Unit: God Loves the World

Session Title: Paul’s Second Journey

Life Point: God wants people to pray for missionaries
Unit Verse: “Give thanks to the God of heaven! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26
Weekly Bible Verses: “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request.” Ephesians 6:18
Bible Passage: Acts 16:1-5; 17:16-34; 18:1-11

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Game: M and M Get to Know You
Fun game using M and M’s to get to know your new class. Sitting in a circle each child pulls an M&M out of the bag and shares about themselves according to the chart.
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Game: Get to know You Bingo
Bingo game while getting to know people in the class.
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Game: Would You Rather?
This classic get to know you game is fun for kids and you can make it more active by having them go to different sides of the room for the two different answers. Attached are some questions that you could ask.
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Craft/Game: Get to know you bracelets
Each child gets one pipecleaner filled with beads of one color(to give to others) and one empty pipecleaner (to hold beads they collect for themselves).To get a bead they have to go to another child and say “Hi, my name is ____. And something about themselves”.Afterwards they can make their bracelets.
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Craft: Faithbook
Students create a “facebook” page about themselves to help you get to know them better. I did this with my first graders last year and they loved it. Any age would love to do this because they all know what facebook is. After everyone creates one you could hang them up in your room so others could look at them.
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Craft: All About Me Coloring Pages
This craft is pretty self explanatory. Like the faith book you could have them hanging in the room to let the other kids get to know each other. PDF is in the link below
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Way to Introduce the Story
Before class cut five small pieces of paper for each student. In class ask the students to use the papers to write down their five most favorite things in the whole world. After everyone has done this then ask them to put the cards in order with the most important thing first. Lead the discussion so that the children will see how that the most important things seem to take the most time, money, etc. Hopefully some of the children will have put “God” on one of their papers. I f they haven’t then give them an extra card so that they can do so now (without embarrassing them). “In today’s story we are going to learn about a city that thought that their idols were the most important things in the world. (Idol- anything that is worshipped above God -often a statue or carving)”
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Craft: Thankful Cross
When you scroll to the bottom of the link below you will see this craft laid out. It is pretty simple but takes some prep work if you are going to do with younger kids.
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Craft: Cards for Missionaries
Find out the names of some of the missionaries that your congregation supports and share facts about their work with the students. You might write notes or send a picture of your class to the missionaries.
Click here for more information.

Unit: God Loves the World

Session Titles: Paul and Barnabas

Life Point: God wants people to be involved in His work
Unit Verse: “Give thanks to the God of heaven! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26
Weekly Bible Verses: “We are God’s coworkers” 1 Corinthians 3:9
Bible Passage: Acts 14

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Craft: Door Hangers
Make a door hanger with the memory verse. You could keep it to put on your door or give it to someone to share with others.
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Craft: Sharing Bracelets
Make bracelets for the students to wear and share the truth. Remind the kids to be bold and share the truths with others. You can do this with the letter beads. Some examples of acronyms are:
FROG – Fully Rely on Jesus
GAP – God Answers Prayers
LIFE – Living in Faith Everyday
WWJD – Walking with Jesus Daily
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Game: Helium Stick
This game will help children to have to work together and teach them to trust each other. To lead children in Helium Stick, instruct them to stand in a circle, hold their arms parallel to the ground and stick out their pointer fingers. Place a light-weight but large object on their outstretched fingers, such as a hula hoop or stick. Tell them they must lower it to the ground without their fingers losing contact. You will find that children are usually surprised when the stick seems to float upwards although they are trying to will it down–hence the name “helium” stick. Help the children develop a sound strategy for moving the “stick” down, such as counting and moving it inch-by-inch or dropping one side at a time.
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Game: Snake Game
This is another game where children will have to learn how to work together and trust each other. If you watch the video, it will show you how to play and they explain it as well.
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Craft: Letter to a Friend
Barnabas was a friend who trusted God and stood up for Paul. Do you have a good friend like that? Write a note to a friend and tell them how much you appreciate them. Also, think about how you can be a better friend to others.
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Unit: Learn and Tell

Session Title: Paul’s First Journey

Life Point: People should tell the World about Jesus
Unit Verse: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Weekly Bible Verses: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” Mark 16:15
Bible Passage: Acts 13

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Craft: Time to Tell Clock
This craft is pretty simple. It would be just finding cds to use whether it be blank ones or used ones. You could use the verse to write on there or a simplified part of the verse. You could also add a ribbon to be able to hang the clock.
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Craft: Cards for Missionaries
Find out the names of some of the missionaries that your congregation supports and share facts about their work with the students. You might write notes or send a picture of your class to the missionaries.
Click Here for more information.

