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DCE releases first lessons in year-long curriculum

DCE releases first lessons in year-long curriculum

SPRINGFIELD, Va [OCA]

The OCA Christian Education Department has released the first lessons of a new comprehensive school-age curriculum to help parishes and church school teachers educate Orthodox Christian students. The first five lessons of a planned year-long curriculum are now available for download for preschool, kindergarten through second grade, and third through fifth grades. Middle and high school lessons will be released at a later date.

The new school-age curriculum, called “Blessed is the Kingdom,” is based on themes contained in the popular “Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs” published last year by branches of the Orthodox Church in America. Using the Divine Liturgy as a framework for presenting the most essential teachings and practices of Orthodox Christianity, the development of this school-age curriculum will now enable a community-wide coordinated educational program.

Series author Kelly Potteiger creates this new series using the successful format of her previous occasional readings, “All of Creation Rejoices” and “Let Your Light So Shine,” which are often used for short series or holiday church school themes.

Father Thomas Soroka, OCA Departmental Project Manager, stated, “This new year-long school-age series is a logical and necessary next step in the Church’s development of new school materials.” As our parishes and church schools grow throughout the OCA, our pastors and teachers asked for fresh, interactive lessons that engage students and guide teachers every step of the way.”

The new lessons emphasize Scripture and liturgical texts, are written with clear teacher instructions, and are script-based to help beginning teachers. The lessons are highly interactive and include questions, activities and crafts that are particularly attractive to young students and enable more effective learning than paper exercises.

Here you will find the first five lessons for preschool, kindergarten through second grade, and third through fifth grade

You can support the ongoing projects of the OCA’s departments by considering a donation to the OCA Stewards. Your financial support is crucial to the success of these ventures! If you have any questions about the work of the departments, please contact Father Thomas Soroka at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).