Beginner Teacher Guide March Table of Contents

Transcription

1 Beginner Teacher Guide March 2018 Table of Contents

2 Lesson Warm Up Story Activity Page March 4 Everything Will Be All Right (based on Genesis 22: 1-3, 6-14) Sing Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 1: Mekhai Learns to Trust Make a God Provides for Me banner 3 March 11 A Special Event (based on 2 Chronicles 6: 12-21) March 18 Let s Celebrate! (based on 2 Chronicle 7: 1-9) March 25 It Is Better to Obey (based on 2 Chronicles 7: 12-22) Name the times we pray Play Roles and Responsibilities Help your teacher make a chart with classroom rules God Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 2: The KIDSZONE Battle with Doctor Gloom Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 3: Cheerful Givers Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 4: Neveah Prays for Her Class Make a model of a KIDSZONE truck Make a tithing piggy bank Make a prayer journal Appendices Title Page Appendix A Suggested Questions to Interview an Elder 12 Appendix B Roles and Responsibilities Flash Cards 13 Appendix C Piggy Bank Cut Out Template 14 2 P a g e

3 Lesson 1 March 4, 2018 Genesis 22:1-3, 6-14 Everything Will Be All Right Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Sing Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land. Teach the lyrics to the song, if necessary. Encourage students to come up with movements for the words rock, weary and shelter. Do the movements every time they are sung in the song. Jesus is a rock in a weary land A weary land A weary land Jesus is a rock in a weary land A shelter in the time of storm Has he ever made a way when you didn t have a dime? Has he ever stepped in just right on time? Has he ever picked you up when you were down? Has he ever placed your feet on solid ground? Then you know he is a rock in a weary land A weary land A weary land Then you know he is a rock in a weary land A shelter in the time of storm Scripture Summary God put Abraham to the test by telling him to give his only son, Isaac as a burnt offering. This meant Abraham would have to kill Isaac the same way he would have to kill an animal that was being sacrificed as a burnt offering. Abraham was a faithful man so he followed God s instructions. But just as Abraham was about to kill Isaac an angel of the Lord stopped him. God saw how Abraham did not hold back anything to show his respect for God, not even his only son. He passed God s test! Abraham was able to use a ram he saw in the bush for the burnt offering instead of Isaac. Key Verse Exercise Ask students to repeat the key verse after you. Be sure to say the verse in short phrases so it is easy for students to remember and repeat. Suggested phrases are segmented below. Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, God himself will provide. 3 P a g e

4 Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 1 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 1: Mekhai Learns to Trust God Today was going to be a stormy day just like the day the Faithful Five got their superpowers. Mekhai noticed his mother was packing an overnight bag for the family and a cooler with food. He thought this was strange because his mother always insisted he stay inside when the weather was bad. Her actions made it seem like the family was leaving for a trip. He really wanted to know so he asked, Mom, isn t a big storm coming? Mekhai s mother replied, Yes son, a very big storm is coming. Still confused, Mekhai asked another question. Are we going somewhere? In the storm? Mekhai s mother stopped what she was doing so Mekhai knew whatever she was about to say was serious. Me made sure to pay full attention. Mekhai, his mother responded, we are going to Auntie Nora s house because where she lives will not be affected by the storm. There will be a lot of rain with this storm so there is a risk of major flooding in our neighborhood. That is why we must leave for a couple of days, to be safe. A worried look came on Mekhai s face. He said, Mom, where will we live if something happens to our house? His mother hugged him and said, Don t worry Mekhai. Our family has total trust in God. God will always provide what we need. Mekhai started to feel better about the situation. As his mother prepared to pack a box of some of their electronic devices and things that could not be replaced like photos and awards, she told Mekhai to get two toys and three books to add to the box. When Mekhai got upstairs to his bedroom, he saw his neighbors leaving too. He quickly grabbed two toys and three books and ran downstairs to catch his neighbors. Mekhai s mother wanted to know why he was in such a hurry so Mekhai told her. Mekhai found out his neighbors did not have any family nearby so they were going to a temporary shelter provided by an A.M.E. Zion Church. This news made him feel like he wanted to pray so Mekhai found a spot near the sofa and got on his knees. Dear God, thank you for Auntie Nora. I am glad we can stay with her during the storm. Watch over my neighbors and all the families while they are in the shelter. And watch over all our houses. Mom and Dad trust you so I will trust you too. I know everything will be all right. Thanks again for giving me a loving aunt. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. After he finished his prayer, Mekhai helped his mother finish packing the box and then read a book until it was time to go. Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. What was Abraham s test? God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Did Abraham pass the test? Yes No How did Mekhai learn to trust God? Mekhai learned to trust God because his parents trust God. Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. See if students can retell the story of Abraham, Isaac and the ram in the bush. Explain how the Christian saying ram in the bush means God will provide in difficult situations. Then ask the students to help the Faithful Five act out the bible story. (Optional: Pretend the Faithful Five are being transported back to that biblical time.) 4 P a g e