Craft: Mission Flags
This would be a good way to remind the students of the different places to pray for. You don’t have to do just countries but could use state flags as well.
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Game: Telephone
A classic game that is about telling people. This would be a great game to help drive the point about telling people but also making sure your message is clear so it does not get messed up between people

Craft: Speak the Truth Megaphone (1^st and 2^nd)
Make a paper megaphone that helps kids to remember to always speak the truth. There is a die-cut for a megaphone in the preschool resource room. You can have the students decorate the megaphone with stickers or rhinestones. You could also have them draw places that might be hard to talk about Jesus. Of course have them write their memory verse, speak the truth on the megaphone.

Craft: Telling Others about God License Plates
The lesson attached does a great job of explaining how to do this activity. It is a great way to show children how we can tell about God everywhere we go just like personalized license plates tell us about people who are driving the cars.
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Unit: Learn and Tell 

Session Titles: Saul Told About Jesus

Life Point: People need and can receive God’s salvation
Unit Verse: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Weekly Bible Verses: “Repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out.” Acts 3:19
Bible Passage: Acts 9:19-31

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Craft: Saul to Paul Mask
Easy craft to do for younger grade. All instructions and template on website.
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Activity: Name Transformer
To start this activity – let children first be silly and transform their own names, using ONLY the letters that are in their names but switching the letters around to make a silly name. Then tell children about Saul’s name being changed to Paul after he met Jesus and let children make a banner that will hang over their shoulder with a name that might describe a child of God — such as Faithful, Christian, Believer, or ideas from our lesson today.
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Activity: Blindfold Drawing
Have the kids be blindfolded and then ask them to draw different things. Some can be hard and some easier. The kids will have a great laugh looking at what they drew but will also understand what its like to be blind.
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Craft: Paul in the Basket

What you will need:
Snack-Sized Paper Plates
Scissors
Hole Punch
Yarn
Colored Pencils
Card Stock (Heavy Paper)

What to do:

1. Cut paper plates in half. Place to halves top side to top side to form a basket, and glue them together. Punch holes around the edges.
2. In class have your children color the “baskets” and then thread yarn through the holes leaving about one foot of yarn on each side of the basket. Tie the ends together over the basket.
3. Have your children draw and color a picture of Paul and place it in the basket.
4. Use the craft to act out the story.

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Game: Basket Relay
Cable car challenge…this activity can be conducted using a few methods depending on number of students and available resources. Have students work in partners or teams, and explain that their job is to transport as many (stuffed toys, balls, balloons, whatever you choose) from one side of the room to another (or open space outdoors if better).

However, they must move the items using a basket and a rope. They can rig up a pulley system, stand on a chair, lower from one angle to another, however they opt to do, but must use the baskets. For younger students, hold a relay race where kids run back and forth filling baskets with items. After the game, gather kids students and explain that in today’s story they will hear about a person who took a ride in a basket!
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Unit: Learn and Tell 

Session Titles: Jesus and the Woman at the Well 

Life Point: God has a plan for every person
Unit Verse: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Weekly Bible Verses: “I know the plans I have for you… plans for your well being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Bible Passage: John 4:1-30

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Craft: Cup of Living Water
White Paper
Paper 9-oz. Party Cups
Crayons or Colored Paper
Scissors
Hole Punch
Blue Card Stock
Yarn

What to do:
Before class cut water drop shapes from blue card stock so that they fit inside the cup. Make enough water drops so each craft has enough to write one word of the verse on each water drop.

1. Punch holes at the top of each water drop.
2. In class have your children string the water drops in order on the string tying each water drop to the string before they add another water drop.
3. Have your children color the cup and write the Bible verse on one side. Punch a hole in the bottom of the cup and string the yarn through the hole. Tape the string to the bottom of the cup.

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Craft: Woman at the Well Spinning Craft
This craft is going to be better for 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th graders because it is semi-complicated. All the instructions as well as the printables are on the website. It is pretty cool but will be time consuming so plan accordingly.
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Game: Running on Thirsty (Could be Messy)
Teach children about the woman at the well from John 4.
For this game, every child will need two cups (one with water, one without) and a drinking straw.
Have kids stand against one wall, and give each child a straw. Place cups with water on the ground near each child while placing empty cups on the floor about 10 feet away. Demonstrate how to hold water in the straw by dipping it in the cup, plugging the top with a finger, and lifting the straw. On “go,” give kids 60 seconds to see how much water they can transfer to their empty cups using only their straws.

When time’s up, read aloud John 4:7-10.
Then say: Talk about a time you were really thirsty and how you quenched your thirst.
Read aloud John 4:11-14. Say: The woman drew water at the well, just like you drew water with your straws. Jesus, though, talked about a different kind of water.

Kids love our Sunday School resources!
Ask:

• What “water” do you think Jesus talked about?
• What kinds of “thirsts” do you think Jesus’ water could quench?

Hold up a cup of water and say: Just like the water the woman got out of the well, the water in this cup will run out but Jesus’ living water never runs out!

