God s Unfolding Story - PDF Free Download

Bible Story: God Made the Animals (Genesis 1:20-25,30-31) Bible Phrase: God made the animals (Genesis 1:25). Bible Truth: God made the fish, birds and animals. Old Testament Unit 1: God s Creation Lesson 3: God Made the Animals God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Let s begin by reflecting on all God created up to this point in our series of studies. Imagine you are there. The world no longer is formless and empty (Gen. 1:2). There is light and darkness, day and night. An expanse the sky separates the waters above from the waters below (see vv. 6-7). God fashioned the heavens and the earth to provide a home for humanity and many other types of creatures yet to come. At God s command, vegetation of all kinds sprung up everywhere. Then the Lord placed the celestial elements in the heavens to set the days, months, and seasons in motion. Each day of creation is occurring in preparation for the next. God is making all things at just the right time and in just the right order. In this study, we will consider His work on the fifth day, as well as a portion of His work on the sixth day. Get ready to marvel once again! Please read today s account from Genesis 1:20-25,30-31. In the oceans, seas, streams, and rivers, God had built suitable homes for all kinds of fish and sea animals so God made them to inhabit the waters. Together, they give beauty and balance to marine life. He created birds next, and they too were suited from the start for their homes on land and in the air. The birds, many kinds of which grace the skies, also are a part of the God-ordained balance in the natural order of life. God made fish and birds on the fifth day, and on the sixth day, He made land animals. These included insects, reptiles, and land mammals, the highest form of animal life on land. Cattle, horses, and zebras are some of the animals in this last category. Yes, a delicate interrelationship exists in all of creation. Plant life takes in carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen while for animal life it s the other way around. The earth s distance from the sun helps to give the earth a lifesustaining environment, as do precise gravitational forces exerted by and on the earth. Such realities could never have occurred by chance! Genesis 1 doesn t answer all our questions, nor should we expect that it would. Yet from it we can understand who God is and who we are in relation to Him; and secondarily, who we are in relation to our world. Genesis 1 is a true account, but it also is a song of praise to our Creator. It affirms God s greatness. The whole earth and all it contains belong to God! (See Psalm 24:1.) We should have humble hearts, like that of the writer of Psalm 8:4-5, where David essentially said, When I consider all You have made, I am overwhelmed! You have made people a little lower than the angels! We will consider God s creation of human beings next week. Most preschoolers love animals, so they find it easy to talk about them. Help preschoolers see how wonderful nature is! Call attention to God s sense of humor and creativity as you talk about different animals. God surely must have smiled when he created a giraffe! Again, we see God s glory in all of creation! Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for the children to work. What to Do: Encourage each child to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Offer guidance rather than working the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, take advantage of opportunities to say the Bible Phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit, small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as baby doll, doll bed, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles, and diapers. Optional: Stuffed animal such as a dog or cat, pet bowl, pet bed What to Do: Home living items will encourage children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the baby. Placing the stuffed animal and pet supplies in the area will encourage caring for a pet. Link to the Bible Story: As children play, look for opportunities to engage in conversation about the Bible story, Bible Phrase, or Bible truth. Center Time Art Center: Play with Playdough Playdough Variety of animal-shaped cookie cutters What to Do: Invite children to roll and shape the playdough and to use the animal cookie cutters to make animal shapes. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, say today s Bible Phrase, God made the animals (Genesis 1:25). Talk about the different kinds of animals God made. Name an animal and ask children where it might live, such as in the wild, on a farm, or with a family as a pet. Tell children they will hear more about God s creation of animals in today s Bible story. Bible Learning Center: Matching Copies of Activity Page: Matching Who is My Mother? (Reproducible) Crayons or washable markers What to Do: Invite children to match each baby animal with its mother by drawing a line to connect them. Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase and express that God made the animals. Explain that God gave us animals to not only to enjoy, but many animals help us with our work and provide food for us to eat. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks Plastic animals What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or to tell a part of the Bible story. