First Look TM Curriculum for Preschoolers

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: 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. 2013 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. www.thinkorange.com 1

February 9, 2014 Theme: Mission L.O.V.E. Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Who does Jesus love? Bottom Line: Jesus loves everyone. Memory Verse: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12, NIV Bible Story: Jesus loves us when we do something wrong. Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-8 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. Climb! Climb! Climb! Climb! Climb! Climb! is an activity that encourages imaginary play and large motor movement while introducing main ideas from today s Bible story. What You Need: No supplies needed. What You Do: During the activity: Gather the children around you and invite them to join you on a climbing mission. As you walk around the room, pretend to climb many different things: ladder, mountain, pile of rocks, slippery wall, sand dune, jungle vines, etc. End with climbing a tree. What You Say: During the activity: I m on a climbing mission! I m going to climb as many different things as I can. Want to come with me? (Pause.) Awesome! Let s get to climbing! Ooo, I see a ladder. Ladders help you reach things way up high. We ll climb this ladder one step at a time. Climb with me! (Pretend to climb up and then down the ladder, grabbing each step as you go.) Good job! Let s see what else we can climb! Ah-ha! I see a tall mountain. This will be hard but we can do it! Climb with me! (Pretend to climb up and down, grabbing trees and stumps as you go.) (Continue in this way, as long as the children are having fun, giving visual clues that will help the children imagine what you are climbing. End with climbing a tree.) At the end of the activity: Look! I see a tree! Let s climb that tree! Reach for a limb. Got it? Now reach for another. Push up with your feet and climb, climb, climb! Wow! We re way up top! We can see everything from up here. Hey! Guess what! A guy named Zacchaeus climbs a tree in our Bible story today so he can see Jesus. It s true! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 3

2. Help the Tree Find Its Leaves Help the Tree Find Its Leaves is a fine motor skill activity that allows the children to complete a task that is related to the upcoming Bible Story. What You Need: Tree and Leaves from the Activity Pages on the Website, brown cardstock, green cardstock, wall tape, and scissors. What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Tree from the Activity Pages onto brown cardstock and cut it out. Copy Leaves from the Activity Pages onto green cardstock and cut out one leaf for each child. Using the wall tape, tape the tree to the wall in the play area and place a piece of rolled up tape on the back of each leaf. (Option: Enlarge pieces using an overhead projector.) During the activity: Have the children line up single file in front of the tree and give each child a leaf. Have the first child in line close their eyes and try to place his leaf on the tree. If the children choose to peek it is okay. Continue down the line until every child has had a turn. At the end of the activity: Have the children sit down as you introduce the Bible story. What You Say: Before the activity: Look at my tree on the wall. It is missing something! Do you know what it is missing? (Pause.) Yes! My tree needs its leaves! Can you help me put leaves on the tree? (Pause.) Thank you so much! During the activity: Here is a leaf for everyone. (Hand out leaves.) When it is your turn, close your eyes super tight and stick your leaf on the tree. Are you ready? (Pause.) Here we go! At the end of the activity: Wow! Look at our tree! You did a great job! Now everyone can have a seat. I am so glad that you all helped me with my tree today. Our Bible story has a tree in it. Something is in the tree! Hmmm, I wonder what it is. Maybe an apple, a balloon, or a kite? (Pause.) Let s get ready to hear our TRUE story from the Bible and find out! 3. Jesus Loves Everyone Jesus Loves Everyone is an activity that introduces this month s Bottom Line, Jesus loves everyone, through sensory play. Be sure to list the foods you will be using today on the Allergy Alert Poster from the Start Here tab on the Website and post it at the door to your room. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 4

