Lesson Plans

See the Archive below for each Cherub Church Lesson Plan.

The Good Samaritan

Story - Usborne's The Good Samaritan

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – Helper or Holdout

• Place bandages and construction paper rectangles in a paper bag.  Sit a doll in the middle of the play area to be the Samarian.  Each child takes an item from the bag.  If the child gets a piece of paper they run past the Samarian.  If the child gets a bandage, they help the Samarian.  (can also be a running/tagging game with the Samarians tagging the passers)

Story Magnifier – Going to Jericho

• A man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho was robbed and left on the side of the road.  Only a person from Samaria stopped to help him.
• You will be traveling to Jericho.  Once one person gets there, you will encourage the other player to get there too.  Older children use a die and roll a number to move.  Younger children use the colored cards to move.  

Art – Good Hands

• Our hands can be used for good and helping others.  
• Trace your hand and decorate it.  Once decorated add a Band-Aid to remember to help those that are hurting (inside or out).

Planting Seeds

Story - The Beginner’s Bible Treasury p. 248

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Song – “You are my Sunshine”

Game – Four Corners

• The object is to pass the balloon around a circle.  First try it as “birds” - flap arms to be wings and only touch the balloon with the wings.  Then, “Rocks” – hands at sides, standing still.  Only use heads or shoulders to touch balloon.  Then, “Thorns” – hands at sides, only use their legs and feet to touch balloon.  Finally, “Good Dirt” – stands relaxed and use hands and feet to touch balloon.
• What was the easiest way to pass the balloon?  When seeds fall on good soil, they grow quickly and easily.  Our hearts are like good soil when we hear and do what God tells us to through the Bible, church, and our parents.

Story Magnifier – Planting Seeds

• You are going to be sowing seeds in good dirt.  When seeds find good dirt, they grow and prosper; just like when we have an open heart to God.
• Give every child a terrarium.  Fill the white part with dirt and pat down.  Place a finger hole and put in a seed.  Add a little water and place lid on. 

Art – Seed Packets

• In our story, God planted his seed in our hearts.  God wants us to grow.  
• Decorate a half of envelope as a seed packet.  Give every child a green straw to have sticking out of their packet and flower sticker to design a flower on their “stem.”

The Two Houses

Story - The Two Houses by C. F. Nicks

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Shifting Sands”

• Jesus talked about the man who built his house on rock in our Bible story.  People who build their lives on Jesus can stand firm, even when something comes along to shake them.
• Divide kids into two groups.  One group will build their house on a blanket and the other group on cardboard.  After both teams have built, they need to work together to try to move it across a line without the house toppling.

Story Magnifier – The Best Foundation

• It is better to build a house on a solid foundation, than one that will wash away.  Jesus is our rock in which to build our lives.  
• Examine what happens to rock and sand when they meet water by shaking and looking at the different jars.
• Give every child six popsicle sticks to make a house outline (they can make it look like any type of house).  Once their house is built, pick which foundation is best rock or sand.  

Art – Sturdy House

• In our story, one person built their house on a solid foundation.  The other person had an ever moving foundation that washed away.  You are going to build your house on a solid plate, just like we build our lives on the solid foundation of faith.
• Design a house with playdough on a plate.

A Woman’s Offering

Story - The Beginners Bible page 450

Song – “Father Abraham”

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Game – “Penny Pitch”

• Jesus pointed out to his disciples the difference between the offering of the rich people and the poor woman.  While Jesus wants us all to give to others, the woman’s offering was a sacrifice.
• Place a basket close to the children and have them try to toss their pennies (plastic coins) in it.  Slowly move it further away.

Snack – Star Dot to Dot

• Jesus showed us how important meaningful giving is.  When we have a lot, a little doesn't mean as much as when we have a little and give the same amount. 
• Give each child a dot to dot.  When completed everyone has a happy star.

Art – A Full Heart

• In our story today, a woman brought a small sum of money that meant a lot to her to give to the church.  It doesn't matter how much you give, but Jesus wants us to share with others.  When we share, our hearts fill with happiness.
• Use cereal with glue to fill the heart.

The Little Lost Sheep

Story - Pray & Play Bible page 102

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “Sheep Herding”

• Set up the two chairs at one end and a start line at the other end.  Have about 3 or so children play at once.  Start at the line with a balloon sheep between the feet.  The first to push the "sheep" across the floor with a "rod" through the "gate" is the winner of that round.

Story Magnifier – Sheep in the Fold

• Children drop cotton balls into a jar to “herd the sheep.”

Art – Sheep Puppet

• Glue cotton balls on white paper bags to make a sheep puppet.

A Greedy Son

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 272

Song – “Father Abraham”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Where’d They Go”

• Talk about how happy the father was when his son returned.
• Have children hide their eyes and pick one child to sneak away from the group and hide around the corner.  Once children open their eyes, they try to guess who is hiding.  Have children welcome the missing child back to the group either by hugs, or a shout of “yeah”, etc.    

Story Magnifier – Pig Slop

• Farmers feed pigs a mixture of leftover foods.  The Greedy son finds himself wishing he was allowed to eat what he is feeding to the pigs.
• Use playdoh to make left over food for pigs to eat.

Art – Muddy Pigs

• After the greedy son squandered his fortune, he got a job feeding the pigs.
• Cut out a pig and glue on paper. Paint brown to be the mud.

Treasure Hunt

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 250

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “Treasure Rescue”

• The man in the story that Jesus told gave up everything he owned for a hidden treasure.  In the same way, we receive a treasure more valuable than anything we have.  That treasure is heaven.
• Make a play area with eight tape x’s and a center line.  Divide children into two groups and have them stand on opposite sides of a center line (they may not be tagged on their side of the line).  Place a two bean bags (treasure) on x’s on each side.  Each child tries to rescue without being tagged to fill their x’s.  If tagged that treasure goes back, and the child returns to his side.

Story Magnifier – Find the Diamond

• In the story that Jesus told, a man digging in the dirt found a priceless treasure.  Jesus paid a great price to forgive our sins so we can go to heaven one day.  When we believe, we receive treasures of forgiveness, eternal life, and joy.
• Make a list of what the children think a priceless treasure is, and then talk about how the kingdom of heaven is a priceless treasure that is not easy to see.  Have the children find the diamonds in the ziplock bags.

Art – Treasure Box

• The man Jesus talked about found a precious treasure worth more than anything he owned.  Our precious treasure is heaven.  Jesus gave His life on the cross to make sure we have the treasure of new life and love.
• Decorate a treasure box and place a heart inside to represent God’s love and heaven.

Peter’s Miraculous Escape

Story - Impossible!  Impossible!

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – Shake, Shake, Shake the Jail House

• God used an earthquake to shake the jail where Paul was a prisoner when the angel appeared. 
• Pick a child to be Paul (teacher can be Paul to begin with) and have the remaining children stand in a circle holding hands.  Paul is in the center of the circle and the circle is the prison.  Start singing a well-known song, “Paul” has to “knock” on every door (touch every set of hands).  Paul has to touch every door before the song is over.  Once the song is over, the children move their hands up and down and back and forth while saying “rumble, rumble, shake!”  The children let go of hands and Paul is free.  Pick a new Paul and do it again.

Story Magnifier – Building a Jailhouse

• Peter was locked in a jailhouse with many guards outside.  It was impossible to get out until an angel appeared.
• Using Legos, build a jailhouse that would hold Peter until the angel appeared.

