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First Day School Teacher Resources

First Day School Teacher Resources

General Resources for Teaching First Day School

Friends General Conference Religious Education Committee published the book Opening Doors to Quaker Worship which is a rich resource for activities and lessons on Worship. The following is a chart on the faith development of children ages birth to 11 years which provides a useful perspective for First Day School Teachers.

FGC RE Committe also publishes an irregular newsletter called RESource. Two of these are included here:
First Day School for Busy People and the Fall 2006 issue which includes two sample lesson plans for Lessons
from a Book and Considerations when Choosing and Using Books in FDS. Additional issues of FGC RESource can be found at FGC Religious Education website.

Story telling is an enjoyable and effective way of communicating ideas and concepts that are often difficult to put into words. This short article on Telling Stories by Heart for First Day School is from the April 2007 issue of Friends Bulletin of Pacific Yearly Meeting.

Training Workshop Resources

Anne Collins of Stillwater, OK, Monthly Meeting facilitated a workshop for First Day School Teachers, February 16, 2008. Click the link in the left hand menu to access the handouts. figure out this link

Fall 2009 Resources
This fall we will be focusing on Quaker History using Quakers on the Move, a story book of children's experiences at important times in the history of Quakerism.

Quakers on the Move

By Friends General Conference, Religious Education Committee

Content:

Common themes:

Age Range: Kg.-8th grade.

Preparation Time: One-half to one hour weekly.

Number of Lessons: There are 15 lessons along with introductory and closing session.

Activities:

Supplies/Equipment:

An earlier version of Quakers on the Move was published jointly by Friends General Conference and Friends United Meeting Press as part of the Living Light series. This series is targeted for 3rd and 4th graders. Many of the stories are the same, but some have been left out of the new edition and several new stories have been added. The teacher's manual for the older series contains a wealth of background historical material and may be useful supplementary material in preparing for these lessons.

Online Quaker History Resources


Faith & Play

Two of the stories in the newly published set of six Faith and Play stories are about Quaker history. You may wish to use one or both of these. These are told in the same manner as the Godly Play stories we have seen. Learn more about Godly Play from our Teacher Training Workshop materials here.


Curriculum based on Biographies

Additional background material and alternative lessons may be drawn from these curricula prepared by Friends General Conference Religious Education Committee or Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

  • George Fox Four lessons based on the book "George Fox, the Man who Wouldn't" by Sophia Fahs. (ages 7 - 11)
  • *John Woolman[still looking for this curriculum]
  • *William Penn[still looking for this curriculum]

Cobblestone issue on Quakers

Cobblestone, a children's high quality history magazine published an issue about Quakers in December 1995. The issue contains information about many aspects of Quakerism such as : an introductory overview, stories of George Fox and William Penn, FWCC, Elias Hicks and different kinds of Friends, Peace Testimony, Quaker Women Reformers: Lucretia Mott, Grimke sisters, Alice Paul and Elizabeth Fry, a Quaker Crossword puzzle, Equality testimony and John Woolman, John Greenleaf Whittier and Levi Coffin; AFSC, Famous Quaker quiz, Interview with a young Quaker, and suggestions for further info - books, places to visit. Colorful and engaging. Additional copies can be ordered if desired.

My Book of Friends

This book is suitable for older pre-school and lower elementary age children. It is from Friends United Meeting and is a little dated, but may provide some stories of Quaker history that would be accessible by younger children.

Put Yourself in the Picture

This curriculum is targeted for Junior High. It is from FUM and focuses on how Quakers are represented in art - mostly paintings, but also in cartoons. Eight units, student booklets and sets of picture images.

George Fox First Quaker

This junior high level unit deals with the history, spiritual experiences and religious discoveries of the first generation of Friends.

Lives That Speak

This curriculum is designed for 1st through 6th Grades (A - 1st & 2nd; B - 3rd & 4th; C - 5rh & 6th). It covers the lives of 12 influential Friends both historical and modern.

George Fox, The Man Who Wouldn't

This curriculum for 7 to 11 year olds consists of four sessions with a variety of activities based on the four chapters of the book George Fox, The Man Who Wouldn't by Sophia Lyon Fahs. Friends General Conference, 1971.

William Penn : The People's Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted (1670)

This pamphlet, originally published in 1670, describes in dramatic fashion, the trial of Willam Penn and William Mead
for the 'crime' of a conspiracy to preach in public, drawing such large crowds as to disturb the King's peace. This case
became quite famous for its aftermath. Penn and Mead were found not guilty of conspiracy which was contrary to the wishes
of the judge in the case, who promptly threatened and then jailed the entire 12 man jury. Those in the jury later sued for
wrongful imprisonment and the ajudication of this case resulted in the "Bushel's case" establishing that the jury is to be
completely free of coercion by the judges and law enforcement and are to be completely independent in their judgement. This is
written in the form of a play and has been performed by Young Friends at other meetings. Friend D'Ann Johnson reports that the
keynote speaker at a 2010 legal gala referred to Bushel's case as "the most important case in 2000 years."