First Look TM Curriculum for Preschoolers

Transcription

1 First Look TM Curriculum for Preschoolers We want preschoolers to take a first look at who God is and understand... God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Editor in Chief: Kathy Hill Editor: Kristen Brady Copy Editor: Dana Wilkerson Curriculum Writer: Danielle Schneller, Autumn Ward, Donna High Illustrators: Jodi Blackwell Graphic Designer: David Hill FL Creative Team: Sue Miller, Lois Pallansch, Kathy Hill, Kendra Fleming, Autumn Ward, Ashley Hiers, Donna High, Abbey Carr, Danielle Schneller Chief Executive Officer: Reggie Joiner Chief Operating Officer: Reggie Goodin Executive Director: Sue Miller Technical and Web Support: Hadley Brandt Partner Support: Deb Springer Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other nonsubscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws First Look. All rights reserved. STATEMENT OF FAITH USER AGREEMENT The rethink Group, Inc. gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor First Look TM materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we ve expressed in our Statement of Faith. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 1

2 January 5, 2014 Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Is anything too hard for Jesus? Bottom Line: Jesus can do anything. Memory Verse: With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, NIV Bible Story: Jesus can do things we can t. Catching Fish Luke 5:1-11 Here s an overview of what you ll be teaching in 3s 5s this week. Make It Fun (Choose one or all of these activities.) Caught You! Let s Go Fishing Goin Fishin Make It True Worship Introductory Sketch Bible Story Make It Stick (Choose as many of these activities as you like.) Memory Verse with Motions Fishing Buddy Tissue Paper Fish Catch that Fish! Nets Full of Fish Make It Real Small Group Time Prayer Dismiss Parent CUE Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 2

3 January 5, 2014 Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Is anything too hard for Jesus? Bottom Line: Jesus can do anything. Memory Verse: With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, NIV Bible Story: Jesus can do things we can t. Catching Fish Luke 5:1-11 Make It Fun (Introductory Activities, 10 minutes) Prepare to offer one or more of the following activities as your 3-, 4-, or 5-year-olds arrive. Let one or two teachers lead activities in different areas of the room while another teacher greets parents and kids at the door. 1. Caught You! Caught You! is an activity that stimulates the imagination and encourages large motor movement while introducing the children to words and ideas found in today s Bible story. What You Need: Masking tape or colorful painters tape, a CD or MP3 player, and the song Under the Sea from the movie The Little Mermaid. What You Do: Before the activity: Make a large circle on the floor with tape. During the activity: You and the children will pretend to be fish as you play a version of tag. Play the song Under the Sea, and encourage the children to pretend to be fish. Show them how to swim like little fish all around the room. When the game starts you will be It. As you tag a little fish it must go into the net, which is the large circle on the floor. After all the little fish have been caught in the net, empty the net and let them swim away. (Note: Make sure you use the words fish, caught, and net as much as possible.) What You Say: Before the activity: Raise your hand if you like fish. (Pause.) Me, too! Well, guess what! Today you get to pretend to be fish! You will be the fish and I will be the fisherman. If I tag you that means you re caught and you have to go into my net. (Point to circle on floor.) Once I catch all you little fish, I ll empty my net and we can play again! During the activity: Swim, little fish! I m going to catch you! I caught one! Into my net you go, little fish! Yay! I caught another fish. Go into my net! Looks like I caught all the Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 3

4 little fish. I m going to empty my net now. Swim away, little fish. Swim away! (Continue as long as there s interest.) At the end of the activity: That was fun! But we re not done. No way! There s more fishing in our Bible story today! Peter is a real fisherman and Jesus helps him catch A LOT of fish! It s such a GREAT story and I can t wait for you to hear all about it! 2. Let s Go Fishing Let s Go Fishing is an activity that using fine motor skills and concentration while introducing today s Bible story. What You Need: Large plastic tub for every 3-4 children, water, small foam fish or fish bathtub toys, small nets with handles, and towels. What You Do: Before the activity: Fill each tub halfway with water. Place the tub on a towel and place the fish into each of the tubs. During the activity: Assign a tub to 3-4 children. Give each child a net and allow children to catch the fish with the nets. (Repeat as many times as desired.) At the end of the activity: Empty the water from the tubs immediately and soak up any water that may have splashed out with the towels. Never leave children unattended around water. What You Say: Before the activity: Let s go fishing! There are fish swimming in our tubs. Can you see them? (Pause.) I have some nets that we can use to see who can catch the most fish! Are you ready? (Pause.) During the activity: Use your nets to catch the fish. Great job! When you catch a fish, take it out of your net and place it back into the water so it can swim again. How many times do you think you can catch that fish? (Pause.) Maybe so! Let s get our nets ready so we can find out! (Repeat as many times as desired.) At the end of the activity: You are all such great fisherman! Today we are going to hear an AMAZING story about catching fish. Are you ready to hear a TRUE a story from the Bible? (Pause.) Me, too! I can t wait to hear what happens with the fish! 3. Goin Fishin Goin Fishin is an activity that uses fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, color identification, and counting to introduce key concepts found in today s Bible story. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 4

