Tab 5 The Environment – Building the Classroom

Guiding Questions Page 2

The Threshold Page 3

The Focal Shelf Page 3

Liturgical Shelves Page 5

Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5
Easter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6
Pentecost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

Sacred Story Shelves Page 7

Parable Shelves Page 8

Art Supply Shelves Page 9

Other Items Page 9

Art Supplies: Offer the Best Page 10

Getting Started Page 12

WONDERING HOW TO BUILD A CLASSROOM?

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

 What makes a place safe and welcoming?

 What makes a place “sacred”?

 What makes the church “sacred”?

 What makes a Godly Play® classroom “sacred”?

 What does a Godly Play® classroom “say” about God?

 What does a Godly Play® classroom “say” about the Church’s view of children?

 How does the space support the children?

 Why is it important to have well organized story and art shelves?

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THRESHOLD:

What is a threshold?
 A place that marks a different time/space/way of being
 A place of getting ready to enter the special place
 A place where the children are greeted by the door person

Where is the threshold?

How is the threshold “marked” for the children?

FOCAL SHELF:

What is the focal shelf?

 The central organizing point of value for the room’s purpose
 Anchors the circle of children
 The story teller sits in front of it

Where should the focal shelf go?

 In a prominent place in the room
 It should be the first thing the children see when they enter?

What goes on the focal shelf?

 What is central to our Christian story

How are the materials arranged on the focal shelf?

 Place of significance: Middle of the top shelf
 What is the most significant thing in this space?
The Holy Family sitting on the color of the liturgical season
The risen Christ behind the Holy Family

The Christ Candle Holy Family Good Shepherd

(used in the Baptism lesson)
Holy Baptism Lesson
(vol. 3, p 70)
Small Candles /Bowl of Sand
(used in the Baptism lesson
(sits on liturgical color with a risen Christ (stands on green circle w/ sheep fold and
behind) sheep)
(vol. 2, p 34) (used in the World Communion lesson)
Tray w/ Liturgical Colors Good Shepherd’s Table
(colors change according to the season (sits on green circle)
during the Holy Family Lesson) (used in World Communion lesson)
Circle of the Church Year Basket of People
(vol. 2, p 23) (used in World Communion lesson)
(vol. 4, p 91)

2004. Candy Moser

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FOCAL SHELF
Top Shelf:

Left: Christ Candle

Christ said: “I am the light”
Christ’s presence is deepened by the image of the response he made
about his own identity.

Middle: Holy Family sitting on the liturgical color of the season

The Risen Christ stands behind the Holy Family
Shows Christ at the center
The liturgical color tells us where we are in the church year
Evokes transformation-in-Christ (the core meaning in the Christian Tradition)

Right: Good Shepherd, sheep in sheepfold on green circle

Christ said, “I am the Good Shepherd”
Christ’s presence is deepened by the image of the response he made
about his own identity.

Middle Shelf:

Left: Holy Baptism Lesson

The lesson is about the sacrament of Holy Baptism
Baptism is our liturgical response to “I am the light”

Middle: Colored cloths of the liturgical seasons

Colors to go under the Holy Family as the seasons change

Right: Green circle with table from the World Communion Lesson
The Lesson is about the sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist)
Eucharist is our liturgical response to “I am the Good Shepherd”

Bottom Shelf:

Left: Extra candles for the Baptism lesson

A candle for each child to remember his/her baptism during the Baptism lesson

Middle: The Circle of the Church Year

The lesson teaches how the church tells time by the liturgical seasons

Right: Basket of people from the World Communion lesson

The people of the world replace the sheep around the table

2004. Candy Moser

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LITURGICAL SHELVES:

What are the liturgical shelves?

 They hold the liturgical lessons.

What kinds of liturgical shelves do we need?

 Christmas
 Easter
 Pentecost

CHRISTMAS SHELVES:

Where does it make sense for the Christmas shelf to be located?

 To the left of the focal shelf – or on the left extension of the focal shelf
 Lessons are about the light coming into the world
 Lessons are about the beginning-we read from left to right

Model of Bethlehem Advent Cards & Underlay The Mystery of Christmas

(vol. 3, p 27) (vol. 3, p 27) (vol.3, p 56)
Candles – Advent Lesson Gifts of the Magi
(vol. 3, p 27) (vol. 3, p 64)
History of Christmas Stories of Christmas

Top Shelf: Left: Model of Bethlehem

Middle: The Advent Lesson-cards and underlay
Right: The Mystery of Christmas

Middle Shelf: Left: Candles for the Advent Lesson

Middle:
Right: Gifts of the Magi (frankincense, myrrh and gold)

Bottom Shelf: History and Stories of Christmas

2004. Candy Moser

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EASTER SHELVES:

