GA Journey Hop to It! Poster Sticky-note flags Markers Sidewalk chalk Penny Print these memory tips on a poster: _ Genesis is the first book in the Bible. It tells about first things like the first people and the first sin. _ Psalms has an S sound like the songs of praise you ll find in the _ Luke starts with the letter L. It s a look at the life of Jesus. _ Acts is about the actions and adventures of the first Christians. _ Help GAs mark Genesis, Psalms, Luke, and Acts in their with self-stick flags. Then read aloud the related memory tip listed on the poster. _ Using sidewalk chalk, create a hopscotch grid on a sidewalk outside to use as a sample. Print a Bible book name inside each hopscotch square. Create a hopscotch game to learn and review facts about some important Bible books. 1. Gather these items: a Bible, four sticky-note flags, and a piece of sidewalk chalk. 2. Open your Bible and find these Bible books: Genesis, the first book in the Bible; Psalms, found in the middle of the Bible; Luke, the third book in the New Testament; and Acts, the fifth book in the New Testament. 3. Place a sticky-note flag on a page in each Bible book you found. 4. Go outside and draw a hopscotch game with a piece of sidewalk chalk. Look at your leader s game for an example of what to draw. 5. Print a Bible book name Genesis, Psalms, Luke, Acts inside each hopscotch square. 6. Toss a penny onto a hopscotch square. Hop to the square. Read the name of the book listed in the square. Tell something you learned about the 7. Complete pages 23-26 in your GA Journey activity Bible Beady Buddies Plastic pony beads Chenille stems Plastic foam blocks Bible Verse Slips (p. 96) _ Using wire cutters, snip chenille stems in half. _ Cut plastic foam blocks into 3-by-3-by-1-inch pieces for each GA to use as a foam base. _ Play a quick memory game to help younger GAs identify times and places they can read their. Player 1 begins: I can read my Bible under a tree. Player 2 continues: I can read my Bible under a tree and after dinner. Keep adding to the list until everyone has participated or it becomes too long to remember. 2. 3. Make a Bible Beady Buddy. Use it as a reminder to read your Bible every day. 1. Choose seven pony beads, one for each day of the week. 2. Thread the beads onto a chenille stem. Bend and twist the stem into a curly shape. 3. Push the stem s ends all the way through the foam base. Bend under to lock in place. 4. Ask your leader for a set of Bible Verse Slips. 5. Read and learn a Bible verse each day during the upcoming week. After saying the verse from memory, slide a bead from one side of the Bible Beady Buddy to the other. 6. Complete pages 23-26 in your GA Journey activity 2
Leader Guide Bible Telling Bible Telling Cards (p. 97-98) _ Copy and cut apart the Bible Telling Cards. Make a set for each GA. _ Learn the Bible story of Jesus birth. Tell the story to GAs while demonstrating the movements on the Bible Telling Cards. Teach GAs the words and movements from each card, or encourage GAs to work with a partner to learn the movements. _ Mention that many missionaries teach Bible stories by using movements. _ Make arrangements for GAs to tell the story to another preschool or children s group in the church. Learn and tell the story of Jesus birth by using a method used by missionaries. 1. Find and read Luke 2:1 20, the story of Jesus birth. 2. Ask your leader for a set of Bible Telling Cards. 3. Read the sentences and movement suggestions on Story Card 1. Practice each movement while telling that portion of the story. 4. Repeat step 3 using Story Cards 2, 3, and 4. 5. Practice telling the story to a friend. 6. Tell the story to another group in your church. 7. Complete pages 23-26 in your GA Journey activity Concentrate! Bible dictionaries Blank index cards Envelopes Fine-tip markers Pens Poster board or large sheet of paper _ Print the names of the Old Testament history books, Joshua through Esther, on a sheet of poster board. _ Demonstrate how to use a Bible dictionary to find a definition or description of a Bible Make and play a concentration game after exploring some Old Testament Bible books. 1. Locate the Old Testament history books, Joshua through Esther. Read the chapter and section headings to discover the stories and people found in each 2. Get 13 index cards and a pair of scissors. Cut each card in half. On one half of each card, print the name of each book of history. On the other half, write a definition or description of the Bible Use a Bible dictionary to complete this step. 3. Scramble your cards. Place them face down on a table or the floor. 4. Play a concentration game, turning over two cards at a time to match the Bible book name to its definition or description. 5. Place your cards in an envelope to take home and use again. 6. Complete pages 23-26 in your GA Journey activity 3
