual music CD and songbook for Primary through Junior Youth; a Music CD for all three years of Early Childhood (also a home connection product).
The Shine Starter Kit contains a quarter’s worth of Shine materials and more.
The new hard-back story Bible called “Shine On” includes all the Bible stories in the curriculum’s three-year outline plus a few more, and is an essential part of the curriculum. Each classroom should have at least one copy. Congregations also are encouraged to present copies of the story Bible to each child’s family in order to make a strong church-home connection. A quantity discount of 20 percent on purchases of 10 or more copies of “Shine On” is available from Brethren Press. A Spanish version of the story Bible, titled “Resplandece,” is also available to purchase from Brethren Press, made possible through a special grant from the Schowalter Foundation.
The Early Childhood class has a separate Bible outline planned with the needs of younger children, yet still echoing the main outline of the curriculum. Early Childhood also has its own music CD for younger children, that lasts throughout the three-year Bible outline.
For older children, Middler and Junior Youth have magazine-like student books to accompany their sessions. Middler classes will use the “Shine On” Bible. Both Middler and Junior Youth classes will want copies of the songbook and music CD.
Multiage is for congregations with a range of age groups in the same classroom. Such classes will use the Multiage teacher’s guide and poster pack, “Shine On,” songbook, and music CD. An age-appropriate student leaflet or student book should be selected for each child who attends.
Starter kits are the best way to get to know ‘Shine’
The Shine Multiage Starter Kit is for congregations with a range of age groups in the same classroom, from kindergarten through grade 6.
The Shine Starter Kit is offered by Brethren Press for $175, plus shipping and handling. Worth more than $225, the kit contains a quarter’s worth of “Shine” materials and more: one each of the student pieces, teacher’s guides, and poster/resource packs for all age levels (Early Childhood, Primary, Middler, and Junior Youth) plus the Early Childhood Music CD (used for three years), Year One Songbook and Music CD for Primary and Middler classes, and a copy of “Shine On: A Story Bible.” The kit comes with a “Shine” messenger bag, while quantities last. The special price of $175 is available through Aug. 1.
The Shine Multiage Starter Kit is for congregations with a range of age groups, from kindergarten through grade 6 in the same classroom. It is offered by Brethren Press for $75 (a $95 value). It contains one Multiage teacher’s guide and poster pack, one set of Primary student leaflets, one Middler student magazine, a Year One Songbook and Music CD, and a copy of “Shine On: A Story Bible.” The kit comes with a “Shine” messenger bag, while quantities last. The Multiage kit price will be ongoing.
Find out more about “Shine” at www.shinecurriculum.com . To order, contact Brethren Press at 800-441-3712 or go to www.brethrenpress.com .