God Sees Us Wherever We Are Lesson 11 Bible Point God Sees Us Bible Verse God sees us (adapted from Job 31:4). Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n realize that God saw Jonah everywhere he went, n learn that God is in control, and n understand that God sees them wherever they are. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n God sees us wherever we are. Jonah 1:1 2:10 Jonah s hatred of the Assyrians made his assignment to preach to them seem to be an impossible mission. So he boarded a ship to a far off destination in an effort to flee from God. It was only then that he began to embark on a truly impossible mission. No one can escape God s presence. While Jonah slept aboard the ship, God sent a storm that sent the sailors into a panic. They resorted to drawing lots to determine who was to blame for the storm. God allowed the sailors to discover that Jonah was the cause of the problem. This was not to confirm the sailors false beliefs in the powers of divination. In fact, just the opposite happened. Jonah revealed to the sailors that the God of Israel was the true God who created the world and had exclusive power over it. And God confirmed Jonah s claim by calming the storm instantly after they tossed Jonah into the sea. The sailors response was more than mere amazement; they worshipped the Lord. Prayer Read Luke 11:28. The sailors made an immediate change upon learning of God s power. What changes have you made as a result of your relationship with Jesus? Pray: Lord, let my life be an example of your power to change others. Give me opportunities to bring you honor as I 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. 151
Lesson 11 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: Whale of a Time Crawl inside a funny fish, and pretend to go for a ride on the sea. Option 2: Storm at Sea Create pretend storms in tubs of water. Name tags (p. 8), marker, tape or safety pins, scissors, CD player Large box, grocery sacks or sponge and paints, tape, construction paper, blue tablecloth or bedsheet Washtubs and dishpans, water, whisks, spoons, plastic tablecloth or shower curtain, liquid dish soap Bible Story Time Pick-Up Time Sing a song as they help clean up the room. Bible Song Sing about the Bible. CD player Bible, CD player Bible Activities God Sees Us Interact with the StoryBoard as they hear the story of Jonah from Jonah 1:1 2:10. God Sees Us Song Sing a song about how God sees us. Every Day, Every Way Play a fun sharing game to remind them that God sees them everywhere. 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 how God sees us. Box fish from Option 1, water, tuna salad, crackers CD player Kitchen pan, building block, small pillow, book Fish patterns (p. 163), tape, scissors, lunch sack, construction paper, box fish from Option 1, marker CD player Closing Bible Craft Decorate and wear fishy eyeglasses. Bible Game Learn a new action rhyme, and pretend to be fish. I See You! Say a prayer and have a snack. Fish-shaped eyeglass pattern (p. 164), stiff paper, markers, crayons, scissors, small stickers Box fish from Option 1 Small paper cups, yogurt or pudding, bananas, plastic knife and spoons, napkins *See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies. 152
Arrival Activities n Welcome Time SUPPLIES: name tags (p. 8), scissors, marker, tape or safety pins, CD player Play God Sees Us (adapted from Job 31:4) (track 9) from track 9 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 sees us. Place Cuddles out of sight so the children won t be distracted by him during the next activity. God Sees Us Wherever We Are Repeating the Bible Point over and over will help the children remember it and apply it to their lives. Help children learn one point that will stay with them for days and even years to come. n Option 1: Whale of a Time SUPPLIES: large box, grocery sacks or sponge and paints, tape, construction paper, blue tablecloth or bedsheet Before class, make a large box into a fish by spongepainting it or covering it with sacks. Add construction paper fins, eyes, and a smiling mouth. Spread a blue tablecloth or bedsheet on the floor at one end of the room. Set the box fish on the sea, and invite children to go for a whale of a ride! Let them crawl in and out of the pretend whale, pat the whale, and push it around on the sea. Tell children this friendly whale doesn t like to be sat on but he does like children to crawl inside his mouth. As children explore the whale, remind them of how God sent a big fish to save Jonah s life. Tell them that even when Jonah was inside the fish, God could see him just as God sees us wherever we are. n Option 2: Storm at Sea SUPPLIES: washtubs and dishpans, water, whisks, spoons, plastic tablecloth or shower curtain, liquid dish soap Cover part of the floor with a plastic tablecloth or old shower curtain. Set out washtubs and dishpans partially filled with water. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to each tub. Place whisks and large spoons beside the tubs of water. As children arrive, invite them to make storms at sea by swirling and stirring the water with the implements. As children create waves and billowy foam, make comments such as God sees us even in rain and storms and God makes the clouds and the rain. Point out that when Jonah hid from God on the boat, God sent the storm to tell Jonah he d done something wrong. Remind children that when Jonah was thrown into the water, God stopped the storm. Point out that God sees us all the time, even in storms. You ll use the box fish again. Keep it in your classroom so you won t have to fish for alternative ideas! To make a simpler fish, drape a blanket over a table. Use safety pins to pin construction paper fins, eyes, and mouth to the blanket, and have children crawl inside. 153
Lesson 11 n Pick-Up Time SUPPLIES: CD player As Arrival Activities draw to a close, gently mention that it will track 2 soon be time to clean up. Encourage children to help you pick up things in the room as you lead them in singing Let s Pick Up All Our Things (track 2). Use the CD and sing the song to the tune of Looby Loo. 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. Bible Story Time n Bible Song SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player Say: Who sees us? God sees us. How do we know? The tracks 3, 11 Bible tells us in the book of Jonah. Show children the Bible. The Bible is God s special book. It tells us about God. Let s sing a song about the Bible. Using the CD, lead children in singing God s Special Book (track 3) 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! Say: The Bible is God s special book. In the Bible, we can read all about how God sees us. God sees us at church, and God sees your house. Ask: What else does God see? Pause as children respond. Say: It s important to learn about the Bible, because the Bible is God s special story. Let s sing a fun song all about the Bible! Lead children in singing The Bible Is God s Special Book (track 11) with the CD. Play the song several times, if possible. Lyrics are on page 24. 154
God Sees Us Wherever We Are Say: God sees us, and we can learn all about how God does that in the Bible. Let s learn more! n Bible Story: God Sees Us SUPPLIES: box fish from Option 1, water, tuna salad, crackers Before class begins, please check to make sure the sensory items are still securely attached so the children can touch them without danger of pulling off the items or putting them into their mouths. Also, prepare a bowl of tuna salad by mixing canned tuna with a little mayonnaise and your choice of seasonings. (Tuna salad may be safely kept for one hour without refrigeration.) Fill the little fish squirter with water. Place the box fish from Option 1 near the StoryBoard. If you chose not to do Option 1, set a table near the StoryBoard for children to crawl under later. Place the tuna salad and crackers behind the StoryBoard. Panel 1 Fasten the figure of Jonah to the boat on Panel 1. Say: We re going to hear an exciting Bible story about Jonah. Where is Jonah? Is he hiding? I know that God sees Jonah. Can you see him? Encourage children to point to Jonah in the boat. Jonah is hiding from God. God wanted Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh to obey him, but Jonah didn t want to. So Jonah ran away and hid from God. Ask: Can God see Jonah on the boat? (Yes; God sees Jonah.) Say: God sees us wherever we are, just as God saw Jonah. Let s play Peekaboo! Cover your eyes. Pause, and then uncover your eyes. Peekaboo! Oh, there you are! I couldn t see you. Cover your eyes again. Pause. Peekaboo! I can see you! Ask: Who sees us all the time? (God.) Whisper: Jonah s eyes were closed because he was sleeping. Rest your head on your hands and make soft snoring noises. Say: Then all of a sudden boom! God sent a storm to tell Jonah that he was naughty to run and hide. The lightning flashed. Show me how the lightning flashed. Quickly open and close your fingers. The wind blew the waves. Make blowing sounds and let children move the waves and blow the sail on Panel 1. Even in the storm, God watched over Jonah. The sailors were afraid. They knew Jonah had disobeyed God. Jonah told the sailors to toss him in the sea, and then God would stop the storm. So the sailors tossed Jonah into the water. Ker-splash! Then God stopped the storm. Let s see where Jonah went. 155
