Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 81

1) Welcome Activity:

• Musical instruments are perfect today!

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

3) Prayer...

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.

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.

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:
shout… thrust your arm up with a clenched fist like a general leading his army into battle
heart… use your finger to draw a heart on your chest
preserver…cradle your arms around your body like you keeping it safe

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.”
Psalm 81 (stanza 1, lines 1 & 2)

8) Craft:

• 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.
  *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.

• 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!

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

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?

Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 50

1) Welcome Activity: 

• a bucket of plastic animals, animal puppet or animal shapes in play dough

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

3) Prayer...  acknowledge the greatness of God who rules over all creation; how small are we in comparison with his majesty!

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.

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.

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:
do not... wag your finger like no-no
cattle... put your fingers up like horns
beast... form hand like claws
birds.. flap arms like wings


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

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. 

• every animal of the forest is mine.
• the cattle on a thousand hills are mine
• I know every bird in the mountains 
• all the creatures of the field are mine

Here are a few links to sites that have lots of animal crafts to choose from:  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/animals/

http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/

http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals.htm

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

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?

Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 47

1) Welcome Activity:

• 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?
• Musical instruments... especially good if you have "clackers" in the shape of clapping hands!

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, the king of all creation.

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.

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.

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:
clap your hands.. clap
loud.. cup your hands around your mouth like a megaphone
bow… bow
circles all the earth… draw a circle in the air with your finger as if making a circle around everything

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)

8) Craft:

• 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!
  * any simple instrument craft can work equally well here!

• 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.

• 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?

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

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?

Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 42

1) Welcome Activity: play with animals

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

3) Prayer... confess our need for God

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.

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.

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:
about to falter.. let your body sag as if you were very tired
streams of water… use your hand to trace a winding path like a stream of water
O God… point to heaven
Cry… trace the path of tears down your cheek
Temple… with your hands, make a peak, like the roof of the temple

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,
so my soul pants fro you, O God.” Psalm 42:1

8) Craft:

• 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.

like this one: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.myfreecolouringpages.com/animal_coloring_pages/deer.

or this: http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_animals/deer_1.htm

or this: http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_animals/deer_2.htm

• 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: http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/reindeerbw.htm

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

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?

Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 30

1) Welcome Activity: 

• 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

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 - He alone can make us stand strong

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.

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.

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:
shake...shake your body back and forth
you, Lord... point to heaven
mountain... make a mountain peak with your arms, fingertips together
hid your face... cover your face with your hands


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

8) Crafts:

• 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!

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

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?

Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 23

1) Welcome Activity:

• 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?
• Felt Board: set out pictures of sheep and a shepherd. See above.
• Toy animals: set out sheep and a few people. See above.
• Dress up: simple sheep masks and a shepherd's hook. See above.
  

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 being our good Shepherd

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.

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.

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:
- love…use your finger to draw a heart on your chest
lie down… put your hands together at one side on your head and lean your head like you are sleeping
streams... use one or both hands to trace a winding path like a stream
paths of righteousness… use your hand to draw a straight line from the center of your chest outwards and upwards

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

8) Craft:

• 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
• 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.
• 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.
  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!
  * Any other favorite sheep craft works well for this lesson.
  

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

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?

Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 16

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 many blessings that bring such joy to our hearts

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.

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.

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:
sorrows… use your fingers to draw a frown over your mouth
lips... point to your mouth
forsake you never... hold your arms tightly around your body
cup... curve one hand like your are holding a cup


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


8) Crafts:

• 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!

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

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?