Get Ready for Christmas Leader Guide: Lesson 5 December 23 Preschool: Age 3 - Kindergarten Jesus Grows Up Series Verse But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord, Luke 2:10-11 NIV The Point of the Lesson: Students will learn that Jesus grew in four ways. He grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with men. They will learn that they should grow in those ways too. They will also learn that Jesus had difficulties in His life, but He used those difficulties to help Him grow. The Power of God s Word: Jesus grew wise and strong. Luke 2:52 (paraphrase) The Prayer of Each Child: Dear God, Thank You so much for sending Jesus to earth as a baby. I know that Jesus grew in many ways, and I pray that You would help me to grow in all of those ways also. Help me to trust in You wherever I am, whether at home, school or at play. Help me to make wise choices in what I do so that I can grow big and strong and love You more each day. I love You, Jesus. In Jesus Name, Amen The Lesson in a Word: Grow 1
Prepare: (Before service) Object Lesson: Tape Measure or Growth Chart Craft Materials: For each child: photocopy Craft Supplement (3 page Growth Chart) on card stock, stapler, scissors, crayons or markers, glue and large paper clips. Game Materials: None Worship: Preschool & Kindergarten needs Christmas Worship DVD weekly Story: Classroom Storybook (Provided on CD; print out and spiral bind at the top so that you have a visual teaching aid.) Student Handouts: Student Handout Family Enteraction Guide for the week Activity Sheets Check In Time This is a time when children are checked into a classroom. They are provided with a choice of three-to-four learning center activities to participate in. Time is allowed at the end of this segment for classroom clean-up. 8:30 Preschool Continue on with Lesson by doing Worship DVD in room then onto lesson 11:15 Kindergarten Travel to Large Group for Worship then return back to classroom for lesson Praise: for Preschool in classroom with DVD Put in the DVD of Christmas Worship Songs Promote: Object Lesson: (Holding Tape Measure or Growth Chart) Does anyone know what this is? That s right! I m going to use it to see how tall I am today. Then next year, at the beginning of the year, I am going to measure myself again and see how much I have grown. When I was a kid, my mom used to measure me and make a mark right on the wall. I loved seeing how tall I was, especially since I was always taller than my little brother! 2
Story: (Use the Classroom Storybook as a Visual Aid) Jesus Grows Up Jesus grew up healthy and strong and he was smart and very wise for a young boy. When Jesus was 12 years old, He went with his parents to the Passover festival in Jerusalem. After the festival was over Joseph and Mary started home, but Jesus stayed behind. They didn t miss Him at first, because they thought He was with the other friends and family traveling together. That evening when they couldn t find Jesus, they went back to Jerusalem to search for Him. Three days later, they found Jesus sitting in the temple with the religious leaders, talking about deep questions. Everyone He had been talking to was amazed at His understanding and His answers. But Jesus parents didn t know what to think. Mary asked Him, Son why have you done this to us? We have been searching for you everywhere! Why did you need to search? Jesus asked. You should have known that I would be in My Father s house. Jesus returned with His parents to Nazareth, and He was obedient to them. He grew tall and wise, and He was loved by God and all who knew Him. (Source Luke 2:39-52) Memory Verse: Introduce today s verse to the children by saying it with them several times. Make it a competition between the girls and boys if you want. Add hand motions and changing inflection to make the verse come alive. Explain what the verse means to the kids. Jesus grew wise and strong. Luke 2:52 (paraphrase) Process: (20 minutes) This segment is designated to reinforce the lesson and teach application with ageappropriate props, puppets and video during a large group time. On DVD player, select Lesson 5 and play Hear This, Picture This and Do This Video here. Hear This: (5 minutes) Sharkey the Puppet hosts this portion of the video that teaches the Memory Verse in a fun way that includes a little song and a corny joke! Jesus was little at one time. Did you know that He grew up, just like you are? That s what our verse is about this week! Our verse is: Jesus grew wise and strong. Luke 2:52 (paraphrase) Picture This: (5 minutes) 3
