Unit: Jesus Loves Us

Session Title: Jesus Healed People

Life Point: People are important to Jesus and He cares about them.

Unit Verse: “This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.” 1 John 2:3

Weekly Bible Verse: “When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6:34

Bible Passage: Matthew 8:1-13

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Game: Miracles of Jesus Match Game
Cards are on the website for this classic game. I would make two or three sets if you have a larger class.
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Craft: Jesus Heals Sign
The original craft for this is on Oriental Trading but you could easily recreate with foam or paper and real bandages.
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Craft: Jesus has the Power to Heal Bracelets
Use the pdf below to print out and have the kids color. You may have to add some paper to make the bracelets fit.
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Craft: Jesus Miracles Lapbook (Older Grades)
All the instructions are on the website below. This will take some prep work before Sunday.
Click here for more info

Unit: Jesus Loves Us

Session Title: John the Baptist Told About Jesus

Life Point: The Holy Spirit was present at Jesus’ baptism and is present at people’s baptisms today.

Unit Verse: “This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.” 1 John 2:3

Weekly Bible Verse: “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26

Bible Passages: Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:1-22; John 1:19-37

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Coffee Filter Dove
Easy craft to make doves out of coffee filters. Instructions and template on the site below.
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Illustration: Coin Cleanse
This is a great easy illustration for baptism. I think this would work well for 2nd grade and older.
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Object Lesson: Baptism
A great object lesson to teach children about the importance of baptism. The site below will have a video that will walk you through all the steps of this object lesson. You of course do not have to follow her dialogue word for word but it’s a good suggestion of what to say.
Click here for more info

Craft: Follow in Jesus’s Footsteps
Easy craft to make and would make a great wall art for your classroom. Print off a footprint outline (you can search Google for one) and then have each kid decorate it and write one way they can do something Jesus did. Talk about how Jesus showed us examples of how to live a Godly life such as baptism.
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Unit: The Bible is True

Session Title: Jonah

Life Point: The Bible is God’s message to people.

Unit Verse: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Weekly Bible Verse: “Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5

Bible Passage: Jonah

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Jonah in the Stained-Glass Fish
This is a very cute craft that I think your students will love making. All the instructions are on the website below. It takes some prep but it is pretty awesome.
Click here for more info

Craft/Game: The Whale Catches Jonah
Below is the picture. The website it came from was in a different language so I could not get the instructions but from the picture it looks self-explanatory. You will need to try to find blue solo cups and then create the parts that make the whale and then a Jonah character. You will use yarn to connect Jonah to the bottom of the cup. Then the children can play and try to have the whale catch Jonah.

Game: Big Fish
Ask the children to stand in a line and have each child hold onto the waist of the child in front of them. Tell kids to pretend they are a big fish swimming in the ocean. The person who is the head of the fish will try to catch the tail by tagging the person at the back of the line. Encourage all children to hold on tightly as the fish twists and turns. When the “tail” is the finally tagged the first child will become the new tail and the second person in line is now the head.
Note: If you have lots of kids you could take turns in groups playing. Also move tables and chairs out of the way to give you lots of room.
Book: The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry

Craft or Way to tell story: Balloon Whale
You can use this to tell the story (which is how the website uses it) or each child could make their own. The website says that this if for preschool but I think any age would have fun with this!
Note: please post an allergy alert up for latex if you are going to use as a craft.
Click here for more info

Unit: The Bible Is True

Session Title: Daniel and the Lions’ Den

Life Point: The Bible helps people understand how God wants them to live.

Unit Verse: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Weekly Bible Verse: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Bible Passage: Daniel 6

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Lion Heart Craft
The website below has the instructions for this easy craft. You could write the bible verse on the back as well.
Click here for more info

Activity: Act Out the Story
Use these masks to act out the story for this week. Younger kids would enjoy this.
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Craft: Lion Origami
The kids in your class will love this craft and it is easy to do. Most the kids probably will know how to fold it but the instructions are on the website if you need help to figure it out.
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Craft: Protected Space Picture
Easy craft with a great message behind it. Website gives all the details.
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Game: Daniel in the Lions‘ Den (Rock Paper Scissors)
This game is easy and kids like to play rock paper scissors. The breakdown of motions that go with the story are on the website.
Click here for more info

Snack: Lions‘ Den Snacks
Here are some snack ideas for this story. Please remember to use an allergy sign if you use either of these snack ideas.
Snack 1 Option

Snack 2 Option

Unit: The Bible Is True

Session Title: Daniel Chose to Obey

Life Point: The Bible has truth and meaning for people.

