Unit 1: Lesson 15 GIDEON

1) Welcome Activity:

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

3) Prayer... Praise God for his strength and almighty power. What a GREAT God we have!

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows how God works through Gideon. Gideon was a farmer, not a soldier, and he had many doubts about what God was telling him to do. But God uses the small and the weak to do mighty things for his people!

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about Gideon. Read pages 130-133 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is:
“The Lord turned to Gideon and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’” Judges 6:14

7) Craft:

• Trumpet craft: You can make trumpets with some yellow poster paper and a cardboard toilet paper tube. Cut out your horn shape on the paper. Each child will need two horn shapes. Then glue the shapes around the paper tube (use lots of white glue, not glue sticks.) This gives the horn a nice round shape where students can place their mouths.

All the pieces: The finished "trumpet"

I used construction paper here, but I would recommend poster paper so that the children can really play with these. My daughter wanted some buttons to press when she played her horn, so I hot-glue gunned some colorful buttons on the top. Lots of play value in this one!

• 300 trumpets and 300 broken jars... cut out a picture of a trumpet and a jar and glue them side by side on a page. Make a copy for each child. Give the children scraps of construction paper cut in jagged shapes/ triangles and have them glue them onto the jar to show how the jar was broken. Give them shiny gold/silver confetti shapes to glue on to the trumpet to show the shiny trumpet or use glitter glue. (photos: blank templates; finished craft - it's hard to tell on the photo, but my girl covered the trumpet with sparkle glitter.)

Here is a jar template: http://www.mssscrafts.com/crafts/takeonejar/largejar.htm

Here is a trumpet template: http://www.edupics.com/en-coloring-pictures-pages-photo-trumpet-i5957.html

• Gideon Door Hanger… choose your favorite coloring picture from the story of Gideon and have the children color it. Cut and glue onto a paper plate. Around the edges of the plate, write in black marker “God uses the small and weak to do mighty things!” Use a hole punch to put two holes about 3-4 inches apart near the top of the plate. Tie a string in both holes so that the hanger can be looped over a door knob. Glue the text on the bottom of each plate. The children can decorate the plate with stickers if you wish.
  You need: color pictures, markers/crayons, scissors, glue, paper plates, hole punch, string, stickers
  

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

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

10) Optional Coloring Pages:

http://www.bible-stories-library.com/media-files/gideon_midianites_color.pdf

http://www.bible-stories-library.com/media-files/gideon_angel_color.pdf

Unit 1: Lesson 14 JOSHUA

1) Welcome Activity:

2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song (go around the circle or table and introduce each child) and our Story Hour Theme song.
Learning our names song:
(sing to the tune of “The More we get together”
Thank you God for (name)
For (name), for (name)
Thank you God for (name)
We’re glad (s) he is here!

3) Opening Prayer... ask God to give us the strength and courage to face the challenges He sets before us, too.

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows how God works through Joshua. God tells Joshua time and time again to “Be strong and courageous” because God was going to use him to bring his people Israel into the promised land!

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about Joshua. Read pages 116-125 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is: “Be strong and courageous” Joshua 1:7a

7) Craft:

• Trumpet: You can blow this horn just like Joshua did at the walls of Jericho. http://www.makingfriends.com/biblecrafts/shofar.htm for a picture. Decorate a large piece of brown kraft paper with stamped or painted designs (the kids can colour using markers, crayons etc too). Apply glue to the back of the brown paper after decorating, and then wrap it while still wet round the party horn. Trim excess, bend the open end up a little as shown in photo above. Let dry.You need: New Year's/birthday Party Horn (dollar store,Brown Craft Paper, White Glue, Rubber Stamps and Ink Pads or Paint and Brushes, Glitter ,Scissors
  * also see trumpet ideas for Gideon (Lesson 1-10)
  
• You can use the trumpet crafts to march around a table and sing any/all of these songs.
  *Here We Go Round the Jericho Wall* (Tune: Mulberry Bush) Here we go round the Jericho wall Jericho wall, Jericho wall Here we go round the Jericho wall Early in the morning 2. This is the way we blow our horns 3. This is the way we quietly walk 4. This is the way we shout really loud 5. This is the way the walls fall down
  
• March ,March Around Jericho* (Tune: Row, Row, Row your Boat) March, march quietly Around Jericho Once a day for six straight days Only trumpets blow. March, march seven times On the seventh day When long trumpets blow, let yourself go And shout the walls away.
  
• Jericho's Wall Came Falling Down(to the Tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down") Joshua got a plan from God, plan from God, plan from God. Joshua got a plan from God, Hallelujah! Israel marched around the wall, 'round the wall, 'round the wall. Israel marched around the wall, Hallelujah! Seven priests blew seven horns, seven horns, seven horns. Seven priests blew seven horns, Hallelujah! All of Israel gave a shout, gave a shout, gave a shout. All of Israel gave a shout, Hallelujah! Jericho's walls came falling down, falling down, falling down. Jericho's walls came falling down, Hallelujah! Rahab saved her family, family, family. Rahab saved her family, Hallelujah!

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

9) Going Home: Sing the closing together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?
(sung to the tune of The More we Get Together,
just like the opening song)
We love to learn together,
Together, together
We love to learn together
And give thanks to God.
Also can be sung with: “sing” or “pray” or “work”


10) Optional Coloring Pages
http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5p.htm
http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_bible/jericho_nt.htm
http://www.bible-stories-library.com/media-files/walls_jericho_color.pdf

Unit 1: Lesson 13 ISRAEL IN THE DESERT (Worship)

1) Welcome Activity: building with blocks would be perfect today. If you can find some squares of fabric in blue, purple and red to add to the mix as "curtains", that would be even better, although goat hair, ram skins dyed red and the hide of sea cows may be a bit hard to come by!