5 What You Need: Paper Fish from the Activity Pages on the Website, cardstock in a variety of bright colors, blue butcher paper, masking tape, scissors, paper clips, a few dowel rods, string, and a magnet for each dowel rod. (Note: The number of fishing poles you make will be determined by the number of children you want to participate at the same time.) What You Do: Before the activity: Make several copies of Paper Fish from the Activity Pages on different colors of cardstock. Cut out the fish and place a paper clip at the mouth of each one. Then tie a piece of string to the end of each dowel rod and tie a magnet to the end of each string; these will be your fishing poles. During the activity: Tape the blue butcher paper securely to the floor and scatter your fish cutouts on top of it. Give the children a fishing pole to go fishing with and show them how to touch the end of their string, where the magnet is, to the mouth of the fish, where the paper clip is. The two will stick together and they can catch a fish! What You Say: Before the activity: How many of you have ever gone fishing? (Pause.) Fishing is fun! Today we re going to go fishing right here in our room! Let me show you how this works. Watch what happens when I put the end of my string right on that little clip at the fish s mouth. Ta-da! I caught a fish! Now you try! (Continue as long as there s interest.) At the end of the activity: You caught a lot of fish today! You caught red ones and (help the children can identify the colors) blue ones and (pause) green ones and (pause) yellow ones (keep going until you identify all the different colors of fish). Let s count and see how many we have. One, two, three (count the fish out loud together). See? I told you, you caught A LOT of fish! Our Bible story today is about a fisherman named Peter. He didn t catch a lot of fish at first, but then Jesus showed up! Jesus helped Peter catch a WHOLE lot of fish! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 5

6 January 5, 2014 Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Is anything too hard for Jesus? Bottom Line: Jesus can do anything. Memory Verse: With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, NIV Bible Story: Jesus can do things we can t. Catching Fish Luke 5:1-11 Make It True (Large Group, 15 minutes) After children have participated in Make It Fun, gather them for a large group time that includes interactive worship, introductory sketch and Bible story. A Worship Leader and live instruments are recommended to sing along with the music tracks. Encourage children to be active during worship by incorporating the appropriate hand motions. Choose an adult or teenager who relates well to preschoolers to tell the Introductory Sketch. If possible, use the same person for an entire month as the Host role stays the same each month. Choose an engaging adult to tell the Bible story. This person should be able to command the attention of preschoolers and control the group through animated storytelling. These scripts are written to be told and not read. Advanced preparation is necessary. Worship For additional worship resources to equip your worship leaders and worship team, visit What You Need: Paperclip Memory Verse Card from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website in your Bible at Matthew 19:26. You will also need a CD player and this month s worship song, He Can Do (Anything), which you will need to download from the Website. You will also need Jesus Can Do Anything, available at WORSHIP LEADER: Hi, friends! How is everybody? (Pause.) I m so excited to be here with you today! Do you know what s special about today? (Allow a few children to guess.) Those are all GREAT guesses, but there s something else that makes today really special! Today is the beginning of a new month and you know what that means! It s time for a new Bottom Line, a new Memory Verse, and LOTS of great stories to go along with them! I LOVE the start of a new month! So let s go ahead and jump right in! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 6

