First LookTM Curriculum for Preschoolers Date: September 15/16, 2012 Basic Truths: God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Key Question: Who loves you? Bottom Line: God loves me. Memory Verse: Nothing can separate us from God s love. Romans 8:39, NIrV Bible Story Focus: God loves me and will save the day. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Daniel 3:10-13 Here s an overview of what you ll be teaching this week: Make It Fun Protect Us Fire Pom Poms Make It True Worship Memory Verse Offering Video Make It Stick Fiery Hopscotch ***PREP DURING MAKE IT FUN*** Paper Plate Angels ***PREP DURING MAKE IT FUN*** Response Pictures Cards Snack Make It Real Small Group Time Prayer Dismissal 1
Make It Fun (Introductory Activities, 15 minutes) Set up the two activities below before class begins. While the children are entering the classroom begin Protect Us. Let one or two teachers lead activities in the room while another teacher greets parents and kids at the door. 1. Protect Us What You Need: No supplies needed. What You Do: Direct the children to stand in a circle. Ask one child to stand in the middle of the circle. Lead the other children to hold hands in a circle with the adult volunteers on the outside of the circle. Tell the children in the circle that their job is to protect the child in the middle by not letting the adults in the circle. Carefully have the adults pretend to try to break through the circle. They should act as if they are trying very hard, even making it comical by falling down when they try to break through. DO NOT EVER BREAK THROUGH. Have the adults make two attempts, and then let another child have a turn being in the middle. Repeat until each child has had a turn in the middle of the circle. What You Say: At the end of the activity: Wow! We have some big muscles in here! You guys were amazing at keeping the adults; you were so strong! Our story today is about three men who needed protection. Are you ready to hear our true story from the Bible? 2. Fire Pom Poms What You Need: Fire Pom-Pom Activity on orange and red cardstock, scissors, and tape. What You Do: Give each child one orange and one red copy of Fire Pom-Pom. Assist the children in cutting down the lines on the Activity Page, being sure to stop before the end of the page. Once all the lines have been cut, help them roll up the uncut end of the paper and tape it to make a pom-pom handle. When you are finished, each child should have one red and one orange pom-pom. (Note: The children will use the pom-poms made in this activity during the Bible story.) What You Say: Okay, everyone, hold up your orange and red fire pom-poms. When I count to three, I want you to shake them like this (demonstrating a gentle shake). Here we go! One, two, three! Shake those fire pom-poms! And... STOP! I think we re ready! We get to be the fire in today s story. This is gong to be so fun! Let s use our fire pom poms while we sing songs to God! 2
Make It True (Large Group Worship, 20 minutes) This month s songs are on the September Preschool Worship CD. Kids and teachers should play instruments during the verses and then do the motions during the chorus. The motions for the verses are provided if you find them helpful, but we encourage you just to dance around in worship. 1. Music Forever and Ever Verse God (Point up) made me (Point to self) And He loves me (Hug and twist) And He wants to be (Pound fists on top of each other) My friend (Point both thumbs to chest) (Repeat) Chorus Forever and ever, (Wave hands in the air above head.) He wants to be my friend (Point both thumbs to chest.) (Repeat 4x) Always There Chorus Oh, oh, whoa-oh-oh I ll trust in You to help me be brave Oh, oh, whoa-oh-oh I know that You are always there When I am afraid (Bring arms in and shake like scared) I ll trust in You to help me be brave (Arms up like strong man) And when I am scared (Bring arms in and shake like scared) I know that You are always there (Pointer fingers pointing up) Verse 1 Like Moses at the Red Sea (Stand tall. Hands on hips) His knees were shakin while the waves were crashin (Hands on knees, moving in and out) Round and round and round (Turn round and round) But he made it to dry ground, and he said(stop facing forward) Verse 2 Like Joshua in Jericho (Stand tall. Hands on hips) His knees were shakin while the people were marchin (Hands on knees, moving in and out) Round and round and round (Turn round and round) Then the walls came tumblin down, and he said (Stop facing forward) 2. Verse LEADER: Are you ready to learn this month s memory verse? It s all about how much God loves us! Nothing (shake your head side to side and wave your arms in front of you) can separate us (lock your fingers together in front of you and act like you can t pull them apart) from God s love (point up with one finger and then hug yourself) Romans 8:39 (open your hands like a book) Let s do it together. Are you ready? Do the verse with the kids two or three times. 3
