Awesome Field Trip!

On Monday our class went on another field trip! We went to a church in a nearby town that had Biblical figures on display that showed different scenes of the Bible. It was so much fun to talk about the Bible stories with the kids.

• They made wonderful connections: "Hey look there's Zacchaeus!"
• Asked great questions: "Why is that person touching Jesus' clothes?"
• And learned new things: "Jesus washed his disciples' feet?!"

Some of my students had never heard these stories before and it was so special to share them together.

Here are lots of photos that outline our trip: 

Enjoy!

We took the students on the bus to the town called "Weil am Rhein". Taking 23 seven and eight year olds on a public bus is always a bit crazy...
But we all made it there!

The students got to look at the Biblical figures in the sanctuary of the church. The scenes started with Gabriel appearing to Mary and ended with Jesus' death and resurrection.

Looking at the manger scene where Jesus was born!

These girls are looking at Jesus in the temple as a young boy. The girls liked looking at the different scenes and imagining what it would be like if they were there.



These girls are standing by Jesus calming the storm. The students recognized the story and said, "Hey, we acted that out in class!" So neat to see them remember and connect with the stories!



My favorite story scene was Jesus with all the children.
"Let the little children come to me!"



Some of the students' favorite scenes: Lowering the man through the roof to be healed by Jesus and the last supper.

 

Love these kids!
So thankful for a chance to see the stories of the Bible in a unique art form with them.

 

Afterward we ate snack and let the boys have a leaf fight :)
Why not?!



The girls decided to make a leaf blanket rather than have a leaf fight.
Good choice. 


 

Enjoying a snack before heading back to school.

 

The resurrection scene at the end of the display.
All people of all nations praising God!


Praising God for a great trip and chance to share the Gospel message with all our students!

Shepherd and Sheep

 Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me"

John 10:14

Ich bin der gute Hirte. Ich kenne meine Schafe, und meine Schafe kennen mich"

John 10,14

The Shepherd and sheep analogy is one of my favorite in the Bible. The fact that Jesus is our good Shepherd who guides us, leads us, and protects us is so reassuring and comforting. Recently, this analogy has been popping up everywhere. My students are memorizing Psalm 23 in German AND English. Our verse this week has been John 10:14. The students made tiny sheep with Bible verses on them and put real wool on them. (Pictured below). These passages have been coming up during my own Bible study time.

As I am reminded that Jesus is my shepherd I also feel as though I am shepherding these 23 sheep/students. They look to me for guidance, help, and direction. I have been entrusted to lead them in the right way and teach them truth. With this great and sacred responsibility I know that I need to keep my eyes focused on the true and best Shepherd so that I can be a model of Jesus' love for my students as well.

The other day Katharina, my partner teacher, and I lost track of time and forgot to pick our students up from P.E./Gym class. The students came back into the room bubbly, telling us stories, and happy to be back with their teachers. I looked at Katharina and said, "The good little sheep know their shepherds!" They always come back.
What a joy to shepherd these kids knowing that Jesus Christ shepherds us all!


Holding their little sheep craft!
You can click on the picture to make it bigger!



 

Time to Breathe

Last Wednesday my small group girls and I had a fun movie night together. It was needed to just relax in some comfy clothes with popcorn and hot chocolate. I am so blessed by my time with these awesome ladies and for a chance to take it easy together.
 

Small Group movie night!

This Friday was the Thanksgiving celebration at the elementary school. The parents helped to organize a wonderful event with activities and food for all the students.

 Unfortunately, I got a stomach bug the night before and was battling a fever and flu-like symptoms. No fun! Although I missed this fun event I still got some cute pictures from the day's festivities from a friend.

I am on my way back to a settled stomach and figuring out what to eat and not to eat. I would really appreciate your prayers as I hope to go back to school tomorrow.

 

Making Crafts

 

First Graders dressed up like pilgrims

Eating Thanksgiving food together

Despite feeling completely out of it and under the weather, I am learning the importance of rest and trusting that the Lord knows just what I need. There are times when we just need to stop and rest. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Learning to rest in Him and know that it is all in His hands.

 

Five Fun Favorites

Here are five fun things that have been happening in the last week or so!

1. Hike to Castle
Guess what! I can hike to castle ruins from my house. How cool is that? A little over a week ago, Heather Brown and I went for a beautiful fall walk to Sausenburg castle which is just over 3km from my house. I have been wanting to hike there since I moved here and I finally got to go. It was so beautiful and I had great company :)

 

2. First Snowy Day
Last weekend it snowed in Kandern. There's something so magical about snow. I loved it!
(It has all melted by now and we are back to living in fall.)