5 Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Make a God Provides for Me Banner. Materials needed: Large sheet of banner paper (long enough to provide design space for each student); old store catalogs or magazines, markers or crayons; scissors; glue Instructions: Brainstorm a list of God s provisions with the students (like food, clothing, shelter, toys, books). Then ask students to draw or cut out pictures showing the things God provides. Display the banner in the classroom. At the end of the class, give each student a copy of Appendix A. Their home assignment is to interview an elder to learn more about the ways God provides. Close the lesson with prayer. Dear God, thank you for always providing the things we need. In Jesus Name, Amen! Lesson 2 March 11, Chronicles 6:12-21 A Special Event Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity The Times We Pray. Ask students to come up with a list of the different times we pray. (Examples: before we eat our food, during worship, before we go to bed, when someone is sick, at the end of the Church School lesson). Optional: Say a few of the familiar prayers like the grace before meals or the Lord s prayer. Scripture Summary King Solomon stood in front of the whole community of Israel on a very large stage in the middle of the courtyard. Then he kneeled and spread out his arms to pray to God. Solomon asked God to look toward the temple he built for God and to hear and forgive the people when they pray. Key Verse Exercise Ask students to repeat the key verse after you. Be sure to say the verse in short phrases so it is easy for students to remember and repeat. Suggested phrases are segmented below. 2 Chronicles 6:20 [Lord], may you heed the prayer that your servant prays. 5 P a g e

6 Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 2 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 2: The KIDSZONE Battle with Doctor Gloom The Faithful Five were very excited! Their new church building was being dedicated today. The new building had a KIDSZONE, which is a cool space for Children s Church and other children s activities. The children s choir was part in the special celebration. Mekhai and Zakiyah are very good singers so they were going to sing the solo verses in How Great is Our God. The choir director taught them a combination of the song with a hymn all the seniors loved, How Great Thou Art. Adding the hymn was a way to show the seniors appreciation for their support in building the new KIDSZONE. Ashanti was selected to do the opening prayer. Just before the pastor called Ashanti to the pulpit, Jahari noticed Doctor Gloom sitting in the congregation. Doctor Gloom was one of the villains the Faithful Five faced before. She liked to infiltrate the minds of others to make them do her dirty work. Doctor Gloom was extremely old school and did not like change. She could not understand why children needed a KIDSZONE in the church. Doctor Gloom loved to complain so she mumbled to herself, I don t know why these children can t just sit in the sanctuary like everyone else without all that be-bop music and carrying on they like to do. Doctor Gloom s goal for today was to attack Ashanti while she prayed so she could show ungratefulness instead appreciation for the KIDSZONE. The Faithful Five defeated Doctor Gloom before. They knew they could do it again. When the pastor called Ashanti to pray, she respectfully asked if Jahari, Mekhai, Zakiyah and Neveah could join her. The pastor granted the request. The Faithful Five stood in the front of the congregation together and joined hands. When they joined hands, they formed a protective shield around Ashanti. So, when Doctor Gloom launched her secret dart to take over Ashanti s brain it boomeranged and got stuck in her church hat instead. Ashanti thanked God for the new church, especially the KIDSZONE. She also told God the children would use their new space as a special place to show God deep love and respect. Doctor Gloom was not happy the Faithful Five defeated her again. But then she thought how the new KIDSZONE would give her a new reason to complain. After Ashanti finished praying, Doctor Gloom left the church with a devilish smirk on her face. Jahari said, Did you see that smirk on Doctor Gloom s face? Neveah answered, Yes. I am sure we ll be seeing her again. Zakiyah said, That s okay. She can bring it on. We know Isaiah 54:17. The Faithful Five looked at each other and recited confidently in unison, No weapon formed against me shall prosper! Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. What did King Solomon and Israel do to dedicate new church buildings? They prayed to God. What was Doctor Gloom s complaint? She did not think the children should have a special place for worship. What do you think the Faithful Five s next battle with Doctor Gloom will be? (Answers will vary. If you have time, some of the responses to varickschildrenministry@aol.com. These could be ideas for future episodes.) 6 P a g e

