They learn primarily by exploring their world using all their senses. September 4, 2016 They may not have any tangible experiences with oceans. Ocean Sunday Job 38:1 18 Let s pretend we are swimmers in the ocean I wonder what we will see? Swimmer, swimmer, what can you see? I see some fish swimming with me. (Make swimming motions with hands together.) Swimmer, swimmer, what can you see? I see seaweed swimming with me. (Make flowing motions with arms and hands.) Who s in the Ocean? Swimmer, swimmer, what can you see? I see a crab swimming with me. (Make swimming motions.) Swimmer, swimmer, what can you see? I see an ocean made for all God s creatures and me. Swimmer, swimmer, what do you say? Thank you, God, for this beautiful day. Poster Invite children to share their own stories about times that they have been to the seaside. Look again at the illustration of Ocean on the poster Storytelling Resources #1 and help children to name some things that they might see in or beside an ocean. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 6. q Wave bottles Have the children hold the funnel as you add the water to the bottles. 1
They are beginning to classify and compare things. September 11, 2016 They have a great curiosity about the world around them, often asking Why? Fauna and Flora Sunday Psalm 104:14 23 Today we are going on an imaginary adventure. We will need some very special glasses for our adventure. (Show children how to hold their hands in circles around their eyes.) OK, let s start looking for some things that God made! (Begin to lead the children around the meeting space, pausing from time to time.) I see something flying I wonder what it is? (Encourage children to guess the word bird and make some bird sounds.) God made the birds. Oh, look! I see tiny little bugs can you see them? (Invite What Do You See? children to bend down and pretend to see some bugs.) God made tiny bugs. Shh what is that sound? Let s sit very quietly. What animals can we see? (Invite children to name some animals they might see and make those animal sounds.) There are so many different animals in our world. What else can we see? Can anyone see any flowers or plants? What colour are they? How big are they? (Encourage responses.) We saw a lot of things with our special glasses. There are so many living things in God s beautiful world. Thank you, God! Singing game Sing the song, pausing after each verse for children to find the item in the magazine pictures. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 12. q Game Help children think of ways to care for creation. q Suncatcher Partially prepare one for each child, leaving a bit of sticky surface for them to add a few items. 2
They need adults nearby for emotional security. September 18, 2016 They need to be told about the unknown and what causes things. Storm Sunday Psalm 29 It was playtime at pre-school and all the boys and girls were outside. Some were running. Some were swinging. Some were bouncing balls. There were clouds in the sky. (Wave the white streamers.) There were more and more clouds and the wind began to blow. (Wave all the streamers.) Come inside, said the teacher, I think a storm is coming. Soon there were some raindrops. (Wave the blue streamers.) Stormy Weather All Around That was some thunder and lightning, said the teacher. (Wave the yellow streamers.) Don t worry. We are safe inside. The children and the teacher watched and listened to the storm outside. They saw the big clouds. (Wave the white streamers.) They saw the rain falling. (Wave the blue streamers.) They saw the lightning flash. (Wave the yellow streamers.) They saw the trees blowing in the wind. (Wave all the streamers.) Soon the storm was over and the sun came out again. (Wave the yellow streamers.) Then there was a big, scary noise. BANG! CRASH! Let s go back outside and play, said the teacher. Song Pause after each line for children to imitate the actions. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 18. q Storm hats Provide self-adhesive materials for decorations. q Rain sticks Make a sample. q Mobile Make a group mobile together. 3
They like chants and probably know Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. September 25, 2016 They are concrete thinkers and unable to grasp the idea of a cosmos. Cosmos Sunday Proverbs 8:22 31 A adapt supplemental sessions for resource groups to adapt consisting sessions mostly for groups of consisting mostly of It was very quiet. The sun had set and it was getting dark. David and Julie were waiting for their mother and father. They were so excited! They were going to go for a walk to look at the night sky. It s so beautiful! said Julie. Look at all the stars! Do you think you can count them all? asked her mother. No way! said Julie. The Night Sky David looked first. All the stars look so big and bright! he said. There are so many things we can see in the night sky, their mother said. There is the moon and all the stars, and the planets and galaxies. Their father said, There is a special name for all these things: the cosmos. The sun and earth are part of the cosmos too. The cosmos is filled with beautiful and mysterious things. We are so lucky to see some of them with our telescope. Then their father got the telescope ready. (Explain what a telescope is.) Suddenly David and Julie both yawned. Time for home and bed I think! said their father. Game Catch a Falling Star Just use one balloon to bounce around the whole group. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 24. q Space-scopes Help children assemble these. q Shiny stars Prepare a star shape for each child to fill. q Star plates Prepare a starburst shape for each child to decorate. 4