What You Need: The Allergy Alert Poster from the Start Here tab on the Website copied onto white cardstock, medium-sized plastic tub, rice, and small toy people. (Note: You may want to provide more than one sensory bin depending on the number of children you have.) (Option: Dye your rice red, the color of LOVE.) What You Do: Fill your tub half full of rice and hide your toy people in the rice. Encourage the children to dig through the rice with their hands and find the people. Identify the people as the children pull them out. Conclude each find with, Does Jesus love (name of toy person)? Yes! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! What You Say: Before the activity: Hmmm, I see a lot of rice in this tub. I wonder if there s anything hiding in there. Who wants to find out? During the activity: Look who you found! Do you know what kind of person that is? (Pause.) Yes! That s a (type of person)! Does Jesus love (type of person)? (Pause.) Yes He does! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! (Say this each time a child pulls out a person.) At the end of the activity: You found a lot of people hiding in all that rice and Jesus loves all of them! Our Bible story today is about how [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone even people who do something wrong. It s true! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 5

February 9, 2014 Theme: Mission L.O.V.E. Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Who does Jesus love? Bottom Line: Jesus loves everyone. Memory Verse: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12, NIV Bible Story: Jesus loves us when we do something wrong. Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-8 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 www.amberskyrecords.com. What You Need: Paperclip Memory Verse Card from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website in your Bible at John 15:12. You will also need a CD player and this month s worship song, Jesus Loves Everyone, which you will need to download from the Website. You will also need Oh! He Loves Me, available at www.amberskyrecords.com or on the CD, One Big Gulp. WORSHIP LEADER: Hi, friends! How is everyone today? (Pause.) Good! Do you remember what we re learning this month? (Pause.) We re learning that [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Does He love everyone only when they re good? (Pause.) Nope! He loves us no matter if we ve done something bad or good. He loves us no Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 6

matter what! Who does Jesus love? [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Say that with me! Ready? Who does Jesus love? CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone. WORSHIP LEADER: You got it! Everybody get up on your feet so we can sing about that right now! I want you to tell me who Jesus loves as loud as you can so I know you re ready! Who does Jesus love? CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! WORSHIP LEADER: You sound ready to me! That was loud! Let s sing together. Lead children in singing Jesus Loves Everyone. WORSHIP LEADER: Great job! Isn t it great to know that Jesus loves us? (Pause.) That makes me so happy! I think it s time to get out our Bibles (be dramatic as you dig deep into your pocket and then hold hands open like a book) so we can say our Memory Verse together. It talks about Jesus love, too. Everybody got your Bibles ready? (Pause.) Great! Let s say it together! CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: Love (make a heart shape by curving both hands together) each other (point to people around you with both hands) as I (point fingers to sky) have loved you (make heart shape by curving both hands together and then point to a friend), John 15:12. (Open hands like a book.) WORSHIP LEADER: That was good! Now let s say it one more time as LOUD as we can on the count of three! Ready? One two THREE! CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: Love (make a heart shape by curving both hands together) each other (point to people around you with both hands) as I (point fingers to sky) have loved you (make heart shape by curving both hands together and then point to a friend), John 15:12. (Open hands like a book.) WORSHIP LEADER: You got it! This next song will help us remember how much Jesus loves us. Are you ready to sing another song with me? (Pause.) You are! Awesome! The words say, Oh (hands over head like a big O, sway back and forth) He (both hands point up) loves (arms cross and hug) me (both thumbs point to chest). Everybody got that? Great! Let s do it! Lead children in singing Oh! He Loves Me. WORSHIP LEADER: Thanks for singing with me today! I had so much FUN with you guys! Let s get ready to hear another AMAZING Bible story that will help us remember that [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone. See you next time! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 7

