All Things New What Will Children Learn? 78 best-loved Bible stories and Christian Basics. Year 1 The Bible The Basics Fall-1 Winter-1 Spring-1 Genesis: Stories of Beginnings Creation Adam and Eve The Fall The Flood Abraham Sarah Rebekah s Well Jacob s Ladder Rachel & Leah Joseph s Dreams Joseph and Pharaoh Joseph and His Brothers The Jesse Tree: An Old Testament Review Jesus: Stories of God s Kingdom Zechariah and Elizabeth Mary Says Yes Jesus in the Manger The Magi Into Egypt John the Baptist Jesus and Nathanael Jesus & Jairus Daughter Jesus Calms the Storm Jesus Feeds 5,000 Jesus and the Children Parable: The Good Samaritan Bartimaeus Easter and Pentecost: Stories of the Church The Prophet Isaiah & the Suffering Servant Jesus Enters Jerusalem Jesus Teaches: The Ten Bridesmaids Jesus & His Friends: At Bethany The Last Supper Jesus Death and Resurrection Mary Magdalene, Witness to the Risen Lord Road to Emmaus Ascension Pentecost The First Christians A Letter on Love (1 Corinthians) One in Christ (Galatians 3) Prayer Hearing and Sharing Faith Stories Stewardship Advent and Christmas Baptism The Apostles Creed Holy Week and Easter Holy Communion Year 2 The Bible The Basics Fall-2 Winter-2 Spring-2 Heritage: People of God Miriam Saves Moses Burning Bush Moses and Pharaoh Exodus Manna in the Desert Gift of the Law Entry into Canaan God Calls Samuel David Elijah & Elisha Stories of Exile: Daniel, Esther and Others Return & Rebuilding The Jesse Tree: An Old Testament Review Emmanuel: God With Us Mary & Elizabeth Birth of John the Baptist Shepherds to the Manger Anna & Simeon Jesus at Twelve Baptism and Temptation The First Disciples Jesus & the Paralyzed Man Jesus Walks on Water Parable: The Great Dinner Party Mary & Martha Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son Zacchaeus A New People: God s Spirit and the Church The Prophet Jeremiah & the New Covenant Jesus in the Temple Jesus Teaches: The Widow s Gift Jesus & His Friends: Preparations The Last Supper Jesus Death and Resurrection Thomas, Witness to the Risen Lord The Sea of Tiberias The Great Commission The Good News Goes Out: Paul, the Ethiopian and Others The House of Lydia A Letter on Love (1 John) A Final Vision (Revelation 21) Fellowship Bible Skills The Church The Church Year Baptism The Lord s Prayer Reconciliation Holy Communion Outreach Grades 1 & 2 5
Session 1 Focus Creation In this Session We tell the story of God s creation (Genesis 1: 1 2:4). We explore how we are made to be like God. We practice the faith skill of praying together. Timing Scripture Background: The Bible begins with a beautiful affirmation of God as Creator of the cosmos, the earth, the living world and all people (Genesis 1:1 2:4). We are made in God s image. That means God makes us creators, too. We can help children explore ways we act as creators: we make things, we enter into relationships and we bless the world and people around us. When we affirm each child as the unique person he or she is, we faith formation leaders share in God s creative work. For more information on scripture and faith formation, turn to page 12. 1. Open (5-15 minutes) 2. Tell the Story (5-10 minutes) 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more: Art (10-30 minutes) Movement (5-20 minutes) Faith Skills (5-20 minutes) 4. Close (5-10 minutes) Materials God saw that it was good. Art: Prayer Poster: poster board, markers, construction paper, scissors, glue; Giant Self-Portraits: big sheets of paper, markers Genesis 1:12 Grades 1 & 2 Session 1 9
Session 1 Session Plan 1. Open Make a Circle: In these first sessions, make sure you learn the names of children when they arrive. If necessary, ask children to wear name tags. Children are happier to do this if you re wearing a name tag, too. When you re ready to begin, gather in a circle. Story: (abridged from Genesis 1:1-31, NRSV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God said, Let there be light. God saw that the light was good. God said, Let dry land appear. And God saw that it was good. God made the wild animals of the earth. And God saw that it was good. God created humankind; God made people male and female God created them. God saw everything that God had made, and indeed it was very good. Response: Pause for a moment and say today s scripture verse as a conclusion to the story: God saw that it was good. Encourage children to join you. Then distribute today s All Things Newspaper (#1) to the children and discuss the question on page one: God calls all things good. What good things from God can you name? Opening Prayer: You can begin by using Track 1 on the All Things New CD to lead children in singing Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works. This creation hymn sets the words of an American folk hymn to the tune of a Dakota Indian chant. Invite children to turn to page 30 in their Kids at Prayer books. Help them pray: Thanks be to God. 2. Tell the Story Getting Ready: Open a Bible. Explain: This is a story from the Bible, the special book of God s people. Today s story is the first story in the Bible. In this story, you ll hear the word humankind, which means people. We are people. We are humankind. 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more of the response activities on the facing page. In the All Things Newspaper, you ll find today s Art activity on page two. 4. Close Make a Circle: Gather once more in a circle. Take time to invite children to share their responses: a picture drawn, a story told or a game played. Then say: God makes all things good. We have many good things from God. Let s keep silence a moment and think of the good things God makes. Closing Prayer: After a few moments, repeat with the children the opening song or prayer. 10 Session 1 Grades 1 & 2