GA Journey Take a Hike Pencils Hiking Guide (p. 102) Clipboards Parental Permission Slip (p. 90) _ Obtain parental permission to take girls for a walk outside the church. _ Make a copy of the Hiking Guide for each girl. _ Share your expectations for safety and behavior outside the meeting room. _ Lead the girls on a safe, supervised hike in the neighborhood around your church or in an area of your choice. _ Mention that God is pleased when children pray for people they do not know and people who do not know Him. Take a hike and pray along the way. 1. Gather these items: a copy of the Hiking Guide, a clipboard, and a pencil. 2. Take a hike with your leader. 3. Select stopping points. Write down what you see and how you can pray for others. For example, if you are near a school, you may write, I see a school. What I see reminds me to pray for my teachers. 4. Pray between stopping points. 5. When you return to the meeting room, ask your leader for an extra Hiking Guide to take home. Take a prayer hike in your neighborhood with a parent. 6. Complete pages 27-30 in your GA Journey activity Just Between God and Me Prayer Journals Small spiral notebooks Markers Stickers Pencils _ Help GAs understand that they can bring their greatest, most personal and private thoughts to God. _ Explain the meaning of the word praise. Decorate a note Use it as a prayer journal to record prayer requests and write about answered prayers. 1. Ask your leader for a notebook, markers, stickers, and a pencil. 2. Decorate the cover of your note 3. Write a list of six prayer requests in your note Leave several blank lines between each request. 4. On a different page, write a prayer praising God. 5. Take your journal home. On the blank lines, write how God answers your prayer requests. Record additional prayer requests and praises in your journal. 6. Complete pages 27-30 in your GA Journey activity 4
Leader Guide From-the-Heart Words of Art Old scenic calendar photos Plain paper or parchment Fine-tip markers Glue sticks _ Explain that it is very appropriate to use words of Scripture in a prayer, or as a prayer. Say: The Book of Psalms is filled with honest, from-the-heart prayers: prayers of sorrow and loneliness as well as prayers of joy and praise. _ Give each girl a Bible, a piece of paper or parchment, markers, calendar photo, scissors, and a glue stick. Create a collage of words that praise God. 1. Locate the Book of Psalms in your Bible. Read one of these psalms: _ Psalm 6 _ Psalm 27 _ Psalm 43 _ Psalm 57 _ Psalm 113 _ Psalm 138 2. On a piece of paper, paraphrase (put into your own words) some of the verses from the psalm you read. Print large letters on the paper. 3. Cut apart the printed words or phrases. 4. Glue the words or phrases in order on the calendar picture. 5. Complete pages 27-30 in your GA Journey activity Letter Go! Game 8 1 2 -by-11 envelopes Markers Index cards or card stock Category Cards (p. 103) _ Cut 1-inch squares from index cards or card stock for girls to use as a pattern. _ Copy and cut apart the Category Cards. _ Give each girl an envelope, markers, scissors, and index cards or card stock. _ Explain that a consistent, effective prayer life does not happen by accident; good pray-ers work hard to develop good prayer habits. Play a letter game and think about your prayer habits. 1. Draw a line down the center of the front of an envelope. On one side of the line, make and decorate a list titled Good Prayer Habits; on the other side, make and decorate a list titled Bad Prayer Habits. Share your lists with the girls in your group. 2. On index cards or card stock, cut squares for every letter in your first, middle, and last name. Ask your leader for a square pattern to trace before cutting. 3. Print a letter on each square, then seal the squares inside the envelope. Cut a corner large enough to allow the squares to fall out of the envelope. 4. Play Letter Go with the girls in your group. Select a Category Card. Shake three letter squares from your envelope. When you think of a word that begins with one of the letters and fits into the category, stand up, slap the table, and shout Letter Go, and then tell your answer. 5. Complete pages 27-30 in your GA Journey activity 5
