Computer classes. Arcade games. Cooking projects.

Not your usual Sunday school activities. But the use of unconventional methods to teach the Bible is the main concept behind "Fun in the Son," First Presbyterian Church's whole new way of doing Sunday school. It kicks off at an open house at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at 603 Ridge Avenue in Sharpsville.

Designed for kids ages preschool through eighth grade, "Fun in the Son" recognizes the fact that kids love repetition and need it to retain content. The program takes one Bible story and teaches it for five weeks in a row in a series of kid-friendly multimedia workshops, rotating kids to a different workshop each week. Because kids learn the same story in a different way for five weeks, they develop a lasting memory and understanding of its content.

Months of painting, redecorating and purchasing new equipment have readied the workshops for the start of classes. A 10-by-18-foot Noah's Ark mural decorates the entrances to "Noah's Art," the arts and crafts workshop, and the "Ark-ade," the games and music workshop. In the computer workshop, named "Bible Bytes," kids can work on Bible-based CD-ROM lessons while a cartoon mural of a friendly, big-nosed, Bible-toting computer watches them learn.

"Prophet's Playhouse" is the drama/puppet/storytelling room, where a 6-foot-tall, velvet-draped puppet theater has been erected. Costumes for Bible scene re-enactments are also part of this workshop.