Unit Verse: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Weekly Bible Verse: “Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and statutes I am giving you today.” Deuteronomy 27:10

Bible Passage: Daniel 1

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Story Mural
Have each child take a large piece of paper and draw the story across the large piece of paper. You could even break the story up in sections and write a part of the story at the top of each paper and then have each child draw that section of the story.

Craft: Fruit Bowl Placemat
Cut out different types of fruit (we have fruit die cuts downstairs in the preschool resource room). Then draw a bowl (half circle) for each child. Then have the child cut the bowls out and glue the bowl to a larger piece of construction paper. The children will pick out the fruit that they would like to include in their fruit bowl. On each piece of fruit they can they can write a way for them to make wise choices and then they can write the weekly Bible verse on the basket or the space above the fruit bowl. One of the leaders in your room can laminate them in the Preschool area while you share the Bible story so that they can be used as placemats. If you would like to laminate you will need to turn on the laminator before class starts. It needs about 20 minutes to heat up.

Snack: Fruits and Vegetables Tasting
Bring in different fruits and vegetables for the children to taste. You could also bring in dried fruits. Just remember to put a sign up for allergies.
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Game: Scavenger Hunt
Hide vegetables (real or plastic) in small batches around the room; hide at least one vegetable per kid. Allow the group to move around the room together, searching for the vegetables. Give instructions such as “look higher,” “look lower,” “move to the left,” “turn around,” and so on. When kids find vegetables, they may each claim one and bring it to you. Allow kids to hunt until each kid has claimed a vegetable.

Game: Mystery Bags
Place a variety of different vegetables and fruits into opaque plastic bags, one kind of food per bag. Invite a child to reach into the bag and feel the mystery food. She will then describe what she feels, and the other kids will guess what the food is. If they are correct, select a new volunteer, allowing him to reach into a new bag and describe the next food. If they are incorrect, allow the kid feeling the food to guess what it is. If she is incorrect, open the bag and show every-one the food. For more of a challenge, consider prepping the foods in different ways before placing them into the bags. You can try slicing, peeling, or chopping different foods to make them harder to guess.

Game: Toss the Fruit
Form two teams of kids. At one end of the room, place two baskets. Instruct the kids to line up at the other end of the room. Provide toy fruits and vegetables for each team, one per kid. Kids will take turns tossing their vegetables or fruits into their team’s basket. If a kid misses, he must toss again until his fruit or vegetable lands in the basket and stays in. Then that child will move to the end of the line, and the next kid will toss her fruit or vegetable.

Game: Tossed Salad
If you are using chairs, place them in a circle. As kids arrive, give each one the name of a vegetable (carrot, zucchini, lettuce, onion, celery). Tell kids to stand (or sit) in a circle. Choose one kid to stand in the middle of the circle. Call out a vegetable; kids with that name will switch places. The one in the middle tries to get one of the vacated places. Whoever ends up without a place stands in the middle. After a few turns, call out two vegetables to switch. Call out: “Tossed salad!” Everyone switches places. Comment that vegetables will be a part of the Bible story.

Unit: The Bible Is True

Session Title: Josiah and the Lost Scroll

Life Point: The Bible will last forever.

Unit Verse: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Weekly Bible Verse: “Lord, Your word is forever.” Psalm 119:89

Bible Passage: 2 Kings 22-23

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Scroll Memory Verses
Just like the Bible was written on scrolls back in Josiah’s time, you can ask the children to write the memory verse on a scroll. You would need to get tan or brown paper and then maybe tear and wrinkle it some. You can use dowel rods or any other kind of rod to help roll the scroll up. You will also want something to tie the two ends together. We also have a scroll die cut in the Preschool Resource Room that you can use for an easier option.

Craft: Bookmark
Make a bookmark to help children mark a special place in their Bibles. They could also make a bookmark to give to another person. The children can write the memory verse on their book-mark or other verses to help them remember important things about the Bible.

