tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44770145071445004762024-03-05T04:09:46.497-08:00Bible Story HourThe complete program of 28 Old Testament, 24 New Testament and 15 lessons on Psalms. This program is FREE to use, but I would appreciate if you let me know who you are and where you are using the program. Thanks and God Bless!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-83213965073294153792010-01-20T11:46:00.000-08:002013-05-27T12:05:34.264-07:00Sunday Afternoon Bible Story Hour<strong>1.What is Bible Story Hour?</strong><br />
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Sunday Afternoon Bible Story Hour is a year long Bible Story program originally designed by a group of mothers from the Ancaster Canadian Reformed church, with the lessons written by Tessa Malda. The program is designed to familiarize young children (ages 3 to preschool) with characters in the Old Testament, major lessons of the New Testament and a selection of much loved Psalms in a thematic way through stories, songs and crafts. “ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:19) Our primary intention is to familiarize the children with people and events in the Bible at an age appropriate level and with the songs that we may sing regularly in church to support the teaching that takes place at home and to prepare them for full-time church attendance. To this end, we felt that many available evangelism programs for preschoolers were not appropriate for our purposes. <br />
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<strong>2. How does this program encourage family worship?</strong><br />
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We believe that families should worship together as much as possible. Our church provides a nursery for infants so that parents are able to attend church services together (with their older children). Many people choose to use the nursery service, and some choose to stay home with their infants. Our program is meant to be an extension of the Nursery, allowing parents of restless preschoolers, who would otherwise have stayed home with them, the opportunity to attend a second service, knowing that their preschooler will be busy, happy, and learning. <br />
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<strong>3. How does this program benefit children?</strong><br />
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All of the preschoolers in our congregation are God's little lambs, and God made them in many different ways: some quiet and calm, some restless and noisy. Preschoolers who cannot sit still in church are not “naughty” children. Parents of busy preschoolers are not “negligent” mothers and fathers who ought to “lay down the law”. Some children are capable of sitting quietly through two services each Sunday – and we do not desire to draw them out of the worship service – but many are not, and we believe that this program also will help children to transition more easily into regular church attendance with their families by teaching them to associate church with a quiet time to learn about God, as opposed to noisy play time in the Nursery.<br />
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<strong>4.What will you teach?</strong><br />
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Our program has three main units: Unit 1: Old Testament, Unit 2: New Testament, Unit 3: Psalms. <br />
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Unit 1 is based around the theme “God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior.” using our theme text: Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” We teach lessons on: Creation (available as a single lesson or a mini-unit), Adam and Eve; Noah; Abraham; Isaac; Jacob and Esau; Joseph; Moses; Israel in the Desert; Joshua; Gideon; Samson; Ruth; Samuel; David; Solomon; Elijah; Daniel; Esther; Jonah; and Micah.<br />
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Unit 2 is based around the theme “God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Savior” using our theme text, John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” We teach lessons on: Jesus is born; Jesus as a child; John the Baptist; The disciples; Miracle in Cana; Jesus the healer; Jesus the Teacher (sermon on the mount, etc); Jesus and the Storms; The Parable of the Sower; Bread and Fish for Everyone; The parable of the good neighbor; The parable of the two sons; Palm Sunday; The Last Supper; Jesus dies for our sins; Christ is Risen; Ascension; Pentecost; The work of the Apostles and John and Revelations.<br />
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Unit 3 is based on the theme “Our Joy in the Lord” using our theme text “Sing a Psalm of Joy!” We teach lessons on Psalm 1 - focusing on praising God, who loves his people; Psalm 8 - focusing on praising God, the Creator; Psalm 16 - focusing on praising God for his abundant blessings; Psalm 23 - focusing on praising the Lord, our Great Shepherd; Psalm 42 - focusing on praising the Lord for providing for our needs; Psalm 47 - focusing on praising God, our King; Psalm 50 - focusing on praising God who rules over all creation; Psalm 81 - focusing on singing our JOY to the Lord; Psalm 100 - focusing on praising God in our worship; Psalm 116 - focusing on praising God for hearing our prayers; Psalm 119 - focusing on praising God for being a light to our path; Psalm 121 - focusing on praising God for keeping our feet from danger; Psalm 136 - focusing on praising God for his steadfast love and Psalm 150 - focusing on praising the Lord with instrument.<br />
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We also have lessons available for Christmas and Easter that will be taught each year at the appropriate times of the year.<br />
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<strong>5.Who will teach the lessons?</strong><br />
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A group of 5-7 mothers take turns teaching the lessons. This is a small enough group that we have opportunity to build good relationships with the children, and provides us with a similar rotation frequency as the Nursery List. <br />
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<strong>6.What do your lessons look like?</strong><br />
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All of our lessons have a very similar structure. We begin each lessons with a welcoming activity that the children join in as they arrive and for a few minutes after the service starts. The point of this activity is to engage the children’s interest and establish an atmosphere of learning, and not just play. Next, we gather the children around the table or in a circle and sing our welcoming song (and possibly some additional songs appropriate to the lesson, or requests). Then, we pray with the children and talk about our theme and introduce the lesson for today. The center of every lesson is the Bible Story. We follow up the Bible story with an opportunity to ask/answer questions, and we recite the text together. We then reinforce the Bible Story with a simple craft (or two) that the children can take home to encourage them to share the story with their families. If time permits, we may retell the story once more after the craft is completed. We close the lesson by reciting the Lord's Prayer together with the children. Depending on how much time is left, we often close the lesson with a follow up activity.<br />
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<strong>7.What kinds of activities will you use to support the lesson?</strong><br />
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Preschoolers have unique learning needs – they learn by listening, by watching, by talking/singing, but especially by doing. These little lambs need to get their hands and bodies engaged as often as possible to maximize learning. Therefore, we build our lesson around the core of the Bible Story, and support that with as many different hands on activities as we can to make the story more memorable and to bring the Bible Story deeper into the hearts and minds of the children. The craft is an essential part of the lesson because it allows preschoolers to be active in cutting, gluing, coloring, painting, etc. Some examples of welcome activities or follow-up activities:a) songs (including finger plays and songs with actions) b) musical instruments b) play dough c) building blocks d) toy animals e) puppets of animals or non-specific people f) a felt board with pictures of OT and NT characters and scenes and g) coloring pages.<br />
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This program is designed to teach the children of believers who are also being taught by their parents to love God, and to know the history of salvation as revealed in the Bible. The lessons are not designed for evangelism - and so are well suited for use at any Bible Study sessions aimed at "covenant" preschoolers.<br />
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The program includes 28 Old Testament lessons, 24 New Testament lessons, 2 Christmas lessons, 1 Easter lesson and 15 lessons on the Psalms. Each lesson is designed simply with minimal supplies and a short preparation time.<br />
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This blog is designed to provide access to the lessons for those moms who are running the program, as well as to allow us to share suggestions for what works, craft hints, photos of finished crafts and offer support to one another as we teach God's little ones.<br />
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Thanks so much for all the interest in this program!<br />
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<strong>In Ontario, our program is currently running in:</strong><br />
Ancaster Can Ref church Wednesday morning Women's Bible Study<br />
Provindence Can Ref church Sunday afternoon service<br />
Trinity Can Ref church of Glanbrook Sunday afternoon service<br />
Flamborough Can Ref church Sunday afternoon service<br />
Cornerstone Can Ref church in Hamilton Sunday afternoon service<br />
Jubilee Can Ref church in Ottawa monthly women's Bible Study<br />
Zion United Reformed church Wednesday morning Bible Study<br />
