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. July 29, 2018 Bible Story Focus: The Bible tells me Jesus wants to be my friend forever. God Loved Us So Much He Gave Us Jesus John 3:16 Memory Verse: I have hidden your word in my heart. Psalm 119:11, NIV Key Question: What is with you wherever you go? Bottom Line: God s Word is with me wherever I go. Basic Truth: God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever. SOCIAL: Providing Time for Fun Interaction 1. Symbol Match Made to Play: An activity that encourages preschoolers to follow guidelines while having fun and learning new concepts GROUPS: Creating a Safe Place to Connect 1. In Our Hearts Hear from God Memory Verse Review Made to Create: An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, Bottom Line, or memory verse by creating a craft 2. Follow the Signs Talk About God Bible Story Review Made to Create: An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, Bottom Line, or memory verse by creating a craft 3. Picture Toss Live for God Application Activity Made to Think: An advanced activity specifically designed for older preschoolers 4. Journal and Prayer Pray to God Prayer Activity Made to Reflect: An activity that encourages personal application and prayer July 29, 2018 Bible Story Focus: The Bible tells me Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
God Loved Us So Much He Gave Us Jesus John 3:16 Memory Verse: I have hidden your word in my heart. Psalm 119:11, NIV Key Question: What is with you wherever you go? Bottom Line: God s Word is with me wherever I go. Basic Truth: God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Social: Providing Time for Fun Interaction (Small Groups, 15 minutes) Activities that encourage preschoolers to enter the classroom and begin engaging with peers and Small Group Leaders by providing age appropriate and hands on fun while introducing new concepts they will hear in the day s Bible story. Prepare to offer the following activity as your 4-5-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. Symbol Match Made to Play: An activity that encourages preschoolers to follow guidelines while having fun and learning new concepts What You Need: Symbols Activity Page, white cardstock, and scissors What You Do: Before the Activity: Copy Symbols on cardstock and cut on the dotted lines. You will have 18 different cards. During the Activity: Place the cards in the middle of the activity area face down in random order. Have one child go first and ask them to turn two cards face up. If they match, recap the story that it matches, then set the match aside. For week five of this month, introduce the upcoming Bible story. If the cards do not match, simply turn the cards face down and allow another child to have a turn. Be sure each child has a turn to play the game. What You Say: Before the Activity: There are cards (point) that each have a match. Let s work together and match them. During the Activity: Let s start matching. (Choose a child to go first.) Please turn over two cards and see if they are a match. (Play game and use the blurbs below to recap each icon when a match is made.) Recap for each symbol: Bible: This picture reminds us of our first Bible story for this summer. It told us God gave us the Bible to show us the way to go. The Bible tells us what to do and where to go. Heart: Awesome! This picture reminds me of the Bible story that told us God wants us to love and help each other.
Praying Hands: Way to go! This picture reminds me of the Bible story that told us we can talk to God ANYTIME we want to. Smiley Face: Fantastic! This picture reminds me of the Bible story that told us God wants us to share our stuff. Whether we have a little or a lot, we can always share. Sharing makes us happy. Globe: YAY! This picture is about the Bible story that told us God s Word is with us wherever we go. God s Word is always with us! Handprint: Wonderful! This picture reminds me of the Bible story that told us God made each one of us. We are all WONDERFULLY made. Clock: Wahoo! This picture is about the Bible story that told us God loves us ALL the time no matter what. People: You got it! This picture is about the Bible story about God putting people together to make a church and help each other. We can all be a part of God s family! Jesus: This picture is about the Bible story that we are going to hear about today. I cannot wait to hear a TRUE story from the Bible. After the Activity: That was so much fun! We have heard a lot of great Bible stories this summer. I am so excited for you to hear today s Bible Story about how much God loves us. Transition: Move to Bible story time by chanting this month s Bottom Line, God is with me wherever I go! as you walk to the story area. Groups: Creating a Safe Place to Connect (Small Groups, 25 minutes) Create a safe place to connect through activities that are written to reach every learning style while reinforcing the Bottom Line that was introduced during the Bible Story and applying it to real life experiences. In addition, these activities provide preschoolers with an opportunity to build relationships with their Small Group Leader. 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. In Our Hearts Hear from God Memory Verse Review Made to Create: An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, Bottom Line, or memory verse by creating a craft What You Need: Heart Verse and Shapes Activity Pages, yellow cardstock, white copy paper, scissors, and clear tape What You Do: Before the Activity: Copy Heart Verse onto the cardstock. Copy the Shapes onto the white paper and cut on the dotted lines.