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: A super cool pair of rain boots, sparkly fancy shoes or hunting boots (whatever special shoes your guy or girl host wants to wear), an audience volunteer (who should be prepped ahead of time), a cell phone, and a ring tone. (Note: If you chose girl shoes, they will be from Mom. If you chose guy shoes, they will be from Dad. ) The host walks in admiring the special shoes s/he s wearing. HOST: Oh, hi! I m (name of host). What s your name? (Pause.) Nice to see you! Host whistles or hums and looks around awkwardly as if not wanting anyone to notice her shoes. Someone from the audience needs to yell out, Nice shoes! VOLUNTEER FROM AUDIENCE: Hey, [Host s name], nice shoes! HOST: (looks down at shoes) Oh these things. I ve had these old shoes forever. Yeah, I got these way back and um yeah um (Break down with guilt and begin confessing to the children.) No, no, no! I haven t had these shoes for a long time. I just told a big lie. (Hang head low.) The truth is I took these shoes from my mom s closet after she told me I could NOT wear them. I just drove right over to my parents house, walked right into their closet, and put the shoes on. These are my mom s super special shoes and I m not even supposed to touch them! But they are so cool! Cell phone rings. Look down at phone, but don t answer. Oh, no! It s my mom! She s probably looking for her super special shoes! What do I do? What do I do!?!? (Begin pacing back and forth.) What if she s really mad? What if she s so mad she doesn t make my favorite birthday cake anymore? Or doesn t let me come over at Christmas to make cookies like we ve always done? Or even worse! (Stop pacing. Stand in middle of area.) What if (take deep breath and exhale) what if she doesn t love me anymore? (Pause.) Do you think there s someone who will love me even if I do something wrong? Well, I know the Bible is the best place to look for answers when you have questions about love. And I know [Storyteller s name] is ready to tell us a true story from the Bible. Maybe today s story will help answer my question. You sit back and get ready for today s Bible story. Listen closely. Maybe you ll Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 8

hear something that will help me. I m going to go call my mom and give her back her super special shoes. See you next time! Bye! 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 Website. What You Need: Bible, large dry erase board, dry erase markers, an eraser, and an easel for the dry erase board. STORYTELLER: Hello, everyone! I m [Storyteller s name] and [Host s name] is right. I do have a Bible story for you! It s a true story about how [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone, even when we do something wrong. Do you want to hear it? (Pause.) Great! All I need is my Bible and my story marker. Look around and find dry erase marker and Bible. Open Bible. Here it is! Walk over to the dry erase board. Okay, so this Bible story is about a guy with a really funny name. You ready? (Pause.) His name was Zacchaeus! That s a big name! Say that with me. CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: Zacchaeus. (Repeat a few times.) STORYTELLER: Great job! Now you would think someone with a big name like Zacchaeus would be a really Draw a very tall Zacchaeus figure on the dry erase board. BIG GUY, but he wasn t. Erase tall Zacchaeus figure. Nope. Zacchaeus was a Draw a little Zacchaeus in a small section at the bottom of the dry erase board. wee little guy who had done some pretty BIG things wrong! See, Zacchaeus had stolen money from other people! Do you know what it means to steal? It means to take Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 9

something that doesn t belong to you without asking. And Zacchaeus had taken a lot of people s Draw several dollar bills and coins. MONEY! I mean he took lots and lots and LOTS of money from the people. (Wag finger.) No, no, no Zacchaeus! That s wrong! Can you do that with me? (Wag finger.) CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: No, no, no, Zacchaeus, that s wrong! (Wag finger.) STORYTELLER: Then, one day, Zacchaeus heard that Draw a Jesus figure far away from the little Zacchaeus on the dry erase board. JESUS was coming to his town! Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so he ran and ran, but when he got there, there were so many people that he couldn t see Jesus! So do you know what he did? (Pause.) He climbed a tree! Erase little Zacchaeus. Draw a simple tree with a stick man (Zacchaeus) sitting in it. Draw Jesus figure closer to tree. Now Zacchaeus could see Jesus coming down the road. Do you think Jesus saw Zacchaeus up in that tree? (Pause.) He sure did! And do you think Jesus talked to Zacchaeus? (Pause.) Yep! In fact, Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down from the tree so they could go eat dinner together! Wow! Even though Zacchaeus had done some pretty wrong things, Jesus still loved him! (Pause.) Do you know why? (Pause.) Because [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Who does Jesus love? CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! STORYTELLER: You got it! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! And because Jesus loved Zacchaeus, He forgave him for stealing all that money. Erase everything. Draw a large Jesus and Zacchaeus smiling like friends right in the middle of the board. And because Zacchaeus loved his new friend Jesus, he gave all the people their money back. It was a very happy day! Now I want you to remember to tell [Host s name] that there really is someone who will love us, even if we do something wrong. His name is Jesus! Let s pray. God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our friend forever. Thank You that He still loves us, even when we do something wrong. Help us to do the right thing and say we re sorry when we don t. We love You, God. In Jesus name, amen. Storyteller exits. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 10