Art – From Jailhouse to John Mark’s House

• Once Peter was freed from jail, he walked alone to his friend’s John Mark’s House.  Nobody in the house believed he was free from jail, but nothing is impossible with God.
• Place a ball (Peter) dipped in water color into the jail (bag) and shake.  Repeat with multiple balls if desired.  Once finished, cut open the bag and draw a map to John Mark’s house.

Pentecost

Story - The Jesus Storybook Bible pg 326

Song – “Wind and Fire” (Tune: Frère Jacques)

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Wind and Fire Race”

• Sometimes things aren't seen, but they are working to move things along anyway. Just like the Holy Spirit, the air around us is hard to see, but we see the evidence of its work through the things it moves.  
• Give each child a straw and a piece of crepe paper. Have them use the straw to blow the crepe across the room and back.

Snack – Wind Twirler

• Wind twirlers remind the children that the Holy Spirit is always moving, even when things appear to be still.  
• Cut a spiral from a paper plate (older kids may be able to do this).  Have children decorate.  Then stretch it out and attach a string to the top.

Art – The Fire of Pentecost

• One of the most important aspects of the Holy Spirit is that it first appeared above each Apostle as a tongue of fire. 
• Create a fire craft by taking a piece of paper and lightly brushing school glue all over it. Tear small pieces of red and orange paper to stick to the paper. 

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

Story - The Jesus Storybook Bible pg 318

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – “Follow Jesus”

• Chose a leader.  Only have the leader act out Jesus' return.  Have the "dead" laying down and rise first, then the “living” all line up behind Jesus to follow him back to heaven.  Jesus then moves around a specified area and the living have to mimic the actions.  

Story Magnifier – Our World

• Examine a globe and talk about we world we live on.  Give children blocks to build their world.

Art – Ascension Cups

• Punch a hole in the middle bottom of a cup. Glue cotton balls on the cups to look like clouds.  Draw and color Jesus.  Tape Jesus to a stick to place in cup.  Use hand inside cup to make Jesus rise up. 

The Resurrection

Story - The Jesus Storybook Bible pg 310

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “Jesus Is Risen”

• Have children sit on floor facing a table tipped over on its side.  Tell children to close their eyes and pretend to cry because that is what people did when Jesus died on the cross.  Pick one child to hide behind the table pretending to be an angel.  Let the other children open their eyes and try to guess who is missing.  After the child’s name is guessed (or three tries) have the angel jump up and exclaim, “Jesus is Risen.”

Snack – Coffee Filter Angels

• Decorate Coffee Filters (2).  Fold one filter for wings and another for a skirt.  Add a circle head and staple.

Art – Empty circles

• The plastic egg is empty just like the tomb where Jesus was laid.  Dip half a plastic egg into paint and make empty circle prints on paper.  

The Easter Story

Story - Pray & Play Bible 2 p. 150

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Egg Race”

• Egg is a symbol at Easter time because it reminds us of new life.  Jesus loved us so much that he was willing to give his life for our sins so that we may be reborn in the Kingdom of God.
• Divide the kids into two-four groups.  Hand one child on each team a spoon with an egg on it.  Deliver the egg to the Easter basket.  Do not touch the egg when walking to the basket.  If the egg falls off, run back and hand the spoon to the next person.  The next person run to the fallen egg to pick it up and continue the journey.

Art – Eggy Crosses

• If you open a plastic Easter egg, it is empty just like the tomb where Jesus was placed.  God fills us with love, so we are never empty when we walk with God.
• Use the half of plastic Easter egg to stamp on the cross.

Story Magnifier – Crosses

• Decorate a scratch off cross.  If extra time, use the resurrection eggs.

Jesus Dies

Story - The Jesus Storybook Bible pg 302

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “Faithful Followers”

• Divide children into two groups.  Give each child two or three stickers that are different colors.  Tell them to put the stickers on their hands and/or feet.  Once they have the stickers on call out color combinations such as “blue to yellow.”  One group will have to find a person on the other team and touch those colors together.

Art – Crown of thorns

• Roll dough into long shape and form circle.  Insert toothpicks.

Story Magnifier – Crosses

• Decorate a paper cross with stamps.

The Last Supper

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 286

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Song – “The More We Get Together"

Game – “Jesus loves You”

• Have all children sit in a circle to play a game like “Duck, Duck, Goose.”  Pick a child to be it and have them gently tap children on the head and say, “And You” for those that are not going to chase but “Jesus Loves You” for the one to chase.  If the player gets tagged, then instead of being in the center the tagger gives a hug or high-five and the child returns to the circle.

Art – The Bread of Life

• Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
• Give each child a foam slice of bread.  Glue the phrase “I am the Bread of Life.”  Decorate with sequins and glue.

Story Magnifier – Picture Frames

• When Jesus went back to heaven to be with his Father, he left behind a picture for us to remember him by.  We can’t look at the picture like in an album.  It is a picture to help us remember what Jesus did for us.  We call it "The Lord's Supper." (Communion)  He told the disciples that whenever they ate the bread and drank the wine, it was to remind them of what he had done for them. 
• Draw a picture to remember Jesus and put a frame around it.

Entry into Jerusalem

Story - The Jesus Story Book

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “Donkey Colt”

• Divide the children into two groups.  One group are donkeys (crawl) and the other group are disciples (walk).  It is the job of the disciples to find a donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem.  One disciple takes a towel and puts on the back of a “donkey.”  The donkey crawls back to the rest of the disciples and hands the towel off.  This continues until everyone has had a turn.  You may also want to make it a race by having two groups of disciples and two groups of donkeys.

Story Magnifier – Palm Branches

• Do you know how people met Jesus in Judea? They welcomed him, spread palm branches on the road, shouted, "Hosanna!" and glorified him.
• Examine a real palm leaf and explain how they are green before they dry out.  They are also all connected.  Fold paper in half and cut out oval.  Use scissors to snip the green into individual palms.  Add a green chenille stem to make own palm.

Art – The Road to Jerusalem

• Paint the “road” with palm leaves.  Add a donkey on the road.

Lent

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 208-10

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Game – Desert Temptation Stations

• Lent is a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of Easter.  We focus on our relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer for others.
• Break the children up into two groups.  Children have a relay race:  

1. Return the bread to the basket for it will feed your body but not your soul.
2. Walk on the “tightrope” to the mountain. 
3. Climb the mountain, but when going over be careful, little feet, where you jump.
4. Crawl through the tunnel to the “Throne.”
5. Sit down in the throne and remember to worship only God.
6. Run to the bread basket, pick up a loaf to hand to the next friend.

Story Magnifier – Cross Necklace

• Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter,” in which we reflect on the joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.
• Use a cross and beads to make a necklace.

Art – Coffee Filter Butterflies

• Lent comes from a word that means “Spring.”  The forty days represents the time Jesus spent preparing to begin his ministry.  Just like a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly, we who are in Christ become new creations.
• Color the coffee filter with markers completely.  Then take a wet paint brush and wet the coffee filter to make the marker spread.  Bunch the coffee filter in the middle and clip the clothespin on with a chenille stem

Zacchaeus

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 264

Song – “Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – “Tree Tag”

• It was not easy for a rich, well-dressed man to scramble up a tree, but Zacchaeus did it.  Just like Zacchaeus, we want to see Jesus and spend time with him.
• Define the boundaries that children need to stay in.  Select one child to be “it.”  Children run from one designated safe area to another without being tagged.  If tagged, the child stands frozen with arms outstretched to look like a tree.  They remain a tree until a runner tags them. 

