Title
The title of every session suggests some element of “journeying,” a metaphor for the possibilities embedded in the Christian life. Each title connects to a feature of the work of Lutheran Christians in Nicaragua to alleviate the effects of poverty. You can use titles to publicize events, to spark ideas for other activities and to focus your thinking on the directions you will take in each of the learning events.
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Bible connection
Each session plan includes one or more Bible references that join together the content of the session with biblical themes or stories. In some cases an event plan may include some formal Bible conversation or study. [Back to session contents]

Theme
The activities of each learning event are gathered around a content theme that may have several strands, including facts about Nicaragua and how Lutheran Christians work against the effects of poverty and injustice. In almost every session, the theme also suggests ways in which North American Christians can learn important faith and life lessons from their sisters and brothers in Nicaragua. [Back to session contents]

Learning outcomes
Each session’s activities move toward outcomes – with their implicit purposes. The learning outcomes help you decide how to choose activities, guide conversation and connect with your own hopes for participants’ learning. [Back to session contents]

Teacher background
In this part of each session plan you will find a quick summary of the session’s major factual or thematic emphases, and an implied reference to more extensive background content on the OWP web site, http://www.openaworld.org.
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Preparing for the session
This is the place where you can find out how to get ready for the entire session, including trying out activities beforehand and gathering the materials necessary for the activities of this learning event. [Back to session contents]

Session at a glance
Here’s the place where you can quickly see the activities of the entire session, divided into timed segments for a 90-minute session. [Back to session contents]

Introductory activity
Each session begins with a simple activity that draws the group together, focuses attention on the major theme or content of the session and motivates participants to engage in the remainder of the event’s activities. [Back to session contents]

Video segment and follow-up
One of the most delightful features of this curriculum is the video segment that anchors each of the learning events. Filmed on location in Nicaragua, the child-friendly video segments feature Megan, a 12-year old from Maryland. Viewers follow Megan as she encounters the amazing and inspiring ways in which Lutheran World Relief programs help alleviate poverty and its effects on the people of Nicaragua. Follow-up activities usually involve small group conversations, but occasionally include more private self-examination. [Back to session contents]

Content activity
The video-based activities are followed by a straightforward presentation (or discovery) of content about Nicaragua, Lutheran World Relief activities or the theme for the session. This activity is sometimes centered on a handout or other take-home item. In some sessions, the content activity is a Bible conversation, a time for fervent sharing and thoughtful listening.
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Connection activities
In this part of each session, participants solidify what they have learned about the theme or Nicaragua by connecting it to their own lives. They find out how the people of Nicaragua can teach them important faith and life lessons, and work with each other to discover how “possibilities” also include changes in their own lives. [Back to session contents]

Travel journal
The creation and assembling of this booklet is a regular feature of this part of the learning event. The activity serves as a time for review and application of the session themes. The journal becomes a reminder of the good things that happened during OWP: Nicaragua. You may want to supplement the reproducible handouts supplied for each session with additional materials you find in Web searches, newspaper articles or other content you wish participants to include in their own journals.
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Concluding devotions
Each learning event finishes with a time of prayer or other devotions. Where possible, devotions are to be led by participants, including children. One session includes a “commissioning” rite. [Back to session contents]

Other activities
Open a World of Possibilities: Nicaragua offers your congregation the chance to gather offerings for the relief and development work of Lutherans in Nicaragua. In this segment of the first session plan you will find suggestions for “Dollars and Dones,” an in-gathering of funds that spans the entire curriculum.

Also included in this part of the session plan: Ideas on how “FaithQuest Service Teams” could work together between learning events to continue the learnings or work toward solutions of hunger and injustice.

This section of the session plan offers you other activities that you can use in learning events with extended schedules (such as retreats, family camps, vacation Bible schools, day camps, etc.). [Back to session contents]

Next: Get started with Introductory Session

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