About This Age Group
Third and fourth graders are growing in their ability to reason and discover. Unlike younger children, who can think only literally, Middle Elementary students are able to discuss ideas more in depth; they can compare, contrast, analyze, and find out for themselves. In this interactive Sunday school curriculum learners will discover important biblical truths as they look up, figure out, do, respond, and listen. The value of interactive learning is students make discovery on their own and remember so much more.
This list emphasizes those characteristics of Middle Elementary students that will interest you as their teacher:
Growing Physically
- enjoy physical activity and organized games
- grow steadily and have good muscle coordination
- like frequent repetition of activities they enjoy
- work quickly
Growing Emotionally
- need to express feelings and may be hurt easily
temperamental- sensitive to praise and criticism from grown-ups
- beginning to empathize with others
- Growing Socially
- like to talk, giggle, and whisper
- enjoy friends of the same sex
- want to be part of a group and enjoy group projects
- are eager to please and do things the right way
- accept rules and have a strong sense of fairness
Growing Mentally
- growing in reading ability
- need to feel independent in the classroom
- eager to learn and experiment
- can work steadily for long periods of time
- can take part in experiences involving thinking and feelings
- growing in ability to reason about concrete issues
- like to organize information
- interested in new ideas
- interested in church, community, and country
- Growing Spiritually
- eager for more than just Bible stories
- starting to relate individual Bible events to the scope of Bible history
- want to know details and facts in Bible study
- becoming conscious of self and of sin
- often begin to feel the need for a more personal relationship with God
- want to put into action what they have learned