TEACHING WITH FLANNELGRAPH

By: Jo Ann Lackey

Visual Aids can play an important role in our teaching. The greatest teacher in the world used visuals. Jesus used the scene of the widow casting her mite into the offering to teach one of His greatest lesson on giving. Mark 12:41-44

The cursing of the fig tree provided an impressive visual for Jesus to teach His lesson on the importance of being a fruit-bearer. Matt. 21:17-22.

The washing of the disciples feet is a lesson on humility. John 13:1-17.

Visuals were so much a part of the teaching of Jesus that he was able to say to His disciples. “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desire to see
those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them”. Luke 10:23,24

Educators believe that as much as 75 percent of all we learn comes through the “eye”. Only 13 percent of what we learn comes through the ears. If this evaluation is accurate, we Sunday School Teachers have a
reason to be alarmed because most of our teaching has been directed only to the ears. This makes me realize that visuals are vital in our teaching. The teacher should advocate these three “L’s” LOOK, LISTEN, & LEARN.

Flannelgraph

Flannelgraph will arouse curiosity and hold the students attention. It also enables the pupils to see what is being taught. Flannelgraph can bring events to life. The use of flannelgraph can also help avoid wrong
impressions. For example, our style of roof in our city make it hard to visualize how Peter could go up on the house top to pray, but a picture of a Palestinian home makes this scene very clear.

Teaching with Flannelgraph

1. Use flannelgraph occasionally, not every week.

2. Do not allow flannelgraph to become a substitute for preparation. No teaching aid can be well presented without adequate preparation.

3. Have the backgrounds in place before the class arrives. (This gives an air of expectancy).

4. Your attention will have to be divided between the board and the class. The figure should be placed carefully and should not stand to one side or to appear in any way ridiculous.

5. Children remember and recognize the figures that have been used in a previous story, so be careful about interchanging figures. For example, the figure of “Bad” King Ahab should not be used to represent King David the following week.

6. For variety, record the lesson on tape, add music and sound, then manipulate the figures as the cassette is played.

7. For a class project, let the children create their own story, including the mounting of the pictures, writing the narration and recording the background on tape.

8. Be excited about the use of flannelgraph.

9. Pray that God will bless you teaching and your use of this effective medium of teaching.

LOOK LISTEN & LEARN

(The original publisher of the above material is unknown.)

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