“First, one has to determine what kind of curricular resources fit the needs of your children, youth or adults. Curricula can be grouped into five types of categories…”

Understanding Curriculum

We have entered into the time of year when Christian educators and congregations begin to review the past program year and plan for the future. This often involves evaluating curriculum and determining if a new resource should be used in the coming year or if there is any supplemental materials to use with the current curriculum.

First, one has to determine what kind of curricular resources fit the needs of your children, youth or adults. Curricula can be grouped into five types of categories:

• Lectionary-based
• Montessori-based
• Story-based
• Rotation Model
• Thematic

5 Types of Sunday School Curriculum

1. Lectionary-Based Curriculum (read more)
Follows the Sunday readings (lections) with all ages focusing on the same theme and/or Bible story. These are usually dated materials and are published according to the Revised Common Lectionary’s 3-year cycle (A, B. C).

2. Montessori-Based Curriculum (read more)
Not the traditional Sunday School curriculum in which the teacher follows a Leader’s Guide to plan the lesson, this model focuses on the biblical story with the “teacher” or “catechist” sharing the biblical story following a particular method of storytelling using beautifully made materials while seated on the floor in the midst of a circle of children.

3. Story-Based Curriculum (read more)
Often chronologically taught, this type of curriculum usually thematically follows the church year seasonally. During Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, stories of Jesus birth and early life are covered. During Lent, Jesus ministry leading up to the events of Holy Week and Easter. The Easter season reviews resurrection appearances, and post-Easter and post-Pentecost lessons often focus on the Early Church or Jesus’ teachings and parables.

4. Rotation Model Curriculum (read more)
Based on the work of Howard Gardiner on Multiple Intelligences, this learning center format has children learning about a particular Bible story, person or concept for several weeks. Each week the story is experience through a variety of means (intelligences) such as cooking, storytelling, music, drama, computers, movies, etc.)

5. Thematic Curriculum
Typically for youth or adults, this type of curriculum is for short-term study on a particular theme or topic. These may be covered for 2-6 weeks on topics such as bullying, a book of the Bible, a current event, etc.