3. Offering Pass around the offering bag or bucket to collect any offering for today. Say, We collect offering every week to give the first of our money back to God- 2 Chronicles 31:5 says... the Israelites gave generously. They didn t hold back! They brought in a tithe of everything they owned. Let s offer to God with generous hearts our tithes for today. 4. Video *Be sure to prep Fiery Hopscotch and Paper Plate Angel in the Make it Stick section during this time. Play this week s video from Wonder, Look at God s Story DVD. 4
Make It Stick (Application Activities, 35 minutes) 1. Fiery Hopscotch What You Need: Tape, bean bag. What You Do: Make a hopscotch board on the floor with tape. Begin with one square, then two squares, then one, two, one, and end with two. Have the children make a line at the start of the hopscotch game. Tell the children that they are each going to throw the bean bag onto one of the squares, turning it into the fiery furnace! As the children hop on the squares, let them know they want to try to skip over the square where they threw the bean bag. For an added challenge, the older children can say this month s Bible verse while they jump. What You Say: Just as God loved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and sent an angel to saved them, God loves us and He sent Jesus to save us! As our Bible verse tells us, Nothing can separate us from God s love! Who loves you? [Bottom Line] God loves me! Again! Who loves you? [Bottom Line] God loves me! 2. Paper Plate Angel What You Need: Paper plates, Angel Activity Page, Avery labels, markers, tissue paper, a stapler, and scissors. What You Do: Before the activity: Trace the angel pattern onto a paper plate for each child. The pattern will only be the upper half of the angel's body. If time allows, cut out the pattern for the children, leaving the bottom half of the plate whole. (Tip: Cut several plates at a time to save time.) During the activity: Give each child a paper plate angel and let them decorate it using the markers and stickers. Encourage the child to give the angel eyes, a nose, and a mouth. The children can also use white tissue paper to decorate the angel if time allows. After it is decorated, fold the bottom of the plate around to where it makes a cone shape. Staple it into place. Your angel should now be able to stand up. What You Say: Your angels are so beautiful! They remind me of the angel in our story today. What did the angel do? (Pause.) Yes, God sent an angel to protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. God is always with us and will protect us! Who loves you? [Bottom Line] God loves me! 3. Response Picture Cards What You Need: Memory Verse Card, orange and red tissue paper, glue sticks, crayons. What You Do: Give each child a memory verse card, going over the verse together with the motions. Have the children turn the card over and talk about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the children color. When they re finished, help them glue the red and orange tissue paper pieces AROUND Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. What You Say: The mean king threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the hot fire for not praying to his statue! That had to be SO scary! What did God do when the mean king threw the three guys into the fire? Yes! God saved the day! God sent an angel to protect them. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that God loved them and would always love them, no matter what. No matter what happens, good or bad, God will always loves us. Who loves you? [Bottom Line] God loves me! 4. Snack Time Talk to the children about times when it has been hard for them to obey their parents or the Lord. No matter what, God loves each of us and wants to help us do the right thing. 5
Make It Real (Small Groups, 5 minutes) Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. 1. Small Group Time SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): Our new Bible verse says, Nothing can separate us from God s love, Romans 8:39. Let s say that verse together a few times. Nothing (shake your head side to side and wave your arms in front of you) can separate us (lock your fingers together in front of you and act like you can t pull them apart) from God s love (point up with one finger and then hug yourself) Romans 8:39 (open your hands like a book) 2. Prayer If time allows feel free to ask for prayer requests. Dear God, we want to show You how much we love You by obeying your rules. Will You please help us? Help us to (name things on the list). Thank You for loving us and helping us. Amen. 3. Get Ready to Dismiss Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Paper Plate Angel Memory Verse Cards Greet parents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that [Bottom Line] God loves me! Encourage parents to repeat the bottom line at home and help their child understand that [Bottom Line] God loves me! This month s Small Talk Resource is available at the Loop Welcome Desk if any parents ask. 6