YEAR A 1 ST QTR. DAILY BIBLE STUDY & ACTIVITY GUIDE. AGES BIRTH to 3 YEARS

Transcription

1 YEAR A ST QTR. DAILY BIBLE STUDY & ACTIVITY GUIDE AGES BIRTH to 3 YEARS

2 2 BEGINNER

3 WELCOME TO BEGINNERS We are thrilled to share with you the first few lessons of the new General Conference Sabbath School curriculum called MyBibleGuides.* These lessons are Bible based, Christ centered and grace oriented. The contributors to these lessons many of whom are educators as well as parents have been very prayerful and intentional in preparing lessons that lead children into an experiential and trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to see our children in Heaven! With that goal, we have endeavored to: P Emphasize salvation by grace. Because of Christ s sacrifice, we have redemption and the forgiveness of our sins in Jesus Christ alone. P Follow the Bible chronology. From Genesis to Revelation, MyBibleGuides aligns stories chronologically with the Bible time line. P Emphasize key Adventist beliefs. Students will gain a clear understanding of the Bible and its values, from which all Adventist beliefs are derived. P Recognize the prophetic gift of Ellen White, key lessons from Adventist history, and end time events. From parenting tips to prophetic insights, MyBibleGuides contains inspired enrichments and prophetic lessons from the Spirit of Prophecy. P Promote daily Bible study at all levels. MyBibleGuides has daily study guides for all levels to engage students in the study of God s Word. P Engage students in active learning. MyBibleGuides involves children in activities and experiences to help students better retain what they study each week. P Include children in the mission of the church. The MyBibleGuides Teacher s manual includes time for weekly Total Member Involvement Inreach (fellowship), TMI Out-reach (mission) and TMI Up-reach (Bible study). The Cover Design The cover is laid out in the new creation grid format that the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church recently adopted to graphically communicate the uniqueness of the Sabbath. Although only one column stands out (the vertical color bar on the right), it represents one-seventh of the page. The first six (imaginary) columns, represent the six-day work week, but the seventhcolumn, the Sabbath column, is set apart to be special and different from the other six columns, as a reminder and visual celebration of the hallowedness and blessing that God so lovingly intended for us on the seventh day, Sabbath. Enjoy reading this study with the young people in your life, and together may you experience a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The Editors. *Scheduled to launch in January of 209. BEGINNER 3

4 YEAR A QTR SABBATH SCHOOL APP! Learn the memory verse songs! Download the General Conference Sabbath School and Scripture Song App. LESSON THE GOD OF HEAVEN Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Revelation 5:3 PARENTS: This lesson sets the stage for helping children understand why God created us. It starts with the great argument begun by Lucifer in heaven. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are introduced. Through God the Son, perfect worlds and angels were created, for all things were created through Him (Colossians :6). There was complete harmony and peace until iniquity, or selfishness, was found in the most excellent and beautiful angel named Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:5). He was anointed as a covering angel on the holy mountain of God, walking back and forth in the midst of fiery stones (Ezekiel 28:4). Thus, we know that Lucifer s wings once covered, or protected, the throne of God, with his face toward the mercy seat whose foundation was God s law of love (Exodus 25:9 22; Song of Solomon 8:6, 7). HAND MOTIONS Make high fives into the air. great works God Forefinger out from bottom lip. Make two fists. Tap bottom wrist two times. Palms face inward and slide forward. true way King Slide your open palm from eye level down below your chin. Make a letter K with right hand on left shoulder God Is So Good (adapted) God lets me choose, God lets me choose, God lets me choose, He s so good to me. 4 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson

5 REFERENCES: John :-3 Proverbs 8:22-30 Colossians :5-9 Ezekiel 28:2-5, 7 Isaiah 4: 3, 4 Patriarchs & Prophets, pp The Great Controversy, pp ER: I put my feet together And kneel (sit) nicely in my spot; Fold my hands and close my eyes And bow my head to God. Our Father in heaven, Please join us for our worship time. We want Your Spirit in our home. In Jesus name, amen. SONG SUGGESTIONS: Holy, Holy, Holy (Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 73) Heaven Is a Happy Place I Have Decided to Follow Jesus God Is So Good (adapted) SABBATH AFTERNOON MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal TEXTS: Genesis :, 2; Matthew 28:9; Mark :0, ; John :, 2 D o you have a special friend with whom you like to play? It s fun to have special friends. I know some special Friends who like to do things together. They think about the same things. They act alike. They live in heaven and belong to the same family. Their names are God the Father, God the Son (that s Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. They are three People, but They are so much alike They are just like one. All of Them are called God. God is so great and so powerful. God can do anything, and He can do everything. God is good. He thinks good thoughts. He loves to do good things for you. Talk to your child about the different friends God has given him or her. Plan a special play-date with one of your child s friends. God is full of love for you and wants to take care of you. You are very special to God. He listens to your prayers, and He answers your prayers. God wants you to be happy. Let s pray and praise God for being such a wonderful God. Let s tell God we want to be His special friend too! [Ask your toddler to draw a picture of their best friend on this page. ] READ ENHANCING THE LESSON Jesus is my dearest friend, He s with me everywhere; I know He walks along with me And keeps me in His care. Hazel Watwood-Merkel Year Qtr Lesson BEGINNER 5

6 YEAR A QTR LESSON RECORD SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; two pieces of fruit; mirror TEXTS: Ezekiel 28:4; Hebrews :2; :3; Colossians :5 7 Which one would you rather have fresh fruit or rotting fruit? The rotting fruit would not taste very good, would it? It s not perfect. It has something wrong with it. Before God created our world, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit created many beautiful worlds and loving people. When God made the worlds, He made them just right, like our beautiful piece of fresh fruit. He made them perfect. Everything God makes is perfect. God also made beautiful, good angels. God made one angel more lovely and wiser than any other. This angel had a special place near God s throne. The Bible says his wings covered God s throne. His name was Lucifer. Throughout the week, point out as many reflections of yourselves as possible: in water, a window, a car mirror, and so on. Experiment: What s the difference between a reflection and a shadow? Lucifer was a very shiny angel. Light from God shone upon Lucifer, and the light made him more beautiful. Lucifer also had a very special voice, that God gave to him. He sang praises to God. Lucifer and the angels loved God very much. God loved them. They were all part of God s happy family. Did you know that God made an angel just for you? He did! You have your very own strong, lovely, and kind angel who is with you always, day or night. Let s pray and tell God Thank You for your personal angel. Use a mirror to look at your child s face. Take turns pointing to the face in the mirror. Make big smiles and little smiles and kiss your child s cheek. For the story, use one piece of fruit with no blemishes, another piece of fruit with blemishes. 6 6 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson

7 MONDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; pencil TEXTS: Ezekiel 28:2 5, 7; Isaiah 4:3, 4; Exodus 25:9, 20 Do you have a happy home? Do you love your family? In heaven, there are many beautiful, happy angels. Two angels stood next to God. Their LISTEN TO wings covered God s throne. These angels loved God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Sadly, one of the beautiful angels next to God started thinking of himself. His name was Lucifer. Lucifer started thinking about how smart he was. He thought about how beautiful he was. He thought about how good he was. Lucifer thought about himself. He started to become selfish. His smile began to fade. He wanted to be important. He wanted more praise! The Bible says Lucifer wanted to be God! Lucifer was an angel created by God. He could not be God. Was Lucifer happy when he was selfish? No. He lost all his happiness when he became selfish. Find some green grass and have your child pick a few blades. Tape the grass somewhere to this page. Over the next few days watch together what happens to it. What spiritual lesson can be learned from this experiment? Let s pray and tell God we do not want to be selfish. Let s ask Him to help us be unselfish. That way, we will always be happy. Help your child draw a happy face below. Tell them this happy face is to remind us to always be unselfish. When Mother tells me what to do I hurry to obey. I never shake my head and pout Or look cross in any way. I like to please dear Jesus, too And make my angel glad, So when I do as Mother says Not one of us feels sad. Ethel Grace Stone Year Qtr Lesson BEGINNER 7

8 YEAR A QTR LESSON TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; pencil; gray crayon TEXTS: Ezekiel 28:2 5, 7; Isaiah 4:3, 4 Do you sometimes cry and fuss? Does your mother come to help you? Mommies remind us that we must not fuss to get our way. It is not good to cry for what we want. Can you show me a sad face? Can you draw me a sad face at the bottom of this page? God created Lucifer a happy angel. He was very beautiful, helpful, and kind. When Lucifer began to think about himself, He became unhappy. He was sad, fussy, and grumpy. God talked to Lucifer; He loved Lucifer. He wanted to help Lucifer be happy again. Lucifer was selfish. He was fussy. He made others sad. Are you happy when you fuss? Oh, no. Are you happy when you cry? Oh, no. Infants and toddlers use crying as a means of communicating. Observe your child carefully: there s a difference between having a need and having a tantrum. Consistently care for their needs and consistently discourage tantrums. Every child needs to learn that Jesus is their Savior even from the thoughts and feelings that make them unhappy. Now is the best time to begin teaching your child to pray whenever they are feeling angry, impatient, defiant, sad, or afraid. Explain: Selfishness is when you think about yourself more than you think about others. Have your child make an X over the sad face they drew at the bottom of the page. This X is a reminder not to be fussy or to cry to get our way. Give your child a gray crayon and let them color this entire page. Talk about how it looks. This is to show that arguments are not pretty, and they make everything look bad and difficult to understand. When you feel fussy and sad, you can talk to God about how you feel and ask Him to help you be happy and unselfish. Let s pray and tell God we are sorry Lucifer became so fussy in heaven. Let s promise God we will not fuss or cry to get our way. 8 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson

9 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; bag; two pieces of fruit; two small toys; two markers TEXTS: Ezekiel 28:6, 7; Isaiah 4:4; Revelation 2:4; Joshua 24:5 ave you ever been afraid? H Do loud voices make you cry? Tears and fears need lots of love. There is a promise from above. God the Father cares for you. You are safe, always safe. God promises His watch care: I AM with you everywhere. Lucifer upset all of heav n. He complained and fussed a lot. He did not like God s rules, He wanted to be God. Lucifer said things unkind. He said things that were not true. It made the angels feel afraid, They knew not what to do. There are times when even a young child can be given the opportunity to choose right from wrong. The options should be simple, yet real. Spend time considering some of the behaviors your child exhibits. Consider how you might be able to provide opportunities for choosing between right and wrong. Prayerful reflection and careful consideration are powerful tools in parenthood. Your Savior knows your child best and will help you work to save his or her soul. Place two pieces of fruit, two small toys and two markers in a bag. You ll need more items than the number of children. Let each child choose one of the items in the bag. Ask: When you took something out of the bag, did I tell you what to take? Explain: Point out that each child could choose what they wanted from the bag; no one forced them to take it. They were free to choose what they wanted. That s the way it is with God. He never forces us to love and obey Him. He lets us choose. Have your child echo your words as you promise to choose heaven s rules for happiness every day. Discuss how much God loves us and wants to care for us. He asks us to follow His rules so we will be happy. Sing: God Is So Good and use the adapted words for one of the verses. Heaven s rules bring happiness, God asks us to obey, Yet He will let us choose between Heaven s laws or Satan s ways. What a patient God we have! He cares so much for us! Choose God s rules for happiness And promise not to fuss. [Draw a heart around heaven s rules for happiness.] Year Qtr Lesson BEGINNER 9

10 YEAR A QTR LESSON THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal TEXTS: Ezekiel 28:5 7; Revelation 2:4, 7 9 Have you had to say I m sorry to someone? When you say I m sorry, you should also tell God. When you tell God, you say, I m sorry, and you ask Him, Please forgive me. When you love someone, you care about them. Saying I m sorry for bad behavior is one way to show that you care about someone. In heaven, Lucifer was not being truthful or kind; he was not being loving or fair. His fussing made God sad; the angels were sad too! Many angels tried to help Lucifer. They tried to comfort him. They reminded him that heaven s laws bring joy and happiness. Encourage your child to practice saying I m sorry when: The child has hurt someone There s a misunderstanding Someone is sick or sad Someone is angry with the child. God knew the angels were sad. God wanted them to be happy again. God is love. God is truthful. He is kind. He is great. He is good. He is wise. Most of all, God is fair. Let s pray and thank God for being so loving and fair. Let s also ask God to help us choose to obey Him every day. Explain: God knew He must give everyone the chance to choose their leader God or Satan. Then, everyone would know that God is the very best leader of all! Sing: God Is So Good using the adapted words. When you feel sad and cry, does Mother help you? Maybe Father helps you? Or does Grandma or Grandpa hold you close? The God of heaven has given you many people to love and care for you. He is a good God, and He loves you very much! So do I! Just for parents: Saying I m sorry can be healing. What a powerful lesson to teach your young child! 0 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson

11 FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; pencil TEXTS: Psalm 56:3; Deuteronomy 9:5 Does your mommy hold you close and tell you how much she loves you? Surely, too, Grandma squeezes you tight! Did you know God does the same thing? God shows His love to you in so many ways. He wants you to be happy. He loves to take care of you. Explain: When Satan accused God of being unfair, unloving, and selfish, God decided there was only one way to help everyone decide how to end the argument Satan started. They needed someone to help decide who would be the best leader in heaven. Ask: Can you guess who would decide? (See Deuteronomy 9:5.) Answer: It s you and me who help decide if God is fair. Pray with your child and thank God for having a plan to solve arguments. Throughout the week, encourage each family member to be fair, loving, and selfless. As a family, ask God to save you from unhappy, unkind, unloving thoughts and feelings; to take these away and replace them with happy, kind, and loving thoughts and feelings. Be especially attentive to each other. Remember, little attentions often repeated go a long way in making a home happy (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 56). Sing: God Is So Good. Help your child make lightning bolts on this page. As they draw, tell them that the lightning bolts remind us that anger and arguments are very dangerous. They can harm and destroy relationships. Jesus is God s Son. He loves you too. He wants you to be happy. He loves to take care of you. It was God s Son, Jesus, Who created all the worlds and angels. Whenever you are afraid, or sad, Or angry, you can pray to God. God can take away your fear. God can take away your sadness. God can take away your anger. God is so loving and kind that the angels are always singing: God is the very best leader of all! He is truthful. He is kind. He is great. He is good. He is loving. Most of all, God is fair. BRAIN RESEARCH SAYS WRITE Singing to babies facilitates genuine bonding between adult and child. Year Qtr Lesson BEGINNER

12 YEAR A QTR SABBATH SCHOOL APP! Learn the memory verse songs! Download the General Conference Sabbath School and Scripture Song App. LESSON 2 PREPARING A WONDERFUL WORLD In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis : PARENTS: This study is the Biblical story of the first three days of creation. God spoke into existence a wonderful and perfect world in preparation for the living creatures and beings soon to be created. As you go through this week with your child, focus on the wonder of God s power to create and the love He has demonstrated as He prepared the perfect home. Whenever possible, tell your child(ren) that God has promised to bring us back to this beautiful, peaceful garden; and God always keeps His promises. SIGN LANGUAGE FOR [These are temporary placeholders for the real motions.] beginning God created heaven earth Can you go outside for this story? It would be so much more meaningful if you could. God Is So Good (adapted) Verse 2, (verse 3/4/5/6) God made the light (air/water/earth/ plants), God made the light (air/water/earth/plants), God made the light (air/water/earth/plants), He s so good to me. 2 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 2

13 REFERENCES: Genesis : 3 Patriarchs and Prophets, pp ER: I put my feet together And kneel nicely in my spot; Fold my hands and close my eyes And bow my head to God. Our Father in Heaven, Please join us for our worship time. We want Your Spirit in our home. In Jesus name, Amen. SONG SUGGESTIONS: This Is My Father s World (Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 92) My God Is So Great, So Strong and So Mighty God Is So Good (adapted) Praise Him! Praise Him! (Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 249) SABBATH AFTERNOON MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal TEXTS: Genesis : 5 G od found a special way to help the angels be happy. The angels watched with wonder. Soon they wanted to be God s special helpers, too! I wonder what it was that God did? It was very special. It was wonderful. God created our world in the beginning, six thousand years ago. Look at the stars in the evening sky, so many miles away. Yet, even beyond the farthest star, God knows the way. Think of the mountains, deserts, and oceans, too. It was God who was there and created them new. Bend down to touch the smallest flower. Watch the little ant working with all his power. Hear the song of birds; the laughter of children. Brain research says The gentler the stimulation you give an infant, the greater the number of brain synapses and connections that are formed. Caress, whisper to, and nuzzle your little one! God loves to listen and smiles from heaven. Feel the warm sun and the gentle breeze. Reminders that God loves you and loves me. For God is love! Pure love. Wonderful love. God created you, just like He created the stars, mountains, oceans, and animals. Because He loves you, He gave you to me to take care of you, love you, and teach you. I am so thankful God gave you to me. I am so happy to have you in my life. Let s pray and thank God for giving us to each other. READ Throughout the week, spend time with your child noticing and pointing out all that God has created. Make a decided effort to point out all these creations to your child. Talk about how wonderful heaven will be. Consider your child s toys. Are they beautiful representations of God s creations? Do they lend themselves to open conversations about God? Will the toys and books draw the child s eyes and mind to the God of heaven? Year Qtr Lesson 2 BEGINNER 3

14 YEAR A QTR LESSON 2 RECORD SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; paper sack or box; black marker; yellow marker TEXTS: Genesis : 5; Matthew 5:4 6 Look inside my sack. What do you see? Did you see something little? Did you see something big? Is the sack empty? Yes, the sack is empty! A long time ago, our world was empty. There were no people. There were no animals. There were no trees! The Bible tells us this world was very dark. Then, on the first day of the Creation week, God the Son spoke: Let there be light, He said. And there was light. God spoke and there was light. Only the God of heaven has power to do that. Hold up an empty, paper grocery sack with top folded over. (An empty, closed container may be substituted.) When you read about the dark world, use a black marker to draw a black circle at the bottom of this page and color it in. When you read about God creating light, use a yellow marker to draw a yellow circle at the bottom of this page and color it in. Say: Look at the two circles. Which one represents darkness? Which one represents light? Point out that when we have light, we can see. Explain: Jesus called us a light (Matthew 5:4 6). The song This Little Light of Mine reminds us that we are to be loving and kind to others, just as God is loving and kind to us. Sing: This Little Light of Mine. Pray and thank God for making light. Ask Him to help you be loving and kind to others. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness (Genesis :4). God is so loving and kind to make light for us! EXTENDING THE LESSON How much fun can you have with light versus darkness? Peek-a-boo, light switches, flashlights, night-time, day-time, the list goes on! 4 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 2