Where does it make sense for the Easter Liturgical shelf to be located?
 To the right of the focal shelf – or the right extension of the focal shelf
 Lessons that lead up to the ending that is also the beginning

The Mystery of Easter The Faces of Easter Synagogue&Upper Room

(vol. 4, p 56) (vol. 4, p 32) (vol. 4, p 99)
Circle – Holy Eucharist Easter Egg Lesson
(vol. 4, p 106) (vol. 4, p 74)
Supporting Materials Crosses Lesson
(vol. 4, p 69)

Top Shelf: Left: The Mystery of Easter lesson

Middle: The Faces of Easter lesson
Right: The Synagogue and the Upper Room

Middle Shelf: Left: The Circle of the Holy Eucharist

Middle:
Right: Easter Eggs

Bottom Shelf: Supporting Material

Right: Crosses

The Pentecost Shelves:

What are the Pentecost Shelves?
 The hold the Pentecost lesson and saint object boxes

Where does it make sense to put the Pentecost Shelves?

 It can go by the Easter shelves or by the Parable shelves

The Mystery of Pentecost

(vol. 4, p 120)
Stories of Saints Stories of Saints Stories of Saints
Stories of Saints Stories of Saints Stories of Saints

The Pentecost Shelves are a work in progress. If you do not have Object boxes or stories about saints
that you want to add to the room at this time, The Mystery of Pentecost can go on the sacred story
shelf between Jesus and the Twelve and Paul’s Discovery.
2004. Candy Moser

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SACRED STORY SHELVES:

What are the sacred story shelves?

 They hold the sacred stories
 The story of the People of God coming close to the mystery of God’s elusive presence
 Stories of identity, first as Jewish, than as Christian, people

Where does it make sense for the sacred story shelves to be located?
 Should have enough room for all the stories – beginning to end
 Arranged from left to right as we read
 The stories should flow together
 Desert Box and Books of the Bible separate the Old and New Testament stories

Where does it make sense for the sacred stories to go on the shelf?
 From the beginning to the end, from creation to the unwritten lesson
 Transitional shelf separates the Old Testament and the New Testament stories
 Desert Box separates the Old Testament and the New Testament stories

What are the sacred story lessons?

Old Testament:
Creation (vol. 2, p 41)
The Flood and the Ark (vol. 2, p 49)
The Great Family (vol. 2, p 57)
The Exodus (vol. 2, p 65)
The Ten Best Ways (vol. 2, p 73)
The Ark and the Tent (vol. 2, p 81)
The Ark and the Temple (vol. 2, p 87)
Exile and Return (vol. 2, p 93)
The Prophets (vol. 2, p 100)
Jonah, the Backwards Prophet (vol. 2, p 107)
Top shelf – far right hand side
Top shelf – to the left of Creation
Top shelf – to left of The Flood and the Ark
Top shelf – to left of The Great Family
Top shelf – to the left of The Exodus
Top shelf – to the left of The Ten Best Ways
Top shelf – to the left of The Ark and the Tent
Top shelf – to the left of The Ark and the Temple
Top shelf – to the left of Exile and Return
Middle shelf – under The Prophets

Transitional Shelf: (Two shelves with space underneath for desert box)
Books of the Bible (vol. 2, p 114) Top Shelf
Bible – opened to the day’s lesson Middle Shelf
Desert Box Sits underneath transitional shelf

New Testament
Jesus and the Twelve (vol. 4, p 81)
Paul’s Discovery (vol. 4, p 126)
The Unwritten Lesson
(This material is an open blank book)
Top Shelf – to the left of the Books of the Bible
Top Shelf – to the left of Jesus and the Twelve
Top shelf – to the left of Paul’s Discovery

2004. Candy Moser

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The PARABLE SHELVES:

What are the parable shelves?

 They hold the parables

What are the guiding parables (the parables Jesus told)?

 Parable of the Good Shepherd
 Parable of the Good Samaritan
 Parable of the Leaven
 Parable of the Mustard Seed
 Parable of the Sower
 Parable of the Great Pearl

What other parables are there?

 Parable of Parables
 Parable of the Deep Well

What are Parable Synthesis materials?

 All the Parables
 The “I am” Statements
 The Parable Games

Where does it make sense for the parable shelves to be located?

 Should be separate from the sacred story, liturgical and focal shelves

Good Good Mustard The The The

Shepherd Samaritan Seed Sower Great Pearl Leaven
(vol. 3, p 77) (vol. 3, p 87) (vol. 3, p 115) (vol. 3, p 102) (vol. 3, p 95 (vol. 3, p 109)
Parable of Parable of
Parables the
(vol. 3, p 121) Deep Well
(vol. 3, 127)
All the The “I Am” Parable
Parables Statements Game Cards
(vol. 3, p 132) (vol. 3, 139) (vol. 3, p 148)

Top Shelf: Six Guiding Parables – the order does not matter

Middle Shelf: Parable of Parables, Parable of the Deep Well

Bottom Shelf: Parable Synthesis materials

All the Parables
The “I am” Statements
The Parable Games
2004. Candy Moser

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ART SUPPLES SHELVES:

What art materials should be in the room”?

