Welcome to our Sunday School Idea and Lesson Sharing Community
View the menu to all our Bible Story Lesson & Resource forums.
We've been collecting, creating, improving, and expanding our Advent Ideas and Lesson forums for over two decades. From Isaiah to Gabriel to the Shepherds and Magi -- we have you covered. Our Advent forums also have lots of celebration ideas and resources. Come and see!
View our Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Stewardship resources! They include specific Bible story suggestions and lessons, plus activities for Sunday School, fellowship groups, home, and intergenerational use.
Isaiah Promised; Jesus Fulfilled
Seven different lessons about Isaiah 7 (Immanuel), Isaiah 9 (Wonderful Counselor...), and Matthew 1 (you shall name him Jesus).
Highlights: "Emmanuel" Rock Candy; Parade of Old Testament "Heroes and Zeros" -- a fun drama led by Grand Marshall Isaiah; a great 8-minute video describing the hope for a Messiah followed by students recording a movie trailer for "Here Comes the Messiah!"
Mary Accepts, Magnifies, Ponders
Seven unique lessons about Gabriel's visit with Mary (Luke 1:26-38), Mary's Song of Joy (Luke 1: 46-55), and Mary Treasures and Ponders what the Shepherds say (Luke 2:8-20).
Highlights: A "Mary Meal" (Seder for the Hope of the Messiah), a wild "pitch and catch" Games Workshop, and "Mary's Lost Christmas Opera" ~ familiar songs with Mary story lyrics using fun lip-syncing and off-camera singing techniques.
Shepherds and Angels
Seven different lessons about Luke 2's story of the Angels Announcing Jesus' Birth to the Shepherds.
Highlights: Students bake shepherds' crooks and mix four special "scripture dips" that focus on life application of the story, a Shepherds and Angels drama using the very fun "Flat Lay" technique, and a detailed photo-instruction-assisted art project in which students create a unique light-reflecting fabric painting of "The Night Heaven Arrived on Earth."
Jesus is Born! - Open to Everyone
Seven different lessons about Matthew 1:18-25 (Angel's Announcement to Joseph) and Luke 2:1-7 (Decree, Journey to Bethlehem, and Birth).
Highlights: A "Journey Cakes" Cooking Workshop in which students learn the story of this special food and connect it to their journey towards Christmas and beyond; a "News Team 7 Breaking News!" Drama Workshop; an "Advent Idol" Advent Song Workshop creating new story lyrics to familiar tunes.
The Writing Team's "Jesus is Born!" lesson set is open to all!
The Magi
Six unique lessons about the Matthew 2:1-12 story of the Magi.
Highlights: Camel Games, a King Cake Baking Workshop, a foil-sculpture Art Workshop about what it means to "fall down and worship him," and a very special "Moana and the Magi" Music & Video Workshop.
Many of the Writing Team Advent Lessons and pieces from each lesson can be also used for special Christmas programming and intergenerational events.
different broadly-graded, modifiable, and adaptable lesson plans written and peer-reviewed by creative teachers.
Parenting Disciples Posters and Guides
Check out these 12 inspirational parenting/family posters and their 12 handouts for home or congregational use. Created by a member of Rotation.org for her church, you're going to love the quality and writing. View the overview and get the PDFs now.
We've posted the video of our recent "Ministering to NeuroDiverse Kids" seminar. View our new and expanding resources and discussion about ministering to kids in the church with special needs and "neurodiversity."
About the Rotation Model and Organization of Our Site
The lessons and ideas in our Bible Story Lesson Forums are organized by creative teaching methods such as art, games, video, drama, and cooking. We call these medium-specific classrooms "workshops." Kids rotate each week to a new workshop, hence the name, "Workshop Rotation Model" (or "the WoRM" for short). All workshops teach the same Bible story for several weeks in a row. If you're using a traditional "new story each week" model, browse all the workshops for your story and pick one that fits your needs.
Read how the Rotation Model can help with attendance fluctuations and irregular attendance.
View this short video about the Rotation Model...
Here's an example of a Workshop Rotation-style schedule for 2 broadly graded groups. View the presentations for more scheduling and scaling examples.