Game: Bible Tag
Group kids into 2 teams. Invite the kids to play “Bible Tag” and explain that the game is similar to “freeze tag.” When a player is tagged by someone from the other team, the player must freeze in place. Kids must tag their frozen teammate to free them, they must say “The Bible is God’s Word.” Tell the students that the team with the fewest frozen players when you call time is the winner for that round. You can play many rounds.
Source: Super, Duper Fun and Exciting Absolutely Thought Igniting Bible Activities for Kids

Game: The Book That Couldn’t Be Lost
One child will be “it” and will cover their eyes. Another child will take a Bible and hide it. When the child who is “it” gets closer to the Bible the rest of the class will clap faster and when they are far away they will clap slower. After playing a couple times talk about how over all the years people have tried to hide the Bible or say it is not true but we know that God’s Word could never be hidden and it is always true.
Source: 1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to the Bible

Unit: Celebrate Jesus’ Birth

Session Title: Mary Visited Elizabeth

Life Point: People were excited that Jesus would be born.

Unit Verse: “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Weekly Bible Verse: “The whole earth will worship you and sing praise to you. They will sing praise to your name.” Psalm 66:4

Bible Passage: Luke 1:39-56

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Keeping Mum (2nd-5th)
The phrase ‘keeping mum’ means: to not say, to keep the secret. In this game, you need to try to describe a bible character without mentioning their name (if you want to make it harder: you can’t refer directly to them when you describe them) For example, Peter – those people who hung out with Jesus all the time, a crow crowing 3 times, prisoner released by an angel…
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Craft: Praise Shakers
Children will make shakers so they can praise the Lord with joyful noise. You can make the shakers with cups or plates and then put beans inside. Sing Joy to World or other Christmas carols while they make music with their shakers.

Children’s Christmas Prayer
Give children a copy of this prayer or have them make cards with it.

Gentle Jesus born this day
In a manger filled with hay.

We your Christmas children be
Help us now your love to see.

Gentle Jesus, come today
Be our shepherd, Lord we pray.

Gentle Jesus, come this hour
Fill us with your love and power.

You fell asleep in Mary’s arm
God kept you safe from all alarm.

Gentle Jesus, come today
Be our Shepherd now we pray.
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Craft: Praise Parade Acrostic
The children will complete an acrostic of the word PARADE with a word representing something that we should praise God for. (For example: P=parents; A=adults; R=rain; A=animals; D=doctors; E=electricity.
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Craft: Christmas Praise Poster
Make posters that have a phrase that praises Jesus during this season.
Examples are:
Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
Joy to World! The Lord Has Come!
A Savior is Born!
Oh Come Let us Adore Him!
Glory to God in the Highest!
Click here for more info

***BECAUSE WE ARE OUT THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR THE BIRTH OF JESUS***

Craft: Paper Bag Manger
The website gives the instructions for this cute craft.
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Craft: Jesus in a Manger Fingerprint Craft
The website gives a good description as well as a picture for how to do this craft.
Click here for more info

Craft: A Present for Jesus
Instructions for a cute craft on what you would give baby Jesus on his birthday. This would be great for younger kids.
Click here for more info

Game: Put the Baby in the Manger
A lot like pin the tail on the donkey. The website has all the printouts you need for this fun game that your kids will love to play.
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Craft: Nativity Sun Catcher
This craft may be better for 2nd grade and older. It is a little complicated and would need some prep work behind it but is very cool and something they can hang in their house for years to come.
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Game: Search for the Star
Hide stars around the room and have the students search for the stars. Talk about how a star led the wise men to see Jesus.

Craft: Crown
Make a crown like the wise men wore. Write the saying “Wise Men Still Seek Him” on it.
Crown PDF

Craft: Gifts Ornaments
The template for these ornaments are on the site below. Print the black and white and let the kids color them. You could do them at the beginning of class and laminate them as well.
Click here for more info

Craft: Paint Stick Wise Men
A cute activity for kids to make to display in their house next Christmas. We do not have a large supply of paint sticks so you will need to go to a paint store and see if they will donate.
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Food: Baby Jesus Cupcakes
A simple cute cupcake that you can make for your kids or the older kids could do the top part.
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Food: Baby Jesus in a Blanket
Another cute snack for this lesson.
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Unit: Celebrate Jesus’ Birth

Session Title: Angels spoke to Mary and Joseph

Life Point: God chose a family for Jesus.