7 Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. Tell students the Faithful Five love when the game truck comes to field day events at their elementary school. They want to design a KIDSZONE truck that will let children experience exciting worship activities. Help them come up with materials they will need for the truck. Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Make a KIDSZONE truck. Materials needed: large pieces of cardboard (like boxes or science display boards), construction paper, markers or crayons, scissors, duct tape or packing tape, glue Instructions: This activity can be done in large or small groups. Each group should design a panel on the truck. Consider asking the youth to assist with this project. They could be group leaders. Encourage students to include pictures of the Faithful Five saying scriptures or words that help them do the right thing. Students can also come up with ideas for bible video games. It is an opportunity for them to create what they would like to have in their worship experiences. When the panels are done, tape them together. Make truck tires from black construction paper and glue them to the bottom. Display the KIDSZONE truck in the classroom. (Optional: You can make this a life-size project by taping large or extra-large boxes together to form a truck.) Close the lesson with prayer. Dear God, we promise to respect our sanctuaries as special places set aside for you. In Jesus Name, Amen! Lesson 3 March 18, Chronicles 7:1-11 Let s Celebrate! Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Play Roles and Responsibilities. Cut out the flash cards in Appendix B. These are roles of various people in our church. When you show a card, read it aloud and ask students to repeat. Then select a volunteer to share the responsibilities of that person in worship. Notes on the responsibilities are listed below. Pastor - The pastor is the highest leader in the local church. The main duty of the pastor during worship is to preach the sermon. The pastor may also do other things throughout the service. Praise Teams Praise teams lead worship and praise through song, dance, drama, step or media arts 7 P a g e

8 Usher The usher helps keep order during the service and makes sure everyone s needs are met. Deaconess The deaconess assists the pastor with rituals (like baptism and communion) and sometimes the altar call. Congregation The congregation participates by singing, praying, clapping and listening to the sermon. Steward The steward receives and counts the tithes and offerings. Acolyte The acolyte assists with altar duties like carrying the processional cross, lighting altar candles or handling the altar bible. Other Ministers Other ministers assist the pastor by leading the different parts of the worship service like scripture, prayer, responsive reading and affirmation of faith. They also help with rituals. Scripture Summary After King Solomon finished his prayer for the temple he built for God, a fire came down from heaven. The glory of the Lord filled the temple so much the priests could not enter it. Solomon and the people worshiped God and offered sacrifices. Solomon alone sacrificed over 140,000 cattle, sheep and goats. The priests and Levites played their instruments to praise God. The whole community of Israel had a service to dedicate the temple and continued the celebration for seven days. Key Verse Exercise Ask students to repeat the key verse after you. Be sure to say the verse in short phrases so it is easy for students to remember and repeat. Suggested phrases are segmented below. 2 Chronicles 7:3 [The Israelites] worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 3 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 3: Cheerful Givers The Faithful Five learned about tithing in Church School. All week each of them saved one tenth of any money they received as an allowance or money they received for doing special jobs. Jahari, Mekhai and Ashanti helped some neighbors clean their yards after the storm. They earned ten dollars so they put aside one dollar for their tithe. Zakiyah got five dollars for her allowance so put aside 50 cents. Neveah s grandparents gave her 20 dollars so she put aside two dollars. The Faithful Five were very excited to march in the offering line this Sunday because they were felt good about bringing their tithes. They know God wants us to be motivated by love, not pressure, when we give. Zakiyah s mother explained that any amount of money above your tithe is called an offering so 8 P a g e

9 Zakiyah brought an extra 50 cents because she wanted to give a tithe and an offering. As they followed the directions of the ushers, the Faithful Five marched rhythmically and sang as joyfully as they could: What a might God we ser-er-erve What a mighty God we serve Angels bow before him Heaven and earth adore him What a mighty God we serve Giving really made the Faithful Five feel happy. They learned even children can support the ministry of the church. Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. What did King Solomon sacrifice as his offering? He sacrificed over 140,000 cattle, sheep and goats. How did the Levite priests praise God? They played their instruments. Why were the Faithful Five happy about today s service? They learned how children can support the ministry of the church. Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. Tell students steadfast love is love that never changes and never fails. That is the kind of love God has for us. God shows us this love through the was he provides for us. The Faithful Five want to make a list of ways to praise God for steadfast love. Write down all the things you can think of that God has provided for you to help the Faithful Five with their list. Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Make a Tithing Piggy Bank. Materials needed: Empty 8 oz. water bottle with cap (one per student), sandwich-size storage bag (one per student), various colors of self-adhesive craft foam sheets, various colors of craft foam beads, tacky glue, hole punch, scissors, markers. Instructions: Before class, use the Piggy Bank Cut Out Template in Appendix C to make a craft kit for each student. The template has all the pieces each student will need for the craft. Use the ear, eye, snout and belly wrap patterns to cut pieces from the craft foam sheets. Then use the hole punch to make four small circles. Place the pieces in the storage bag. Ensure each bag (or craft kit) has four small circles, four craft beads, two outer ears, two inner ears, two eyes, one snout and one belly wrap. Remove labels from water bottles. Give each student one water bottle and one craft kit. Allow students to decorate the belly wrap. Place the belly wrap around the middle of the bottle. (It should be in the position for the bottle label.) Stick two small circles on the snout to make nostrils. Place the snout on the bottle cap. Stick two small circles on the eyes to make pupils. Place the eyes on the slanted part of the bottle. Stick the two inner ears on the outer ears. Place the ears on each side of the bottle. Cut the money slot at the top of the bottle. Glue the craft beads to the belly-side of the bottle as feet. Allow to dry. Close the lesson with prayer. Dear God, thank you for allowing children the opportunity to be cheerful givers. In Jesus Name, Amen! 9 P a g e

