Operation Christmas Child!

Operation Christmas Child, the annual Samaritan's Purse project for children in need, is nothing new to the elementary schoolers at Black Forest Academy.  Every year the classes pack shoeboxes filled with toys and personal items to send to children around the world.

What's different this year is that the 4th graders are heading up this project!  I created different "jobs" that would be needed for OCC (ambassadors to the other grade levels, publicity, secretary, box packers, and box collectors), and each student completed an application for the job of his or her choice.  What fun it has been to see these fourth graders get excited about and take ownership of this project!

On Wednesday we kicked off Operation Christmas Child with a special chapel presentation.  The fourth graders put on a skit, and I shared how to pack a box.

What is this poster all about?  What is this paper chain for?

Haven't you heard?!  It's Operation Christmas Child!!

OCC volunteers deliver a shoebox and a Bible

 Explaining how to pack a box

Our class bulletin board outlining all of the jobs and showing a collection calendar

Please pray that the students would gain a new understanding of generous giving and God's greatest gift to us!

Lobpreisabend (Worship Night)

I don't usually think about taking pictures at church, but I thought I'd capture a moment from the worship night at our church on Tuesday night.  We sang songs, took communion, prayed in small groups, and sang some more.  I learned this song, which has become a new favorite!

"Second Chance" (by Hillsong United)

You called my name, reached out Your hand

Restored my life and I was redeemed

The moment You entered my life

Amazing grace Christ gave that day

My life was changed when from my shoulders

Fell the weight of my sin

So it's with everything I am I reach out for Your hand

The hope for change the second chance I've gained

On You I throw my life, casting all my fears aside

How could greater love than this ever possibly exist

Consume my thoughts as I rest in You

I'm now in love with a Savior

Bearing the marks of His love

So I'll wait upon You now

With my hands released to You

Where a little faith's enough

To see mountains lift and move

And I'll wait upon You now

Dedicated to Your will

To this love that will remain

A love that never fails

Journey Across America Celebration!

After teaching about each of the regions of the United States, I planned a "Journey Across America" celebration for my class.  Several parent volunteers helped to run the stations for a creative project: create your own state!  Each student thought up a new state to add to the United States.

At one station, students had to draw the outlines of their states and place them on the map.

At another station, they recorded facts about their state, such as state bird, flower, motto...

Students also had to think through what someone could do if they visited the new state.  They named new cities, landmarks, mountains, and lakes.  Some sports aficionados even created sports teams for their new states.

Finally, students also created their states' flags out of colored construction paper.

To continue our North America unit, we are in the midst of a two-week unit on Canada, and we'll travel to Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean after that.  The journey continues!