Software Recommendations for PowerXpress Rotation Curriculum
from Neil MacQueen, Sunday Software

PowerXpress is the United Methodist Publishing House's (Cokesbury) Workshop Rotation-style curriculum. It includes Bible Computer Lab lessons. I know some of the writers of these units, and have had some of them and their editors sit-in on my computer lab seminars. There are many good Rotation curriculums available, including the FREE lessons at www.rotation.org. But since many of my customers use "PX" and ask about the software recommended in the PX lessons, I have put together this quick reference with links to the software description pages at my website.

In my humble opinion: Some of the older lab lessons in PowerXpress can be thin. In many cases they recommend software that's now out of print, didn't mention or know about a better program, or wouldn't be my first (or even second) choice to do these lessons. Larry Beman, one of the PX editors at UMPH, has been working to improve the more recently published PX computer lab lesson submitted by their lesson writers.

In addition to the CDs mentioned here, you should assume that for your very youngest children, many of these stories are also found in the Play and Learn Children's Bible CD. I know PX and Cokesbury recommend Heavenword Children's Bibles for the preschool/1st grade crowd, because my UMC friends ask about it all the time!  But I just don't think it's as good as Play and Learn. Here are my first choices. <>< Neil MacQueen

Please also note: In a few cases, the CDs mentioned may be out of print. However, I will continue to list them because many of our customers own them!  For an even MORE comprehensive listing, visit my Bible Story -> Software Cross Reference.

Need more help?  Go to Sunday Software's Old & New Testament Story è Software reference.
Look up your story and see what we suggest to teach it with.

YEAR 1
Dig into the Bible --Bongo Loves the Bible CD
Creation  --Awesome Bible Stories covers Creation and several other stories covered in PX.
Noah   --Noah and the Ark from the Interactive Kids Series  (note: this CD will be unavailable after November 06)
The Gift of Jesus (Christmas) --Fluffy and God's Amazing Christmas Adventure CD covers many of the typical lesson approaches to Advent each year.

Jesus in the Temple -could use Let's Talk CD to create dialog between Jesus and teachers/Mary/Joseph
Jesus Is Baptized --Go to Sunday Software's Old & New Testament Story è Software reference. Jesus in Space CD
Journey to the Cross (Lent) --- See my Lent - Holy Week webpage for lessons/software suggestions. Includes Life of Christ CD.
Easter: Go and Tell ---See Holy Week webpage. Also....use "Let's Talk" CD to create computer-spoken dialog of "how to talk to your friends about Christ and Easter.
Dance for Joy (Peter and John Heal) --?
Pentecost --see my Pentecost lesson/software page for one of my all-time favorite Pentecost lessons.
Life in Bible Times --Mary and Martha found in Bibleland.com and Footsteps of Jesus CDs. One of the sample lessons in the Let's Talk CD is about Mary and Martha.  www.sundaysoftware.com/lets-talk

YEAR 2
People Who Made a Difference (Deborah/Jeremiah/The Centurion’s Servant/The Woman at the Well) --?
Abraham and Sarah --our Abraham & Sarah CD really hits a homerun. The PX computer lesson is way out of date/off base.
Joseph --Joseph's Story CD
Isaiah (Christmas: Fulfilling the Prophecy) --Fluffy and God's Christmas CD has Isaiah/Prophets section.
The Four Friends ---Man Let Down through the Roof...I assume.  Life and Ministry of Jesus plus Life of Christ cover this. You can also follow up with "Let's Talk" CD to recreate spoken dialog between the friends before and after their encounter with Jesus.
The Boy’s Lunch (Feeding the 5000) --Life and Ministry of Jesus covers this very well, plus Life of Christ also covers this.
Triumphal Entry (Lent) --See my Lent/Holy Week page.
Easter: People --?  People who love people?
Peacemakers (Jacob and Esau/David and Abigail/Amos/Prince of Peace/Blessed Are the Peacemakers) --Jacob and Esau are covered BIG TIME in Awesome Bible Stories CD. This is a great example of trying to cover too much in one rotation. Blessed are the Peacemakers should be covered during lessons about the Beatitudes IMHO.
Occupations in Bible Times --? One of those "old school" topics I don't think serves the purpose of faith-building.
Esther - covered BIG TIME in Awesome Bible Stories CD
Daniel in the Lion’s Den  --Adventures with Daniel CD

YEAR 3
Bible Teachings (The Shema/Beatitudes) -- Galilee Flyer CD covers the Beatitudes quite well. You can also use Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game on them.
Out of Egypt -- Use Life of Moses for younger children (out of print), and Exodus Adventures CD (released late 2006) for good computers and grades 2 and up.
Into the Promised Land --- Use Exodus Adventures CD ...it includes lesson/game about Manna/BitterWaters/Rock from Rock.
Good News! (Christmas: The Annunciation/Joseph's Dream/Mary/Elizabeth) --Once again... Fluffy and God's Christmas CD
Calling the Disciples --Go to Sunday Software's Old & New Testament Story è Software reference.
Look up your story and see what we suggest to teach it with.
Teach Us How to Pray (The Lord’s Prayer) --Galilee Flyer CD teaches this prayer and the meaning of its words. G. Flyer is also used for the first rotation of year 3.
Ten Lepers -- Use "Let's Talk" CD to create the computer-spoken "excuses" used by the 9 who didn't come back, and also speak-aloud responses to those excuses. Or use Kid Pix 3 to do something similar. See my computer lab lesson in the Lesson Exchange at www.rotation.org under the Ten Lepers section.
The Lord's Supper (Lent)  --Life of Christ CD has an excellent lesson presentation on this. Also see my Holy Week page for suggestions.
Road to Emmaus (Easter) --Jesus in Space CD   There's also a terrific free set of lessons professionally edited sitting in the Lesson Exchange at Rotation.org which includes an older lesson plan I wrote about "seeing Jesus" using Kid Pix 3 and a special image included at the webpage.
Feasts and Festivals --?
Three Women of Faith --and their names are ?
Psalms and Songs --How about Psalm 23?  Use Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game CD.

