Foundation Sabbath School
Access Foundation Bible LessonsRationale: Classes are named after the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which should serve to remind members to not only grow spiritually but to nourish others as fruit and to spread the seeds of God's Message.
Promotions: Ideally, promotions from one division to another take place twice per year, but may take place any time according to the needs of a particular child, regardless of age. In many cases, reading and writing skills are not paramount criteria for promotion as students' special needs, individual progress, maturation level, local custom, and other factors should be considered when planning any promotion and determining student eligibility for said transition. Promotion should occur at the close of the school year.
Promotions: Promotion Sabbaths for all divisions should be scheduled in the yearly church calendar.
Amalgamating Classes: When Sabbath School classes of different age groups are combined due to low attendance in one of both classes, teachers must separate students during the lesson study portion of the program.
Foundation 1 to 5: Children/Teenager Divisions
Foundation 1- LOVE: Ages 0 – 2: Whenever fewer than 5 babies and/or toddlers are in attendance, the LOVE CLASS may be combined with the class for 3-5 year-olds. In instances where a dozen or more babies and/or toddlers are in attendance, the LOVE SABBATH SCHOOL CLASS may be further divided into two groups—one for newborns to 1 year-olds and the other for children 13 months to 2 years of age.
Foundation 2 - JOY: Ages 3 – 5: Whenever fewer than 5 children (ages 3-5) are in attendance, the JOY SABBATH SCHOOL CLASS may be combined with the class for 0-2 year-olds. Only in instances where there are no babies or toddlers in Sabbath School that youngsters from the JOY class may join children in the group for 6-9 year olds.
Foundation 3 - PEACE: Ages 6 – 9: Since children enter school at different ages, it is to be expected that some children in the PEACE SABBATH SCHOOL CLASS will not be fluent readers and some will have difficulty writing, counting or identifying letters of the alphabet. The teaching and learning methods should be adapted to accommodate non-readers and non-writers. When very few attendees of the class are present, they may join the group for 10-12 year-olds.
Foundation 4 - PATIENCE: Ages 10 – 12: When less than 3 students of this group are in attendance, the PATIENCE SABBATH SCHOOL CLASS may be combined with the class for 13 – 14 year olds. It is advisable to separate the pre-teens from teenagers during lesson review time—using the prescribed Bible Study Guides.
Foundation 5 - KINDNESS: Ages 13 – 14: During days of extremely low attendance, members of the KINDNESS SABBATH SCHOOL CLASS will be able to combine with the class of 15-18 year-olds. Due to the varying developmental rates of youth in this age bracket, the teacher may advance or delay promotion according to the needs of individual members.
Foundations 6-8: Youth to Adult Divisions
Foundation 6 - GOODNESS: Ages 15 – 18: Members of the GOODNESS CLASS should meet with the young adults (ages 19 – 32) for the singing, prayer, and activity segments of the program, but have their own lesson study apart from the older group. When the youth are combined with the adults, it is advisable to include them in the planning and presentation of Sabbath School programs. The Sabbath School Council needs to endorse youthful initiative and creativity, while giving guidance on how to maintain the basic objectives of the Sabbath School.
Foundation 7 - FAITHFULNESS: Ages 19 – 32: Whenever 3 or more students of this age group are present, they should have their own class. Where the number of young adults in the FAITHFULNESS CLASS is small, they must meet with the older adults but have their own lesson study time away from their older counterparts. Superintendents are encouraged to keep in mind the particular needs of young adults when planning programs for this class.
Foundation 8 - GENTLENESS: Ages 33-100: Jesus began his ministry at age 33, thus, the older adult class must engage in ministerial pursuits and model Christ's example of GENTLENESS to all. Although the older adults form an integral part of the overall Sabbath School, they are a division just like any other. The adult division also provides specialized program arrangements and materials for Sabbath School Action Units and Small Group Activities.
Foundation 9 - SELF-CONTROL: This section of the FPSAM, Inc. Sabbath School division is open to youth and adults whom the Holy Spirit commissions to caring for the needs of those who are sick, shut-in, and/or reside within isolated areas. Persons who cannot regularly attend church because of illness, injury, immobility, inaccessibility or any other reason must be fed spiritually and physically by the church brethren and sistren as often as possible. The SELF-CONTROL GROUP will put aside common human selfishness and apathy to visit, worship, and dine with home-bound peoples on Sabbaths and during the week.
Structure:
- Study the same theme at all levels (The Bible; Its Origin; History and Place In the World, etc.)
- Create Lesson Plans for each unit of study (Sample Template is available).
- 12 Students in each Class.
- 6 Youth Classes and 2 Adult Classes
- 1 Extension Coordinator Teacher
- Need 9 teachers