Scope and Sequence Fall 2016 Summer 2017

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2 Scope and Sequence Fall 2016 Summer 2017 Fall 2016 Winter Spring 2017 Summer 2017 UNIT 1: Joseph s Journey UNIT 1: The Stories of Christmas UNIT 1: Jesus Shows Love UNIT 1: Courageous Bible People September 4 Joseph and His Brothers December 4 Mary s Story March 5 To Ten Lepers June 4 Courageous Disciples September 11 Joseph in Egypt December 11 Joseph s Story March 12 To Zacchaeus June 11 Courageous Queen September 18 Joseph Saves the Day December 18 Jesus Story March 19 At the Last Supper June 18 Courageous Friends September 25 Joseph and His Brothers Reunited December 25 Shepherd s Story March 26 In the Garden June 25 Courageous Daniel UNIT 2: Freedom UNIT 2: Jesus, God s Son UNIT 2: Hosanna! UNIT 2: Speakers for God October 2 The Baby in the Basket January 1 Search for the King April 2 Cock-a-doodle-doo! July 2 Elijah and the Ravens October 9 The Burning Bush January 8 Talk With the Teachers April 9 Hosanna! July 9 Elijah and the Prophets October 16 Moses and Pharaoh January 15 Come to the River April 16 Alleluia! July 16 Jonah and the Fish October 23 Crossing the Sea January 22 Change the Water April 23 Come to Breakfast! July 23 Elisha and the Widow s Jars October 30 Songs of Joy January 29 Born Anew April 30 Feed My Sheep! July 30 Elisha and the Servant Girl UNIT 3: God Provides UNIT 3: The Parables UNIT 3: Peter Rocks! UNIT 3: God Chooses Joshua November 6 In the Wilderness November 13 Ten Commandments November 20 A House for God November 27 The Peaceable Kingdom February 5 The Sower February 12 The Good Samaritan February 19 The Stories of the Lost February 26 The Forgiving Father May 7 Peter and John May 14 Peter and Tabitha May 21 Peter and Cornelius May 28 Peter in Prison August 6 God Chooses Joshua August 13 Spies in Canaan August 20 Crossing the Jordan August 27 Jericho

3 Contents Written by LeeDell B. Stickler 2 Using These Resources 4 What Children Need to Know 5 Welcome to Deep Blue 6 Supplies UNIT 1: Joseph s Journey 7 September 4 1. Joseph and His Brothers 13 September Joseph in Egypt 19 September Joseph Saves the Day 25 September Joseph and His Brothers Reunited UNIT 2: Freedom 31 October 2 5. The Baby in the Basket 37 October 9 6. The Burning Bush 43 October Moses and Pharaoh 49 October Crossing the Sea 55 October Songs of Joy UNIT 3: God Provides 61 November In the Wilderness 67 November Ten Commandments 73 November A House for God 79 November The Peaceable Kingdom Supplemental Pages 85 Unit 1 Bible Verse Sign Language 86 Unit 2 Bible Verse Sign Language 87 Unit 3 Bible Verse Sign Language 88 Optional Active Learning Game: Seashell Shuffle (Session 8) 89 Exploration Station: Map Directions (Session 10) 90 Deep Blue Kids in Mission Letter 91 Optional Active Learning Game: Manna for Everyone! (Session 10)/Making an Advent Wreath (Session 13) 92 Mission Offering Can Wrap 93 Optional Craft Activity: Advent Activities (Session 13) 94 Answers to Bible Stories & Stickers Activities Check out deepbluekids.com to connect with other leaders, download additional content for the quarter, and read weekly articles. Download the new Deep Blue app today! It s free To use the Deep Blue QR codes, you must download a QR Reader. There are many free applications available for download in your devices application app. Cover Credits: cover design by Phillip Francis. Ar t Credits: pp. 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, Four Story Creative; pp , 18, 23, 30, 35-36, 42, 53, 59-60, 65, 71, 78, 89, Brenda Gilliam; p. 83, Sharon Lane Holm/ Storybook Art, Inc.; pp , Diana Magnuson/The Neis Group; pp. 24, 29, 41, 66, 77, 84, 90, 92, Shutterstock. Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 1

4 Using These Resources Here s how it works: Leader s Guide Each session plan is divided into four sections: 1. Jump In These arrival activities help the children think about what they will learn. These activities also can be groupbuilding activities to encourage relationship building. 2. Dive Deeper This section contains the group activities for hearing, understanding, and experiencing the Bible story. 3. Grow Stronger These activities encourage the children to relate the Bible story to their own lives. You also will find opportunities in this section for the children to serve others in their own church and community, and to participate in mission projects around the world. 4. Worship In the Worship section the children will sing, sign, and praise God. Bible Stories & Stickers This resource contains 13 leaflets, one for each session. These leaflets include an interactive Bible story, fun puzzles, activities that connect the children with the rest of the Bible, and a chance for the children to share their own thoughts about characters from the Bible story. Kids Stuff This resource also contains 13 activities, one for each session. These simple cut-and-paste types of activities will relate to the Bible message. Class Stuff This class resource includes the attendance chart, colorful pictures, posters, maps, games, and bulletinboard ideas for the quarter. These items are designed to enhance the class experience with the stories. Also included in Class Stuff is the CD-ROM for the quarter. 2 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

5 CD-ROM This resource includes vocal and instrumental recordings of the songs for each unit, a PowerPoint presentation of the song lyrics, and printed sheet music with lyrics. The songs marked with an * are not featured in the DVD s music videos. 1. Theme Song: Let s Go Deep Blue 5. Every Step of the Way 2. Oh, Brothers 6. Let Them Shine * 3. Being Free 7. The Songs of the Season 4. Standing on Holy Ground * DVD The DVD contains: 13 episodes that tell the Bible story in 3-D and 2-D animation; monthly Bible verse videos that help the children learn the Bible verses; 4 music videos with brand-new music written by award-winning musician Dennis Scott; a unit Bible quiz to review each quarter s Bible stories with the children. CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible Kids will dive deep into God s Word with the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible. This engaging, interactive Bible offers four-color icons and illustrations throughout, with a wealth of notes, devotionals, Bible trivia, and other interactive elements to capture inquisitive young minds. Plus, the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible will encourage a thirst for God s timeless message as young readers join three lifelike kids in discovering the Bible and what it means to their lives. Deep Blue Kids Middle Elementary resources are available in Braille on request. Contact: Braille Ministry c/o Donna Veigel N. 91st Avenue #96 Peoria, AZ ( ) Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 3

6 What Children Need to Know Ages 7, 8 For Developing For Knowing For Relating to For Relating Faith Faith Foundations, the Bible & Our God & the Church, to Daily Living, Children Need: Faith Traditions, Children Need: Children Need: Children Need: to plan and carry out both group and individual activities. to be guided in dealing with classroom situations in ways that reflect Christian values. to be given responsibility in helping to care for the classroom and the class environment. to hear stories about and have experiences with persons who are different from them. to investigate, experiment, and explore. to develop critical thinking skills. to say the Lord s Prayer with others. to hear a simple explanation of the sacraments. to read simple verses from the Bible. to hear more detailed stories from the Bible. to know the names of the books of the Bible used most frequently in their class, and how to locate them in the Bible. to hear stories of people who have helped the church come to us. to use their Bibles at home as well as at church. to participate in corporate worship. to establish a personal prayer life, praying on their own at home. to be with adults who are open to children s questions about God, even if adults say they don t know the answers. to have the understanding of adults who know that children experience more of God than they can express verbally. to be encouraged to consider the rights of other children and family members. to participate in service projects appropriate to their age levels and abilities. to relate the joys and concerns of daily living to Bible teachings. to empathize with others and try to address their needs. to be reminded that God expects us to love everyone, including our enemies. to learn key Bible verses to think about during the week. 4 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

7 Where Kids Dive Deep Into the Bible In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. Luke 1:47 Welcome to Deep Blue We re glad you re here to dive deep with us into God s Word. We ll have adventures, hear exciting Bible stories, and learn how to live as disciples of Jesus. The Bible is more than just a big book. It s a gift to us. The Bible is meant to be opened, explored, and enjoyed. With Deep Blue, we ll open our Bibles and learn more about God, Jesus, faith, and how it all fits together into life today. Meet the Deep Blue Crew! The Deep Blue Kids Asia, Edgar, Kat, and Caleb will lead the children through the Bible using animated videos that tell the story. The student resources and the Deep Blue Kids Bible are colorful and engaging, encouraging the children to dive deeper into the Bible and explore their faith in fun and ageappropriate ways. Hi! My name is Asia, and I love to talk. Well, not just talk. Communicate. Report on what I see. Friends think I might make it on TV one day, but for now, I m just happy to document all the great discoveries we will make in Deep Blue Kids. Hello. I m pleased to meet you. My name is Edgar, and I m always trying to figure things out. Some people say I m too curious; I just need to understand things. One of my favorite things to do is figure out how to get somewhere, then investigate everything I find in that new place. Join me and the rest of the Deep Blue Crew on our Deep Blue Kids adventures. My name is Kat. I love adventure, and I ll bet you do too! We re going to have so much fun in Deep Blue Kids. There s so much to discover and explore about the Bible and what the Bible has to say to us today. The most fun part is that we ll be doing it together! I m Caleb. I m a little shy when I first meet people I don t know, but I m sure I ll like you. I really care about animals, and I usually carry my pet turtle, Speedy, in my coat pocket. I just moved to town to live in the lighthouse with my mother and stepfather, and I m excited to join the Deep Blue Crew! In Deep Blue, children will make Bible stories, Bible people, and Bible passages a part of their lives. The children will come to know the Bible as THEIR book and find ways to let the Bible speak to them today. Deep Blue is a comprehensive Bible study for children, incorporating the pillar stories of the Old and New Testaments. Deep Blue incorporates Bible stories, science activities, arts and crafts, animated video storytelling, and active games into a lived-faith experience that will help children discover what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today! Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 5

8 Supplies No matter how large your Sunday school class may be, there are some basic supplies you will need to have available almost every Sunday. The ideal situation is to collect the basic supplies you think you will need, and keep them accessible every Sunday. Whether you collect supplies in advance or one session at a time, choose the activities you will use, and provide what will be needed for those activities. The Basics scissors stapler, staples modeling clay plastic table covers markers rulers hymnal Bibles crayons, colored pencils paper punches small basket simple Bible costumes pencils, pens clear tape mural paper CD player markers masking tape paper towels, cleaning television construction paper rubber bands supplies drawing paper paper clips index cards tissue paper string, yarn scarves, streamers craft glue, glue sticks craft sticks paper cups, plates Beyond the Basics Once you have chosen the activities in each session that you intend to do, check the specific supplies for each activity. If something is slightly out of the ordinary (for example, paper-towel tubes), make a wish list of the supplies you will need. Members of your church will be happy to know how they can support the children in the church. Publish the wishlist in the church newsletter or bulletin. If you have a place to store supplies, encourage the congregation to bring supplies such as old magazines, paper-towel tubes, paper grocery bags, yogurt cups, envelopes, or fabric scraps. If you do not have a location to store supplies, make a new list each week of the things you will need for the next two or three weeks. 6 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

9 Joseph and His Brothers Bible Verse The Lord was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2 Did You Know? acob and his family returned to Canaan as God had promised. He reunited with his J brother Esau. Life was good for both families. At this point in the story, Jacob had 12 sons and numerous daughters. As a father, Jacob might have remembered a lesson from his own parents on the perils of favoritism. But he didn t. Jacob showered more affection and gifts upon Joseph (the child of Rachel) than all his other children. One gift in particular stirred up jealous feelings among the brothers. Jacob presented Joseph with a robe long sleeved and totally inappropriate for working in the fields. This gift signified that Joseph would not be doing the same work as his brothers. God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams. Joseph relished sharing his own dreams that indicated that his entire family one day would bow down to him. It was no wonder his brothers disliked him so much. Joseph was an arrogant, self-centered tattletale. He flaunted his specialness. He was an all-around difficult person to be around. We teach children not to put themselves above other people and to accept people for their gifts and talents. As the children reflect on the story of Joseph, they will see that God had a plan for him. His early behavior, and the life lessons he learned because of it, helped him to grow into the man God wanted him to be. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Help your kids learn more using the Parent Connection! SESSION 1 September 4 Bible Story Genesis 37:1-36 Anchor Point God is with us wherever we go. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Robe Runners q Today s Word: Jealousy q Craft Activity: Decorate a Robe q Worship Scan this QR code to download the Deep Blue Kids App Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 1 deepbluekids.com 7

10 Playing music as the children arrive and get settled is a good way to introduce the songs that they will sing. Where did the term green-eyed monster come from? It was first used by Shakespeare in his plays The Merchant of Venice and Othello. Green is also a color associate with sickness. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers, Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, tape Display the Attendance Chart at an accessible height for the children. Play Let s Go Deep Blue and Oh, Brothers as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 3, card stock, glitter glue (green), glue sticks, scissors Cut card stock into 5'' squares, one for each child. Distribute Jealousy the Green-eyed Monster. Direct children to cut out and assemble the monster a symbol of jealousy. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 1, p. 1; crayons or markers Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let the children design a coat for Joseph. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 11 ASK: Did you know that I can talk to you without ever saying a word? Use the hand gestures on page 11. Let the children decide what you are saying. SAY: In Bible times, if you bowed to someone, you showed respect. (Let the children bow to one another.) The lower you bowed, the more respect you showed. (Let the children bow very low to one another.) In today s Bible story, a bow got someone in trouble with his brothers. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 1. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 8 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 4

11 ASK: Who was Joseph? (one of Jacob s 12 sons) What gift did Jacob give Joseph? (a long-sleeved coat) How did Joseph s brothers feel about this? (They were jealous.) What did Joseph do that angered his brothers? (He told them of his dreams in which they all bowed down to him.) How did the brothers get even with Joseph? (They threw him into a pit. Then they sold him as a slave to traders going to Egypt.) What did they tell their father had happened to Joseph? (that a wild animal had killed him) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 5, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Assemble the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figures 1-4 (Jacob s tent, Joseph and his brothers, grazing sheep, Ishamelite camel caravan). SAY: The story of Joseph is found in the Book of Genesis. (Allow children to find Genesis.) Match the numbers printed on the Map with the numbers on the Figures. Assign the parts and present the drama. Then call for the children to gather around the Map. Briefly review the story as you add the Figures to the Map, matching the numbers on the Map with the Figures. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils ASK: How many of you have a sister or a brother? How would you feel if every time your sibling came into the room, you had to stand up and bow? What if your parents gave your brother or sister gifts, and didn t give gifts to you? How would you feel? Invite children to write a tweet as one of Joseph s brothers, telling Joseph their feelings. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for the children to look up the verses and answer the question. SAY: Joseph is one of Jacob s sons. Jacob was the twin brother of Esau. Invite children to share what they remember about the story of Jacob and Esau. If the children need to get the wiggles out, use the Optional Active Learning Game: Robe Runners (p. 11). Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: JEALOUSY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: Jealousy is a terrible thing. It can come between brothers and sisters, friends, parents, everyone. Nothing good ever comes from being jealous. Allow children to complete the activities. ASK: What do you think causes you to feel jealous? Fall 2016 Session 1 deepbluekids.com 9

