Stories from the Field: Strategies for Teaching Biblically in Electives

In this last of our teaching biblically articles focusing on specific content areas, we’ll look at ideas and tips for elective courses. If you missed the other content articles, you can check those out here and here.

“The goal is to shape a set of practices that are
as consistent as we can manage with the story of all things made new...”
– David I. Smith, On Christian Teaching[1]

Information Technology

• We use biblical texts to teach understanding. We teach students the importance of communicating and living together, using technology not to ruin the world but to continue to maintain it so that it reflects the image of God. This is why we insist that man is made in the image of God and that information technology should help us communicate and defend Christian values everywhere. – Nathan M.

• When teaching programming, I draw on the principles of programming and design technology, relating them to God’s intelligent design and order in creation. The structure and syntax of programming languages reflect the order and creation of God. This is one area I draw motivation from as I lead my students. This week, I have had students working on Creative Design using their skills and creativity to please God. The Bible encourages us to use our skills to edify God and the ministry. – Collins M.

Art

• We do a lot of creating in my classes. Students experiment & explore materials using a lot of visual inspiration. I often refer to God’s creation, that God is the first artist and that we were all created in His image and have the ability to create beautiful pieces inspired by God’s creation. He created all the elements of art for us to enjoy. With each element of art, we explore God’s example through creation and its beauty. We talk about the days of creation in Genesis and all that God created with organic shapes, the beauty in His sunsets and sunrises, His creativity in all the creatures, and the textures He made each one with (Genesis 1). We also discuss through self portraits how we are all fearfully and wonderfully made and are God’s mini masterpieces (Psalm 139, Ephesians 2:10). At Christmas we often make lanterns as symbols of the light of world (Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12, John 14:6). We often give thanks to the Lord for His blessing of color and for His creativity and inspiration for art projects of various animals. My students really enjoy drawing, painting and making animals! Also the rainbow! God keeps His promises (Genesis 9:12-16). – Beth R.

Drama

• I teach art and drama at times. Both of these, being creative classes, lend themselves to the understanding and appreciation of the creativity of God. I’m always reminding my students that God has given each of us creativity, allowing us to share a small portion of His beauty.  When I first begin to teach drama, I go back to the Scriptures and talk about how God has used drama all the way through the Old Testament and even into the New Testament. I want them to understand that drama can and should glorify God rather than glorify ourselves. When we’re doing a specific play, I have always told them the spiritual truths that I see in that play. These are not spiritual plays; they are plays such as Oliver Twist and Cinderella.  If we look, there is always a spiritual connection to make in a story, and I try to bring this out for the students. Once they understand that connection, they become very excited about the production. – Deborah T.

Music

• When teaching music, I always tried to take time during class to discuss the meaning of the lyrics we were singing. I remember taking part of one class to talk about the lyrics of “One Small Child” and who the different kings mentioned were. When preparing for a Christmas concert, we talked about the importance of expressing the words of the music through our body language to communicate the good news of the incarnation for our audience. We also spent time discussing the beauty of music, even secular music, knowing that all beauty comes from God and studying music from various cultures to appreciate the way that all tongues, tribes, and nations worship God. – Ruth P.

Physical Education

• The way I am currently integrating the Scriptures into P.E. classes is through the fruit of the Spirit. At the beginning of each semester, I remind students that as followers of Jesus we have the Spirit living in us and working through us. One way the Spirit works in us is by growing His fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should characterize our whole lives, including how we exercise, care for our bodies, play games, and compete in Sports. In health classes, I teach based on 5 components of wholistic health: spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and social. Each of these components provides many opportunities to look at what Scripture teaches, but the spiritual health unit is one the primary ways I integrate the Word into health class – especially talking about all humans being created in the image of God and our identity in Christ. – Justin S.