Suggested Sunday School Curriculum An Overview

Goals 1.Identifying the main targets of the Coptic Orthodox Religious Education 2.Identifying the age and cultural needs and problems 3.Building up a generation of teachers capable of teaching the orthodox doctrine and practice 4.Building up and involving families in the process of handing down the faith

Hebrews 6:1,2 1.Repentance from dead works – Moral & Spiritual 2.Faith toward God – Faith & Spiritual 3.The doctrine of baptisms - Liturgical 4.laying on of hands - Liturgical 5.Resurrection of the dead - Faith 6.Eternal judgment – Faith & Moral Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of:

Goals 5.Each year there are 5 major teaching categories to be covered: a)Bible b)Faith c)Liturgical d)Moral e)Spiritual – These goals are interconnected and inseparable. – As much as possible; In every lesson, these five goals should be covered

Goals 6. Each year focuses on one overarching Theme: 1 st Grade: The Trinity 2 nd Grade: Adoption 3 rd Grade: Reconciliation 4 th Grade: The Church 5 th Grade: Sanctity - Holiness 6 th Grade: The Bible and the Spirit 7 th Grade: Spiritual warfare - Identity 8 th Grade: The Kingdom of God 9 th Grade: Life in Christ 10 th Grade:Discipleship 11 th Grade & 12 th Grade: Martorya - witnessing

Spiral Teaching Teaching grades are built as building blocks i.e. They depend on each other but not totally. Concepts are taught again at a higher levels with deeper meaning and more focused applications The main themes of teaching would be taught every year, while others might repeat every three to five years.

The Unit System Each teaching year is made of Units that teaches one major subject The Unit serve the bigger theme of the Year The unit is made of 1-14 lessons Each lesson would target one item of the bigger goal of the unit. Lessons are taught with the Unit purpose (and the year theme) in mind

Unit and Lessons The Lessons –within the unit-are constructed so that if the student skips a lesson or two, they still can benefit from the rest of the unit although not maximum benefit. The lessons have within them many elements that review and tie the unit together.

Lessons Lessons have three main parts: A.Servant Preparation: B.Lesson Preparation C.Home Activity

Lesson – A. Servant Preparation focused on educating and helping the teachers be in the right mindset for the teaching of that specific lesson. This part has: 1.Biblical and 2.Patristic references, 3.Reflections, and 4.liturgical prayers

Lesson – B. Lesson Preparation Contains all the resources the teacher would need in the class during the actual teaching session: 1.Song 2.Vocabulary 3.Objectives 4.Introduction 5.Lesson Body 6.Conclusion

Lesson – C. Home Activity Includes all the memorizations and the interactions that the student should have with his/her parents and other family members Focused on the targets of the year and the unit

Grade Theme FaithBibleLiturgicalMoralS piritual 1 The Revelation The Trinity Gospel Baptism Obedience & Sharing Prayer & The Word of God 2 Adoption Christ The Patriarchs: Abraham Eucharist Faith & 10 Commandments Offering 3 Reconciliation Salvation The Patriarchs: Jacob Confession & Liturgy UnityRepentance 4 The Church The Patriarchs: Joseph Priesthood & The visible Church Relations with Others Prayer of the hours 5 Sanctification Moses and Exodus Sacraments Holy Chrism Sanctity of the body Fasting & Giving

Grade Theme Faith Bible LiturgicalMoralSpiritual 6 God Gave Us His Word & Spirit The Holy Spirit The books of the Bible & the book of Acts Chrismation Protecting life Prayer of the heart 7 Christ our Light Remission of sins Joshua Judges Ruth Confession & Unction of the sick Conscience Formation Spiritual warfare 8 The Father give us the kingdom Christ reign has no end Gospel of St Mathew Mysteries with crowns serviceFear of God 9 Christ our Life Christ will come again Book of Revelation Pascha Hope Spiritual Vigils 10 Christ asks us to follow Him Apostolic Church Prophets & Isaiah Church Timeline Mercy & Humility Discipline 11 Martorya Resurrection of the dead Leviticus letter to the Romans The Liturgy of the Eucharist Faith Carrying the Cross 12 Martorya To Judge the living & the dead St. John's Gospel Marriage CourageTruth

Curriculum and The Church The curriculum largest unit is the “seasonal unit”, which ties the religious education to the church life and services. Every teaching year have 14 teaching lessons dedicated to the church seasons and celebrations.

Seasonal Unit 1.Nyrouz 2.Holy Cross 3.Kiahk 4.Holy Nativity 5.Theophany 6.Lent 1 7.Lent 2 8.Holy week 9. Holy Resurrection 10. Holy Fifty 11.H oly Ascension /Pentecost 12.Holy Apostles Fast and feast 13.Holy Theotokos Fast and feast 14.Holy transfiguration

Teacher Dependent Our Church was built and maintained by discipleship The starting point of this curriculum is teachers preparation and leadership. There is no replacement of a well learned head- servant who can lead his/her group to have the vision of the year theme and objectives in mind as they teach. The curriculum materials are meant to help the group as a team and not to replace the leaders