All Things New. What Will Children Learn? Year 1 The Bible The Basics

Transcription

1 All Things New What Will Children Learn? 78 best-loved Bible stories and Christian Basics. Year 1 The Bible The Basics Fall-1 Winter-1 Spring-1 Genesis: Stories of Beginnings Creation Adam and Eve The Fall The Flood Abraham Sarah Rebekah s Well Jacob s Ladder Rachel & Leah Joseph s Dreams Joseph and Pharaoh Joseph and His Brothers The Jesse Tree: An Old Testament Review Jesus: Stories of God s Kingdom Zechariah and Elizabeth Mary Says Yes Jesus in the Manger The Magi Into Egypt John the Baptist Jesus and Nathanael Jesus & Jairus Daughter Jesus Calms the Storm Jesus Feeds 5,000 Jesus and the Children Parable: The Good Samaritan Bartimaeus Easter and Pentecost: Stories of the Church The Prophet Isaiah & the Suffering Servant Jesus Enters Jerusalem Jesus Teaches: The Ten Bridesmaids Jesus & His Friends: At Bethany The Last Supper Jesus Death and Resurrection Mary Magdalene, Witness to the Risen Lord Road to Emmaus Ascension Pentecost The First Christians A Letter on Love (1 Corinthians) One in Christ (Galatians 3) Prayer Hearing and Sharing Faith Stories Stewardship Advent and Christmas Baptism The Apostles Creed Holy Week and Easter Holy Communion Year 2 The Bible The Basics Fall-2 Winter-2 Spring-2 Heritage: People of God Miriam Saves Moses Burning Bush Moses and Pharaoh Exodus Manna in the Desert Gift of the Law Entry into Canaan God Calls Samuel David Elijah & Elisha Stories of Exile: Daniel, Esther and Others Return & Rebuilding The Jesse Tree: An Old Testament Review Emmanuel: God With Us Mary & Elizabeth Birth of John the Baptist Shepherds to the Manger Anna & Simeon Jesus at Twelve Baptism and Temptation The First Disciples Jesus & the Paralyzed Man Jesus Walks on Water Parable: The Great Dinner Party Mary & Martha Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son Zacchaeus A New People: God s Spirit and the Church The Prophet Jeremiah & the New Covenant Jesus in the Temple Jesus Teaches: The Widow s Gift Jesus & His Friends: Preparations The Last Supper Jesus Death and Resurrection Thomas, Witness to the Risen Lord The Sea of Tiberias The Great Commission The Good News Goes Out: Paul, the Ethiopian and Others The House of Lydia A Letter on Love (1 John) A Final Vision (Revelation 21) Fellowship Bible Skills The Church The Church Year Baptism The Lord s Prayer Reconciliation Holy Communion Outreach Grades 3 & 4 5

2 Session 1 Focus Creation In this Session We tell the story of God s creation (Genesis 1: 1 2:4). We explore how we are made to be like God. We practice the faith skill of praying together. Timing Scripture Background: The Bible begins with a beautiful affirmation of God as Creator of the cosmos, the earth, the living world and all people. We are made in God s image. That means God makes us creators, too. We can help children explore ways we act as creators: we make things, we enter into relationships and we bless the world and people around us. When we affirm each child as the unique person he or she is, we faith formation leaders share in God s creative work. For more information on scripture and faith formation, turn to page Open (5-15 minutes) 2. Tell the Story (5-10 minutes) 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more: Art (15-30 minutes) Movement (10-20 minutes) Faith Skills (5-15 minutes) 4. Close (5-10 minutes) Materials God saw that it was good. Art: Mural: construction paper, scissors, glue, tape, long strip of butcher paper or newsprint; Name Tags: heavy paper or blank postcards for watercolors, sets of children s watercolors with brushes, black markers Faith Skills: Prayer Books: markers or colored pencils Genesis 1:12 Grades 3 & 4 Session 1 9

3 Session 1 Session Plan 1. Open Make a Circle: In these first sessions, make sure you learn the names of children when they arrive. In today s Art, we offer a Name Tag activity to help you and the children learn one another s names. Children are happier to wear name tags if you do, too. When you re ready to begin, gather in a circle. Opening Prayer: You can begin by using Track 1 on the All Things New CD to lead children in singing Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works. This creation hymn sets the words of an American folk hymn to the tune of a Dakota Indian chant. Invite children to turn to page 30 in their Kids at Prayer books. Help them pray: Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. 2. Tell the Story Getting Ready: Open a Bible. Explain: Each week, we will read from the Bible, the sacred book of God s people. Today s story is from the book of Genesis, which means beginnings. Story: (abridged from Genesis 1:1-31, NRSV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God said, Let there be light. God saw that the light was good. God separated the waters under from the waters above. God said, Let dry land appear. And God saw that it was good. God made the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars. And God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the waters bring forth living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth. And God saw that it was good. God made the wild animals of the earth. And God saw that it was good. God created humankind; male and female he created them. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. Response: Pause for a moment and invite children to say words they heard in today s story. After a few words or a few moments of silence, conclude by saying today s scripture verse: God saw that it was good. 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more of the response activities on the facing page. You can also invite children to talk together about the questions on page one of the All Things Newspaper (#1). You ll find help on page two with today s Art activity Mural of a New Creation. 4. Close Make a Circle: Gather once more in a circle. Take time to invite children to share their responses: a picture drawn, a story retelling or a movement game. Then say: God makes all things good. Let s be quiet for a moment and think of the good things we have from God. You can choose to listen or to talk to God while we re quiet together. Closing Prayer: After a few moments, repeat with the children the opening song or prayer. 10 Session 1 Grades 3 & 4