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<strong>In Canada, our program is running in:</strong><br />
Aldergrove, BC Can Ref church in the Sunday afternoon service<br />
Abbotsford, BC Can Ref church in the Sunday afternoon service<br />
and one church in Manitoba<br />
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<b>Around the world, we are helping to teach children in:</b><br />
the Baptist church of Bournemouth, England<br />
a mission church in Outer Mongolia<br />
the Damansara Utama Methodist church in Malaysia<br />
Emmanuel Lutheran church in Adell, WI<br />
Southview Baptist church in Richfield. MN<br />
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<b>and the list is growing all the time! </b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"Your Word is a lamp for our feet; a light for our path"</span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-34939114361601439582009-09-10T07:42:00.000-07:002010-07-20T05:37:47.340-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1501) Welcome Activity: instruments would be perfect today!<br />
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2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
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3) Prayer...<br />
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4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
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5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 150, the psalmist is singing praises to the Lord. There are so many ways to praise the Lord: by singing songs, clapping our hands and playing instruments like the trumpet, pipe, timbrel, stringed instruments, flutes and cymbals. Ask the children to list all the instruments they know. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br />
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6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm (stanza 1 &2), try:<br />
praise… both hands up in the air<br />
spacious… open your arms wide<br />
Instruments (you can act out playing them or really play them!)<br />
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7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150<br />
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8) Crafts:<br />
<ul><li>Any instrument craft… there are tones of ideas on the internet or in craft books and any simple instrument works well here. The only thing that you may want to be careful of is that you do not repeat any craft that has recently been done, as some of the crafts here are also in other lessons.</li>
<li>Shakers… children can choose a handful of colorful beads to put into a clear snack sized container (available cheaply at any dollar store). Use a strip of clear tape to secure lid. Practice playing music for God while singing today’s song!</li>
<li>Tambourines… put several small bells (available cheaply at any dollar store) into between two small paper plate. Secure the edges with a strip of masking tape (or lots of staples). Children can decorate the outside with stickers or you could punch some holes and tie strips of curling ribbon around the edge. My girl decided to use pipe cleaners to make handles for the sides of her tamborine - and that worked well too! Lots of options to be very creative here...</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKB5MGVZkln3uuxCFf1gp4YqrgdcuzStdF5MhyphenhyphenqkTKXVD4OI19YryMOYidre1DIBACetFwdg7fHJvsedQLFOInc7WNUgiJTo9boC8IHdXN2IK9npsfl01Ld4MFB_iopD3BkrRMAIuIhhi/s1600/IMG_4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKB5MGVZkln3uuxCFf1gp4YqrgdcuzStdF5MhyphenhyphenqkTKXVD4OI19YryMOYidre1DIBACetFwdg7fHJvsedQLFOInc7WNUgiJTo9boC8IHdXN2IK9npsfl01Ld4MFB_iopD3BkrRMAIuIhhi/s320/IMG_4700.JPG" /></a></div><li>Rice Maraca… Take a toilet paper tube and put 1-3 pieces of packaging tape and put it on one end of the tube. Put a handful of rice in the tube next. (Be generous with the rice because some of it will stick to tape!!!!!) Put 1-3 pieces of tape on the opposite end of the tube. Decorate your rice maraca with markers or any thing else.</li>
<li>Horn… Cover one end of the <a href="http://www.thefamilycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/9_musical_instruments.shtml##" target="_blank">paper towel</a> roll with waxed paper, secure it with a rubber band. Punch a row of holes along one side of the roll with the tip of a pen. To play, sing a tune into the open end of the horn.</li>
</ul>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
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10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-71515376381212841002009-09-10T07:31:00.000-07:002010-07-20T05:40:31.578-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1361) Welcome Activity:<br />
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2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
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3) Prayer... thank God for his steadfast love.<br />
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4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
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5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 136, the psalmist is singing about the steadfast love of the Lord. Steadfast means strong and dependable. God promised to love his people no matter what we do. God loved us from the beginning of the world when everything was created. God loved his people when he rescued them from slavery in Egypt. God love us today- remembering our tears and providing us with all good things. Then read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again. Point out the refrain in this psalm and encourage the children to say it with you as you read the psalm through again.<br />
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6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />
thanks… fingertips on lips, then bring your hand out palm up in front of you (this is the ASL sign for thank-you)<br />
Lord… point upwards to heaven<br />
Love… draw heart on chest, or use arms to “hug”<br />
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7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “For his steadfast love is sure; it shall evermore endure” Psalm 136<br />
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8) Crafts:<br />
<ul><li>His Steadfast Love... You'll need:red construction paper,scissors,markers,heart stickers, string. Directions:Take a red piece of construction paper and cut a big heart out of it. Glue the text in the center. Have the children decorate with heart stickers and markers. Punch holes at the top of heart and tie about a foot of string to each heart so that the children can hang the heart around a doorknob.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4E1XOgrtNidoBfYC587ROu_v9o6_2p5kbqsWY3eEPVhUliKeBNPPZTmvYyeNj_HUZqNRwQ2ayQt1996Sl5xaa1TXaTe5eqfirzpYL3APwkWigTZ62RRV7IpUIU9G6GiyVVmMPuAeig47/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4E1XOgrtNidoBfYC587ROu_v9o6_2p5kbqsWY3eEPVhUliKeBNPPZTmvYyeNj_HUZqNRwQ2ayQt1996Sl5xaa1TXaTe5eqfirzpYL3APwkWigTZ62RRV7IpUIU9G6GiyVVmMPuAeig47/s320/IMG_4698.JPG" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div align="left">His Steadfast love stamp painting… Cut firm sponges into various shape hearts. Give each child a sheet of paper with the words: God loves me! “For his steadfast love is sure; it shall evermore endure” Psalm 136...in the center. Provide several different colors of paint and allow the children to dip the sponges into the paint and stamp the hearts all over the paper. If you like, you could sprinkle glitter or valentines theme confetti over some of the hearts while the paint is wet. When dry, you could glue this onto a sheet of construction paper and add string as well.</div></li>
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<div align="left">Give Away a Heart... cut out for each child: a large heart, two small hands, two small feet, and four long strips (for arms/legs). Show the children how to glue the "heart person" together with arms and hands on the sides and legs and feet on the bottom. Draw on a face and use googly eyes if you like. To make this really special, put some chocolate "hugs and kisses" in a snack sized bag and staple to the heart person. Tell the children to share the hugs and kisses with someone they love!</div></li>
</ul><div align="left">9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children.</div><div align="left"><br />
10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing song. 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?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-13074515538163132242009-09-10T07:26:00.000-07:002010-07-20T05:46:48.852-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1211) Welcome Activity:<br />
<ul><li>cut out child sized footprints and use clear tape or clear contact paper to stick them on the floor following a path around the room. Challenge the children to follow the path by stepping on all the footprints. This takes a bit of time to set up, but could stay on the floor for a few weeks of fun!</li>
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2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
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3) Prayer... ask God to guide our feet down paths of righteousness.<br />
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4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
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5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 121, the psalmist is singing about how the Lord guides, protects and leads us. The Lord watches over us so closely, that our foot cannot slip from the path unless God allows. What comfort to know that the Lord is our keeper! Then read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br />
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6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm (stanza 4), try:<br />
Lord… point towards heaven<br />
Strife (fighting)… punch fists together<br />
going out… hand leads away<br />
coming in… draw hand inwards<br />
deliver…outstretched arm like leading into battle<br />