Story Magnifier – Tree Climber

• After meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus decided to stop cheating people and pay back even more than the amount he had cheated.  Jesus can help us change too.
• Color the tree.  Add a paper Zacchaeus to a strip of paper.  Thread the paper through snips to make him climb the tree.

Art – Coin Purses

• Zacchaeus collected too much money from people, then gave back four times as much as he took.  Jesus wants us to be sorry when we do wrong.
• Show children how to fold a paper plate into a coin purse (younger ones need more help) by folding the sides in about two inches, then folding in half.  Secure with a staple in the bottom of each side.  Punch holes in top and thread yarn through.  Decorate with crayons

Mary’s Special Gift

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 280

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – Match that Smell

• Divide children into two teams.  Have each team race over to a set of containers with a different smell in each one.  After smelling their container, they have to try to find the person on the other team with the same smell.
• Scents – syrup, perfume, lemon, cherry, vinegar, anise, peppermint, etc.

Story Magnifier – Puzzle

• In our story, perfume usually was not used, but just displayed.  Once a jar was broken it could not be put back together and all the perfume had to be used.  Jesus forgives our sins and puts us back together.
• Put the puzzle together.

Art – Smelly Mosaic Shoe

• In our story, perfume was very expensive.  Once a jar was broken, the perfume was used.  A sinful woman, washed Jesus’ feet with the perfume.
• Trace your shoe on to a piece of paper.  Tear or cut small pieces of paper and glue to cover the shoe.  Spray with perfume.

Jesus Heals the Blind Man

Story - The Beginners Bible p. 438

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “Hear and Follow”

• Form a circle and have one child in the middle close his/her eyes. Pick a child in the outer circle to be Jesus.  That child says “I will heal you.”  The Bartimaeus in the center has to guess who spoke.
• For more of a challenge, rotate the circle when the person speaks and/or spin the center person

Story Magnifier – Felt Board

• Have the children help you retell the story using the felt pieces on a flannel board.

Art – Glasses

• Draw inside the lenses of glasses how you see the world.

Lepers are Healed

Story - Lepers are Healed

Song – “Down in my Heart”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Three Legged Race”

• Put children in teams of two and tie the legs next to each other together.  Try to run together to cross the finish line.

Story Magnifier – Get Well Cards

• Give each child a blank card to make get well cards for shut-ins.

Art – Cotton Swab Painting

• Give each child a cotton swab to dip in paint.

The Lame Man

Story - The Lame Man Who Walked Again

Song – “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Caring Carriers”

• The Lame Man’s friends carried him by stretcher to see Jesus because his legs did not work. When they arrived at the house that Jesus was in, it was very crowded.  They went to the roof and lowered the man into the house through a hole.
• Divide the children into groups of 4.  Have each child take the corner of a towel and carry a balloon on it as fast as they can go without letting the balloon fall off.  When the teacher says go, they have to carry their balloon through a slight maze and back.

Story Magnifier – A Man Walks Again

• Friends of a paralyzed man let him down through the roof to be healed by Jesus.  He leapt up and walked afterwards.
• Fill a clear glass with about 3 inches of carbonated water.  Drop raisin “men” down through a “roof” and see them leap for joy.

Art – Mats of Healing

• There was a man whom could not walk, but had four good friends that brought him to see Jesus.  Jesus was in a house that was so crowded that they could not get near him.  They took their friend on his mat up to the top of the house, made a hole in the roof, and lowered him down to Jesus.
• Give every child a weaving mat and strips of paper.  Have each child try to weave a mat for their “man.”  For younger ones, they might just glue the strips of paper and decorate the man.

The Singer [the Sermon on the Mount]

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 228

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Game – Food Transfer

• There are many foods that God provides for birds.  If God makes sure that the birds have food to eat, will He take care of us, too? Yes. We are more important than birds. God takes care of the details so that we can concentrate on living right.
• Break the children up into two groups.  The object is to get a spoonful of bird food back as fast as you can without dropping any.  The first group runs down and gets a scoop of bird food out of a bowl and brings it back.  The first person in the group to cross the line with all their food wins that round.  Then the next group goes after all dropped corn is swept (or picked) up.

Story Magnifier – Megaphone

• God will always provide for His children, because He loves us.
• Decorate a piece of paper, roll into megaphone and secure with tape to spread the good word.

Art – Prayer Cards

• Jesus gave us the “Our father” to pray to God at the Sermon on the Mount.
• Glue the “Our father” onto a piece of cardboard.  Decorate the cardboard.

Walking on Water

Story - The Beginner Bible page 381

Song – “Jesus Walks on Water” (Tune: Wheels on the Bus)

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “One Step at a Time”

• Today we learned about Jesus and Peter walking on the water.  The wind and waves could have knocked Peter down.  Peter had to keep his eyes on Jesus to walk on the water
• Chose one child to be Peter and have that child remove his/her shoes.  All of the other kids hold on to the parachute while leaving a walkway for “Peter” to go across.  The kids shake and wave the parachute and “Peter” must not look down.

Story Magnifier – On Top of Water

• The disciples were very afraid when they were in the boat.  They weren’t sure who, or what, was walking on the water.  Jesus reminded them that they could put their trust in him and be brave.
• Shake the bottles to try to mix the oil and water.  Watch the oil and water separate back out with the oil on top of the water. 

Art – Foot Prints

• When the disciples realized that Jesus was walking on water, they were amazed.  Peter walked out to meet Jesus, only to become afraid.  Jesus reminded him that there was nothing to be afraid of.  When we are afraid, we can ask Jesus to help us, too.
• Trace each child’s shoe (older kids may be able to do this) and have them decorate the bottom of their foot print with water colors.

Jesus Calms the Storm

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 236

Song – “Row, Row, Row your Boat”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Calm the Storm”

• One time Jesus was out in a boat with his friends, and a great storm came up that really scared everyone.  Jesus calmed the storm because he didn’t want his friends to be scared.
• Have all children hold on to the parachute.  First make gentle waves, then huge ones.  Add balloons and see first if the children can keep them on.  Then if the storm was fierce.  When the leader says “Calm,” everyone has to stop at once like the waves did when Jesus asked.
• Follow the Leader: clap, hop, turn around, put arms up, sit down, hands on hips. Discuss what it means to follow a leader and be a disciple..

Story Magnifier – Sink the Boat

• Jesus and his friends were crossing a lake in a boat when a storm occurred.  Jesus stopped the storm and made the boat go back to gently bobbing up and down.
• Give each child a Styrofoam cup and have them decorate it with crayons.  Place a piece of playdoh in it as the people (it keeps it from tipping easily.  After finished place in tub of water to see it float. 

Art – Storms

• The swirling sea that in our story almost knocked Jesus’ friends out of the boat, but Jesus took care of his friends by stopping the storm.
• Use chalk to make your own scary storm.