During the Activity: Give each child a Heart Verse Activity Page and three of the shape cutouts from the Shapes Activity Page. Each child will need a square, circle, and heart cutout. Help the children tape the cutouts onto the matching shape on the page. Use a small strip of tape at the top of each cutout to attach it to the page, so that the cutout can be lifted up. After the Activity: Ask the children to lift up each shape to find the words. Tell the children that it is the memory verse. Say the memory verse together as a class. What You Say: Before the Activity: We are going to make a fun page that we can play peek-a-boo with! During the Activity: (Give each child an Activity Page and the cutouts.) Our page has shapes on it. (Point.) These cutouts (hold up) have shapes on them too. Match the cutouts to the shapes on the page. I will come around and help you tape the cutouts on top. (Do activity.) Great job! Now let s lift the first cutout. Do you see anything under the cutout? (Pause.) No! Let s try the second one. Do you see anything under this cutout? (Pause.) No! Now let s see if there is anything under the heart. Do you see anything? (Pause.) YES! I see words! The words are our memory verse! The memory verse is under the heart because we carry God s Word in our hearts. After the Activity: Let s say our memory verse together. I have hidden your word in my heart, Psalm 119:11. Great job! God wants us to always carry His Word in our hearts. We can take it with us wherever we go. What is with you wherever you go? [Bottom Line] God s Word is with me wherever I go. 2. Follow the Signs Talk About God Bible Story Review Made to Create: An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, Bottom Line, or memory verse by creating a craft What You Need: Option 2: Jesus Symbol 2 and Jesus Parent Activity Option 2 Activity Pages, paper plates (1 per child), painter s sticks (1 per child), glue, tape, white cardstock, scissors, crayons, markers, and sheets of small heart stickers (1 sheet per child) What You Do: Before the Activity: Choose one of the two activity options listed below: Option 2: Print Jesus Symbol 2 on white cardstock. Cut where instructed. Print Jesus Parent Activity Option 2 on white cardstock. Cut where instructed. During the Activity:
Option 2: Give each child a sheet of heart stickers and tell them to put the stickers all around the picture of Jesus. Encourage them to say, God loves me every time they put a heart sticker on the page. While the children put their stickers on their page and color their picture, go around and assist them in gluing the Jesus Symbol 2 to one side of a paper plate and the Jesus Parent Activity Option 2 to the other side of the paper plate. Once Jesus Symbol 2 and Jesus Parent Activity Option 2 are glued in place you can glue or tape the paper plate to a painter s stick to make a road sign. What You Say: During the Activity: We are making a very special road sign today with a very special person s picture. (Hold up Jesus Symbol 1. ) This is a picture of Jesus. God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus, His only Son, to be our friend forever. That s a lot of love! And because that s a lot of love, we re going to put these heart stickers (hold up) all around Jesus. (Give each child a Jesus Symbol 1 and sheet of heart stickers.) While you put your heart stickers around Jesus and color His picture, I ll come around and help you glue your Jesus picture to a stick to make your road sign. Then we will have a sign to remind us that God loved us so much, He gave us Jesus! (Option 2 will glue the Jesus Symbol 2 to one side of the paper plate and Jesus Parent Activity Option 2 to the other side of the plate and then to the stick.) (Once everyone has a Jesus Symbol road sign made) I want everyone to stand up and hold your Jesus sign in front of you. Wow! Those look awesome! When you look at this sign I want you to remember that God loves you. He loves you SO much, He gave you Jesus to be your friend forever. Got it? And when you remember how much God loves you, you ll be carrying God s Word with you everywhere you go. What is with you wherever you go? [Bottom Line] God s Word is with me wherever I go! (NOTE: If you choose Option 1, make sure a Parent Activity Option 1 is given to each parent who does not have one yet.) 3. Picture Toss Live for God Application Activity Made to Think: An advanced activity specifically designed for older preschoolers What You Need: Toss Activity Page, white copy paper, 9 paper plates, glue sticks, scissors, and a beanbag What You Do: Before the Activity: Copy the Activity Page onto the paper and cut on the dotted lines. Tape a symbol onto a plate. You will have nine plates, all with different symbols taped to them. Place the plates in a horizontal line in the activity area.
