Lesson Plan: Twelve Disciples Diviner (World Religion-Christianity)

In the World Religions class for Middle Schoolers that I am doing, where we are currently studying Christianity, this week it was time to cover the Twelve Disciples of Jesus.  I was trying to think of a fun way for them to remember all twelve names, when suddenly I thought of those old "fortune tellers" we used to fold when I was about that age.  Those things have twelve flaps--PERFECT for a project I called "The Twelve Disciples Diviner."

Here are the instructions, interspersed with some pictures I took of the one I made (for you visual learners...although presenting in multiple modalities really helps us all):

First, fold two opposite corners of the paper together (so that the paper is folded in half and is the shape of a triangle) and then open them up again.  Take the other two opposite corners and fold them together (again, folding the paper in half in the shape of a triangle) and then open them up again.  You should have a square piece of paper with two folds that make an X in the center of the page.

Next, fold all four corners to that center X so that they meet in the center and form the paper into a smaller square.

Now flip the paper over, so that you are looking at a square piece of paper with no down-folded flaps showing, but with a folded X in the middle.  Fold each one of those corners down to meet the X, so that they all meet in the center and make an even smaller square.  This time, however, each of the four corners flaps meeting in the center will have two separate triangular sections (for a total of 8 triangular segments).

Write one of the following names on each separate triangular segment:

• Philip (Greek)
• Bartholomew
• Matthew (tax collector)
• Thomas (doubting)
• James, son of Alphaeus (the lesser)
• Thaddeus
• Simon the Zealot
• Judas Iscariot

Then open the four corner flaps, and behind each triangular section, write a different quality of God of their choice (for example, peace, joy, abundance, forgiveness, patience, etc.).  Once that is done, fold the flaps down again and recrease the folds.

Flip the square over again so that you can see four square corners meeting in the middle.  On each one of those squares, write one of the following names:

• Simon, called Peter (son of John)
• Andrew, brother of Peter
• James, son of Zebedee
• John, brother of James

Also draw a small picture of a fish on each one of those squares.

To use the divener, insert the thumb and the forefinger of the right hand under the two flaps on the right side, and the thumb and forefinger of the left hand under the two flaps on the left hand and push the four corners to meet in the center.  To operate the diviner, think of a question or situation that calls for some quality of God or spirit.  Then chose one of the four names on the outer four flaps, and open and shut the diviner in opposite directions according to the number of letters in that name (so, for example, 5 times for the name Peter).  Select one of the name exposed by the 5th opening, and then open and shut the diviner again by the number of letters in that name (so, 6 times for Thomas).  Then choose one of the names shown, and read the God/spiritual quality under that name.  That is the God/spiritual quality that should be used to resolve that situation or question.

Starting the Year Off Right

This morning at our spiritual community, we did our annual beginning of the new year ceremony.  First, we write just a few things that we enjoyed about the past year, a few things that we are thankful for right now, and a few intentions we have for the coming year.   The center collects those, and mails them back to us at the end of the year so we can see the progress we've made.

Then, on another sheet, we write things that we want to release from our lives--old hurts or sorrows, behaviors that don't support us, grudges or judgements that we've been holding onto, or whatever doesn't really serve you.  We also go outside for our burning bowl ceremony, where we toss that piece of paper into the fire, and watch all those things we don't want in our lives anymore go up in smoke.  It is a simple thing, but it does feel very freeing.

Finally, we each select our own white stone.  Then we are supposed to meditate for a while on what spiritual quality we would really like to have more of in our lives this year.  Once we've settled on one, then the rock is supposed to remind us all year long about creating that in our lives.  The idea is kind of like the concept of carrying a gratitude rock in your pocket that, whenever you touch it, reminds you to be thankful for something in your life right that very minute.

I was teaching the Middle Schooler Sunday School class today, so not only did I do this for myself, I got to lead the students in doing it for themselves.  That was fun, as well as valuable.  It's amazing to see these 11-13 year olds scribbling down all the things they want to release from their lives.  Some of them were very clear about their intentions, while others were less so.  But either way, I think it is a great practice for them to start doing at an early age.

So we've celebrated and honored, gifted and received, visited and welcomed, and now set intentions for the new and released the old.  And while we've continued to do some educational stuff, and are always learning SOMETHING, tomorrow we'll start back on a more regular educational routine.  My blogging will also go back to more middle school or educational focused posts, after several weeks of kind of lighter, holiday articles.  It's time...

PLUS, they announced the new superintendent of the Wake County schools, and those of you who know me KNOW I've got some opinions on that matter....  So tune in next week for details!