Elementary-aged children are in a stage of exploring and discovering. Finding the right church curriculum for elementary students can greatly support their growth during this critical period.
Get to know the 252 Sunday School Curriculum
A well-structured Sunday school curriculum is essential for teaching children about the Bible and Jesus Christ. It provides a systematic approach to learning, helping kids build a strong foundation in their faith.
An effective Sunday school curriculum should be engaging, interactive, and tailored to the specific age group it’s designed for. It should also align with Christian values and principles, offering opportunities for kids to ask questions and explore their faith in a safe environment.
If you’re shopping for a Sunday school curriculum, it’s crucial to consider the unique needs and goals of your children’s ministry. No two churches are the same!
Look for a curriculum that is specifically designed for your age group and aligns with your church’s values and mission. Additionally, a good curriculum should come with comprehensive teaching resources and support for Sunday school teachers, enabling them to effectively communicate the lessons to their students.
Why 252? A Curriculum for the Curious Kid
The 252 curriculum is designed to make Sunday school a time where kids not only learn Bible stories but also connect with God’s truth in a personal way through interactive lessons.
We understand that elementary-aged children need more than just teaching—they need interactive learning tools that help them understand and apply what they learn.
With 252, we focus on three key principles that guide children in their spiritual journey:
Wisdom:
Teaching kids to make wise choices based on God’s Word.
Faith:
Helping kids trust God no matter what.
Friendship:
Encouraging kids to treat others the way they want to be treated.
These principles are woven throughout every lesson, helping children understand not only what the Bible says but how it applies to their everyday lives.
252 Compared to Other Sunday School Curriculum
There are various types of Sunday school curriculums available, each with its own unique approach. Some, like 252, are written for specific age groups, while others are more flexible and can be adapted to different age groups.
- Bible-based curriculums: These focus on teaching kids about the Bible and its stories, helping them understand the core messages and lessons.
- Character-based curriculums: These emphasize important values and character traits, guiding kids to develop virtues like kindness, honesty, and respect.
- Activity-based curriculums: These engage kids through interactive activities and games, making learning fun and memorable.
- Story-based curriculums: These use storytelling and narrative to teach kids, making biblical lessons relatable and easy to understand.
The 252 curriculum pulls in the best of each of these approaches to help meet the specific needs and goals of your children’s ministry, as well as the preferences and values of your church.
Teaching Tools That Make a Difference
With 252, Sunday school teachers don’t just tell Bible stories—they bring them to life.
Our curriculum is packed with teaching resources, including videos, graphics, and interactive activities that help engage kids in learning.
Story Lab: Making the Bible Real
One of the signature features of 252 is Story Lab, an engaging video series that uses STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts to illustrate virtues and principles.
Story Lab is more than a typical Sunday school lesson—it connects real-world experiences to faith, showing kids how God is present in every aspect of their lives. This hands-on approach encourages curiosity and helps kids see that the Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s a guide for living life today.
Story Lab takes common concepts from school subjects like science and technology and uses them to explain biblical truths in a way that resonates with kids. For example, using the concept of gravity to illustrate how God’s love is a constant force in our lives.
Orange’s media package also includes the So&So Show, a dynamic series that engages pre-teens through humor, storytelling, and relatable content, making Bible lessons come alive in a way that is both meaningful and fun.
By connecting what children are already learning in school with what they are discovering in Sunday school, Story Lab and The So&So Show helps bridge the gap between faith and everyday life, making it especially impactful for both elementary-aged children and pre-teens.
This approach not only keeps kids engaged but also helps them retain what they learn, making their Sunday school experience more impactful.
Small Groups for Big Growth
252 encourages the use of small groups in children’s ministry.
Small group settings allow kids to ask questions, share their thoughts, and connect more deeply with the Bible lessons. It’s in these small groups where relationships are built—with peers, Sunday school teachers, and ultimately with Jesus.
Small groups help take the lesson beyond information and turn it into transformation.
Small groups are also a place where Sunday school teachers can provide individualized attention to each child. Whether it’s answering questions, providing encouragement, or praying with the kids, small groups create an environment where children feel seen, heard, and valued.
This personal connection is key to helping kids grow in their faith and feel a sense of belonging within the church community.
