God Made the Creatures of the Sky Lesson 5 Bible Point God Made the Animals Bible Verse God made the animals (adapted from Genesis 1:25). Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n learn about creatures that fly, n learn that God made the birds and butterflies, and n thank God for the creatures of the sky. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n God made the creatures of the sky. Genesis 1:20-25 In today s lesson we look at God s creation of the birds. Ever watch an eagle soar? Ever watch a mother robin bring worms to feed the closed-eyed, open-mouthed, screeching little birds in her nest? Ever try to fly? Help your children know that God made all the birds. Perhaps focus on the wonder of a creature that can fly effortlessly through the sky. God knows what he s doing. Prayer Read Isaiah 40:31. Imagine soaring peacefully above the earth, like an eagle. How does that change the way your problems and concerns affect you? Pray: God, help me to remember to wait upon you and to allow you to make me soar like an eagle, especially when Help the children I teach to wait for you It s important to say the Bible Point just as it s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over throughout the lesson will help kids remember it and apply it to their lives. Before the Lesson n Collect items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed in the chart on the next page. n Pray for the children in your class and for God s direction in teaching the lesson. Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s 57
Lesson 5 This Lesson at a Glance Arrival Activities Direct children to one or more of the optional activities until everyone arrives. What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies Welcome Time Receive a warm welcome from the teacher and Cuddles the Lamb. Option 1: Seeds for Feed Scoop and pour birdseed. Name tags (p. 8), marker, tape or safety pins, CD player Dishpans, birdseed, funnels, scoops, cups, large spoons, broom, dustpan Option 2: Feather Painting Paint with feathers. Pick-Up Time Sing a song as they help clean up the room. Large feathers, shallow pan, tempera paint, construction paper, marker CD player Bible Story Time Bible Song Sing a song about the Bible. Bible, CD player Sensory & Action God Made the Animals Interact with sensory items on the StoryBoard as they hear the Creation story from Genesis 1:20-25. Animals Song Sing a song about God creating animals. CD player CD player Bible Activities Interactive Bible Bulletin Board Review the Bible Point with Cuddles the Lamb as they create a bulletin board together. Sing It Out Sing a song about God creating animals. Bird and butterfly patterns (p. 66), scissors, construction paper, tape CD player Bible Craft Create colorful butterflies. Bible Game Pretend to be birds and fly around the room. Butterfly pattern (p. 67), heavy white paper, pencil, scissors, marker, small paintbrushes, colored tissue paper, bowl, glue, newspaper Colorful scarves, CD player Closing Wiggly Worms Say a prayer, and have a snack. Cheese doodles, paper bowls 58 Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s *See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.
Arrival Activities n Welcome Time SUPPLIES: name tags (p. 8), marker, tape or safety pins, CD player track 12 Play Bird Sounds (track 12) from the CD as children are arriving. Use Cuddles the Lamb to help you greet each child by name and with a warm smile. Tape or pin a name tag to each child s clothing. Say: Today we re going to learn that God made the animals. Place Cuddles out of sight so the children won t be distracted by him during the next activity. God Made the Creatures of the Sky n Option 1: Seeds for Feed SUPPLIES: birdseed, dishpans, scoops, cups, funnels, spoons, broom, dustpan Put birdseed in a few dishpans or one large container. Provide scoops, cups, funnels, and large spoons for the children to scoop and pour the birdseed. Explain to the children that birds eat seeds. Remind the children that God made the animals and that God made the birds. Keep a broom and dustpan nearby to clean up spills. If you use tables in your classroom, make sure they re child-sized. Forcing children to work at adultsized tables can cause spills, messes, and even accidents. n Option 2: Feather Painting SUPPLIES: tempera paint, pan, feathers, construction paper, marker Pour a small amount of paint into a shallow pan. Set out feathers and colored construction paper. Write each child s name on his or her paper. Encourage the children to dip feathers in the paint and make patterns on the paper. Ask the children where feathers come from. Remind children that made the animals and that God made the birds. God n Pick-Up Time SUPPLIES: CD player