They recognize being part of a family. October 2, 2016 Tips They are beginning to understand relationships between generations. Living Love Letter 2 Timothy 1:1 14 A adapt supplemental sessions for resource groups to adapt consisting sessions mostly for of groups consisting mostly of (Show the Woman figure from the Storytelling Resources #2 poster.) This is Lois. She lived a long time ago. She knew stories about Jesus and she wanted to share these with her daughter whose name was Eunice. Once upon a time, Lois would say, there was a man named Jesus who taught people about God s love. Jesus cared about hungry people, and poor people, and lonely people. Sometimes, Jesus healed people who were sick. And Jesus told everyone, God loves you! Lots of people listened to Jesus and became his disciples. Then Lois would say to Eunice, You can be a disciple, too! Like Jesus, you can live in God s way! Telling Jesus Story (based on 2 Timothy 1:1 14) Eunice became a disciple just like her mother, Lois. Soon Eunice had a child named Timothy and she told him stories about Jesus and God s love. Eunice would hug Timothy and say, You can be a disciple, too! Like Jesus, you can live in God s way! Sure enough, Timothy became a disciple of Jesus, and told others about God s love, just like his grandmother, Lois and his mother Eunice. From Lois to Eunice to Timothy right down to me, and you, and you, and you (point to each child in turn). We are all disciples! We can show God s love to everyone! Invite children to imagine that they are painting a picture of their families. Who would be included? (Encourage each child to name the people in their families.) Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 30. q Puppets Prepare puppet faces ahead of time for children to decorate. 5
They have a strong desire to please. They enjoy dramatic play. October 9, 2016 Reoriented toward Gratitude Luke 17:11 19 A adapt supplemental sessions for resource groups to adapt consisting sessions mostly for of groups consisting mostly of (Hold up your ten gloved people and face them towards the children. Wiggle your fingers during the story to show movement of the characters.) One day, ten very sick people were sitting by the side of the road. They were lonely. They couldn t be with their families because they had a skin disease, and others were afraid of getting the disease too. While they were talking to each other, they noticed Jesus and his friends coming down the road. Look! said one. Jesus has helped other people. Maybe Jesus will help us. Let s call out to him. And so, all together, the ten people cried out, Jesus! Please help us! Jesus Heals (based on Luke 17:11 19) Jesus stopped and listened. Do you think that Jesus would help them? (Pause for responses.) Yes, he did! Jesus walked right up to the sick people, smiled, and said, You will get better. Go and show yourselves to the priest. The ten sick people turned around to do what Jesus said. They looked down at their hands and feet. Something amazing had happened! Their sores had disappeared! (Remove the gloves to reveal the unscarred happy faces.) They jumped up and danced and danced! Praise God! they shouted. Then they quickly ran off to tell the priest so that everyone would know that they have been healed. One of the people (hold up a thumb and conceal the others) ran back to find Jesus. He knelt down in front of Jesus. Thank you! Thank you! he said. Sing God We Thank You. Sing one line of the song at a time, pausing for children to echo each line. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 36. q Hand people Retell the story above, asking children to hold up the sad faces during the first part of the story, and the happy faces after the healing. q Dancing figures Prepare figures for children to decorate. 6
They are becoming more persistent in completing a difficult task. October 16, 2016 They often insist on doing things themselves and often ask questions to which they already know the answers. A Voice for Justice Luke 18:1 8 consisting mostly of of (Have the figures Woman and Figure #3 from the poster Storytelling Resources #2 nearby. Show them at the appropriate times in the story. Before beginning the story, have the children practice the knocking sequence and saying the phrase, I will keep on trying! ) One day, Jesus told this story The Woman and the Judge (based on Luke 18:1 8) Still no answer. So the woman called out, Come out, come out, please listen to me! I need your help, Judge. Can t you see? The busy judge did not want to listen to the woman because she wasn t very important. (Show Figure #3.) Go away! he said. Can t you see? Your problem s not important to me. Once there was a poor woman who lived all