Together identifies for each day a key idea and a driving question , both related integrally to the lectionary and to daily life. In most cases, the lectionary readings for the day support the key idea in ways that are developmentally-appropriate across grade levels. Occasionally, a simplified thread of the text is used for lower learner levels. Many of the favorite Old Testament stories are not in the lectionary. Recognizing, the importance of these stories both for biblical literacy and for the powerful messages they proclaim, some links to and usage of Old Testament stories are included in the 2000-2001 curriculum.
Quarters are divided so that they intersect both with the school year and the church year.
Therefore, autumn quarter begins in September and ends the third week of November with Christ the King Sunday, the end of the church year. Winter quarter begins the next week, with the beginning of Advent. Individual quarters may vary in length by a Sunday or so for this reason. Care has been given in developing learner materials and leader guides that make the lessons accessible and interesting across the broader age range of the groupings. And, because the curriculum follows the three-year cycle of the lectionary, the material within an age grouping will be new for each of the three years.