Jesus Feeds a Crowd

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 244

Song – “Five Loaves and Two Fishes” (Tune: Ten Little Indians)

Song – “The More We Get Together"

Game – “Jesus feeds a Crowd Game”

• Jesus took the lunch of one little boy and turned it into baskets of food that fed five thousand.
• Divide children into two teams Have teams line up at different corners of the playing area. Place a bowl with “fish and loaves” in the center of the play area.  At the go the first players from each team must walk fast with their spoon to the bowl, scoop the "fish and loaves" into their spoon and return to dump the "fish and loaves" into their basket. Players then hand the spoon to the next player in line. Play continues until the bowl is emptied.  The team with the most wins.

Story Magnifier – 2 Fish and 5 Loaves

• The little boy in the story gave away his lunch to help Jesus and the rest of the crowd.  It’s hard to give away something that we really want for ourselves.  Jesus wants us to share with others.
• Hand out 2 fish and 5 loaves of “bread” and count them as a group.  Remind the children: that is all Jesus had to feed more people than would fit into our church.  Have them string the “food” on as a reminder to share with others.  Hand out dot-to-dot, if left over time.  

Art – Basket o’ Plenty

• Only one little boy brought fish and bread to lunch; but when he shared, Jesus used the food to feed the whole crowd.
• Give each child cardstock folded in half.  Add a pipe cleaner handle and have them decorate the outside.  Have children cut-out and glue food items inside to pack their “lunch boxes.”  

The Friend of Little Children

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 256

Song – “Jesus loves the little children”

Song – “Jesus Loves Me”

Game – “Let the little children come to me”

• One day Jesus had many little children come to him.  Some of the older people, called disciples, didn’t like the little children getting so close, but Jesus loved the little children. 
• Explain that the kids will tiptoe forward when they see the green sheet and tiptoe backwards when they see the red sheet. Share that the children were going to Jesus (hold up a green light) when Jesus’ friends told them to go away (red light). Jesus saw this and asked them to come (green light). Play several times or take turns in letting kids hold up the sheets of paper.

Story Magnifier – Jesus Bingo

• Jesus loves us all, so mark the middle space.  Pick pictures for the other spots and wait to the pictures to be called

Art – Pony Bead Jesus Fish

• Ancient Christians used the fish symbol to mark meeting places and tombs, or to be able to tell the difference between friends and enemies.  The fish tells us that we are all Jesus’ friends.
• Bend a chenille stem in half, place beads on it, and bend the end of the stems into a fish tail.  You may also want to put a piece of string on it to wear it as a necklace.

Jesus Starts his Ministry

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 208

Song – “Row, Row, Row your Boat”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “Fishing for Men”

• Jesus chose poor fishermen to follow Him.  Jesus chooses us to follow Him too.  He chooses us because He loves us.  We show that we follow Him by praying and sharing our faith.
• Have all children stand on a line of the gym floor with you in the middle of two lines.  Explain that you are a fisherman and they are the fish.  Their goal is to make it to the other line without being tagged by a fisherman.  If they are tagged, they become a fisherman and need to help catch more fish.
• You start by saying “Fishes, fishes in the sea.  Fishes with ________ can’t escape me.”  Anyone with that color on or wearing shorts or with brown hair, etc. must try to run to the other side.

Story Magnifier – Straw Fishing

• Jesus chose poor fishermen to follow Him.  Jesus chooses us to follow Him too.  He chooses us because He loves us.  We show that we follow Him by praying and sharing our faith.
• Give each child a straw (throw in trash when finished).  Have everyone try to pick up a fish by sucking on the straw.  Carry the fish to the boat and drop it inside (If this proves too challenging, blow the fish across the floor toward the boat).

Art – Boat

• The Disciples were fishermen.  They used boats and fishing equipment to gather fish.  Jesus chose these fishermen as his first followers.
• Use markers to design a boat.  Glue a sail on a stick and to glue the stick into the bottom of the boat.

Jesus’ Baptism

Story - The Jesus Story Book Page 200

Song – “Down in my Heart”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Well Pleased”

• When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came down and said that God was pleased with him.  Today we are going to tell some things that please us about our friends.
• Have all children sit in a close circle on the floor.  Pass a feather around the circle by blowing it to the next person.  When the next person gets the feather, the person who passed it says one nice thing or something that makes them happy about the new person.
• You can also roll a ball or bat a balloon instead of the feather.

Story Magnifier – Baptized Maze

• Jesus showed us how important baptism is.  When we’re baptized, we’re telling everyone who knows us that our sins have washed away and all is forgiven.  Jesus was baptized in the river.
• Have children use colored pencils to go through the maze.  Allow children to color pictures as well.

Art – Water Art 

• The Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be baptized in it may be "born of water and the Spirit."
• We are going to create art using water.  Use the eye droppers to decorate the circle with the different colors of water.

Jesus Performs His First Miracle

Story - The Beginner’s Bible Treasury p. 240

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – Water Race

• Divide the children into two teams.  Give each team two clay pots, one with balls in it.  Have the first child race down around a chair.  When they get back, they “pour” the “water” into the next person’s empty clay pot.
• Can also play a form of hot potato by passing one clay pot around while singing.  The person whom has the pot when the singing stops has to sit in the middle until replaced by the next pot holder.

Story Magnifier – Drink Changers

• Jesus preformed his first miracle by turning pots of water into wine.
• Decorate the pots and color one side of the pots tops blue for water and the other side red for wine.  After coloring, use a glue stick to glue folded paper together.  
• Flip the paper over to go from water to wine.

Art – Clay pots

• In Jesus’ time water and wine were kept in clay pots.  At the wedding, Jesus preformed his first miracle by changing the water that was in the pots into wine.
• Using modeling magic, give each child a small portion to make their own clay pot or water holder.

Jesus at the Temple

Story - The Beginners Bible page 304

Song – “Church Action Rhyme”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “Missing in Action”

• In our Bible Story, Jesus’ family was walking home and suddenly noticed he was missing.
• Have all children cover their eyes and choose one child to “hide” around the corner.  After the child is hidden have other children open eyes and try to figure out who is missing.
• You can also have all the children or more than one hide and go find the children, but make sure you give specific guideline to where they may go.

Story Magnifier – The Search

• In our story today, Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the church.  Just like Jesus is a part of the church, so are you. 
• Use the Lincoln Logs and Legos to build churches as a group.  Have the teacher go around with a doll and ask each building group I they have seen Jesus.

Art – Kid Cards

• In our story today, Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the church.  Just like Jesus is a part of the church, so are you.  
• Draw with markers to design yourself on the outside of the card.  Using stickers and markers design what is inside of you (soul, feelings, compassion, etc.)

Our Father

Story - Our Father

Song – “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “The Warmth of Kindness”

• Give each child a bean bag and have them balance it on their head.  Have the children walk around different obstacles such as cones and chairs.   If the bean bag falls off their head, they are frozen until another child picks up the bean bag ad gives it back.  Clap your hands to have everyone stop moving and freeze.

Story Magnifier –   Our Father Bracelets

• Explain the colors for each part of the prayer as you hand out the parts: 
•   Blue – The Color of Fathers “Our Father, who art in heaven”
•   White – Is The Color of Holiness “Hallowed be Thy Name”
•   Purple – Is a Majestic Color “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done”
•   Green – Color of the Earth “On Earth, as it is in heaven”
•   Yellow – Reminds Us Of Wheat “Give us this day, our daily bread”
•   Red – Reminds us of Jesus’ blood “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
•   Orange – Represents Darkness & Evil “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
•   Cross – Reminds Us Of God’s heavenly kingdom where he reigns forever. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, amen.

