This is a suggested timeline for your March Family Interaction Plan (formerly known as Curriculum). Find your family rhythm. Parents, you can review the monthly options and decide which activities your family can participate in. This Family Interaction Plan is designed to be used one day each week. You may choose to engage more or less often. Look at the approximate time it takes to interact with the whole program over the month.

Choose one day each week to gather as a family.

Week 1 

Parent time – (27 minutes)

• Watch the Formation Intro Video to catch the big picture for March (7 minutes)
• Review all of the March offerings for your family, and plan out intentional time with your children (10-20 minutes)
• Optional Activity: Attend Fat Tuesday Breakfast for Dinner, hosted by Community Formation at the Community House on March 4th. (watch for an announcement on the Housing page)
• Optional Activity: Attend the March 7th Free Lunch in Cordelia on Technology and Children. Childcare is provided. Come between 11:30 and 12:00 to take your children through the food line. Children will eat with childcare workers and then walk to the gym to play. The discussion for parents starts at noon.

Family time (50 minutes if you choose every activity)

• Watch God’s Story video Part 1. Pentecost hats are in your resource bag if the children want to wear them. (8 minutes) 
• Use the story pieces while watching the video. Throughout the month, the children can use the story pieces to interact with at special times. Keep them in your garden box. Watch and listen to how they process God’s Story. They are your teachers.
• Read Part 1 of the book Make Room together. Use the reader’s guide inside your book. Families with Babies and Toddlers read the Making Room for Jesus board book. (10 minutes)
• Prepare the pretzels for your snack (30 minutes)
• Use your Lent Cards throughout the month (1-2 minutes for each card)

Week 2 

Parent time (30 minutes)

• Watch Dr. Steve Stratton’s video on Forgiveness and discuss the worksheet (30 minutes)
• Preview the Bible Project video connected with God’s Story part 2, Learn Where Heaven and Earth Overlap, decide if it is age-appropriate for your children (7 minutes). Use this concept as you talk about God’s Kingdom with your children.
• Read the one-page resource titled “The Power of Stories to Change Us” in your online resources (3 minutes)

Family time (45 minutes plus extra time for teens or toddler activities)

• Read Part 2 of the book Make Room together. Use the reader’s guide folded inside your book. (15 minutes)
• Families with toddlers and teens, you have special activities on the website (varied times)
• Please watch God’s Story video, part 2, on the website (there are two very short accompanying videos). Use your world map, purple dots, and script. (15 – 30 minutes)

Week 3

Parent time (15 minutes)

• Look at the March Resource page on the website titled God’s Big Idea: Generosity. Did you find anything you want to show your children? (15 minutes)

Family time (30 minutes)

• Read Part 3 of the book Make Room together. Use the reader’s guide (15 minutes)
• Talk about The Big Idea for March: Generosity. Watch the video by The Bible Project, Generosity the Bible Project Video (15 minutes) 
• Discuss as a family:
  • How would you host a perfect party so everyone felt welcome and had enough? 
  • When was a time someone was generous to you? How did it make you feel?
  • Why do people sometimes feel there isn’t enough to go around?
• Discuss between parents:
  • What’s the difference between having a mindset of scarcity versus abundance? 
  • How can trusting God help us be more generous with others?

Action Steps For The Week: Practice saying “we have enough” instead of “we need more.”

Week 4 

Parent time – discussion time for this activity – 5 minutes. The time involved with guests and your children depends on your willingness and hospitality

• Invite guests to your house and share your purple-dot map with them. Gather the children to ask your guests where they spread God’s Kingdom and place a purple dot on your map. Pray for the people and places where your guests have shared the Good News.

Family time (15 minutes)

• Watch the Rule of Life video on the website  
• Look at your trellis and leaves from November. Which habits will you continue in your family? You may want to add or remove some leaves. If you did not complete this in November, choose a few habits to place on your trellis (look at the directions in your November curriculum). Please send us a photo. We need a picture or written response to your Rule of Life by May.