God’s Unfolding Story Age Group Identifiers
Most churches organize their ongoing Bible study program (often called Sunday School) by some kind of age group. While there may be other ways to group Bible study classes in a church, this seems to be the most common. The rationale for this typically relates to developmental issues and life stage concerns. There are good reasons for a church to implement intergenerational ministries and strategies in the church, but many churches (and their families) like to offer (or have offered) “age-graded” classes for Bible study groups, especially for kids. This enables children to study the Bible in ways that are developmentally appropriate in addition to encouraging kids to build healthy relationships with other children in the context of a Bible-based church. This is not meant to discourage intergenerational ministries in any way. It merely recognizes that there is a rationale for both.
God’s Unfolding Story Bible Study System
God’s Unfolding Story Bible Study System is an ongoing Bible study curriculum system designed to move learners of all ages toward a biblical worldview and lifestyle. We currently offer curriculum for older preschoolers (3-5 year olds) only. But, we are working on other groups and hope to have additional age groups in the reasonably near future. One important aspect of developing fully age-graded curriculum is to identify the age groups for which lessons and resources are provided.
These Age Group Identifiers need to be flexible, but also need to balance sound developmental rationale with how churches tend to group their Bible study groups. It must always be remembered that a church and its leadership is in the best position to determine how they actually organize their own Bible study ministry. Further, parents should be given a voice in the placement of their child(ren) in a Bible study group. Churches and curriculum publishers all need to be flexible and seek to serve the needs of their families and customers.
We have listed below the Age Group Identifiers that we currently anticipate utilizing for future curriculum development. We have a long way to go in the larger process, but we felt it would be helpful to get these “out there” in order to receive input from others who may have an interest in such things. We welcome your thoughts and would invite you to contact us and tell us what you think.
God bless you as you seek to teach the Bible!
God’s Unfolding Story Age Group Identifiers
Babies – This age group will include infants and babies until they are able to walk and become “toddlers.”
Toddlers – Toddlers will typically include young children who are one and two years old and have started to walk.
Older Preschoolers – Preschoolers may include 3-5 year-olds, depending on the developmental maturity of the child and the preferences of the parent(s). In this context, preschoolers are children who are preparing for grade school but aren’t yet there.
Younger Grade School – On the younger end, this may include children in kindergarten or 1st grade and might be influenced by the child’s age, maturity, and which grade they are in at school. On the older end, this will include kids in 2nd grade as well.
Middle Grade School – This age group targets children in 3rd or 4th grade, depending on their age, maturity level, and other organizational factors in the church.
Preteen – This age group is increasingly recognized as having its own unique needs and maturity level between grade schoolers and younger students. More and more leaders within children’s ministry are perceiving this as an age group in need of programming and resources aimed specifically at them. It may include 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, depending on whether 4th grade is grouped with preteens or middle grade schoolers. Some churches may decide to group 6th graders with younger students.
Younger Students – This group may include kids in middle school or junior high school, depending on how the local school system is organized as well as other factors in the church. It could include 6th through 8th graders or 7th through 9th graders.
Older Students – These will typically be kids in high school, depending on how the local school system is organized as well as other factors in the church. It could include 9th through 12th grade or 10th through 12th grade.
College Students – These young adults are generally in some kind of higher education institution and share the “student affinity” with other students. They have graduated high school.
Young Adults – These young adults are out of high school, but are not in college or some other higher education endeavor.
Middle Adults – These adults will typically see themselves as established adults with careers or adult responsibilities such as families or jobs.
Older Adults – These are more mature adults who perceive that they are moving toward or have arrived at a more advanced stage of life. Retirement may be a reality or on the horizon.
Other helpful articles about God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers (2020) can also be found on the site.
