Trinity Explorers are children in grade 2 through those in the fifth grade.   Rotation workshop takes seriously the spiritual development of children while providing creative and exciting activities that engage children in a variety of ways. The rotation-style model means that children work on the same story or concept for several weeks, using different learning approaches in each workshop room they visit. Children will be grouped with others near their age:

Group 1          2^nd through 3^th grades

Group 2          4th through 5th grades

Types of workshops

Art, storytelling, music, cooking, games, drama and puppets, movies, etc.

A Unique Learning Environment

Cycle classrooms are intended to create an inviting atmosphere where children are challenged to learn. Our classrooms have been decorated in different styles to compliment the various activities.  The story room is a temple looking out over Jerusalem in Jesus’ time; our art room is full of the colors of the rainbow.  We have a movie room, music room and a puppet theatre.  As the year progresses we’ll be constantly creating new ways to engage with one another about the focus of the “cycle” or learning unit.

Adult Involvement: “without you we can do nothing”

CYCLE TEACHERS sign up as part of a team of 2 or 3 adults who will teach one 4 week cycle. The fifth week is convocation for all of the children to get together with their teachers and shepherds and reflect on the cycle and celebrate God’s gifts to us.  Teachers remain in the same workshop room each week of the cycle and teach the same lesson plan to a different class each week. Workshop rooms may use skills in such areas as music, dance, cooking, quilting, gardening or painting, but you don’t have to have a special skill in order to help. Teachers can sign up to help read stories, turn on computers, make popcorn, hand out art supplies, etc. 

SHEPHERDS commit for the entire school year, but they never have to prepare or teach a lesson! Shepherds work in teams and travel with their class through each of the different workshops. Shepherds are the essential relationship part of this program, learning the children’s names, providing continuity of leadership and being a friendly, safe presence in the classroom each week.  

General Class Schedule

1.         11:30 am SINGING AND PROCESSING TO CLASS FROM GOODWIN HALL with teachers and shepherds

2.         WELCOME  (10 minutes)

Shepherds welcome students and make sure everyone has a nametag.  It is a time to gather all of the children together and talk about the theme of our cycle and read the underpinning story for the cycle.  There will be an opportunity for the children to ask questions. 

3.         INTRODUCTIONS BY THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM

4.         WORKSHOP ACTIVITY AND REFLECTION (approximately 25-30 minutes)

The activities will be varied and fun.  The teacher and shepherd will ask questions like “What did you learn today?” or “How did you feel while doing this activity?” and connect the activity back to the story.

5.      12:10pm CLEAN UP (approximately 5 minutes)