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Provide an example of an interactive lesson based on a Christian philosophy of education.
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Students actively practice lessons and see how it applies(sometimes not) to their life and how working to the best of their ability glorifies God.
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We do a lot of reading about culture, and students are challenged to evaluate the cultural practices of other societies and their own to determine how they are fulfilling God’s mandates, and how they are not, and support this with what God says in the Bible.
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We read C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters in eighth grade literature, and as a final project, students write their own letter, from a demon’s perspective, as if they, themselves are the “patient.” This brings in higher order thinking, and then, as students read and share their letters, they create interesting and deep discussion about biblical ideas about which we have been reading throughout the book.
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To clarify my original response, I would have students use a box of crayons to draw a picture first of their choosing. Then read the story to them and have a discussion afterward. Following the discussion, I would then have students use every crayon in the box, just as the little girl did and have students compare and contrast both of their drawings/colorings. What did they notice, was there anything the same? different? What did they learn by looking at their drawings. How many used only their favorite colors for their first one. This could be a week long lesson and study.
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One of my favorite books is The Crayon Box That Talked. While the crux of the story is dialogue about why the crayons don’t like one another, a little girl over hears their dialogue and decides she is going to take the entire box of crayons home. She begins creating a picture using every color. Long story short, all the crayons begin to appreciate each other’s gifts/talents. This is a beautiful story for young children and relates how God has given us many talents and uses our uniqueness to create one big picture. A larger philosophical idea that could be used with older students is that there was a change of heart at the end of the story, who is able to change anyone’s heart except our creator. Just as in the story the girl was the creator and helped all the crayons to see that each had a specific talent or gift and role in the creation, doesn’t our Heavenly Father ultimately long for that for all of us, His children? He uses our differences, our uniqueness, talents and gifts to be part of His bigger picture. Jesus exemplifies this in life when he spoke to prostitutes, ate with tax collectors and called fisherman as his disciples. It doesn’t matter our background, heritage, economic or social status. He uses all of it for His permissive will and plan.
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Thanks for the reminder about this book. Forgot about that one!
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