Preschool Bible Time Curriculum
Grace Community School’s preschool Bible Time curriculum is a developmentally-appropriate series of Bible instruction for kids ages two years and up, providing a variety of entertaining and informational components. The Bible lessons are fun and beneficial, and they’re a core part of the College Can Begin at 2 Curriculum.
Bible Time helps children:
- be kind to and get along with one another
- learn the basics of Christian living
- identify and embody good morals
- learn to be good neighbors
- get familiar with central Bible stories, truths, and doctrines
- build a faith that will help them throughout life
Bible instruction is necessary because we want our kids to develop not just physically and mentally but also spiritually. This faith-based approach is foundational to us as a non-denominational Christian daycare. From creation to the resurrection and everything in between, we cover major aspects of the Bible and its teachings along with object lessons and practical illustrations to assist our students in living their best possible lives.
What Exactly is Bible Time?
Grace Community School Bible instruction — Bible Time — is a 15-minute activity scheduled twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Bible instruction is non-denominational and taught using large colorful picture cards. These cards, in combination with engaging story-telling, make Bible time one of the children’s favorite activities of the day! Bible Time is done every day for kids ages two years and up. It’s essential for our preschool kids.
Bible Time happens twice a day at Grace Community School.
Kids need God’s Word, and so the main content of Bible Time is where we go through an ongoing Bible story (continuing from the previous day’s lesson), then follow it up with a recitation of the Ten Commandments. Bible Time also features an object lesson from a particular commandment teaching how to show God’s love and follow His precepts. In addition to Bible stories and the commandments, children are also introduced to the 23rd Psalm, Pledges to the Bible, the Christian flag, the American flag, the Lord’s prayer, and Bible songs. We want to equip our students with the full armor of God.
Moral Foundation
As Jesus said in a famous parable, “the wise man built his house on the rock.” The rock is Jesus, and we build upon Him by living our lives with a strong foundation on God’s Word. That’s why Bible studies are crucial for everyone, including preschool children.
Jesus is the rock – the foundation we must build our lives on.
For children to succeed, they need a firm foundation, not only of academics but of morality. The non-denominational Bible program at Grace Community School provides this. In addition to daily Bible Time, we incorporate morals, virtues, and manners into the curriculum. Children learn the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This moral learning is just as crucial for children’s development as the academic material; moreover, moral understanding is the framework for social-emotional development. Kids are better able to learn when children behave courteously and work together in a safe environment.
It’s been a hallmark of the Reformation from Martin Luther onward that even small children need to start learning about God and faith. When we pray before meals and work moral lessons into the rest of the classroom activities, it reinforces the more formal Bible instruction. Bible Time at all Grace Community School locations follows a scheduled set of modules.
Our Preschool Bible Lessons
Bible lessons include stories from both the Old and New Testaments. We place particular emphasis on the life of Christ, scheduling the Christmas and Easter narratives around their respective holidays. We also include the parables and miracles of Jesus. Children learn about many of the Bible’s central characters, like Abraham, Moses, Isaac, King David, Elijah, the disciples, and Paul. We discuss the lessons we can learn from the events of their lives, and much more!
Bible Stories We Teach
Some of the stories include:
- Creation
- Noah’s Ark
- Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
- Joseph
- Moses
- Joshua & Judges
- Ruth
- Esther
- Isaiah & Elijah
- The Life of David
- Jonah & the Whale
- The Christmas Story
- The Life & Ministry of Jesus
- The Acts of Paul and the Apostles
The 23rd Psalm
Children learn to recite the 23rd Psalm.
The Lord is our shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Pledges
As an introduction to Bible Time, our students say pledges.
Pledge to the Bible
I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s holy word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart so I might not sin against God.
Pledge to the Christian Flag
I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, and to the Savior, for whose Kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe.
Pledge to the American Flag
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Ten Commandments
Moral foundations, ethics, and character development are based on the Ten Commandments. These can be found in Exodus 20.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
- Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.
- Honor thy father and thy mother.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- Thou shalt not covet.
The Lord’s Prayer
Each Bible Time ends with the recitation of the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth , as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.
Bible is Part of a Whole Life Education
No whole life education is complete without biblical discipleship and God’s truth. Since the College Can Begin at 2 Curriculum is a comprehensive early childhood education curriculum, we include Bible lessons. There’s more: Grace Community School’s reading program is also allied with Bible instruction. One of the historical incentives for the teaching of reading has been for children to read the Scriptures for themselves. This is one of the many reasons why early literacy is so critical!
We also recognize that many of our students can’t attend Sunday School or church worship services, so we have a burden on our ministry to give as many kids as possible the gospel message. We even provide our before and after school care kids Bible Time when they come into after school care from their public schools. Learning about the Bible is important!
Your child deserves the best. It’s our job to make our teaching as complete as possible. That requires dedication to every aspect of your child’s development, including spiritual development. Bible Time is our way of making sure we meet this critical responsibility.