YEAR 4
Samuel --God talks to Samuel is found in Play & Learn Children's Bible CD for non-readers. Samuel anoints David is found in Life of David CD (now out of print). Let's Talk CD can be used to create dialog of God talking to Samuel. Kid Pix can illustrate the funny image of God telling Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle."
David, the Boy  --Life of David CD (now out of print...see my David suggestions in the main Software Cross Reference.)
David, the King  --King David's 'pathway' in Pathways Through Jerusalem.
Christmas Around the World (Wise Men) --Fluffy and God's Christmas CD (this CD covers Advent for many years)
Lost and Found (The Forgiving Father/Lost Coin/Lost Sheep) --Prodigal Son CD  (I believe Prodigal Son is one of the most important "Jesus teachings" in the NT, and therefore I have a special one story CD about it.  Lost Coin/Lost Sheep are worthy enough to be taught on their own.
The Good Samaritan  --Good Sam the Samaritan CD.  The other most important Jesus teaching in the NT, and therefore it too has its own special CD. Really popular to teach with.
Washing Feet (Lent) --see my Lent/Holy Week webpage.
Easter: Peter’s Story --Life of Christ CD has some of this.
Paul --Life of Paul CD
Ruth --Ruth CD in Interactive Kids Series. Out of print. See my Ruth suggestions in the main Software Cross Reference.)
Jonah -Elijah & Jonah CD does Jonah REALLY well.
Signs of Faith --which are?

Living God's Word
This life-to-Bible study will encourage children to live as Christians in the world by building on their life experiences and connecting them to important Bible stories. Designed for churches looking for resources with strong life application and character education emphases. One unit published monthly beginning in August 2004.

Note from Neil: "Topics" are a little harder to pin down with specific software...sometimes. Often, you can do a Bible memory verse using Cal & Marty's Scripture Memory Game CD. Or you can use Let's Talk CD to create discussion which the computer speaks out loud. Kid Pix 3 is always a good fall back to 'draw' about the subject as well. I've made some SPECIFIC suggestions where a program jumps out at me.

Honesty: The Woman Who Touched Jesus' Robe
Peer Pressure: Peter's Denial
Self-esteem: Children of God
Forgiveness: Joseph and His Brothers --Joseph's Story CD, especially the ending where the brothers talk.
Acceptance (Diversity): Peter and Cornelius ---Actual Reality CD has a wonderful section on RACE and Prejudice. Not to be missed.
Money and Time: Being Good Stewards --Awesome Bible Stories CD has a great section on the Parable of the Talents.
Self-control: Daniel Chooses Wisely --Adventures with Daniel CD.
Making Choices: Jonah    Elijah and Jonah CD.
Friendship: David and Jonathan --?
Sharing and Kindness: Man Beside the Pool --- Could use Let's Talk CD to create dialog between those at the pool.
Anger Management: David and Abigail (August 2005) -?
Respect: The Golden Rule, The Great Commandment (September 2005)     memory verse with Cal & Marty's Memory Game.

This list above is very similar to the "Fruits of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5. Here's a fun lesson idea for Fruits of the Spirit: This is a similar idea to our Pentecost with Pirates idea. Make the fruits teach their meaning in fruit language. Use Kid Pix 3 to draw the fruit. Draw talk bubble above the fruit, then use the talking text tool to add explanation as if the fruit is explaining itself. Example: The banana said gentleness was very "appealing" because. Helping the kids pick the IDEAL fruit to each of the "fruits" in the passage and then making it express itself in its own fruit vocabulary is an exercise in understanding. It's also WAY too much fun.

Into the Bible
Using the same Bible experience rotation format stations that you loved in the original PowerXpress units, the second cycle has added "Into the Bible" to its name to highlight the Bible story emphasis in each unit and distinguish it from "Living God's Word". One unit published monthly beginning August 2004.

How the Bible Came To Be (Deuteronomy 6:5)   -- Bongo Loves the Bible CD.
Living As Caretakers (Stewardship) --Parable of Talents is found in Awesome Bible Stories.
Journey to Bethlehem (Advent/Christmas, Micah 5:2)   Fluffy and God's Christmas CD
Adam and Eve (Consequences of choices)     Awesome Bible Stories CD does Adam and Eve right.
Jesus at the Synagogue (Luke 4:15-22)
Who Is Jesus? (Peter's declaration) ...Walking in Their Sandals Bible Atlas CD has a wonderful video explanation of this story.
The Garden of Gethsemane (Lent) --see my Lent/Holy Week webpage.
Breakfast on the Beach (Easter) --see my Lent/Holy Week webpage.
3,000 More (Pentecost) -?
Jesus and the Children (Ways children can be disciples) -Haven't seen this lesson, but perhaps Let's Talk CD would be good.
Love Your Enemies (Luke 6) --? Scripture Memory with Cal & Marty?
Jacob --See Jacob and Esau's story in Awesome Bible Stories CD
Elijah --one of my favorite Bible characters. Three of his amazing stories are found in our Elijah - Jonah CD.
Seven Helpers (Acts: 6:2-7) --?
Jeremiah --?
In the Manger (Christmas) Fluffy and God's Christmas CD

Printed from www.sundaysoftware.com/powerxpress.htm
Copyright 2005, Neil MacQueen. Permission granted for non-commercial use.