During the Activity: Give a child a beanbag and ask him/her to toss the beanbag and try to land it on a plate. When a beanbag lands on or very near a plate, recap the Bible story the symbol represents. Then pick up that plate and set aside. Continue the activity with the remaining seven plates. What You Say: Before the Activity: Let s play a super fun game! During the Activity: Each plate has a picture on it. (Point.) Each picture is from one of our stories that we have talked about. Toss the beanbag onto a plate, and we can talk about the story that the picture goes with. (Have a child toss the beanbag.) Awesome! Let s look at the picture on the plate that you hit and see which story it goes with. (Use the key below to recap the story to match the symbol that is on the plate.) Bible: Bible story that told us God gave us the Bible to show us the way to go. Heart: Bible story that told us God wants us to love and help each other. Praying Hands: Bible story that told us we can talk to God ANYTIME we want to. Smiley Face: Bible story that told us God wants us to share our stuff. Whether we have a little or a lot, we can always share. Globe: Bible story that told us God s Word is with us wherever we go. God s Word is always with us. Handprint: Bible story that told us God made each one of us. We are all WONDERFULLY made! Clock: Bible story that told us God loves us ALL the time no matter what. People: Bible story about God putting people together to make a church and help each other. We can all be a part of God s family. Jesus: Bible story that told us God loved us so much He gave us Jesus. Jesus wants to be our friend FOREVER! After the Activity: Great job! You are awesome at tossing the beanbag! We have learned so much from the Bible the past two months. I m so glad that God s Word is with us wherever we go. What is with you wherever you go? [Bottom Line] God s Word is with me wherever I go! 4. Journal and Prayer Pray to God Prayer Activity Made to Reflect: An activity that encourages personal application and prayer What You Need: Memory Verse Card paper clipped in your Bible at Psalm 119:11, journal, fun-shaped pen, reward stickers or hand stamp, Jesus Symbol Sticker Activity Page, and Avery labels 22816 or equivalent SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): It s Small Group time with our friends! Follow me, friends!
(Lead the children to your Small Group spot.) Here we are, friends! Let s sit down and talk about today s Bible story. One, two, three, sit down with me! (Open the Bible and hold it for the children to see.) Our Bible story today was about the best friend we will ever have. Do you remember His name? (Pause.) Jesus! Yes! Jesus wants to be your friend forever. Who wants to be your friend forever? [Basic Truth] Jesus wants to be my friend forever. God loves us so much, He gave us Jesus to be our friend forever. When we remember that, God s Word is with us wherever we go. What is with you wherever you go? CHILDREN and SGL: [Bottom Line] God s Word is with me wherever I go. SGL: You got it! Now, we ve been saying a Bible verse over and over so we can hide it in our heart. We will say it one more time together and then anyone who wants to try and say it can have a turn. I brought my stickers/hand stamp, so let s get started! (Turn the pages of your Bible to the Memory Verse Card.) Let s stand up and say the verse together with the motions one time. Just say what I say and do what I do. CHILDREN and SGL: I have hidden (thumbs to chest) your word (both hands point up) in my heart (cover heart with hands), Psalm 119:11. (Hold out hands like a book.) SGL: Awesome! (Give each child a high five.) Now let s sit down and take turns saying it. Who wants to go first? (Give each child the opportunity to say the verse on his/her own. Have your stickers/hand stamp ready to give when they say it.) Wow! I am so super proud of you! Way to go! Now let s get ready for our prayer and journal time. (Hold journal, fun-shaped pen, and Jesus Symbol Sticker. ) Today we are adding this very, VERY special sticker to our prayer journal. (Hold up Jesus Symbol Stocker. )
This is a picture of Jesus. Jesus is special because Jesus is God s Son. God sent Jesus to be our friend forever. (Place the sticker in the journal.) Jesus loves everyone. He wants every person in the world to be His friend forever. Who wants to be your friend forever? CHILDREN and SGL: [Basic Truth] Jesus wants to be my friend forever. SGL: Yes! Let s make a list of people we can tell about our good friend Jesus so He can be their friend forever, too. When I say your name, tell me one person you can tell about our good friend Jesus. We can use the list when we pray. (Write each child s name and what they say beside their name. Remember to print the words they say so the children can recognize their names and the letters.) Let s pray for the people on our list and that we will tell them that Jesus wants to be their friend forever. Would anyone like to pray before I pray? (Give each child who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.) Prayer SGL: Dear God, thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Jesus to be our friend forever. Thank You that Jesus made a way for us to be with You forever. I pray that (name each child) will follow Jesus one day. Please help us tell (read the list the children made) that Jesus wants to be their friend forever, too. We love You, God! In Jesus name, amen.