12 Play the Unit 1 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. As the children leave, give each one a Deep Blue App sticker. This sticker tells the kids (and their parents) how to go online to unlock many games and activities that relate to the unit s Bible stories. CRAFT ACTIVITY: DECORATE A ROBE Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 12, craft glue, glue sticks, scrapbook paper or fabric scraps, pencils, poster board, scissors Photocopy the robe pattern and cut it out. Trace it onto poster board and cut out, one for each team. Place pieces of fabric or scrapbook paper randomly around the room. Arrange the children into teams. Give each team a robe pattern. At your signal, call for children to locate the cloth or paper scraps around the room. They are to bring the cloth/paper back to the team and glue it onto the robe pattern. The first team to completely cover their robe wins the game. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 85, Class Stuff pp. 12 & 21, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Display the Unit 1 Bible Verse Poster. Play Let s Go Deep Blue as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Play the song one time and let children follow along with the words. Then sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 1 Bible verse (p. 85). Or use the Unit 1 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Our Bibles are like maps or guidebooks. The people in our Bible stories were just like us. They had some of the same feelings and problems that we have today. But the one thing they taught us: God is always with us. ASK: What did you learn from this story? Call for children to locate in the songbooks the song Oh, Brothers. Play it through one time from the CD-ROM or DVD. Let the children follow along with the words. Sing the song together. Children can move to the music, either dancing with the kids on the video or creating their own moves! Collect songbooks. PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. Help us to listen to these stories and to learn from them. We know that you were with Joseph and you will be with us wherever we go. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 10 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 4

13 Exploration Station: Non-Verbal Communication wagging finger (don t do that) OK sign thumbs-up sign (good job) hands clapping (good work or congratulations) hand loosely closed (palm up) with index finger extended, beckoning (come here) waving (hello or goodbye) hand extended palm forward with fingers spread (stop) don t do that come here OK good job good work/ congratulations hello/goodbye Optional Active Learning Game: Robe Runners stop You Will Need: crayons or markers, poster board, scissors Enlarge the pattern on page 12. Cut several robe patterns, one for each team. Draw stripes on each of the robes. Place the robes and markers on a table across the room. 1. Arrange children into equal teams. They will run a relay from one side of the room to the other to run to the robe. One child from each team will color one stripe and run back to the team for the next player on each team to repeat the process. 2. The first team to complete decorating their robe is the winner. Hint: Be sure you have enough stripes on the robe for each child on each team to have a space to color. Also have an equal amount of stripes on each robe. Fall 2016 Session 1 deepbluekids.com 11

14 Craft Activity: Decorate a Robe You Will Need: craft glue, glue sticks, scrapbook paper or fabric scraps (cut into pieces about 1''-2''), pencils, poster board, scissors Cut out the photocopied robe pattern. Trace onto poster board and cut out, one per team. 1. At your signal, call for teams to search for fabric pieces or scrapbook paper to glue onto their robes. 2. The first team with their robe completely decorated wins. 12 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 4

15 Joseph in Egypt Bible Verse The Lord was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2 Did You Know? uring his life in Egypt, Joseph developed a trusting relationship with God. He grew D from an arrogant teenager into a wise and generous adult. While Joseph was a slave in the household of Potiphar, his good work caused Potiphar to put him in charge of the entire household. Joseph became a trusted servant. Then, after Potiphar s wife made false accusations against him, Joseph found himself in prison. In prison Joseph made himself useful. The jailer put him in charge of all the other prisoners. It was in prison that Joseph was able to use his gift of dream interpretation. When two prisoners sought Joseph to help them understand their troubling dreams, he explained their dreams. One prisoner was elated because he would be restored to his former position. The other prisoner was dejected, as he soon would be put to death. Joseph s interpretations came true. It was unfortunate that while Pharaoh had troubling dreams, the prisoner who returned to his court position forgot about Joseph. Young Joseph made poor decisions. He spoke without thinking, and was arrogant and rude. He bragged and had a superior attitude. When his life turned upside down, a wonderful thing happened. He grew up! Like Joseph, the children in your group are growing up. At times, they will behave immaturely. Don t despair! Thank God for them. Ask God to help you help the children grow in God s grace and faith. Remind them that just as God was with Joseph, God is with them wherever they go and whatever they do. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Try out the new augmentedreality zipper pulls! SESSION 2 September 11 Bible Story Genesis 39:1 40:23 Anchor Point God is with us wherever we go. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Something Good from Something Bad q Today s Word: Responsible q Craft Activity: God Is With Me Necklace q Worship Scan this QR code to download the Deep Blue Kids App. Or visit deepbluekids.com Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 2 deepbluekids.com 13

16 Set out the supplies for the first activities before the children arrive. This way you can spend time greeting and talking with the boys and girls. One-on-one encounters build strong relationships. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, tape Continue to display the Attendance Chart in an accessible location. Play Let s Go Deep Blue and Oh, Brothers as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 5, chenille stems, glue sticks, paper punches, scissors, tape Photocopy the feelings face cards (p. 6), one for each child. Distribute Today I m Feeling... Direct children to cut out and assemble the pocket. Add the face cards. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 2, p. 1; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let children find the words in the puzzle. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 17, bowl, unsliced artisan bread, matzoh bread (or saltine crackers), hand sanitizer, napkins, paper plates, warm water, yeast To save time, set up the experiments before class. Set out the two different kinds of bread. Let the children sample them. ASK: What is the difference between the two breads? (One is crispy, the other is soft.) SAY: The people of Egypt discovered something called yeast. When added to flour, the yeast made the bread lighter. This grain plays an important part in the story of Joseph. Follow the directions on page 17 to show the children what yeast does. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 2. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 14 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 11

17 ASK: What happened to Joseph when he arrived in Egypt? (He was sold as a servant to one of Pharaoh s officers.) What happened next? (He became a trusted servant in charge of Potiphar s household.) How did he end up in prison? (Potiphar s wife made false accusations against him.) What did he do while he was in prison? (He was put in charge of all the prisoners. He listened to their dream descriptions and told them what they meant.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 5, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figures 5-6 (pyramids, Pharaoh on throne). SAY: The story of Joseph is filled with twists and turns. Each time it looks like everything is going well, something bad happens. Assign parts and present the story. Talk about how Joseph changed as his life changed. Call for the children to gather around the Map. Briefly review the story as you add the Figures to the Map, matching the numbers on the Map with the Figures. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils ASK: How do you think Joseph felt when he was put in prison for doing the right thing? How do you think Joseph felt when the prisoner he helped forgot all about him? Disassemble the Map each week and add the Figures one at a time to retell the story of Joseph. If the children need a break, use the game Optional Active Learning Game: Something Good from Something Bad (p. 1 7). Invite the children to share a time when something bad happened and they turned it into something good. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for the children to look up the verses. Read them aloud, then let them complete the activity. ASK: What were Joseph s dreams? Do you think his brothers, father, and mother would bow down to him now? Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: RESPONSIBLE Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: Joseph went from being a self-centered tattletale to a very responsible young man who tried to do the right thing. ASK: When have you shown responsible behavior in the past week? How are these boys and girls being responsible? Fall 2016 Session 2 deepbluekids.com 15

18 Play the Unit 1 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. CRAFT ACTIVITY: GOD IS WITH ME NECKLACE Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 18, Stickers, plastic beads, card stock or poster board, glue sticks, pencil, scissors, plastic drinking straws (multicolored), tape, yarn Photocopy the pattern and cut it out. Trace the pattern onto card stock or poster board,, two for each child. Cut straws in 1½'' lengths. Cut yarn into 24'' lengths. Follow the directions for each child to create a God Is With Me necklace. SAY: No matter what happened to Joseph, God was with him. God is with us. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 85, Class Stuff pp. 12 & 21, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 1 Bible Verse Poster. Play Let s Go Deep Blue as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 1 Bible verse (p. 85). Or use the Unit 1 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Joseph had a tough time. Just when he thought it couldn t get any worse, it did. But Joseph didn t give up. He continued to do the right thing. Call for children to locate in the songbooks the song Oh, Brothers. Play it through one time from the CD-ROM or DVD. Let the children follow along with the words. Sing the song together. Children can move to the music, either dancing with the kids on the video or creating their own moves! Collect songbooks. PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. Help us to listen to these stories and to learn from them. We know that you were with Joseph and you will be with us wherever we go. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 16 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 11

19 Exploration Station: The Benefits of Yeast You Will Need: bowl, unsliced artisan bread, matzoh bread (or saltine crackers), hand sanitizer, napkins, paper plates, yeast, warm water 1. Open the yeast package. Pour it into the bowl. 2. Carefully pass around the bowl and let the children smell the dry yeast. 3. Pour the warm water over the yeast and let children watch what happens. 4. Ask the children how adding yeast to bread flour might make it lighter and fluffier. Did You Know? The Hebrew people were accustomed to eating dry, flat bread. In fact, they used bread as eating utensils. When they saw this light, airy bread, they were distrustful of it. They thought it was trickery. Optional Active Learning Game: Something Good from Something Bad Photocopy this page. Cut apart the situation cards at the bottom of the page. You Will Need: scissors 1. Arrange the children into teams. The size of the team depends on the number of children present. 2. Give each team a situation card. 3. The children will have five minutes to create a good outcome from a bad beginning. Asia and her mom were going on a picnic. When they got up on the morning of the picnic, it was pouring rain outside. Edgar and Caleb wanted to go to the movies. When they arrived, tickets were sold out for the movie they wanted to see. Kat wanted to have her birthday party at Roller World. But her grandmother said having a party there would be too expensive. The doctor told Caleb that from now on he would have to give up eating peanuts and chocolate. Every time he would eat them, he would develop a rash. Edgar had saved his allowance to buy a new video game. When he arrived at the store, the game had sold out and was not available. Right before the championship soccer game, Kat broke her ankle. She is the star goalie. Fall 2016 Session 2 deepbluekids.com 17

20 Craft Activity: God Is With Me Necklace You Will Need: Stickers, plastic beads, card stock or poster board, glue sticks, pencil, scissors, plastic drinking straws (multicolored), tape, yarn Using the photocopied pattern, trace and cut out rectangles out of card stock or poster board, two for each child. Cut plastic drinking straws into 1½'' lengths. Cut yarn into 24'' lengths, one for each necklace. Set out the beads and straw pieces. 1. Direct children to tape the yarn to one rectangle back. Then tape or glue the second rectangle on top of the first, sandwiching the yarn between the two. 2. String the straw segments and beads onto the yarn. When the yarn is covered, tie the ends together. 3. Add to the rectangle front the sticker God Is With Me. (It is written in hieroglyphics.) Hint: To help thread yarn through the beads and straw pieces, wrap tape around the ends of the yarn. 18 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 11

21 Joseph Saves the Day Bible Verse The Lord was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2 Did You Know? oseph had hoped that the prisoner who was reinstated to his palace job would J remember him and his special gift. But unfortunately, two years passed and nothing had happened. Then, when Pharaoh began to have troubling dreams, the steward remembered Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. He told Pharaoh about Joseph, and Joseph was immediately brought to the palace. Joseph listened carefully as Pharaoh described his dreams. He knew that God was sending a message that not only would affect Pharaoh, but all the people of the land. Pharaoh s dreams meant there would be seven years of great harvests, followed by seven years of famine in the land, or a time when no crops would grow. If the people of Egypt were to survive, they had to take advantage of the good times while they could. Pharaoh cared about the people and the land. In a wise move, he put Joseph in charge of storing extra grain for the upcoming bad times. Joseph then gained power second only to Pharaoh himself. But through it all, Joseph gave credit to God for this gift. Joseph s intervention changed not only his life, but the lives of unknown numbers of people. God works in mysterious ways if people are open to his direction. Who would have thought that God could use an arrogant, self-centered boy to save his world from starvation? Think of the children in your group. Is there one whose life is destined for greatness? God can work through anyone to accomplish his plans. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. SESSION 3 September 18 Bible Story Genesis 41:1-57 Anchor Point God is with us wherever we go. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Gather the Grain q Today s Word: Prepare q Craft Activity: It s Not Me, It s God q Worship Play these games to learn more about the Bible! Scan this QR code to download the Deep Blue Kids App. Requires preparation. Or visit deepbluekids.com to discover more resources. Fall 2016 Session 3 deepbluekids.com 19

22 Set up your space before the children arrive so that you can interact with the kids on a personal level. If you will notice, the dreams that Joseph interpreted seemed to have come in pairs wheat/sun, moon, stars; the two prisoners; and Pharaoh s two dreams. Dreams in pairs were thought to be reliable. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, tape Continue to display the Attendance Chart. Play Let s Go Deep Blue and Oh, Brothers as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 7, scissors Distribute Pharaoh s Dream. Let children cut out and assemble the flip book. Talk with the children about what they think this dream meant. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 3, p. 1; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Instruct the children to connect the dots to discover a special gift the pharaoh gave to Joseph. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: See page 23 for complete list of supplies. SAY: Grain has always been a basic form of food for people since the beginning of time. When people learned to grow grain, it changed their lifestyles. No longer did they have to travel around searching for food. But in Egypt, grain took on a whole new dimension. Set out the grinding stones and various types of grain. Let the children make flour as directed. Use the talking points as they work. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 3. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 20 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 18