15 MONDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal TEXT: Genesis : 5 Good created light on the first day of the Creation week. He gave us eyes so we could see. We need light to see, and we need eyes to see with! If I cover my eyes, can you see me? LISTEN TO When God created light on the first day of the Creation week, He provided a way for us to see. What a wonderful, loving and caring God we have! God spoke and there was light. Only the God of heaven has power to do that. Play a simple variation of peek-a-boo a few times. Have fun bonding with your young child by playing this simple game. While holding your child on your lap, use a rhythmic lilt to chant the poem. Who s holding on to me? I see (child s name) is! I see (child s name) is! Transition to using a small cloth or rag to place on your child s head, covering their eyes. Where did you go? I cannot see you with my eyes. Help remove the cloth and show surprise and joy at seeing your child again. There you are! Include the whole family by changing the words a little: Who s holding on to you? I see (Mom/Dad/Sister/Brother) is! I see (Mom/Dad/Sister/Brother) is! This is a great game to play whenever you must stand in a waiting line with your young one. S ing God Is So Good. After the first verse add the words God made my eyes and then God made the light. Then God said, Let there be light ; and there was light (Genesis :3). Let s pray and thank God for making light and for making our eyes so that we can see. After this lesson would be a great time to talk about eye health and safety. Eating carrots and dark green leafy vegetables helps eyes stay healthy. Eye safety also includes wearing sunglasses outside when it is bright and sunny, and not carrying around pointed objects! Visual skills can also be enhanced through activities such as building blocks, rolling a ball back and forth, coloring, drawing, looking at pictures, cutting along lines with scissors, and assembling toys. Children should avoid using electronic visual stimuli, including smartphones, videos, electronic games, and other such items. Electronic visual stimuli are not healthy for the eyes or brain development of children in this age range. Year Qtr Lesson 2 BEGINNER 5

16 YEAR A QTR LESSON 2 TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; plastic bottle; light blue crayon TEXT: Genesis :6 8 On the second day of the Creation week, God made the air. God made air beside us. He made air above us. God made air all around us! God knew air was very important. We need fresh, clean air to breathe. Animals need air. Plants need air, too! So, God made air on the second day of the Creation week. When you read about God making air, show your child an empty plastic bottle. Explain: God made air all around us. We cannot see it, but we can feel it. Do: Squeeze air from the bottle onto your child s hand. Ask: Did you feel the air on your hand? Sing: God Is So Good. After the first verse, sing two more verses, using the words God made the light and then God made the air. Give your child a light blue crayon to color this page blue as a reminder that God made air for you to breathe. What a thoughtful God He is! He made the air before He made plants or animals or people. He knew we would all need to breathe. He carefully prepared our world so that we could be happy and healthy. Let s pray and thank God for making air. When changing diapers or clothes, blow puffs of air onto your baby s face. Alternate between short and long puffs. Hold a scarf or handkerchief up while you blow on it and watch it float. How many things can you think of that use air? For the next several days, discover with your child various ways air is used by animals and people. 6 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 2

17 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal TEXT: Genesis :6 8 Do you know how to breathe? Do you breathe a lot? Can you breathe real fast? Can you breathe real slow? Put your hand up to my mouth. [With your mouth, suck in air and then blow it out quickly.] Did you feel the air? I blew air onto your hand. Can you do that? [Spend a few moments experimenting with drawing in air and blowing out air.] God created the air. Air is all around you. Above you, behind you, in front of you all around you. We need air for breathing. We need air for many things. Balloons use air, bubbles use air, fans and pinwheels use air. We even use air when we talk, especially when we whisper. [Speak in a whisper ] Whispering is a way of speaking politely We whisper when we are in a quiet place like church or the library. Let s practice whispering our memory verse. [Still whispering ] Remember, there is air all around us. God knew air was very important. We need fresh, clean air to breathe. God made air on the second day of the Creation week. God is so thoughtful and careful to plan for all our needs! Let s pray and thank God for making air for our bodies to breathe. There are times to whisper that are important. Certain places require soft voices. Be sure to teach your child when and where it is necessary to whisper. Often, whispering will help to calm a fussy child. Make whispering a common practice so that your child becomes accustomed to it and knows how to respond. Whispering teaches a child sound awareness and self-control, and it requires concentration. Whispering and learning to listen to a whisper are especially important skills for young children who tend to shriek and scream. Oh, how fun a stethoscope would be for this lesson! Well, if you don t have one handy, use a paper tube and breathe through it while your child listens through the other end. Demonstrate or help your child find their rib cage so they can feel their own chest rise and fall with each breath. Use an empty plastic bottle or hand-held fan to propel air that can be felt. Softly sing: God Is So Good, and then sing a second verse with the words God made the air. Blow air onto this page several times. Can you make the page move by blowing on it? Can you make the page turn just by blowing on it? Year Qtr Lesson 2 BEGINNER 7

18 YEAR A QTR LESSON 2 THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; bowl of water; dish of dirt; grass clippings; herbs; fruit; glue TEXTS: Genesis :9 3 The Bible says: God created light. God created air. God created dry land. God knew we needed light to help us see. He knew we needed air to breathe. God knew we would need water to drink. He knew something else, too. God gathered the waters together, and then He made dry land. We need dry land. When God created the dry land, He called it earth. We can dig in the earth, we plant seeds in the earth, we bury things in it, we can build things with it! What a thoughtful God He is! In the beginning, God created air, and water, and earth for us. Use a bowl of water, a dish of dirt, some grass clippings, herbs, and pieces of fruit as props for this lesson. Allow your child to feel the texture of the sand or soil while you talk. Discuss: After the lesson, talk about all the wonderful things you can do with the earth God created. Sing: God Is So Good. Add verses for light, air, water, and land. On Friday, add a verse for plants. Smear a little glue on the bottom of this page. Then, have your child sprinkle some of the sand or dirt on the glue. It will be a reminder that God made the earth that we use for so many things! Do you like to play in the sand or mud? Dirt and sand are wonderful! Do you eat sand or dirt or mud? Why not? What do you eat? The Bible says God created vegetables, herbs, seeds, and the fruit trees. Water, earth, vegetables, grasses, herbs, seeds and fruit trees! What a wonderful garden God created! Let s pray and thank God for making the plants that are beautiful, and helpful yummy fruits and vegetables, and crunchy nuts and grains. During playtime, provide a large box or other container of sand that can be securely covered against rain and against cats, who will use it as a litter box. Use the finest quality white sand, not potting soil, dirt, or builder s sand. Also, provide a choice of tools for digging, burying, building, containing, sifting. Talk often of the goodness of God in creating land and providing us with such wonderful earth that can be used in so many ways. 8 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 2

