Swap Shop - Bible Time-Line
A great way to help children understand that the Bible is a record of man's developing concept of and relationship to God is to create a time-line of the significant dates, events, stories, and characters in the Bible. This project could take a year or longer, but it involves all age groups, participating and learning about the Bible. This activity can blend with your Sunday School goals of studying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation (see Jan. issue), or you can fill in the timeline more randomly as you study different stories and events throughout the year. There is no pressure for completion.

Of course you can purchase already-prepared Bible time-lines or download the BibleWise interactive time-line in monthly installments, but it is more fun, meaningful, and memory-making when children are part of the creative process.

Materials needed:

• Poster board or writing strips (writing strips can be bought at educational/teachers stores) or computer print shop program using the banner maker
• Markers
• Note cards
• Bibles (different translations)
• A published time-line or outline of the Bible that helps you set the dates of the events and stories. [Editor's note: I recommend The Bible Handbook, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers of Nashville, 1995. It summarizes every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The handbook is filled with outlines, charts, and time-lines used in many of the Nelson Bibles. It costs about $5.]
• Computer print shop program
  
  

The following is just a suggestion of one way to make your time-line, but remember there are many different ways depending on your class or Sunday School.

To start:

• Select a wall space about 4 feet from the ground and apply a 4-6 inch wide strip of border, poster board, or computer banner around the room.
  
  
• Decide where you want your time-line to begin: creation, Noah, or Abraham. The only rule is that the time-line must flow in chronological order.
  
  
• Using a time-line guideline, write the dates on the poster board. Give ample space around each year for students to include information and pictures of the people and events.
  
  
• Research the background of the person, place, or event you wish to include.
  
  
• Find the approximate time in history for each person, place, or event.
  
  
• Write this information directly on the poster boards or on a note card to be taped beneath the corresponding year.
  
  
• Older students can help create the time-line; younger students can draw pictures.
  
  
• At the beginning of the project, ask your students to write down on note cards all the stories, people, and events they already know. Put these in an envelope until the time-line is finished; then compare the cards to the end result. I think you will be amazed at how much everyone has learned! This can be a fun, enriching, and rewarding project for your Sunday School.

  A Sunday School in Charlottesville, Virginia