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture, God Made the Animals (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to boys and girls even though there are many different stories in the Bible and all of them are true, there is one big story we will call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each point in the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of these main points in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the first point, God Created Everything. Talk with children about their favorite animals. Explain that today s Bible story is about God s creating the very first animals that were on the earth. Bible Story God Made the Animals (Genesis 1:20-25,30-31) God had made a wonderful world. He had made the sun to shine during the day and the moon and stars to shine at night. God had made the water, the earth, and all the plants. Still, God was not finished with His work. He had other things to create more to add to His beautiful world. God created the animals. He created all different kinds of animals to live on the land and in the water and sky. He made animals like dolphins, whales, and fish to swim in the water; and He made other animals like frogs, turtles, and alligators to live near the water. Then God created animals that move through the air. He made beautiful and colorful birds, including geese and eagles, that fly high in the sky. Then He looked at all the creatures He had made and said, It is good. God also created animals that live on the land. He made wild animals like tigers, lions, and bears. And He made others as well, including elephants, giraffes, and hippos. Can you think of other animals God made? There were tame ones such as rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer. He also made cows, sheep, pigs, and horses. He made so many we can t name them all but God looked at all these living creatures He had made and said, It is good. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask questions like these. Who created all the animals? What are some animals that live in the water? What are some that live on land? What are some that live in the air? What did God say about everything He had created? 2. Say today s Bible Phrase together: God made the animals (Genesis 1:11). Express to the boys and girls that just as God gave us the job to take care of the earth, He also wants us to care for the animals. We not only care for the plants and animals that provide food but also for the pets that give us joy and companionship. Next week we will talk about God s most special creation, human beings. 3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer, thanking God for the all the animals He has created for everyone to enjoy. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time Clothespin Animals Copies of Clothespin Animals (1 copy for every 2 children, cardstock recommended) Clothespins (2 per child) Crayons or washable markers, glue, tape Cotton balls, chenille sticks What to Do: Cut out the sheep and pigs. Invite children to color their animals. A child who chose a pig can twirl a chenille stick around his or her finger and then tape the chenille stick to the pig for a tail. A child who chose a sheep should be invited to glue cotton balls on the sheep s body. Give each child 2 clothespins to clip to the bottom of his or her animal for legs and feet. Link to Bible Story: As children work, read the Bible Phrase, God made the animals (Genesis 1:25). Talk to the boys and girls about different kinds of animals and where they live such as, (1) cows and pigs usually live on farms; (2) tigers, elephants, and giraffes live in deserts and jungles; (3) fish, dolphins, and whales live in the water; and (4) birds live in the air. Explain that God gave these animals the ability to care for themselves, but our pets such as dogs and cats need us to care for them. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time/Dismissal Memory Game Plastic set of animals or 6 to 8 pictures of animals What to Do: Ask children to join you in a circle in the game time area. Let the children identify each animal. Explain to the boys and girls that you will ask them to close their eyes. While their eyes are closed, you will remove one or more animals from the display. Then tell the children you will ask them to open their eyes, and they are to guess which animal(s) is/are missing. Children enjoy this game, especially when you remove more than one animal. Review today s Bible Phrase, God made the animals (Genesis 1:25). Dismiss children when parents arrive. Be sure to follow your church s security guidelines. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 1: God s Creation Lesson 3: God Made the Animals Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Matching, Who Is My Mother? (1 copy per child) Clothespin Animals (1 copy per child, cardstock recommended) Teaching Picture, God Made the Animals (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Additional Game Time Materials Plastic animals from block area or 6 to 8 pictures of animals Additional Craft Materials Clothespins (2 per child) Additional Block Materials Plastic animals Additional Home Living Materials Optional: stuffed animal such as dog or cat, pet bowl, bed God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A

Who Is My Mother? Activity Page: Matching, Who Is My Mother Instructions: One copy per child. Use a crayon or marker to match the baby animal to its mother. OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A Center Time: Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Clothespin Animals God made the animals. Genesis 1:2 5 God made the animals. Genesis 1:2 5 Craft Time: Clothespin Animals Instructions: Copy 1 for every 2 children. Cardstock recommended. Cut out the animals. To make a sheep: color and glue on cotton balls, attach clothespins for legs. To make a pig: color and tape a curled up chenille stick for a tail, attach clothespins for legs. OT01 Lesson 3 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com