19 FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; pencil; crayons; items of various colors and textures TEXTS: Genesis : 3 The Bible says: God created light. God created air. God created dry land! After God made dry land, He made wonderful surprises! WRITE God made plants! Lots and lots of plants. All types of plants. Tall plants, short plants. Green plants, yellow, orange, purple, and blue plants! Fuzzy plants, rough plants. Yummy plants, pretty plants! The earth was full of grass, flowers, bushes, vines, trees, and so much more! Find items around the house that are of varied colors and textures. Use these during the story to demonstrate all the colors and textures of nature. Glue or tape a few flowers to this page as a reminder of our Creator and His love for us. Help your child find the upper right corner of this page. Show your child how to draw yellow beams of light from the upper right corner of this page toward the lower left corner. Be sure to point out various plants to your child whenever you see them even at the grocery store! Talk about God s goodness in making such lovely things for us to enjoy. Experience the texture, smell, and beauty of the plants you see. Practice learning left from right. For the next several weeks, talk about left and right as in our hands, feet, shoes, eyes, ears, writing, turning, stepping, and so on. And God saw that it was good. Water, earth, grasses, herbs, and fruit trees! What a wonderful garden God created! He knew we needed light by which to see, air to breathe, water to drink, and plants to eat. God carefully prepared our world So that we could be happy and healthy. Let s pray and thank God for making the plants beautiful and helpful; yummy fruits and vegetables, and crunchy nuts and grains. [Encourage your child to draw a picture of the memory verse. Be sure to include some plants, water, and light in picture. Your child might even want to draw themselves in the picture! ] Year Qtr Lesson 2 BEGINNER 9

20 SABBATH SCHOOL APP! YEAR A Learn the memory verse songs! Download the General Conference Sabbath School and Scripture Song App. QTR LESSON 3 LIGHTS IN THE HEAVENS By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Psalm 33:6 PARENTS: This study is the biblical account of the fourth day of Creation. God made wonderful heavenly lights that would be useful in multiple ways to the people of this world. As you go through this week with your child, focus on the wonder of God s power to create and the love He has demonstrated as He prepared the perfect home. Whenever possible, tell your child(ren) that God has promised to bring us back to this perfect home; and God always keeps His promises. Do you have a nightly bedtime routine? Do you have a set bedtime schedule? Routines and schedules are very important to young children. Routines and schedules help them learn trust, give them assurance, and encourage obedience. Ask your child to name some animals that get ready for bed at night. What behaviors or calls do the animals make as they are preparing to sleep? SIGN LANGUAGE FOR [These are temporary placeholders for the real motions.] word Lord heavens make God Is So Good (adapted) Verse 2 God made the sun, God made the moon, God made the stars, He s so good to me. all heavens breath God mouth 20 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 3

21 REFERENCES: Genesis :4 9; Psalm 33:6 9; Psalm 47:4 Education, p. 99 ER: I put my feet together And kneel nicely in my spot; Fold my hands and close my eyes And bow my head to God. Our Father in Heaven, Please join us for our worship time. We want Your Spirit in our home. In Jesus name, Amen. SONG SUGGESTIONS: How Great Thou Art (Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 86) This Little Light of Mine Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam God Is So Good (adapted) SABBATH AFTERNOON MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; small blanket; doll or plush animal TEXTS: Genesis :4 9 God created light, air, and water. God knew we needed light to see, air to breathe, water to drink, and plants to eat. He carefully prepared our world so we could be happy and healthy. Bedtime is a good time. Do you like bedtime? Getting ready for bed helps our bodies relax and rest. We get to cuddle and read. Sleeping all night heals our body. We feel better the next day. God created two great lights: one to rule the day, the other to rule the night. Our bodies respond to the two great lights God made. Let s pray and thank God for creating the sun and moon for our world. READ God planned it that way. On the fourth day of Creation, God created two great lights for our world. God created a great big light to rule the day and a smaller light to rule the night. As you read the story, pretend to put a doll or plush toy to bed. Provide pictures of animals or plush toy animals. Talk about their nightly routines. [Draw pictures of the sun, moon, and stars on this page. Resist putting faces on them, though.] Year Qtr Lesson 3 BEGINNER 2

22 YEAR A QTR LESSON 3 RECORD SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; flashlight; crayons TEXTS: Genesis :4 9; Matthew 5:4 6 Six thousand years ago, on the first day of the Creation of our world, God said, Let there be light, and there was light. On the second day, God said: Let there be air. And there was air. On the third day, God made dry land, flowers, Grass, trees, and all kinds of plants. What a beautiful world He made! On the fourth day, the Bible says God made two big lights: one for the day and one for the night. He made the stars, also. As you read, act out the story: On the first day, God created light. Hold the flashlight high above your head, and shine its light toward child. On the second day, God created air. Take in a deep breath of air, puff out your cheeks, hold it for a few seconds, then continue the story. Trace over the outlines of the sun, moon and stars on this page. Use your finger or a crayon. Remind your child: God made these lights for you! Sing: God is So Good. Add a new verse for sun, moon, and stars. Sing: This Little Light of Mine and Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam with your child. Explain: when we tell others the truth about what the Bible says, we are helping others to understand truth. Sharing Bible truth is like being a flashlight in the darkness or the sun in the sky or the moon giving light at nighttime (Matthew 5:4 6). Ask your child to draw a picture of a light. Ask what type of light will they would like to draw? Let s pray and thank God for making the sun, moon, and stars. God put these two big lights and the stars way up in the heavens. The big light that shines all day is the sun. The moon shines at night. The stars are the twinkling lights in the sky at night. The sun, moon, and stars were made by God to give us light. Be sure to talk about the fact that God made the sun, moon, and stars that we see at night. Observe the night sky and learn to recognize the more obvious constellations. How exciting it is for a young child to see the moon during the day! Remind them that the moon and stars are always in the sky, even during the bright daylight hours. Consider how we use flashlights: Is a flashlight bright? In the darkness it seems bright, doesn t it? Do we need a flashlight during the day? Why not? Then, remind them that holy angels are always with them, even if we cannot see them, God has given each of us our own powerful angel. 22 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 3