23 ASK: What was troubling Pharaoh? (He was having very strange dreams.) What did his steward remember? (While they were both prisoners, Joseph was able to tell him what his dreams meant.) When he told Pharaoh about Joseph, what did Pharaoh do? (He sent for Joseph.) What did Joseph tell him his dreams meant? (There would be seven years when food would be plentiful. Then there would be seven years when nothing would grow.) What did Pharaoh do? (He put Joseph in charge of storing extra grain during the good years so that there would be food in the bad years.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 5, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figures 7-8 (Joseph riding in royal chariot, grain depository). Create a talk-show setting with a table and chairs. SAY: Joseph had hoped that when the steward returned to work for Pharaoh, he would put in a good word for him. But two years passed and nothing had happened. Assign the parts and present the story as a TV talk show. Then call for the children to gather around the Map. Briefly review the story as you add the Figures to the Map, matching the numbers on the Map with the Figures. If the children need to get up and move about, use the Optional Active Learning Game: Gather the Grain (p. 24). Refer to the directions for class preparations. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils ASK: What were Pharaoh s dreams? What was God trying to tell him? Have you ever had a dream in which you felt that God was sending you a message? Invite the children to share their dreams. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for the children to look up the verses listed and complete the activity. SAY: Dreams play an important part of many Bible stories. ASK: Can you think of another story in which dreams send a person a message? Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: PREPARE Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: In Pharaoh s dream, God was sending a message. In order to save the people, Egypt had to prepare for the future. God helps us know what to do to prepare for events to come. Allow the children to match the pictures with the events that were to come. Fall 2016 Session 3 deepbluekids.com 21

24 Play the Unit 1 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. CRAFT ACTIVITY: IT S NOT ME, IT S GOD Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 23, Stickers, chenille stems (2 per collar), faux gemstones, craft glue, glue sticks, paper (multiple colors) Cut colored paper into 1''-by-5'' strips. Each collar needs at least eight strips. Instruct children to follow the directions to create a royal collar. SAY: At the end of this story of Joseph, Joseph was second only to Pharaoh himself. He was in charge of everything. But Joseph reminded people that it was not him, but God, who made this possible. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 85, Class Stuff pp. 12 & 21, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 1 Bible Verse Poster. Play Let s Go Deep Blue as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 1 Bible verse (p. 85). Or use the Unit 1 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Joseph s life was looking up. He was the second most important man in Egypt. He helped the people of Egypt prepare for the upcoming famine. Call for the children to locate in the songbooks the song Oh, Brothers. Sing the song together. Children can move to the music, either dancing with the kids on the video or creating their own moves! Collect songbooks. PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. Help us to listen to these stories and to learn from them. We know that you were with Joseph and you will be with us wherever we go. You make everything possible. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 22 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 18

25 Exploration Station: The Importance of Grain You Will Need: barley, millet (birdseed), paper bowls, stones (flat and rounded), loaf of whole wheat bread, cup of whole wheat flour, wheat kernels 1. Invite the children to use their stones to grind the grains into powder form. 2. Hold up the loaf of bread and the cup of flour. Let the children talk about how long it must have taken to grind enough grain to make a loaf of bread. Talk About It: Point out the flecks of stone that is in the flour. Stone pieces wore down the teeth of the people of Bible times. Wheat was the most nutritious grain, but it took four to six hours to cook. The flooding of the Nile River each year made it possible to grow wheat. Without wheat, the people of Egypt would have starved. Craft Activity: It s Not Me, It s God You Will Need: Stickers, chenille stems (2 per collar), faux gemstones, craft glue, glue sticks, paper (multiple colors) Cut paper into 1''-by-5'' strips. Each collar needs at least eight strips. For the Teacher: 1. Show children how to join two chenille stems by twisting the ends around each other. 2. Lead children in folding down about 1'' on each strip. 3. Put glue on the back of each strip and fold over the chenille stem base as shown. 4. Put a drop of glue at the front bottom of each strip and attach a faux gemstone. 5. Add to five strips the stickers It s Not Me, It s God, one word per strip. Talk About It: Talk about how Joseph s life changed from when he was a boy, then a servant, then a prisoner, and then second only to Pharaoh. Talk about how Joseph s attitude also changed. Fall 2016 Session 3 deepbluekids.com 23

26 Optional Active Learning Game: Gather the Grain You Will Need: copy paper (2 different colors), scissors Photocopy this page on two different colors, one for each team. Cut the cards apart. 1. Scatter the grain/cards over the room. 2. Arrange the children into two teams. Assign each team one of the colors of the photocopied cards. 3. Let children locate all the cards in their color. 4. Teams should assemble the message. The first team to complete this wins the game. Hint: If your class is large, form more than two teams. Add an additional color. gift comes from God. It s not me. My 24 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 18

27 Joseph and His Brothers Reunited Bible Verse The Lord was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2 Did You Know? oday s story of Joseph is one of forgiveness and setting things right. But there is an T underlying story as well. Joseph, a foreigner, rose to the second highest position in the Egyptian government. At the time, Joseph s promotions were practically unheard of. Of course, we know that God had chosen Joseph to save the people of the region. Joseph had every reason to be vindictive when his brothers showed up in Egypt in search of food for the family. Years ago, they had treated him very badly. Now, why should Joseph treat them any other way? After testing his brothers, Joseph saw that they had changed, and he welcomed them with open arms. Joseph acknowledged that a power greater than himself or his brothers had engineered his life events. All that had happened to him had prepared him for the job God called him to do. Truly Abraham s descendants (of which Joseph is one) became a blessing to all the nations. Today s Bible story carries out a familiar theme in both the Old and New Testaments forgiveness. If we expect God to forgive us, then we have to be willing to offer to others this same forgiveness. Obviously, while some transgressions are greater than others (like being sold as a slave), nowhere in the Bible does God provide a list of exceptions. Forgive and you will be forgiven no matter how hard it may be. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. The Deep Blue Crew is waiting to hang out with you! Scan this QR code to download the Deep Blue Kids App. Or visit deepbluekids.com. SESSION 4 September 25 Bible Story Genesis 42:1 46:34 Anchor Point God is with us wherever we go. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: The Story of Joseph q Today s Word: Forgiveness q Craft Activity: Joseph s Cup Rubbing q Worship Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 4 deepbluekids.com 25

28 Today is the last Sunday in this quarter. Use opportunities to talk with the children about what they remember about Joseph and how God was active in Joseph s life. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Let s Go Deep Blue and Oh, Brothers as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 9, resealable plastic bags, scissors Distribute The Cup in the Sack. Allow children to cut apart the cards. Invite them to use one set of the cards to play the game with a friend. Directions on how to play are included. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 4, p. 1; crayons or markers; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let children work to discover a hidden picture. EXPLORATION STATION The activity in Exploration Station is very math-oriented. You may just want to do the basics of how far could a person walk in one day. But some kids will want to know how long the trip might have taken. Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 29 [top]; Class Stuff pp. 14 & 19, 16-17; calculator; ruler or yardstick; stopwatch or timer Photocopy the mileage gauge. Cut it out. SAY: Today s Bible story has a lot of traveling in it. Joseph s brothers went to Egypt to get food. We know that there were no cars, planes, or trains in Bible times. There were no places to stop to buy food along the way. People had to travel by walking. That must have taken a lot of time. Let s see just how long it might have taken. Use the guide on page 29 to determine the length of the trip. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 4. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 26 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 25

29 ASK: Why did Joseph s brothers go to Egypt? (They went in search of food.) Did they recognize their brother Joseph? (No) How did Joseph test them? (He gave them the food and kept one of the brothers as a prisoner while they returned home and came back with Benjamin.) What trick did Joseph play on them? (He hid his silver cup in Benjamin s sack.) How did the brothers respond? (They told Joseph to keep one of them as prisoner instead.) What did Joseph do then? (He revealed himself to the brothers. He told them to go home and bring their father to Egypt.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figure 9 (Joseph s brothers with empty carts). SAY: Joseph was the man in Egypt. When his brothers came in search of food, they did not recognize him. But Joseph recognized them. Use Optional Active Learning Game: The Story of Joseph (p. 29) if the children need to move around. Assign the parts and present the story. Then let the children gather around the Map. Briefly review the story as you add the Figures to the Map, matching the numbers on the Map with the Figures. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils ASK: If you had been Joseph, would you have forgiven your brothers for all that they did? When someone forgives you, how do you feel? When have you forgiven someone else? How did that feel? Invite the children to share. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils SAY: In the New Testament, Jesus had a lot to say about forgiveness. Call for the children to look up the verses listed. Then mark how many times Jesus said we should forgive one another. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: FORGIVENESS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, crayons, pencils ASK: Have you ever heard the expression forgive and forget? What do you think it means? Call for the children to say the words I m sorry in different languages, then draw a picture in each box of something for which they need forgiveness. Fall 2016 Session 4 deepbluekids.com 27

30 Play the Unit 1 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. This is the end of the quarter. Use the Bible Story Trivia game on the DVD to help the children recall the story of Joseph. CRAFT ACTIVITY: JOSEPH S CUP RUBBING Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 30, broken crayons without paper sleeves, masking tape, scissors Photocopy the poster and cup pattern for each child. Instruct the children to follow the directions to create the rubbing. SAY: This cup reminds us that Joseph forgave his brothers for what they had done. It also reminds us that God wants us to forgive others, too. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 85, Class Stuff pp. 12 & 21, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 1 Bible Verse Poster. Play Let s Go Deep Blue as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 1 Bible verse (p. 85). Or use the Unit 1 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Joseph s life had come full circle. He had forgiven his brothers. His whole family was in Egypt, together once again. God definitely had a plan for Joseph. And God was with Joseph wherever he was. Direct the children to locate in the songbooks the song Oh, Brothers. Sing the song together. Children can move to the music, either dancing with the kids on the video or creating their own moves! Collect songbooks. PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. Help us to listen to these stories and to learn from them. As we hear the stories of Joseph, we can see that you had a plan for Joseph. You were truly with him everywhere he went. We know that you are with us, too. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 28 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 25

31 Exploration Station: How Far? How Long? You Will Need: Class Stuff pp. 14 & 19, 16-17; calculator; ruler or yardstick; stopwatch or timer For the Teacher: 1. Instruct the children to walk in place for one minute, counting their steps. Caution them not to run or go too fast. Just walk naturally. 2. Multiply those steps by 60 to determine how many steps they could walk in an hour. (If the children walk 130 steps in one minute, then they will walk 7,800 steps in an hour.) 3. Use a ruler to measure one child s steps to determine how far a single step might be. 4. Multiply the distance of one step by the number of steps in an hour. (7,800 x 1.5 = 11,700 feet per hour) 5. Then divide the distance in feet walked in an hour by 5,280 feet (the number of feet in a mile). This will give you the approximate number of miles per hour. Some Questions to Ask: Will the people walk all day and all night? Will the people ever take a break? If they go uphill, will they slow down? How many hours a day do you think they could travel? 6. Then use the mileage gauge to discover about how many miles it would be from Canaan to Egypt. (about 900 miles) Point out to the children that it would probably have taken them 54 days if they walked 8 hours a day without stopping. Optional Active Learning Game: The Story of Joseph You Will Need: Class Stuff p. 28 For the Teacher: 1. Remove the Story of Joseph Sequence Cards. 2. Place the 12 cards on a table, face-up. 3. Instruct the children to arrange the cards in order. Just for Fun: If you have 12 children, tape a card to the front of each child and when you say go, let the children arrange themselves in order of the story. With a smaller number of children, remove the first and the last cards miles Fall 2016 Session 4 deepbluekids.com 29

32 Craft Activity: Joseph s Cup Rubbing You Will Need: Leader s Guide p. 30 (photocopied), broken crayons without paper sleeves, masking tape, scissors For the Teacher: 1. Direct children to cut out the cup and poster (below). 2. Put a loop of masking tape on the back of the cup and tape it lightly to the table. 3. Put poster over cup and rub lightly with crayon. Shift paper slightly, then change colors. See the shadow effect. God wants us to forgive. 30 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide September 25

33 The Baby in the Basket Bible Verse I ll set you free with great power. Exodus 6:6 Did You Know? he Old Testament s Book of Exodus tells the signature event in the history of God s T people: their escape from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land. This event created a national identity for the Hebrew people. Every Passover celebration, Jewish people everywhere tell the story of how God helped Moses lead the people out of Egypt. Moses is lifted up as the person through whom God worked to save an entire nation. But sometimes people forget just how close Moses came to being put to death. The pharaoh, hoping to decrease the Hebrew population, ordered that all male Hebrew babies be put to death. Had it not been for God s intervention, Moses might never have survived his infancy. Strong women, willing to risk their own lives, protected Moses. God s help was there through them, when it was needed. Throughout this unit, we will lift up how God is there for us in many powerful ways. You probably can identify people in your life who have loved, protected, watched over, and helped you to become the person you are today. God truly cares about us, surrounding us with those who care. It is what the community of faith is all about. You are now a chosen person for the children in your group. You will never know how your gift of time, love, and acceptance will profoundly affect the life of one of those children. You ll never know when, with God s help, you may affect a child s destiny. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Watch the Bible stories come to life! SESSION 5 October 2 Bible Story Exodus 1:8-14; 2:1-10 Anchor Point We remember God s powerful acts. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Watching Baby Moses q Today s Word: Unlikely q Craft Activity: A Pop- Up Thank-You Card q Worship Scan this QR code to see Deep Blue Kids DVD and CD selections. Or just visit deepbluekids.com to discover more. Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 5 deepbluekids.com 31

34 Being Free is also available on the DVD with words and actions. Cutting the paper strips prior to class reduces the amount of time this project might take. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers, Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Standing on Holy Ground and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 11, construction paper (green), glue sticks, felt-tip markers (blue), lightweight paper plates (white), scissors Cut green construction paper in 9''-by-½'' strips. Distribute A Baby in a Basket. Let children create a diorama of today s story. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 5, p. 1; Stickers Animals that don t belong are: polar bear, penguin, raccoon, white tail deer. The dangerous animals are: hippopotamus, crocodile, wildebeest, black rhinoceros, monitor lizard, black mamba. Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let children use stickers to complete the picture. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 35; Class Stuff pp. 14 & 19, 16-17; scissors Photocopy the animal pictures. Cut them apart. Call for the children to gather around the map. Locate the Nile River on the map. SAY: The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It is also the only river that flows from south to north. (Trace on the map the flow of the river from its beginning to the Mediterranean Sea.) The Nile River was a lifeline for the people of Egypt. Place the pictures on the table. Let the children select which animals they think lived on or in the Nile River. Point out which ones would have been dangerous. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 5. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 32 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 2