Session 1 Respond to the Story Art Prayer Poster: Use today s All Things Newspaper to help children brainstorm ideas for a Prayer Poster. Read God Makes... (on page two) aloud with the children. Ask children to name other things God makes. Don t make a distinction between natural items, such as trees, and man-made items, such as cars. In Christian doctrine, all created things are good because God holds everything in being. Provide a sheet of poster board, markers, construction paper, scissors and glue. Invite children to fill the poster with pictures of what God makes. Children can make items with markers or from cut paper. Write God Makes... in the middle of the poster. Giant Self-Portraits: Tell children that today s story names important gifts from God: light, dry land, all the animals and all people. Explain that God makes us, too. We are very important gifts from God. Provide children with markers and big sheets of butcher paper or newsprint. Help children trace outlines of one another on the paper. Invite children to use the outlines to make giant self-portraits of God s very important gifts. Movement Creation Story: You ll find a dramatic telling of the creation story on Track 7 of the All Things New CD. This story, which takes about 4 minutes to play, has a dramatic refrain of Sooo good chanted by a group of children. Play the story for the children and ask them to join the refrain throughout the story. Then play it again, inviting children to act out the story in silence as it is told. Invite the children to show Sooo good with their bodies instead of their words! God s People Here: Remind children that today s story names important gifts from God: light, dry land, all the animals and all people. Explain that God makes us, too. Invite the children to find out more about the people God makes who are here in the room today. Then make up simple directions that children can follow that serve as introductions to one another; for example, Stand if you re wearing blue. Jump up and down if you like pizza. Hop on one foot if you have a sister. Continue for a few minutes, incorporating any appropriate suggestions from the children. Faith Skills: Prayer Prayer Book: Children will use their own Kids at Prayer book throughout the year. Keep extras on hands for visitors, too. Today invite children to open the books and look through them. Ask them to turn to page 2, where there is space for them to write their names and the name of their church. Invite children to decorate this page as they like. Prayer Response: If the children made a Prayer Poster (see Art, above), you can use it for this activity. Otherwise use the activity God Makes... on page two of the All Things Newspaper. Help children name things that God makes. (Scooters and pizzas, too? Yes. God holds all things in being.) For each item named, help children respond with thanks. Thank you, God, for pizza. Grades 1 & 2 Session 1 11
More More for You, the Leader More about Today s Story There are two creation stories in the Bible. Today s session tells the first creation story, in which God calls forth from the void the cosmos, the earth and its living creatures (Genesis 1:1 2:4). In the creation stories of many other cultures, creation is portrayed as an accident or an act of evil. In sharp contrast, the Bible affirms creation as the deliberate act of a God who pronounces all things good. The creation story was not intended as early science but as early prayer. It doesn t attempt to explain every detail of the physical cosmos, but lovingly affirms the nature of God as Creator and the nature of human beings who are made in God s image. When we read aloud the story, we praise God as the One who brings life into the world, enters into relationship with that creation and blesses all things made. Because we are made in God s image, we, too, are called to bring life to God s world, enter into relationship with all beings and bless all that is made. Early Christian writers noted that the story names the sixth day (Friday) as the day of creation for people. They wrote that Jesus recreated human nature by offering himself to God on the cross on Good Friday. Reflection: We invite you to reflect prayerfully on today s story. What part of creation moves you to feelings of wonder, love or praise? God blesses all things and all people by calling them good. How do you know yourself as ultimately good, made in God s image and loved and blessed by God? How do you know yourself as a creator, too? The Basics for Leaders Children in the First & Second Grades: You may have children from only one grade or both grades in your group. Each child in your group is unique, but sometimes children who are in these grades share certain characteristics. The youngest children in these groups tend to be the kind of children that adults affectionately call wiggle worms. They re in constant motion and they like silliness and games. The oldest children in these groups, however, often want more time apart and are more ready to take time to be serious, too. All the children in this age group still want a trustworthy adult to hover around when they feel needy which can be often. They have more ability to join in activities than their younger siblings, but they re still young enough to tire quickly. Be sensitive to the moods of the group. Feel free to take frequent breaks for easy nonverbal activities and even free play. The most powerful lesson you will lead over the coming weeks is that the Church welcomes each and every one of these children just as they are today. The good God...has made all things good. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome (461 A.D.) 12 Session 1 Grades 1 & 2