Assuming Moses was the author, we know this first book was written in his. to Moses through oral tradition, God would have revealed to him directly.

Bible Story: God Made the Plants (Genesis 1:9-13) Bible Phrase: God made plants to grow on the earth (Genesis 1:11). Bible Truth: God made the water, land, and plants. Old Testament Unit 1: God s Creation Lesson 2: God Made the Plants God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A Unfolding God s Story for Teachers The fact that we have a record of creation is a testament to God s inspiration of the Scriptures. It s clear that the Genesis account of creation was written many years after the events occurred. In ancient times, information was passed on to people and groups, and from generation to generation, primarily by word of mouth. This neither negates nor diminishes God s activity in the process; He made sure accuracy was preserved from the first verbal account until (and even beyond) the time when everything at last was written down. Thus, God inspired the Scriptures and guided the process of getting everything in writing. While some scholars debate who wrote Genesis, many experts believe Moses was the spokesman God used. There is much compelling evidence for this view. Throughout history, the first five books of the Bible have been called The Books of Moses. These books also have been called The Torah, the Pentateuch, and the Law. Both Jesus (see Luke 24:44) and Paul (see 1 Cor. 9:9) indicated Moses was the writer, the human source of the divinely inspired words we read in these Bible Books. Consider as well that whatever wasn t passed down verbally to Moses through oral tradition, God would have revealed to him directly. Assuming Moses was the author, we know this first book was written in his lifetime, perhaps during the wilderness wanderings. Despite all we don t know, we can be certain Genesis is the inspired word of God and trustworthy in all it says. Please read our passage from Genesis 1:9-13. At this point in our study, the world was formed, but water covered its surface. Then God s mighty voice moved the water to specific places. As the water was displaced, land emerged. Upon the land, accent notes of colors from plants, trees, and flowers played out into a glorious melody. God placed vegetation to match the silhouette of the landscape. He knew exactly what would thrive best in each location. The earth was alive, for each plant had the God-given ability to reproduce. Our earth went from being monochromatic to a kaleidoscope of color. God never intended for creation or nature to be worshiped. The world reflects His glory, and we are to revere Him alone. God gave us the role of caretakers, so we are to care for the world and for its natural resources. Take time to observe the world around you as you prepare to teach this lesson. Look at the plants, trees, and flowers. Notice their intricacies and colors. Stroll through a park or garden and see God s creative hand in each distinctive plant. Reflect on His goodness and His desire to give us beauty so we might understand a part of His nature and character. Might we truly see and help the preschoolers we teach to see God s priceless gifts to us. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles wooden or cardboard puzzles for the children to work. What to Do: Encourage each child to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Offer guidance rather than working the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As the children work, take advantage of opportunities to say the Bible Phrase or briefly to tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Water Play unit, small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as baby doll, doll bed, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles, and diapers. What to Do: Home living items will encourage children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the baby. Allow children to play with the water using the plastic dishes. Link to the Bible Story: As children play, look for opportunities to engage in conversation about the Bible story, Bible Phrase, or Bible truth. Center Time Art Center: Stamp Flowers (1 sheet per child) plates for paint What to Do: Print today s Bible Phrase, God made the plants to grow on the earth (Genesis 1:11), on each paper. Invite children to stamp several circles on their papers. Next ask children to draw petals with crayons or markers around the stamped circles. Children also can add stems and leaves to their flowers. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, call attention to the Bible Phrase. Express to children that at the beginning of time, water covered all the earth, and God separated the water from the land. Explain that God also made all the plants, flowers, and trees that are on the earth. Bible Learning Center: Finish the Picture the Picture, God Made the Plants (Reproducible) What to Do: Invite children to add trees, plants, flowers, and the sun to the landscape. Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase and express that God made the made the earth, waters, and plants. Tell the boys and girls they will hear more about how God made these things during the Bible Story Time. Block Center: Build with Blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or to tell a part of the Bible story. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time the Plants (Reproducible) (Reproducible/Cardstock) and trees or a live plant or flower Introduction Express to boys and girls even though there are many different stories in the Bible all of them true these are all a part of overall story we will call God s Unfolding Story. Tell the children that each picture on the cube represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each point. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of the main points in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the first point: God Created Everything. color, smell, and texture of its leaves and blooms. If using pictures, talk about the colors and shapes of flowers, plants, and trees. Express the following in your own words. What do you think our world would look like without all the plants, trees, and flowers? When God chose to make the world, He wanted to make it beautiful so He created plants, flowers, and trees. These add so much, including color and beauty, to our world. Listen to how God made these things. Bible Story God Made the Plants (Genesis 1:9-13) The Bible says God made the world and, at first, all the earth was covered in water. Then God said, Let the waters be moved into one place, and let dry land appear. Because God ordered it to happen, it happened just as He said. Some of the water became small ponds, some became rivers, and other water became huge seas and oceans. The dry land also appeared, exactly as God had said. We can look around today and see the result of God s work. Some land is flat. Some land includes large mountains and deep valleys. Some land is sandy while other places are hard. God called the dry land earth and the large bodies of water seas, and He saw that all of it was good. Then God said, Let there be plants of all kinds to cover the earth. Imagine it! In response to God s voice, all kinds of flowers red, yellow, blue, purple, orange, and every other color appeared on the earth. Plants that bore fruit and vegetables also began to grow. Think of the many different kinds of plants that appeared, including plants from which we get food to eat such as bananas, apples, grapes, corn, beans, and carrots. Grass grew on meadows and on the plains. Trees grew on mountains and in forests. Wow! God looked at everything He had made and said, It is good. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask questions like these. Who created the water, earth, and plants? What did God use to create all these beautiful things? What did God say about all He had created? Talk about the different land forms and plants in the picture. Identify the various colors of the flowers. 2. Say today s Bible Phrase together, God made plants to grow on the earth (Genesis 1:11). Talk with the boys and girls about the different land forms they have seen or heard about such as beaches, mountains, deserts, and plains. 3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer, thanking God for the rivers and oceans and the beautiful plants He created for us to enjoy. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time Bible Phrase Litter Bag (1 copy for every child) or pictures of flowers cut from magazines What to Do: Roll down the top of each lunch sack a few times. Punch holes on either side and tie some yarn for a handle. Give each child a copy of Bible Phrase Flowers and invite him or her to color the flowers, cut out the flowers along the cut lines, and glue the flowers to the bag. Link to Bible Story: As children work, read the Bible Phrase, God made the plants grow on the earth (Genesis 1:11). Express to boys and girls that God wants us to take care of our earth and water. Talk about ways to do that such as: picking up trash, mowing and weeding our lawns, not throwing trash into lakes and rivers, planting more trees, flowers, and plants, etc. Suggest that children take their litter bags around their own yards and go on a litter search to pick up trash. Say too that taking care of all God has given us means we should not waste resources things like food, water, paper, pencils, and electricity. Help children see that God wants us to use resources wisely to help people and to bless others. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time/Dismissal Solving Riddles What to Do: Ask children to join you in a circle in the game time area. Pose the question, Have you ever heard a riddle? Explain that a riddle is simply a question to solve or answer. Use the teaching picture to help children discover the answers to the riddles. Express that these are riddles about things that God made. Use the first riddle as an example. blue? You can drink it, freeze it and swim in it too! What is it? (water) be covered with rocks or trees? A bear or wild animal might live in these. What is it? (a mountain or mountains) From it, we can see the blue sky and feel the hot sun. (desert) has a sweet smell? You can cut a bunch and put them in a pail. (flowers) green, yellow, or red? It makes a good jelly to put on your bread. (apple) grows on a cob? If you eat it all you have done a good job! (corn on the cob) Dismiss children when parents arrive. Be sure to follow your church s security guidelines. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 1: God s Creation Lesson 2: God Made the Plants Hour A Standard Art Supplies Standard Equipment (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Finish the Picture, God Made the Plants (1 copy per child) Bible Phrase Flowers (1 copy per child) Teaching Picture: God Made the Plants (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Additional Art and Bible Learning Materials White construction paper Paper plates for paint Additional Craft Materials Lunch sacks (1 per child) Additional Block Materials Plastic animals Additional Home Living Materials Plastic Dishpan God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A

Activity page: Finish the Picture, God Made the Plants Instructions: One copy per child. Children use crayons or markers to add plants, flowers and trees to the landscape. God made the plants. Genesis 1:11 OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A Center Time: Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Bible Phrase Flowers God made the plants. Genesis 1:11 Craft Time: Bible Phrase Flowers Instructions: Copy 1 sheet for every child. Color and cut out the flowers. Flowers are used to decorate a lunch sack made into a litter bag for collecting trash. (See teacher guide) OT01 Lesson 2 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com