4 Session 1 Respond to the Story Art Mural of a New Creation: Use the All Things Newspaper to help children brainstorm ideas for a mural of a new creation. On page two, read Made Like God and Try This aloud with the children. Provide construction paper, scissors, glue and tape. Invite children to use construction paper shapes to make brand-new animals, planets, flowers, etc. Provide a long strip of paper for children to fill with their creations. Name Tags: You can invite children to create name tags. Ask children to cut heavy paper into a large shape. Encourage them to make a shape that no one has ever seen before. (You ll get the best results if you begin with blank postcards made for watercolors, available from art stores.) From the All Things New Poster Packet, find the poster Six Ways to Paint with Watercolors. Help children follow the directions for wet-on-wet watercolors to fill their name tags with blooms of color. When they are dry, children can use black markers to write their names on the tags. Movement God Makes People: Remind children that God makes each of us and loves each of us. Invite children to play a movement game that celebrates ways we are different and ways we are alike. Many and Great: You can lead children in a Movement activity that accompanies the beautiful creation hymn Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works. Find the movement directions on Track 2 on the All Things New CD. After you use the recorded movements, invite children to work together to invent new movements. Faith Skills: Prayer Prayer Book: Children will use their own Kids at Prayer books throughout the year. Keep extras on hands for visitors, too. Today invite children to open the books and look through them. Ask them to turn to page two, where there is space for them to write their names and the name of their church. Invite children to decorate this page as they like. Then ask children to turn to page four, where there is a calendar of the Church year. Read together this calendar. Help children find where we are today in the Church year. Blessing Prayers: Explain that to bless is to give thanks. Ask children to take turns finishing this prayer sentence: God makes people who... After each sentence, help the group pray together, Thanks be to God. The children form a circle with one chair each. Stand in the center of the circle. Explain that you will begin a sentence with the words, God makes people who... You can finish the sentence in many ways: like pizza, ride a bicycle or are wearing blue. When you finish your sentence, anyone who fits what you say gets up and find a new chair. As the children rush for new chairs, take a chair yourself, leaving one child to be the new leader in the center. Grades 3 & 4 Session 1 11

5 More More for You, the Leader More about Today s Story There are two creation stories in the Bible. Today s session tells the first creation story, in which God calls forth from the void the cosmos, the earth and its living creatures. In the creation stories of many other cultures, creation is portrayed as an accident or an act of evil. In sharp contrast, the Bible affirms creation as the deliberate act of a God who pronounces all things good. The creation story was not intended as early science but as early prayer. It doesn t attempt to explain every detail of the physical cosmos, but lovingly affirms the nature of God as Creator and the nature of human beings who are made in God s image. When we read aloud the story, we praise God as the One who brings life into the world, enters into relationship with that creation and blesses all things made. Because we are made in God s image, we, too, are called to bring life to God s world, enter into relationship with all beings and bless all that is made. Early Christian writers noted that the story names the sixth day (Friday) as the day of creation for people. They wrote that Jesus recreated human nature by offering himself to God on the cross on Good Friday. Reflection: We invite you to reflect prayerfully on today s story. What part of creation moves you to feelings of wonder, love or praise? God blesses all things and all people by calling them good. How do you know yourself as ultimately good, made in God s image and loved and blessed by God? How do you know yourself as a creator, too? The Basics for Leaders Children in the Third & Fourth Grades: You may have children from only one grade or both grades in your group. Each child in your group is unique, but sometimes children who are in these grades share certain characteristics. For example, most of the children in this age group want fairness to govern their group relationships. The youngest children in these groups tend to be overflowing with energy and constantly seeking our relationships. Some of these children want lots of friends; some of these children want a best friend. Most of them will want to feel close to you, as the group s focus, and feel a strong need for affection. The oldest children in these groups are less focused on building a relationship with you, and more focused on their skills and interests. They especially want to be seen as capable, in both their eyes and the eyes of others. Their strongest need is to be treated with respect and dignity. The good God...has made all things good. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome (461 A.D.) 12 Session 1 Grades 3 & 4

6

7