Creative Object Lessons

What is an Object Lesson?

An object lesson is the use of objects - insects, fruits, vegetables, animals, coins, thermometers, tools, weapons - to teach intellectual and spiritual truths. More than just a visual, it draws a truth from something you are showing or doing. Real objects, places and happenings can make learning come alive for children, youth, and adults.

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The Bible Is Full of Object Lessons

Creative Object Lessons

The potter's house, the fig tree and sheep were used by God to teach his people truths in ways they could understand, remember, and share with others. Lessons can be found not only the things of nature, but in the sacrificial service and observances of the Bible. The Scriptures themselves were given to reveal God. All of nature reveals the thought of God, but we often fail to see him through his creation. (Romans 1:20)

Jesus' Use of Object Lessons

Jesus often used the things at hand around him to teach people about God and His Kingdom. When he was by a well, He used water. After He fed 5000 people, He taught them about the bread of life. When He was on a fishing boat, He said the Kingdom was like a fishing net. He told his listeners to consider the lilies, the sparrows, and the hairs on their head. Jesus referred to a fig tree, a mustard tree, yeast, salt, a vineyard, money and other things from everyday life to reveal spiritual truth. When He spoke of a vineyard, He was probably by a vineyard. When He said, "consider the sparrows," there were probably sparrows flying around.

In Christ's teaching, the unknown was illustrated by the known; divine truths by earthly things, the spiritual by the natural, the difficult by the simple. He used the things with which the people were most familiar, the things of the earth to teach them the things that were unfamiliar, the things of heaven. Object lessons speak to the eyes and other senses so that they are received into the heart. In fact the more senses that are involved, the greater the learning that takes place. Christ's teaching using object lessons was targeted at adults, not children, but everyone can learn truths from a simple lesson involving the senses.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Object Lessons

ADVANTAGES

1. Objects attract and hold the attention of observers
2. Objects can help simplify complex ideas and concepts.
3. The high interest level extends to all age groups even though they are usually used with children.
4. Retention is very good due to the high interest as well as the identification of the truth with the object.
5. Object lessons turn people's "eyes into ears." Because people think in terms of words and images, objects help them recall what is taught.
6. Object lessons are fairly easy to use in a class and elaborate equipment is not necessary
7. The student is given first-hand experience by coming into contact with the object
8. Because of nature of object lessons, the teacher will develop the habit of graphic, colorful portrayal of truth which will make all teaching more powerful.

DISADVANTAGES

1. The time is usually short so must be used as a part of a class. Usually as an introduction or an illustration or conclusion.
2. Thinking of object lessons is very hard for many people. Keep your mind open to possible object lessons in your everyday life.
3. Objects may obscure the truth rather than clarify and simplify.
4. Small objects do not work well with large groups.
5. There is a danger that students may become more interested in the object than the lesson that is being presented.

How to Use Object Lessons

1. Choose the idea you want to illustrate and find an object that can represent that idea.
2. Plan every step for using the object lesson carefully in advance. * Make an outline of the required steps. * Keep the demonstration simple. * Do not digress from the main ideas.
3. Practice using the object to illustrate the truth until it is smooth.
4. Rehearse your demonstration with a "guinea pig" if possible. Try to find someone around the same age as the intended audience.
5. Tell a story the listener can relate to along with the object lesson. Stories have an emotional impact on the listener and provide a means by which younger children, who think in very concrete terms can identify with the truth.
6. Be sure every member of class can see demonstration.
7. Check frequently to make sure the demonstration is understood.
8. Keep summarizing as you go along.
9. Don't hurry the lesson or drag out the lesson.
10. Keep the punch line to the very end and build the suspense if you can. Make sure your draw the connection between the object and the idea.
11. Resist the temptation to explain all the deep symbolism you've been able to uncover. The power of an object lesson is in its simplicity. One of the quickest ways to ruin an object lesson is try to make it more than it is. Make just one truth visible to your students - that's enough. Be sure that all details are authentic.
12. Remember that it's the Holy Spirit, not your object lesson, that instructs and changes students. Never use a visual aid because you are caught short. They must work for you, not instead of you. Remember: They are a means to an end, not an end in themselves

You can find a large selection of object lessons and children's sermons at www.Creativeobjectlessons.com.