35 ASK: Why did Jochebed have to hide her baby? (A new pharaoh had come to the throne and ordered that all the Hebrew boy babies be put to death.) Where did she hide him? (in a basket on the Nile River) Who rescued the baby? (Pharaoh s daughter) How did Miriam help? (She offered to get a nurse for the baby. ) Who was the nurse? (Jochebed, the baby s mother) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside Figure 9 and assemble Figure 11 (baby Moses in basket, new pharaoh on throne). SAY: Today s story begins a long time after the story of Joseph. God s people were in Egypt, and a new pharaoh had come to the throne. (Place the new pharaoh in Egypt.) He did not like God s people. There were just too many of them. Assign the parts and present the story. Call for children to gather around the Map. Briefly review the story of how God s people ended up in Egypt as you add the Figures to the Map, matching the numbers on the Map with the Figures. Then add the figure of baby Moses. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils Lead the children in discussing Jochebed s plan and all the things that could have gone wrong. Talk about why there had to be a plan to save Moses at all. SAY: God had a plan for Moses. He would be the one to free God s people. But first Moses had to live to grow up. That s where God came in. Use Optional Active Learning Game: Watching Baby Moses. This game is a version of Steal the Bacon. Place a baby doll in a basket at one end of the room. Select one child to be Miriam to keep watch. The rest of the class will try to steal the baby before Miriam touches them. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for the children to look up the verses listed. Then let them choose the baby that God saved by sending his parents to Egypt. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: UNLIKELY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, crayons, pencils SAY: In today s story we see how God worked through unlikely people to fulfill God s plan. ASK: What stories in the Bible demonstrate God using unlikely people? (Invite children to share. Then match the Bible characters with what it was that made them so unlikely.) Fall 2016 Session 5 deepbluekids.com 33

36 Introduce the Unit 2 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language for this unit s Bible verse. As the children leave, give each one a Deep Blue App sticker. This sticker tells the kids (and their parents) how to go online to unlock many games and activities that relate to this unit s Bible stories. CRAFT ACTIVITY: A POP-UP THANK-YOU CARD Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 36, Stickers, card stock or construction paper, crayons or markers, glue sticks, scissors Photocopy the interior of the pop-up card and directions for each child. Cut card stock or construction paper into 5½''-by-8'' rectangles, one for each child. Lead children in following the directions to create a thank-you card for someone who has been a helper in their lives this week. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 86, Class Stuff pp. 9 & 24, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Display the Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Play the song one time. Let the children follow along with the words. Point out that in the next few weeks they will hear the stories of Moses and how, with God s help, he was able to free God s people from being slaves in Egypt. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 2 Bible verse (p. 86). Or use the Unit 2 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks,CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Today we began the stories of Moses. His story can be found in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. We will hear how God, with many powerful acts, was able to use Moses to free God s people. Call for children to locate in the songbooks the song Standing on Holy Ground. Play it through one time from the CD-ROM. Let the children follow along with the words. Next week the children will hear the story of the burning bush. Sing the song together. Then collect the songbooks. PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see God s great power at work. We will remember God s powerful acts as we hear the stories. Nothing is impossible with God. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 34 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 2

37 Exploration Station: Animals of the Nile Fall 2016 Session 5 deepbluekids.com 35

38 Craft Activity: A Pop-up Thank-You Card You Will Need: Sticker, card stock or construction paper, crayons or makers, glue stick, scissors 1. Fold card-stock rectangle. Place Thank-You sticker on front and decorate around it. 2. Cut out the inside pop-up for the card and decorate the heart. 3. Fold on the dashed line. Fold the heart forward as shown. 4. Put glue on the back of the pop-up section, leaving the heart free of glue. 5. Place the pop-up heart inside the card stock, matching the folds as shown. Share this card with someone who has helped you in the past week. 36 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 2

39 The Burning Bush Bible Verse I ll set you free with great power. Exodus 6:6 Did You Know? he Bible doesn t tell us much about Moses early life in the palace. We can assume that T young Moses would have received a good education. He would have had all the riches of the realm at his disposal, and would have been exposed to the cultures around him. He would have been given positions of trust and responsibility. He was raised as a virtual prince. How ironic, that when Moses became a man, he would identify with the workers toiling for his surrogate father. When confronted with the brutality of the Hebrew people s lives, he reacted swiftly. It was a brutal and impetuous act that changed his life. Moses fled from Egypt to the land of Midian. Even being a part of the royal household did not exonerate him from a murder charge. He could never go back to the land of his birth for fear of reprisal. So Moses made a life for himself in this new land. He married Zipporah, the daughter of the man who hired him as a shepherd, and lived a quiet life that is, until God decided that it was time for Moses to free God s people. God chose a reluctant Moses to do it with a little help from Moses brother Aaron. Many adults lift up this story when they feel that they are being called into some form of ministry. This is referred to as their burning-bush moment. But children may not have had this experience and may be curious. How do you know when God is calling you? Each person s call is different. There was no doubt in Moses s mind that it was God calling him. Encourage the children to be open to God s plan for their lives at every stage of it. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Sing along with the music videos on the Deep Blue Adventures DVD! SESSION 6 October 9 Bible Story Exodus 2:11 3:22 Anchor Point We remember God s powerful acts. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Help Moses and Aaron Find Each Other q Today s Words: God s Call q Craft Activity: The Burning Bush q Worship Scan this QR code to see Deep Blue Kids DVD and CD selections. Or just visit deepbluekids.com to discover more. Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 37

40 Being Free is on the DVD with words and movements. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Standing on Holy Ground and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff pp. 13 & 15, glue sticks, scissors Distribute The Burning Bush. Let children assemble the story diorama. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 6, p. 1; crayons or markers; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let children help Moses climb the mountain to get to the burning bush. In these experiments, because you will be dealing with fire, the children should observe rather than participate. Provide a fire extinguisher, just in case. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 41, bowl, aluminum foil pans, wide-mouth glass jar (A pickle jar works well.), wooden matches, water Set up the experiment in an area where the children can easily observe. After each experiment, ask the children what they observed. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 6. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. ASK: Why did Moses have to leave Egypt? (He became angry and killed an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew slave.) Where did he go? (Midian) What did he do while he was in Midian? (He was a shepherd.) What strange thing happened to him one day while watching the sheep? (He saw a bush on the hillside that was on fire but not burning up.) What did he discover when he went to the bush? (It was God in the flames.) What did God want Moses to do? (Go back to Egypt and free God s people.) 38 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 9

41 EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figure 10 (burning bush). SAY: Moses grew up in the palace as a royal prince. But he never forgot who he was and who his people were. Call for children to locate the Book of Exodus in their Bibles. Point out that this book tells the story of Moses and how he led God s people out of Egypt. Assign the parts and present the story. ASK: Why was Moses reluctant to do what God asked him to do? (He didn t feel he was good enough.) What did God do? (God sent Aaron, Moses brother, to help him.) MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils Lead children in discussing times when they felt that they could not do a job that was assigned them. Ask them how they overcame that (if they did). SAY: Because Moses felt that he couldn t do the job, God provided a helper for Moses his brother Aaron. All Moses had to do was ask. The same is true with us. When we are faced with difficult tasks for which we feel ill-equipped, all we have to do is ask God for help. Use Optional Active Learning Game: Help Moses and Aaron Find Each Other (p. 43). CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils SAY: The Bible is filled with people whom God called, but who didn t feel that they could do the job. But God doesn t take no for an answer. Direct children to look up the verses. ASK: Who didn t think he was the right person for the job that God had asked him to do? (Jeremiah) What excuse did Jeremiah give for not doing what God asked? (too young) Grow Stronger TODAY S WORDS: GOD S CALL Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: God called Moses through a burning bush. God calls us in many different ways. ASK: What do you feel God is calling you to do? How do you know? Talk about how the boys and girls pictured are answering God s call. Fall 2016 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 39

42 Play the Unit 2 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. CRAFT ACTIVITY: THE BURNING BUSH Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Leader s Guide p. 42, plastic coffee stirrers (or thin straws), eyedroppers (or plastic spoons), glue sticks, 10'' paper plates, acrylic poster paint (red, yellow, orange), scissors Photocopy the bush and directions for each child. Distribute the bush pattern and the directions. Let the children gently blow the paint to create a burning bush. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 86, Class Stuff pp. 9 & 24, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Play the song one time. Let the children follow along with the words. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 2 Bible verse (p. 86). Or use the Unit 2 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Today we see how Moses was once a prince and then a fugitive, running for his life. His story is found in the Book of Exodus. In these stories we see how God called Moses to do some pretty incredible things. But God was there to help out. Direct children to locate in the songbooks the song Standing on Holy Ground. Play it through one time on the CD-ROM. Let children follow along with the words. Then sing the song together. Collect songbooks. ASK: Why did God tell Moses to take off his sandals? (He was standing on holy ground.) PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see your great power at work. We will remember your powerful acts as we hear the stories. You saved baby Moses from the pharaoh. You chose Moses to go back to save your people. Nothing is impossible with you. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 40 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 9

43 Exploration Station: All About Fire Caution: Always keep a fire extinguisher handy when using fire. You Will Need: bowl, aluminum foil trays, wide-mouth glass jar, wooden matches, water Experiment: What is fire? Fire is a chemical reaction that needs heat, fuel, and air in order to burn. 1. Strike a match. Let it burn for a second. Then drop it into the bowl of water. ASK: What did you take away to put out the fire? (the heat) 2. Strike a match. Place it on an aluminum foil pan. Watch until the flame goes out. ASK: What did you take away to put out the fire? (the fuel) 3. Strike a match. Place it on an aluminum foil pan. Cover with a glass jar. ASK: What did you take away to put out the fire? (the air) Just for Fun: Let the children practice Stop, Drop, Tuck, and Roll. This technique smothers the fire and removes the oxygen. Optional Active Learning Game: Help Moses and Aaron Find Each Other 1. Call for children to stand randomly around the room. 2. Blindfold each child. (Or, instead of using blindfolds, let the children simply close their eyes.) 3. Whisper in each child s ear either Moses or Aaron. Be sure there is a match for each child (a Moses for every Aaron). 4. At a signal, the children will begin to walk cautiously around the room with hands outstretched. 5. When they encounter another child, each one says the name she or he was given. 6. If Moses and Aaron find each other, then they may open their eyes and go to Egypt (a specially designated place in the room). 7. When all Moses and Aarons are matched, the game is over. Moses Aaron Fall 2016 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 41

44 Craft Activity: The Burning Bush You Will Need: plastic coffee stirrer (or thin straw), eyedropper (or plastic spoon), glue stick, 10'' paper plate, acrylic poster paint (red, yellow, orange), scissors 1. Cut out the burning bush. Glue it to the center of the paper plate. 2. Dilute a small amount of the paint with water so that it blows easily. 3. Use an eyedropper or plastic spoon to randomly drip the paint over the bush pattern. 4. Using the straw, blow the paint around the bush, creating flame shapes. Hint: Diluted paint will move more easily and look less like blobs. 42 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 9

45 Moses and Pharaoh Bible Verse I ll set you free with great power. Exodus 6:6 Did You Know? ost people forget that it was Aaron, not Moses, who spoke with Pharaoh. Moses M felt that his speech impediment was a detriment. But it didn t seem to matter. The first confrontation with Pharaoh ended in complete disaster. Not only did Pharaoh refuse to let God s people leave to go into the wilderness to worship, but he made it harder for them to do their work. God s assignment would not be easy. Moses and Aaron were just as determined as Pharaoh. They had one secret weapon that Pharaoh did not: God was on their side. Pharaoh s hardness of heart did nothing but bring misery to the Egyptians. God s power was so much greater than Pharaoh could imagine. Even the laws of nature bent to God s will rivers of blood, frogs, flies, illness, hail, boils, darkness. How much could the people endure? It took the deaths of all of Egypt s firstborn males for Pharaoh to finally relent and send God s people away. In this session we do not go into gory details about the plagues. It is enough to say that God won. Moses alone could not have done any of the things that happened. It is sad that it took so much destruction and suffering before Pharaoh relented. Like Moses, children sometimes feel that they are asked to do the impossible. Remind them of Moses and how he felt inadequate for the job. He must have been frustrated by the constant tug-of-war between God and Pharaoh. But God equipped him to do the job. Whomever God calls, God will equip. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. SESSION 7 October 16 Bible Story Exodus 5:1 13:9 Anchor Point We remember God s powerful acts. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Hop to the Lily Pad q Today s Word: Freedom q Craft Activity: Origami Hopping Frog q Worship Help your crew memorize Scripture with us! Visit deepbluekids.com and discover the memorization tools available on the Deep Blue Kids Adventure DVD series. Scan this QR code to see Deep Blue Kids DVD and CD selections. Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 7 deepbluekids.com 43

46 Being Free is also available on the DVD with words and actions. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Standing on Holy Ground and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 17, craft glue (optional), glue sticks, paper fasteners, lightweight paper plates (white), paper punches, scissors, staplers, wiggle eyes (optional) Distribute A Sign of God s Great Power. Lead children to assemble the frog. Point out that the plague of frogs was just one of the plagues that showed God s great power. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 7, p. 1; pencils If actual clay soil is unavailable in your area, use modeling clay. The consistency will be similar. Distribute the week s story leaflet. Instruct children to use the hieroglyphic code to discover some of the plagues that God sent to Egypt. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 47 [top], small plastic containers (one for each variety for each team), wooden craft sticks, several small pitchers, varieties of soils (clay, regular dirt, sand, garden soil, potting soil), straw, water Make each team a set of containers with samples of each type of soil. SAY: As slaves in Egypt, God s people made bricks from clay. The clay was mixed with straw, and the bricks were baked to make them waterproof and strong. Let s experiment with some ingredients that might be used to make bricks. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 7. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 44 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 16

47 ASK: When Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh, what did they ask him to do? (Let God s people leave Egypt.) How did Pharaoh respond? (He said No. ) What plagues did God send to make Pharaoh change his mind? (water into blood, frogs, lice, flies, boils, sick animals, darkness, hail, locusts, death of firstborn children) Which plague finally convinced Pharaoh? (the deaths of all firstborn male children) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 14 & 19, Set out the Table-top Map. SAY: Moses went back to Egypt to facedown the great pharaoh of Egypt. (Trace the path between Midian and Egypt.) He and Aaron had a job to do. Use the Optional Active Learning Game: Hop to the Lily Pad (p. 47 [bottom]). Instruct the children to locate the Book of Exodus in their Bibles. Assign the parts and present the story. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils Direct children to close their eyes and imagine each of the plagues as you say them: water that looks and smells like blood; frogs everywhere, even in your bed; lice/ gnats in your face; flies buzzing around; dead animals everywhere; boils on your skin; hail falling from the sky; locusts (grasshoppers) jumping all over you; darkness; then the deaths of all the firstborn male children in the land. ASK: Why do you think it took Pharaoh so long to let the people go? If you had been a person living in Egypt, how would you have felt about Pharaoh s attitude? CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], Stickers, pencils SAY: Today s Bible story is just one example of God s great power over everything even the world of nature. Let the children put a Power sticker next to each event that shows God s power. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: FREEDOM Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: Freedom is not doing whatever you please. Direct the children to look at each picture and decide what would happen if each child did exactly as she or he pleased. SAY: In our story, freedom means not to be under the control of another person. Fall 2016 Session 7 deepbluekids.com 45