February 9, 2014 Theme: Mission L.O.V.E. Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Who does Jesus love? Bottom Line: Jesus loves everyone. Memory Verse: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12, NIV Bible Story: Jesus loves us when we do something wrong. Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-8 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. Pass the Pillow Pass the Pillow is an activity that uses repetition and movement to teach this month s Memory Verse to the children. What You Need: Medium-sized heart-shaped pillow. What You Do: Before the activity: Have the children stand in a circle with you included. During the activity: Hold the pillow and start to say the Memory Verse. Encourage the children to say the verse with you. As the verse is being said, pass the pillow around the circle. At the end of the activity: When the verse is finished, ask the child who is holding the pillow his or her name. Then say, (Child s name), Jesus loves you! Repeat several times. What You Say: Before the activity: Let s practice our Memory Verse! I have a great idea! We can use this pillow (hold up pillow) to remind us how much Jesus loves us! As we say our verse we can pass the pillow. Everyone make a circle. Perfect! Are you ready to practice our verse and pass the heart pillow? (Pause.) Great! Let s get started! During the activity: I am going to pass the pillow to (child on your right). Remember to say the Memory Verse with me! Love each other as I have loved you, John 15:12. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 11

Good job! Who has the pillow? (Name child), Jesus loves you! Okay, let s try it again! (Repeat as many times as desired.) At the end of the activity: Our verse tells us that Jesus loves us sooo much and He wants us to love others just like He loves us! He loves us even when we make mistakes and we should love others even if they make mistakes. Who does Jesus love? (Pause.) Absolutely! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! 2. Story of Love Story of Love is an activity that uses visual aids to retell the Bible story. What You Need: The tree made during the Help the Tree Find Its Leaves activity during Make It Fun, Jesus and Zacchaeus from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, and scissors. What You Do: Before the activity: Make one copy of Jesus and Zacchaeus from the Activity Pages on white cardstock, and cut the two men out. During the activity: Sit with the children in front of the tree that was used during the Help the Tree Find Its Leaves activity. Use the Jesus and Zacchaeus cutouts to retell the story. If time permits, allow the children to take turns using the cutouts to retell the story. What You Say: Before the activity: Come sit with me by this big tree. Can you tell me who these two men are? (Hold up the Jesus and Zacchaeus cutouts.) This one is Jesus. And this one is Zacchaeus. During the activity: (Hold up Zacchaeus.) Hi! My name is Zacchaeus. Everyone in town has to pay money called taxes. My job is to take the money from the people. Guess what I do that s really, really bad. I take more money than I m supposed to and I keep it for myself. No one wants to be my friend because I take all of their money. (Hold up Jesus.) Hi! My name is Jesus and I love everyone! Who does Jesus love? [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! (Hold up Zacchaeus.) One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to town. He ran to see Jesus, but when he got there, there were too many people. Zacchaeus couldn t see anything. Then he got an idea! I ll climb this tree! So up the tree Zacchaeus went. (Make Zacchaeus climb the tree.) Oh, yes! This is much better. And I see Jesus coming! I see Him! I see Him! (As Jesus) Hi, Zacchaeus! I see you way up there. Come on down! I m going to your house! I want to hang out with you today. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 12