 A variety of high quality materials
 See “Art Supplies: Offer the Best!” by Kim McPherson (Tab 5, p. 8)

How should they be arranged?

 The materials should be easily accessible to the children
 The materials should be neat and organized

What makes sense when you go to use the material?

 Everything together that you need (i.e. watercolor paint with brush and water cup)

OTHER ITEMS:

Where does the rug box go?

Where does the children’s unfinished work go?

Where do the materials for cleaning up go?

Where does the trash can go?

Where does the Liturgical calendar hang? Why?

 Should not take eye away from the Focal Shelf
 Should be a the children’s level

Where does the small church furniture get placed?

2004. Candy Moser

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Art Supplies: Offer the Best!
by Kim McPherson, Accredited Godly Play® Teacher Trainer

This is another way we respect our children. If we expect them to make an

“art response” then we need to provide materials that will really work, and
not frustrate them

Good supplies are not necessarily more expensive, but often are. Because we
expect everyone to take care of all the materials in a Godly Play classroom,
the materials usually last a long time. You can caution the children about taking
only what they need and returning scraps. This is another lesson: about being
good stewards.

It is a feast of possibility for the child, often sparking creativity, and showing that
here is a place where God’s abundant good gifts are present.

Possible Art Supplies for Godly Play® Classrooms

Clay:
 Two kinds, hardening and non-hardening
 Marblex will harden by air-drying, and can then be painted.
 Modeling clay can be preserved by painting with Mod Podge,
which leaves a clear finish.
 There are many kinds; check them out!

Paints:
 Good watercolors (tablets) with a variety of sizes of brushes.
 Crayola makes great sets, and these are not expensive.

Washable poster paints in cups with lids and large brushes

Good quality markers

 Crayola colors, for example, are true. Some of the cheaper brands are “off.”
 Washable is always a good rule!

Variety of wooden sticks and shapes with glue and/or wood scraps with wood glue

Variety of ribbon – color, texture, width

Tissue paper in varied colors

Scraps of material
2001. Kim McPherson

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Scraps that include boxes of varying shapes and sizes
 You can make a “recycle” corner, with bins for material, paper, and wood.
 You can also make a bin for “interesting” materials from nature, like acorns, sticks, etc.

Journals or paper for writing or sketching

 Children can make their own journals.
 A “saddle stitch stapler” is helpful for this project.

Drawing pencils/pens
Art supply stores have these.

Watercolor crayons
These work as crayons, but when you color over the crayoned picture with a brush
dipped in water, it works like watercolor paints; these are very expensive, but, with
care, they last for years.

Watercolor pencils
Same as crayons, with pencils; these are expensive but last a long time, too

Confetti:
Small, metallic shapes (disks, hearts, etc.) and other small bits (colored rice, e.g.)
kept in separate drawers that carpenters use for nails, etc.

Glue sticks

Tape

Scissors
Good ones; make sure some, if not all, can be used by lefties.

Artist’s chalk:
Alone or dipped in water, this can be a very satisfying art experience.
You will need to “fix” the chalk with a spray (or hairspray!) but don’t do it indoors –it can cause
allergic reactions.
Other good choices are “Payons” or other high quality crayon.
These, as well as chalk, can be used on their sides to make some really interesting designs.

Paper:
Colored construction paper, plus several sizes of good, white paper
School and office supply stores sell it in bulk in different weights, delineated by “pounds.”

The children enjoy it when you add things periodically. Beads and string, new shapes
made out of an interesting material (foam?), beautiful ribbon – different materials can
spark the imagination of a child. Keep it interesting! Keep it organized and arranged
attractively so that it is inviting.
2001. Kim McPherson

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Getting Started

♦ Start with the most important thing in the room – The Focal Shelf
 The focal shelf should look different than the other shelves
 Should be at least 18” in depth to hold the material comfortably
 Can be lower than the other shelves to help distinguish it
 Suggested size: 25” in height, 18” in depth, and 60” in length

♦ Gather the materials for the Focal Shelf

 Holy Family – Baby with outstretched arms that comes out of manger,
Mary and Joseph and donkey
Shepherd and sheep
Cow
Magi
The Holy Family should be made of good quality material that is not breakable.
They should not have definable features.
They should be sized for children’s hands
Sources: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
SERRV International – www.serrv.org