track 3 As Arrival Activities draw to a close, gently mention that it will soon be time to clean up. Encourage children to help you pick up the things in the room as you lead them in singing Let s Pick Up All Our Things. Use the CD (track 3) and sing the song to the tune of Looby Loo. Don t forget to put paint shirts or smocks on the children before they paint. For cheap and easy smocks, have children put on old adultsized shirts backward. Let s pick up all our things. Let s pick up all our things. Let s pick up all our things And put them all away. Everyone here can help. Everyone here can help. Everyone here can help. Let s put it all away. Let s pick up all our things. Let s pick up all our things. Let s pick up all our things. It s time to stop our play. Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s 59
Lesson 5 Bible Story Time n Bible Song SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player Say: Who made the animals? The Bible tells us in Genesis track 4 1:25 that God made the animals. Show children the Bible. The Bible is God s special book. The Bible tells us about God. Let s sing a song about the Bible. Using the CD (track 4), lead children in singing God s Special Book to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. This is God s special book. Yes, it s God s book you see! I learn about all God has done, And his love for me! (Repeat.) Bible! n Bible Story: God Made the Animals SUPPLIES: CD player tracks 9, 10 & 12 As you are preparing the StoryBoard with the sensory items, think through the Bible story and the interactive questions you will ask. Think about voice changes, gestures, and eye contact. Before class begins, prepare your StoryBoard by following the assembly instructions provided in the Learning Lab. The purpose of the StoryBoard is to provide an interactive, sensory learning opportunity for your toddlers and 2s. Please attach the sensory items securely so the children can touch them without danger of pulling the items off or putting them into their mouths. Take the tambourine from the Learning Lab. Panel 1 Place the CD player beside you. Hold the folded StoryBoard. Say: We re going to hear about how God made the animals. Unfold Panel 1 of the StoryBoard, which shows birds and a butterfly in the sky. Play the Bird Sounds segment of the CD (track 12), and then pause the CD. After God made the world, he filled the world with animals and birds. God made the birds to fly in the sky. Birds have feathers to help them fly. Let s find a bird on our StoryBoard. Hold the StoryBoard so the children can touch the feathers. Ask: How do feathers feel? (Soft; tickly.) Who made all the wonderful birds? (God did.) 60 Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s
God Made the Creatures of the Sky What do birds say to each other? (Chirp chirp; Tweet tweet!) Hold up the tambourine from the Learning Lab. Say: God made the birds to fly in the sky. God made the birds to sing. They make pretty music. You all sound like beautiful birds! Let s pretend to be birds flying in the sky. Tap the tambourine as children flap their arms and fly like birds around the room for a few minutes. Help a few of the children to tap out a simple one-two-three rhythm with the tambourine. Shake the tambourine vigorously to announce that time s up. Say: Come back to the nest, little birds. Fly over here to me. God made all the birds that fly in the sky. Thank you, God, for all the birds. Let s see what else God made. Say: God made the animals. God made the birds. God also made butterflies. Their wings have so many beautiful colors. Let s find a butterfly on our StoryBoard. Hold the StoryBoard so the children can touch the butterfly. Ask: What do its wings feel like? (Smooth; soft.) Say: God made all the creatures that fly. Wouldn t it be fun to be a butterfly? Let s make fluttery little butterflies with our hands. Show children how to hold their thumbs together to make butterfly bodies and wiggle their fingers for butterfly wings. Encourage children to flutter their butterflies up and down. Then say: Let s see what else God made. Young toddlers often get frustrated waiting for a turn. As they wait, remind them that everyone will have a turn and that they can even have two turns if they are patient. Panel 2 Reveal Panel 2 of the StoryBoard, which shows a whale, fish, and a starfish in the sea. Say: God made the animals. God put animals and fish in the sea. Let s find a picture of a whale and feel its skin. Encourage children to touch the whale on the StoryBoard. Ask: How does the whale s skin feel? (Hard; cold.) Say: Did you know that whales make noises? It almost sounds as if they re talking. Let s listen to some whale talk. Play the Sea Sounds #1 (track 9) segment of the CD. Pause the CD after the sounds have finished. God made lots of different kinds of fish with different shapes and colors. Fish have scales on their sides. Let s touch the fish in our picture and see how it feels. Hold the StoryBoard down for the children to touch the fish. Ask: How do the scales feel? (Rough; bumpy.) Say: There s another kind of sea creature called a starfish. Its body is in the shape of a star. Let s take a close look at it and touch it. Hold the StoryBoard down for the children to touch the starfish. Ask: How does the starfish feel? (Rough; scratchy.) Say: Let s find some other animals God made. Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s 61
