First Look TM Curriculum for Preschoolers - 4 s & 5 s Rooms December 31, 2017 Bible Story Focus: The wise men come to see God s Son. The Wise Men Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 Memory Verse: God has given a son to us. Isaiah 9:6, NCV Key Question: How do we know God loves us? Bottom Line: God gave us Jesus. Basic Truth: God loves me. Social: Providing Time for Fun Interaction (8:45-9:15/ 10:40-11:00) Prepare to offer one or more of the following activities as your children arrive. Let one teacher lead activities while another teacher greets parents and kids at the door. 1. We re Going on a Star Hunt What You Need: 4 star cutouts and painters tape What You Do: Before the Activity: Tape the star cut outs around the room on a chair, a table, the door, and a shelf (or another spot in the room). During the Activity: Lead the children on a star hunt to locate all the stars hidden around the room as you say the rhyme below. Before the Activity:Tape the star cut outs around the room on a chair, a table, the door, and a shelf (or another spot in the room). Let s go on a star hunt! During the Activity: There are FOUR stars hidden around the room. Repeat after me as we look for our stars. Lead the children on a star hunt to locate all the stars hidden around the room as you say the rhyme below. Chorus: We re going on a star hunt (We re going on a star hunt) We re gonna find a BIG one (We re gonna find a BIG one) 1
I m not scared (I m not scared) What a beautiful night (What a beautiful night) Oh, look on the chair Right over there Follow me, follow me, follow me Chorus: We re going on a star hunt... (Lead children to the table with the star.) Oh, look on the table Go get it if you re able Follow me, follow me, follow me Chorus: We re going on a star hunt... (Lead children to the door with the star.) Look friends once more I think it s on the door Follow me, follow me, follow me Chorus: We re going on a star hunt... (Lead children to the last star near the shelf.) What do I see? A star near right next to me Follow me, follow me, follow me After the Activity: You are awesome star finders! In our Bible story today, we ll find out about some men who went on their own star hunt. I can t wait for you to hear all about it! Transition Idea: Move to Worship and Story by acting as though you re searching for stars. Children can put their hands over their eyes as if peering up at the sky. 2. Stamp It 2
What You Need: Envelope and Stamps Activity Pages, poster putty, and painters tape Before the Activity: Use the painters tape to hang the envelopes on the wall at preschool level. Put some poster putty on the back of each stamp. There are envelopes on our wall. (Point.) They need stamps on them! During the Activity: I see numbers on each envelope. I see (point to each number) one, two, three, four, five, and six. We need to place stamps on the envelopes that match the numbers. Can you help me place one stamp on the envelope that has the number one on it? (Pause.) Great job! Now let s place two stamps on the envelope that has the number two on it. (Continue with the activity.) After the Activity: Great job! Now we have stamps on our envelopes. These are ready for a special delivery! We re going to hear more about the best special delivery ever in large group today. I cannot wait! Transition: Move to Worship and Story by inviting the children to count over and over as they walk to the story area. 3. Wrap It Up What You Need: Several small boxes (one per child - provide about 12 and we can reuse for 10:45 service), Christmas wrapping paper, clear tape, stick-on bows BINS: Cut the wrapping paper into sheets for the children to use. Before the Activity: How many of you opened some gifts this week? (Pause.) Awesome! Let s wrap some gifts now. Instruct the children to use the wrapping supplies to gift wrap the boxes. After the Activity: That was fun. Your gifts look amazing! We ve been talking all month long about the best gift all: Jesus. Let s go hear more about Him in our Bible story today! 3
RUG TIME: instead of large group, briefly gather the children on a blanket/ rug and tell them the story based on the script (on a seperate sheet). If anyone has brought an offering, invite them to come up and place it in the pouch from in the bin. Small Groups: Creating a Safe Place to Connect These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand and remember today s Bible story and Bottom Line. Pick several to lead your class through, allowing for time at the end to complete the Journal/ Prayer section 1. Star It Hear from God Memory Verse Review What You Need: Star Verse Activity Page, light green cardstock, and star stickers (8 per child) Before the Activity: Let s say our memory verse together. God has given a son to us, Isaiah 9:6. Great job! During the Activity: (Give each child an Activity Page and star stickers.) This is a page with our memory verse written on it. There are circles under each word. (Point.) Please place a star sticker in each circle. We are using star stickers because God helped the wise men find baby Jesus by placing a huge star in the sky! (Do activity.) After the Activity: Great job putting the stars on your page! Let s say our memory verse again. God has given a son to us, Isaiah 9:6. God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus! How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus! 2. Star Outline Talk About God Bible Story Review What You Need: Star Activity Page and several bottles of glitter glue Before the Activity: The wise men followed a star to see God s Son. During the Activity: Let s use this shimmery glitter glue to trace the edge of our stars. I want you to carefully outline the stars on your page with glitter glue. After the Activity: Your stars look beautiful! Isn t it amazing that God would place a star in the sky for the wise men to follow? God sent Jesus to show those wise men just how 4
much He loves them! And God sent Jesus to show us His love for us too. How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. 3. Scavenger Hunt Live for God Application Activity What You Need: Rhyme, Story Picture 1 (1 picture per child), Story Picture 2 (1 picture per child), Story Picture 3 (1 picture per child), Story Picture 4 (1 picture per child), and Hunt Activity Pages (1 sheet per child); 4 medium-sized boxes; red, blue, yellow, and green wrapping/ construction paper BINS: Wrap each box in one color of the wrapping/ construction paper and secure with the tape. You will have a red, blue, green, and yellow box. Place the pictures from Picture 1 inside the red box, place the pictures from Picture 2 inside the blue box, place the pictures from Picture 3 inside the green box, and place the pictures from Picture 4 inside the yellow box. Before the Activity: Place the boxes in various places in the activity area. Be sure they are visible to the children. We are going on a scavenger hunt! I am going to read to you a rhyme that gives you clues. Your clues will tell what box to look in. (Point to boxes.) Everyone will need to put their listening ears on! (Give each child a Hunt Activity Page, write their name on it