48 ASK: Who controlled God s people? (Pharaoh) Were they happy about this? (no) What was Moses job? (to lead the people to freedom) Who would help him? (God) Play the Unit 2 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. CRAFT ACTIVITY: ORIGAMI HOPPING FROG Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 48, craft glue (optional), copy paper (green), scissors, wiggle eyes (optional) Photocopy the directions for the origami frog, one for each child. (Make a sample to familiarize yourself with the directions.) Distribute the frog directions. Lead the children to create the jumping frog. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 86, Class Stuff pp. 9 & 24, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 2 Bible verse (p. 86). Or use the Unit 2 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Today we see how Moses was once a prince and then a fugitive, running for his life. In today s story, he was back in Egypt, risking everything. We find his stories in the Book of Exodus. God called Moses to do some pretty incredible things. Call for the children to locate in the songbooks the song Standing on Holy Ground. Sing the song together. Collect songbooks. ASK: Why did God tell Moses to take off his sandals? (He was standing on holy ground.) Do you think Moses was surprised to hear God s voice coming from the burning bush? PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see your great power at work. As we hear the stories of Moses, we will remember your powerful acts. We know that nothing is impossible with you. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 46 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 16

49 Exploration Station: The Right Stuff You Will Need: plastic containers (one for each variety for each team), wooden craft sticks, several small pitchers, varieties of soil (clay, regular dirt, sand, garden soil, potting soil), straw, water Prepare the containers of the various types of soil, one set for each team. 1. Let the children experiment with adding small amounts of water to each of the soils. 2. Determine which soil would make better bricks and why. (The clay because it would stick together.) Hint: Use small plastic containers for the different soil samples. Optional Active Learning Game: Hop to the Lily Pad You Will Need: construction paper (green), origami hopping frogs (p. 48), lily pads, masking tape, scissors, yardstick Photocopy the lily-pad pattern for each child. Fold sheets of green paper in half. 1. Lead children to cut out the photocopied lily-pad pattern. 2. Trace the pattern on a piece of folded green paper. (Line up the folded edge of the paper with the dashed lines.) Cut it out. Unfold. 3. Tape lily pad to the floor. Measure three feet from the lily pad and mark with masking tape to make a starting line. 4. See how many jumps it takes to get the frog to the lily pad. Fall 2016 Session 7 deepbluekids.com 47

50 Craft Activity: Origami Hopping Frog A B You Will Need: craft glue (optional), copy paper (green), scissors, wiggle eyes (optional) 1. Fold paper in half lengthwise. Open. (See diagram.) 2. Fold left top corner to right edge, about 2½'' from bottom edge as shown. Open. Repeat with right top corner to left edge. Open. 3. Fold top edge down to 2½'' from bottom edge. Do not open. 4. Fold points A and B (now top corners) so they meet in middle of paper. Open paper completely, then let the A and B folds meet in middle, creating a triangle on top. 5. Fold corners at A and B so the points meet at the top middle. 6. Fold in each side to meet in middle, about 2''. 7. Fold up bottom edge about 2''. 8. Fold down same edge onto itself, about 1''. 9. Turn frog over and press your finger down on frog s back. Slide your finger off frog s back and watch frog hop away. Hint: Do not use construction paper. It is too thick and does not fold precisely enough. Just for Fun: Add wiggle eyes to the frog s head. For a video demonstration of how to create this activity, use this QR code. 48 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 16

51 Crossing the Sea Bible Verse I ll set you free with great power. Exodus 6:6 Did You Know? f you look at a map, you ll see that the shortest route from Egypt to Canaan would have I been along the Mediterranean coast. The war-like, seafaring Philistines lived there. God did not want the Hebrew people to face such a strong military challenge so early in their journey. They might have given up and gone back to Egypt. So scholars believe that the most probable route was along the southern edge of the Sinai peninsula. The first obstacle that stood between the people and freedom was a body of water. The people had to cross it in order to escape the pursuing Egyptian army. Once again, we see God at work in the forces of nature as God caused the water to roll back and dry land to appear for the people to walk across. When the waters closed over the pursuing Egyptian chariots that were stuck in mud, God s people were free at last! Like the people who cried out to Moses and to God, middle elementary children are concrete thinkers and eagerly believe that God can fix anything. Faith is easy when all is going well. When things go badly, it becomes a real test of faith. Why doesn t God make my grandmother well? Why doesn t God help my daddy get a job? Trusting God s plans, as the Hebrew people would learn, did not mean that all would be just as they wanted it to be. They had to learn to trust God and depend on God. We call this faith. God has it under control. It may be not be easy, but it will be the right thing. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Test your Bible knowledge using the Bible Trivia Challenge! SESSION 8 October 23 Bible Story Exodus 13:17 14:31 Anchor Point We remember God s powerful acts. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Seashell Shuffle q Today s Word: Trust q Craft Activity: The Path to Freedom q Worship Scan this QR code to see Deep Blue Kids DVD and CD selections. Or just visit deepbluekids.com to discover more. Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 8 deepbluekids.com 49

52 Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with the entire group. Being Free is also available on the DVD with words and actions. WELCOME Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Standing on Holy Ground and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 19, glue sticks, scissors Distribute Crossing the Sea. Direct children to cut out and assemble the Egyptian horse and chariot. Then race the chariots by blowing them across the table. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 8, p. 1; pencils Provide hand towels for the children to use to dry their hands after each attempt to part the water. Distribute the week s story leaflet. Lead children to discover the secret message. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: baking pan with raised edge (about 2''), towels, pitcher of water Cover the surface with towels to catch any spillover. Pour water in the baking pan. Let children take turns trying to part the water with their hands to provide a dry space down the center. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 8. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. ASK: At the beginning of the story, where did God s people find themselves? (at the edge of a large body of water) What did they need to do? (cross it) Why? (Pharaoh s army was behind them, chasing them.) What happened? (God parted the water so 50 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 23

53 that they could cross on dry land.) What happened to Pharaoh s army? (The soldiers in their chariots followed God s people, then got stuck in the mud on the sea bottom. When the sea s water returned, the chariots were trapped.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside Figure 11 (new pharaoh on throne). SAY: The pharaoh not only had let God s people go, but he demanded that they leave immediately. The people of Egypt even gave them gifts to leave. Direct children to locate the Book of Exodus in their Bibles. Assign the parts and present the story. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils Call for children to close their eyes and imagine standing on the edge of the sea with Pharaoh s army closing in. ASK: How would you have felt? Would you have believed that all was lost? Use Optional Active Learning Game: Seashell Shuffle (p , 88) if the children need to move around. This also can be a good review game of the stories of Moses. Then let the children close their eyes and imagine the wind blowing and the sea parting, leaving a path for them to walk on. ASK: How would you have felt then? CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for the children to look up the verses listed. SAY: People who trust in God know that sometimes when a door closes, God opens a window. In today s story, that window was the path through the sea. Direct the children to draw a line from each person to the help that God gave them. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: TRUST Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: God s people were not expecting God to provide an escape route by opening a path down the middle of the sea. But when their journey was finally over, many years later, they looked back on all that God had done and how they came to trust God. Call for children to look at the pictures of boys and girls who are going through tough times. Invite them to talk about times when they had to trust God, in spite of difficulties. Fall 2016 Session 8 deepbluekids.com 51

54 Play the Unit 2 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. CRAFT ACTIVITY: THE PATH TO FREEDOM Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 53, heavy books, plastic cups (6 oz., clear),craft glue, glue gun, pencils, poster board, sandpaper, scissors, small seashells, scraps of art tissue (blue) Photocopy the directions for each child. Cut away the bottom section. Cut sandpaper and poster-board squares that fit the plastic cups. Distribute the directions and let children create a path to freedom that will remind them of God s powerful act that day. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 86, Class Stuff pp. 9 & 24, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 2 Bible verse (p. 86). Or use the Unit 2 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. Review the story of Moses using the poster pictures. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Today we have seen more of God s powerful acts. Just when God s people had given up all hope, God acted. Sooner or later, they will come to trust God and know that God will take care of them. Call for children to locate in the songbooks the song Standing on Holy Ground. Sing the song together. Collect songbooks. ASK: What did God tell Moses through the burning bush? (that he was sending Moses back to Egypt to save God s people) What powerful act did God perform that made this possible? (God parted the sea so God s people could escape from Pharaoh s army.) PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see God s great power at work. We will remember God s powerful acts as we hear the stories. Nothing is impossible with God. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 52 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 23

55 Craft Activity: The Path to Freedom You Will Need: heavy book, plastic cups (6 oz., clear), craft glue, glue gun, pencil, poster-board and sandpaper squares, scissors, small seashells, scraps of art tissue (blue) 1. Place the plastic cup top-side down on the poster-board square. Trace around the outside edge. Cut it out. 2. Using the poster-board circle as a pattern, trace a circle on the sandpaper square and cut it out. Glue the two circles together. (While the glue is drying, place a book on top of the two circles.) 3. Tear off small bits of blue art tissue. Crumple into small balls as shown. 4. Dip tissue balls into glue and place on the circle (sandpaper-side up), leaving a path down the center as shown. (Don t get too close to the edge.) 5. Attach small seashells to the sandpaper path. 6. With the glue gun (adult only), put a bead of glue around the circle s outside edge. Place the cup over the path to freedom as shown. Optional Active Learning Game: Seashell Shuffle You Will Need: Leader s Guide pp , 88; CD-ROM; CD player; bag or basket; construction paper; masking tape Photocopy page 54 two times and page 88 as many times as you have children. Setting Up the Game: 1. Cut out the large photocopied seashell pages (p. 88). 2. Glue each shell to a single sheet of paper. You should have at least one shell sheet for each child (p. 88). 3. Cut out one set of sea symbols (p. 54). Glue one small symbol to each large shell sheet. Cut out the second set of sea symbols and place in a bag or basket. 4. Arrange shell papers in a circle. Put a loop of masking tape on the back of each sheet to keep them from shifting. How to Play: 1. Play Being Free on the CD-ROM. 2. Children will walk on the shells as though they are crossing the sea. 3. When the music stops, draw a symbol card from the bag or basket. 4. The child who is standing on the seashell with that symbol is stuck in the mud. 5. A player can become unstuck as another player passes by and says: Don t be afraid. Stand your ground. *Option: The child standing on the drawn symbol must tell something they remember about today s Bible story. Fall 2016 Session 8 deepbluekids.com 53

56 Optional Active Learning Game: Seashell Shuffle 54 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 23

57 Songs of Joy Bible Verse I ll set you free with great power. Exodus 6:6 Did You Know? he miracle of the parting of the sea ends with a song of victory, a hymn of gratitude T to God. Scholars recognize the songs of Moses and Miriam as some of the oldest poetry from the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible. Moses song recounts the entire story of how God freed the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery. The song of Miriam voices the thanks and praise of all the people. These two songs were probably used in worship for many generations. It was a way of reinforcing the story, a virtual singing history lesson, for this culture s children. There were no written records. Stories were passed on by the telling and retelling, or in this case re-singing. This is called oral tradition. It was through this oral tradition and the celebration of the event every year at the Passover festival that the people knew whose people they were and what they owed to God. Through these narratives, the people saw God s great power and gave thanks. Middle elementary boys and girls would be glad to dance and sing their praises and thanks at every occasion. Everything is taught better when music and dance are involved. How sad that sometimes our worship has become so quiet and, in many cases, non-participatory! Music speaks to the soul of the youngest and the oldest. Take advantage of this natural teaching/learning tool to add enthusiasm to your group time. Make today a celebration of Bible history. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. SESSION 9 October 30 Bible Story Exodus 15:1-21 Anchor Point We remember God s powerful acts. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Activity: Dance for Joy q Today s Word: Worship q Craft Activity: Make an Egyptian Sistrum q Worship Sign the monthly Bible verses with the Deep Blue Crew! Scan this QR code to see Deep Blue Kids DVD and CD selections. Or just visit deepbluekids.com to discover more. Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 9 deepbluekids.com 55

58 WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Standing on Holy Ground and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 21, glue sticks, scissors Distribute Shouts for Joy! Let the children cut out the megaphone and decorate. Then assemble as shown. Allow the children to shout out joyful things using their megaphones. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 9, p. 1; pencils Invite any congregation members who play musical instruments to bring their instruments to share with the children. Distribute the week s story leaflet. Direct the children to use the musical code to discover the message. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 59, variety of musical instruments Assemble the variety of hand-made musical instruments listed on page 59. Be sure to have at least one for each child. Distribute the instruments and invite the children to play them. ASK: Which was your favorite sound? What makes music different from plain old noise? What is your favorite kind of music? What is your favorite song? Why? Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 9. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 56 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 30

59 ASK: What had just happened? (God had opened a path through the sea so that God s people could escape.) Why were the people so happy? (They were free at last.) What did the people do? (They played tambourines, they danced, and they sang praises to God.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figure 12 (the path through the sea). SAY: God s people were finally free. But they stopped short when they came to the shore of a great sea and Pharaoh s army was closing in. Direct the children to locate the Book of Exodus in their Bibles. On the map, trace the journey from Egypt to the sea. Include the dry path across the sea. Assign the parts and present the story. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], Kids Stuff p. 21, pencils ASK: How would you have felt if you were standing on that beach, safe from Pharaoh s army? Would you have danced for joy? Allow children to dance as though they were God s people, celebrating. If you made megaphones (Kid s Stuff), let the children shout for joy. Use Optional Active Learning Activity: Dance for Joy (p. 60). Encourage the children to make up their own moves to the music. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for children to look up the verses listed. SAY: Music and dancing were a big part of worship in Bible times. Look up each verse and discover what musical instruments are named. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: WORSHIP Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4 SAY: When we worship, we honor God for what God has done in our lives. ASK: What has God done for the people so far? (Invite children to share.) Was this a good reason to honor God? How do we honor God in our church? What is your favorite part of our worship service? Fall 2016 Session 9 deepbluekids.com 57