Art – Prayer Cards

• Jesus gave us the “Our father” to pray to God at the Sermon on the Mount.
• Glue the “Our father” onto a piece of paper.  Decorate the paper.

Hail Mary

Story - Hail Mary

Song – “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “Mother May I”

• Each child takes turns asking, "Mother may I take  # steps?"  The steps can be giant, small, baby, regular, fast, tippy-toes, heal only, hopping, leaping, twirling, backwards, one-legged, crawling, etc. The “mother” replies yes or no.  

Story Magnifier – Mary Puzzles

• There were no cameras invented yet when Mary lived, so artists have made their interpretations of what she looked like.
• Work together to put together the four different puzzles of Mary. 

Art – Wreath

• The wreath is a symbol of never-ending love, just like Mary’s love.
• Use playdough to make a wreath shape by rolling a long worm and joining the ends.  Add beads in the wreath.

Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 222

Song – “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – “Guess what you hear”

• Sometimes we can tell what something is just by the sound it makes. Other times, just hearing is not enough.  When we pray, we don't need to worry about how we sound, or if God will hear us.   We can pray and be sure that God will hear and answer our prayers.
• Have children sit facing you and close their eyes.  Take one item (whistle, stapler, bell, rattle, etc.) from the bag, make a noise with it, and place it back into the bag.  Tell the kids to open their eyes. Ask them if they know what the item was by the sound they heard. 

Story Magnifier – Churches

• God wants to be involved in our life. He is always willing and ready to talk. He leaves it up to us to approach Him and going to church is one way to approach Him.
• Use the different building materials to make a church.

Art – Prayer Pockets

• Prayer is having a conversation with God.  God wants us to talk to Him every day.  We can talk to God through prayer about anything and everything.
• Cut a sealed envelope in half to make a pocket.
• Decorate a popsicle stick for each thing you would like to pray for (i.e. draw a picture of your family on one or your sick cousin).

St. Patrick

Story - The Story of Saint Patrick’s Day

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Flag Race”

• As a child, Patrick was taken to Ireland.  After praying to God to send him home, he began to miss Ireland and came back as a Priest to spread God’s love.
• Divide the kids into three groups (just like the holy trinity).  Hand each child an Irish flag.  The first child in each group runs their flag to a basket, then slithers (like the snakes that Patrick told to leave Ireland) through the tunnel to tag the next person in their group.

Story Magnifier – Playdough Churches

• When Patrick returned to Ireland, he told people about God and built churches.
• Use the green playdough to make a church, symbol of God, or something else from our story today.  Note:  playdough is not going home, just being used.

Art – Holy Trinity Crosses

• Patrick used a shamrock to teach people about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Just like when we make the Sign of the Cross, we say the holy trinity.
• Glue the cross onto the shamrock and a heart for each part of the Holy Trinity.

St. Valentine

Story - The Story of St. Valentine

Song – “Down in my Heart”

Song – “Skidamarink”

Game – Blindfold Challenge

• In our story, a blind girl brought food to St. Valentine in jail and a miracle occurred.  After St. Valentine thanked her and prayed for her, the blind girl was able to see again. 
• Lay out five different colors of paper.  Two children at a time will put on blindfolds.  They will be handed a colored beanbag and asked to try to place it on the correct color paper with help from their friends (For younger they can guide by touch.  For older use voices).

Story Magnifier – Deliver a Message

• The King did not like St. Valentine’s helping young couples get married, so he put him in jail.
• Hand out a half of envelope to each child.  Have everyone find the envelope that matches them to make a complete envelope.  Once found, deliver it to “St. Valentine” together.

Art – Valentines

• People send cards called “Valentines” to show our love for friends and family, just like cards were sent to and from St. Valentine.
• Decorate the pink heart with stickers and markers (older kids can cut their heart and younger can snip around their pre-cut heart).

Pascual and the Kitchen Angels

Story - Pascual and the Kitchen Angels

Song – “’Tis a Gift to be Simple”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “SHARE”

• Line 2 teams up at one end of the playing area. At the go the first player from each team runs to find one of the letters from the word, SHARE. Players can only look under one plate during their turn. Once they lift a plate, they either bring the found letter back or run back if there’s no letter.  Teams need to pay attention so that they don't go back to the same empty plate. Play continues like this until the teams find all the letters in the word, SHARE. 

Story Magnifier – Pretzel Bracelet

• Pretzels were first made by monks who gave them as rewards to children who had learned their prayers. The special twisted shape looks like the folded arms of a child praying. The word pretzel means reward.
• Using a pipe cleaner, weave through three pretzels.  Bend the pipe cleaner around the wrist and twist it to make a bracelet.

Art – Feast

• Pascual is the patron saint of cooks and the kitchen.  In our story, Pascual had the help of angels to make food to feed the hungry.
• Use grocery advertisements to cut out food for a feast and glue on a plate.

St. Brigid

Story - Brigid’s Cloak

Song – “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Sheep Herding”

• At age ten, Brigid was in charge of a small flock of sheep.  Her cloak protected her and she protected the sheep.  In fact, when she grew up, she protected many people too.  Brigid founded many convents all over Ireland where the poor could always find shelter and a meal.
• Set up the two chairs at one end and a start line at the other end.  Have about 3 or so children play at once.  Start at the line with a balloon sheep between the feet.  The first to push the "sheep" across the floor with a "rod" through the "gate" is the winner of that round.

Story Magnifier – Find the Lantern

• In our story, one night when the stars were singing, a light appeared in the forest.  The light was a lantern belonging to a Druid that brought a cloak to the infant Brigid.
• Everyone sits in a circle with one child in the middle.  With the middle child’s eyes closed, hand a lantern cut out to a child in the circle to hide behind his/her back.  Say the rhyme, “Lantern, Lantern, Glows so bright in the dark forest night.  With the singing night time stars, find the light that might be ours,” The middle child looks up and has three guess to find who has the lantern.  Then a new person is chosen for the middle.

Art – Cloak

• After Brigid’s vision of Bethlehem, her faded blue tattered cloak changed to a deep blue with dozens of tiny glowing stars.  Her cloak played a part in several miracles later in her life and became a sign of protection.  
• Decorate the finger puppet and staple a cloak on to the back.  If extra time, have the children put their finger puppet on and talk to other finger puppets.

The Wise Men

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 192

Song – “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Song – “Three Wise Men”  (Tune: Three Blind Mice)

Game – “Find the Star”

• The wise men followed a bright star to find baby Jesus.
• Everyone sits in a circle with one child in the middle.  With the middle child’s eyes closed, hand a star to a child in the circle to hide behind his/her back.  Say the rhyme, “Wise Men, Wise men, where’s your star?  You need to follow from afar.  Look around.  It must be found.  Wake up wise man, where’s the star?” The middle child looks up and has three guess to find who has the star.  Then a new person is chosen for the middle.

Story Magnifier – Star Dot-to-Dot

• A long time ago, a bright star came out in the sky to tell everyone that Jesus had been born.  
• Connect the numbers to form a star then color.

Art – Night Sky

• Using dark construction paper draw with chalk to make the night sky and what was found under the stars.

The Light of the World: story of the shepherds

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 184

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Game – “Race to Jesus”

• The shepherds left their sheep and fire when they heard Jesus was born.  They ran as fast as they could to get to the manger.  
• This game is played like “Red light, Green light.”  One person plays the angel and the others try to reach the manger.  The angel faces away from the line of kids and says "go". The kids move towards the manger.  At any point, the angel may say "stop!" and turn around. If any of the kids are caught moving, they return to the line.  Play resumes when the angel turns back around and says "go."

