Unit 1: Lesson 12 ISRAEL IN THE DESERT (10 Commandments)

1) Welcome Activity:

2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.

To teach the children the 10 Commandments with Song, check out this site:
http://gardenofpraise.com/tencom.htm for lyrics and music

3) Prayer: Thank God for his commandments that show us how to live obedient and thankful lives.

4) Theme: Remind the children of 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 again today that shows how God worked through Israel while they were in the desert. God brought the people out of Egypt with great and mighty wonders and parted the Red Sea for them to pass through. Now, God gives them 10 commandments to teach the people how they are to live. Are they obedient to God's commands?

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about God giving the Israelites the Ten Commandments, "God's Laws" . Read pages 106-111 (R pg 113-117) from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is: "And God spoke all these words..." Exodus 20:1

7) Craft:

• Ten Commandments… cut two tablet shapes for each child from grey construction paper. Print out a simplified version of the 10 commandments sized to fit on the tablets. Have the children cut and paste the commandments on the stone tablets. I like this one b/c it's from the NIV, but you may type out your own to fit if you like.
  http://www.teacherhelp.org/pdf/Ten%20CommandmentsNIV.pdf
• 10 Commandments Activity... do this fingerplay with the children!

God is one and there is no other........... (point one finger up.)He is the lord, there is not another.........(raise hand up.)
An idol makes God number 2 ............. (Hold up one finger on eachhand.)And second place for God won't do ......(Cross fingers.)
Three fingers keep our words in check ....(Hold up three fingers.)Speak God's name with respect ............ (Cover and uncover mouth withthree fingers.)
Four fingers stand for arms and feet ...... (Hold up four fingers.)Remember the Sabbath day to keep ........... (Walk four fingers on yourarm.)
God gives us parents when we're small ....(Turn palm down toward floor.)Honor them while you grow tall .............(Raise it higher.)
Five fingers for a body ................ (Hold up five fingerson one hand.)One finger for a sword ................ (and one finger on the otherhand.)Do not kill another ......................(One finger stabs into theother five.)Is the commandment of the lord.
God made a husband and a wife .... (Hold up two fingers on one hand,five on the other.)To stay together all through life ......(Lay down two fingers, facingup, five represent blanketcovering them.)
Ten take away two is eight ........... (Hold up ten fingers. Then put two fingers down.)Stealing is a sin God hates.
You aren't 10, you're number 9 ..... (Hold up ten fingers; then put onefinger down.)Speak the truth; you'll do jut fine.
Ten fingers pulling in, in, in ............ (Turn palms up, pulling in.) To want, want, want can be a sin.

• Ten Commandments Group Craft... print out the calendar for this year to hang on your Story Hour bulletin board at church. Have each child color one or two pictures and post the calendar in the Story Hour room.

http://www.dltk-cards.com/calendar/commandments/index.htm

This is the fourth commandment printed with the whole year calendar on it. You can print one commandment for each month if you want to assemble a class calendar or you can give each child a year at a glance page with one commandment on it.

8) Prayer... say the Lord's Prayer together with the children

9) Going Home: Sing the closing 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

http://www.teacherhelp.org/pdf/Ten%20CommandmentsNIV.pdf