Unit Verse: “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Weekly Bible Verse: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Angel Ornament
This craft idea is in the 3rd and 4th grade material but here it is for other classes as well.
Click here for more info

Craft: Paper (Coffee Filter) Angel
Ornament made from a coffee filter, we may have some filters if you request from Tricia. You can replace the foam ball with a wood ball. All the instructions are on the website below.
Click here for more info

Craft: Doily Angel
This could be an ornament or just a standing decoration for a table.
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Snack/Craft: Hersey Kisses Angel
This is a cute snack/craft for kids to make for themselves or to give to others.
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Craft: Handprint Angel
This would be so cute for the younger kids to do.
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Unit: Celebrate Jesus’ Birth

Session Title: Prophets Told about Jesus

Life Point: People knew to expect Jesus because prophets told about Him.

Unit Verse: “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Weekly Bible Verse: “The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

Bible Passage: Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Isaiah 9:6 Ornament
Students will make an ornament to remind them of the prophecy Isaiah had about Jesus’ birth.
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Craft: Jesus Ornament
This craft is great and something easy the kids can do to put on their trees. I would say this is more of a 3rd and 4th grade craft since there is writing and permanent markers. You can find ornaments like the ones in the pictures at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
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Craft: A Child is Born Ornament
Cute tree ornament made out of craft sticks. You could paint the craft sticks beforehand or leave them as is. This craft will take prep work to get the craft sticks cut to size.
Click here for more info

Craft: Names of Jesus Advent Chain
Children will make an advent chain that will help them remember the names of Jesus and remind them of the reason for the season. All the instructions are on the website below. This is a craft that would require a lot of prep or need to do with older students since there is a lot of writing involved.
Click here for more info

Beginning or Ending Activity: What is His Name?
Students will complete the worksheet by looking up the verses to find the names of Jesus. You could also do this as an activity with the whole class to look up the verses.
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Game: Blind Artist
Ask your class to form pairs. You will need one blindfold for each pair of children, a washable marker, and one sheet of butcher paper for each pair large enough for both children to draw on together. Ask the partners to choose which person will be the blindfolded person. Next, give each child a marker and ask the partners to stand or sit next to each other. Tell them, “When I say, ‘go’ you will have three minutes to draw your best picture of baby Jesus in the manger.” Say, “go” and allow for 3 minutes.

At the end of three minutes, say, “Stop.” Have the blindfolded children take off their blindfolds to see their pictures. The pictures drawn by those children without the blindfold should be noticeably better.

The nation of Israel was in a state of great darkness. But Isaiah gave them a message of great hope–the Messiah, Jesus, would come. He would take them out of darkness and show them light. Before we came to know Jesus, we were in spiritual darkness. Like our pictures we drew while blindfolded, our lives would be a disaster apart from Jesus’ glorious light. When we receive the light of the Gospel of Jesus, the blindfold is removed; and the Lord can make something very beautiful out of our lives.
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Craft: What’s In A Name Banner?
For this craft, you will need a straw for each child, string (approximately 12”) for each child, scissors, light weight tissue or paper, glitter and glue. Cut a 1/2” slit on each side of the straw. Tie knots on each end of the string. Slide the knotted ends of the string into the slits in the straw, one on each end to hold the banner up. Cut the paper to the width of the straw and leave it about 12” long or longer. Fold and glue the top edge of the paper over the straw.

Ask the children to choose their favorite name from the list of names for Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 and write the name on the banner along with the scripture reference, Isaiah 9:6. Decorate with the tissue, glitter, or perhaps sequins, stickers, or other decorative things to make their banner look unique.
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Unit: God Will Help Me

Session Title: A Couple Helped Elisha

Life Point: God shows His love to all people.

Unit Verse: “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Weekly Bible Verse: “Serve one another through love.” Galatians 5:13

Bible Passage: 2 Kings 4:8-37

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Craft: Loving Chain
Basic paper chain but on each link you have the kids write a way they can love others.
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Craft: Windsock to Hang In Bedroom
The link below will help you to make a basic windsock. You could print the bible verse on the windsock before making it or have them write it and decorate it. Have them hang it in their bedroom since the story takes place in the bedroom but it will also be an everyday reminder to serve others through love.
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Craft: Love one Another Hanger
Another thing for the kids to hang in their room to remind them to love one another. Template for the craft is on the website below.
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