alone. (Show Woman.) Since her husband had died, she had found it hard to earn enough money to buy food. One day someone took some of her money and she wanted her money back! The woman thought about what she should do. Then she prayed to God. Finally she decided to go to the judge. She knocked on his door. Knock, knock, knock. (Children knock on floor.) No answer. But the woman kept on trying. She went back to the judge s house three times and knocked on his door. (Children knock on floor.) Come out, come out, please listen to me! I need your help, Judge. Can t you see? Finally the judge opened his door to the woman. He said, You didn t give up. You tried and tried. OK, I ll take your side! The woman said a grateful prayer: Thank you, God, you helped me to be strong. You gave me the courage to keep on trying. Knock, knock, knock. (Children knock on floor.) Sing God Wants Us to Try. Sing one line of the song at a time, pausing for children to echo each line. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 42. q Story puppets Prepare the storytelling puppets for the children to decorate. q Mini prayer posters Help children choose images by finding out what they are grateful for. October 27, 2013 7
They are learning to listen to others and understand conversations. October 23, 2016 They are beginning to learn tolerance for differences. Dance of Pride and Humility Luke 18:9 14 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (based on Luke 18:9 14) (Practice the refrain: God listens to everyone. Encourage children to hold out their arms as if including everyone each time they say the refrain. Have Figure #2 (Tax Collector) and Figure #3 (Pharisee) from the poster Storytelling Resources #2 nearby.) One day, Jesus told this story It was a busy day at the temple. Men, women, and children from all over Jerusalem were there. The temple was like a church in Jesus time. It was a place to meet with friends, learn about God, and especially it was a place to pray. And when someone prays, God listens. Children: God listens to everyone. #2) who gathered money from the people of Jerusalem and gave it to the people in charge. The religious leader stood up tall and straight and began to pray about himself. Thank you, God, that I am special. I give food to the hungry. I give money to the temple. I visit the sick. I obey all the rules. And I pray a lot! God listened to the leader s prayer. Children: God listens to everyone. The tax collector stood a little way off and quietly bowed his head. He wouldn t even look up. Please, God, be kind to me. Help me to live your way. I need your love. God listened to the tax collector s prayer. Children: God listens to everyone. Two people went to the temple to pray that day. One person was a Pharisee, a religious leader in the temple (show Figure #3). The other was a tax collector (show Figure Jesus was sorry that the Pharisee didn t know how much God loves and cares for everyone. Jesus was glad that the tax collector knew he could ask God for help to live in God s way. Sing Talking to God. Sing one line of the song at a time, pausing for children to echo each line. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 48. q Prayer mats Give children a copy of the song Talking to God to take home. q Prayer mobiles Help children choose their pictures. November 3, 2013 8
They have a great curiosity about the world and people. October 30, 2016 They are beginning to develop real friendships with other children. Salvation for All Luke 19:1 10 (Cover a chair with a green cloth and encourage children to imagine that it is a tree. Place a rolled piece of tape on the back of Figure #1 [Zacchaeus] from the poster Storytelling Resources #2 and then hold him so the children can see him. Jesus will appear later.) Zacchaeus was a rich tax collector who gathered money from the people of Jericho and gave it to the rulers. People didn t like Zacchaeus because of his job. No one ever wanted to go to his house. One day, Jesus came to Jericho where Zacchaeus lived. There was a big crowd and Zacchaeus was so short that he couldn t see over all the people. He scrambled up a big tree and sat on a branch. (Stick Figure #1 on the tree. ) Jesus walked slowly along the road. Then he stopped under the tree. (Hold the figure of Jesus at the bottom of Zacchaeus Meets Jesus (based on Luke 19:1 10) the tree. ) Jesus looked up and said, Zacchaeus, come down. I m coming to your house for dinner. Zacchaeus couldn t believe what he was hearing. He scrambled down the tree. (Place Zacchaeus beside Jesus.) People started to grumble. How come Jesus chose Zacchaeus? He collects too much tax money. He always seems to get richer while we get poorer. Zacchaeus heard the people and thought about what they said. Zacchaeus said, Jesus, I want to do the right thing. If I cheated anyone I will give back much more money. I want to share the money that I have with others. Jesus replied, You are a good friend, Zacchaeus. You are learning about living in God s way. Many people in the crowd watched how Jesus became Zacchaeus friend. Maybe it was time for them to be friends with Zacchaeus too! Snack Share the food together after the prayer. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 54. q Activity sheet Prepare the pictures ahead of time for children to decorate; provide a copy of the story above to take home. q Welcome banners Prepare the materials ahead of time and make a sample. 9