Lesson 5 Panel 3 Unfold Panel 3 of the StoryBoard, which shows farm, jungle, forest, and domesticated animals. Say: God made the animals. He made animals that live on a farm. Let s find the sheep. Allow the children to touch the sheep fleece. Play the sheep sound on the Animal Sounds segment of the CD (track 10). Say: God also made animals that live in the jungle. God made the lion. Allow children to touch the lion s mane as you play the lion s roar on the Animal Sounds segment of the CD (track 10). Say: God made some animals gentle enough to be our pets. Allow children to touch the kitten. As children touch the kitten, play the kitten sound on the Animal Sounds segment of the CD (track 10). Show children the StoryBoard with all three panels open. Point to each animal and say: God made the animals. He made the birds and butterflies with beautiful colors. He made the fish in the sea. God made the animals on the farm. He made the animals in the jungle. He made the animals in the forest. God made pets for us to enjoy. Important: Put away the StoryBoard out of reach of children. Return the tambourine to the Learning Lab for use in later lessons. Say: God made animals because he loves us. And God sent his Son, Jesus, because he loves us. Thank you, God, for animals! And thank you, God, for Jesus! n Animals Song SUPPLIES: CD player Using the CD, lead children in singing God Made Us All (track track 11 11) to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell. God made the big giraffe. (Stick out neck.) God made the tiny fish. (Put hands together and move back and forth like a fish.) God made each of us (point to different children) Just the way he wished. (Point index finger to your temple.) God made the elephant (swing arm like a trunk) Look just like it should. (Raise trunk. ) God made me the way I am (point to self) And said, It is good. (Point to smile.) I m glad I m not a cat. (Point fingers out from mouth like whiskers.) I m glad I m not a dog. (Put your hands on your ears like floppy ears.) I m glad that I am God s dear child (point to self) And not a big bullfrog! (Hop.) 62 Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s
Bible Activities n Interactive Bible Bulletin Board SUPPLIES: bird and butterfly patterns (p. 66), scissors, construction paper, tape This week you will begin making a bulletin board featuring animals. You may wish to leave some of the background scenery from Module 1 on your bulletin board. Each week you will add different kinds of animals. This week you ll put up birds and butterflies. Before class, photocopy and cut out the bird and butterfly patterns. To make bright-colored birds and butterflies, photocopy the patterns onto colored construction paper. God Made the Creatures of the Sky Cuddles: Bring out Cuddles the Lamb. Go through the following script, and then put Cuddles away out of sight of the children. Hi! My name is Cuddles. I am so happy to be here. What did you learn today? Teacher: We learned that God made the animals. God made the birds. God made the butterflies. God made all the creatures that fly. Cuddles: Teacher: Cuddles: (Flapping his arms ) Ugh ugh if I just flap my wings faster, maybe I can fly! Cuddles, you can t fly. You don t have wings. And besides you re a little lamb, not a bird or butterfly. Only birds and butterflies can fly? Why is that? Teacher: Because God made the animals, Cuddles. And God made each animal special. Birds and butterflies fly, and sheep have wool to make cuddly coats and sweaters. Cuddles: Teacher: I am pretty special. Yes you are, Cuddles. And now, would you like to be a special helper? We re going to put pictures of butterflies and birds on the bulletin board. As you hand a child a bird or butterfly, have Cuddles ask the child what it is. For example: Cuddles: What is that? Child: It s a bird. Cuddles: Who makes the birds? Child: God does. Help the children tape the birds and butterflies to the bulletin board or wall. Each time a child places a creature on the bulletin board, say, God made [name of creature]. Have children repeat that sentence with you. Lead the children in saying, Thank you, God, for making animals. Have the children point to and identify the pictures they ve placed on the bulletin board. Permission to photocopy this script from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s 63
