Independent Living Class Designs Kindergarten Sabbath School Lessons

Cori Nelson and Mrs. Binder sing 'Peace Like a River' with the Adventure Church kindergarten class.

Steven DeMaio presents his lesson in front of the Arctic backdrop created by the Independent Living class students.

As part of Kathy Binder's Independent Living class, seniors at Campion Academy designed a backdrop and nature lessons about Arctic animals to present to the kindergarten Sabbath School class at Adventure Church on February 4.

Completed in conjunction with a unit on child development, the students had to use their classroom knowledge to create age-appropriate activities for the Sabbath School class. The project included a paper mache igloo and whale, and a painted landscape of the Arctic including scenes of polar bears, Arctic wolves, rabbits, and a penguin. The seniors went to Adventure Church earlier in the week to set up the room for the children, then taught Sabbath School the following Sabbath.

Mrs. Binder told the children about the history of the igloo, senior James Ortega told his story of the Arctic wolf, and then senior Steven DeMaio talked about the paper mache whale, real whales, and the story of Jonah. The Kindergartners got to build a whale out of googly eyes and paper plates.

“The kids loved it. They were so excited to see such an interesting room,” says Kathy Binder. “They had so much fun, they were laughing and touching the whale,” remembers Steven DeMaio. “Even kids from other classes had to come and go inside the igloo.”

Not only will the Kindergarten class enjoy their Arctic scenery this week, but the Sabbath School teachers will be able to use 15 lessons over the coming Sabbaths—all designed by the Campion students.

Jenny Sigler teaches English and Steven DeMaio is a senior at Campion Academy. Photos: senior Kari Geiger and English teacher Kathy Binder

Sienna and Raelynn work on the paper mache igloo as they develop age-appropriate nature lessons in Independent Living class.

Independent Living class students