They are often full of wonder as they learn about the world around them. They have many questions. November 6, 2016 God Is Near to All Psalm 145:1 5, 17 21 (Distribute the items mentioned in the poem and invite children to hold these up as they are mentioned. Say the bolded sentence phrase by phrase, inviting children to repeat the words after you.) In the morning I open up my eyes, I stretch my arms and legs, and I say, Every day in every way, I love you, God! I button my buttons, zip up my zippers, put on my socks and shoes. I wash my face and brush my teeth, and then I say, Every day in every way, I love you, God! Praise God Every Day! (based on Psalm 145:1 5, 17 21) Just before I eat my food, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I bow my head and say, Every day in every way, I love you, God! I like to play with all my toys. I like to play with other girls and boys. We run and jump and laugh and play, and when we stop to rest, we say, Every day in every way, I love you, God! The sun has set, and I climb into my bed. When my bedtime prayers are said, I say, Every day in every way, I love you, God! Bubble blowing or Chant Praise God every day! Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 60. q Activity sheet Prepare booklets by gluing on shapes and sentence strips; invite children to colour and decorate booklets. q Tambourines Prepare plates ahead of time; make a sample. 10
They are beginning to understand waiting turns and sharing. November 13, 2016 They love dramatic play and using their imaginations. Joy Begins Now Isaiah 65:17 25 turned the other way.) (Give each child sad-to-glad face. Demonstrate how the face looks sad when held one way, and happy when Long ago there was a prophet named Isaiah. God would speak to Isaiah and then Isaiah would tell the people what God had said. At that time many people were very sad. So many things were broken or destroyed. Their homes had to be built again. Their gardens had to be planted again. And many people stopped caring for each other. (Encourage children to hold up the face showing how the people felt.) Isaiah wanted to people to feel better. I have some good news, he said, God has a wonderful dream for us. A World of Love (based on Isaiah 65:17 25) (For each statement have children turn their sad faces to happy faces.) Some day, people will stop hurting each other. Some day, everyone will have a warm dry place to sleep. Some day, everyone will have enough food to eat. Some day, no one will be lonely anymore. Some day, there will be no more sickness. Some day, everyone will live in peace all the people and all the animals, even wolves and lambs, even lions and cows. The people were so happy to hear about God s dream for the world. Sing World of Love. Sing one line of the song at a time, pausing for children to echo each line. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 66. q Drawings You may need to help children by giving them some ideas of things to draw. q Poster Help children choose images for their arrangements. November 24, 2013 11
They need modelling of Christian values. They often have imaginary friends, so may Reign November of Christ Sunday 20, 2016 understand the concept of Jesus as a friend they can t see. Christ over Chaos Colossians 1:11 20 (review of some of Luke s writings of Jesus stories) Story #1 (Show Woman and Figure #3.) One day a woman was very upset because someone had taken some of her money. She asked a judge to help her but he wouldn t listen. The woman would not give up. She kept praying to God and visiting the judge. Finally the judge helped her. We can keep trying to live in God s way. Activity: Knock on the floor several times, becoming louder each time. Story #2 (Show Figure #2 and Figure #3.) Two people went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee didn t know how much God loves and cares for everyone. The tax collector knew he could ask God for help to live God s way. We can pray to God. God listens to everyone. Activity: Fold hands in prayer. Remembering Stories of Jesus Story #3 (Show Figure #1.) Zacchaeus climbed up a tree so he could see Jesus. Jesus welcomed Zacchaeus and went home with him for dinner. Many people didn t like Zacchaeus and were surprised that Jesus loved and cared for everyone. We can welcome and love others. Activity: Share a simple snack together. Story #4 (Tape a cardboard cross behind a piece of paper and have a large peeled crayon.) Jesus loved people and Jesus looked after people. The cross reminds us of Easter and how Jesus helped us to learn to live in God s way. Activity: Gather around the sheet of paper and rub the peeled crayon sideways over the paper until the cross is revealed. Sing Look at Jesus. Sing one line of the song at a time, pausing for children to echo each line. Use these ideas to adapt the activities on page 72. q Sandals As you walk around the room review the stories above. q Response centre Encourage children to be as creative as they can. 12