Lesson 5 Say: I m so glad that God made the animals. Let s sing a song about some of the different animals God made. If you meet in a rented facility or in a multipurpose room, consider purchasing a bulletin board on wheels or a board that is small enough to carry. Your efforts will provide opportunities for learning as well as familiar decorations for your kids! n Sing It Out SUPPLIES: CD player Using the CD, lead children in singing God Made Us All track 11 (track 11) to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell. The lyrics are on page 62. n Bible Craft SUPPLIES: butterfly pattern (p. 67), heavy white paper, pencil, scissors, marker, small paintbrushes, colored tissue paper, bowl, glue, newspaper Before class, use the butterfly pattern to trace butterflies onto heavy white paper. Cut out the butterflies. Prepare a butterfly for each child in class. Cut colored tissue paper into 2-inch squares. Cover a table with newspaper. Set out a bowl of glue or liquid starch, paintbrushes, the tissue paper squares, and the butterflies. Give each child a butterfly with his or her name written on the back of it. Have the children brush glue or liquid starch onto the wings and then add the colored tissue paper. As children work, compliment them on the beautiful butterflies they re making. Remind them that God made the animals and that God made the butterflies and birds. Set aside the finished butterflies to dry. Say: Butterflies fly and so do birds. Let s play a game and turn into pretend birds. n Bible Game SUPPLIES: CD player, scarves Give each child a colorful scarf. As you play the Bird Sounds track 12 segment of the CD (track 12), have children pretend to be birds and fly around the room. Encourage children to wave the scarves like colorful wings. Say: God made the animals. He made birds and bugs and butterflies. Let s fly to the snack table for a fun treat. Closing n Wiggly Worms SUPPLIES: cheese doodles, paper bowls Set a few cheese doodles in a bowl for each child, and put the bowls on the snack table. Gather children on the floor. Say: We ve learned how God created the world. Let s say thank you prayers to God for all the animals he s made for us. Encourage children to say, Thank you, God, for and name animals God created. 64 Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s
God Made the Creatures of the Sky Now let s pretend we re hungry little birds looking for worms. We can nibble pretend cheese-doodle worms. Have children pretend to fly around the room looking for worms. Encourage children to each land on a seat at the table and eat their cheese doodles. Say: God made the animals. As children are leaving, remind them to take home their projects. Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the Parent Page handout (p. 56) for this module, and send it home with your children. Encourage parents to use the handout to plan meaningful family activities to reinforce this module s topic. n Meet the Birds! For Extra Time If you have a long class time or want to add additional elements to your lesson, try one of the following activities. Ask someone in your church to bring his or her bird to class for the children to see. Ask the person to tell the children what the bird eats, where it sleeps, and how the bird is cared for. n Animal Action Rhyme Lead children in this action rhyme. God made the animals large and tall. (Stand up tall, and then reach up.) God made the animals tiny and small. (Crouch down low.) God made animals that stomp on the ground. (Stomp your feet.) God made animals that run all around. (Run in little circles.) God made animals with great big sounds. (Roar.) God made animals with quiet sounds. (Peep.) God made the animals for you and me. If you could be an animal, what would you be? Have each child name an animal he or she would like to be and then pretend to be that animal. Ask each child to tell you why he or she would like to be that animal. n Birds in the Sky Take the children on a walk outdoors and look for signs of birds. Point out nests in the trees, bird feeders, and feathers on the ground. Hold very still and listen for birds chirping. When you find items related to birds, stop and thank God for birds. Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s 65
Patterns 66 Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
Butterfly Pattern Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Toddlers & 2s granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 67