23 [Glue something round and yellow then, draw yellow lines radiating from it to resemble the sun which God created for you.] MONDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; paper and pencil; yellow crayon; flashlight TEXT: Genesis :4 Animals love to sleep in the sun. Why do they like to do that? Is the sun warm? Does it feel good on your face? Sometime the sun is too warm! It can make us feel hot! Yet, we need the sun s light and warmth to help us grow and stay healthy. Even the plants and animals need the sun. God created the sun for many reasons. He is such a kind and thoughtful God! When the sun comes up in the morning I am so very glad; For all the things God gives me, For rest that I have had. For the poem: Use the flashlight to demonstrate the sun rising. Use the flashlight to demonstrate the sun at noontime. Use the flashlight to demonstrate the sun going down. Sing: God Is So Good. Add a new verse for sun, moon, and stars. When the sun is bright at noontime, I m as happy as I can be; For all the things that Jesus sends, To show His love for me. When the sun goes down in the evening I am tired from all my play; I bow my head and thank Jesus He s been with me all the day. Norma Lippi Isn t it amazing how God created the sun to do so many important things for us? Let s pray and thank God for making sun to keep us warm and to help us grow healthy. LISTEN TO Spend some time outdoors in the sun. The sun keeps us warm and helps us grow healthy. Hang bedding or rugs outside. The sun helps to disinfect, or to kill bad germs, that get on our bedding and rugs. Extending the lesson for toddlers: The Bible also says the sun is for seasons. Winter is when it is cold outside; summer is when it is hot. Spring and autumn have cool nights and warm days. Every day, we need to feel the sunshine on our skin. We need the sun s light and warmth to help us grow and stay healthy. God created the sun to do so many important things for us. Year Qtr Lesson 3 BEGINNER 23

24 YEAR A QTR LESSON 3 TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; mirror; flashlight TEXT: Genesis :4 Look into the mirror. What do you see? [Turn out the lights.] At night time, it can be very dark. [Turn on the flashlight and shine it onto the mirror.] Our God knew we would need light during the night time. So God made the moon to be a night light in the sky! Provide a mirror and flashlight. What a wonderful God we have. He gave us the sun for day time; He made the moon so we can see at night. The moon also helps us keep track of days, weeks, months, and years; special days, happy days especially your birthday! God knew that we would need these two great lights and He provided them for us way up high! Point out the person in the mirror first; then start pointing out other, peripheral things reflected in the mirror. Find a point of light reflected in the mirror and point out how the light shines in the mirror and the mirror reflects the light so we can see it. Use the word reflect several times as you point to things seen in the mirror. Sing: God Is So Good. Add a new verse for sun, moon, and stars. Let s pray and thank God for making the moon for us. Discuss and experiment: The moon is a dark round ball. The moon does not have any light of its own. The moon gets its light from the sun and acts like a big mirror. It reflects the light of the sun. God designed the moon to reflect the light of the sun so we would have a night light in the sky! The moon is in the sky all the time. During the day, the sun is so bright, you can t see the moon. [Turn on flashlight. Shine it far away.] Can you see the light from the flashlight? Not very well. [Continue to shine the light but darken the room.] Can you see it any better now? You can see the light from the flashlight better in the dark. Was the flashlight shining all the time? Even when the light was on? Yes, but when it got darker you could see light from the flashlight better. That s the way it is with the moon. The moon is shining day and night, but we can see it best at night time. Show your child a calendar. Are there important dates on your calendar? Practice the name of each day of the week. Older children can learn the names of the months. [Write your child s birth date below and let your child decorate it! Say, Thank You, God, for making birthdays!] 24 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 3

25 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; dish full of bubbles TEXTS: Genesis :4 9 God made so many, many stars. In the night sky they sparkle and shine. How beautiful they are! Can you count the stars? Have you ever tried to see whether the stars have different colors? Did you know, stars are like bubbles? Let s experiment with some bubbles. Can we count the bubbles? No. Trying to count bubbles is like trying to count the stars. There are so many, we cannot count them! Can you see big bubbles? Can you see little bubbles? Yes, all the bubbles are different sizes. The stars in the night sky are all different sizes, too. Can you see the different colors in the bubbles? The stars in the night sky are different colors, too. Stars are very lovely. God is so good to make the lovely stars. Be sure to have a dish full of bubbles. Mix dish soap with water, or purchase a bottle of bubbles. Try to count the bubbles. Point out the different sized bubbles. Look for the different colors in the bubbles. Blow bubbles on this page. Wait and watch for them to pop. Then, have some bubble blowing fun! After the lesson, enjoy blowing and popping the bubbles! Sing: God Is So Good. Add a new verse for sun, moon, and stars. Sing: This Little Light of Mine. Each day, talk about all the different colors you can see. God loves us so much we cannot count the many ways He loves us; just like we cannot count the number of stars. Extending the lesson for toddlers: Can you think of other Bible stories where stars are mentioned? Jesus called you a light (Matthew 5:4 6). Did He make you as big as the sun? No. Are you big like the moon? No. He made you a special person, though. Like every special star, You can shine for Jesus. You can be obedient and trusting. You can be a happy child. Let s pray and thank God for creating the stars to help us learn how much He loves us. Year Qtr Lesson 3 BEGINNER 25

26 YEAR A QTR LESSON 3 THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; toy boat TEXTS: Genesis :4 9 Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Use your hands and fingers to act out the poem. Use a toy boat, or picture of a boat, when talking about the traveler. When the blazing sun is set, And the grass with dew is wet, Then you show your little light Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. As your bright and tiny spark Lights the traveler in the dark Though I know not what you are Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Jane Taylor The Bible tells us God made the stars. I wonder why God put stars in the sky? Some stars are bright, some are even brighter! Some stars are big; others are much bigger! Some stars are hot while other stars are hotter still! Stars are different colors, too. There are red stars, orange stars, yellow stars, white stars, and even blue stars! Each day, continue to talk about all the different colors you can see. God gave each star a special place in the sky. Just like the moon and sun, the stars are always in God s sky. Sometimes clouds or bright lights prevent us from seeing them, but the stars are always there. Because the sun, moon and stars are always in the sky, we can use the stars, sun, and moon to help us know where we are and where we should be going. In the Bible, there s a story about three wise men who followed a star that helped them find the baby Jesus. Imagine that! Stars that give directions! God gave each star a special place in the sky. Just like the moon and sun, the stars are always in God s sky. What a wonderful, thoughtful God. He created two great lights in the sky, and all the stars, too. Let s pray and thank God for making the stars for us. [This is a great time to learn how to draw stars! Help your child practice drawing stars all over this page, and encourage the use of all the star colors!] 26 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 3