It’s often in these moments that the most significant spiritual growth happens, as kids feel safe to explore their faith and express their thoughts.
Music and Movement
—and that’s why our worship music is a core part of every lesson.
Each week, kids sing along to worship songs designed specifically for their age group, learning about God through movement and music. Our carefully curated playlists help reinforce the messages taught in each lesson, making it easier for children to remember and apply what they learn.
Music is a powerful tool for teaching kids about God. The songs in 252 are not only fun and energetic but also filled with meaningful lyrics that teach important biblical truths.
Whether it’s a high-energy song that gets kids jumping and dancing or a slower, reflective song that helps them think about God’s love, music is an essential part of helping kids connect emotionally and spiritually with the lesson.
And it’s not just about Sunday morning—kids often take these songs home, singing them throughout the week, which reinforces what they learned in Sunday school.
A Strategy That Connects Church and Home
One of the things that sets 252 apart from other children’s ministry curriculums is its strategic connection between church and home.
We know that children’s ministry leaders and Sunday school teachers get limited time with kids each week—but parents and guardians have countless opportunities to make an impact.
That’s why 252 includes tools like our Parent Cue app to help parents continue faith-based conversations at home:
Parent Cue: A Bridge Between Sunday and the Week Ahead
With the Parent Cue app, parents receive daily cues, conversation prompts, and activity suggestions that align with what their kids are learning in Sunday school.
This means that when kids go home, the lessons don’t stop. Parents can reinforce what their children learned at church, making the home a place where faith is nurtured and strengthened.
Parent Cue helps parents feel more confident in their role as spiritual leaders in their children’s lives. It provides them with simple, practical ways to incorporate faith into their daily routines—whether it’s during a car ride, at bedtime, or around the dinner table.
By equipping parents with these tools, 252 ensures that what happens on Sunday is carried into the rest of the week, creating a consistent and holistic approach to faith development.
Ready-to-Use Teaching Resources for Sunday School Teachers
We know that preparing Sunday school lessons can be time-consuming. That’s why 252 provides comprehensive children’s ministry resources that make planning easier for you and your team.
Each Sunday school lesson comes with full teaching scripts, videos, activity instructions, and printable resources—including activity pages and small group discussion guides.
Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned Sunday school teacher, 252 has everything you need to make your Sunday school curriculum engaging and impactful.
252 also includes training resources for Sunday school teachers. We want to empower you and your team to feel confident in your roles as leaders and educators.
From video tutorials on how to use the curriculum effectively to guides on managing small group dynamics, 252 is designed to support you every step of the way.
When your teachers feel prepared and equipped, they can focus more on building relationships and making a lasting impact on the kids in their care.
What Children’s Ministry Leaders Are Saying About 252
“I can’t imagine doing ministry without Orange as a partner! They allow us to minister to families and kids and take care of all the details and make us shine each week! I love the monthly themes and the flexibility you have with how you share the gospel any week!”
– Jody Shelton
“I am coming from a public school teacher turned kid ministry perspective and the Orange curriculum is engaging, current, and interactive! Our kids love it.”
– Susan Bishara
“I’ve consulted with churches across the country about how to improve the effectiveness of their children’s ministry. Let me tell you, the Orange strategy works.”
– Sue Miller
Engage Every Child in Your Children’s Ministry
Elementary-aged kids and pre-teens are ready to learn, grow, and explore—and 252 is designed to meet them where they are.
Our curriculum for elementary helps kids learn about God in a way that’s interactive, fun, and memorable. From large group worship and teaching to small group discussions and activities, 252 creates a Sunday school environment that is exciting, relational, and spiritually impactful.
With 252, you’re not just teaching Bible lessons—you’re helping kids develop a lasting relationship with God. The combination of engaging media, small group interaction, and strategic connection with parents makes 252 a curriculum that truly transforms lives.
It’s about more than just learning—it’s about living out faith every day.
Try 252 for Free
If you’re ready to see the difference that an engaging, strategy-driven curriculum can make, we invite you to try 252 for yourself.
Get a free one-month trial of 252 and discover how it can transform your Sunday school into a place where kids grow in faith, have fun, and learn how to live out what they believe.
This isn’t just a set of free Sunday school lessons; it’s a transformational strategy that helps you teach kids how to live out their faith.