Story Magnifier – Angels

• The shepherds were considered nobody important and yet they were the ones that the troops of angels came to first.  The angels were sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth with everyone.
• Make halos using aluminum foil, ribbons, and chenille stems.  Twist foil to form a circle.  Wrap and tie decorations on. 

Art – Making Cards

• After seeing and hearing the angel’s news, the shepherds knew Jesus was God’s Son whom they had been waiting for.  Like the shepherds, we share the excitement of Jesus’ birth too.
• Use stamps, markers, and folded card stock to make a special Christmas card.

An Angel Appears to Mary

Story - The Jesus Story Book

Song - “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Song – “Down in my Heart”

Game – Name Stomp

• Gabriel told Mary what the name of her special son would be.
• Put all the letters of Jesus’ name (each letter on a different color so that you can also call out the color of the letter for younger children to find easier) out on the floor.  Call a letter (and color) and a way to get to that letter (i.e. spin to the red J; hop to the yellow E, crawl to the blue S, etc.)

Story Magnifier – Angel Messages in a Jar

• Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her about Jesus, but the holy spirit is around us all the time.
• Cut apart or write your own angel messages to put inside the jar to read after Jesus’ birthday,  also include a heart.

Art – Angel Plate

• In our story today, an angel appeared to Mary to tell her about Jesus.
• Decorate the paper plate and give your angel a face.  Fold it together to form the angel.

Advent

Story - The Legend of the Candy Cane

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “Deliver the Present”

• There are many symbols that are present at Christmas time that remind us of the present that was bestowed upon the earth.  Using a candy cane shepherd staff, herd a sheep (balloon) into the taped area and run back and hand off the staff.

Story Magnifier – Beaded Candy Canes

• Add beads to pipe cleaners and bend.

Art – Advent Wreath

• Decorate the square with markers, glue wreath on with glue stick, add candle holders and straws.

Jesus is Born

Story - The Jesus Story Book page 176

Song – “Mary had a Baby Boy” (Tune: Mary had a little Lamb)

Song – “Happy Birthday”

Game – “Happy News Game”

• You and another teacher (teenage leader) make a bridge with your arms. The children will walk in a circle, passing under the bridge, while you sing together the following words to the tune: "London Bridge". We have happy news to tell, news to tell, news to tell. We have happy news to tell. We have happy news. On the last line, bring your arms down to "catch" a child. That child then tells the happy news: Jesus will be born! Continue until each child has had a chance to be "caught" and tell the happy news.

Story Magnifier – Box sort

• Give each child a white piece of paper to draw a design on.  Tape the paper to the top of each box.  Hide a small baby under one of the boxes and have the children guess which box has the baby.

Art – Manger Design

• Paint the hay in the manger with yellow paint and add a baby Jesus.

Ruth

Story - The Beginners Bible p. 154

Song – “Father Abraham”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “Stick Together”

• When we all stick together, we’re very strong.  Loyalty is a strong bond that keeps us together. People who are loyal to each other, like Ruth and Naomi, help each other.
• In this game, everyone must walk on the masking-tape lines.  If you get tagged by the person that is it or fall off the lines, you sit down and count to 5.  If the person it gets close to you or your friends, hold hands.  You cannot be tagged while holding a friend’s hand, but you cannot hold hands for longer than 5 seconds.   

Story Magnifier – Ruth in a Bottle

• God wants us to love our families.  In our story, Naomi thanked Ruth for showing love by gathering the barley for food.
• Have children gather the food items from around the area.  Add a heart into the bottle or love and place the food inside the bottle.  
• When home, children can pop the lid off and scatter to feed the birds and squirrels. 

Art – Friendship Hands

• God is our most loyal friend.  He wants us to follow His example by being the kind of friend others can trust, just like how Ruth and Naomi were loyal friends.
• Trace each child’s hand on the piece of paper.  Give each child 2 Wikki sticks (cut in half to make 4 shorter ones) to make a sculpture that sticks together like Ruth and Naomi.

Elijah

Story - Pray and Play bible

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “Father Abraham”

Game – “Elijah’s Altar”

• Have the children sit in a circle on the floor and begin passing the ball around the circle.  Say: Listen while you pass the ball, and when you hear me say, “The Lord is God,” I want the person holding the ball to throw it into the air.  The ball will come down like the fire came down from heaven in our story. 

Story Magnifier – Altar Stones

• In our story, Elijah put stones around the wood before God set it on fire.
• Choose and decorate a stone to remind yourself of God’s strength. 

Art – Cotton Ball Clouds

• After three years of a drought, the people of Israel stopped worshiping false gods and the curse was lifted.
• Using cotton balls and glue, make your own rain cloud.

Joshua and the Walls of Jericho

Story - Beginner’s Bible

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Game – “Down Came the Walls”

• In the Bible, God told Joshua to march around the city once a day for seven days before attacking.
• Together build a wall with cardboard bricks.  Hand every child a ball and walk around the wall.  Sound a whistle after everyone has walked around at least seven times.  When the whistle sounds, everyone throws their ball at the wall trying to knock it down.

Story Magnifier – Sound the Horn

• After walking around the Wall for seven days, The Walls of Jericho came falling down when Joshua gave the signal.
• Use the mini boxes to build a wall, then blow a signal and knock the wall down.

Art – The Wall

• To get to their new land, the Israelites lead by Joshua had to fight their way through the walled city of Jericho.  
• Use a wet paper towel to press a packing peanut against.  Once one end is moist it will stick to the other peanuts and a wall can be built.

Samuel Hears God

Story - Beginner’s Bible

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Game – “Who’s Calling?”

• As Samuel was sleeping, he heard a voice calling his name.  It was God talking to Samuel as he slept in the temple.
• Make a circle with one child in the middle laying on a pillow and pretending to sleep.  Tap one child from the outer circle on the head.  That child says, “Come here, Samuel.”  The sleeping child wakes up and points to who s/he thought said the words.  If wrong the child goes back to sleep and tries again after the other child has spoken again.  Then they trade places and a new caller is chosen.

Story Magnifier – Ringing Bells

• The bible gives us words God wants us to hear.  Just as Samuel listened when God called, we need to listen to God’s words too.
• Set Up:  In the middle of two feet of lightweight string, tie on a metal spoon.  Demonstrate:  Wrap the string ends around each of your index fingers.  Put your finger in your ears (like blocking out noise).  Swing the string, striking the spoon against the edge of the table, the wall, a chair, or another object.
• The vibrations travel better through a solid object than through air.  When the spoon is tapped, the sound waves travel through the string producing a ringing sound.

Art – God’s Word in Your Heart

• God spoke to Samuel, and He speaks to us through the bible and good deeds.
• Decorate the person to be yourself and glue on the heart so it opens.  

Jonah and the Whale

Story - Jonah and the Whale (Usborne Book)

Song – “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “It Looks Fishy”

• Run a relay race to take the “fish” to the boat.

Story Magnifier – Building an Ocean

• Give each child a square piece of paper to draw the ocean on.  Add stickers that retell our story.

Art – Whale

• Cut a triangle out of a plate to staple on as a whale’s tale.  Decorate. 