60 Play the Unit 2 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. This is the end of the second unit Freedom. Use the Bible Story Trivia game on the DVD to help the children recall the story of Moses thus far. CRAFT ACTIVITY: MAKE AN EGYPTIAN SISTRUM Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 60, craft glue, wooden craft sticks (4 large for each sistrum), jingle bells (3 for each sistrum), felt-tip markers, scissors, colored duct tape, yarn Photocopy the sistrum directions and cut off the bottom activity, one for each child. Cut yarn into 5'' lengths, three for each sistrum. Distribute the directions and lead children in making and decorating their sistrums. Explain how the sistrum was a traditional Egyptian instrument in Bible times. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 86, Class Stuff pp. 9 & 24, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 2 Bible verse (p. 86). Or use the Unit 2 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. Retell the story of Moses, using the pictures on the poster. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: Today we have seen more of God s powerful acts. Just when God s people had given up all hope, God acted. Sooner or later, they would come to trust God and know that God would take care of them. Call for the children to locate in the songbooks the song Standing on Holy Ground. Then sing the song together. Collect songbooks. ASK: Where did you see God s power at work in today s story? (God parted the water and the people crossed the sea.) How did the people show their gratitude? (They danced and sang songs of praises to God.) Was that a good thing to do? Why? (God had done miraculous things to save them.) PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see your great power at work. As we hear the stories of Moses, we will remember your powerful acts. We know that nothing is impossible with you. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 58 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 30

61 Exploration Station: Make a Joyful Noise Create the following musical instruments. Be sure each child has one to use. Pinch Drum You Will Need: large latex balloon, large plastic souvenir cup, scissors 1. Blow up and deflate a balloon several times until it is flexible. 2. Cut off the nozzle of the balloon. 3. Stretch the balloon over the cup s open end. 4. Play the drum by pinching the balloon between thumb and index finger, then releasing. Bead Shaker You Will Need: ¼ cup plastic beads, 16-oz. plastic water bottle (clean, dry), paper 1. Make a funnel from a sheet of paper. 2. Put about ¼ cup plastic beads into the bottle. 3. Replace the cap on the bottle. 4. Shake, swirl, and bounce the bottle up and down. Create different sounds. Kazoo You Will Need: paper-towel tube, sharpened pencil, rubber band, wax paper 1. Cut a 6 length of paper-towel tube. 2. With a sharpened pencil, punch a hole in the center of the tube. 3. Cut a 6'' wax-paper square and place over one end of the tube. Secure with a rubber band. 4. Hum into the open end of the tube to create a buzzing sound. Rubber-Band Harp You Will Need: large soup can (clean, dry), several rubber bands 1. Stretch a variety of rubber bands over the soup can, including the open end. 2. Pluck and strum the rubber bands over the opening. Ocean Drum You Will Need: 1 cup plastic beads, aluminum pie pan with plastic cover, masking tape (optional) 1. Place beads into the pie pan. 2. Place the cover on top and secure. 3. Swirl the beads in the pan, creating a swooshing sound. Fall 2016 Session 9 deepbluekids.com 59

62 Craft Activity: Make an Egyptian Sistrum You Will Need: craft glue, wooden craft sticks (4), jingle bells (3), felt-tip markers, colored duct tape, yarn (3) 1. Put glue on the bottom edge of one craft stick. Place a second craft stick on top, forming a V-shape. 2. Put glue on top of where you joined the two sticks and add the third craft stick, forming a Y-shape. 3. At the place where the three craft sticks come together, wrap with duct tape to secure. 4. Glue a fourth craft stick at the top of the V as shown. 5. Thread a jingle bell onto each piece of yarn. (To make threading easier, wrap one end of the yarn with tape.) 6. Tie the jingle bells onto the crossbar as shown. 7. Decorate the wooden craft sticks with markers. To play the sistrum, hold it by the base and shake gently. Optional Active Learning Activity: Dance for Joy You Will Need: CD-ROM, CD player, sistrum 1. Play Standing on Holy Ground. 2. Let the children dance for joy, using their sistrums to keep the beat. Option: If you did not make sistrums, use instead some of the instruments you made for the Exploration Station. 60 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide October 30

63 In the Wilderness Bible Verse I ll take you as my people, and I ll be your God. Exodus 6:7 Did You Know? he Israelites were free from their Egyptian servitude, but not yet ready to be God s T people. Entry into the Promised Land was at least a generation away. To mold the people into God s people, God led them on a round-about journey. The terrain was inhospitable, the soil sandy. There was little vegetation for the livestock (or the people), and water was scarce. When times got tough, God s people began to complain. When the food that the people had brought with them from Egypt was exhausted, God responded to the people by providing for their daily needs. God provided manna for them to eat every day. God provided ways to make drinkable the alkaline water in the wilderness. God caused migrating quail to land in their camp to provide a meat source. God even caused water to flow from the desert rocks. The wilderness journey became a 40-year lesson in learning to trust in the power of God. In the beginning, God created a world that could produce enough food for all people. We live in a land where food is so plentiful that it is actually wasted. How can it be that people in the world (and in our own communities) are hungry and without the basic necessities of life? Why doesn t God provide for them? God does. God calls us to be in partnership to make sure this happens. We are called to share our bounty so that everyone will have enough. This quarter s Deep Blue Kids in Mission project begins today. Check out our website for ways your group can reach out as the people of God. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. SESSION 10 November 6 Bible Story Exodus 15:22 17:7 Anchor Point God cares for all people. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Manna for Everyone! q Today s Words: God Provides q Craft Activity: God Provides Suncatcher q Worship Continue today s lesson with your family! Requires preparation. Scan this QR code go directly to the Free Stuff for Parents page. Or visit deepbluekids.com. Fall 2016 Session 10 deepbluekids.com 61

64 Playing music as the children arrive not only familiarizes them with the songs, it also sets the tone for the session. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Every Step of the Way and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 23, glue sticks, scissors, string (not yarn), tape Cut string in 8'' lengths. Distribute What s for Dinner? Let children cut out and assemble the cup and ball, then try to catch the ball in the cup. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 10, p. 1; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let children find the quail hidden in the picture. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide pp. 65 & 89, crayons or markers The projected route of God s people during the Exodus is marked on the map with a solid black line. Photocopy the map (p. 65) for each child. Locate the map guidelines (p. 89). Distribute the maps. Let the children color the map as directed (p. 89). Use the diagram as a guide. Use the questions as the children color their maps. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 10. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. ASK: How did God s people know where to go? (God led them with a column of smoke during the day and a column of lightning at night.) What did the people complain about? (the lack of food and water) How did God provide for them? (God sent manna every morning, provided quail for meat, and made the water drinkable.) 62 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 6

65 EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figures (people picking manna, Moses holding branch at oasis). SAY: The story of Moses and God s people in the wilderness is a lesson in learning to trust God. The people were there for 40 years. They could not possibly have taken enough food and water with them to last that long. They had to depend on the land and on God. Since they were in the wilderness, the land didn t have much to offer. Call for children to locate the Book of Exodus. On the map, trace the journey from Egypt to where the people were in today s lesson (Marah the branch in the water; Elim quail and manna; Rephidim water from the rocks). Add the figures. Assign the parts and present the story. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils ASK: What is your favorite food? What if that was all you had to eat, day in and day out, for 40 years? Do you think you would get tired of it? Do you think God s people doubted God? What did they learn? (God would provide what they needed.) CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Let children look up the verses listed and answer the question. SAY: Manna was a very special food, sent by God to feed the people. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORDS: GOD PROVIDES Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, Stickers, Class Stuff p. 25, Leader s Guide p. 90 SAY: Forty years is a very long time to travel from place to place. There was not time to plant crops and harvest the food. God s people had to depend on the land and God. If the children need to get up and move about, play the Optional Active Learning Game: Manna for Everyone! (p. 91). Today is the beginning of our Deep Blue Kids in Mission project. Photocopy the takehome mission letter to send home with each child (p. 90). Display the mission poster for this month (Class Stuff p. 25.) ASK: What is the difference between a need and a want? (Invite children to look at each picture and place either an I want or an I need sticker on it. Talk about the differences.) How does God provide for those people in need today? Fall 2016 Session 10 deepbluekids.com 63

66 CRAFT ACTIVITY: GOD PROVIDES SUNCATCHER Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 66, baby oil, cotton balls, glue sticks, suction-cup hangers, permanent felt-tip markers (green), watercolor felt-tip markers (blue shades), recycled newspapers, paper (white), scissors Photocopy God Provides Suncatcher (p. 66), one for each child. Cover work surface with recycled newspapers. Be ready to apply oil on cotton balls. Give each child the tree branch circle and directions for making the suncatcher. SAY: God s people learned to trust that God would provide for them. Play the Unit 3 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. As the children leave, give each one a Deep Blue App sticker. This sticker tells the kids (and their parents) how to go online to unlock many games and activities that relate to this unit s Bible stories. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Class Stuff pp. 3 & 30, Leader s Guide p. 87, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Display the Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 3 Bible verse (p. 87). Or use the Unit 3 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. Let children locate poster pictures that show what God provided for the people. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: The food had run out. The water was undrinkable. The people were hungry and thirsty. But God provided for them. Day by day and week by week, the people were coming to trust God to care for them. Let the children locate in the songbooks the song Every Step of the Way. Play the song through one time, letting the children follow along with the words. Sing the song together. Collect songbooks. ASK: Where in today s story did you see God s power at work? (God gave the people food and water as they lived in the wilderness.) PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see your great power at work. As we hear the stories of Moses, we will remember your powerful acts. We see how you provided food and water for your people as they journeyed in the wilderness. We trust you to care for us as well. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 64 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 6

67 Exploration Station: Journey in the Wilderness Fall 2016 Session 10 deepbluekids.com 65

68 Craft Activity: God Provides Suncatcher You Will Need: baby oil, cotton balls, glue stick, suction-cup hanger, permanent felt-tip markers (green), watercolor felt-tip markers (blue shades), paper (white), scissors 1. Cut out the tree branch circle. Trace it onto a sheet of white paper. Cut out the white circle. 2. Color the tree leaves with green markers. 3. Color the white circle with blue watercolor markers. 4. Rub an oil-soaked cotton ball over both circles. 5. Put glue around the outside edges of the blue circle. Glue the two circles together, lining up the edges. 6. Punch a hole at the top of the circle. Attach it to the hook of a suction-cup hanger and put it in a sunny window. Remember that God showed Moses how to use the tree branch to make the bitter water drinkable. God Provides 66 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 6

69 Ten Commandments Bible Verse I ll take you as my people, and I ll be your God. Exodus 6:7 Did You Know? s the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God continued to provide for them. A In Egypt they had led a hard, but dependable life. In the wilderness, things were considerably more insecure. When God finally led the people to the base of Mount Sinai, God and the people renewed the covenant that had begun many generations before with Abraham and Sarah. This new covenant was outlined in ten life-giving laws. Today we call these laws the Ten Commandments. The people were no longer a rag-tag group of slaves. They had become a community of faith. And God knew that they needed guidance. It had been generations since they had been in charge of their own destiny. The covenant with God, with the Ten Commandments providing the foundation, was a good start. Middle elementary boys and girls have rules at home, at school, on the bus, on sports teams, and on the playground. In every sense, their lives are organized around rules. Rules for them set the boundaries of adult expectations. Rules say what s fair and what s not. Rules tell children how to proceed. However, the Ten Commandments are more than rules. They are laws commandments. If the people belonged to God, then they must live by these commandments. God s laws set us apart from the laws of the world. God s laws challenge us to live in peace and justice with all human beings. These laws define what it means to be a part of God s people. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Check out all of the free resources for teachers! SESSION 11 November 13 Bible Story Exodus 19:1 20:21 Anchor Point God cares for all people.. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: God s Top-Ten Hopscotch q Today s Word: Commandment q Craft Activity: Ten Commandments Bible Bookmark q Worship Requires preparation. Scan this QR code go directly to the Free Stuff for Teachers page. Or visit deepbluekids.com. Fall 2016 Session 11 deepbluekids.com 67

70 Being Free is on the DVD. Every Step of the Way is on the CD-ROM only. Prepare a mission offering container. Wrap the can wrap around a clean, empty soup can (p. 93). The volcano project should stay within the baking pan. Be sure the area is covered with newspaper and/or plastic tablecloths, just in case. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Every Step of the Way and Being Free as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 25, construction paper (black), glue sticks, pencils, scissors Cut 4''-by-4'' black construction-paper squares. Distribute Laws to Live By. Let the children read the commandments together when they are finished. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 11, p. 1; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Let children draw lines from left to right to complete each of the commandments. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 71, 2 teaspoons baking soda, modeling clay, food coloring (red, yellow), funnel, measuring cup, recycled newspapers or plastic table covering, large baking pan with sides, empty plastic pill container, ½ cup white vinegar Prepare the work space and set out the materials needed. Encourage children to work together to create the volcano. Point out that the mountain in today s story was thought to be an active volcano. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 11. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. ASK: Where were God s people? (at the base of Mount Sinai on the Sinai peninsula) 68 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 13

71 What did God tell Moses to do? (to come to the top of the mountain) What did God give Moses to take to the people? (the Ten Commandments, laws the people were to live by) What did God promise the people? (If the people obeyed God s laws, then they would be God s people.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figure 15 (Moses striking rock with the staff). SAY: In today s Bible story, God calls the people to be a people of the law the Ten Commandments. Call for children to locate the Book of Exodus. On the Table-top Map, locate Mount Sinai. Add the figure. Let children locate the Ten Commandments in their Bibles (Exodus 19). Assign the parts and present the story. Everyone will read the parts marked All. Use Optional Active Learning Game: God s Top-Ten Hopscotch (p. 71). If you don t have a bean bag, make one from a resealable plastic bag and aquarium gravel or birdseed. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils ASK: What was the mountain like? (The top was covered in cloud. There was thunder and lightning. The ground shook.) How would you have felt if you had been Moses? How would you have felt if you had been the people left behind? CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Call for the children to look up the verses listed. Read them together. Point out to the children that God s people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. That was a long time to remember things. They needed to write down these commandments so that future generations would remember them, too. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: COMMANDMENT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils Talk about what a commandment is. Point out that God s commandments are divided into two parts a relationship with God and a relationship with one another. Discuss the need for rules in life. Decide what rules are needed in each picture. SAY: But a commandment is more than just a rule. It is an order. God ordered the people to live by these rules. Display the Deep Blue Kids in Mission poster (Class Stuff p. 25). Talk about the picture with the children. Remind them to bring in their mission offerings. Fall 2016 Session 11 deepbluekids.com 69