and leave it at the table so they can glue pictures on it as they collect them.) During the Activity: (Start reading Rhyme 1. ) Which box do you think we need to look in? (Pause.) Yes! Red! Look in the red box and see what you find. (Pause.) It is a picture of the angel telling Mary that she will have God s Son. Take the picture back to your page and glue it in the first box. (Point.) Are you ready for another clue? (Pause and read Rhyme 2. ) Which box do you think we need to look in this time? (Pause.) Yes! The blue box. Look in the blue box and see what you find. (Pause.) It is a picture of when Jesus was born. [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus! Take the picture back to your page and glue it in the second box. (Point.) Are you ready for our next clue? (Pause and read Rhyme 3. ) Which box do you think we need to look in? (Pause.) Yes, green. Look in the green box and see what you find. (Pause.) It is a picture of when the angels came and told the shepherds that Jesus was born. Take this picture back to your page and glue it in the third box. (Pause and read Rhyme 4. ) Which box do you think we need to look in now? (Pause.) Yes! Yellow! Look in the yellow box and see what you find. (Pause.) It is a picture of the wise men going to see baby Jesus. Take the picture back to your page and glue it in the first box. (Point.) Great job! After the Activity: (Read Rhyme 5. ) Great job finding all of the pictures and putting them on your page! That was so fun. God loves us so much that He gave us JESUS! 5
We can never forget that. How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus! 4. Present Hop Live for God Application Activity What You Need: Presents Activity Page (on 4 different colors, several copies of each color) painters tape, CD player to play worship music Before the Activity:Place the copied Presents on the floor in the open area of the room in a circle and tape down. Let s have a present hop! I want you to hop around the circle from present to present. I ll play some music. When the music stops, I want you to stop hopping right where you are and call out the color of the present you re standing on. Are you ready? (Pause.) Okay, let s hop! After the Activity: That was fun! You are great hoppers! The wise men who visited Jesus brought special gifts to him. But the REAL gift was Jesus himself! We know that God loves us because [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. 5. Star Frame Live for God Application Activity What You Need: Frame and Frame Note Activity Pages, and star stickers Before the Activity: We are going to make a beautiful frame that you can put your Christmas picture in! During the Activity: Let s put stars around our frame since we talked about how God put a star in the sky to show the wise men where Jesus was. Encourage the children to place stickers around the frame. Ask them to place the stars in between the two solid black lines around the frame. Nice job! After the Activity: I love your frames especially the stars! You can take these home and be reminded of the wise men. They went to see the best present we ll ever receive, Jesus. God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus. How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus! 6
Journal/ Prayer Time (5 minutes) Journal/ Prayer time is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. They ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer requests. What You Need: Memory Verse Card paper clipped in your Bible at Isaiah 9:6, journal, fun-shaped pen, hand stamp or sticker for each child, Star Activity Page, yellow cardstock, scissors, a ruler, and tape BINS: cut out each star on Star activity page. Tape one yellow star to the top of a ruler. Each small group will need one ruler with a yellow star. SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): It s Small Group time! I want you to follow this star (hold up yellow star), just like the wise men did in our story today. (Lead children to your Small Group spot.) Here we are. Now let s sit down when I count to three. One, two, three, sit down with me! (Hold up the yellow star.) This star led us to our special spot. Where did the star in our Bible story lead the wise men? (Pause.) Yes! The star led the wise men to Jesus! The wise men wanted to worship Jesus and tell Him how special He is. They even brought gifts! The wise men knew that Jesus was very special. Who can tell me what makes Jesus so special? (Pause.) That s right! Jesus is special because Jesus is God s Son! And God gave us Jesus because He loves us. How do we know God loves us? CHILDREN and SGL: [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus! SGL: Yes! And THAT is what makes Christmas so special. [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. We have been learning a Bible verse to help us remember that [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. I brought a special hand stamp/sticker for anyone who wants to try and say the verse. But first we will say it together for practice. Everyone stand up. Just say what I say and do what I do! (Open Bible to verse and lay it down.) CHILDREN and SGL: God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you re holding a baby) to us (point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6. (Hold hands open like a book.) 7
(Repeat several times.) SGL: You sound ready to me! I want everyone to sit down, and when it s your turn to say the verse you can stand up. Who wants to try and say the verse first? (Give each child the opportunity to say the verse on his own. Have your hand stamp/stickers ready to give when they say it.) I am so proud of you! Everyone give a friend a high-five. (Encourage everyone to give high-fives as you give each child a high-five.) Now it s time to write in our journal and pray. (Hold journal and fun-shaped pen.) When I give you the star to hold, I want you to tell me something special about Jesus to write in our prayer journal. Then you will pass it to the next person and they will tell me something special about Jesus. We ll keep passing the star around until everyone has told me something special about Jesus. We can use the list we make when we pray to tell Jesus how special He is, just like when the wise men went to see Jesus to tell Him how special He is. (Note: You may have to help the children think of things to say, such as: Jesus is special because He is God s Son, Jesus wants to be our friend forever, Jesus can do anything, Jesus loves everyone, etc.) (Give each child the star to hold. 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.) I love the list we made. Thank you for your help. Now we can use it when we pray. Let s close our eyes and put our hands together so we can pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray? (Give each child who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.) Prayer SGL: Dear God, Jesus is so special. Thank You for loving us enough to give us Jesus. (Name of child) says Jesus is special because (read what he/she listed). (Repeat for each child.) Please help us to never stop telling Jesus how special He is. We love You! In Jesus name, amen. 8