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 5 & 6 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. 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 (15-30 minutes) Movement (10-20 minutes) Faith Skills (5-35 minutes) 4. Close (5-10 minutes) Materials God saw that it was good. Art: Hymn Poster: poster board, construction paper, scissors, glue, tape; Name Tags: heavy paper, markers, scissors Faith Skills: Prayer Books: markers or colored pencils; Giant Bible: large sheets of heavy paper or poster board, markers, hole punch, thick yarn Genesis 1:12 Grades 5 & 6 Session 1 9
Session 1 Session Plan 1. Open Make a Circle: You can play music from the All Things New CD as children arrive. In today s Art, we offer a Name Tag activity to help you and the children learn one another s names. Children are happier to wear name tags if you do, too. When you re ready to begin, gather in a circle. 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: Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. 2. Tell the Story Getting Ready: Open a Bible. Explain: Each week, we will read from the Bible, the sacred book of God s people. This Fall, we are reading stories from the first book of the Bible called Genesis. Genesis means beginnings, and today s story tells about the beginnings of time itself. 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 separated the waters under from the waters above. God said, Let dry land appear. And God saw that it was good. God made the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars. And God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the waters bring forth living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth. 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; male and female he created them. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. Response: Pause for a moment and invite children to say words they heard in today s story. After a few words or a few moments of silence, conclude by saying today s scripture verse: God saw that it was good. 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more of the response activities on the facing page. You can also invite children to talk together about the What Do You Think? questions on page two of the All Things Newspaper (#1) and to read longer sections from today s story in a Bible. You ll find help on page two with today s Art activity Hymn Poster. 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 retelling or a movement game. Then say: God creates all things. God asks us to be creators, too. Let s be quiet for a moment together with our creator God. You can choose to listen or to talk to God while we re quiet together. Closing Prayer: After a few moments, repeat with the children the opening song or prayer. 10 Session 1 Grades 5 & 6
Session 1 Respond to the Story Art Hymn Poster: Use the All Things Newspaper to help children understand that all parts of the universe are part of God s creation. On page two, read Sing a New Song? aloud with the children. Play Earth and All Stars, Track 5 on the All Things New CD. Provide poster board, markers, construction paper, scissors, glue and tape. Invite children to first write new lines for the hymn on the poster board. Children can then use markers or construction paper shapes to illustrate their hymn with pictures, doodles or other words. Name Tags: Explain that we are made to be like God: we create things from new songs to great soccer kicks. Ask, What kinds of creators would we like to be some day? What kinds of creators are we now? From the All Things New Poster Packet, find the poster Six Ways to Paint with Watercolors. Help children follow the directions for wet-on-wet watercolors to fill their name tags with blooms of color. When they are dry, children can use black markers to write their names on the tags. Movement Interviews: Ask children to brainstorm questions that we like to ask people when we re getting to know them, such as, What s your favorite comic strip? What do you like to do after school? Write the questions on a board or large sheet of paper. Ask children to form pairs or trios and interview each other. They can use the list of questions or new questions of their own. Then invite each child to introduce one other child to the group. Faith Skills: Prayer Prayer Book: Children will use their own Kids at Prayer books 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. Scripture Skills: Help children find their own way around a Bible. Show children how to use the table of contents, chapter numbers and verse numbers to find a story. Give them Genesis 1:1 as the first line of today s story, and ask them to find it. Then invite children to find the verse numbers for words they remember from today s story. Giant Bible: Use this ongoing activity to help children explore the stories of Fall. Invite children to work together to create a Giant Bible, with a page for each story this Fall. Provide heavy paper or poster board, at least 12 x 18. Invite children to consider what their Giant Bible could look like; for example, it could be a comic strip Bible, a graffiti Bible, a picture book Bible, etc. (Children can mix these designs too.) Invite some volunteers to make a cover. Invite other volunteers to make a single page for today s story. Ask that the page include the first line of the story together with the citation. Explain that the citation gives the book title, the chapter and the verse together. Write today s citation on a board for them to copy: Genesis 1:1. Punch several holes in the left hand side of the pages, and thread the holes with yarn. Tie the yarn to bind the book. Variation: Children can work together to make a mock newspaper page called About Us, based on the interviews. Grades 5 & 6 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. 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 Fifth & Sixth Grades: You may have children from only one grade or both grades in your group. Depending on your community s practice, children may already be in a middle school or may be finishing out elementary school together. Each child in your group is unique, but sometimes children who are in these grades share certain characteristics. For example, most of the children in this age group are less interested in pleasing adults than they were when younger. They still value good relationships with adults, but relationships with peers can engage their attention even more. The youngest children in these groups tend to be very active and energetic. They ll be grateful any time you can find a way to take them outside or let them get up and move! Some of the oldest children in these groups are moving into puberty and early adolescence, and may be experiencing mood swings and other strong, troubling emotions. An adult who treats young people with dignity and respect is still the best support each of these children can find. The good God...has made all things good. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome (461 A.D.) 12 Session 1 Grades 5 & 6