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Craft/Food: Refreshing Treat
Let each child choose a bottle of water or juice and give them a long piece of paper and markers to write and decorate the bottle with JESUS GIVES US LIVING WATER. Tape their piece of decorated paper onto the bottle to remember today’s lesson.
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Illustration: Crackers and Water (Older Kids)
I need four volunteers to come upfront for a cracker eating challenge. If you want to be picked, you have to like crackers.

(Choose four volunteers)

(Optional – During the competition, play a countdown video from freecountdowns.net. Another option is to play upbeat background music.)

(Get out the box of saltine crackers. Have preteens stand near the box. Place four bottles of water near the crackers.)

The four of you are going to race and see who can eat the most saltine crackers in two minutes. Whoever completely swallows the most crackers wins. You might notice the water bottles near the crackers. Well, you can’t have any water. Sorry. The rest of you in the audience, your job is to cheer for all four of them. Make some noise.

Ready, set, go!

After the competition congratulate the winner.

Say – I have a question for all four of you. What does your mouth feel like right now? (Get responses) How thirsty are you? (Get responses) What would you think if I said you couldn’t have any water till after church? (Get responses) Well, that wouldn’t be fair of me, would it? I can see you’re very thirsty, so each of you, go ahead and take a bottle of water to drink. Enjoy! You can go back to your seats now.

[Volunteers return to their seats]

**Please play this game carefully.  I would suggest you have to finish one cracker before you can go to the next one so they do not stuff too many crackers into their mouths and get choked.**

Unit: LEARN AND TELL

Session Titles: Jesus and Zacchaeus

Life Point: People can love others like Jesus loves them
Unit Verse: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Weekly Bible Verses: “Let us love one another because love is from God.” 1 John 4:7
Bible Passage: Luke 19:1-10

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Craft: Finger Print Tree
You can print off a trunk or have the students draw a trunk and branches. Then have students finish the tree off with fingerprints. Then you can either have the verse printed out or have them write it at the bottom of the page. The tree will remind them of Zacchaeus and remember to love people who are even hard to love at times.
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Craft and Book: What if Jesus came to my house?
Ask the children to draw pictures about what they would do with Jesus if he came to visit their house, just like he went to Zacchaeus’ house.  Share and discuss the drawings.  If time allows, you may want to share the book If Jesus Came To My House by Joan Gale Thomas.  The story ends with the little boy realizing that Jesus probably won’t come to his house in human form, but that he can serve others in honor of Jesus.
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Object Lesson: Magnets
Bring two magnets that repel on one side and attract on the other side. Have the magnets face the repelling side. Try to slide the magnets together. As they repel, share how most people feel like this towards people who are unlovable. Now turn the magnets so that they attract. Explain that Jesus wants us to love the unlovable and pray for those who want to hurt us. Show the kids how the magnets stick together.
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Game: Heart Run
You can illustrate the need to love others, including enemies, by placing hearts, cut from construction paper, on one end of the room. Members of each team take turns running to the hearts, taping one on to their shirts and running back. The team that completes this relay first wins. You can use this race to discuss how the students may not like everyone on their team but they had to work together to win.
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Craft: The One Who Unites Hearts
The site has the pattern for the craft as well as how to do it. You could print the memory verse on the hearts or on the cross.
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Unit: HELP OTHERS

Session Titles: The Rich Young Ruler

Life Point: People are responsible for their choices and can choose to obey God
Unit Verse: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Weekly Bible Verses: “We will worship the Lord our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:24
Bible Passage: Luke 18:18-23; Matthew 19:16-26

Extras from LifeWay (GREAT Ideas Here): http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/leaderextras/by-age-group/

Object Lesson: Treasures
On the website there is a video that explains this awesome object lesson. You will find these Frixion pens at Walgreens, Walmart or Staples by all the other pens.
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Craft: Rich Young Ruler Story Line
The website below has great instructions for this. I don’t know why they say to use light blue paper. You could really use any color but I would recommend the larger construction paper cut in half lengthwise for each child.
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Game: Variation of Red Light, Green Light
Try playing this game to help the kids see how they cannot have 2 leaders in their life. Play a game like “Red Light, Green Light.” However, pick 2 people instead of 1 to be the leader. Now it is really hard to follow both leaders and do what both want. The kids will become frustrated. Talk about how the same thing is true in our lives. We cannot have 2 leaders in our life: God and _____. The rich man had money as the other leader in his life.
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Craft: Heart Treasure Chest
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your Heart will be also.”
Take Brown piece of paper Fold paper in half long ways. Unfold. Fold the paper so the bottom 2/3 are larger to the top 1/3 which will be the “lid” to your chest. Unfold again and in the middle segment is where the heart is cut out. Then write out the verse. I let the kids decorate the chest. I also read about the merchant seeking a fine pearl and it being like the Kingdom of Heaven. Then gave them a faux pearl on clear cord:
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