GA Journey T ithes and Offering Plate Paper Pencil Paper plate Gold or silver crayon Yellow felt Glue Quarters Gray construction paper _ Draw five dashes on a sheet of paper to play a letter guessing game. The mystery word is tithe. If the GA suggests a letter that occurs in the word, write the letter in its correct position. If the letter is not in the word, write the letter to the side. _ Explain that tithes and offerings are part of our earned money that we offer back to God. Learn about tithes and offerings while making an offering plate. 1. Try to guess the mystery word on the sheet of paper by suggesting letters of the alphabet. 2. Find out some ways your church uses tithe and offering money by talking with your GA leader or church staff. 3. Ask your leader for a paper plate, a gold or silver crayon, a piece of yellow felt and gray construction paper, scissors, glue, a small piece of paper, a pencil, and a quarter. 4. Color the rim of the paper plate. 5. Cut a circle out of yellow felt to fit the center of the plate. 6. Glue the circle to the plate. 7. Write the Bible phrase, Bring a tithe to church on a small piece of paper. Glue the paper onto the center of the felt. 8. Trace the shape of a quarter onto gray construction paper. Make and cut apart several shapes. 9. Glue the coin shapes to the yellow felt on the plate. 10. Complete pages 15-18 in your GA Journey activity activity Cell Phone Magnets Bible Cell Phone Pattern (p. 92) Pencil Craft foam White, rectangular sticker such as a mailing label Circle stickers such as 1 4-inch color-coding round labels Self-adhesive magnets Fine-tip permanent marker _ Make a copy of the Cell Phone Pattern for each GA. _ Give each GA a piece of craft foam, a white label, 12 round labels, a marker, and two magnets. Make a cell phone magnet to use as a reminder to be a cheerful giver. 1. Locate and read 2 Corinthians 9:7 in your Bible. 2. Trace the cell phone pattern on craft foam and cut it apart. 3. Attach a white, rectangular sticker to the top of the craft foam to make a cell phone screen. If necessary, cut the sticker to fit. 4. To make the keypad, attach circle stickers in four rows of three. Write the corresponding numbers and letters on each sticker. 5. On the screen, write the text message, God luvs a cheerful givr :). 6. Place two self-adhesive magnets on the back of the foam cell phone. 7. Put your magnet in a visible location at home. 8. Complete pages 15-18 in your GA Journey activity 6
Leader Guide Promotional Video Video camera Offering plate Bible _ Talk with church staff or teachers to set times when GAs can film various ministries taking place in the church. Create a promotional video to help the people in your church understand who benefits from the church offering. 1. Use the script below: _ Scene 1 A GA is sitting in a church pew and putting money in an offering plate. She looks at the camera and says, Why should I give my money to the church? _ Scene 2 Film the various ministries of your church that benefit from the offering. _ Scene 3 Show different materials used in the church. Possibilities include: curriculum materials, office supplies, hymnals, and so forth. Say, Your offering helps to buy these items for the church. _ Scene 4 Interview a church staff member about the importance of giving to the church. _ Scene 5 Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. 2. Show the video to the group. 3. Complete pages 15-18 in your GA Journey activity Penny Challenge Pennies, about 25 Bible Items for obstacle course Craft sticks Masking tape Plastic foam cups _ Set up an obstacle course. _ Tape a tic-tac-toe gameboard on the floor. _ If more than one GA is completing this project, consider setting up stations. Ask an adult to stand at each station. _ Talk about numerous examples of how your church uses offering money. Complete four penny challenges while learning about how you can give to missions and what the Bible says about giving. 1. Build a penny tower by stacking pennies, one on top of the other, until the tower falls. After it falls, read Psalm 96:8 and name three ways your church uses offering money to help people. 2. Walk through an obstacle course while balancing a penny on a craft stick. If the penny falls, start over. At the end of the obstacle course, pick up a Bible. Find and read 1 Chronicles 16:29. Name something you can do without to save money for missions. 3. Play Tic-Tac-Toss. Toss pennies onto a tic-tac-toe gameboard. When you get three pennies in a row, pick up a Bible and read Deuteronomy 16:17. Pray for people in your church to be generous givers. 4. Play Penny Slide. Place a plastic foam cup near the end of a table. Slide pennies across the table until you knock the cup off the table. When the cup falls, pick up a Bible and read 1 Timothy 6:18. Name something you can share with people in need. 5. Complete pages 15-18 in your GA Journey activity 7