August 5, 2012 - "Writing a 'Reflection Paper' About a Verse from the Scriptures"

Today's class is the session where the teaching on How to Write a Reader-Reflection Paper was covered in class.   This teaching is the lesson material that had been put-off during the last two classes because there was not enough time left, in those classes, after covering the Bible Adventures lesson for that day.   Today, the Reader-Reflection Paper lesson was the primary lesson for the class.   The handout for this lesson was the faith steps paper dated July 22, 2012, "Learning to 'Reflect'". 

          To see the full handout, click on this LINK.

The review of last week's class was handled differently today, since none of the students present in class today had attended last week.   A printed copy of the rcc.5gr Blog posting from last week was given to the students, to review at home.
The Memory verse assigned last week, Revelation 4:11, was new, to them, and no one was prepared to recite it.   So I mentioned that the lesson topic was about showing Honor to God, and about King David's desire to build a Temple for God.  Then I went over the verse in class:

     "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power."

Then I showed a video, which was intended to be part of the review, featuring the song "The Revelation Song" (recorded by the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean).    To see this video, click on this link:  The Revelation Song video, from YouTube, shown in class on 8/5/12.    The students also received a printed copy of the lyrics to this song ** (the lyrics sheet can be viewed online by clicking here. ).

The Reader-Reflection lesson material has introductory information about the topic of the verse that is used  as my example (Psalm 19:1).  The topic is "GOD".   Then the verse is printed - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." [NIV]  

Then there are three simple instructions given, "How-to's" for writing a reflection paper.  1.) Read the verse(s) one or more times.  2.) Take some time to think about what was read.   3.) Write down what you have just thought.   Then, the guidelines listed on the handout were discussed.  

I reminded the students that our expectations for them are based on the fact that they are 5th graders - they're not 'little kids' anymore.   In 5th grade they are expected to learn to express themselves clearly, in writing.

Over the next year, they would be expected to learn to write clear, properly constructed sentences, combining three or more sentences into a paragraph to express an idea, and then writing multiple-paragraph essays or papers.   

My expectation for a reflection paper is that it be at least three clearly written sentences, with correct spelling and no use of slang terms.   The reflection has to be the student’s own thoughts, but they can get help from parents with their writing.     These reminders and additional guidelines were presented in class:

• Remember that a verse is part of a larger grouping of verses, referred to as “the context”.  The reflection would have to show an understanding of the context of the verse that is written about.  John 11:35 -”Jesus wept” - was discussed, regarding reflecting on a verse “in-context”.
• Understanding the context will help the student to see the overall topic that is covered by the verse.
• A reflection is not expected to have as much detail as an essay or research paper.
• The reflection is not limited to declarative statements.  It can contain questions that arise when thinking about the verse.
• My example, on Psalm 19:1, was typed, but student work that is turned-in can be handwritten.

My example was then presented.   During the discussion, I did restate some of the teaching points from previous lessons, in July, about God.    I did this and told the students that this was the teaching point where I was “taking a stand” - I wasn’t just telling them stories, I was declaring that God Almighty is Creator, and affirming that the (unseen) spiritual realm is real.  [This is the #1 Learning Objective for 5th grade.]

The discussion included reading most of what was written in my example, and comments about how the people in King David’s time understood the power needed to create all they were seeing, and that it was impossible for this to just have happened as a random chance.    It is still impossible for this to just be a random happening.   The last sentence of my example is the summary of my reflection, and we closed the lesson by reading it together:  The amazing power shown by creating the heavens, and the greatness of it all, stirred up thoughts of praise and great respect (or, giving honor) for God Almighty.     

A new Memory Verse for this week was assigned - Matthew 11:28:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

__________________________________________

**The Revelation Song is copyrighted.   I can print and distribute the lyrics of this song under what are called Fair Use provisions of the US copyright law.   You can access the lyrics online, but they should not be redistributed.  

[Note: There is a Bible Adventures lesson, covering a miracle Jesus performed, from the Gospel of John, Chapter 4, and two Sunday School the Clicks videos from ABCnews.com; this was also prepared for 8/5/12. This lesson was not covered today, but the memory verse, Matthew 11:28, was assigned.  ----   This Bible Adventures lesson will be taught next week, and the Matthew 11:28 verse will be re-assigned, so it will be the Memory verse for two weeks.]