The Ten Commandments

Story - Jesus Story Book p. 100

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “God Says”

• God spoke the Ten Commandments to His People.  Play “God Says.”  It is played like Simon says but the phrase is changed.  With the younger children, make light of someone messing up and not make anyone sit down.  With the older children you can have them sit down if they mess up, but watch out for those children that are just not at the maturity to be able to do this game as well as others.  Pick a child to be it, but limit how many times they can give commands.

Story Magnifier – Felt Board Retelling

• Retell the story using the felt board.  Have the kids help tell parts and bring up different pieces to put on the board.

Art – Moses Puppet

• In our story today, God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets and gave them to Moses to share.  
• Give each child a blank person to design how Moses would look.  When finished designing, tape a stick to the back to be a puppet.

Moses and the Plagues

Story - Let My People Go by Tilda Balsley

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Game – “Pharaoh’s Frogs”

• In our story, the Pharaoh would not let Moses and his people leave the country.  So God sent many frogs that were everywhere, rivers, beds, and even ovens.
• Have kids squat down in a line with their chins tucked to their chests and hands on the floor.  Allow about one foot of space between frogs.  Place tape marks on the carpet for the frogs to jump over.  You can also have a frog race or play follow the leader frog.  
• You may want to chant:  Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump/ the frogs made Pharaoh quite a grump!

Art – River of Red

• In our story, the Pharaoh would not let Moses and his people leave the country.  So God turned the water red, which killed the fish and got rid of the drinking water.
• Give each child a piece of paper and have them paint with red paint.  They can also place different confetti for the contamination on the paint while it is still wet (it will stick if wet). 

 
Story Magnifier – The Plague Play

• In our story, the Pharaoh would not let Moses and his people leave the country.  He told Moses “no” ten times.
• Act out the ten miracles (similar to Simon Says):
•   God turned Aaron’s stick into a snake (wiggle like a snake on your stomach)
•   God turned the river red (make a bad face and pretend to swim)
•   God sent frogs to cover the land (hop like a frog)
•   God filled the air with gnats (wave arms like swatting bugs)
•   God let the cows die all at once (stand on all fours and fall over)
•   God gave the people sores all over their bodies (jump up and down saying “ouch”)
•   God sent hail falling down from the sky (cover head dodge the pretend hail)
•   God sent a swarm of locust to cover the land (hop up and down on all fours, chomping with mouth)
•   God turned the daylight into darkness (cover your eyes)
•   God protected all the Hebrew children (clap and cheer)

Baby Moses

Story - Moses in the Bulrushes

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – “Moses on the River”

• Place a doll in a basket to represent baby Moses in the basket.  Place a zigzag or crooked line of tape across the floor.  Have children stand along the line so that no one is close enough to touch another person.  Remind children that the river was a dangerous place where god protected Moses.  The children are the reeds that lined the river and they need to push Moses from one reed to the next.

Story Magnifier – Baskets

• Use a Styrofoam cup as the base and poke chenille stems into the sides to look like a basket weave.  Decorate a piece of paper to be the blanket to go inside.  Use a bead to represent the baby.

Art – The River

• Moses was placed on the river, but the river was a dangerous place.
• Using blue paint, paint a river on a piece of paper

Joseph's Coat of Many Colors

Story - Joseph's Coat of Many Colors

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “The Coat Race”

• Place a cardboard coat on the floor a few feet away.  Have children sit in a line.  Give each child a colored square.  When their color is called they need to run as fast as they can to the coat and put their square on it and run back.  The younger ones may need help with their colors and with the older ones you can turn it into a relay race. 

Story Magnifier – Magic Coats

• Use a wood stick and scrape off the black color to reveal the colors underneath.

Art – The Color Swirl

• Place blank coffee filter on a paper plate and color with markers.  Once there is a significant amount of color on the filter, squeeze water from a paper towel onto the filter and watch the colors swirl together.

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Story - Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “The Lion Pit”

• Choose one player to be Daniel. All the other players lie down on their backs. They're now in "the Lion Pit" as a sleeping lion. Daniel counts to 3, then tries to get the other players to move without making any physical contact. He can yell, laugh, tell a joke — anything except touch another player.  Anyone who moves, laughs, or makes noise joins Daniel, standing up and trying to get the others to move. After a couple minutes, the leader yells “guards” and all the lions wake up and run to the wall trying not to be tagged. 

Story Magnifier – Pit of Blocks

• Daniel was thrown into a pit with lions.  Using blocks and working either together or individually, build a pit to hold Daniel and the lions (yellow pom-poms).

Art – Lion Puppet

• In our story today, God saved Daniel from being eaten by the lions.  Make lion puppets by using a paper plate and drawing a face with crayons.  Glue yarn on for fur.  Tape a stick to the back as a handle.

Esther

Story - Pray & Play Bible p.66

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – “Good King, May I?”

• Played like mother may I.  Have the king or queen sit in a “throne” (chair), while everyone else lines up at the opposite end.  The children take turns asking "Good King (Queen), may I ____?" and makes a movement suggestion (big steps, baby steps, tip-toe steps, frog steps, jumps, hops, crabwalk, crawl, etc.). For example, one might ask, "Good King, may I take five giant steps forward?" The king either replies "Yes, you may" or "No, you may not, but you may _____ instead" and inserts his/her own suggestion.  All of the child make the same motions no matter who asked the question.

Story Magnifier – Star Messengers

• Mordecai and Esther worked together by sending messages back and forth.  Have each child decorate a card to send a message to someone.

Art – Crown Decorating

• Decorate the crowns using glitter glue and jewels.

David and Goliath

Story - Brimax's David and Goliath

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Song – “I may never march in the infantry"

Game – “God is Stronger”

• Choose one or two children to be Goliath.  Everyone else gets a newspaper ball.  The object is to run from one area to where Goliath is hung up to throw your ball.  If Goliath tags you, you freeze into a statue until someone tags you and says “God is stronger.”  Once all the balls make it to the cut out, then new Goliaths are chosen.

Story Magnifier – Nine Foot Tall

• Goliath was huge, nine foot tall.  Everyone draws a picture of a person on a paper.  Tape the papers together to create a nine foot tall structure.

Art – Stone Rolling Art

• In our story today, David picked up five stones to hurl at the giant.  Dip each stone (marble) into paint and roll around inside the box on paper.  The stones roll by moving the box instead of touching the marble.  Once most of the paint has come off, dip it in paint again.

The Tower of Babel

Story - Children's Version

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Oh, No!  Look Out Below!”

• In our story, the men thought they could build a tower high enough to reach heaven.  God did not let them finish the tower because he wanted the men to understand that believing in him is the only way to heaven.
• Today we’re going to build towers.  Our towers won’t reach heaven either.  They’ll fall to the ground when they get too high.  Divide children into two groups and have them work together to see whom can build the highest tower without it falling over.  When the tower starts to wobble, say the warning, “Oh, no!  Look out below!”

Story Magnifier – Hello around the World

• At first everyone in our story spoke the same language.  God mixed up the languages so the people would not be able to work together to sin against God.
• Look at a globe of all the countries in the world.  Listen to how different parts of the world say hello.  Have the children make up their own word for hello and practice using this word by having dolls say hello to each other.

Art – Sponge Paint Tower

• In ancient Babylonia, people made bricks out of clay to build buildings and the tower in our story.  They thought they could reach heaven by stacking bricks high enough.
• Using the square sponges, sponge paint your own brick tower.

