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| Kristi Pananas is a kindergarten teacher at Grace Christian School, a Worldview Matters "WRAP" school in Staunton, Virginia. In the above photo, Mrs. Pananas is with Ella, a student who asked a question that turned a 20-minute math lesson into a 45-minute “worldview lesson" that was so engaging the class didn’t care about being late to lunch! Mrs. Pananas writes: “Recently, during a kindergarten math lesson, I introduced patterns: red, yellow, red, yellow; smiley face, star, smiley face, star; ABAB, etc. We practiced a few different examples. And then, the neat stuff happened.” The rest of the story is below, in Mrs. Pananas own words. (Thank you, Kristi.) |
A little girl [Ella] raised her hand and asked, “What
does God think of patterns and does he like them?” Wow!
I put my worksheet aside, sat down and knew that this
discussion was more important than the “math” lesson. I asked the question back
to the class.
And the
following were some of the answers:
The
first little boy said, “We know God likes order so he must like patterns
because patterns are in order.” We had
previously talked about how God is a God of order, not chaos. I thought, “They
are getting it, they remember, this is important to them!!!”
Hands
were flying, and everyone wanted to be part of the discussion.
Another
student added, "God ordered the days, he made all things….” We had talked about
creation, and how our calendar was in order, and what God thought of that.
And
another remembered, “God made animals with patterns.” Patterns were related to
camouflage and a way of protecting animals, and God did that.
We
discussed how God made people with patterns: 2 eyes, 2 arms, boys/girls. How
God doesn’t make mistakes when he creates anything. How we are all created
perfectly and in a special way and are made in His image (patterned after God).
To
answer the question about, “does God like patterns?“ everyone agreed that he
does! He made rainbows, and they are
patterns. He likes pretty things. He wants to enjoy patterns; they thought that
God wanted us to like patterns, too. We talked about how God is creative and
thinks of everything.
A 20-minute math lesson turned into a 45-minute
worldview lesson initiated by a child with a heart wondering about God. We were
late for lunch...and no one cared, and kindergarteners always care about snack
and lunch (and recess)!
I was amazed and proud. We had been in school less
than a month and the kiddos were using the questioning that they hear at
school…“what does God think/feel about...?” These kiddos are 5 and 6 years old!
I can only imagine what the rest of the year will be like. God is at work in
the hearts and minds of these kindergarten students.
* * *
Postscript: If you are a teacher, or a parent,
wondering what sort of questions the teachers at Grace Christian School are asking to prompt “worldview conversations,” click
here for examples. Use them yourself!
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| Mrs. Pananas with another student, Max. |