The Bible Bookshelf

 In the Level 2 Atrium the children really start to become interested in the Bible.  From Enthroning the Bible in Level 1 and from reading it with their catechists, they know that the Bible is the Word of God, given to all people in all times and places.

At age six the children start to ask more questions as their brains begin to travel in time and space.  They're ready to find out more about the Bible, how was it written, when was it written, how is it organized?

One of the first materials we introduce to the children in the Level 2 Atrium is the Bible Bookshelf.  Once the doors to the cabinet are opened, the children can see how the Bible is divided into sections:  The Old Testament and the New Testament and how these sections are further divided up:  Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, the Prophets, the Gospels, The Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of Paul, the Epistles, Revelation.

The work of the child is to take out each of the small blocks (each one signifying a book of the Bible with it's name written on it) and then to put them back in order.

There's something very satisfying about this material.  It begins to unpack the richness of the Bible for the children, and as they become more familiar with it's structure it becomes more and more their book.

Recently two 2nd grade boys had a great time going through all of the books of the Bible and finding the names of their friends:  Micah, Samuel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Mark, John, Isaiah . .  . Each discovery came as a new gift.  "I know Joel!  I wonder what he wrote about?"  Let's find out!