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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Unit 1: Lesson 1 CREATION Mini-Unit

NOTE: Several people have commented that one lesson for such a special event like creation feels far too rushed, and they would like to see the lesson broken into several segments.  I will keep the "general" lesson on creation, and here are some additional ideas for teaching Creation as a mini-unit of  5 lessons. 

 - - - - - - - - a work in progress - photos coming soon - - - - - - - - - - -

During the creation "mini-unit" you could...
  • build the mobile from the general lesson, adding object(s) to represent each day of creation as you learn about them.  Hang the mobile in your story corner and it can become a story telling tool for you throughout the unit.
  • make a bulletin board display with the title "God's Wonderful World" and adding object(s) each lesson throughout the unit
  • make a window display with the same title, and using window markers or paints to add object(s) each day.  Go ahead and use lots of involvement from the little ones, too!  :-)

Creation - Day 1 and 2 (Light and Darkness, Waters and Sky)

1) Welcome Activity...
          - if you are able to dim the room, do so and then give the children flashlights to explore the room with their lights... ask them what they can see in the darkness, and what they can see in the light?  Can we live in a world that is dark all the time?

2) Songs... Sing the welcome song with the children.   For additional songs. see general lesson on creation.

3) Prayer... pray with the children to begin the lesson. Remember to thank God for the beautiful world that He has made.

4) Theme: Talk to the children about the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story today that shows how God created a perfect world and placed his people in it. God had a plan for his people before the world was even make.

5) Bible Story: Read "The First Seven Days"  from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).  
  • I suggest reading the same story for all 5 lessons.  As they become familiar with the story, encourage them to "fill in the blanks" as you tell it. 
  • Another idea is to find objects to represent each part of creation, put them in a box, and pass the box around so that each child has an opportunity to choose the representative object(s) for each day as you tell the story.

6) Text: Today’s Text is:
       "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Genesis 1:3
The text for the general lesson is:
And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
and you could use this for each separate lesson too, as preschoolers love repetition.  :-)

7) Crafts:
  • Darkness and Light.... fold a sheet of black construction paper so that there is an inner pleat (in thirds, and then the outside thirds in half again... see photos), and glue a piece of white paper into the inside space.  On the outside, print "And God said:" and in the inner space print " 'Let there be light,' and there was light.  Genesis 1:3 "  Show the children how to open the black paper up to reveal the inside, and then have them color the inside with yellow markers, crayons or paints to show the light.
  • Waters and Sky...  give each child a sheet of light blue paper with the title "God separated the waters from the sky."  Give each child some "waves" cut out of various kinds of blue paper, and some cotton balls for clouds.  Show them how the waters need to be glued on the bottom of the paper and the clouds need to be glued near the top.
8) Closing Prayer... Gather the children up around the table or in your circle. If you have time, this is a good opportunity to read the story one more time. Then, close by say the Lord's Prayer together.


9) Going Home: Sing the closing song together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?

10) Optional Coloring pages: see general lesson on Creation for additional ideas.



Creation - Day 3 (Land, Seas, Plants)
1) Welcome Activity
  • set out the playdough today with all kinds of plant, flower and tree shapes.  Ask the children how many different kinds of flowers there are and challenge them to make as many different plants as they can think of!
  • take a walk outdoors... see if you can identify all the plants and trees that grow around us!
2) Songs... Sing the welcome song with the children.   For additional songs, see general lesson on creation.

3) Prayer... pray with the children to begin the lesson. Remember to thank God for the beautiful world that He has made.

4) Theme: Talk to the children about the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story today that shows how God created a perfect world and placed his people in it. God had a plan for his people before the world was even make.


5) Bible Story: Read "The First Seven Days" from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).   See notes under Creation-Day 1&2.

6) Text: Today’s Text is:
           "Then God said, 'Let the land produce... plants and trees..." Genesis 1:11
or you could use the general text:
    “ And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31


7) Crafts:
  • Plants We Can Eat Collage... collect grocery store flyers, looking for ones that offer lots of pictures of fruits and veggies.  Try to have enough for at least 1 per child.  Look through a flyer together and ask the children which of the items in the flyer is a plant that God provides for us to eat?  Give each child a large piece of white paper and have them cut out plants we can eat and glue them to the paper.  Use the text and the title "God provides plants for us to Eat".
  • Flowers... there are so many different ways to make flowers, and flowers are such a testament to God's attention to detail and God's way of providing us with a truly beautiful world!  Choose any flower craft you like for today.  Here are a few examples: 
                                    http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/flowers/

  • Leaf Rubbing... if you happen to be teaching this lesson in the fall, collect leaves of various sizes from different trees (or take the children outside on a leaf hunt!).  Show the children how we can copy the leaf by covering it with paper and rubbing it with a crayon.  Encourage the children to cover their paper with colored leaves, and then let them take some real leaves home too.  Use the text as a title.
8) Closing Prayer... Gather the children up around the table or in your circle. If you have time, this is a good opportunity to read the story one more time. Then, close by say the Lord's Prayer together.

9) Going Home: Sing the closing song together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?