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7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “ The Lord is your keeper; He will not let your foot be moved.” Psalm 121: 5a ,3a<br />
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8) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Cut out Footprints.. Trace both feet of each child on one color of construction paper. Cut out and glue on a different color of paper and glue the text on the bottom. </li>
<li>Painted Footprints.. use washable paints to stamp each child’s footprints on a sheet of construction paper. Glue the text at the bottom. Be sure that you have the play dough handy today for the other children so that you can do the painting one child at a time. If the weather does not lend itself to bare feet (ie. too many little girls in tights!) you can use Amanda's idea instead: trace around their feet and then let the kids paint their feet in with paint dabbers. </li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGK8zyN1T6Y3iHgLmrbGcqH9YhM-LQ8ucyhQv71Zd_jSVmxeKG4GdgdRTd_w7XxJx_8VlohM701IsL4FKU104p3xB_VJyvY9kDMME0CkyLCCwaPMZBMYmuqco5q9VZ5I-EerpaemxA2qF/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGK8zyN1T6Y3iHgLmrbGcqH9YhM-LQ8ucyhQv71Zd_jSVmxeKG4GdgdRTd_w7XxJx_8VlohM701IsL4FKU104p3xB_VJyvY9kDMME0CkyLCCwaPMZBMYmuqco5q9VZ5I-EerpaemxA2qF/s320/IMG_4697.JPG" /></a></div><li>Father’s Day… if this lesson falls around father’s day, it would be nice to print out the poem in this lesson, and glue it on a sheet of construction paper. Use washable paint to add each child’s footprints on either side of the poem. Here is the poem: <a href="http://www.dltk-holidays.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/images/bfootprints.gif">http://www.dltk-holidays.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/images/bfootprints.gif</a></li>
<li>Footsteps Following Jesus... You'll need:Construction paper,scissors,markers,contact paper,tape. Directions:Trace each child's footsteps and have them write their names on their feet and cut them out. (You can use a different color for each child) Cover each footprint with contact paper, and tape them to the wall so it looks like the footsteps are in a walking pattern. Then make a cross and cover it with contact paper. Tape the cross to the wall so it looked like the footprints are walking towards it. Make a banner across the top that reads, "Walking with Jesus"</li>
</ul>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
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10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-20077976736138411642009-09-10T06:45:00.000-07:002010-07-20T05:47:45.486-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1191) Welcome Activity:<br />
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2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
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3) Prayer...<br />
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4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
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5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 119, the psalmist is singing about God’s laws or commandments. God taught us how to live not to make our lives hard, but to lead us when life is difficult. David sings that when he suffers, he can take comfort and courage by reading God’s words and following his commands. Then, read a portion of the psalm from the Bible. Since we focus on stanza 40, you can just read a related portion or two as you choose. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br />
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6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />
lamp/lantern… one hand makes a fist for the lamp, the other hand spreads like rays above for light<br />
feet… point to them<br />
path before me… use your finger to draw a path in front of you<br />
adore… draw a heart on your chest<br />
suffer… let your shoulders sag as if you were tired and make a sad face<br />
recall… remember; tap your finger on your temple<br />
restore… like strengthen; use both arms with clenched fists like a strong man<br />
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7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet” Psalm 119 stanza 40<br />
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8) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Candle Painting… give each child a picture of a candle on a stand. Give them some time to color the picture with crayons (not washable markers). Direct them to color the flame red or orange. Then talk about how light doesn’t stay just in the flame, but spread out all around. Put a squirt of yellow paint right over the flame. Give the children brushes or sponges and let them spread the paint outwards from the flame so that it covers the whole page!<br />
Ps. Washable markers will bleed, so color the picture with crayons.</li>
<li>Candle… you can do a similar sort of thing with glue and yellow tissue paper. Have the children color the picture first. Then use a paintbrush or sponge to “paint” the picture with white glue and cover with a thin sheet of yellow tissue paper for “light” all around. Or just use a circle of yellow tissue paper around the flame and rays and coat with a second layer of slightly watered glue. The color from the tissue paper will bleed so that you get an orange crayon flame, a dark yellow tissue paper circle and a pale yellow circle of dye around that.</li>
<li>Candle Holder... save clean, empty baby food jars (one per child). Have the children decorate the jars and pop in a tea light candle before they take it home. Here are some decorating options: 1) glitter glue... Allow the children to draw squiggles and shapes with the glitter glue directly on the outside of the jar. 2) jewels... use white glue to attach flat backed "jewels" to the jar. 3) stickers... decorate outside of jar with sparkling stars or other simple shapes 4) tissue paper... cut tissue paper into small squares. Paint white glue (thinned with water to help it spread thinly) on the the jar with a paintbrush and attach tissue paper squares. Caution the children to go easy with the glue or it will take days for the jar to dry.</li>
</ul><br />
9) Closing prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-34166603993977676582009-09-10T06:23:00.000-07:002009-09-10T07:49:01.987-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1161) Welcome Activity:<br /><br />2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br /><br />3) Prayer...<br /><br />4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br /><br />5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 116, the psalmist is singing about the love that he has for the Lord who hears his voice. What a comfort to know that God hears our cries for help in difficult times and that he also hears our songs of praise for his goodness God is always listening to the voice of his beloved people. Then read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br /><br />6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />love… draw heart on chest<br />Lord… point to heaven<br />Heard… cup hand around ear<br />Voice… extend fingers from lips<br />Cry… draw tear on cheek<br />Supplication… hands together in prayer<br />Ear… cup hand around ear<br />Strength… put both arms up like you’re weight lifting<br />Heart… point or draw on chest<br />Face… circle your hand around your face<br /><br />7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “He heard my voice” Psalm 116 stanza 1<br /><br />8) Craft:<br /><ul><li>Praying Hands… trace each child’s hand on a sheet of construction paper folded in half. Place the thumb closest to the fold. Cut out the two hands leaving the thumbs still attached. When you open this up, you have two hands, when you close them, the hands are folded and ready for prayer. The children can color/sticker to decorate their hands if you like; there are some praying hands stickers in the craft kit. Glue the text inside the hands. </li><li>Bedtime Prayers: Have children color the picture of the praying boy/girl as appropriate. Cut in a circle to fit inside a large paper plate and glue on. Cut a circle of lined paper to fit on the back of the circle for the parent to write their child’s bedtime prayer. Punch holes at the top of the paper plate and loop a string through so that the plate can be hang in the child’s bedroom. Here is a template of a girl praying: <a href="http://coloring-page.net/pages/bible-14.html">http://coloring-page.net/pages/bible-14.html</a>and a girl again: <a href="http://coloring-page.net/pages/bible-15.html">http://coloring-page.net/pages/bible-15.html</a> and a boy praying: <a href="http://coloring-page.net/pages/bible-39.html">http://coloring-page.net/pages/bible-39.html</a></li><li>Say My Prayers Song (sung to the tune of Row. Row Your Boat)<br />I will say my prayers<br />Each and every day!<br />I will always talk to God<br />And He hears what I say.</li></ul><p><br />9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</p><p>10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-56593377869592979182009-09-10T05:30:00.000-07:002009-09-10T06:23:17.189-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1001) Welcome Activity: a bucket of people would be fun for today.<br /><br /><br /><br />2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song (go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br /><br /><br /><br />3) Prayer... thank God that we can go to church to worship.<br /><br /><br /><br />4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br /><br /><br />5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 100, the psalmist is singing about giving praise and thanks to God for his goodness. When we worship God – at home with our family, at school or Story Hour, or at church, we can say thank you to God because he made us and we belong to him. Thank you God. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br /><br /><br />6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm (stanza 3), try:<br />Come… make a backwards wave with one hand like “come here”<br />Raise… two hands lifted upwards<br />House… use both hands to make a roof like a house or church<br /><br /><br />7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “Come, enter then his gates with praise”<br />Psalm 100 (stanza 3, line 1)<br /><br />8) Craft:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>Come to church craft… print of the church picture. Cut out the church and cut the doors (and exacto knife might make the job easier) so that they can open and close. Have the children color the church picture and then glue the church onto a sheet of construction paper- a light color is best. Show the children how to "open" the doors, and have each child color a picture of themselves inside the church. For the youngest children, draw a simple person for them to color. Church template: <a href="http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/coloringpaget10.htm">http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/coloringpaget10.htm</a></li><ul></ul><li>"His Faithfulness Endures through ALL generations"... provide the children a collection of magazines and have them look for peoples faces - especially of different ages. Try to find a baby, a child, an adult and a senior. Cut out the faces and glue them on a sheet of construction paper. (Alternatively, print out pictures of those faces and let the children color them, cut them and glue them. Give each child a recipe card with the text ("... his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5) written on it and two holes punched at the top. Glue the text card to the construction paper. Tie a string through the the holes so that the children can hang the picture up at home. </li><li>Finger Rhyme:<br />Here is the church;<br />Here is the steeple.<br />Open the doors;<br />See all the people!</li></ul><p>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</p>10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-91911211528305669482009-09-10T05:21:00.000-07:002010-07-20T06:41:23.815-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 811) Welcome Activity: <br />
<ul><li>Musical instruments are perfect today!</li>
</ul><br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
3) Prayer...<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
<br />
5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 81, the psalmist is singing about our joy in the Lord. The psalm tells us that if we love and obey the Lord, he will bless us richly. We have so many reasons to love God, because He loves us so completely and cares for us each day. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br />
<br />
6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />
shout… thrust your arm up with a clenched fist like a general leading his army into battle<br />
heart… use your finger to draw a heart on your chest<br />
preserver…cradle your arms around your body like you keeping it safe<br />
<br />
7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “Sing a psalm of joy, Shout with holy fervour.”<br />
Psalm 81 (stanza 1, lines 1 & 2)<br />
<br />
8) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Tambourine… each child gets two paper or Styrofoam plates. Let children choose 2-3 bells (bags of different sized bells available at most craft stores) to put between the plates. Secure with wide, clear tape. Allow children to decorate with glitter, stickers, markers, etc. You could also use a hole puncher to make several holes around the outside for streamers.<br />
*Nearly any simple instrument craft would work well here. Check to make sure that it does not duplicate any of the other Psalm’s craft. Tamborine also shown for Psalm 150.</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpl5eeM4JSZPpcgpfYVEZQeP4rNUGIH-ZhgNxkOt40rLjSEuXuDJdYlTsg36ijFZInXnLqSmRKJwOJUdkbLYo5OCL_hhngDIrIouZ2H4RT7yH5yhVlj4fKA-3ghf0577l7B_zt5VXfKzQ/s1600/IMG_4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpl5eeM4JSZPpcgpfYVEZQeP4rNUGIH-ZhgNxkOt40rLjSEuXuDJdYlTsg36ijFZInXnLqSmRKJwOJUdkbLYo5OCL_hhngDIrIouZ2H4RT7yH5yhVlj4fKA-3ghf0577l7B_zt5VXfKzQ/s320/IMG_4700.JPG" /></a></div><li>Music Time… If you can borrow a percussion instrument collection from a local school or music teacher, today would be an excellent day to introduce some of the instruments and allow the children to experiment with some of the music that we can use to sing our joy to God!</li>
</ul>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing song. 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?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-2697644356066383782009-09-09T17:56:00.000-07:002011-06-28T06:35:04.745-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 50<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1) Welcome Activity: </span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">a bucket of plastic animals, animal puppet or animal shapes in play dough</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3) Prayer... acknowledge the greatness of God who rules over all creation; how small are we in comparison with his majesty!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 50, the psalmist is praising God;s majesty over all things. We should approach God in humbleness for he is the Lord of all creation. Then, read the psalm from the Bible (I suggest just verses 1-15 where God speaks to his covenant people). Then, repeat the main point(s) again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm (stanza 5), try:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">do not... wag your finger like no-no</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">cattle... put your fingers up like horns</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">beast... form hand like claws</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">birds.. flap arms like wings</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “For the world is the Lord;s and all that is in it. Psalm 50:12</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">8) Crafts: Many different animal crafts can work here, depending on crafts your kids have done lately and which part of the psalm you focus on. </span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">every animal of the forest is mine.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the cattle on a thousand hills are mine</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I know every bird in the mountains </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">all the creatures of the field are mine</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here are a few links to sites that have lots of animal crafts to choose from: <a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/animals/">http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/animals/</a></span></div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/">http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/</a></div><div><a href="http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals.htm">http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals.htm</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-39574596502876483012009-09-09T17:55:00.000-07:002010-07-20T07:04:47.019-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 471) Welcome Activity: <br />
<ul><li>Puppets today: give one child a "king"puppet and another a "queen" puppet. Assign everyone else to be the subjects. Ask the children: what do you think a king does? What would a king say? </li>
<li>Musical instruments... especially good if you have "clackers" in the shape of clapping hands!</li>
</ul><br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
3) Prayer... praise God, the king of all creation.<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
<br />
5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 47, the psalmist is singing about celebrating the fact that God is our king. A king rules over the nation, takes care of the land, leads the people and sits on a throne. God is our king who takes care of us in so many ways. We can celebrate God our king! Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br />
<br />
6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />
clap your hands.. clap<br />
loud.. cup your hands around your mouth like a megaphone<br />
bow… bow<br />
circles all the earth… draw a circle in the air with your finger as if making a circle around everything<br />
<br />
7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “ God is King alone on his holy throne” Psalm 47 (stanza 3, line 2)<br />
<br />
8) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Shakers… children can choose a handful of colorful beads to put into a clear snack sized container (available cheaply at any dollar store). Use a strip of clear tape to secure lid. Practice playing music for God while singing today’s song!<br />