10 Lesson 4 March 25, Chronicles 7:12-22 It Is Better to Obey Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Make a chart with classroom rules Ask students why rules are necessary. Then ask them to help you come up with rules for the classroom. Students may get creative with their answers. Just redirect answers that do not contribute to a positive learning environment. Scripture Summary The Lord appears to Solomon to answer his prayer about the temple and the people. God agreed to give attention to the prayers offered in the temple as long as King Solomon and the people obeyed God s rules and laws. If they chose not to obey, God would remove them from the land and allow other nations to destroy the temple. Key Verse Exercise Ask students to repeat the key verse after you. Be sure to say the verse in short phrases so it is easy for students to remember and repeat. Suggested phrases are segmented below. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people humble themselves, pray, seek my face, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin. Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 4 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 4: Neveah Prays for Her Class At 8:30 am, Neveah s class has what is called a Morning Meeting. During the Morning Meeting, all the students meet the teacher on the carpet to do three things: share their thoughts about a topic the teacher selects; learn the academic goals for the day; and play a quick game. Today the teacher asked, Why is it important to follow rules? Neveah started to call out her answer but then she remembered one of the rules for answering questions was to raise a silent hand. You could show silent enthusiasm by raising your hand with a very fast motion, but calling out was not acceptable so Neveah raised her hand. The teacher picked Neveah to share her answer. Neveah said, It is important to follow the rules because they keep us safe. That s a very good answer, the teacher replied. Does anyone else want to share their answer? No one raised their hand so the teacher called on Neveah s friend, Mia. Mia, what do you think? Mia answered, I think it is important to follow the rules because if you don t, the teacher might have to call your parents and you get in trouble and lose the chance to play with your toys or lose the chance to go somewhere fun. That s also a very good answer, the teacher replied. Let s read our classroom rules together. The class turned their attention to the chart with the rules and read them aloud. The Morning Meeting reminded Neveah of what she learned in Church School. Obeying rules has rewards. Disobeying rules 10 P a g e

11 has consequences. That night when she said her bedtime prayer, Neveah prayed that everyone in her class would choose to follow the rules. Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. What was God s answer to Solomon s prayer? God would give attention to the people s prayers as long as they followed God s rules. For whom did Neveah pray? She prayed for her class. Why is it best to obey God in all things? Obeying rules has rewards. Disobeying rules has consequences. Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. Show students an example of an acrostic using your name. Then pick one of the Faithful Five and ask them to use the letters in the name to write a prayer of thanksgiving. This can be done as a whole class assignment. Display the prayer on a flip chart or large screen. Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Make a Prayer Journal. Materials needed: Religious Cross Cutout Notepads (from Oriental Trading), markers, pencils Instructions: Allow students to decorate the cover of their notepads. Then challenge them to pray every day and draw a picture that shows what they prayed in the journal. Close the lesson with prayer. Dear God, thank you for listening to our prayers and showing us mercy when we do not follow the rules. Help us to be obedient wherever we go. In Jesus Name, Amen! 11 P a g e

12 Appendix A Suggested Questions for Interview with Elder What year were your born? Do you remember how old you were when you learned to trust God? Glue a picture of the person you interviewed here Can you talk about an experience when God provided a ram in the bush for you? What advice do you have for children who are learning how to trust God? 12 P a g e

13 Appendix C Roles and Responsibilities Flash Cards pastor praise teams usher deaconess congregation steward acolyte other ministers 13 P a g e

14 Appendix C Piggy Bank Cut Out Template snout eyes outer ear outer ear inner ear belly wrap inner ear 14 P a g e