Noah Builds the Ark

Story - Pray & Play Bible p. 18

Song – “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Song – “Did you Ever Hear?” (tune: Did you ever see a Lassie?)

Game – “The Animal Race”

• When Noah had to get all the animals on the ark, some of them must have had to travel a long way to get there.  Today we’ll travel the way some of them did to get safely to the ark.
• This can be done broken into groups, relay style, or all together.  Place a piece of tape on the floor for a long tree branch to climb on.  Drape a blanket over two chairs for a cave to climb through.  Tape down paper circles as stepping stones to cross a wide river.  Finally pick an area to be the ark.
• Once everyone arrives at the ark, they may make a rainbow necklace (fruit loops and yarn).

Story Magnifier – Build an Ark

• God instructed Noah to build an ark or large boat to save his family and animals from the flood.
• Using Legos have the children either alone or in pairs build their own ark.

Art – Water Color Rainbows

• In our story today, after raining for forty days and forty nights, God put a rainbow in the sky as a promise to never destroy the earth with a flood again.  Use the water color paints to create your own rainbow (or ark or animal or something else from the story).

God Created People

Story - Pray & Play Bible 2 p.6

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “Everything was Good” (tune: Old MacDonald)

Game – “Ring Around Creation”

• Have children pick up the cord to form a circle.  There is a shower ring on the cord.  The children push the ring around the circle as fast as they can while music is playing.  If the ring is in front of them when the music stops, then they tell something that God created.

Story Magnifier – People

• Use the creation ball with telling the story.  Have children repeat the phrase “But what about the people?” during the story.
• On the sixth day, God created the people.  Now you get to create your own person.
• Make a small person.

Art – Creation dough

• In our story today, God created everything in our world.  Use the play dough to create something that god created on the six days before he rested

Creation Day 7: Rest/Sabbath

Story - A Peek into My Church and review the seven days of creation with ball

Song – “Church Action Rhyme”

Song – “Jesus Hokey Pokey”

Game – “God is in Charge”

• Play a form of “Simon Says” called “God says.”  Same rules, except nobody is ever “out” because God is forgiving.  You can add things like “God says love thy neighbor by giving a high-five.”

Story Magnifier – Remembering Necklaces

• Make a necklace with beads that says either: love, god, or WWJD to remember to keep the Sabbath holy.

Art – Church

• Using markers, design your own church.

Creation Day 6: Adam and Eve

Story - My Very First Bible page 10

Song – “This Little Light of Mine”

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Game – “The Big Snake”

• Have the children stretch out on the floor on their tummies and practice slithering.  Start by having them act like a snake going through the Garden of Eden to trick Eve.  If that is too easy, have them connect to each other by holding ankles to make a bigger snake.   

Story Magnifier – People Topplers

• Line up a number of people in a line and knock over the first one with a snake.

Art – Apples

• Decorate an apple with markers and dot markers.  Add a snake

Creation Day 4 & 5: St. Francis

Story - Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Song – “Mr. Sun”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Animal Charades”

• One child to picks out an animal cracker out of the box, so no one can see. The child turns away from the others and eats the cracker. Now, the child "becomes" that animal and pretends to be it through motions. The other children must guess what animal it is. If allergies are present, whisper animals in the ear of the child.

Story Magnifier – The Sky

• Using Chalk on dark paper, draw the moon, stars, constellations, or anything else in the night sky. 

Art – Nature Collage Cat

• St. Francis celebrated everything God created in his prayer.
• Decorate the cat outline with crumpled leaves and other goodness that God created.

Creation Day 5: St. Cuthbert

Story - The Ravens of Farne

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Game – “Feather Race”

• Put a feather up in the air.  Gently blow on the feather to show how the feather can stay in the air.  After demonstrating how to keep the feather in the air, hand a feather to each child and let them try to keep it up in the air.  Have a feather race around a chair and back. 

Story Magnifier – Bird Feeders

• The Ravens tried to take food that was not theirs, but in the end they found food that was theirs.
• Tie a string through a half of mini bagel.  Spread shortening on the bagel and dip in seeds.

Art – Flying Bird

• In our story, the greedy ravens stole the grain and roof straw.  Once they were sorry, the birds and Saint Cuthbert were able to live together peacefully on the Island.
• Decorate the bird body.  Insert a coffee filter through the slit after decorated to make wings.

Creation day 3: Plants/Zacchaeus

Story - Pray and Play Bible 2 pg 138

Song – “Deep and Wide”

Song – “Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man"

Game – “Tree Tag”

• It was not easy for a rich, well-dressed man to scramble up a tree, but Zacchaeus did it.  Just like Zacchaeus, we want to see Jesus and spend time with him.
• Define the boundaries that children need to stay in.  Select one child to be “it.”  Children run from one designated safe area to another without being tagged.  If tagged, the child stands frozen with arms outstretched to look like a tree.  They remain a tree until a runner tags them. 

Story Magnifier – Coin Purses

• Zacchaeus collected too much money from people, and then he gave back four times as much as he took.  Jesus wants us to be sorry when we do wrong.
• Show children how to fold a paper plate into a coin purse (younger ones need more help) by folding the sides in about two inches, then folding in half.  Secure with a staple in the bottom of each side.  Punch holes in top and thread yarn through.  Decorate with crayons.

Art – Trees

• Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see Jesus over the crowd.  After meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus decided to stop cheating people and pay back even more than the amount he had cheated.  Jesus can help us change too.
• Make your own tree using the parts provided.

Creation days 1-2 Light and dark and the sky

Story -  Pray & Play Bible p. 2

Song – “He's got the whole world in His hands”

Song – “If you are Happy and you Know It”

Game – “Night and Day”

• Use parachute and to talk about light and dark. For dark, have children run under the parachute, for day, come out. Use the phrase “Let there be light” to have the kids come out.  Call the child under by the coloring of clothing they are wearing, by gender, by hair color, etc.  Use the parachute and toss cotton ball clouds. 

Story Magnifier – Working in Darkness

• In our story today, God created day and night.  Give each child a piece playdough under a box or under a paper bag.  Have them create something in the dark and talk about how important light is.

Art – Daylight Coming Through

• In our story today, God created day and night.  Stick contact paper shapes on a piece of paper.  Have children paint over them with black paint.  Remove the contact paper to let the daylight come through.

Welcome Friends: Abraham’s Guests

Story – The Beginners Bible: TOS p.32

Song – “Father Abraham”

Song – “Down in my Heart”

Game – “Happy to See You”

• Abraham and Sarah welcomed their guests into their home and made them comfortable.  Now we are going to welcome each other.  While bouncing a ball to one child at a time, the teacher says “I am happy to see (child's name).” Continue till everyone's name is said. Then we pass the ball around the circle to each child, the entire class says the name of the child holding the ball.

Story Magnifier – Welcome Sign

• Talk about how Abraham and Sarah’s home was a tent and how to be a good friend like Abraham and Sarah.
• Spell out WELCOME, one letter per piece of paper. Give each child a letter to decorate.  Once the children in your group are finished decorating their letter, use sticky tack and spell out welcome on the wall, as many times as you can.

Art – Smiles Puppets

• In our story today, Abraham and Sarah welcomed their guest with smiles.  You are going to make a smiling puppet.  Use a paper bag and decorate to make a person.