Vinje Village Rotational Model Church School

Vinje Village strives to engage and create a lively atmosphere for children in grades 1-6. They are constantly challenged to open their minds and learn about the Bible, God and how religion applies to their lives today. Using the "multiple intelligence" approach of learning, the program wonderfully acknowledges the many different children of Vinje.

The Workshop Rotational Model is a product of the belief that children have different learning styles and that each of us has a “preferred “ style that helps us to learn and understand information. Howard Gardner, an educational research professor at Harvard School of Education, believes that each of us posses seven “intelligences”:

Linguistic/verbal
Logical-mathematical
Spatial
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Musical
Interpersonal/Relational
Intrapersonal/Introspective

A “Where in Vinje Village” sign is posted at each of the entrances to assist students and parents in knowing where their child will be that day. Large, colorful signs are hung above the door of each workshop displaying the appropriate name.  

Workshops at Vinje   Six of these eight workshops are chosen to present the story for each unit:

	Children learn their lessons through appropriate software. Other projects that we have done include: “publishing” the Vinje Bible Times, making “Disciple cards”, creating individual invitations to the Advent program, “Wanted-Prophets for God” posters, and bookmarks complete with each child’s digital picture as a service project for a school in Africa.
	Our children enjoy creating wonderful works of art that have included such projects as origami, painted wooden fish, Christmas ornaments used in the Advent worship, and frames that feature a favorite Psalm. Often the project that they make depicts the symbol chosen for the unit.
	Baking unleavened bread, constructing edible stables, and baking cookies to send Vinje college students are examples of the delicious fun that we experience in this lab!
	Children watch a movie in “theatre style” fashion- complete with a popcorn machine
	This is our drama lab. Volunteers have built a closet that can be converted into a “stage”. Many props, costumes and instruments can be found here. The youth have enjoyed making plays and “news reports” and then watching their production.
	Upon entering this lab, the children are asked to remove their shoes and enter a large Bedouin-style tent where they will find floor pillows and a “campfire” to greet them. This is the lab where the actual “storytelling” takes place. The story may be enhanced by maps, props, and has even included such visitors as David and the women that were at Jesus Tomb!
Father Abraham's Arcade	You might say this lab is “fun and games” because that’s just what it is!
Faith Matters	Takes a look at explaining God’s creation through His gift of science.! ”Why are people’s skin colors different?” and “How did Noah’s ark float?” are some of the questions that have been explored here.

A note about the workshops…Although these labs appear to be all fun and activity, we strive to emphasize in our curriculum and orientations that the lesson is the most important part of each lab. The activity is created to enhance the lesson. We also begin each workshop with the memory verse for the unit and a review of the previous Sunday.

Leadership Roles

Shepherd

Each class has two shepherds that journey with them through the workshops each week. These shepherds will stay with the class the entire year. We feel that they are a very important part of this type of church school as they are the constant each week for the children. They are the ones that develop a relationship with the children through out the year. They meet the class in “Gathering”, take attendance, review the Bible verse and previous week at the beginning of each lab, and may also choose to send a card or call each child when they have a birthday or have been ill or absent.

Workshop Leaders

Two leaders for each lab/workshop are recruited for each unit. They are responsible to teach the lab for six weeks and attend an orientation session. A Bible study and overview of the story is given by the pastors at orientation, as well as, a presentation of the curriculum by the writer of the unit. Two high school students are available to assist in each workshop.

Curriculum Teams

Vinje is fortunate to have five people who are currently reviewing, rewriting, and updating the curriculum for our church school. Each summer curriculum writers choose one of the 5 units to work on that were written for Vinje Village 6 years ago. Vinje Village students, teachers, shepherds and families enjoy and learn from the fruits of their labor.

Pastors

The Pastors prepare Biblical backgrounds that they present at orientation to give a Bible Study for the leaders and shepherds to introduce the story.

Education Director

The Education Director, Linda Switzer, serves as the superintendent on Sundays and Wednesdays. She may assist the curriculum teams in purchasing supplies, searching for ideas, and recruiting of workshop leaders, youth leaders and shepherds. She is responsible for setting up the orientation each session. She may also assist in leading the “Gathering”.

Youth Helpers

Two junior or senior high youth are in each classroom to assist the workshop leader in teaching the lesson. Youth roles are varied depending on the lab. Roles include making popcorn, filming plays, playing games, helping direct and assign parts for plays, assisting with art projects and computer programs.