Lesson 11 Panel 2 Reveal Panel 2, and point to the fish. Ask: What s swimming in the sea? (A big fish; a whale.) Say: The big fish swallowed Jonah. Slide the figure of Jonah through the slit in the fish s mouth. Bye, Jonah! Show me how the fish swallowed Jonah. Cup your hands, and then clap them together and say: Gulp! Using the little fish squirter, spray water above the children s heads. Shiver and rub your arms. It was cold and wet inside that big fish. Ask: Can God see Jonah in the fish? (Yes.) Say: God sees Jonah. We can peek at Jonah, too. Have children lift the flap on the fish. Encourage toddlers to say, Peekaboo! God sees you! Ask: What do you think it was like inside the fish? (Icky; black.) Say: I m sure it smelled fishy. Let s smell and taste some fish. Place a bit of tuna salad on a cracker for each child to smell and taste. Fish is good to eat, isn t it? But fish aren t good to ride in! Jonah stayed in the big fish for three days and nights. Jonah wanted out, so he prayed to God. Jonah told God he was sorry for running away. We can go inside a pretend fish. Invite children to crawl through the box fish from Option 1, or have them crawl under a table and out the other side. Count to three each time a child crawls through. Then say: God saw Jonah in a boat, in a storm, and in a fish. Let s see where else Jonah went. Panels 2 & 3 Reveal Panels 2 and 3. Fold the fish s tail out for a 3-D effect. Say: God heard Jonah s prayers and told the fish to spit Jonah out. Fasten the figure of Jonah to the beach. Jonah is safe on the beach. Ask: What else is on the beach? (A crab; seashells; sand.) Say: Let s touch the sand and the seashell. Ask: How does sand feel? (Rough; scratchy; owie.) What s the seashell like? (Pretty; shiny.) Repeat the following action rhyme, and then have children say it with you a few times. Little crab on the beach (spread your hands on the floor), You have arms that stretch and reach. (Lift arms high.) Say: God saw Jonah on the boat and in the storm. God saw Jonah in the big fish and on the beach. I m happy that God sees us. Let s sing a song to show how happy we are. Important: Put away the StoryBoard out of reach of children. 156
God Sees Us Wherever We Are n God Sees Us Song SUPPLIES: CD player Lead children in singing God Sees Us (adapted from Job 31:4) track 9 (track 9) with the CD, to the tune of Three Blind Mice. God sees us; God sees us. All the time, rain or shine. God sees us every night and day. God sees us when we work or play. God says he ll never look away. God sees us. (Repeat.) Say: It makes me happy to know that God sees us wherever we are. God loves us and knows what we need and when we need it. God knew that we d need help because of the bad things we sometimes do, so he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus took the punishment for the bad things we do. When we believe in Jesus, he ll be our forever friend and we can live with him someday in heaven. I m so glad God sent Jesus! Let s throw a great big kiss to God to thank him for sending Jesus! Lead children in throwing a kiss to God. Now let s play a game to remind us that God watches over us everywhere we go. Bible Activities n Every Day, Every Way SUPPLIES: kitchen pan, building block, small pillow, book Say: God had a big job for Jonah to do. He wanted Jonah to go to a town called Nineveh and tell the people there to stop doing bad things. But Jonah didn t want to go, so he thought he could hide from God. Jonah couldn t hide from God, because God sees us wherever we are. God saw Jonah in the boat; God saw Jonah in the water; God saw Jonah in the fish s belly; and God saw Jonah on the dry land. God sees us wherever we are. 157