72 Play the Unit 3 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. CRAFT ACTIVITY: TEN COMMANDMENTS BIBLE BOOKMARK Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 72, Stickers, aluminum foil, permanent felt-tip markers, sharpened pencils, poster board, ¼'' ribbon, rulers, scissors, masking tape Photocopy the bookmark directions for each child. Tear off lengths of aluminum foil, one for each bookmark. Cut ribbon in 12'' lengths. Distribute the bookmark directions. Allow children to follow the directions to create a Ten Commandments bookmark. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Class Stuff pp. 3 & 30, Leader s Guide p. 87, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 3 Bible verse (p. 87). Or use the Unit 3 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. Call for children to locate the poster pictures that show what God provided for the people in today s story. (God provided laws.) PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: God s people were still wandering in the wilderness. They had food. They had water. But they were missing something important: laws that would help them live together as the people of God. God gave them the Ten Commandments. Call for children to locate in the songbooks the song Every Step of the Way. Play the song through one time, letting the children follow along with the words. Then sing the song together. Collect songbooks. ASK: Where in today s story did you see God s power at work? (on top of the mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments) PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see your great power at work. We have seen where you led the people to freedom. You parted the sea. You provided food and water. Today we see how you called Moses to the top of the mountain and gave the people laws to live by. Help us to live by these laws, too. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 70 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 13

73 Exploration Station: Mount Sinai Volcano You Will Need: 2 teaspoons baking soda, empty plastic pill container, modeling clay, food coloring (red, yellow), funnel, measuring cup, recycled newspaper or plastic table covering, large baking pan with sides, 1/2 cup white vinegar 1. Place the baking pan in the center of the recycled newspapers. 2. Set the pill container in the center of the pan. 3. Mound and shape the modeling clay around the container to form a mountain. Bring the clay to the top of the container. 4. Pour the baking soda into the container using the funnel. 5. Add food coloring to the vinegar, creating orange about five drops each of red and yellow. 6. Again, using the funnel, pour the vinegar into the container. Stand back and watch the volcano come alive. Optional Active Learning Game: God s Top-Ten Hopscotch You Will Need: bean bag, index cards (10), felt-tip markers, masking tape Setting Up the Game: 1. Create this hopscotch grid on the floor using masking tape. 2. Write numbers 1-10 on index cards. Tape a number card in each square on the floor. How to Play: 1. Throw the bean bag into the square marked 1. Hop into Box 2 on one foot. Hop into Boxes 3 and 4, putting one foot in each box. 2. Hop into Box 5 with one foot. Jump into Boxes 6 and 7, with one foot in each box just as you did for Boxes 3 and Repeat until you arrive at the turn-around, where you can stand on two feet. 4. Hop back the same way, stopping at Box 1 to pick up the bean bag and say the first of the Ten Commandments. 5. Hop out of the grid without landing in Box Let children take turns until everyone has said all of the commandments. Fall 2016 Session 11 deepbluekids.com 71

74 Craft Activity: Ten Commandments Bible Bookmark You Will Need: Stickers, aluminum foil, permanent felt-tip markers, sharpened pencil, poster board, ¼'' ribbon, ruler, scissors, masking tape 1. Cut out the bookmark pattern. Trace it on poster board and cut out. 2. Place the poster-board bookmark in the center of the foil sheet. Trim the foil so that it is about 1'' wider and taller than the bookmark on all sides. 3. Fold the aluminum foil over the poster board bookmark. Secure with masking tape. 4. Use markers to decorate the back of the bookmark. (Watercolor markers will not work on foil.) 5. Add the Ten Commandments sticker to the bookmark, covering the masking tape and folded edges of the foil. 6. Using a sharpened pencil, punch a hole at the top of the bookmark. 7. Attach a ribbon through the hole in the bookmark using a lark s head knot. 8. Place your bookmark at Exodus 19 where the Ten Commandments can be found. 72 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 13

75 A House for God Bible Verse I ll take you as my people, and I ll be your God. Exodus 6:7 Did You Know? he very first house of God was not a house at all, but a tent. It was called the T Tabernacle or the tent of meeting. This was the place where Moses went to meet with God on a one-on-one basis. God s presence in this house of worship was indicated by a cloud hanging over the entrance to the tent. The tent was portable a very practical thing for a nomadic group of people as they traveled about. There were three areas that made up this house of God: the open court around the tent, the tent itself, and an interior area called the Holy of Holies. The sacred chest containing the Ten Commandments was kept in the Holy of Holies. The Tabernacle was built and furnished with gifts from the people. (Remember the gold, silver, and bronze the Egyptians gave the Israelites to leave?) The people also gladly contributed their skills and time to build this special place of worship. The Tabernacle came to stand as a reminder that God was with them. Everyone took part in building the Tabernacle. Each person contributed according to her or his skill and generosity. Praise and worship became a centerpiece of the community. Our worship time today has the same effect. Set aside a special time each Sunday to acknowledge God in your midst. Provide sacred space that the children can decorate and make their own. Praising and honoring God is what God s people do. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Check out free samples of Deep Blue! SESSION 12 November 20 Bible Story Exodus 25 31:15; 35:4 40:38 Anchor Point God cares for all people. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Learning Activity: Build a House for God q Today s Word: Tabernacle q Craft Activity: I Am Thankful for... q Worship Scan this QR code go directly to the Sample Curriculum page. Or visit deepbluekids.com. Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 12 deepbluekids.com 73

76 WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM or DVD, CD player or DVD player, offering basket, mission offering container (optional), tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Being Free and Every Step of the Way as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 27, glue sticks, scissors Distribute God s Sacred Throne. Let children cut out and assemble the ark of the covenant. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 12, p. 1; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Allow children to connect the dots to reveal the special box. EXPLORATION STATION Keep in mind that some children are more sensitive to smells than others. Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 77, blindfold, cotton balls, felt-tip markers, items with distinct odors, masking tape, plastic lidded containers (small) Prepare the containers as directed on page 77. Invite children to experience the different odors and try to discern what they are. Point out after the experiments that part of worship in Bible times included burning incense to please God with a wonderful smell. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 12. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 74 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 20

77 ASK: What did God want the people to build? (a place of worship) What was special about this tent? (It could travel with the people.) Where did they get all the building materials and decorative items? (from the gifts the people of Egypt gave them as they left) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles; Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2; Class Stuff pp. 8, 14 & 19, 16-17; glue stick Set out the Table-top Map. Set aside and assemble Figure 16 (the Tabernacle). SAY: The Tabernacle in today s story is not like any other church you can imagine. Instruct the children to locate the Book of Exodus. On the map, place the figure of the Tabernacle in the designated spot. Assign the parts and present the story. Use Optional Learning Activity: Build a House for God (p. 77). Let the children use their creativity as much as the time allows. MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils SAY: Close your eyes and think about our church sanctuary. ASK: What items in our sanctuary help you feel close to God? Why do you think God s people needed a special place to remind them that God was with them? Invite the children to check those items listed that make them feel close to God. Let them share their thoughts. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils SAY: The Ark of the Covenant was a special box with special things inside. Call for children to use the code to fill in the missing letters to discover what was inside the ark. Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: TABERNACLE Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, pencils SAY: The Tabernacle was a tent of worship. Wherever they went, the Tabernacle went with them. It reminded the people that God was with them wherever they went. Allow children to talk about how the Tabernacle is different from their own church. ASK: How did the people know God was present in the Tabernacle? (Invite children to look up the Bible verses and use a crayon to draw the pillar of smoke.) Fall 2016 Session 12 deepbluekids.com 75

78 CRAFT ACTIVITY: I AM THANKFUL FOR... Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 78, cotton balls, construction paper (light colors), masking tape, recycled newspapers, paper plates (small), pencils, resealable plastic bags, acrylic poster paint (green, orange, red, yellow) Photocopy the directions and patterns for each child. Cover work surface with recycled newspaper. Distribute the directions and patterns. Instruct children to follow the directions to create a colorful Thanksgiving poster. Worship Play the Unit 3 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. Next Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. We will celebrate this special time of the church year. If you plan to have an Advent wreath next week, bring in the materials and involve the children. GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Class Stuff pp. 3 & 30, Leader s Guide p. 87, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster. Play Being Free as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Sing the song together. Demonstrate the American Sign Language for the Unit 3 Bible verse (p. 87). Or use the Unit 3 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. Let children locate the poster pictures that show what God provided for the people in today s story. (God s reminder that God was always there.) PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional) SAY: God s people were still wandering in the wilderness. They had food. They had water. They had laws that would help them live as the people of God. It was time to build a special house for God, a place where they could give thanks for all God had given them and remember that God was always there. Let children locate in the songbooks the song Every Step of the Way. Play the song through one time, letting the children follow along with the words. Then sing the song together. Collect songbooks. PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the Bible and all of its many stories. They are exciting stories stories in which we can see your great power at work. We have seen where you led the people to freedom. You parted the sea. You provided food and water. You provided laws for them to live by. Now it was time to build a special place where they could worship you and give thanks. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 76 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 20

79 Exploration Station: The Nose Knows You Will Need: blindfold, cotton balls, felt-tip markers, items with distinct odors (lemons, orange peel, cotton-ball soaked in perfume, chocolate, coffee, dirt, vanilla, garlic, onion, mint, vinegar, pencil shavings, ginger), masking tape, plastic lidded containers (small) Poke small holes in the container lids. Put one smelly item in each container and top with a lid. Use a marker to write a number on the side of each container. Write on masking tape the name of each container s odor and secure the tape on the bottom of the container. 1. Let a blindfolded child (one at a time) have an opportunity to smell each container and try to identify the smell. (Keep in mind, there are holes on the lids if you should try to read the label on the bottom. You may spill contents.) 2. Point out that the nose collects smells. Then the sensors inside the nose send that information to the brain. The brain decides if the smell is good or bad. Optional Learning Activity: Build a House for God You Will Need: small boxes, cardboard boxes (medium-sized, one for each team), construction paper, plastic containers (variety of sizes), fabric, wooden craft sticks, masking tape, paper cups (variety of sizes), paper-towel tubes, poster board, recycled newspaper 1. Place the building supplies in a cardboard box, one box for each team. The items in each box should be similar, but not necessarily identical. 2. Give teams a 10-minute time limit and let them construct a tabernacle for God. 3. When finished, let teams explain what each part of their tabernacle is for and how it helps to worship God. Fall 2016 Session 12 deepbluekids.com 77

80 Craft Activity: I Am Thankful for... You Will Need: cotton balls, construction paper sheet (light color), masking tape, paper plates (small), pencil, resealable plastic bags, acrylic poster paint (green, orange, red, yellow) 1. Cut out the oak leaf and acorns. 2. Place the oak leaf in the center of the paper and trace around it lightly. 3. Write something inside the shape for which you are thankful. 4. Put loops of masking tape on the back of each figure. 5. Match the oak leaf pattern with the tracing, covering what you have written. 6. Arrange the acorns on the page. 7. Place your hand inside the plastic bag. 8. Dip cotton balls into the paint and dab over the picture. Use one cotton ball for each color. Cover the entire page with color. 9. When you have finished painting, remove the bag, turning it inside out. This keeps the paint inside and off your clothing. 10. Gently remove the leaf and the acorns. 78 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 20

81 The Peaceable Kingdom Bible Verse I ll take you as my people, and I ll be your God. Exodus 6:7 Did You Know? n Bible times the Jewish people loved the Book of Isaiah because it was a book of I hope. It laid out the expected promises about Israel s future. The prophet Isaiah wrote during a time of great moral and political unrest. The political situation was so severe that it even threatened God s promise of a continued reign through the lineage of King David. Isaiah assured the people that God would send a Messiah and that the throne would remain in the house of David. A shoot would come from the stump of Jesse. The people held tightly to this promise of a Messiah. So they watched and waited. Christians look back at Isaiah s promises. They believe that Jesus birth fulfilled these promises. Isaiah s vision of the new order is set forth in Isaiah 11:6-9. These verses pair predators with prey: the wolf with the lamb, the leopard with the baby goat, the calf with the lion, and a little child will be the one to lead. The central message of this passage is that God will establish justice and righteousness on earth and in history. Justice leads to a transformed relationship between human beings and the rest of creation. This is not exactly a call for action but a reminder that God wills and one day will bring about justice and peace for all the world and all of its living creatures. Children may struggle to imagine these animals living in peace with one another. But that is the vision that Isaiah desired. As humans, we tend to have a violent nature. The coming of the Messiah Jesus will change everything. This story is a story of hope. For more Bible background information, go to deepbluekids.com. Use these tools to spread the word about your ministry! Scan this QR code go directly to the Free Logos and Images page. Or visit deepbluekids.com to discover all of the tools you can use to promote your ministry. SESSION 13 November 27 Bible Story Isaiah 11:6-9 Anchor Point God cares for all people. My Plan q Kids Stuff q Bible Story Fun q Exploration Station q Bible Story Time q Experience the Story q My Thoughts q Connect q Optional Active Learning Game: Friendly Enemies q Today s Word: Advent q Craft Activity: A Christmas Tree Advent Calendar q Optional Craft Activity: Advent Activities q Worship Requires preparation. Fall 2016 Session 13 deepbluekids.com 79

82 Songs of the Season is also available on the DVD with words and movement. Today is the last Sunday to collect money for the Deep Blue Kids in Mission. Dedicate the offering during the worship time. Send your donations (by check) to: Children s Defense Fund P.O. Box Washington, D.C or donate online at childrensdefense.org and click on Donate. WELCOME the entire group. Jump In! The following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with Supplies: Class Stuff pp. 2 & 31, Stickers, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), offering basket, mission money collection can (optional), tape Continue to display Attendance Chart so that it is easily accessible to the children. Play Songs of the Season and Let Them Shine as the children arrive. Greet children. Show them where to place offerings. Distribute attendance stickers. KIDS STUFF Supplies: Kids Stuff p. 29, glue sticks, scissors Photocopy the Bible verse (p. 30), one for each project. Distribute The Peaceable Kingdom. Let children assemble the kingdom that Isaiah wrote about. BIBLE STORY FUN Supplies: Bible Stories & Stickers Session 13, p. 1; pencils Distribute the week s story leaflet. Instruct children to use the code to discover the message the prophet Isaiah gave to the people. EXPLORATION STATION Supplies: crayons or markers, drawing paper Give each child a piece of drawing paper. Instruct them to draw the animal they d most like to be. ASK: Where would you live? What would you eat? What animal might be your enemy? your friend? Invite the children to share their pictures when finished. Dive Deeper BIBLE STORY TIME Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television Place the DVD in the player and cue Session 13. Direct the children to sit where they can see the television. Watch the DVD segment. 80 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 27