* any simple instrument craft can work equally well here!</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">God is king… make crowns for all the children from poster paper. Write “God is my King” around the band and let the children decorate with sparkles, stickers, markers, etc.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodciWJD_X3h6UVQh_aRbsFFqvtwoMhKXbuG_8Bz5rB450q-XbM8kJwVorrTguZiI8RryeHxxkEBviR-yTKJOENd2AOsUvmq8keOmEctp-4q40c264HqkuX0wPWpUEj6dyaZIWtZbhNyc0/s1600/IMG_2513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodciWJD_X3h6UVQh_aRbsFFqvtwoMhKXbuG_8Bz5rB450q-XbM8kJwVorrTguZiI8RryeHxxkEBviR-yTKJOENd2AOsUvmq8keOmEctp-4q40c264HqkuX0wPWpUEj6dyaZIWtZbhNyc0/s320/IMG_2513.JPG" /></a></div></ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you can find them cheaply, a set of clackers (in the shape of hands) would make an excellent addition to this lesson. Add it to the musical instrument collection! ... check party supply stores?</li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-85619965998248671812009-09-09T17:37:00.000-07:002009-09-09T18:06:49.875-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 421) Welcome Activity: play with animals<br /><br />2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br /><br />3) Prayer... confess our need for God<br /><br />4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br /><br />5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 42, the psalmist is singing about how much we need God. Imagine that you are a deer and you are running away from a hunter. You are more and more tired and more and more thirsty. What do you need? A rest and a drink of water from a stream. Well, that is how much we need God! We need him so much that we will die without him, just like a tired, thirsty deer will die if he cannot find a drink of water! Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br /><br />6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />about to falter.. let your body sag as if you were very tired<br />streams of water… use your hand to trace a winding path like a stream of water<br />O God… point to heaven<br />Cry… trace the path of tears down your cheek<br />Temple… with your hands, make a peak, like the roof of the temple<br /><br />7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “As the deer pants for streams of water,<br />so my soul pants fro you, O God.” Psalm 42:1<br /><br />8) Craft:<br /><ul><li>Deer Picture… have the children color the deer. Glue on strips on grass cut from construction paper and a wavy strip of blue construction paper to show the stream.</li></ul><p>like this one: <a href="http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.myfreecolouringpages.com/animal_coloring_pages/deer.">http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.myfreecolouringpages.com/animal_coloring_pages/deer.</a></p><p>or this: <a href="http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_animals/deer_1.htm">http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_animals/deer_1.htm</a></p><p>or this: <a href="http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_animals/deer_2.htm">http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_animals/deer_2.htm</a></p><ul><li>That's a Deer... just copy the template, cut the pieces and have the children assemble them. If you cut out the main template piece from heavy cardstock, you could attach a large craft stick to the back and use this as a puppet! see the template here: <a href="http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/reindeerbw.htm">http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/reindeerbw.htm</a></li></ul><p>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children </p><p>10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-42136459681677948452009-09-09T17:08:00.000-07:002011-06-28T05:43:55.380-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 30<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1) Welcome Activity: </span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">play dough would be great today. Pile all the playdough in one lump and ask the children to form it into a mountain. Provide small people and animals to climb up the mountain</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3) Prayer... praise God for his strength - He alone can make us stand strong</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 30, the psalmist is praising God for his strength. When we feel weak and helpless, or when we are in trouble, then we can look to God for protection. God promises to make us strong like a mountain when we trust in him. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm (stanza 3), try:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">shake...shake your body back and forth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">you, Lord... point to heaven</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">mountain... make a mountain peak with your arms, fingertips together</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">hid your face... cover your face with your hands</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “You made my mountain stand firm” Psalm 30:7</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">8) Crafts:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/scribe/list_icon.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0.3em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 17px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mountain of Strength... provide each child with a large triangle of paper in grey (mountain), a smaller triangle of white (the snow cap) and several small triangle in green (stack 3 to make a pine tree) and have them arrange the triangles to make a mountain. For the older children, encourage them to draw themselves on the mountain... how small we are compared to God;s great strength! And yet God promised to make us like a mountain, firm and strong!</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-55858518080446145812009-09-09T17:07:00.000-07:002009-11-16T06:25:50.931-08:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 231) Welcome Activity:<br /><ul><li>Puppets: a class set of felt lamb finger puppets would be perfect today! Give the children time to pretend to be sheep. Talk about how sheep like to be together in a flock. Give one child a shepherd puppet and ask them how the shepherd takes care of the sheep? </li><li>Felt Board: set out pictures of sheep and a shepherd. See above.</li><li>Toy animals: set out sheep and a few people. See above.</li><li>Dress up: simple sheep masks and a shepherd's hook. See above.<br /></li></ul><p>2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br /><br />3) Prayer... praise God for being our good Shepherd<br /><br />4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br /><br />5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 23, the psalmist is singing about how the Lord guides him through his life just like a shepherd guides his sheep. A shepherd loves his sheep, leads them to safety, makes sure they have enough to eat and drink and are protected from danger. The Lord does all those things for us too! He is our loving shepherd. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br /><br />6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />- love…use your finger to draw a heart on your chest<br />lie down… put your hands together at one side on your head and lean your head like you are sleeping<br />streams... use one or both hands to trace a winding path like a stream<br />paths of righteousness… use your hand to draw a straight line from the center of your chest outwards and upwards<br /><br />7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. We suggest: “ The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23:1<br /><br />8) Craft:<br /></p><ul><li>Sheep… use a picture of a sheep and have the children color the head and legs and glue cotton balls on the body for wool</li><li>Handprint Sheep… trace each child’s hand with the fingers spread. Flip the page upside down. Now you have the outline for the sheep. Color the head and legs and glue cotton balls on the body for wool. Use can use a googly eye and a cut out shape for an ear too if you like.</li><li>Paper Bag Lamb puppet...Use a white paper lunch bag if you can. Draw a face on the bottom of the paper bag. The mouth will be on the bottom edge where the bag is folded. You can also use felt and cut out eyes, nose, etc. Cut small, floppy ear shapes out of construction paper and glue them to the side of the bottom edge of the paper bag.<br />Once your face is drawn. You can create your lamb by gluing cotton balls all over your bag! This will give you a wooly, lamb puppet!<br />* Any other favorite sheep craft works well for this lesson.<br /></li></ul><p>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</p><p>10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-84877059887864110742009-09-09T16:59:00.000-07:002011-06-28T05:22:53.917-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 16<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1) Welcome Activity: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3) Prayer... praise God for his many blessings that bring such joy to our hearts</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 16, the psalmist is expressing his trust in the Lord, saying You are MY Lord. God;s faithfulness is evident by the many blessings that he pours out upon his children. Brainstorm some blessings that the Lord pours out upon us. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm (stanza 2), try:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">sorrows… use your fingers to draw a frown over your mouth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">lips... point to your mouth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">forsake you never... hold your arms tightly around your body</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">cup... curve one hand like your are holding a cup</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “You have filled me with joy” Psalm 16:11</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">8) Crafts:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/scribe/list_icon.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0.3em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 17px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Cup of blessing... have the children decorate a paper cup with markers, stickers or glitter or a clear plastic cup with stickers. Have strips of paper handy and ask the children about the blessings that God has given us that fill us with joy. Write down some of these blessings and have them tape the paper to the rim of the cup (or staple if you have a paper cup) so that the blessings are overflowing from the cup. A great way to practice thankfulness!</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-2011159258273383772009-09-09T16:58:00.000-07:002010-07-20T06:59:51.958-07:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 81) Welcome Activity:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Toy animals: set out a bucket of animals today! Ask the children as they play: how does an (animal) show God's glory? Marvel at all the amazing creatures that God has created. </li>
<li>Puppets: set out only animal puppets. See above.</li>
<li>Felt Board: set out only animal pictures. See above.</li>
<li>Playdough: set out rolling pins, cutters and cookie cutters in animal shapes. See above.</li>
</ul><br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
3) Prayer... glorify God in your prayer<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br />
<br />
5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 8, the psalmist is singing about the glory of God. The whole creation sings of God’s glory. Even little children sing God’s glory. Isn’t amazing that God created us to sing his glory too? Then read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.<br />
<br />
6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />
glorious/glorify… make a motion like sparks with your fingers to show the shining of God’s glory<br />
creation… fan your arms in a circle about waist level, as if to motion<br />
to everything on earth<br />
skies… fan your arms in circle pointing straight up, as it to motion<br />
every thing above the earth<br />
<br />
7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. We suggest: “How glorious is thy name in all creation!” Psalm 8 (stanza 1, line 2)<br />
<br />
8) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>All creation sings God’s glory (Mobile)…any of the creation crafts work well here. You could make a mobile with a picture of the earth for the center and all birds, animals, sun, moon, starts, etc hanging from that. <em> Tip: I copied and pasted free coloring pages that I found on-line into a document and shrunk each picture down to 25% of the original size in order to put four pictures on a page. This would allow you to print out lots of animal, etc pictures so that the children could choose some to color. Simple cut out the colored pictures after the lesson, mount them on cardstock to make them more durable and hang them with string. If you laminate the pictures, this craft can become part of your more permanent displays.</em></li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJvExF59h61mJmfrYPmJfGVP7QKNMnPKkca6dNlIdImmPfmO215snlYgCb0_f5rIcqHRh_i3WisZFttOzN95qWrAO3a3t9trC48swa9lR9XDd2M9TynnFwMOnax_LBRoa0r82lZM3rP5-/s1600/IMG_3528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJvExF59h61mJmfrYPmJfGVP7QKNMnPKkca6dNlIdImmPfmO215snlYgCb0_f5rIcqHRh_i3WisZFttOzN95qWrAO3a3t9trC48swa9lR9XDd2M9TynnFwMOnax_LBRoa0r82lZM3rP5-/s320/IMG_3528.JPG" /></a></div><li>All creation sings God’s glory (Poster)… use this as the title for a poster. Hand out pictures of animals, birds, reptiles, fish, little children, mountains, sun, moon, stars, etc and let the children choose one or more to color. Cut out all the pictures and make a poster together. <em> See tip above.</em></li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>All Creation Sings God's Glory (Window Display)... do you have a large display window(s) in your classroom? Use window markers/paints to write the title/text across the top and allow the children (we suggest one or two at a time depending on how large and easily accessible your window is) to draw/paint something that God made on the window. We love the "window writer" bingo dabber style window paints made by the same company that makes the paint dabbers we love - non-messy, non-drippy paint that goes on bright, stays bright for weeks and washes off easily with Windex and paper towels. Looks like these, but says "window writer"....</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyJaSWtdyAWVTxuwl5L443saIFjqapygCwRDgzXkkxr0Ewgb-O4SSBGlADhltQnUlH2E9iCJ74ECXv0IFlPahsUO6cBJG3JqjDR__fpcfwjUdEDWtF6tgpFlCEvtQV4aRQiydxCdcfq9r/s1600/paintDabbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyJaSWtdyAWVTxuwl5L443saIFjqapygCwRDgzXkkxr0Ewgb-O4SSBGlADhltQnUlH2E9iCJ74ECXv0IFlPahsUO6cBJG3JqjDR__fpcfwjUdEDWtF6tgpFlCEvtQV4aRQiydxCdcfq9r/s320/paintDabbers.jpg" /></a></div><li>All creation sings God's glory (Pictures)... provide lots of pictures of different animals. Let the children choose several to color, cut out and glue to their page. Ask the children how God that animal special and write down their answers.</li>
</ul><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404704106601157634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM9t3trXTvl3JVeGdu2aYigFXL2u8YA0sTfuxDMhx9VItZ3q_3gZdbwyMBZs9jNas7-8rX8R0Ho7kB_sYgy7L8bs2z9yMLE6voXUbGgox1mXQP9Ifhct_l1T4DaagP_jKfOr_ALEFsgH9/s320/IMG_3531.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing. 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?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-89031580412140349992009-09-09T16:47:00.000-07:002009-11-16T06:11:08.518-08:00Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 1<div>1) Welcome Activity: musical instruments are a great starter for all the lessons on Psalms<br /><br />2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />3) Prayer... pray a prayer of joy and thanksgiving<br /><br />4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.<br /><br />5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm1, the psalmist is singing about the righteous and the wicked. The righteous are those who love and serve the Lord. The psalm says that the righteous are like a tree- they stand strong and grow tall. The wicked are those who do not love God – they will blow away like dry leaves in the wind. Then read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again, emphasizing the difference between the righteous and the wicked.<br /><br />6) Sing the Psalm: Sing stanza 2 of today’s psalm with the children . If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:<br />- tree… stand with feet together and arms stretched high<br />- fruit… pretend to pick fruit from a tree<br />- flourish = grow.. stand like a tree and reach tall on your tip toes<br />- winds… blow like wind on your outstretched hand<br /><br />7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. We suggest: “Behold the righteous man is like a tree” Psalm 1 stanza 2<br /><br />8) Craft:<br /><br /></div><ul><br /><li>Tree Craft (Glue) - draw the truck and branches of a tree on a sheet of paper for each child. Cut out many different green leaves and red apples and let the children glue leaves and fruit onto the tree. The older children may like the color grass at the bottom of the picture.</li><br /><li>Tree Craft (Tissue Paper) – another variation is the used balls of crumbled tissue paper. Green for leaves and red for apples.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404701634272194418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDy-hitKUhIzdvU7-BedKS1yz4NdUMCgKmCeKrXhyphenhyphen_2CEL9mmr1tmMSOapx4UqzYL9HE8UQP6aTl8uUpXPq_LewZCttnipvLvHktb6VOqB_1lmWZXeJDU5i3D7PieEVuDRgXtQdZwxyHH/s320/IMG_3532.JPG" border="0" /><br /><li>Tree Craft (Paint Dabbers)... if you have purchased paint dabbers, set out the green and let the children "dab" on the leaves. Paint trays with green paint and leaf shapes cut from sponges and secured with a clothes pin will also work excellently!<br /></li></ul><div><br /></div><p>9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children </p><div><br /></div><p>10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm (psalm 1:2) together and then sing the closing song. 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?<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-73027727283555415182009-06-22T09:01:00.000-07:002011-06-28T05:24:39.215-07:00Learning and Loving it!A group of our little treasures making frogs one Sunday afternoon as we learned about Moses and the 10 plagues. Our group ranges from 6 children on a quiet day, to 10-12 on a busy day. <br />
<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gRMjJylvnLuxOvqyGOujxMcJlBRo_mGzCte-LnBpH01SDoJhpjD23HipFy1pNgNjmDl8irGTUEwSGSe9zivzlwowM2mKNjzvjRbuUlnyMF50ssByLBBwxjbdg8UD-76TL3Ct7w9nVeCU/s1600-h/IMG_2313.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351333583406173842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gRMjJylvnLuxOvqyGOujxMcJlBRo_mGzCte-LnBpH01SDoJhpjD23HipFy1pNgNjmDl8irGTUEwSGSe9zivzlwowM2mKNjzvjRbuUlnyMF50ssByLBBwxjbdg8UD-76TL3Ct7w9nVeCU/s320/IMG_2313.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a> Look out for hopping frogs!</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EKWBRMq4TXMFgSMZuQYTNtHbiK_FgIxS061tznZfJGC9JmwbB1rTCRzqvcfsBd4yjOh17ZCj6CL3_8vD2sBX7UcYYR6kidPF5fSeBpdsn4Ci64gh9ARODOd4gGLxurr8ZwBON56ryHQ4/s1600-h/IMG_2318.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351333587216357266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EKWBRMq4TXMFgSMZuQYTNtHbiK_FgIxS061tznZfJGC9JmwbB1rTCRzqvcfsBd4yjOh17ZCj6CL3_8vD2sBX7UcYYR6kidPF5fSeBpdsn4Ci64gh9ARODOd4gGLxurr8ZwBON56ryHQ4/s320/IMG_2318.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a> Glueing...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Cu2AMmXEcnUF8UwHpiJW3F_Vvd1DuhgUKclxeRIa_pgUxBEY8YCYgcvFjDANdB9-IqlhHNQn75mjKoCscY4eUDdyGGju-YOd8yuIvDwYoHPwc8QZ3jscpZlx_pE8iLCf81ohgIKUgy1l/s1600-h/IMG_2319.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351333597327660770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Cu2AMmXEcnUF8UwHpiJW3F_Vvd1DuhgUKclxeRIa_pgUxBEY8YCYgcvFjDANdB9-IqlhHNQn75mjKoCscY4eUDdyGGju-YOd8yuIvDwYoHPwc8QZ3jscpZlx_pE8iLCf81ohgIKUgy1l/s320/IMG_2319.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a> Coloring....<br />