7 This month s Bottom Line reminds us that [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. Isn t that so cool? Can you name some things that you think only Jesus can do? (Allow the children to name a few things.) Wow! Those are some pretty great things that only Jesus can do! So then is anything too hard for Jesus? (Pause.) No way! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! Say that with me! WORSHIP LEADER and CHILDREN: [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. WORSHIP LEADER: You got it! I have a song for us to sing that talks all about that. Are you ready to sing with me? (Pause.) Great! Hop on up and let s get started! Lead children in singing He Can Do (Anything). WORSHIP LEADER: Awesome singing, guys! Let s see. (Tap your head like you re thinking.) We ve heard our new Bottom Line. What was it again? (Pause.) Oh yeah, [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. Now we need to see what our new Memory Verse is. Do you know what it is? (Pause.) You don t? Well how are we gonna learn it if you don t know? (Allow children to answer.) I know! (Pretend to have a light bulb moment.) I can teach you! It goes like this: With God, all things are possible, Matthew 19:26. Can you say that with me? (Pause.) Repeat after me! CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: With (hug yourself with your arms) God (point up), all (spread your arms out in a moving circle in front of your body) things (lay right hand in the palm of your left hand) are possible (two thumbs up), Matthew 19:26. (Repeat a few times.) WORHSIP LEADER: Good! So are some things possible or ALL things possible? (Pause.) Yes, ALL things are possible. Do you know who gave us Jesus? (Pause.) Yes! God did! Jesus is God s Son and with His help [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything and with God all things are possible! Pretty amazing, isn t it? Are you ready to sing another song with me? (Pause.) Great! This one will help us remember that [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. The words are: He gave sight to the blind. (Pointer fingers to eyes.) Calmed the storm with His own hand. (Both hands out in stop motion.) Fed a big crowd with (act like you re dealing cards) just two fish. (Right hand out with 2 fingers.) So I believe He can do (both thumbs pointing at chest) anything? (Hands by shoulders and shrug.) Anything! (Pump fist.) Let s do those motions a few times together before we get started. (Review the words and motions a few times.) Are you ready? (Pause.) You look ready! Let s go! Lead children in singing Jesus Can Do Anything. WORSHIP LEADER: That was awesome! Who can do anything? (Pause.) Yes, [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! Is anything too hard for Jesus? (Pause.) No way! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! Thanks for singing with me today! Let s get ready for our Bible story so we can hear an AMAZING story about how Jesus Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 7

8 helped a fisherman catch a LOT of fish! I can t wait to hear all about it! Someone save me a seat; I don t want to miss a second of this one! Worship Leader exits. Introductory Sketch First Look offers weekly introductory sketches on the DVD titled Wonder, Look at God s Story. This DVD is available for purchase at the rethink store on our Web site. What You Need: Kid-sized fishing pole, silly winter hat with flaps on sides, winter coat, gloves, and a small stool. HOST: (Sit on stool and mess with fishing pole.) Hey there, friends! How are you? I bet you are wondering why I m wearing all my winter stuff inside and why I have this fishing pole, aren t you?! (Pause.) I just love these cute fishing poles. I just got back from my grandma s house at the lake. It was SO cold! I thought I was going to freeze into an icicle! (Stand and pretend to be an icicle.) Thankfully, I didn t freeze into one. We definitely couldn t go swimming, though, because it was FREEZING outside! It was so freezing that there was ice over the whole lake! But do you know what we did get to do that was soooo COOL? (Pause.) We got to watch my uncle walk out on the ice with this HUGE saw and cut a BIG hole in the ice! Can you believe it?! And guess what he did next. (Pause.) He went fishing through the ice! He even caught a little fish! Pretty cool, huh? I think my uncle could do just about anything. He s the coolest! Hey, you know, today s Bible story is about Jesus and how He went fishing, too. (Get really excited.) Oh man, this is an amazing true story! You guys get your best listening ears ready, and I ll see you next time. Bye, friends! Host exits. Bible Story First Look offers weekly Bible story on our DVD titled Wonder, Look at God s Story, which you may choose to use rather than a live Storyteller this week. This DVD is available for purchase at the rethink store on our Web site. What You Need: Bible, inflatable raft, fishing net, and tons of fish for inside the net (paper, plastic, or stuffed). STORYTELLER: Hello, friends! How are you? (Pause.) We re going to hear a true story from the Bible about when Jesus went fishing. Are you guys ready? If you re ready, wiggle your fingers like you re splashing the water. (Wiggle fingers.) Great! Here we go! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 8

