Programme Details
Ages: 6-11
Sessions: 13
Session Time: Two periods of 45 minutes
Pot of Gold is a thirteen-week Biblical peer support programme based on the story of Joseph and the ups and downs of his life (Genesis ch37-50). Its aim is to provide emotional support for children ages 6 – 11 years who have been bereaved though death or family breakdown.
A different grief topic is covered each week over a ninty minute period that is divided into two parts. In the first 45 minutes, all the children are together in a big group where the topic of the week is introduced through story, song, and the occasional game. The last 45 minutes is devoted to small group time in which the children are divided into their age appropiate groups where they will do worksheets, games or crafts relating to the topic of the week.
Our programme is not a counselling service, but rather a peer support programme led by adult facilitators (lay people) who are trained by Growing Through in active listening skills. The training can be offered either by one of our representatives, or with the DVD that is provided with the purchased curriculum. Our intent is to provide a safe setting in which children can work through their feelings with peers who are experiencing similar situations.
Aims of the Programme
To help the children
Validate their feelings of loss
Gain emotional control over fear and anger
Integrate their loss into their life experience
Accept their ‘new normal’
Understand their new family unit in light of the changes that have taken place
Build a stronger sense of self-esteem
Learn coping skills to help them when feeling down or facing a new crisis
Lesson Objectives
To help the children learn that:
It is normal to have angry and sad feelings
It is okay to get angry, but there are right and wrong ways to express their anger
They are unique individuals with an identity apart from their family and others
Worrying about the future can stop them from enjoying today
Families change, but regardless of who they live with, they are still part of a family
It is possible to still love both parents, even though they dont live together
They do not need to feel guilty, because it is not their fault that the death or family breakdown happened and they could not have prevented it
Some things cannot change, so adjustments must be made
They can choose happiness by looking forward to the new things and the new people that God wants to bring into their lives
Topics
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1 - I am Loved
Purpose
To help the children understand that God created the world perfect, but sorrow and suffering entered the world through man’s choice. The worth of each person is determined by what God was willing to pay to rescue him.
2 - Jesus Understands our Feelings
Purpose
To help the children know that they can tell God about their sad feelings becauase he understands. When God, in the person of Jesus, came down to earth ro live as a human being, He experienced sorrow and suffering too.
3 - What is Family?
Purpose
To help the children understand that though their family has changed, they still have a family. Furthermore, God made sure that no matter where we go, we will always have a family in His Church.
4 - Personally Puzzled
Purpose
To help the children understand that though their lives appear to be falling to pieces, God can take even the bad things that happen to use and work the together for good.
5 - Managing My Anger
Purpose
To help the children understand that it’s okay to get angry, but there are right and wrong ways to express their anger. Talking to God can help cool down their ‘anger thermometer’.
6 - Dealing with Fears and Worries
Purpose
To help the children understand that worrying about the future can tstop them from enjoying today. Nothing can happen to them that they will not be able to handle with God’s help.
7 - I Can Choose
Purpose
To help the children understand that they are responsible for their own choices and that they cannot choose for other people. They are unique individuals with an identity apart from their family and others.
8 - Never Alone
Purpose
To help the children understand that they need to take responsibility for themselves when they feel lonely. It is important to tell God and others what they need. God can fill the empty space in their hearts that no one else can fill.
9 - Blended Families
Purpose
To help the children undertand their fears about possibility that their mum or dad may remarry. Those already living in stepfamilies get a chance to voice the positive nd negative aspects of their situation.
10 - Going Forward
Purpose
To help the children understand that they can choose happiness by loking forward to the new things and the new people that God wants to bring into their lives. trying to live their lives by looking backwards is as silly as trying to run a race backwards.
11 - Sailing Through the Storms
Purpose
To help the children understand how to cope with upheavals and crisis as they happen. When things are out of control, they can trust that God is in control and will bring them safety through the storm.
12 - Shine your Light
Purpose
To help the children understand that they can become beacons of hope for others who have experienced loss.
Discovery Day
Graduation Day
To consolidate all that they have learned throughout the programme. To help the children recognise how unforgiveness can be detrimental to them and how to let go of it to bring healing. To furnish them with the abiliy to recognise people they can trust.
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Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
1 - I am Loved
Purpose
To help the children understand that God created the world perfect, but sorrow and suffering entered the world through man’s choice. The worth of each person is determined by what God was willing to pay to rescue him.
2 - Jesus Understands our Feelings
Purpose
To help the children know that they can tell God about their sad feelings becauase he understands. When God, in the person of Jesus, came down to earth ro live as a human being, He experienced sorrow and suffering too.
3 - What is Family?
Purpose
To help the children understand that though their family has changed, they still have a family. Furthermore, God made sure that no matter where we go, we will always have a family in His Church.
4 - Personally Puzzled
Purpose
To help the children understand that though their lives appear to be falling to pieces, God can take even the bad things that happen to use and cause them to work together for good.
5 - Managing My Anger
Purpose
To help the children understand that it’s okay to get angry, but there are right and wrong ways to express their anger. Talking to God can help cool down their ‘anger thermometer’.
6 - Dealing with Fears and Worries
Purpose
To help the children understand that worrying about the future can stop them from enjoying today. Nothing can happen to them that they will not be able to handle with God’s help.
Displayed None
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
7 - I Can Choose
Purpose
To help the children understand that they are responsible for their own choices and that they cannot choose for other people. They are unique individuals with an identity apart from their family and others.
8 - Never Alone
Purpose
To help the children understand that they need to take responsibility for themselves when they feel lonely. It is important to tell God and others what they need. God can fill the empty space in their hearts that no one else can fill.
9 - Blended Families
Purpose
To help the children understand their fears about possibility that their mum or dad may remarry. Those already living in stepfamilies get a chance to voice the positive and negative aspects of their situation.
10 - Going Forward
Purpose
To help the children understand that they can choose happiness by looking forward to the new things and the new people that God wants to bring into their lives. Trying to live their lives by looking backwards is as silly as trying to run a race backwards.
11 - Sailing Through the Storms
Purpose
To help the children understand how to cope with upheavals and crisis as they happen. When things are out of control, they can trust that God is in control and will bring them safety through the storm.
12 - Shine your Light
Purpose
To help the children understand that they can become beacons of hope for others who have experienced loss.
Displayed None
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Discovery Day
Graduation Day
To consolidate all that they have learned throughout the programme. To help the children recognise how unforgiveness can be detrimental to them and how to let go of it to bring healing. To furnish them with the ability to recognise people they can trust.