<br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMz5x2sCmI76OcHgAi2IW3McnvzZrYhkLANIRt4sLT8_aMzkPoYX9Xt2-xhfeUGiGyCAtAUODUhf0_MxFYJAkq54HV_mp7ekv5IFCiJbpexBcSD06cbCvETclNMFM4WTo64RropqS3OfL/s1600-h/IMG_2315.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351333604393762738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMz5x2sCmI76OcHgAi2IW3McnvzZrYhkLANIRt4sLT8_aMzkPoYX9Xt2-xhfeUGiGyCAtAUODUhf0_MxFYJAkq54HV_mp7ekv5IFCiJbpexBcSD06cbCvETclNMFM4WTo64RropqS3OfL/s320/IMG_2315.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a> and enjoying our time together!</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-35558956721549730342009-05-27T10:34:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:44:06.796-07:00How can I get a Story Hour program started at MY church?I have been asked this question several times now. Thanks for all your suggestions and ideas. Here is the general "path" to follow:<br /><ul><li>Get an idea of the interest level in your church. How many parents are interested in this kind of a program? How many children do we have in this age group? </li><li>Talk to your ward elder/minister to gain their support. Let them know what the needs are in the congregation and how those needs can be met. Check what kind of formal permission needs to be obtained before starting.</li><li>The two most important requirements are: a program and a space. </li><li>Choose a Story Hour program that suits your needs. Consider who will be attending, who will be teaching, what kind of time period you have to work with, what you can afford to spend on buying a program; what kind of space you'll have available; what kind of budget you have for supplies, etc</li><li>Find a space in the church for your program. Is there a room or a part of a room availble for you to use? Are there tables and chair for little people? Is there somewhere to store craft supplies? Is there somewhere for you to display completed crafts?</li><li>Once you have permission, a program and a space, you are nearly ready to begin! Collect a few parents who are willing to lead the lessons and arrange a meeting. Review the program and talk about how each lesson will run so that you maintain some consistancy from week to week. Talk about how supplies are going to be collected and where they are going to be stored.</li><li>Notify the church community about your program so that parents of preschool children know that the program is going to start, where it will take place, who is teaching and what is being taught. </li><li>Get rolling! Be patient... many of us have found that it took about a year to get everything up and running smoothly with regular attendance, sufficient resources and good support. And don't be discourage along the way - a story hour program is such a blessing to the little ones who attend (and to their families!)</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-2784464142459678672009-05-23T08:35:00.000-07:002010-11-09T08:32:53.868-08:00Special Lesson - CHRISTMAS #3 (The Wise Men)1) Welcome Activity:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>playdough... make yellow playdough for today and set out star shapes for the children to cut</li>
</ul>2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
Sing: <strong>Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star</strong><br />
<br />
TWINKLE, TWINKLE Christmas STAR<br />
HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE; UP ABOVE THE MANGER SO HIGH<br />
LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE SKY ; GUIDING THE WISEMEN ON THEIR WAY<br />
TO WHERE BABY JESUS LAY.<br />
<br />
3) Prayer...Praise God for his great glory!<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Saviour. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God recognized by the wise men of the East who came to bring gifts to the newborn king.<br />
<br />
5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about the Wise Men from the East. Read pages 261-264 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).<br />
<br />
6) Text: Today’s Text is: “We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2<br />
<br />
7) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Glitter Star: Cutout 1 circle, 5 triangles for each child from shiny gold paper (. Have the children glue them together in star shape on black or dark blue construction paper. You can decorate with other star stickers or glitter if you like. </li>
<li>Star Wand… cut out two gold stars for each child. Assemble each wand one at a time with the children as the rest do a coloring sheet. Use masking tape to attach several stands of curling ribbon to the back side of one star. Use a stapler to attach a non-bending straw to the back of the other star. Staple the two stars together to form a wand. If you like, the children can decorate the star with star stickers, too. </li>
<li>Once you have made your stars, use them to sing:</li>
</ul>Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star<br />
How I wonder what you are<br />
Seen by wise men in the east<br />
Point the way to lasting peace<br />
Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star<br />
How I wonder what you are<br />
<br />
8) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
10) Optional Coloring Pages:<br />
- see New Testament Lesson 1 for many different Christmas coloring pagesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-61052064064643213982009-05-22T10:52:00.000-07:002009-12-02T07:32:36.660-08:00Special Lesson - CHRISTMAS #2 (Shepherds)1) Welcome Activity:<br /><ul><li>Puppets... sheep and shepherds </li><li>Flannel board... set out all the nativity scene pieces today</li><li>Playdough... white playdough for making sheep. Show the children how to roll balls and connect them to make a head, body, etc. </li></ul>2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Sing some Christmas songs today, too.<br />3) Pray... Thank God for sending Jesus to be our Saviour.<br /><p>4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Saviour. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God show to the shepherds out in the field on the night that Jesus was born.<br /><br />5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about The Shepherds. Read pages ---- from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).<br /><br />6) Text: Today’s Text is: ----<br /><br />7) Crafts: </p><ul><li>Lamb heart craft... a simple cut and paste craft using heart shapes to make a lamb's face. Materials needed: scissors and glue. For younger children, cut all the pieces ahead of time. For older children who are competent with scissors, you may want to allow them to cut out the pieces themselves. Template here: <a href="http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/lamb_hearts_b.htm">http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/lamb_hearts_b.htm</a> </li><li>Handprint Sheep Craft... trace each child's hand onto black construction paper. Cut out the hands. Turn the hand so that the fingers are pointing downwards and allow the kids to glue cotton on the "palm". The "fingers" will be the legs. Draw a face on the "thumb" - use a googly eye, if you like. Materials needed: black construction paper, cotton balls, scissors, glue, markers, googly eyes.</li><li>Toilet Paper Roll Sheep... this one is a little more complicated, but with a little extra prep work (and a few simplifications) this could be really cute! Good for a group that is mostly 4 and 5 year olds. See instructions here: <a href="http://crafts.kaboose.com/cardboard-tube-lamb.html">http://crafts.kaboose.com/cardboard-tube-lamb.html</a> </li><li>Paper Plate Lamb... Have the children cover a paper plate with cotton batting (if you want to use cotton balls, pull them apart first or the plate will be very heavy). Glue on eyes, ears and a mouth cut from constructions paper. See instructions here: <a href="http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/melamb.html">http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/melamb.html</a> </li></ul><p><br />8) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children.</p>9) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. 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?<br /><br />10) Optional Coloring Pages:<br /><ul><li>see NT Lesson 1 for a selection of Christmas coloring pages</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-16819841352141134522009-05-21T08:47:00.000-07:002010-07-20T06:04:33.954-07:00Special Lesson - CHRISTMAS #1 (Announcements)1) Welcome Activity:<br />
<ul><li>collect small cardboard boxes, stuff each box with tissue paper and a piece of paper with the word "Jesus" on it in fancy letters. Wrap the boxes in wrapping paper - one for each child. Ask the children... what do you think is in the box? What would be the best present ever? Let them come up with lots of ideas. Then have them unwrap the gift. What is inside? Jesus - the best gift ever!</li>
<li>alternatively, you can wrap one small box in larger packages and let the children unwrap the layers over and over until you get to the name "Jesus".</li>
</ul>2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
<strong>Christmas Bells</strong> (To the tune of "Jingle Bells".)<br />
Christmas bells, Christmas Bells, Ring them all the day. <br />
God the Father sent His son on that first Christmas Day.<br />
Oh, Christmas bells, Christmas bells, ring them all the day. <br />
God the Father sent His son on that first Christmas day. <br />
<br />
3) Prayer... Thank God for the greatest gift ever, Jesus Christ, our Saviour!<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story about the announcement of the birth of the Saviour of the world.<br />
<br />
5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about The Birth of the Savior. Read about A Message for Mary, from the Read and Learn Bible (pages 246-249).<br />
<br />
6) Text: Today’s Text is:<br />
<br />
7) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>The Best Gift Ever.. Give each child a piece of construction paper with a large square drawn in the middle with the word “Jesus” in the square. On the top of each page write “The best gift ever” and glue the text on the bottom. Give the children a selection of bits of wrapping paper and small stick on ribbons and have them “wrap” and decorate the box so that others can lift the paper and see the best gift ever. Materials Required: - wrapping paper scraps - small stick on bows- ribbon scraps -scissors<br />
- glue - construction paper. A very simple craft that the children are always so pleased with!</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1WM-LmdLevWODlHzTdYfZj5a97EjOFK3z4ay0PU6WJj2MNM2hCt2S9ah6mVMqWy0YuLgTfkRy2KWQbeZ13FoWvbZk-dqZc0J0tQBAV5urVbQyheCKlH7w-nx63C_HFerj6CZibs9QelH/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1WM-LmdLevWODlHzTdYfZj5a97EjOFK3z4ay0PU6WJj2MNM2hCt2S9ah6mVMqWy0YuLgTfkRy2KWQbeZ13FoWvbZk-dqZc0J0tQBAV5urVbQyheCKlH7w-nx63C_HFerj6CZibs9QelH/s320/IMG_4695.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX_-abjouXjZMeT_YQveVz0o_oR82VhHY8glH7gFeOQ36P0zjoceqJkLSDopJh4Ljwvhe0N-wbptvgHtPkjcfcGnwFI5BMFd7KJFR3zHtGH7fpI5lYueg1JldhqFU_XWWOmYh5xjNmLLj/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX_-abjouXjZMeT_YQveVz0o_oR82VhHY8glH7gFeOQ36P0zjoceqJkLSDopJh4Ljwvhe0N-wbptvgHtPkjcfcGnwFI5BMFd7KJFR3zHtGH7fpI5lYueg1JldhqFU_XWWOmYh5xjNmLLj/s320/IMG_4696.JPG" /></a></div><li>Christmas Music: Today is a great day to sing some Christmas songs. Children love to accompany themselves with instruments. If you have bells, shakers or other instruments at home that the children could play, this would be a great time to bring them in. Steer away from secular holiday songs and focus the children on songs that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.</li>
