His people would need help in this journey. He would not leave them without

Bible Story: God Gave Moses His Laws (Exodus 191-6; 20:1-17; 31:18) Bible Phrase: Keep My commandments (Exodus 19:5). Bible Truth: God gave me rules to help me obey Him and show my love to Him. Old Testament Unit 6: Moses Lesson 5: God Gave Moses His Laws God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed 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 I remember as a child watching the Cecil B. DeMille movie, The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston as Moses. I can vividly recall watching Moses cling to the rocks on the mountain, shielding his eyes as God s finger of fire etched His laws onto stone tablets. One of Hollywood s best productions, The Ten Commandments still relied on special effects using blue screens, props, and trickery. God s screen was no façade! In His might, power, and glory, God displayed His love and majesty to His people. What they experienced was a real, up-close-and-personal encounter with No props were used then! Please read the first part of our story in Exodus 19:1-6. Three months had passed since the Israelites had miraculously left Egypt. They arrived at Mt. Sinai in an area named Horeb, and they set up camp in front of the mountain. God called Moses to meet with Him on the mountain. The Lord wanted to bless His people and elevate them among the nations. He wanted to dwell among them so they would stand out as a unique people. God s blessing was linked to the Israelites choice to love, trust, and follow Him with all their hearts. God knew His people would need help in this journey. He would not leave them without resources to fulfill their part of the covenant. On holy mountain, God etched in stone Ten Commandments for His people to live by. These laws were God s provision of grace to help them know how to follow and love Him wholeheartedly. These laws became the primary moral code for Israel. No nation could have found a better foundation. Now read these commands in Exodus 20:1-17. The first four laws dealt with the Israelites relationship to God, and the last six dealt with their relationships with one another. God desired obedience but knew man s tendency to stray so He set up the sacrificial system to teach His people about sin s cost. Nor was God slack in providing a strong arm of protection for His people. He gave them every opportunity to succeed. In summary, the Ten Commandments have divine love written all over them. God wanted to bless His children. God knew outward obedience to these commands could readily dovetail with revering Him and enjoying a relationship of intimacy with Him. Obedience would not earn God s favor but would reflect it and strengthen the nation s relationship with the Lord. God wanted heartfelt love and devotion from His people; He wants the same from us. Jesus came to be the perfect fulfillment of the law and the eternal sacrifice for our sins. These laws are not to enslave us, but they remain a bulwark of truth for building relationships with others for guiding us to love God fully. As believers, we are to write them on our hearts and teach them to our children. God s commands are not grievous but lead us to an up-close-and-personal relationship with Him. 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 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 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT06 Lesson 5 Hour A Page 1

Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; pretend food items; doll, doll bed, and doll accessories What to Do: Home living items naturally encourage children to act out roles and activities they observe at home. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers play, talk about rules children may have at home, such as no running inside; use inside voices; take turns on the swing set; wash hands before eating. Express today s Bible story will tell how God gave Moses laws or rules to help the Israelites show their love to Him and get along well with others. Center Time Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage each child to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than working the puzzle for the child. Art Center: Link to the Bible Story: As children work, String Art Painting look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell White construction the Bible story. paper Yarn, clothespins Several colors of washable tempera paint, paper plates What to Do: Print today s Bible Phrase, Keep My commandments (Exodus 19:5) on the bottom of each paper. Attach a 12 piece of yarn to a clothespin. Pour paint onto a paper plates. Hold the clothespin and dip the string into the paint, then move the string around on the paper. Make designs with the different colors of paint. Another way to sting paint is to fold the paper in half. Place the paint-dipped string inside the paper. Place a hand gently over the folded paper and pull the string. Repeat with a different color of paint. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers paint, read the Bible Phrase. Express in today s Bible story, God gave Moses laws or rules for the Israelites to follow. The rules would help the people show their love for God and for others. Bible Learning Center: Matching Activity Copies of Activity Page: Counting, How Many? (Reproducible) Washable markers or crayons What to Do: Children look at the numeral on the left and match it to the correct number of objects on the right. Link to the Bible Story: Comment to children the pictures on the page are part of today s Bible story. As children find matches, use the pictures to share parts of the Bible story. For instance, the picture of the man is Moses; God gave Moses 10 laws or rules for the Israelites to follow. Another picture depicts two stone tablets; God wrote the laws on the two stone tablets. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden 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 play in the Block Center, listen for opportunities to share part of the Bible story, say the Bible Phrase, or refer to the Bible truth of today s lesson. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT06 Lesson 5 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 Bible Teaching Picture God Gave Moses His Laws (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children each picture represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express every story from the Bible is from one of these main parts in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third part; God chose a special people. Express the following in own words. Do you know what a law is? A law is a rule to keep us safe or to help us know how to live. We have rules in our classroom like these: Walk, don t run. Take care of toys and supplies. Clean up after you have finished snack. Your parents also set up rules at home, and you are to follow those. God chose to give His people some rules or laws to help them show their love for God and for others. Listen to hear about the rules God gave His people. Bible Story God Gave Moses His Laws (Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-17; 31:18) Moses and the people had been walking for many days. God told Moses it was time for the people to rest for a while. Daddies set up tents and mommies fixed places for their children to sleep. Everyone was probably happy to get a chance to rest. The place where God told Moses to set up camp was in front of a mountain. God asked Moses to walk up the mountain where they would talk. God knew it would be important for His children to know how to show their love to Him and to one another, so God gave Moses some rules or laws for the people. Moses was on the mountain for more than a month. God wrote His laws on stone tablets and gave them to Moses. In turn, Moses passed along to the people the ten laws or commands God wanted them to follow. Some of those laws were: I am God, love Me. Only worship God and not anyone or anything else. use God s name in a right and proper way. Obey father and mother. take something does not belong to you. tell the truth. God loved His people and wanted them to love Him. All of God s commandments would help the Israelites show their love to God and to other people. These rules are still important for us to follow. When we obey them, we show we love God and others. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Review the story by using these or similar questions: Where did Moses go to talk to God? What did God give Moses? What was one of the rules God gave Moses? Do you think we need rules to help us live? Why? 2. Read the Bible Phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, Keep My commandments (Exodus 19:5). Express to children God loves each one and wants each one to love Him. Following His commandments or rules is one way we can show God we love Him. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Thank God for His commandments and ask God to help us to obey His rules. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT06 Lesson 5 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time: Ten Commandments Ruler Copies of Ten Commandments Ruler (Reproducible, 1 copy for every 3 children, cardstock recommended) (We recognize a ruler is 12 in length while this ruler is only 10 due to the page size) Small circle stickers such as: happy faces, stars, colorful dots, natural world stickers Crayons What to Do: Cut out each Ten Commandments Ruler. Instruct each child to color his or her ruler and attach stickers over the circles on it. Talk about what a ruler is used for and measure different objects on the table. Link to the Bible Story: Remind children God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Express for each inch of their ruler there is written one of the Ten Commandments. Read the commandments and talk about the ones are developmentally appropriate for group, such as loving and worshipping God only, obeying parents, not taking things don t belong to us, and telling the truth. Explain we show our love to God when we obey His laws. 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 Simon Says What to Do: Play a simple version of Simon Says. Offer commands such as: Simon says jump up and down. Simon says, pat head. Simon says, say the Bible Phrase, Keep My commandments Exodus 19:5. Simon says, clap hands. Simon says, touch toes. Simon says, turn around. Simon says, sit down. Simon says, say the Bible Phrase, Keep My commandments Exodus 19:5. Simon says, touch our knees. Simon says, wave hello to a friend. Simon says, say the Bible Phrase, Keep My commandments Exodus 19:5. Remind children in today s Bible story God gave rules or commands to the Israelites. When the Israelites followed His rules they were showing their love for God and their love for other people. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of church. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT06 Lesson 5 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 6: Moses Lesson 5: God Gave Moses His Laws Hour A Standard Art Supplies Standard Equipment (Supplies 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 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: Counting, How Many? (1 copy per child) Ten Commandments Ruler (1 copy for every 3 children, cardstock recommended) Teaching Picture: God Gave Moses His Laws (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, God Gave Moses His Laws Additional Art Materials White construction paper Clothespins (6) Paper plates for paint Additional Craft Materials Small circle stickers such as: happy faces, stars, colorful dots, natural world stickers God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT06 Lesson 5 Hour A

How Many? 1 2 3 4 5 Activity Page: Counting, How Many? Instructions: Copy one sheet per child. Use a crayon or marker to Match the numeral on the left to the correct number of objects on the right. OT06 Lesson 5 Hour A Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I am Love Me. Only worship say God s name in a kind way. Work six days and on the seventh day rest. Obey father and mother. kill. Husbands and wives honor marriage promise. take something does not belong to you. tell the truth. wish for things belong to other people. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I am Love Me. Only worship say God s name in a kind way. Work six days and on the seventh day rest. Obey father and mother. kill. Husbands and wives honor marriage promise. take something does not belong to you. tell the truth. wish for things belong to other people. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I am Love Me. Only worship say God s name in a kind way. Work six days and on the seventh day rest. Obey father and mother. kill. Husbands and wives honor marriage promise. take something does not belong to you. tell the truth. wish for things belong to other people. Craft: Ten Commandments Ruler Instructions: One copy for every 3 children, cardstock recommended. Cut out the rulers. Color the ruler and attach a sticker over each circle on the ruler. OT06 Lesson 5 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com