27 FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible, hymnal; mirror; crayons TEXTS: Genesis :4 9; Revelation 22:6; Matthew 5:4 6 I would shine, if I were the sun. I would warm the earth when the day had begun. I would make things grow. I would shine, I know, if I were the sun. I would shine, if I were the moon. I would sparkle on rivers in early June. I would shine all night. I would be so bright if I were the moon. Use the mirror several times to reflect light, look at each other, and smile at each other. Infants and toddlers love mirrors! Sing: God Is So Good while you look in the mirror. Add the new verse for sun, moon, and stars. You can even add a verse such as God gave me you. Mirrors are wonderful for keeping babies and toddlers occupied. Other surfaces provide a reflection as well, such as a glass window or still water. Help your child find their reflection in several different objects over the next week or so. Point out their lovely smile, which God created just for them. How can such a young child help others understand more about God? In what ways can a small child be helpful, obedient, and well-behaved? What does it mean to have a well-ordered family? I would shine, if I were a star. I would guide lone ships on the ocean far. I would twinkle with glee. How bright I would be, if I were a star. But I can shine, and so can you. Though we cannot be lights in the heavens blue; We can sing and smile, And make life worthwhile, if we will shine. Mrs. John F. Underhill Can you smile at the mirror? You have such a lovely smile! What a wonderful, thoughtful God we have! I love the God of heaven, don t you? Let s pray and thank God for making lights in the heavens that are so useful to us. WRITE [For older children: Draw a picture of what we ve learned this week. Remember to use all the star colors! For younger children: Scribble yellow all over this page, or draw the sun yellow, moon white, and stars red, orange, yellow, white, and blue.] It is only in pursuing a right course that light and gladness attend our path. Ellen G. White, The Mother a Missionary, Signs of the Times, Sept. 29, 88 Year Qtr Lesson 3 BEGINNER 27

28 YEAR A SABBATH SCHOOL APP! Learn the memory verse songs! Download the General Conference Sabbath School and Scripture Song App. QTR LESSON 4 FLOCKS AND SCHOOLS For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth. Colossians :6 PARENTS: This study is the biblical story of the fifth day of Creation. God chose to create fish and birds as the first living creatures after the world had been prepared for habitation. As you go through this week with your child, focus on the wonder of God s power to create and the love He has demonstrated as He prepared the perfect home. Whenever possible, tell your child(ren) that God has promised to bring us back to this beautiful, peaceful garden; and God always keeps His promises. Some fish are very small, like the size of your little finger! Some fish are very big. Can you stretch your arms wide? Wider? Jesus made some fish that are bigger than your outstretched arms; even bigger than mine! [Demonstrate outstretched arms.] Take your child to visit an aquarium, fish store, or fish market, and talk about all the different types of fish God created. Be on the lookout for a feather! You ll use it for tomorrow s study. SIGN LANGUAGE FOR [These are temporary placeholders for the real motions.] Him all created heaven earth God Is So Good (adapted) Verse 2, (verse 3) God made the fish, (birds) God made the fish, (birds) God made the fish, (birds) He s so good to me. 28 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 4

29 REFERENCES: Genesis :20 23 Leviticus :9 2 Desire of Ages, pp. 246; 80. Patriarchs and Prophets, p ER: I put my feet together And kneel nicely in my spot; Fold my hands and close my eyes And bow my head to God. Our Father in Heaven, Please join us for our worship time. We want Your Spirit in our home. In Jesus name, Amen. SONG SUGGESTIONS: All Things Bright and Beautiful (Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 93) Jesus Loves Me God Is So Good (adapted) SABBATH AFTERNOON MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; fish and bird toys or pictures TEXTS: Genesis :20 23 God carefully prepared our world so we could be happy and healthy. Jesus knew you needed sunshine to run and play. So, He created the sun. Jesus also knew the dark night could be scary. So, He created the moon and stars, soft night lights for you. On the fifth day of Creation, God created two very wonderful creatures They are for you to enjoy. Fish and birds are fun to watch. Both are fun to feed. Fish swim low; But they ll come up for bread and a cracker piece. They swim and fly so merrily. If I share, they ll come to me. Thank you, dear Jesus, for making the fish and the birds for me. READ Birds fly high; But they ll come down for cracked corn and some seeds. [Have your child draw a picture of a fish or whale below. Provide pictures of various fish or small plastic fish toys as props for this study. Help your child pretend to feed the fish and bird on this page. If you have tiny stickers, the stickers can be used as food to feed the fish and birds on this page. Year Qtr Lesson 4 BEGINNER 29

30 YEAR A QTR LESSON 4 SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; feather; glue or tape TEXTS: Genesis :20 23 This is a feather. It came from a bird. God made the birds so very lovely. Some are big, some are small. Most of them fly, but a few only walk. Some birds dive into water, and a few know how to swim! RECORD Different birds have different foods, just like you and me. Every kind builds a home, each special and unique. Jesus made the birdies, Jesus made them fly Jesus made the birdies Way up in the sky. Flying o er the treetops, Hopping on the ground See them fly so happily, Around and up and down. Some are very tiny, Some are big and strong Singing songs to Jesus, Happy all day long. Maidelle Barber Before beginning to read, show your child a feather. Let them touch it and hold it. Tickle their chin, cheeks, arms, and legs with the feather. If you have a feather that you found, sprinkle drops of water on the feather to see how it rolls off. Store-bought feathers will not have the bird s oil on it, so water will not bead and roll off. Tape or glue a feather to the bottom of this page. Thank you, dear Jesus, for the birds that praise Your name each day. Help me to remember to praise You every day, too. Feathers are very important to birds. They are usually used for flying, but feathers can be a raincoat for birds. Small fluffy feathers next to the bird s body help keep them warm. Feathers also help birds hide. Mother birds usually do not have bright colored feathers. When the mother is sitting on a nest, her feathers help to protect her and her babies. The feathers of a daddy bird often have bright colors. Perhaps this helps the daddy lead others away from the nest to keep the mommy and babies safe. Feathers are needed for flying, for warmth and for protection. God knew birds would need feathers just like He knows you need clothing. God provided wonderfully for the birds, didn t He? He will provide for you, too. Spend time outside with your child looking at different birds. Try to whistle their different calls. Take your child to visit a park or aviary for a couple of hours, watching the different birds. Talk about their behaviors and colors. 30 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 4

31 [Draw a rainbow, one color at a time: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. MONDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible, hymnal; 3 5 toys that make different sounds; towel or small blanket TEXTS: Genesis :20 23 Ihave several different toys that make sounds. Now, let s play a listening game. Manipulate each toy to make it sound. Identify each toy as it makes its sound. Cover toys with a towel or small blanket. Again, manipulate one toy to make it sound. Ask your child to show you which toy made the sound. Repeat with each toy. Listening is such a very important skill. When you learn to listen, you can understand people talking. When you learn to listen, you can learn to know our house sounds. When you learn to listen, you can also hear God s creatures. [Speak in a whisper for the rest of the devotional.] I wonder if we can hear any of God s creatures right now. Shh shh let s be very quiet. What do you hear? [Pause and encourage quietness for a moment.] If you learn to listen, you can hear birds during the day-time. If you learn to listen, you can hear crickets and dogs at night-time. If you learn to listen, you can even hear water dripping, or rippling, or tumbling toward shore. Often near water, you can even hear fish jumping! Shh shh let s be very quiet. What do you hear? [Pause and encourage quietness for a moment.] Let s say a prayer of thanksgiving to God. He gave us such wonderful things to hear. Trace your child s hand then add bird feet extending from the palm downward and a bird beak from the tip of the thumb. You can even turn the fingers into feathers! LISTEN TO Listening is a very important skill. Play lots of listening skill games. Require specific times of listening without noise, fussing, or demanding. Pay attention to your child, and try to meet their needs quickly and consistently. Purposefully plan times when the child must wait and listen before a need or want is met. Practice, practice, practice! At this age, these listening activities can be a game, but the child will be learning a valuable life skill. Year Qtr Lesson 4 BEGINNER 3