Zacchaeus climbed down as fast as he could. He couldn t believe it! Jesus wanted to be his friend! This was awesome! Jesus went to Zacchaeus s house. They ate and they talked and they became good friends. Jesus loved Zacchaeus, even though he had done some bad things. That made Zacchaeus want to love people, too! At the end of the activity: Who does Jesus love? (Pause.) Yes! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! 3. Giving You My Hearts Giving You My Hearts is an activity that helps the children show love by giving them an opportunity to tell others about Jesus. Be sure to list the foods you will be using today on the Allergy Alert Poster (from Other Resources on the Website) and post it at the door to your room. What You Need: Allergy Alert Poster from the Start Here tab on the Website copied onto white cardstock, Conversation Hearts from the Activity Pages found on the Website, Avery labels #5160 or equivalent, small brown lunch bags, hole punch, several bags of candy conversation hearts, red or pink ribbon, heart stickers, and scissors. What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Conversation Hearts from the Activity Pages onto the labels so that each child gets one sticker. Cut the ribbon into 10-inch pieces. Pre-fold the tops of the lunch bags and punch two holes, about an inch apart, that the ribbon will be tied through at the end of the activity. During the activity: Place the hearts in the center of the work area. Give each child a bag, some heart stickers, and a piece of ribbon. Guide the children to decorate their bags using the stickers and then have them place 20-25 hearts into their bags. Once they get the hearts in their bags, help them tie the bags shut with the ribbon. At the end of the activity: Explain to the children that we should tell others about Jesus and allow the children to sample a few of the conversation hearts. What You Say: Before the activity: I love to get gifts! How about you? (Pause.) But do you know what is even better? Giving gifts! I love to make someone smile when I give a present! During the activity: I have some bags, stickers, and ribbon that we can use to make someone a special gift bag. I also have some yummy heart candy that we can put in the bags when we re done decorating them. Are you ready to get started? (Pause.) Great! You can use your heart stickers to decorate your bags any way you would like. While you re decorating, I will give you some candy hearts to put in your bag. When you re all Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 13

finished, let me know and I will help you tie a pretty ribbon on your bag to keep it closed until your special person opens it. (Assist children as needed.) At the end of the activity: These are wonderful gift you made! I have one last thing for you to add before you give them away. It s this special sticker that says, [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Put that on your bag where you ll be sure to see it. When you give it to someone, point out the special sticker and the hearts and tell them that Jesus loves them. It is important to tell others about Jesus and how much He loves EVERYONE! Who does Jesus love? YES! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Now who would like to taste a few of these candy hearts? (Pause.) Me, too! Here s some for you and you! (Hand a heart to each child.) 4. Who Can You Love? Who Can You Love? is an activity that uses large motor movement and color recognition to reinforce the idea of loving everyone, just like Jesus does. What You Need: Red and pink construction paper, scissors, tape, this month s worship song downloaded from the Music Resources tab on the Website, and a music player. What You Do: Before the activity: Cut out a construction paper heart for each child. All the hearts should be red except for two pink ones. Then tape the hearts securely to the floor in a large circle. (Option: Laminate the hearts for increased durability.) During the activity: Instruct the children to stand on a heart. Play the music and encourage the children to walk around the hearts in the same direction. When the music stops, the two children standing on pink hearts will name one person we can love. Continue as long as there s interest. What You Say: During the activity: I want everyone to find a heart and stand on it. When you hear the music, I want you to walk around the hearts. When the music stops, you stop. Got it? Here we go! (Play music for a few seconds, and then stop it.) Yay! Is everyone standing on a heart? Raise your hand of you are standing on a red heart. Now raise your hand if you are standing on a pink heart. I want the two people on pink hearts to tell us one person we can love. (Continue as long as there s interest.) At the end of the activity: Jesus wants us to love everyone, just like He loves everyone. That means there are LOTS of people we can love! Who does Jesus love? (Pause.) You got it! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! 5. Zacchaeus s Tree Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 14