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


3) Prayer... Ask God to give us hearts willing to worship him.

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows how God worked through Israel while they were in the desert. God gave Moses instructions for how to build a holy place - a tabernacle - where they could worship him rightly.

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about the Israelites building the tabernacle. Read pages 112-115 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is: "and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Exodus 40:34b

7) Craft:

• God provides a place for worship…talk about the tabernacle that the Lord told the people to build. What did it look like? What did the people do there? Show the children pictures of some of the items from the tabernacle. Relate that to our worship today. Where do we go? What do we do there? What things do we see in our church service? Have the children color the picture of the church. Draw a picture of “me” worshipping God.

http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/images/cpt4church.gif

• The tabernacle... Print out a picture of the tabernacle and remove all the items inside so that you only have the outside walls. Add the text to the bottom. Then, find and shrink pictures of as many of the items from inside the tabernacle as you can. Have the kids color the pictures and cut and paste them inside the walls of the tablernacle - talk about what each item is and what is taught the Israelites about God.

1. the ark of the covenant
2. the table of showbread
3. the golden lampstand
4. the altar of incense
5. the altar of burnt offering
6. the washing basin
7. the priestly garments
8. the tent of meeting
9. the holy of holies

• A fun song to sing as you are working on your craft:

This is the Way We Go to Church
(sung with the same tune as “this is the way we brush our teeth”)
This is the way we go to church, go to church, go to church
This is the way we go to church every Sunday morning.
This is the way we praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
This is the way we praise Him every Sunday morning.
This is the way we bow and pray, bow and pray, bow and pray
This is the way we bow and pray every Sunday morning.

.... you can add modify this song and use it to sing about the Israelites and the things they did in the temple, too. (For example, This is the way the priests light the candle...)

• Trust in the Shelter of your Wings... here is a nice craft idea that is a little more abstract. If you have good illustrations of the tablenacle and spend time looking at them with the children, you could do this craft as a follow up. Doing only this craft will leave the little ones walking away from the lesson thinking that the tabernacle is a kind of bird!!

http://www.newchurchvineyard.org/religion/the-tabernacle/activities/Project_Make-Two-Wings.pdf ... based on Psalm 61:4 "I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of your wings.

• A Model of the Tabernacle... there are several different sites that include instructions for making a simple model of the tabernacle. This would be a very useful learning tool and could be used over and over again. If you are able to make these items, you could set them out for the children to explore and talk about and play with instead of doing a craft. Just have some coloring sheets available for those who like to color and to send home with anyone else. This one is simple and inexpensive: http://www.squidoo.com/tabernacle

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

9) Going Home: Sing the closing together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?
10) Optional Coloring Pages
the tabernacle: http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a149.htm

the ark of the covenant: http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a56.htm

the high priest: http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a57.htm

the holy of holies: http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/5a109.htm

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

1) Welcome Activity:

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

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

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

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows how God worked through Israel while they were in the desert. God brought the people out of Egypt with great and mighty wonders and parted the Red Sea for them to pass through. Now, God gives them 10 commandments to teach the people how they are to live. Are they obedient to God's commands?

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

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

7) Craft:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


10) Optional Coloring Pages

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

Unit 1: Lesson 11 ISRAEL IN THE DESERT (General)

1) Welcome Activity:

2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child
(sing to the tune of “The More we get together” )
Thank you God for (name)
For (name), for (name)
Thank you God for (name)
We’re glad (s) he is here!

3) Opening Prayer... ask God today to give us obedient hearts and to help us fight the temptation to grumble and complain

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Hebrews 12:1&2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… look to Jesus.” Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows how God worked through Israel while they were in the desert. God brought the people out of Egypt with great and mighty wonders and parted the Red Sea for them to pass through. Now, God prepares the people to enter into the promised land. Are they happy and obedient to God? Let’s find out!


5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about Israel in the Desert. Read pages 102-105 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).


6) Text: Today’s Text is: “And God spoke all these words, ‘I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:2

7) Craft:

• God Guides His People… Give each child one small paper plate. Have the children decorate the one side with cotton balls (this is the cloud by day) and the other side with strips of yellow/orange/red tissue paper flames (this is the pillar of fire by night). When the plate is decorated, give each child a clothes pin to clip on the bottom of the plate for a handle. Take some time to go on a pretend "march" through the desert. Act out marching, then stopping at night to eat and drink, then waking up in the morning to find manna, then marching again. As you march, use the sign and flip it from pillar of cloud to pillar of flame.
(photos coming soon)
• God Provides for his People… make a quail puppet from a paper bag. Cut small yellow triangle for a beak, a small black cirle (or buttons) for eyes and lots of brown feather shapes. Allow the children to glue and decorate the feathers as they wish. Have them glue the eyes and beak on the front flaps so that you can use it as a puppet. Today’s text can be glued near the bottom of the bag.

See this site for a picture:
http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/birdcrafts.html
8) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children
9) Going Home: Sing the closing together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?
(sung to the tune of The More we Get Together,
just like the opening song)
We love to learn together,
Together, together
We love to learn together
And give thanks to God.
Also can be sung with: “sing” or “pray” or “work”
10) Optional Coloring Pages...
Gathering manna:
http://www.sermons4kids.com/manna-from-heaven-colorpg.htm
Quail:
http://www.coloring.ws/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.coloring.ws/bible/quail.gif