Unit: Know Jesus

Session Title: Jesus Fed the People

Life Point: Jesus meets people’s needs.

Unit Verse: “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for our-selves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:42

Weekly Bible Verse: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11

Bible Passage: John 6:1-13

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Object Lesson: Basket of Food
Get a deep basket and fill it with Goldfish and croutons. Then take a napkin and cover the food up completely so you cannot tell there is food under the napkin (although these are pretty smart kids so they will probably know better LOL). Then on top of the napkin put 5 croutons and 2 goldfish. Use this as a visual to tell the story and then eat as a snack. (Put up an allergy alert!)
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Craft: Five Loaves and Two Fish
The website below explains how to do this cute craft. There is quite a bit of prep work.
Click here for more info

Game: 1 Fish 2 Fish
This is just a quick fun game to get some of the wiggles out of the kids…
▪ Have the children all line up and take the Fish Bag and some tape and tape a fish on the back of each child. Make sure they don’t see the name of the color on their back (there will be some more complicated names)
▪ The children have to go up to other children and say “1 Fish, 2 Fish, Am I A (name of a color) Fish?”
▪ When they get the answer right they can take the fish off their back and put it in the garbage. Then they just stay in the game to help the other kids guess their fish.
Click here for more info

Activity: Creative Drawing
Supplies: paper • pencils

Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil. Say: Draw something ordinary on your pa-per that you use every day—such as a spoon, a pencil, or a toothbrush. Encourage kids to draw something different from what others are drawing. Allow about a minute, and then have kids trade papers with people around them.

Say: You have a drawing of something ordinary. Now think of two or more ways you can use that item in a way that’s different from what it’s normally used for. For example, a spoon could help build a sand castle. A toothbrush can scratch your back. Allow about two to three minutes, encouraging kids to think creatively. There are no wrong answers.

Once everyone has finished, have kids trade their papers back and share their ideas with each other. Discuss the following:
▪ What are some reasons Jesus might work with ordinary people and things when he does miracles?
▪ What’s one ordinary thing about you that God could use in big ways?
Say: God used an ordinary boy and his ordinary lunch to feed 5,000 people. God can use you and your ordinary things to do something amazing, too! We trust God to provide, and sometimes he might even provide for others in marvelous ways through us.
Click here for more info

Unit: Jesus Loves Us

Session Title: Jesus Taught About Forgiveness

Life Point: People can ask Jesus and others to forgive them when they do wrong things.

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

Weekly Bible Verse: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” Ephesians 4:32

Bible Passage: Matthew 18:21-35

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Game: Oops
A great game to help students learn the memory verse for the week as well as teaching them about being kind and compassionate.
Source: Making Scripture Memory Fun

Game: Try Try Again
A game that talks about forgiveness and how it is not as easy as anticipated.
Source: The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry

Game: How Many Times?
Ask the children how many times they can do various tasks:
• How many pushups can you do?
• How many times can you bounce a ping pong ball on a paddle?
• How many times can you bounce a hacky sack off your knee?
• How many free throws can you score in a row?
Ask the children to attempt these tasks then ask if anyone can complete these tasks 490 times in a row without messing up. Let them try. The point of the game is to show that it is nearly impossible to do something 490 times. This idea ties in with today’s lesson. The exact tasks the kids do don’t matter as long as kids have fun moving and understand how hard it is to do some-thing 490 times.
Click here for more info

Craft: Forgiving Flowers
Children can be given paper and markers and colorful “buttons” for the middle of the flowers (to glue on). Encourage children to draw large flowers and then write F-O-R-G-I-V-E in each of the petals, so each flower should have 7 petals so one letter will fit on each petal! Give children some chenille wire for the stems, if desired.
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Lots of Ideas
The lesson plan below has lots of good ideas for crafts and activities for this lesson.
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Unit: Jesus Loves Us

Session Title: Peter Walked on Water with Jesus

Life Point: People can follow Jesus’ example and teachings.

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

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

Bible Passage: Matthew 14:22-33

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): Click here

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Game: Walking on Water
What you need:
• Footprints (you can use different colors or all the same color)
• Large open space
• Tape (clear packing tape is suggested)

What you do:
Set up the feet in a left – right pattern going across the floor. To add an extra challenge for the older kids, either make their foot adorned line longer or space it further apart making it harder to jump from foot to foot.

Line kids up (can be in groups by ages, small groups, etc.) and put everyone behind a certain mark. On the count of three, the first person in line runs along the feet, being careful to ONLY step on the feet. They must race to the end of the line, touch the ground and then return to tag the next person, relay style.

Once a child has completed the “walking on water” run, they should sit down so it is clear who still needs to run. Once everyone on the team is sitting, that team wins! Have fun!
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Snack: Walking on Water
Make walk-on-water snacks with blue frosting, graham crackers and Teddy Grahams. On each cracker, use one arms-up Teddy representing Peter saying, “Help!” and one arms-down Teddy representing Jesus walking calmly.
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Game: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Tape a picture of Jesus on the wall and put an empty bucket underneath the picture. Ask the children to line up about 10-15 feet away from the bucket (distance doesn’t really matter). The first person in line holds the large spoon and puts the plastic egg on it. Then they have to walk the egg over to the bucket without dropping it. The trick is – they have to keep their eyes on Jesus the entire time!!! If they take their eyes off of Jesus, they have to start over.

Once they drop the egg in the bucket, they pick the egg back up out of the bucket and go back for the next child to play. After everyone has had a chance to play, ask the children some fol-low-up questions like “What makes you doubt?” or “What would make you sink?” Then remind them that as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus and trusted in Him, he was able to do something no other man on earth has ever been able to do, walk on water. But, as soon as Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink.
Click here for more info

Craft: Faith Drawing
Let children work together to create a chalk drawing of FAITH and believing (on one side of the chalk board for one team of children) and NON FAITH and doubt on the other side of the board. Give the children ideas for their “drawings” such as happy or sad faces, Peter ON the water (FAITH) and Peter sinking (non-faith/doubt), FAITH=floater, DOUBT=sinker, etc! Title their drawings and let each team explain their drawings!
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Object Lesson: Sinking Egg?
Before class half fill two clear drinking glasses with water. Stir three tablespoons salt into one of the glasses. Label the salted water “faith” and the plain water “doubt.” Draw a face on an egg to use for this activity. Review the story and talk about what would happen if you tried to walk on water. As you do this then gently drop the egg into the “doubt” water and watch it sink. Then talk about how that Jesus walked on water while you drop the egg in the “faith” water. The egg should float. Continue to tell the story showing how Peter floated (faith glass) and then sank (doubt glass). Then describe some real-life situations that the children might face and let them place the egg in the “faith” or “doubt” glass according to the way they would act in the situation. Practice this at home first!
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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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

Craft: Protected Space Picture
Easy craft with a great message behind it. Website gives all the details.
Click here for more info

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…
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

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.
Click here for more info

Food: Baby Jesus Cupcakes
A simple cute cupcake that you can make for your kids or the older kids could do the top part.
Click here for more info

Food: Baby Jesus in a Blanket
Another cute snack for this lesson.
Click here for more info