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!)

Preschool Sunday School~~Genesis 1

Who made the World?

God made the world and everything in it.

Art Center: Making an Earth Picture.  First, we colored a coffee filter with blue, green and brown washable markers.

Now the fun part...spraying the filter and watching the colors run!

We glued on the Earth and added stars.  God made it all!

Puzzle Center: Spelling creation words

Waiting for parents to arrive. Coloring our creation pictures and doing our take home pages.

Preschool Sunday School~~Jeremiah 36

This past Sunday our lesson was from Jeremiah 36.  We learned how God gave Jeremiah the words he wanted him to write in the Bible.  Jeremiah spoke the words and his helper, Baruch wrote them down.  We learned how that when the king heard God's Word he cut it up and threw it into the fire.  God gave the words to Jeremiah again and Baruch wrote them down.  God's Word is forever!

Matching game...reading Bibles

Puzzle Center

This was the most popular center of the day!  The kids played it over and over!  We hunted for letters in the shredded paper and then fit them in the puzzle. 

Remember in our Bible Story how the king cut God's Word and threw it into the fire?

Can you find the letter "N"?

Writing Center: We wrote with colored pencils, crayons and colored pencils.  Baruch, Jeremiah's helper wrote down everything exactly as God spoke it to Jeremiah.

We practiced writing lots of different words!

On their own: The boys enjoyed building a church in the block center

Who gave us the Bible?  GOD!

Life Verse: "There is no other God."  Isaiah 45:22

Preschool Sunday School~~~God Told Moses to Lead the People

Sunday we learned about how Moses lead God's people out of Egypt. 

The Israelites had to pack their bags quickly.  We made travel bags.  (I used colored file folders...worked perfectly!)  The children colored hairbrushes, toothpaste, etc. to glue inside their bags.

We learned that the Egyptians gave the Israelites their jewelry. 

We had LOTS of fun making necklaces and bracelets out of  aluminum foil!  (My moms were so excited when their children presented them with these beautiful treasures...and were given the request to put them on immediately...and wear them to church!)

"There is no other God"
Isaiah 45:22

Sunday School with my 4's and 5's~~~Jesus and Bartimaeus

We had a wonderful morning...me and 6 sweet preschoolers.

We started a new unit today entitled: Real Life Questions.  The question for today was: "Does God Love People?"  (Yes!)  Jesus showed love to Bartimaeus by healing his blindness.

There is no other God.  Isaiah 45:22

Boys and girls had a fun time dipping chalk in water and drawing self-portraits.

We looked at our faces in the mirror before drawing.  We looked especially at our eyes to see what color they are.  We learned that Bartimaeus was blind and could not see.

One little girl said as she worked, "I've never done this before!"  (I love it when I get to be with preschoolers when they try something new!!)

Clean-up time! 

Baby Jesus Ornament

  

  Several years back I made ornaments like these with preschoolers while we were serving in Texas.  I have kept the pattern for years, because it was just so simple and easy for preschoolers to make.  I got the general idea from the Lifeway Preschool curriculum, but I think I made a few adjustments to make it even simpler.  Here's how to make the very simple Baby Jesus keepsake ornament:

Start with a circle cut out of cardstock.  I like red. I used a cup to get a good circle pattern. Add a Bible Verse.  I chose, "Jesus was born in Bethlehem."  Matthew 2:1   This would also be a good time to put the child's name and the date on the back!  Punch a hole in the top center.

Cut out patterns for Baby Jesus' body.  Circles and oblong shapes. Children glue the head to the body with a glue stick.

Cut raffia into 2-3 inch pieces.  Children uses liquid glue to place the "hay" for the manger on the circle.  Don't cover up the verse!

Cut select fabrics.  Use ones like above that look like Bible time cloth.  Wrap Baby Jesus in the swaddling clothes and secure with liquid glue.  Trim as needed. 

Draw "sleeping eyes" and a mouth for baby Jesus.  Add the twine or ribbon to hang.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Preschool Sunday School~Peter had Breakfast with Jesus

I had a wonderful Sunday morning with my sweet kiddos as we learned about how Jesus taught us and showed us how to be loving.  Jesus was loving by cooking breakfast for friends after he worked a miracle to provide a net full of fish for them. 

Making a pattern with fish....

...and putting them on a stringer.

Auburn fans may notice the orange-blue-orange-blue pattern!

The children really enjoyed this activity.  This net I got years ago comes in handy for so many Bible lessons!

Acting out the story in the block center.

Building the boat for the fishing disciples.

We used "net" from a recycled fruit bag.

Puzzle Center: Working a puzzle from the kit.  We also worked a similar wooden puzzle during group time.

I set up our Book Center with Christmas books and the Nativity Scene.  (This is something easily done at home for children or grandchildren!)

Okay...somehow the Wise Men snuck in there!  I placed them in the corner to show the children they were still traveling...but I guess they just couldn't wait!  :)

 

 

Our Life Verse:
"All things work together for good for those who love God."
Romans 8:28

(Sound like a long verse for preschoolers?  You should hear my 4-year-olds say it! Amazing.  Oh...and the verse is repeated several times in other lessons.  I like that!)