9 Today s Bible story starts with Jesus teaching by the water in front of a large crowd. But as He was teaching, more people came and then more people came and then MORE people came! So many people came that Jesus had no space to teach! So He said to some fishermen nearby, Hey, guys, can I get in your boat with you? Sure, they said! So Jesus finished teaching from the boat and then he turned to Peter, one of the fishermen, and said, Let s go fishing! Have you ever been fishing? (Pause.) It s really fun! What s your favorite fish? (Pause.) A goldfish? A starfish? Maybe a clown fish? (Allow a few children to answer before you continue.) I love fishing! And so did Peter the fisherman, but he had been out fishing all night long and hadn t caught one single fish. So Peter did not think Jesus could do it either. But we know that [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! So Peter took his BIG fishing net. Can you pretend to grab your fishing net? (Pretend to grab a fishing net.) Whoa, mine is heavy. Is yours heavy? (Pause.) And then he THREW it out in the water. Let s throw our nets. Ready? One, two, three, THROW! (Pretend to throw a big net out of the boat.) Do you think any fish are going to come? (Pause.) You do? Okay, you tell me when you see some fish. (Put your hand over your eyes like you re looking in the water for fish.) You re right, there they are! (Point like you see fish.) The fish started to jump into Peter s net! Not one fish or two fish, but lots and lots and LOTS of fish! Peter didn t think Jesus could do it, but He did! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! That s right! Is anything too hard for Jesus? (Pause.) NO! That s because [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. Can you say that with me? Is anything too hard for Jesus? CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: No way! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! STORYTELLER: You guys are awesome! Let s pray. Dear God, you are SO amazing! Help us to remember that nothing is too hard for Jesus. He can do anything! We love You, God! Thanks so much for coming and listening to this super important Bible story. We ll see you next time, friends! Bye. Storyteller exits. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 9

10 January 5, 2014 Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Is anything too hard for Jesus? Bottom Line: Jesus can do anything. Memory Verse: With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, NIV Bible Story: Jesus can do things we can t. Catching Fish Luke 5:1-11 Make It Stick (Application Activities, 35 minutes) These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand and remember today s Bible story and Bottom Line. Offer as many of the following activities as your time, facilities, resources, and leadership allow. You may want to lead one activity at a time. Or offer two activities at once and allow half the kids to participate in each, then switch groups and repeat the activities. 1. Memory Verse with Motions Memory Verse Chant with Motions is an activity that uses movement and repetition to allow the children to memorize this month s memory verse. What You Need: Nothing needed What You Do: During the activity: Teach the children the following Memory Verse and the motions. With (hug yourself with your arms) God (point up), all (spread your arms out in a moving circle in front of your body) things (lay right hand in the palm of your left hand) are possible (two thumbs up), Matthew 19:26. (Open hands like a book.) (Repeat as many times as desired.) What You Say: Before the activity: Our Memory Verse this month tells us that God can do ANYTHING! He can do things that we can t do. Let s all stand up and practice our Memory Verse together. During the activity: First I will say the verse and show you the motions. Everyone watch super close so that we can do it together. With (hug yourself with your arms) God (point up), all (spread your arms out in a moving circle in front of your body) things (lay right hand in the palm of your left hand) are possible (two thumbs up), Matthew 19:26. (Open hands like a book.) Okay, are you ready to give it a try? (Pause.) Here we go! With (hug yourself with your arms) God (point up), all (spread your arms out in a moving circle in front of your body) things (lay right hand in the palm of your left hand) are possible (two thumbs up), Matthew 19:26. (Open hands like a book.) Nice job! Let s try it again! (Repeat as many times as desired.) Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 10

