Article October 15, 1949 Issue

Illustrations for Little Pupils

Perhaps all teachers recognize the value of illustrations. One of our experienced workers has said that the illustration is to the lesson what the glue is to the label: it makes it stick. With the Bible as one of his textbooks, the Christian Science Sunday School teacher need never be at a loss for illustrations, for, as our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 139), "From beginning to end, the Scriptures are full of accounts of the triumph of Spirit, Mind, over matter."

From these Biblical narratives the child learns the ever-present and ever-operative nature of divine Truth, Life, and Love. He learns to love God's law and delights in its triumphs. He learns to love those Bible characters who were obedient to divine Principle and utilized the divine law. Then it becomes quite natural for him to emulate the works of these faithful ones. Through Biblical example of those who were unfaithful the child also learns the folly of departing from divine Principle.

Bible stories are particularly useful in illustrating the Commandments and Beatitudes in the primary classes, for even though at first the pupils may comprehend but little of the letter of these lessons, they do understand the illustrations; and as they become more familiar with the stories, the lessons which they illustrate unfold in meaning. In presenting a Bible story, the Sunday School teacher does well to ask questions and to encourage the children to ask questions, for not only do questions quicken thought and keep the children interested, but by means of questions the teacher can make the lessons practical.

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