 Risen Christ – Christ with outstretch arms

Sits behind Holy Family and used in The Holy Family lesson.
Should be made of good quality material that is not breakable.
Source: St Patrick’s Guild – www.saintpatrickguild.com

 Christ Candle – white pillar with holder

 Baptism Lesson - See vol. 3, page 70

 World Communion Lesson - See vol. 4, page 91

 Circle of the Church Year – See vol. 2, page 23

 Liturgical cloths – big enough to fit the middle of the top shelf and hang down
about 6” – Holy Family sits on top of the cloth
Green, White, Red, Purple, Blue (if needed for Advent)
Can be made of any solid material

♦ Gather the Art Supplies

 See Art Supplies: Offer the Best – Tab 5, page 10
 Obtain shelf for the Art Supplies

2004 Candy Moser

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♦ Obtain shelves for the Sacred Stories, Parables and Liturgical Action Lessons
 See Tab 5, page 15 for suggested shelf sizes
 My classroom has
Seven shelves that measure12” in depth, 30” high, 48” long
Christmas Shelf
Easter Shelf
Pentecost Shelf
2-Sacred Story – Old Testament
1-Sacred Story – New Testament
Art Supply Shelf
One transition shelf that measures 18” in depth, 30” high, 24” long
[size was dictated by our desert box (24” by 32.5” by 6”)]
One Parable shelf that measures 12’ in depth, 30” high, 60” long
 Analyze the shape and size of your space when determining shelf size keeping
in mind the material that needs to fit on each shelf.

♦ Getting started with the lesson materials:

 Make or buy Creation Cards
Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
They offer complete sets, or just photocopies that you can mount yourself.
If you do not buy the complete set you will need to make a black underlay.
Black underlay – 10” x 72”
You may also make a control for the children to use when working with the material.

 Look for an ark and animals.

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
Godly Play Resources has beautiful ones.
Ark should be well-made, wooden – unpainted, will need two people,
at least 4 sets of animals, and a dove.
The animals and people must fit on the ark safely as you raise it above your head

 Make or buy a desert box

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
Base is about 36” x 48” (½” or ¾” plywood)
Mount heavy-duty casters (wheels) to the bottom
Glue and caulk Plexiglas to the sides (5” high and ¼” thick)
Be sure to glue and caulk seams well.
Make a top of Plexiglas or wood to fit over the box.
Attach a handle to the front of the box (48” side) to make it easier to move around
Fill with about 2 – 3 inches of play sand
Other sources: Large plastic storage unit (36” x 48” x 5”)

 Buy or make figures of people

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
Lauri – www.liveandlearn.com/lauri/puzzles.html
You can use the Lauri people (sometimes called Lauri kids) from the puzzle as the
people of God or use them as a template to make them out of wood. Make sure the
wood is thin – ¼” thick and use a scroll saw to cut them out. Be sure to sand them well.
You will need a large basket of people to use in the stories (25-30 figures)

2004. Candy Moser

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 Gather the additional material you will need for the desert box stories
Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
The Great Family: (vol. 2, p 57)
The Exodus: (vol 2, p.65)
The Ten Best Ways (vol. 2, p 73)
The Ark and The Tent (vol 2, p 81) *
The Ark and the Temple (vol.2, p 87) *
The Exile and Return (vol. 2, p.93)

* This material is more complicated - so you may want to wait and add these stories later

 Gather the materials for the Advent lesson

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
See Vol. 3, page 27 for list of materials

 Gather materials for the 6 guiding Parables

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
Godly Play Resources has kits or complete sets to fit your budget.

 Gather the material for the Lent/Easter lessons

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
The Mystery of Easter material – vol. 4, page 27
The Faces of Easter material – vol 4, page 37

 Gather the material for the lessons after Easter

Source: Godly Play Resources – www.godlyplay.com
Jesus and the Twelve – vol. 4, page 81
The Good Shepherd and World Communion – vol. 4, page 91
The Synagogue and the Upper Room – vol. 4, page 99
Circle of the Holy Eucharist – vol. 4, page 106
The Mystery of Pentecost – vol. 4, page 120
Paul’s Discovery – vol. 4, page 126
The Holy Trinity Lesson – vol. 4, page 136
Read through these lessons – some may be made with some creativity and others will be more
complicated. The Holy Trinity Lesson is the material for Creation, Faces of Easter and Paul’s Discovery.

When starting out read through the volumes, look at the calendar and
select the stories that you want to tell the first year. All of our classrooms
evolve as budget and time allow. Look for craftsmen and woodworks in
your community to help you make these materials. Talk with others about
sources of materials and ideas.

You do not need a complete classroom to get started.

Concentrate on the unspoken lesson and the structure of the time.
Add stories as you are able.

2004. Candy Moser

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