11 At the end of the activity: That was awesome! In our Bible story today, Peter had been fishing all night long and had not caught any fish, but with Jesus, he had more than the net could hold! Is anything too hard for Jesus? (Pause.) No! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. 2. Fishing Buddy Fishing Buddy is an activity that uses fine motor and listening skills to review today s Bible story. What You Need: Peter and Jesus and Jesus from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, scissors, crayons, glue sticks, one smiley face sticker per child, one sad face sticker per child and sheets of small fish stickers. What You Do: Before the activity: Make a copy of Peter and Jesus on white cardstock for each child and enough copies of Jesus on white cardstock so each child can have one. When all of the copies have been made cut out the Jesus pictures. During the activity: As you review the Bible story, the children will do the following things in the order as listed: 1. Place a sad face sticker next to the Peter on the left. 2. Glue a Jesus picture next to the Peter on the right. 3. Add fish stickers to the net in the picture on the right. 4. Place a smiley face sticker next to the Peter on the right. 5. Color the rest of both pictures. What You Say: During the activity: Today s Bible story had two people in it. Do you remember who they were? (Pause.) Yes! Peter and Jesus! Look at this picture. (Give each child a Peter and Jesus Activity Page.) This is Peter (point to man on the left) and this is Peter. (Point to the man on right.) They are both Peter. Now in the beginning of our story Peter was sad. Do you remember why he was sad? (Pause.) He couldn t catch any fish. Peter was a fisherman and it made him sad when he couldn t catch any fish. Let s put a sad face sticker next to this Peter (point to the Peter on the left side) since he was sad he couldn t catch any fish. Did Peter stay sad in our story? (Pause.) No! Jesus got in the boat with Peter and did something only He could do. (Give each child a Jesus cutout.) Let s glue this picture of Jesus in the boat with Peter over here. (Point to the Peter on the right side.) What amazing thing happened when Jesus got into the boat with Peter? (Pause.) Peter s net started filling up with fish! Peter was SO happy! I have some fish stickers you can put in this net (point to the net on the right side of the page) and then we can put a smiley face sticker next to Peter because now he s happy! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 11

12 At the end of the activity: Jesus did something for Peter that only He can do. He filled Peter s net with so many fish Peter could barely pull it in! But that wasn t too hard for Jesus to do, was it? (Pause.) No way! Is anything too hard for Jesus? [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! 3. Tissue Paper Fish Tissue Paper Fish is a fine motor skills activity that uses concentration and creativity to create a project that can be taken home to retell today s Bible story. What You Need: Fish from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, different colors of tissue paper, glue sticks, and scissors What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Fish from the Activity Pages onto white cardstock for each child. Then cut or tear the tissue paper into 6x8-inch pieces. During the activity: Give each child an Activity Page and a piece of each color of tissue paper. Instruct the children to tear the tissue paper into small pieces. As they finish tearing the tissue, guide them to use the glue sticks to spread glue all over the fish. Once they ve finished, allow them to place their tissue pieces any way they wish to design their own fish. What You Say: Before the activity: God made many different kinds of fish in the sea. Let s make our own fish! We can make a beautiful fish and take it home and tell our families about how Jesus helped a man catch LOTS of fish in our story today! During the activity: Here is your fish. (Hand out the Fish Activity Page.) We have different colors of paper that you can use to decorate your fish. This paper is way too big to glue on our fish. (Hold up piece of tissue paper.) So we will need to tear it in small pieces like this. (Demonstrate.) You can tear as many pieces as you would like in all different colors. When you are ready, use your glue stick to glue the tissue paper to your fish and make your fish look any way that you would like! At the end of the activity: WOW! Look at all of the different kinds of fish that we have created! Nice job! You can take your fish home and tell your family about today s Bible story. You can tell them that Jesus helped Peter catch many, many fish when he didn t think that he could. Is anything too hard for Jesus? Nope! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! 4. Catch the Fish! Catch the Fish is an activity that uses large motor, listening, and social skills to review today s Bible story and Bottom Line. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 12

13 What You Need: Small toy parachute and a small plush or plastic toy fish What You Do: Before the activity: Attach the fish to the parachute. During the activity: Gather the children in the middle of the room. Tell them you are going to throw the fish up in the air and it will parachute back down. You will call out a child s name, and that person should try and catch the fish. Continue as long as there s interest. What You Say: Before the activity: Who can tell me what this is? (Point to fish.) Yes, sir! This is a fish. And what is this tied to the fish? (Pause.) Right again! It s a parachute. A parachute helps things float down slowly. I m going to throw our little fish friend up in the air and then I ll call out someone s name. That person will then try and catch the fish. Got it? Are you ready to catch some fish? (Pause.) Okay, here we go! During the activity: (Name of child), catch the fish! (Repeat each time you throw the fish up.) At the end of the activity: You did a great job catching our little fish. I know another person who does a SUPER FANTASTIC job at catching fish. Do you know who it is? (Pause.) Jesus! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! Nothing is too hard for Him! Right? Is anything too hard for Jesus? (Pause.) NO WAY! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! 5. Nets Full of Fish Nets Full of Fish is a fine motor skills activity that uses concentration to reinforce the concepts found in today s Bible story. What You Need: Nets of Fish from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, crayons, and fish stickers or small foam fish with adhesive backs What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Nets of Fish from the Activity Pages onto the white cardstock for each child. During the activity: Hand out Activity Pages and allow children to color the picture. When finished, help the children place the stickers or the foam fish in the net on the picture. What You Say: Before the activity: Today in our story Peter had empty nets when he went fishing. His nets looked just like the nets in our picture. (Point to the empty net on the Activity Page.) Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 13

