Sunday Morning with my 1st and 2nd Graders: Samson

I'm missing my Sunday School class this morning since I'm home with my son who has the flu.  So...I thought I'd share what we did last Sunday. 

After hearing the Bible Story of Samson, our class colored Samson and gave him long hair. 

One boy wanted it braided, so I helped him with that part.  (I love it when kids come up with ideas I never considered!  Such smart kiddos!)

I found the idea on Pinterest.

VBS Institute 2015: Journey off the Map!

   Last week I had an amazing time at VBSI--Vacation Bible School Institute.  Even though it was in the teens outside in the mountains of North Carolina--inside was full of bright ideas, lots of VBS geeks and an excitement to teach children about God's love this summer as we take a "Journey off the Map" and learn to walk God's way!  Below you'll find just a few of the scenes from around VBSI.  There was non-stop training and activity.  I wish I had had more time to go everywhere and see everything, but I think you'll be inspired:

Craft table.  I loved the idea of cutting the longer Journey Off the Map plastic tablecloths and putting them over an orange (or brown) plasic tablecloth.  Very colorful and welcoming for children!  I'll be teaching crafts this year for the State Team...so LOTS of craft pics to come!!

This is the back of the "shop" where you could purchase t-shirts and all kinds of VBS swag.  LOVED the idea of posters on pallets and the ferns placed around it are just perfect...and super easy!!

Shady Grove Crafts.  I'm thinking about making these flowers.  Couldn't be easier.  Pool noodles on a plunger with snack trays!

Decorating Made Easy with Mr. Mark.  Go Mr. Mark's Classroom for full instructions.

More from Mr. Mark!

I think this is my all time favorite!  Tree houses made from upside down card tables and the bridge from empty fabric bolts!  Mr. Mark is awesome!

     I enjoyed my weekend so very much.  I learned a lot about HOW to do VBS.  But the best part? Focusing lots of time on the WHY we do VBS.  So inspiring.  May we never, ever forget WHY we do VBS.   We do it to reach children and their families with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  That doesn't just happen.  We must be intentional.  Intentional about our outreach, follow-up and relationship building.  Will you help make a difference in the Kingdom through the wonderful gift of VBS this summer? 

Baby Jesus Ornament #2

     Last year I shared with you a Baby Jesus ornament.  This year I had fun making a little bit of a different type with my 1st and 2nd graders in Sunday School.  I found the idea on Pinterest. 

     These were super easy to make.  I hot glued the craft sticks together to form a manger.  (I did this before the kids arrived.)  We put a brown paper backing behind the manger so we'd have something to stick the hay to (raffia).  The children cut the raffia themselves.  They glued on the raffia with regular glue.  Baby Jesus' face was cut from cream colored card stock using a quarter as a template.  The swaddling clothes were cut from some leftover white fleece I had.  Felt, burlap or wide ribbon would be other good options.  I hot glued a red chenille stem to the back so that it could be hung on the tree. 

Lottie Moon Tea Cookies

     December is the month when we (Southern Baptists) focus on The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.  Last Sunday, I decided to share about Lottie Moon with the children during the morning service as part of a Children's Sermon.  I went HERE to get the idea for the children's sermon.  I shared with the children about Lottie Moon and her love for the people of China.  At the conclusion, each child received a bag of Lottie Moon's Cookies.  (I found the recipe on Pinterest.  I added a bit of baking soda.)  You can see my Pinterest Missions board HERE.

These are some of the easiest cookies ever to make.  I thought about Lottie and how she must have baked non-stop to give cookies to all those children in China 100 years ago!

Lottie used something as simple as a plain cookie to find an open door to share the Gospel--what could we use today?

Isaiah 9:6 Christmas Ornaments (Sunday Morning with my 1st and 2nd Graders)

 This morning we were studying from the books of Isaiah and Micah the prophecies that foretold of the birth of Jesus.  How amazing that hundreds of years before Jesus was born the prophets wrote about Him as led by God!

 

The boys and girls were very excited when I told them we'd be making ornaments.  Each child chose one of the names of Jesus as given in Isaiah 9:6 and we put the name on their ornament.

Fun with glitter!

Learning through the Book of Exodus with my 1st and 2nd Graders

 As of 3 weeks ago, I began teaching 1st and 2nd grade Sunday School.  I love it! 

     We have been studying through the Book of Exodus using the Kids Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway.  For 6 weeks, there is a focused study on the book of Exodus and the life of Moses. (We just finished week 3 today.)  I really love this in-depth study.  I think it helps boys and girls really learn the Bible.