32 YEAR A QTR LESSON 4 TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; mirror TEXTS: Genesis :20 23 Who do you see in the mirror? Is that you? Did you know the God of heaven made you? Show me your mouth. Open wide close it tight! Open wide close it tight! That s exactly what fish do! God made fish to open wide, and close it tight. Can you be a fish? Open wide close it tight! Open wide close it tight! God made fish to breathe by opening their mouth wide, and closing it tight. [Fingerplay] One little, two little, three little fishes, Four little, five little, six little fishes, Seven little, eight little, nine little fishes, Ten little fish in the sea. [Gulp like a fish open wide close it tight!] Ten little, nine little, eight little fishes, Seven little, six little, five little fishes, This can be such a fun game. It s called Big Face, Little Face. Simply have your child face you and copy your facial expressions. Start out by making your face look as big as possible! Then try to make your face as small as possible. For infants and toddlers, they enjoy the repetition of the big/ little cycle. For older toddlers and preschool-age children, they enjoy showing various emotional expressions. There are multiple learning opportunities pertaining to emotional intelligence as indicated by facial expressions, such as: big versus little, funny versus serious, happy versus mad/sad/ scared, and so on. Have you found time to visit an aquarium or fish store so your little one can watch the fish? If so, talk about what you both saw and what you liked. Four little, three little, two little fishes, One little fish in the sea. [Gulp like a fish open wide close it tight!] [Repeat, just for the fun of it!] Dear Jesus, thank you for making the funny little fishes. 32 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 4

33 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; bowl of water TEXTS: Genesis :20 23 On the fifth day of the Creation week, God created some very interesting animals that live in the water! What do we call animals who live in the water? Fish! Do you like to take a bath and play in the water? I know an animal that loves to be in the water! On the fifth day of Creation, God made animals that love the water! Most fish want to stay in the water all the time. They play in the water. They eat in the water. They sleep in the water. They do everything in the water! [Fingerplay] Fishy, fishy swim in the water (hands clasped together) Fishy, fishy, swishy, swishy (wiggle clasped hands) Fishy, fishy blowing bubbles (lips together to imitate blowing bubbles) Fishy, fishy God made you. (point up to heaven) Let s pray and thank God for making fish. Let your child dip their fingers into a bowl of water as you talk about fish. Can you find any fish-shaped sponges? That would be fun to add to bath time or use with paint. After prayer, blow bubbles onto this page and let your child enjoy popping them. Draw little bubbles coming from the fish s mouth on this page. Help your child draw bubbles all over this page. Have fun and add a few fish! Is there a pond near you? Take your child to the water and look for fish. Talk about the different types, sizes and colors of fish made by the God of heaven. Bring your child into contact with nature that they might listen to the voice which speaks in all created things; and as their hearts become tender and their minds receptive, He will help them to interpret the spiritual teachings of the scenes upon which their eyes rest. Adapted from Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, pp. 44, 45 Year Qtr Lesson 4 BEGINNER 33

34 YEAR A QTR LESSON 4 THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; several pictures of fish and birds; egg (plastic or hard-boiled) TEXTS: Genesis :20 23 Were you born like a bird in a nest? Did mommy lay an egg and keep it warm? No, no. You were not an egg in a nest. Were you born like a fish in the sea? Did mommy stick you to seaweed and let you float around? No, no. You were not an egg in the sea. If you were a baby bird, you would peck and nap, peck and nap. Then you d kick with your feet and pop out of your shell. But, you are not a baby bird. Look at baby pictures or books that have pictures of babies. Tell your child how much you love them. Pray and thank God for your precious child(ren). If you were a baby fish, you would hatch from a thin egg and need to feed yourself! You d hide and feed, hide and feed. Then you d dart here and there looking for a home. But, you are not a baby fish. Not a fish. Not a bird. You are a little me! God formed you and made you and caused you to grow. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 39:3, 4). Thank You, God, for my little me. Thank You, God, for my family. Place heel at bottom center of the heart. Trace left foot slanting slightly to the left. Place heel at bottom center of the heart. Trace right foot slanting slightly to the right. 34 BEGINNER Year Qtr Lesson 4

35 FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS: Bible; hymnal; sticks; leaves and grass; pillows and blankets; gold or yellow crayons TEXTS: Genesis :20 23; John 4:2, 3 God made trees and bushes for birds to sleep in. He taught them to find little sticks, leaves, and grasses to tuck together so their nest would be safe. God gave the little birds the knowledge of how to build a sturdy nest. No matter what kind of home you live in now, the Bible says that God is making a new home for you in heaven! Jesus said: In My Father s house are many mansions I go to prepare a place for you. And I will come again and receive you to Myself (John 4:2, 3). Make a people nest with pillows and blankets! Or, try to make a nest with sticks, leaves, and grass. Jesus lives in heaven; He wants us to be there To see His little pets, Which He wants to share. Would you like to live with God? Jesus lives in heaven; He wants us to be there To see His pretty flowers, Which He wants to share. Jesus lives in heaven; He wants us to be there To see His singing birds, Which He wants to share. We want to live in heaven, And be with Jesus there In that pretty mansion That He wants to share. Mary Ellen Schwab Let s pause for prayer and thank God for helping the birds make their nests. Let s also thank Him for preparing a home for us in heaven. WRITE [Encourage your child to use gold or yellow crayons to draw a house on this page to remind you that Jesus is preparing a home for you in heaven.] Have your child pretend to have a beak by using tongs to pick up items. Begin with larger items, and slowly introduce smaller and smaller items as their fine motor skills improve. Ask: I wonder questions about different birds needing to practice using their beaks. Year Qtr Lesson 4 BEGINNER 35

36 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Department 250 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD Review & Herald Publishing Association