View from my kitchen window

3. Scientists
My students are wonderful scientists. We did a leaf investigation a little over a week ago and the students did a great job studying and classifying their many leaves! It is so fun to be able to do hands on projects in science using natural materials!

 
4. Praising Jesus
This last week was a fall holiday for the German students and so I just had my English students in class. There were so many times during the last week where my heart swelled and I smiled as I watched these student's learn and grow together and demonstrate their love for the Lord in so many ways. One of these times was as the students created a "Thankful Mural" of the many things they are thankful for. I put on worship music and the students sang songs of praise to the Lord as they drew pictures of family, friends, Christmas trees, houses, and foods. What a joy to watch!!

 

5. Herbstmesse
Wednesday the middle school and high school students of Black Forest Academy traveled to Herbstmesse, a fall festival in the nearby city of Basel. There are fun rides to go on and great food. I met up with some of my second graders who were there with older siblings and their families, and I went on a few rides with them! What a great experience to make memories together outside of the classroom :)

 

Castles, hiking, snowy days, science projects, singing songs, giving thanks, slides and second graders, these are some of my favorite things! My heart is so glad to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Lord's creation and to delight in His children. Jesus is making these words ever more clear to my heart, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:3-5. These children continue to teach me more about the love of my heavenly Father and I am so glad to be able to share His love with them daily. More stories to come! 

 



Thanksgiving Chapel

Last Thursday 2nd grade volunteered to lead our school's chapel time. Because we are a multicultural school we try to celebrate Thanksgiving in between the various dates countries celebrate Thanksgiving. We thought that this time in October would be a fitting time to give thanks to God for who He is and all He has provided for us.

Morning theme: "Jesus loves a thankful heart"

Acting out the story when Jesus heals the ten lepers and only the one comes back to give thanks to Jesus.

The second grade students performed 2 skits, sang several songs about giving thanks, shared what they were thankful for, and helped their fellow classmates learn a Bible verse in English and German.

Learning our verse, Psalm 107:1, with hand motions :)

"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever."

Pslam 107:1

"Danket dem Herrn; denn Er ist freundlich , und Seine Güte währet ewig."

Psalm 107,1

Students performing a skit in German reminding us that everything we have comes from the Lord.
Mont Lawn Camp friends: I taught the entire school "Back of the Loaf" and my whole school dropped that beat!!!

 At the end of the time students wrote their thanks to God on a leaf and added it to a school tree displayed in our entry way. Everyday as I walk past the tree I am reminded to give thanks to God. He has blessed me with a wonderful class, opportunities to share His love, and a great place to teach.

Thankful tree covered in leaves giving thanks to God!

Giving thanks to God daily for his abundant blessing and for being our Creator, Provider, Savior, Father, and Friend.

Field Trip!

On Tuesday second grade went on a field trip to Rüttehof, a nearby apple farm. We had so much fun learning about how apple juice is made and seeing where they pick apples! It was a BEAUTIFUL fall day. We walked to the farm through the lovely countryside and brought along some snacks for eating. At the farm we sampled some fresh apple juice and some freshly picked apples. I had so much fun and I know the kids did too!

The best part: the kids learned a lot about apples. I took lots of fun pictures and had a hard time picking just a few! Here are some of my favorites from our morning adventure!!



Posing by the sign for the farm



Walking there on a beautiful fall morning



Love these great girls!



The farmer telling the students about the process (all in German!)



Watching the juice come out of the bottom of the machine



The dried apples come out the back once all the juice is squeezed out. I love his face!!



Sampling the freshly pressed apple juice



Enjoying their juice together with mom!



Eating snack



Checking out the crates of apples in the store room and picking one to keep/eat!



So sweet! I LOVE my students :)



You can only imagine what these boys are like in the classroom... lots of fun!



Second grade class at the farm!



All the bottles of the warm cider. We didn't want to take our hands off of them. All these bottles were nice and warm!



On the way back I thought it would be fun to take a jumping picture! haha!



Walking passed the apple trees on the way back to school.



Walking through the town of Wollbach on the way back to school.

It was so much fun to visit the farm and to make great memories with my students! We certainly learned a lot. I hope you enjoyed the pictures!