Each Sunday, as children arrive, we practice our Bible Skills.

 

We looked through the table of contents and found all the books of the Bible that began with the letter "E."  We then found them and marked them in our Bibles.  We used a red marker for Exodus to help us find it quicker.

After hearing the Bible Story of Baby Moses and Miriam, the boys and girls painted over a white piece of paper to reveal a secret message I had written with a white crayon.

 

It said, "_______ matters to God!"  (With their name in the blank spot.)

We all matter to God...just like Baby Moses mattered to God.  God watched over him and kept him safe.  God had a special plan for Moses.  He has a special plan for you, too!

Today for our Bible Skills time, we looked up different references in the book of Exodus.

The boys and girls are really learning how to look up chapter and verse!

If the verse had the name "Moses" in it, we put it in the "Yes" pile.  If it did not contain the name "Moses" we put it in the "No" pile. 

After hearing the story of the parting of the Red Sea, we make a craft to help us remember.

Cutting halfway up.

Curling up the edges.

Added a verse from Exodus.  Ta-Da! The parting of the Red Sea!  (I got the idea from Pinterest.)

That's Worth Repeating Thursday #5

     I attended a church leader's conference a few weeks ago.  Today I was reading over my notes before filing them for future reference.  (All of the classes I attended were either for preschool or children's Sunday School teachers.)  There is one quote that stood out:

"The best session is a planned session."

--Bill Emeott 

(Lifeway Kids Ministry Specialist)

(In other words...for a great hour of teaching Sunday School, don't wing it!)

Agency D3 VBS Snapshots

     I had grand plans of sharing lots and lots of pictures from our church's VBS...but, alas the week is gone and I just have a few snapshots.  Time sure does fly when your are teaching VBS!  I had a great week teaching 1st and 2nd  grade boys.  I had 8 in my class--they were fantastic! 

My youngest having fun after VBS...a little goofing around before skit practice begins!

Painting with watercolors to find the secret message.

A=Admit, B=Believe, C=Confess

Reading the reverse Bible verse with a mirror.  They loved doing this....this activity lasted a lot longer than I expected, and went a long way to helping them memorize 1 Peter 3:15.

Working with a friend.

My goofy spy kids! 

My preacher husband getting the pie-in-the-face since the girls won the mission challenge!  (Compliments of our Children's Director!)

VBS Clinic 2014 (Agency D3)

     Last night was our association's VBS training.  We had over 200 teachers, directors and pastors attend!  (And 25 attend from my church!) It was a great night of fellowship, excitement and learning.  If you are doing Lifeway Agency D3 in your church, perhaps these pictures will inspire you! 

I mustache you a question, but I'll shave it for later. I have to say, I'm excited to have an excuse to decorate with mustaches!  (I even saw mustache duct tape being used last night!) 

I co-lead the director's training.  This table is all I had time to take a picture of.  This was an extra display area. My boys helped with it.  They had so much fun dragging out all their old spy gear/gadgets from years ago.  (When they really thought they were spies!)  The bigger pieces were made by someone else, but the gadgets are just scattered around the table.)

Who has a lava lamp?  Perfect for Agency D3!

Entrance to the Craft Lab. 

Displayed on the table in our room.  I used black sheets for tablecloths.

Undercover Spy Watches.  These are Lifeway Craft Packs.  I had fun making these.  By the 3rd or 4th one, I finally figured out the best way!  We used these in the training for discovering the 6 steps to recruiting and training workers.

If you are planning to make these watches, I highly recommend Glue Dots!  (They are not included in the pack.)

Evidence Boxes

Something as simple as small memo tablets.  Goes with the theme, can be used in the classroom, and adds color!

The spy glasses are going to be so much fun! (One tip: leave them off when teaching children.  Eye contact is so important!!)

Last year, I wish I had bought stock in swim noodles.  This year it's manilla envelopes!

The investigation tape as a table runner...I like it!

Brilliant idea when you don't have time to decorate everything!

Fun revolving "siren" light!  (No sound)

Glow sticks in upside down jars...brilliant and easy!

Just a thought.....

     I have noticed some pins on Pinterest showing ideas for making "bombs" for the Agency D3 Theme.  This doesn't seem like the best idea to me. There are so many other fun ideas...why have something that could strike fear in the heart of a child?  If you want to try out those "cute" ideas at your child's spy birthday party, go for it.  I just think we need to avoid it in our churches.   (A Good alternative is to make "rocket packs" that look like Rocket Pack Jack from the daily movie.)