Title: The Globe and the Raised Surface Map of Israel
Subject: Biblical Geography
Age: 3 to 10 years
Liturgical Time: Non-specific, but usually presented at the beginning of the year in the atrium in preparation of presentations on Jesus' life, such as the Annunciation and Birth.
Doctrinal Content: Jesus was conceived, born, died, and resurrected in the land of Israel.
Direct Aim: This lesson aims to identify the geography of Israel and Jesus' life, namely Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Nazareth and to become familiar with the names of the cities.
Indirect Aims: Other aims include enhancing the relationship with Jesus as fully human, having a better vision of Jesus' life, and preparing for infancy narratives and Advent.
Sources:
Notes from CGS training at St. Catherine, given by Jo Ann Padgett, Spring 2007
Religious Potential of the Child, chapter 6
The Good Shepherd and the Child, Appendix B, page 96
"CGS Manual for Construction of the 3-6 Materials," pp 151-161
Luke 1:26, 2:4-7, 23:7, 24:18
Materials for the Lesson:
small globe indicating blue for water, brown sandpaper for land, and Israel by a red dot, or a large detailed map of world and of Israel.
A raised topographical map of Israel marked with mountains, water, and towns.
Markers to put in raised topographical map to indicate main cities in Jesus' life:
Comet (star) for Bethlehem
Cross for Jerusalem
Flame for Nazareth
Wall map of Israel with names of significant cities and regions noted.
Basket to hold markers
Small table to hold map and globe Map of Israel Map of World
The Lesson Plan:
Gather and settle the children. Introduce the topic by saying, "Today I'd like to share with you where Jesus lived." Show the globe or map of the world, slowly moving a hand over globe/map and turn it. Especially if smaller children are present, say, "This is our planet." Point to the blue and brown parts of the globe: "Here are the oceans and seas, and here is the land." Slowly trace continents and water: Say, "Notice the size of the continents and the size of the bodies of water."
Point to and slowly trace Israel: "Jesus was born in this small country called Israel." "See this red dot? It is Israel." Point to and slowly trace the United States: "This is the United States, look at it in comparison to Israel." Compare the size of Colorado to Israel and even the county we live in. Invite each child to examine the map closer up.
Now show a topographical map of Israel, if available. Trace the blue and brown parts of the map, saying, "If I look more closely at the country of Israel, it looks like this." Depending on the age of the children, you could name and point out the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Galilee (where Jesus went fishing), the Jordan River (where Jesus was baptized), and the Dead Sea (nothing lives in it).
Name and point to the three cities in the following order; refer to the markers with the symbols that help us remember what happened at these places:
Place marker with cross on Jerusalem. "Jesus taught at the great temple in Jerusalem. It was in Jerusalem where Jesus died and rose again."
Place marker with the star on Bethlehem. "The town of Bethlehem is where Jesus was born."
Place marker with flame on Nazareth. "Nazareth is where the angel told Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nazareth is also the place where Jesus grew up."
Reinforce the names of the cities by saying, "This is..., Show me...,What is this?"
Demonstrate how to restore the material; invite the children to work with the material.
Activities:
Use the materials.
Children can make relief maps of Israel.
Children can create legends to indicate major events in the life of Jesus.
Use scripture passages and a map to find and indicate where certain events in the life of Jesus took place.
Notice: This lesson plan utilizes training and the general philosophy/method of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Materials found in this document, however, have been created specifically to incorporate the theology and dogmatic teaching of the Orthodox Church. The author of this lesson offers special recognition to Mrs. JoAnne Padget, CGS Instructor, who provided instruction and guidance in the CGS method. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program requires intensive study and strongly recommends that teachers using their program enroll in and complete coursework through an authorized CGS instructor. More information about CGS is available at http://www.cgsusa.org.
Title: The Globe and the Raised Surface Map of Israel
Subject: Biblical Geography
Age: 3 to 10 years
Liturgical Time: Non-specific, but usually presented at the beginning of the year in the atrium in preparation of presentations on Jesus' life, such as the Annunciation and Birth.
Doctrinal Content: Jesus was conceived, born, died, and resurrected in the land of Israel.
Direct Aim: This lesson aims to identify the geography of Israel and Jesus' life, namely Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Nazareth and to become familiar with the names of the cities.
Indirect Aims: Other aims include enhancing the relationship with Jesus as fully human, having a better vision of Jesus' life, and preparing for infancy narratives and Advent.
Sources:
Materials for the Lesson:
small globe indicating blue for water, brown sandpaper for land, and Israel by a red dot, or a large detailed map of world and of Israel.
A raised topographical map of Israel marked with mountains, water, and towns.
Wall map of Israel with names of significant cities and regions noted.
Basket to hold markers
Small table to hold map and globe
Map of Israel
Map of World
The Lesson Plan:
Gather and settle the children. Introduce the topic by saying, "Today I'd like to share with you where Jesus lived." Show the globe or map of the world, slowly moving a hand over globe/map and turn it. Especially if smaller children are present, say, "This is our planet." Point to the blue and brown parts of the globe: "Here are the oceans and seas, and here is the land." Slowly trace continents and water: Say, "Notice the size of the continents and the size of the bodies of water."
Point to and slowly trace Israel: "Jesus was born in this small country called Israel." "See this red dot? It is Israel." Point to and slowly trace the United States: "This is the United States, look at it in comparison to Israel." Compare the size of Colorado to Israel and even the county we live in. Invite each child to examine the map closer up.
Now show a topographical map of Israel, if available. Trace the blue and brown parts of the map, saying, "If I look more closely at the country of Israel, it looks like this." Depending on the age of the children, you could name and point out the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Galilee (where Jesus went fishing), the Jordan River (where Jesus was baptized), and the Dead Sea (nothing lives in it).
Name and point to the three cities in the following order; refer to the markers with the symbols that help us remember what happened at these places:
Reinforce the names of the cities by saying, "This is..., Show me...,What is this?"
Demonstrate how to restore the material; invite the children to work with the material.
Activities:
Use the materials.
Children can make relief maps of Israel.
Children can create legends to indicate major events in the life of Jesus.
Use scripture passages and a map to find and indicate where certain events in the life of Jesus took place.
Notice: This lesson plan utilizes training and the general philosophy/method of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Materials found in this document, however, have been created specifically to incorporate the theology and dogmatic teaching of the Orthodox Church. The author of this lesson offers special recognition to Mrs. JoAnne Padget, CGS Instructor, who provided instruction and guidance in the CGS method. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program requires intensive study and strongly recommends that teachers using their program enroll in and complete coursework through an authorized CGS instructor. More information about CGS is available at http://www.cgsusa.org.