Zacchaeus s Tree is an activity that is craft based and will help the child visualize the Bible story. What You Need: Jesus, Zacchaeus Sitting, and Bible Story Reference from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, long white construction paper, markers, scissors, glue stick, and Avery labels #5160 or equivalent. What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Jesus and Zacchaeus Sitting from the Activity Pages onto white cardstock and cut out one for each child. Copy Bible Story Reference from the Activity Pages onto labels so that each child gets one label. During the activity: Trace each child s hand and arm on the long construction paper and cut them out. Allow the child to color the traced tree along with the Zacchaeus and Jesus cutouts with markers. Using the glue stick, help children glue Zacchaeus in the tree and Jesus standing at the bottom. At the end of the activity: Apply a label to the bottom of the trunk of the tree. What You Say: Before the activity: Today in our story, Zacchaeus was high in a tree. Do you remember why? (Pause.) Yes! So he could see Jesus. We are going to make our own tree with our arms. Sounds silly, huh? Let s get started! During the activity: First we are going to trace our arm and hand and that will be our tree! (Trace a child s arm.) There we go! Now use the markers and color your tree. (Allow child to color.) What is missing from our tree that was in our story today? (Pause.) Yes! Zacchaeus and Jesus! Let s use our glue and put Zacchaeus and Jesus on our trees. Do you remember where Zacchaeus was? (Pause.) That s right, he was up in the tree. Let s glue him right up here. (Demonstrate.) Great! Now, where was Jesus? (Pause.) He was standing at the bottom of the tree telling Zacchaeus to come down, remember? Let s glue Jesus right down here. (Demonstrate.) Awesome work! At the end of the activity: Now we can use our trees to tell people about Jesus. We are going to put this sticker (hold up label) on the bottom to tell our families where they can learn about this story, too! We want everyone to know that Jesus loves them! Who does Jesus love? (Pause.) You got it! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 15

February 9, 2014 Theme: Mission L.O.V.E. Basic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever Key Question: Who does Jesus love? Bottom Line: Jesus loves everyone. Memory Verse: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12, NIV Bible Story: Jesus loves us when we do something wrong. Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-8 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 John 15:12. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): Have you ever really wanted to see something, but you couldn t see over all the tall people? (Pause.) Me, too! That s how Zacchaeus felt in our Bible story today. He really wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short! What did Zacchaeus do so he could see Jesus? (Pause.) You got it! He climbed a tree! Smart thinking! And I m sure Zacchaeus was SO glad he did! Jesus saw him in the tree, went to his house, and became his friend forever! Wow! Zacchaeus was so happy that Jesus loved him even though he had done something wrong that Zacchaeus gave back all the money he had stolen! I think that is SO cool! Zacchaeus did what Jesus tells us to do in our new Memory Verse. Love each other as I have loved you. Say it with me. CHILDREN and SGL: Love each other as I have loved you, John 15:12. (Repeat as many times as desired.) SGL: Jesus loved Zacchaeus and forgave him for doing something wrong. Then Zacchaeus loved the people and gave them their money back. Yay, Jesus! Yay, Zacchaeus! Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 16

It s time to pray. I think we should make a list of some of the wrong things we have done. I mean, Zacchaeus isn t the only person who has done something wrong. I ve done wrong things, too. Have you? (Pause.) Well, let s make a list and then we can tell God we re sorry like Zacchaeus did. 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, it makes us feel good that Jesus loved Zacchaeus even when he did something wrong. We ve done wrong things, too. Please forgive us for (read the list). Help us to do what is right, like love people the way Jesus loves them. Thank You for loving us and for forgiving us. You are amazing, 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 loves everyone. Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone. Have this month s Parent CUE available for parents to pick up or send it in a monthly email. Encourage parents to use the activities found in Parent CUE to reinforce this month s Bottom Line: [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone. Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2013 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 17