</ul>8) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's Prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
10) Optional Coloring Pages:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-62588792780574891192009-05-21T08:27:00.000-07:002010-11-09T07:56:52.657-08:00Unit 2: Lesson 24 JOHN and REVELATIONS1) Welcome Activity:<br />
<br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
3) Prayer...pray "your kingdom come"<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Saviour. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God in caring for his church. While the apostle John was fleeing from harm, God revealed to him visions of the future to comfort, encourage and teach God’s people.<br />
<br />
5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about John and Revelations. Read pages 484-491 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).<br />
<br />
6) Text: Today’s Text is: “ I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! Revelations 1:18<br />
<br />
<br />
7) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Paper Plate Angel: follow the attached directions to turn a paper plate into a beautiful angel. Supplies needed: a paper plate, pencil, scissors, tape or stapler,<br />
crayons, paint, and/or markers for decoration.<br />
<a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Angelplate.shtml">http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Angelplate.shtml</a></li>
<li>Seven Golden Lamp stands… use coloring page of the seven golden lamp stands. The children can color yellow/orange/red with crayons or markers. Or: sponge paint with yellow. Or: color and decorate with gold glitter. </li>
<li>This is my Father's World<br />
This is my Father's World, and to my listening ears,<br />
All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.<br />
This is my Father's World, I rest me in the thought,<br />
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, His hands the wonders wrought. </li>
</ul><br />
8) Closing Prayer...say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
10) Optional Coloring Pages:<br />
<br />
There are a LOT of coloring pages here based on Revelations: <a href="http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum_n.htm">http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum_n.htm</a><br />
Not all of them are appropriate to use for preschoolers, so look through them and choose carefully.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-26653431105784248172009-05-21T08:20:00.000-07:002010-11-09T07:57:17.532-08:00Unit 2: Lesson 23 MISSIONARY JOURNEYS1) Welcome Activity:<br />
<br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
3) Prayer... pray for all faithful missionaries working around the world today. Mention in specific those who are local or whom you support.<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Savior. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father”<br />
Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God in using sinful men to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, our Savior. <br />
<br />
5) Bible Story:<br />
Today’s Story is about Paul's missionary journeys. Read pages 476-483 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic). <br />
<br />
6) Text: Today’s Text is: “So the churches were strengthened in faith and grew daily in numbers” Acts 16:5<br />
<br />
7) Craft:<br />
<ul><li>Plastic Lid Boat... Supplies: A wide plastic lid ( like the lid from a margarine tub)A drinking strawConstruction paper, Kids scissors, A hole punch, Crayons/markers or stickers, A small ball of plasticine (note: playdough will work, but will go soggy in water!) 1. Cut a triangle from a piece of construction paper; this will be your sail. Decorate the sail with crayons, markers , and/or stickers 2. Punch three holes along one side of the triangle ( the tallest side) 3. Weave a staw ( the boats mast) through the holes. 4. Put a small ball of plasticine on the inside of the lid. Push the end of the drinking straw into the plasticine. You now have a cute little toy sailboat that can float in the water.</li>
<li>Styrofoam Cup Boat... you can make the same type of boat with a styrofoam cup instead. Before the lesson, cut the cups down to about 1/2 their height. Otherwise, do everything the same as above.</li>
<li>When your boats are complete, use them to sing this song!</li>
</ul>Paul Was Sailing Upon the Sea (To the tune of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore")<br />
<em>Paul was sailing upon the sea, Hallelujah; Paul was sailing upon the sea, Hallelujah</em><br />
<em>The wind and the rain blew the boat, Hallelujah; The wind and the rain blew the boat, Hallelujah</em><br />
<em>Paul and his friends jumped in the sea, Hallelujah; </em><em>Paul and his friends jumped in the sea, Hallelujah</em><br />
<em>Paul and his friends swam to shore, Hallelujah; </em><em>Paul and his friends swam to shore, Hallelujah</em><br />
<em>God saved them from the storm, Hallelujah; </em><em>God saved them from the storm, Hallelujah</em><br />
<em>God is watching over us, Hallelujah; </em><em>God is watching over us, Hallelujah</em><br />
<br />
8) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
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? <br />
10) Optional Coloring Pages:<br />
Paul is shipwrecked: <a href="http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a128.htm">http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a128.htm</a><br />
Shipwrecked: <a href="http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/pdf/New/Curr269.pdf">http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/pdf/New/Curr269.pdf</a><br />
There are several coloring pages from the life of Paul here: <a href="http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum_n.htm">http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum_n.htm</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-85774395005218005242009-05-21T08:19:00.000-07:002014-10-08T07:56:26.039-07:00Unit 2: Lesson 22 SAUL/PAUL1) Welcome Activity:<br />
<br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.<br />
<br />
<br />
3) Prayer... pray that our eyes too may be opened and we may have hearts filled with faith<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Savior. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father." Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God in using sinful men to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, our Savior.<br />
<br />
5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about the conversion of Paul - "A New Apostle". Read pages 466-475from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).<br />
<br />
6) Text: Today’s Text is: “...you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit..” Acts 9:17b<br />
<br />
7) Craft: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Scales fall of Paul's eyes and he can see.. see craft and pattern here: http://bibleclasscreations.blogspot.ca/2013/07/sauls-conversion.html</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Paul in Chains for the Gospel... using black or grey construction paper, cut strips. Give each of the children a glue stick and show them how to glue the first strip in a ring. Then, link the next strip through the first and glue to begin building a chain. Build the chains as long as you like and show the kids how chains were used to bind prisoners in jail. Use Ephesians 4:1 for today's text instead. </li>
</ul>
<br />
8) Closing Prayer...say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
10) Optional Coloring Pages:<br />
<br />
There are quite a few coloring pages from Paul's life here:<br />
<br />
http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a111.htm<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477014507144500476.post-75579937721741104792009-05-21T07:49:00.000-07:002010-11-09T07:58:02.201-08:00Unit 2: Lesson 21 The APOSTLES1) Welcome Activity:<br />
2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child<br />
<br />
<br />
3) Prayer...<br />
<br />
4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Savior. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father”<br />
Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God in using sinful men to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, our Savior. <br />
<br />
5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about the work of the Apostles. Read pages 466-483 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic). This section covers the work of the Apostles in a very general way. You may break the reading up before and after the craft if you want to read all of the stories.<br />
<br />
6) Text: Today’s Text is:<br />
<br />
<br />
7) Craft: <br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Apostles (to the tune of "Jesus Loves Me")Jesus called them one by one, Peter, Andrew, James and John,Next came Philip, Thomas too, Matthew and Bartholomew.James the one they called the less, Simon, also Thaddeus,The twelfth apostle Judas made, Jesus was by him betrayed.Yes, Jesus called them, Yes, Jesus called them,Yes, Jesus called them, The Bible tells me so.</li>
<li>Optional Additional Verses: Matthias then took Judas' placeTo preach to men of every race.Paul three preaching trips did makeAnd went to Rome for Jesus' sake.</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
8) Closing Prayer...say the Lord's prayer together with the children<br />
<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
<br />
10) Optional Coloring Pages:<br />
<br />
Here are all 12 disciples: <a href="http://www.suite101.com/view_image.cfm/190462">http://www.suite101.com/view_image.cfm/190462</a> and <a href="http://www.suite101.com/view_image.cfm/190465">http://www.suite101.com/view_image.cfm/190465</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0