Creative Object Lessons

Ken has been actively involved in youth ministry for almost 20 years and has been writing youth Bible Study materials since 1988. He has written for numerous Youth weekends and summer camps around the world. He also does training workshops for youth leaders and teachers in Asia and is recommended by others for his creativity and for his passion in mentoring youth. For more creative ideas see his main website at http://www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

Bedroom Wall Decor - Creative Bedroom Wall Decor Ideas

The interior decorating and decor of a bedroom largely depends upon it's function. There are mainly 4 types of bedrooms in a typical home plan.

1) Master Bedroom

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2) Teenager Bedroom

Bedroom Wall Decor - Creative Bedroom Wall Decor Ideas

3) Kids Bedroom

4) Guest bedroom

All these bedrooms have their own decorating considerations. When it comes to wall decor for bedrooms many people think that either painting a wall or applying wallpaper on them is the only option available.

But these two techniques can be combined together for an altogether different look as well. It is not always necessary to apply the same paint to all the walls. Try finishing walls with contrasting colors or a combination of wallpaper and color on the same wall.

If your bedroom receives ample amount of direct sunlight, then you can very creatively make use of shadows for decorating purposes on wall. First observe the wall that receives direct sunlight and then you can "obstruct" the entry of sunlight using a mild steel grill or stained glass painting so that the wall receives interesting shadow patterns. The beauty of this is that since the direction and intensity of the sunlight changes constantly, you will have an ever changing wall decor piece made for you, free of cost.

Another idea is to instead of using picture frames on walls, how about painting the picture on the wall itself. Of course if you live in a rented house, you will have some limitations, but it can be done.

Another options for bedroom wall decor is faux finish plaster or even tile cladding using rectangular or square tiles. Even multicolored tiles can be used for the entire wall to create a mural of your choice. Thus a bedroom wall can be easily treated with little creativity for big results without spending big money.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Bedroom Wall Decor - Creative Bedroom Wall Decor Ideas

Want more amazing bedroom wall decor ideas? visit my website http://www.ModernWallDecor.net to explore some great wall decor themes that can transform your home into a stunning interior masterpiece.

Creative Halloween Costumes For Women

It's almost October 31st again, and that means time for all the ghouls, ghosts and goblins to come out for that fun holiday called Halloween.  Each year, people get to dress up in silly, creative, sexy and recent event-inspired costumes to celebrate Halloween for a few days or a week.  It let's most people bring out their wild and crazy sides as they can assume the identity of another person, celebrity, character, animal, mythical creature, monster or inanimate object.

If you're a female looking for Halloween costume ideas, look no further.  We've got some creative ones for you that won't take too much work or accessories beyond what you already have.  You don't want to go as the typical boring French Maid, Cheerleader, Nurse or sexy witch.  Instead you want something original, clever and unlike anything anyone else is wearing!  One example is to go as the "Cheating Wife".  You can wear pantyhose with the back of your skirt tucked into them, messed up hair and smeared make up, with your bra on the outside of the shirt.  Another idea you might try is the horror movie victim, where you have a similar look to cheating wife, only with fake blood on your clothes and face, with some tears in your clothes as well.  You could also go as the stood-up prom date, simply by wearing a prom style dress with smeared make up as if you've been crying.  That will gain you attention and pity all at once!

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Of course you might not want to go as a female who's been dumped, cheating or part of a horror movie.  You may decide instead to go as something hot, sexy, and exciting to really get everyone's attention.  When it comes to Halloween, you want to be the one who gets noticed, rather than simply blending in with everyone else!  Happy Halloween!

Creative Halloween Costumes For Women

Creative Halloween Costumes For Women

Make sure this Halloween holiday you're wearing one of the Hottest Women's Halloween Costumes there is.

Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas For the School Season

Shoebox Dioramas are a part of every school year and in just about every grade they serve as a wonderful learning tool. They are used to learn the arts and crafts of making things and they are used to also learn about subjects. This article shows you some creative ideas from both the arts and crafts aspect and the learning aspect.