Lesson 11 Having children remain standing after they ve shared an item will help you know who hasn t had a turn yet. If you have a small class and enough items for every child, have the children share the items with you. Let s play a game to help us remember that, just as God saw Jonah, God sees us. Distribute the garden veggie, fish squirter, animal finger puppets, plus the supplies listed on previous page, one item per child. Explain that each child will get a turn with one of the items. Say: When I call out what you re holding, stand up, and then go share that item with a friend. Ready? God sees us in the kitchen when we re holding a pan. Pause while the child with the pan stands. Encourage that child to give the pan to someone who is not holding an item. Have the child remain standing. God sees us at the zoo when we re looking at the animals. Pause while the children with the animal finger puppets stand. Encourage those children to give the puppets to children without an item. God sees us when we re swimming in the lake with the fish. Pause while the child with the fish squirter stands. Then encourage that child to give the fish to another child. God sees us in the garden when we re picking vegetables. Pause while the child holding the garden veggie stands. Encourage that child to give the veggie to another child. God sees us when we re playing with our building blocks. Pause while the child with the building block stands. Encourage that child to give the block to another child. God sees us when we re at the library looking at books. Pause while the child with the book stands. Let him or her give the book to another child. God sees us when we re sleeping with our heads on our pillows. Pause while the child with the pillow stands. Encourage that child to give the pillow to someone else. Continue playing until everyone has had a turn to stand. Say: God sees us everywhere we go. God sees us all the time, wherever we are. Ask: What special place do you like to go with your mom or dad? (To the park; to the grocery store; to the beach.) Who sees you when you go to that special place? (Mommy and Daddy; the worker; the lifeguard; other people; God.) Who sees you wherever you go? (God; Mommy; Daddy; teacher.) Say: God loves us, and he watches over us wherever we go. God saw Jonah in the storm and inside the big fish. Let s tell Cuddles that God sees us just as he saw Jonah. n Interactive Bible Bulletin Board SUPPLIES: fish patterns (p. 163), tape, scissors, lunch sack, construction paper, box fish from Option 1, marker Before class, photocopy the fish patterns, and cut out a paper fish for each child. Use a lunch sack to make a large-mouthed fish for the bulletin board. Draw eyes on the sides of the open end of a lunch sack. Add construction paper fins on the sides and top and a colorful tail fin. Tape the lunch sack to the bulletin board. Be sure the mouth is open. 158
God Sees Us Wherever We Are Teacher: Cuddles: Teacher: Cuddles: Teacher: Teacher: Cuddles: Teacher: Cuddles: Teacher: Slide the box fish from Option 1 over to the bulletin board, or place a fish table near the bulletin board. Bring out Cuddles the Lamb. (Have Cuddles snuggle into you and hide his face.) Hello, Cuddles! My, that s a big cuddle. Ooo! There s something fishy on the floor. (Points to the box fish.) You mean this fish? It s just a pretend fish, Cuddles. But it s a nice fish, and we had lots of fun crawling inside it, didn t we, children? Let s give the fish a friendly pat. Have children pat the fish. (Patting the fish one time) I guess it is a nice fish. Lambs are fluffier and give cuddly hugs, see? Have Cuddles give each child a cuddly hug. (Laughing) Yes, Cuddles. Lambs do give nice hugs. But we re adding fish to our bulletin board to remind us of our Bible story. Children, let s help Cuddles understand. Who was inside a big fish? (Wait for children to say it was Jonah.) Who saw Jonah in the fish? Have children tell Cuddles that God saw Jonah. Then gently untape the figure of Jonah from the boat. Slide the figure of Jonah inside the paper-sack fish. God saw Jonah inside the big fish. You mean God sees us no matter where we are? That s right. Children, who does God see all the time? (Help children tell Cuddles that God sees us all the time.) Would you like to help us add fish to our bulletin board, Cuddles? Yes! I like being a helper! Have Cuddles hand each child a paper fish. Help children tape their fish to the water. Each time a fish is added, lead children in saying, God sees fish and God sees us. We re glad that God knows where we are and takes care of us. Cuddles, you can help us sing a song about how God sees us! Leave Jonah inside the paper-sack fish for next week. After singing the following song, set Cuddles out of sight. 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 Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 159