14 Then Jesus helped him, and he caught many, many fish! Let s use these stickers to show how many fish Jesus helped Peter catch! During the activity: First, let s use our crayons and color the picture. (Allow children to color.) Nice job! (Give each child the fish stickers or foam fish.) Now use the stickers to fill up the nets on your picture, just like Jesus filled the fishermen s nets. At the end of the activity: Wow! Look at all of the fish! I bet Peter was surprised and super happy when he saw all of those fish! I bet he was really amazed! Is anything too hard for Jesus? (Pause.) No! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 14

15 January 5, 2014 Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Is anything too hard for Jesus? Bottom Line: Jesus can do anything. Memory Verse: With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, NIV Bible Story: Jesus can do things we can t. Catching Fish Luke 5:1-11 Make It Real (Small Groups, 5 minutes) Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. They ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer requests. Divide kids into small groups of about five to eight children with each leader. Ideally, assign the same small group leader to the same group of preschoolers for the entire year. Small Group Time What you Need: Paperclip Memory Verse Card from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website in your Bible at Matthew 19:26. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): Wow! What a story! Can you imagine going fishing all day and not catching anything? I mean, not one little, itty, bitty fish! But then Jesus gets in the boat and you catch so many fish you can hardly pull your net in! THAT is amazing! And it really happened to Peter! True story! Peter couldn t catch the fish, but Jesus could. Jesus can do all kinds of things we can t. Is anything too hard for Jesus? CHILDREN and SGL: No! [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything! SGL: Jesus can heal people when they are sick. I can t do that. Can you? (Pause.) He can make it rain or stop raining. I can t do that. Can you? (Pause.) Do you want to know what my favorite thing is that Jesus does? (Pause.) Jesus loves me no matter what. It s true! And He loves you, too! That s why He wants to be your friend forever. Yes, Jesus wants to be your friend forever. Say that with me. CHILDREN and SGL: [Basic Truth] Jesus wants to be my friend forever. SGL: Good job! Now who s ready to start learning our new Memory Verse? (Pause.) Listen while I say the verse and do the motions and then we can do it together. With (hug yourself with your arms) God (point up), all (spread your arms out in a moving Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 15

16 circle in front of your body) things (lay right hand in the palm of your left hand) are possible (two thumbs up), Matthew 19:26. (Open hands like a book.) Say that with me. CHILDREN and SGL: With (hug yourself with your arms) God (point up), all (spread your arms out in a moving circle in front of your body) things (lay right hand in the palm of your left hand) are possible (two thumbs up), Matthew 19:26. (Open hands like a book.) (Repeat several times.) SGL: We ll practice that verse every week and I ll have a sticker/hand stamp waiting for you when you learn it. Okay, it s time to pray. Today let s make a list, in our journal, of things Jesus can do that we can t. When we pray we can tell Jesus how amazing He is! Write down the children s names and what they say in your journal. Remember to print the words so they can recognize their names and letters. Mention their list when you pray together. Prayer SGL: God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our friend forever. He is SO wonderful! We know He can do LOTS of things that we can t. He can (read the list the children made). We could never do those things, but He can! We know He can because Jesus is Your Son and with YOU all things are possible. We love You, God. In Jesus name, amen. Get Ready to Dismiss Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Greet parents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. Have this month s Parent CUE available for parents to pick up or send it in a monthly . Encourage parents to use the activities found in Parent CUE to reinforce this month s Bottom Line: [Bottom Line] Jesus can do anything. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. 16