The Arts and Crafts of Shoebox Dioramas
 
There are a lot of common ways to make a shoebox diorama and they include tape, glue, construction paper and all the regular assortment of arts and crafts stuff but there are a few things you can do to make a diorama just a little bit special. Here is a list of ideas:

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• If you are doing an underwater scene you can cover the front of the box with Saran Wrap or thin plastic. This gives the diorama an underwater feel
• Use string to utilize the full three dimensions inside the box; suspend objects from strings or tie strings from side to side and top to bottom and attach objects to the strings. This works well for flying objects like bird, pterodactyls or even clouds and stars.
• Cut slots in the back and top of the box and use this to insert objects that you can move across the diorama. Make a bird, boat, comet or some other type of moving object then attach a tab to the back of it. Insert this tab in the slot then you can grab the tab from the back and slide the object across the diorama. This adds a nice little interactive element. This works well with all kinds of things from a rising sun, flying bird, erupting volcano or just about anything else that would move.
• Think outside the shoebox! There is no need to run out and buy a new pair of shoes if you don't have a shoebox. A more than adequate box can be made from scraps of cardboard or even a few cereal boxes cut and taped together. And there is no need to make a typical shoebox shape. Be creative in the shape you make. It adds a dimension of interest to the project. Half round, amphitheatre shapes are commonly used for dioramas and look great.
• Achieving Depth - The most common trait of an average shoebox diorama is that it has a decorated background and objects placed on the bottom surface.  You can add an attractive touch by decorating a strip of paper that is about two inches wide with a foliage pattern then attach this to the inside bottom of the diorama about an inch from the back wall - it reaches all the way from the left side to the right side. This adds a lot of depth and makes it look much more interesting.
• Using alternate materials - You don't have to use cardboard or boxes. As an example, if you are doing a polar bear or penguin diorama you could use white packing Styrofoam.  If you are doing a desert scene you can apply glue to the bottom of the diorama and sprinkle real sand on it.

Theme Ideas and Learning Tools
 
The biggest point of a shoebox diorama is to show a natural habitat of something. In the process of drawing and cutting out the various objects a child is learning about the habitat. This is great but you can take it to new levels with a little thought and a little creativity. 

Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas For the School Season

• Freezing a moment in time - A diorama is a moment in time and you can focus on this. Some good examples are you can have a meteor streaking across the sky of a dinosaur diorama; this explains a theory of extinction. Or you can show a large predator fish about to eat a smaller fish as it is eating something even smaller. This dramatic moment in time is a good display of the food chain.
• Interactions in a habitat - The focus of a diorama is often to correctly identify and place the right objects for a natural habitat but you can take this to a new level by focusing on the interactions within the habitat. The upper layer of canopy in a rainforest blocks out sunlight from the lower layers and this is an important aspect of the rainforest. A coral reef provides shelter for many creatures in the sea and a diorama can display this.
• Adding a Fact Sheet - This is a great tool that should be added to every diorama. You should make a fact sheet that can be glued to poster board and stood up near the diorama. The sheet explains the basic facts of what the diorama is about.

Diorama Ideas
 
Here are some ideas you can use as a theme for your diorama:

• The Natural Habitat of just about any creature like fish, polar bears, black bears, penguins, wolves, humans, dinosaurs, camels, lions, tigers, monkeys, elephants, dolphins, and well you get the idea!
• A Desert theme complete with pyramids, mummies and camels is fun
• A Rainforest is a good diorama for teaching about diversity and the interaction of species
• An astronomy diorama complete with sun, planets, comets, and stars in the background
• A medieval Castle scene complete with catapult or dragon
• Underwater scenes are always popular
• Arctic themed dioramas are fun because of the creative options for snow and icebergs

Whatever diorama you choose to make you should take a little time to make it different and unique and there are lots of creative ways to do that. Have fun with your project!

Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas For the School Season

Visit the author's diorama site where you can find lots of videos, tutorials, and ideas for making dioramas. Diorama Man