Lesson 11 n Sing It Out SUPPLIES: CD player track 9 n Bible Craft Have Cuddles lead children in singing God Sees Us (adapted from Job 31:4) (track 9) with the CD, to the tune of Three Blind Mice. The lyrics are on page 157. Say: Think of all the places where God saw Jonah. God saw Jonah in the boat. God saw Jonah in the storm. And God saw Jonah inside the big fish. God sees us wherever we are. Isn t that special? We can make pretend glasses and see lots of things, too. SUPPLIES: fish-shaped eyeglass pattern (p. 164), stiff paper, markers, crayons, scissors, small stickers Before class, photocopy the fish-shaped eyeglass pattern on stiff paper for each child. Cut out the glasses. Set out markers, crayons, and small stickers. Hand out the fishy eyeglasses. Help children decorate their glasses with colorful scribbles and stickers. As children work, make comments such as God sees us in our classroom and I m glad that God sees us wherever we are. After the glasses are decorated, bend the earpieces back at the dotted lines. Let children wear their pretend glasses to see things around the room. Say: God doesn t need glasses to see us. And our fishy glasses are just pretend. But we can have fun pretending to see things. Let s wear our fishy glasses while we play a game. n Bible Game SUPPLIES: box fish from Option 1 Place the box fish from Option 1 or a table in the center of the floor. Say: Let s pretend we re fish. Can you wiggle your fins? Encourage children to wiggle their arms and hands. Good! Now show me how you swim through the water. Let children swim around the room. Point to the box fish. Look! Can you see the pretty fish over there? We ll swim by and say hello! Swim with toddlers over to the box fish, and encourage them to say hello and pat the fish. When everyone has patted the fish, say: Stop swimming, little fish. It s time to rest. Let s learn a rhyme about fish. Repeat the following rhyme while slowly swimming. Then lead children in saying the rhyme as they swim around the room a few times. Glub, glub, blub, blub, I m a great big fish! Glub, glub, blub, blub, Watch me swim and swish! When you re all swum out, say: It s fun being pretend fish, isn t it? Now, little fish, let s swim quietly to the snack table. 160
Closing n I See You! SUPPLIES: small paper cups, yogurt or pudding, banana slices, plastic knife and spoons, napkins Before this activity, have an adult helper drop a couple of banana slices into small paper cups for the children. Then spoon vanilla yogurt or pudding on top of the banana slices. Say: We ve learned that God saw Jonah and that God sees us wherever we are. Let s thank God for seeing us all the time. Fold your hands. Pray: Dear God, thank you for seeing us all the time. And thank you for the good food you give us to eat. In Jesus name, amen. Have children wash their hands. Then give each child a paper cup, a plastic spoon, and a napkin. Say: There s a yummy surprise in your pudding! When you find it, say, I see you! After the children find their hidden banana slices, ask: Does God see the bananas in your treat? (Yes, God sees everything; no, they re hiding.) Say: God sees everything! God saw Jonah inside the big fish, and God sees the bananas in your treat. We know that God sees us, too. When children have finished, have them throw their cups, spoons, and napkins in the wastebasket. Have children wear their fishy eyeglasses home. God Sees Us Wherever We Are 161
Lesson 11 n Are You Sleeping, Jonah? Have toddlers sit on the floor around the taped outline of the boat from Lesson 10. Choose a child to lie down in the middle of the boat. Tell the child to close his or her eyes and pretend to be Jonah sleeping on the boat. Quietly choose another child to tiptoe over and say, Wake up, Jonah. The child who woke up Jonah becomes the new Jonah. Continue until each child has had a turn. n Sea Swimmers 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. Make an obstacle course in your room using chairs, tables, and the box fish from Option 1. Tell the children to pretend to swim under, around, and through the obstacles by crawling or scooting on their tummies. Remind them that God saw Jonah and the big fish swimming in the sea and that God sees us. 162
Patterns Cut loosely around each pattern instead of cutting exactly on the outlines. Permission to photocopy these patterns from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum for Toddlers & 2s granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 163
Pattern Make a photocopy of this pattern on stiff paper for each child. Then cut on the lines. 164 Permission to photocopy this pattern from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum for Toddlers & 2s granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com