Puppet friends Cassie, Spencer and Baxter host this section that tells the Bible Story. Jesus grew up healthy and strong and he was smart and very wise for a young boy. When Jesus was 12 years old, He went with his parents to the Passover festival in Jerusalem. After the festival was over Joseph and Mary started home, but Jesus stayed behind. They didn t miss Him at first, because they thought He was with the other friends and family traveling together. That evening when they couldn t find Jesus, they went back to Jerusalem to search for Him. Three days later, they found Jesus sitting in the temple with the religious leaders, talking about deep questions. Everyone He had been talking to was amazed at His understanding and His answers. But Jesus parents didn t know what to think. Mary asked Him, Son why have you done this to us? We have been searching for you everywhere! Why did you need to search? Jesus asked. You should have known that I would be in My Father s house. Jesus returned with His parents to Nazareth, and He was obedient to them. He grew tall and wise, and He was loved by God and all who knew Him. (Source Luke 2:39-52) Do This: (5 minutes) Gilbert Gift and Packy Package remind the kids how to apply this lesson to their lives! The gifts learn that it s not important what is on the outside of their box. Even though the wrapping paper is beautiful, it s not important. What is important is what is on the inside. God wants us to grow on the inside also, and we do that by learning more about Him. (Myron sings a reprise of the Theme Song to end this part of the video.) Craft if time Craft: Growth Chart Materials: Growth chart papers (3 pages per child), stapler, crayons or markers Directions: 1. Hand out the three-page growth chart to each child. 2. Have them color the chart and put their name on the top. 3. Now have them cut the six strips apart. 4. Teacher should be ready with a stapler to put the six strips together in the right order by inches. (See picture) 5. Help each child fold up the chart, and put large paper clip on. 6. As the children work on the chart, remind them that Jesus also grew up.. 4
Final Outcome! Snack: This is a time for a class snack where leaders can reinforce the Bible story, memory verse or encourage a personal application among the kids. Be sure to pray before the kids eat their snack and thank Jesus for the food. If you would like, ask the children if any of them want to pray for the class. Or lead them in a prayer, stopping after each short sentence for the children to repeat after you. That way they will learn to pray to God also. After snack, encourage the children to clean up after themselves by throwing away their trash. Give lots of praise for good manners and following directions. Practice: (15 minutes) 1. Group Activity: (10 minutes) This section includes a circle-time activity or classroom game that can be played with 3 or 30 in the classroom. Game: Category Game Materials: None Directions: Have all the kids stand on the floor or next to their chair. The Leader gives the kids a topic/category and they must think of items that would fit in the category. Focus on things that grow today, since our lesson is on growth. Here are some sample categories: Four-Legged Animals, Plants, Birds, Bugs, Water Animals. Go around and name one item in the category, but be careful not to name something that has already been said or something that doesn t fit in the category. If a child repeats an answer, then s/he is out and 5
has to sit down. Keep going until there is only one person standing. Then choose a new category and play again! Lesson Tie In: Wow! You guys sure are smart! I couldn t believe all of the things you came up with that grow! Plants, animals, bugs and people are just a few of the things that grow. And do you know what else grows? Your brain! You are growing in knowledge each day. It is important that you also grow in your knowledge and love for God, and that is what we learned about today! 2. Pray: (2 minutes) Dear God, Thank You so much for sending Jesus to earth as a baby. I know that Jesus grew in many ways, and I pray that You would help me to grow in all of those ways also. Help me to trust in You wherever I am, whether at home, school or at play. Help me to make wise choices in what I do so that I can grow big and strong and love You more each day. I love You, Jesus. In Jesus Name, Amen Check Out: (10-15 minutes) When parents are returning to check out their children, provide a variety of classroom activities to keep the kids busy. Let the kids play or color. Student Take Home: Craft, Student Handout, Family Enteraction Guide, Activity Sheets 6
7
8
My Name: 9