10) Optional Coloring pages... see general creation lesson



Creation - Day 4 (Sun, Moon and Stars)
 
1) Welcome Activity...
  • if you have access to a model kit of the planets, bring that in for today.  Show the children the marvelous variety that God created in the universe.
2) Songs... Sing the welcome song with the children. For additional songs, see general lesson on creation.

3) Prayer... pray with the children to begin the lesson. Remember to thank God for the beautiful world that He has made.

4) Theme: Talk to the children about the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story today that shows how God created a perfect world and placed his people in it. God had a plan for his people before the world was even make.

5) Bible Story: Read "The First Seven Days"  from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is:

“ And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

7) Craft:
  • Space Necklace... cut out stars, moons (full/crescent) and planets from heavy cardstock or craft foam and have the children string them on yarn or lacing, separating each shapes with beads (or pasta noodles) so that you can see the shapes.  Make the necklaces long enough that the kids can easily loop them off and on by themselves.
  • Space Sponge Painting... provide each child with a large piece of black construction paper for the night sky.  Set out finger paints in yellow, white, red and blue.  Cut out sponges for form stars, circles (for moon/planets) and crescents (for the moon) and place the sponges in the corresponding color paints.  You may want to attach a clothespin to the top of the sponges to keep little fingers out of the paint.  Encourage the children to fill the night sky with the moon, stars and planets.

8) Closing Prayer... Gather the children up around the table or in your circle. If you have time, this is a good opportunity to read the story one more time. Then, close by say the Lord's Prayer together.

9) Going Home: Sing the closing song together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?

10) Optional Coloring Pages... see general  lesson on creation


Creation - Day 5 (Fish and Birds)
 
1) Welcome Activity
  • Felt board.... cut out a wavy shape from blue felt to mark the middle of the felt board so that there is a sky and a sea.  Provide the children with felt animals, birds and fish and let them explore.  Where do the birds go?  Where do the fish go? 

2) Songs... Sing the welcome song with the children.   For additional songs, see general lesson on creation.

3) Prayer... pray with the children to begin the lesson. Remember to thank God for the beautiful world that He has made. Thank God for the marvelous way our bodies are created!

4) Theme: Talk to the children about the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story today that shows how God created a perfect world and placed his people in it. God had a plan for his people before the world was even make.

5) Bible Story: Read "The First Seven Days" , pages 3-8 (R 8-13) from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is:

“ And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31


7) Craft:
  • Paper Plate Fish... cut out a wedge shape from a paper plate to form a mouth; staple/glue a crescent shape cut from heavy paper to the other end for a tail; you can add triangular fins, too, if you like.  Have the children paint, color or decorate their fish.  Glue on a googly eye.
  • Rainbow Fish.... cut out a simple fish shape from a sheet of construction paper saving the intact outside of the paper and discarding the inside fish shape.  Flip the paper over and give the children lots of long strips of colored tissue paper.  "Paint" the outside edge of the fish with white glue and place the strips of tissue paper over the fish shape so that the tissue paper glues to each side.  Repeat with as many strips of tissue paper as you need to completely cover up the shape.  Let dry and trim off any tissue paper that is visible when you turn the paper right side up again.  Your fish shape will be filled with a rainbow of colors.  These look wonderful hung in a window!
  • Feather Bird... cut out a generic shaped bird from heavy cardstock in a variety of colors.  Before the lesson, make enough "feet" from twists of orange pipe cleaner so that there are two feet for each bird.  Allow the children to choose a bird, decorate it with feathers, glue on a googly eye and tape pipecleaner feet at the bottom.
  • Sticker Picture... give each child a sheet of light blue construction paper with a wave pattern drawn on the bottom half.  Provide the children with lots of bird and fish stickers and have them decorate the top half of the page (the sky) with birds and the bottom half of the page (the ocean) with the fish.

8) Closing Prayer... Gather the children up around the table or in your circle. If you have time, this is a good opportunity to read the story one more time. Then, close by say the Lord's Prayer together.

9) Going Home: Sing the closing song together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?

10) Optional Coloring Pages ... see general lesson on creation



Creation - Day 6 and 7 (Animals, Man and God rested)

1) Welcome Activity
  • multicultural people... if you have invested in a set of multi-cultural dolls, today is a perfect time to bring them out.  Talk about how they are the same and how they are different.
  • Toy animals... a bucket of plastic animals is a great intro to today's lesson, too.
2) Songs... Sing the welcome song with the children.   For additional songs, see general lesson on creation.

3) Prayer... pray with the children to begin the lesson. Remember to thank God for the beautiful world that He has made. Thank God for the marvelous way our bodies are created!

4) Theme: Talk to the children about the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story today that shows how God created a perfect world and placed his people in it. God had a plan for his people before the world was even make.

5) Bible Story: Read "The First Seven Days"  from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is:
“ And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

7) Craft:
  • God made Me pictures... see general lesson
  • God made Me puppets... see general lesson
  • Animal sticker picture
  • Toilet Paper Roll Animals... this is best for an older group

8) Closing Prayer... Gather the children up around the table or in your circle. If you have time, this is a good opportunity to read the story one more time. Then, close by say the Lord's Prayer together.


9) Going Home: Sing the closing song together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?

10) Optional Coloring pages... see general lesson on creation


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