83 ASK: Who was Isaiah? (He was a prophet from the Old Testament.) What message from God did he bring to the people? (God was going to send a Messiah from the line of King David.) What would the world be like when this Messiah came? (It would be a time of peace. Even animals who are enemies would live together in peace.) EXPERIENCE THE STORY Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Leader s Guide p. 83, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 2, scissors Photocopy the animal pictures. Cut them apart. SAY: God led the people through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. The people lived there for many, many years. But life was not always the way they hoped it would be. In today s story, we see how once again God promised something special a Messiah is coming. Assign the parts. Give each child who has an animal part the picture of that animal. ASK: What will this Messiah bring when he comes? (a time of joyful peace) MY THOUGHTS Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [top], pencils SAY: Imagine a wolf standing beside with a lamb, a leopard lying by a baby goat, or a lion eating straw along with an ox. It seems unnatural. Isaiah used the images of these natural enemies to help the people understand what God s kingdom would be like when the promised Messiah came. If the children need to get the wiggles out, use the Optional Active Learning Game: Friendly Enemies (p. 83). Call for children to describe what they think the peaceful kingdom would look like. CONNECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 3 [bottom], pencils Invite the children to read the verses listed and answer the questions. SAY: Isaiah begins with a promise a shoot shall come from the stump of Jesse. ASK: Who was Jesse? What do you think this meant? Grow Stronger TODAY S WORD: ADVENT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers p. 4, Stickers, supplies to make an Advent wreath SAY: Advent is a special time in our church year. It is a countdown of days until we celebrate Jesus birth. This year, Advent begins today and ends on Christmas Day. During Advent we light special candles to help us remember God s promise of God s Son, Jesus. Fall 2016 Session 13 deepbluekids.com 81

84 Use Optional Craft Activity: Advent Activities (p. 93). Our Advent Calendar has more than 25 days on it because Advent begins today. There are 29 days until Christmas day. Play the Unit 3 Scripture video on the DVD. This is a detailed demonstration of the American Sign Language and a fun way to learn the Bible verse. This is the end of the third unit God Provides. Use the Bible Story Trivia game on the DVD to help the children recall the story of God s people thus far. If you collected money for the mission project, pray a special blessing over it this week. See the contact information (p. 80) about where to send your contribution. Talk with the children about the different symbols of Advent. Add a flame to one of the candles on the Advent wreath pictured. Assemble an Advent wreath for your own worship center. (See page 91 [bottom] for directions, Scriptures, and music.) CRAFT ACTIVITY: A CHRISTMAS TREE ADVENT CALENDAR Supplies: Stickers, Leader s Guide p. 84, resealable plastic bags, crayons or markers, glue sticks, construction paper (purple), magnetic strip tape, scissors Photocopy the Advent Calendar for each child. Distribute the calendar base. Let children create their own Advent Calendar. Worship GATHER, SING, AND SIGN Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Bible Stories & Stickers Songbooks, Class Stuff pp. 3 & 30, Leader s Guide p. 87, CD-ROM, DVD (optional), CD player, DVD player (optional), tape Continue to display the Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster. Play Songs of the Season as the children come to the worship area. Distribute the songbooks. Locate the words to the song. Play the song one time, letting the children follow along with the words. Then sing the song together. Use the American Sign Language for the Unit 3 Bible verse (p. 87). Or use the Unit 3 Scripture video. Say and sign the verse together. PRAISE AND REFLECT Supplies: Deep Blue Kids Bibles, Songbooks, Leader s Guide p. 91, CD-ROM, Advent Wreath, CD player, butane stick lighter (if using real candles) Place the Advent wreath in the worship area or on a table. Let the children gather around the Advent wreath. Play Let Them Shine through one time. Then sing the song together. Light the first candle, the candle of Hope. ASK: How did our Bible story today bring hope to God s people? (God was sending a Messiah who would bring a time of peace and justice for all the people.) What do you hope for in the coming year? PRAY: Dear God, we have heard stories of your great power. We have heard stories about how you saved your people, how you led them through the wilderness into the Promised Land. Now we hear of your promise of a coming Messiah, a person who would bring peace and justice to the world. We thank you for Jesus, the greatest gift. Amen. Let children share prayer requests. Pray and lift up those concerns of their hearts. 82 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 27

85 Experience the Bible Story: Animal Cards Bear Leopard Lamb Wolf Goat Calf Cow Lion Optional Active Learning Game: Friendly Enemies You Will Need: animal cards (above), masking tape, scissors Photocopy the animal cards above. 1. Tape an animal card to each child. 2. At a signal, let children see how fast they can find someone who wears the card of their Friendly Enemy. 3. If your class is large, make additional copies of the animals so that all the children can participate. Fall 2016 Session 13 deepbluekids.com 83

86 Craft Activity: A Christmas Tree Advent Calendar You Will Need: Stickers, resealable plastic bag, crayons or markers, glue stick, construction paper (purple), magnetic strip tape, scissors 1. Cut out the Christmas Tree Advent Calendar. 2. Color the tree. 3. Glue the tree to a piece of purple paper. 4. Add magnetic strip tape to the back side. 5. Each day between now and Christmas, add a sticker to the tree. Store the stickers in a bag. 84 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide November 27

87 Unit 1 Bible Verse Sign Language The Lord was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2 Lord with Joseph Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 85

88 Unit 2 Bible Verse Sign Language I ll set you free with great power. Exodus 6:6 God free you with great power 86 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

89 Unit 3 Bible Verse Sign Language I ll take you as my people, and I ll be your God. Exodus 6:7 God take (care of) you people I ll (God) Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 87

90 Optional Active Learning Game: Seashell Shuffle (Session 8) 88 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

91 Exploration Station: Map Directions (Session 10) Map Activities: 1. Call for the children to locate all the bodies of water on the map and color them blue. (Nile River, Mediterranean Sea, Lake Galilee, Red Sea, Jordan River, Salt Sea) 2. Locate the mountains at the base of the Sinai peninsula and color them dark brown. 3. Color green the land close to the bodies of water. (See sketch of map.) 4. Color the rest of the land beige. Questions: 1. What do you think the green stands for? 2. Which color do you see the most of? 3. What do you think the land is like where it is colored beige? 4. Looking at the line that shows the journey of God s people, why do you think they stayed so close to the coast most of the time? 5. What did God do at Marah? (Instruct children to draw a tree branch there.) 6. What did God do at Elim? (Let them draw manna and quail at this place.) 7. What did God do at Rephidim? (Let children draw a rock with gushing water there.) Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 89

92 Deep Blue Kids in Mission Letter Dear Guardians, This quarter we will financially support The Children s Defense Fund and their program Freedom Schools. The CDF Freedom Schools program seeks to build strong, literate, and empowered children prepared to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, nation, and world today. By providing summer and after-school reading enrichment for children who might otherwise not have access to books, the CDF Freedom Schools program plays a much needed role in helping to curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps and is a key part of CDF s work to ensure a level playing field for all children. In partnership with local congregations, schools, colleges and universities, community organizations, and secure juvenile justice facilities, the CDF Freedom Schools program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, increases self-esteem, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. Since 1995, more than 135,000 pre-k 12 children have had a CDF Freedom Schools experience and more than 18,000 college students and recent graduates have been trained by CDF to deliver this empowering model. The CDF Freedom Schools model incorporates the totality of the Children s Defense Fund s mission by fostering environments that support children and young adults to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference. Site coordinators and project directors are also trained by CDF to provide supervision and administrative oversight. The program provides an exciting Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC), including carefully chosen developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant books. The model curriculum supports children and families around five essential components high-quality academic enrichment; parent and family involvement; social action and civic engagement; intergenerational servant leadership development; and nutrition, health, and mental health. Learn more at: Your child s class will collect an offering for this service organization. You may send the offering to class with your child, or donate online at childrensdefense. org by clicking the Donate link on the left hand side of the web page. 90 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

93 Optional Active Learning Game: Manna for Everyone! You Will Need: bag of cotton balls, large basket or bucket (Session 10) 1. Place the basket or bucket at one end of the open space. 2. Scatter the cotton balls on the floor, not very far from the container. 3. Let the children pick up two cotton balls and put in the container. They can only pick up two at a time. When they have picked up two, they can return to pick up two more. 4. When all the cotton balls are in the basket or bucket, repeat the game, throwing the cotton balls out with greater force. Repeat the game. 5. When all the cotton balls are in the basket or bucket, repeat #4. 6. After doing the game two or three times, the children will begin to get bored with the game. Point out that God s people also got bored eating the same old things over and over again for many years. Making an Advent Wreath (Session 13) There are many different ways to make an Advent wreath. If your church does not allow real candles to be used in the Sunday-school area, use battery-operated LED tealights. 1. Begin with a plastic foam floral wreath. Cover it with greenery. You can use real or artificial greenery. 2. Set four purple candles around the wreath as shown. 3. Set a larger white candle in the center of the wreath. This is the Christ candle. It will be lit on Christmas Day. 4. Each Sunday until Christmas Day, light one purple candle. Each candle has a special meaning. Invite two children each week to read the Scripture references as you light the candle. First Candle (Hope) Read Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 40:3. Second Candle (Love) Read Luke 1:31; Luke 1:37. Third Candle (Joy) Read Luke 1:41; Luke 1: Fourth Candle (Peace) Read Luke 2:13-14; Isaiah 9:6. Christ Candle Read Matthew 1:23; Luke 2: Sing Let Them Shine as you light the candles each week. This song is also included on the Winter CD-ROM. Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 91

94 Mission Offering Can Wrap You Will Need: empty, clean soup can (with label removed); scissors; tape 1. Cut out the can wrap. 2. Tape one end to the can. 3. Wrap the label around the can. 4. Tape to seal. Children s Defense Fund 92 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

95 Optional Craft Activity: Advent Activities (Session 13) You Will Need: Christmas bows or ribbons; empty, clean condensed-soup can with label removed; craft glue; wooden craft sticks (29, ¼''-by-3½''); Christmas wrapping paper; scissors; tape 1. Cover the soup can with wrapping paper. Add bows or ribbon. 2. Cut out the Advent Activities. Glue one activity to each wooden craft stick. 3. Place the activity sticks in the can. 4. Draw out an activity each day to help you celebrate the days before Christmas. Read Isaiah 9:6. Bake Christmas cookies. Give to a friend. Make an ornament for your Christmas tree. Leave a special treat for the postal carrier. Read Isaiah 11:1-2. Read Matthew 1: Take canned goods to a food pantry. Volunteer to work in a food pantry or soup kitchen. Play Christmas charades with your family. Donate gently used outgrown clothing to a shelter. Bake a small cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Read Luke 1: Go on a neighborhood flashlight walk with your family. Deliver treats to a fire department near your home. Sing carols together under the tree. Leave a surprise gift on a neighbor s doorstep. Read Luke 2:8-14. Leave a treat for the garbage collector. Go on a Christmas-light tour of your neighborhood. Make a gingerbread house with a younger friend. Read a Christmas book to a younger child. Make spiced cider and share with your family. Leave Merry Christmas notes for family members. Go caroling with your family. Make a gift for your teacher. Perform a random act of kindness. Make gingerbread people with a friend. Make a Christmas card for someone. Read the Nativity story. Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 93

96 Answers to Bible Stories & Stickers Activities Session 1, page 3: CONNECT b. He threw his arms around his brother and hugged him. Session 1, page 4: TODAY S WORD a. Jacob treated Joseph better than he treated his other sons. b. Jacob gave Joseph gifts that he did not give to his other sons. Session 2, page 3: CONNECT c. One day Joseph s brothers, and even his father and mother, would bow down to him. Session 3, page 1: chariot Session 3, page 3: CONNECT b. a stairway that went from earth to heaven Session 8, page 3: CONNECT 1. b., 2. a., 3. d., 4. e., 5. c. Session 9, page 1: tambourine Session 9, page 3: CONNECT 1. b., 2. d., 3. a., 4. c. Session 10, page 3: CONNECT b. Grain of heaven Session 12, page 3: CONNECT 1. two tablets, 2. pot of manna, 3. Aaron s rod Session 13, page 1: God is sending a new king. Session 13, page 3: CONNECT 1. Bethlehem, 2. David Session 3, page 4: TODAY S WORD 1. a., 2. d., 3. b., 4. c. Session 4, page 1: Joseph s cup Session 4, page 3: CONNECT c. 77 times Session 5, page 3: CONNECT b. baby Jesus Session 5, page 4: TODAY S WORD 1. b., 2. c., 3. a. Session 6, page 3: CONNECT 1. God would always be with him. 2. I will be with you. Session 7, page 1: blood, frogs, flies, boils, hail, death of firstborn Session 8, page 1: Do not be afraid; stand your ground. 94 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

97 Answers Session 4, Page 1 Session 5, Page 1 Session 2, Page 1 Session 3, Page 1 Fall 2016 deepbluekids.com 95

98 Answers Session 11, Page 1 Session 12, Page 1 Session 6, Page 1 Session 10, Page 1 96 Deep Blue Middle Elementary Leader s Guide

99 Join the Deep Blue Kids as they explore the wonder and delight of Christmas DeepBlueLGCV3_ND_AdventBookBW NEW! A Deep Blue Star: A Child s Activity Book for Christmas by Daphna Flegal; illustrated by Four Story Creative In this colorful storybook, the Deep Blue Crew tells the story of Jesus birth from the Gospel of Luke and the visit of the wise men from the Gospel of Matthew. Help your child to find the star hidden on each page. Includes a maze, a dot-todot picture, a word search, and an Advent calendar with stickers. Coming in September ONLY $ Cokesbury.com Call your local Community Resource Consultant If you have questions or comments, call toll free: Or customerhelp@cokesbury.com. Vol. 2 No. 1 FALL 2016 EDITORIAL / DESIGN TEAM LeeDell B. Stickler Writer and Editor Rhonda P. Delph Production Editor Charles Long Designer ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Neil M. Alexander Publisher Marjorie M. Pon Associate Publisher and Editor of Church School Publications (CSP) Mary M. Johannes Design Manager Brittany Sky Senior Editor, Children s Resource Cover Design by Phillip D. Francis. Illustrations by Tim Moen, character designer; Jesse Griffin, 3D artist; Julio Medina, 3D artist; Eric M. Mikula, facial rigging; Christopher Slavik, layout artist. Deep Blue Kids: Middle Elementary, Leader s Guide: An official resource for The United Methodist Church approved by Discipleship Ministries (General Board of Discipleship) and published quarterly by Cokesbury, a division of The United Methodist Publishing House, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box , Nashville, TN Price $ Copyright 2016 Cokesbury. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Deep Blue Kids: Middle Elementary, Leader s Guide, Subscription Services, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box , Nashville, TN or call Printed in the United States of America. To order copies of this publication, call toll free: You may fax your order to Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/ Telex Telephone: Or order online at cokesbury.com. Use your Cokesbury account, American Express, Visa, Discover, or MasterCard. For information concerning permission to reproduce any material in this publication, write to Rights and Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box , Nashville, TN You may fax your request to Or permissions@umpublishing.org PACP

100 RELIGION/Christian Education/Children & Youth $11.99US ISBN-13: