THIS IS A MINISTRY EXPERIENCE TOOL CHILDREN S MINISTRY SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN BUT FIRST IT SHOULD CHANGE A VOLUNTEER S HEART.

SEPTEMBER 2/3, 2017 JOSEPH S FAMILY THIS IS A MINISTRY EXPERIENCE TOOL CHILDREN S MINISTRY SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN BUT FIRST IT SHOULD CHANGE A VOLUNTEER S HEART. 1

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE TOOL ORDINARY KIDS WEEK 1: Joseph s Family OVERVIEW Memory Verse: Grade school will memorize a few verses at a time with constant review throughout. Psalm 119:9-16 (ESV) How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Preschool will memorize verse 11 only. Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Nail: It s God who makes us special. Week 1: Joseph s Family Scripture Story: Genesis 37 Week 2: Joseph Sold and Goes to Egypt Scripture Story: Genesis 37 & 39 Week 3: Joseph Says No to Sin Scripture Story: Genesis 39 Week 4: Joseph Forgotten in Jail Scripture Story: Genesis 40 Week 5: Let s Review Scripture Story: Genesis 37-40 Week 6: Joseph Explains Dreams Scripture Story: Genesis 41 Week 7: Joseph Becomes Powerful Over Everything Scripture Story: Genesis 41 Week 8: Joseph s Brothers are Starving Scripture Story: Genesis 42 Week 9: Joseph Tests His Brothers Scripture Story: Genesis 42-43 Week 10: Joseph Tells His Brothers the Truth Scripture Story: Genesis 43 Week 11: Ordinary Joseph and God Made Him Special Scripture Story: Genesis 43-Exodus 1 What does this mean to me? Ways to Be Special PRESCHOOL 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart 3. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position GRADE SCHOOL 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart 3. Wander not from the Lord. (Psalm 119:10) Motion: place right hand over eyes like you are looking for direction 4. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position 5. Remember what you learn. (Psalm 119:15-16) Motion: point left hand index finger to side of head 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS WHO NEEDS TO KNOW? Staff Classroom Volunteer Story Teller or Upfront Person Preschool Supply List 4 Grade School Supply List 5 How to Preschool 6 Story Room Directives 7 How to Grade School 9 Show Directives 10 2-2 ½ year old Application Station 12 2 ½ -3 year old Application Station 14 3 year old Application Station 16 4 year old Application Station 18 Pre-kindergarten Application Station 20 Kindergarten Application Station 22 First Grade Application Station 24 Second Grade Application Station 26 Third Grade Application Station 28 Fourth Grade Application Station 30 Fifth Grade Application Station 30 TOOL COLOR CODES When you see GREEN, it s time to move to the next thing. When you see GOLD, slow down! Take your time. Make sure the kids get this. When you see PURPLE, something is changing. Make sure you are in the right place. When you see RED, please stop. You must do this instruction, no matter what. 3

PRESCHOOL Weekly Supply List STORY ROOM Story Prop Ideas: To help kids understand the family relationship, display framed pictures of grandfathers and great grandfathers alongside pictures of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and one of all the brothers. Memory Verse Activity: Motions found in preschool devo take-home Upfront Game: Ordinary materials that children recognize such as craft sticks, wood blocks, books, and plastic cups APPLICATION STATION (Include a Bible for each station) 2-2 ½ year olds Purposeful play bins Canvas with outlined child, crayons Y devo take-home with memory verse motions Flannel graph Bible, children s book that is not about the Bible Snack, water, napkins and cups Musical instruments for children to play Coloring pages, crayons, Y devo take-homes 2 ½ & 3 year olds Purposeful play bins Snack, water, napkins and cups Y devo take-home with memory verse motions Flannel graph Bible, children s book that is not about the Bible Canvas with outlined child, crayons Musical instruments for children to play Coloring pages, crayons, Y devo take-homes 3 year olds Purposeful play bins Comfort sign with matching lanyards Snack, water, napkins and cups P devo take-home with memory verse motions Flannel graph Canvas with outlined child, watercolors, brushes, cups for water Musical instruments for children to play Coloring pages, crayons, P devo take-homes 4 year olds Purposeful play bins Snack, water, napkins and cups Canvas with outlined child, watercolors, brushes, cups for water P devo take-home with memory verse motions Comfort sign with matching lanyards Flannel graph Ordinary materials children recognize such as raft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Coloring pages, crayons, P devo take-homes Pre-Kindergarten Purposeful play bins Snack, water, napkins and cups Canvas with outlined child, watercolors, brushes, cups for water P devo take-home with memory verse motions Comfort sign with matching lanyards Flannel graph Ordinary materials children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Coloring pages, crayons, P devo take-homes 4

GRADE SCHOOL Weekly Supply List LARGE GROUP Stage Props: Stack of copy paper. To help kids understand the family relationship, display framed pictures of grandfathers and great grandfathers alongside pictures of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and one of all the brothers. Memory Verse Activity: None Upfront Game: See pages 10 and 11 APPLICATION STATION Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Flannel graph Dry erase markers, whiteboard or window, eraser Snack, water, napkins and cups Extra binders for the new children K/1 devo take-homes Ordinary materials children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Worksheets, crayons Flannel graph Dry erase markers, whiteboard or window, eraser Snack, water, napkins and cups Extra binders for the new children K/1 devo take-homes Ordinary materials children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Worksheets, crayons Dry erase markers, whiteboard or window, eraser Snack, water, napkins and cups Extra binders for the new children G devo take-homes Happy/Sad cards Ordinary materials children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Personal Bibles or copies of Proverbs 27:2, colored pencils (brown, green, pink) Test, pencils Worksheets, crayons Third Grade Fourth and Fifth Grade Dry erase markers, whiteboard or window, eraser Snack, water, napkins and cups Extra binders for the new children G devo take-homes Happy/Sad cards Ordinary materials children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Personal Bibles or copies of Proverbs 27:2, colored pencils (brown, green, pink) Test, pencils Worksheets, crayons or markers Ordinary materials children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and books Snack, water, napkins and cups Extra binders for the new children G devo take-homes Dry erase markers, whiteboard or window, eraser, devo with motions Happy/Sad cards Personal Bibles or copies of Proverbs 27:2, colored pencils (brown, green, pink) Test, pencils Worksheets, crayons or markers 5

HOW TO PRESCHOOL Comfort Sign and Classroom Lanyards Comfort Sign One comfort sign will be in each classroom and will be used by the classroom volunteers. The comfort sign picture will be the same as the children s lanyard. This is what you will use to help the children identify their group in the Story Room for large group time. Do not use picture as anything more than group identification. Do not ask children to walk like a fire truck. (Use the Transition Activity to Story Room ideas below.) Lanyards There will be a set of color coded lanyards with a picture insert in each classroom (example: orange lanyard/ fire truck). There will be a series of different pictures in rotation for your classroom each month. Prior to transition to Story Room, each child will be handed a lanyard with that classroom s comfort sign picture of the week. 1. When the children line up to begin transition to Story Room, ask the child to put on their lanyard. 2. Children should keep their lanyards on throughout Story Room and remove them as they re-enter class after Story Room. 3. Today s Schedule, listed at the beginning of each age group, communicates when children begin their transition to Story Room. Transition Activity to STORY ROOM Activity will rotate each month and be designed with intentionality to support It s God who makes us special. When beginning the final action/activity, tell the children they will be going to the Story Room in one/two minutes. If there is a child who has difficulty transitioning, give this child a private three minutes as well as a one/two minute warning. When final activity is complete: Tell all the children to stand up. Grab your comfort sign. (You will use this to lead children to Story Room.) Ask children to show their right hand, place it on their forehead (like looking far in the sun) and follow in a straight, quiet line while they help their volunteer search for the classroom entry. Walk the children in a line to the entry. Look back at them with a wink/smile and creep (like sneaking) along to the entry of room. Transitional activity is found in each age appropriate Application Station. Pick up the comfort sign and begin to move quietly to the Story Room. Nothing is loud. Everything is quiet. Once you teach children to behave this way they will catch on quickly. Look back and encourage children along by asking them to bring their transition activity to the Story Room to show our friends. High Impact STORY ROOM Values 1. Repetition 2. One upfront person (Story Teller) 3. Quiet voice 4. Story Room rugs 5. Screen cues programming elements (Screen at front and screen at back wall for volunteers) Entry Experience 1. Children are handed their Story Room rugs outside of the Story Room. 2. Volunteer walks to the front of the Story Room holding up their comfort sign. Have the children sit in their group. Fill the Story Room in first from house left (if facing the flat screens) then to house right. 3. Volunteer Script: Welcome to the Story Room! Please take your Story Room rugs and find a quiet place to sit. (Story Teller and most volunteers always face the entry.) 4. Children always sit with backs to the entry. Story Hits / Story Sequencing When it is time for the Story Hits portion of the experience, you will retell the story using a flannel graph tool. Story sequencing should be used to retell the story. Place the first flannel on the board and begin the story. Then ask: What happens next? and place another piece of flannel on the board to prompt the correct response. Continue sequencing through the end of the story. 6

PRESCHOOL: STORY ROOM DIRECTIVES Entry Experience 1. Children are handed their Story Room rugs outside of the Story Room. 2. Volunteer Script: Welcome to the Story Room! Please take your Story Room rugs and find a quiet place to sit. 3. Children always sit with backs to the entry. Greeting (Quiet, engaging voice) Once the children are seated, the following will be repeated every week. Story Teller says: Welcome to the Story Room. I am the Story Teller and this is a special place. This is a special place because this is where we hear true stories from the Word of God (hold up your Bible). I want you to know who God is and what He does. The true story you will hear today will tell you and me about who God is and that He takes ordinary kids and makes them special. We are going to learn everything the Bible has to tell us about an ordinary boy named Joseph and about his family. God was going to make them all special but He had a lot of work to do first. We want to keep this place special so we have some special rules. Rules help us to have fun and keep things the way they should be. 1. The first special rule is that we always sit on our Story Room rugs and hold on. (Show children how to do that.) We keep everything that belongs to us our hands, our arms, our legs and feet close on the Story Room rugs. 2. The second special rule is that when I m talking, you are listening. When you are listening you aren t talking and your eyes are looking at my eyes. 3. The third special rule is to participate. When we do something in this room, we all do it together. Let s review the three special rules for our special Story Room. Now we will stretch and play a game. Then we are going to have fun learning about an ordinary kid. STORY ROOM Song Let s sing our Story Room Song together: We are all in the Story Room, the Story Room, the Story Room. We are all in the Story Room, me and NAME. (Look for the child so they can say I m here! The last time all children say their name at once.) Sung to Here we go round the mulberry bush. Stretch Time Help children quietly release some energy and relax with some warm up stretches. Upfront Game Build A Tower Supplies: Ordinary materials that children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and light-weight books (not text books or heavy books). Please test and practice before you perform in the Story Room. Say: I need to use ordinary things to build something that will do something special! Begin by building a square base. (Suggestion: use plastic cups.) Add second material (like craft sticks). Make this a big deal. Add a third material (like wooden blocks). Make this a bigger deal. You may stop here and start piling books on top of the base you just built. Stack them slowly one on top of another. Ask children to count the books with you! Look how many books our tower can hold using just ordinary things. Memory Verse Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Memory verse motions can be found in the devo take-homes. Transition to Animation Now children, we are going to watch a video that tells us today s story with pictures. Animation 2-2 ½ minute art-based video with Scripture monologue 7

PRESCHOOL: STORY ROOM DIRECTIVES (2) Story Hits Supplies: Flannel graph Scripture: Genesis 37 (Joseph s Family) A man named Jacob was part of God s special promise for a special country of people. Jacob and his family owned many animals including sheep and goats. They were very wealthy. Jacob had 12 sons and cared more about one son than the others. The name of his favorite son was Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he made Joseph a fancy coat of many colors. This hurt the older sons feelings. Joseph had some dreams where his brothers and parents bowed down to him. When Joseph told his family about his dreams, Joseph s brothers were angry and plotted to kill him. Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers and then report back to their father Jacob. One day, the brothers were so angry about Joseph being the favorite and about his dreams, that they plotted to kill him. The brothers were rough with Joseph and took his coat. Joseph s brothers threw Joseph in a pit. Closing Application We will have to wait until next week to hear more of the story and to find out what happens next to Joseph and to his brothers. I have a feeling you and I are very much like Joseph and his family. We all want to be loved and to be special. And we all have felt a little jealous and angry when we thought someone else was getting something special that we deserved too. Here s some great news that I never want you to forget only God makes us special. God makes us special when we become His children and His forever friends. God s Word makes us special when we store up His Word in our hearts so we don t sin against Him. God makes us special when we love Him and when we desire to make choices that make Him happy. Do you want to be special? Then follow God with your whole heart. I have three motions to help us to be special. (You will teach and learn these in several elements of the service.) 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart. 3. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position After the Closing Element, Story Teller transitions to intro Loud and Clear: Okay! Now, let s all stand up. (This can be a cue for Loud and Clear to start heading to the front of the room). Be sure to stay on your Story Room rugs! Let s get ready to worship with Loud and Clear! Worship Loud and Clear team enters as reference is read on final screen. After last song, Loud and Clear team asks children to show them one hand, place that hand above their eyes and to search for the Story Teller! Do the best you can to communicate the instructions and to get the children to calm down after worship. Dismissal Story Teller will pause and look around and say in a very quiet voice: Thank you for being with me today in the Story Room. This is a special place indeed! Now I want you to all stand up, grab your Story Room rug; look downward at your picture and turn around to find the volunteer with the sign that looks the same as your picture! When you find your sign, line up behind your volunteer in a straight line. Then, you are going to leave your Story Room rugs in the bin outside of the Story Room and see if you can find your classrooms. (Use the searching hand-to-forehead motion and tip-toe to encourage a quiet trip back to class.) Thank you for being such good listeners today. Now let s see if we can find our way back to class AND remember YOU ARE LOVED! 8

HOW TO GRADE SCHOOL Snack Idea Goldfish crackers Volunteer Huddle The purpose of the huddle is to offer encouragement, vision, and training for the service and ministry and to give the opportunity for you to interact with your volunteers and volunteers with staff. 1. Open in prayer. 2. Thank volunteers for their sacrifice and commitment. 3. Encourage them. Remind them of the impact they have on the children. 4. Review a few policies and safety tips. 5. Interact with a few volunteers to build relationships. 6. Review details of activities and movement of stations. 7. Review specifics that are needed by your ministry (count of children, volunteer assignments). 8. Close in prayer. Tips for Intentional Small Group A kindergarten/first grade child with some training is able to participate in a small group by responding with tools. 1. Asking a question and waiting for a specific answer creates a culture of disengagement. 2. Asking a question and waiting for an individual response using a tool creates a healthy culture of children interacting in their spirit which is the place that matters most to God. 3. Volunteer should come with a personal story prepared. 4. Explain and use the response tools every chance you get. 5. I don t know is a correct answer. Tips for Authentic Prayer Time Effectively praying with children models a natural conversation with a loving father. 1. If you have a real relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you will be successful. 2. We do not use a formula for praying. We want it to be a natural conversation. 3. We suggest some phrases that can be used to teach respect for each other when talking to God the Father. Tips for Productive Story Hits This is the fifth time the children will hear the story. 1. Ask children to retell the story to you using flannel graph. 2. An effective form of teaching is story sequencing where children tell the story back to you. You should use prompts as reminders. 3. We believe that the time tested methods of flannel graphs are the most effective and efficient way to tell a story to children. Children today still love placing the felt pieces on the board and telling each piece of the story. A visiting guest can participate by placing the felt piece while a different child explains that part of the story. 4. We don t claim to exhaust a passage of Scripture when we teach it. As much as we love God s Word and all of it cover to cover, no child (or adult) could manage the total comprehension of that amount of teaching. There may be several truths about God s character in a passage. We prayerfully and sometimes painfully, just choose one. Extra Elements Bible Mechanics, Word Enrichment, Truth Tips, Tool Tips, Project of the month When a story gives itself to a teaching moment outside of our regular rotation, we add an extra into that series Application Stations. 1. Look at all the extras that series. 2. Think through the intentionally of each idea. 3. Communicate it well in your volunteer huddle. 9

GRADE SCHOOL: SHOW DIRECTIVES What To Do in the Queue Welcome / Check children s binders and mark points / Help kindergarteners and first graders bookmark their Bibles / Ask if they have been to church before / Call them by name / Ask about their family / Ask about their school and teacher / Ask about pets / Ask about previous week Welcome and Announcements Welcome children to the service. Review specific things you want kids to remember including expectations. What s Happening? Happy Birthday Song (generic) Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, God bless you. Happy Birthday to you. Good Things Good Things is a great time for children to express something good that happened in the past week. Prayerfully, this is a time of celebration for you and the kids. The range of good things swings from, I just got back from vacation! to I scored my first soccer goal yesterday! to My parents didn t fight this week! and even sometimes My mom started coming to church with us today! All are good and allows you to get to know the children God has entrusted to you and allows the children to feel they are part of something special. Memory Verse Activity Who Can Say It Louder? Psalm 119:9 (ESV) How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 1. Say, We are going to compete to see who can say our memory verse the loudest. 2. Divide the kids into two groups. (See below for group suggestions.) 3. The volunteer calls out each group and has them compete. Boys vs. Girls K, 1, 2 vs. 3, 4, 5 Dark hair vs. Light hair Volunteers vs. Kids Sports team vs. Sports team Likes the beach vs. Likes the snow With an accent vs. Without an accent Short hair vs. Long hair Likes hockey vs. Doesn t like hockey Upfront Game (You choose) 1. Rapid Fire Simon Says Supplies: Timer Object of the game: The object of the game is to be the team with the most amount of children still standing when the timer sounds. Assign children in the audience to teams. Assign leaders to each team to determine who is out. Explain that on Go a timer is set and a three minute round of Simon Says begins. The leader should say commands quickly. The group with most children standing wins. Repeat. 2. Hangman Supplies: White boards, dry erase markers, erasers, word list Object of the game: The object of the game is to be the first group to correctly guess the word. Suggested word list: Bible, path, guard, church, dog, read, school, jump, run, game, fun, rocks, desk, kid Assign children in the audience to teams by section. Choose several fourth and fifth grade children to come to the front to fill in the blanks and draw the man. Have the children in the audience guess letters to fill in the blanks and guess the word. The team to guess the word first, receives a point. The team with most point wins. 3. Would You Rather? Supplies: None This is a silly ice breaker game. The object of the game is simply to have fun. The game leader will be up front. The upfront person will call out Would you rather Each time, change up the response. (See suggestions below.) Examples: If you would rather eat ice cream than eat candy; stick out your tongue. Play video games than watch tv; stare at a friend. Play kick ball than ride a bike; jump up and down. Have chocolate ice cream than bubble gum ice cream; spin in a circle. 10

GRADE SCHOOL: SHOW DIRECTIVES (2) 4. Who Did It Again? Participants: All kids plus volunteers to keep count Supplies: Bibles, binders, scorecard, pencil Object of the game: To acquire the most points as a team. Call out an item from the list below. Everyone who has the requested item should run to the front, stand with the others from their grade and be counted. Then send them all back to their seats for the next round. 1. Open your binder. Check to see that you have all three devos done (or marked on your rewards sheet). If you do, bring it to the front, stand with your grade and be counted. (Write down the total from each grade. Send everyone back to their seats.) 2. If you have your Bible and it s bookmarked to this week s passage, bring it up here and stand with your grade to be counted. (Write down the total from each grade. Send everyone back to their seats.) 3. If you think you know this month s memory verse, come to the front and stand with your grade to be counted. (Write down the total from each grade. Send everyone back to their seats.) 4. If today is your first time visiting our church, stand and be counted. (Write down the total from each grade.) 5. Total each grade s points and announce the winner. 5. Who Is Wearing It? Supplies: None Ask children to stand up if they are wearing something you describe. If your shirt has red in it If your shoes are sparkly If you are wearing something in your hair If you have white socks on your feet If you are wearing nail polish If you have the name of a sports team on your t-shirt If you have an animal on your shirt or pants If you have belt loops 6. Bring It Up Supplies: None Divide your group into 6-8 teams. The game leader will be up front. The up front person will yell out a demand for a somewhat uncommon item that people might have on them. Have each team elect ONE runner to run the item to the person in the front. The first team to bring up the item wins that round. (Be sure to involve volunteers for uncommon items.) Examples: FIRST TEAM TO BRING UP (You can change the number of items based on attendance.) 12 shoes tied together 6 boys wearing boots 3 belts hooked together 3 hair brushes $1.00 in quarters Chewed gum 5 girls with pony tails 4 girls carrying 1 girl 4 socks with a hole 8 wrist watches Driver's license 10 boys in glasses 7. Large Group Charades Supplies: Large pictures or items that can be held up behind contestants (Find random objects that remind children of activities that are relevant to this season of the year.) 1. Choose a child to represent each team. Each child representative comes to the front and is the contestant. 2. A volunteer stands behind the contestants and holds up an object. 3. On your mark, the large group starts calling clues to their contestant and the contestant tries to guess the correct answer. 4. You can repeat with the same children or switch. Bookmark The bookmark Scripture will appear on the slide. As you are guiding children to open their Bibles, affirm the Bible is all true and the greatest book ever written! Add your own positive, true and enthusiastic remarks about God s Word. What does this mean to me? Just like Leah has things that make her ordinary, I have some ordinary things about me too. Like (Name 3-5 different age appropriate things and allow kids to get to know you a little better.) I thought those things made me special, but then I discovered that other people are just like me. I m pretty much ordinary just like this paper, and just like Joseph and his brothers. But when I met the Lord and I gave my heart to Him, I was born again. I became God s child and that made me special. It s like this paper. This paper is just paper but someone took the paper and drew the pictures of people from today s story. Others colored the people. Just ordinary paper, but used in a special way to do something extraordinary to tell a story from God s Word. After I gave my heart to the Lord, I started reading my Bible and doing what God s Word told me to do. This is called application. Applying God s Word to my life makes me special too because God s Word changes me. And today He is using me to. (name 1-2 things). He takes ordinary me and uses me to do extraordinary things because that s what God does. Today you are going to experience this more through engineering activities. Engineers take ordinary things and make them extraordinary to solve a problem. They apply engineering rules to make things special. More importantly, God takes ordinary people who follow Him and uses them to tell His story and in that, they do the extraordinary for Him. 11

2-2 ½ Year Olds Application Station Today s Schedule Purposeful Play (15 minutes pre service/15 minutes during service) Activity (5 minutes) Memory Verse Review (1 minute) Story Hits (5 minutes) Enrichment (10 minutes) Small Group (3 minutes) Special Prayer Time (1 minute) Snack, Prayer (15 minutes) Activity (10 minutes) Listening Time (10 minutes) Purposeful Play (15 minutes) Purposeful Play Allow children to play within themed bins. Children may choose different bins but themed items must stay with original bin. Affirm children of biblical virtues like patience, believing the best, sharing, waiting their turn, and good stewardship. Activity Only God Makes You Special Supplies: Canvas with outlined child, crayons 1. Give each child a canvas and a few crayons. (Show them how to color their child.) 2. The Bible tells us how much God loves us. 3. The Bible tells us that when we give our heart to God and become His child, He makes us special. Wrap Up: No matter how you ever feel, God loves you and wants to make you special! Memory Verse Review Supplies: Y devo take-home Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Memory verse motions can be found in the preschool devo take-home. 1. Read the Bible verse and demonstrate motions. 2. Ask, Do you know that this is a verse found in the Bible? It is found in the book of Psalms. Can you say Psalms? Allow children the opportunity to try. That is fun to say, isn t it? Let s try it again, Psalms. Thumbs up if that is fun to say. Let me tell you where the Bible verse is found again, Psalm 119:11. (It s okay if they say Psalms.) 3. Now we will practice our memory verse with motions five times. Story Hits Supplies: Flannel graph Scripture: Genesis 37 (Joseph s Family) A man named Jacob was part of God s special promise for a special country of people. Jacob and his family owned many animals including sheep and goats. They were very wealthy. Jacob had 12 sons and cared more about one son than the others. The name of his favorite son was Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he made Joseph a fancy coat of many colors. This hurt the older sons feelings. Joseph had some dreams where his brothers and parents bowed down to him. When Joseph told his family about his dreams, Joseph s brothers were angry and plotted to kill him. Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers and then report back to their father Jacob. One day, the brothers were so angry about Joseph being the favorite and about his dreams, that they plotted to kill him. The brothers were rough with Joseph and took his coat. Joseph s brothers threw Joseph in a pit. 12

2-2 ½ Year Olds Application Station (2) Enrichment Three Ways to Be Special Motions 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body. When I become God s child, God changes me into a new person and makes me special. 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart. 3. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position. God wants me to ask Him for help so He can teach me right from wrong. Small Group Supplies: Bible, a children s book that is not about the Bible 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Today s 100% Response Tool is called Which One is It? Have the children point to the correct answer. 1. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Today we learned about the story of Joseph. Which book did our story come from? (Each week we learn about God from His Word the Bible.) 2. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Which book is God s Word? (The Bible is God s Word.) 3. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Which book tells us that only God makes us special? (The Bible tells us how God makes us special.) 4. Volunteer: Share something you love about God s Word. Special Prayer Time Let s spend time in prayer thanking the Father for His Word and everything it tells us. Thank You Father for Your special book, and for all Your instructions on how we can be special because of Jesus. Help us Father to live for You each day. In Jesus name, Amen. Snack, Prayer Ask the Lord to bless the snack and pray for the worship service. Activity Praise Party Supplies: Instruments for children to play 1. Gather the children together. 2. Allow children to choose an instrument. 3. Lead children in this repetitive cheer: Thank you God for making me special! 4. Let the children play their instruments. Wrap Up: Cheer for the Lord for all He has done for us. Listening Time This will be time used each week, done exactly the same each time to train the children. Children thrive on affirmation; be sure to praise them every time they get something correct. Model the expected answer each time, until several children can respond automatically. 1. Show me how we sit to hear God s Word. 2. Point to the table where we eat our snack. 3. Point to place where we put our toys when we are done playing with them. 4. Point to place where we sing to God. Purposeful Play Allow children to play within themed bins. Supplies: Y devo take-homes 13

2 ½- Three Year Olds Application Station Today s Schedule Purposeful Play (15 minutes pre service/5 minutes during service) Story Room (20 minutes) Snack, Prayer (10 minutes) Memory Verse Review (1 minute) Story Hits (5 minutes) Special Prayer Time (1 minute) Enrichment (8 minutes) Small Group (5 minutes) Activity (10 minutes) Activity (5 minutes) Listening Time (10 minutes) Purposeful Play (10 minutes) Purposeful Play Allow children to play within themed bins. Children may choose different bins but themed items must stay with original bin. Affirm children of biblical virtues like patience, believing the best, sharing, waiting their turn, and good stewardship. Story Room Supplies: None Using the transitional activity, move children to the Story Room using the comfort sign with assigned picture. To remind us that it is God who makes us special, point straight up to the sky and keep your eyes in front all the way to the Story Room. We need to be quiet so we can hear what God wants us to do! Use the same transition to return to classroom. Snack, Prayer Ask the Lord to bless the snack and pray for the worship service. Memory Verse Review Supplies: Y devo take-home Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Memory verse motions can be found in the preschool devo take-home. 1. Read the Bible verse and demonstrate motions. 2. Ask, Do you know that this is a verse found in the Bible? It is found in the book of Psalms. Can you say Psalms? Allow children the opportunity to try. That is fun to say, isn t it? Let s try it again, Psalms. Thumbs up if that is fun to say. Let me tell you where the Bible verse is found again, Psalm 119:11. (It s okay if they say Psalms.) 3. Now we will practice our memory verse with motions five times. Story Hits Supplies: Flannel graph Scripture: Genesis 37 (Joseph s Family) A man named Jacob was part of God s special promise for a special country of people. Jacob and his family owned many animals including sheep and goats. They were very wealthy. Jacob had 12 sons and cared more about one son than the others. The name of his favorite son was Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he made Joseph a fancy coat of many colors. This hurt the older sons feelings. Joseph had some dreams where his brothers and parents bowed down to him. When Joseph told his family about his dreams, Joseph s brothers were angry and plotted to kill him. Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers and then report back to their father Jacob. One day, the brothers were so angry about Joseph being the favorite and about his dreams, that they plotted to kill him. The brothers were rough with Joseph and took his coat. Joseph s brothers threw Joseph in a pit. Special Prayer Time Let s spend time in prayer thanking the Father for His Word and everything it tells us. Thank You Father for Your special book, and for all Your instructions on how we can be special because of Jesus. Help us Father to live for You each day. In Jesus name, Amen. 14

2 ½- Three Year Olds Application Station (2) Enrichment Three Ways to Be Special Motions 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body. When I become God s child, God changes me into a new person and makes me special. 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart. 3. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position. God wants me to ask Him for help so He can teach me right from wrong. Small Group Supplies: Bible, a children s book that is not about the Bible 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Today s 100% Response Tool is called Which One is It? Have the children point to the correct answer. 1. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Today we learned about the story of Joseph. Which book did our story come from? (Each week we learn about God from His Word the Bible.) 2. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Which book is God s Word? (The Bible is God s Word.) 3. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Which book tells us that only God makes us special? (The Bible tells us how God makes us special.) 4. Volunteer: Share something you love about God s Word. Activity Only God Makes You Special Supplies: Canvas with outlined child, crayons 1. Give each child a canvas and a few crayons. (Show them how to color their child.) 2. The Bible tells us how much God loves us. 3. The Bible tells us that when we give our heart to God and become His child, He makes us special. Wrap Up: No matter how you ever feel, God loves you and wants to make you special! Activity Praise Party Supplies: Instruments for children to play 1. Gather the children together. 2. Allow children to choose an instrument. 3. Lead children in this repetitive cheer: Thank you God for making me special! 4. Let the children play their instruments. Wrap Up: Cheer for the Lord for all He has done for us. Listening Time This will be time used each week, done exactly the same each time to train the children. Children thrive on affirmation; be sure to praise them every time they get something correct. Model the expected answer each time, until several children can respond automatically. 1. Show me how we sit to hear God s Word. 2. Point to the table where we eat our snack. 3. Point to place where we put our toys when we are done playing with them. 4. Point to place where we sing to God. Purposeful Play Allow children to play within themed bins. Supplies: Y devo take-homes 15

Three Year Olds Application Station Today s Schedule Purposeful Play (15 minutes pre service/10 minutes during service) Story Room (20 minutes) Snack, Prayer (10 minutes) Memory Verse Review (1 minute) Story Hits (5 minutes) Enrichment (9 minutes) Small Group (5 minutes) Special Prayer Time (1 minute) Activity (10 minutes) Activity (9 minutes) Listening Time (10 minutes) Purposeful Play Allow children to play within themed bins. Children may choose different bins but themed items must stay with original bin. Affirm children of biblical virtues like patience, believing the best, sharing, waiting their turn, and good stewardship. Story Room Supplies: Comfort sign with matching lanyards Using the transitional activity, move children to the Story Room using the comfort sign with assigned picture. To remind us that it is God who makes us special, point straight up to the sky and keep your eyes in front all the way to the Story Room. We need to be quiet so we can hear what God wants us to do! Use the same transition to return to classroom. Snack, Prayer Ask the Lord to bless the snack and pray for the worship service. Memory Verse Review Supplies: P devo take-home Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Memory verse motions can be found in the preschool devo take-home. 1. Read the Bible verse and demonstrate motions. 2. Ask, Do you know that this is a verse found in the Bible? It is found in the book of Psalms. Can you say Psalms? Allow children the opportunity to try. That is fun to say, isn t it? Let s try it again, Psalms. Thumbs up if that is fun to say. Let me tell you where the Bible verse is found again, Psalm 119:11. (It s okay if they say Psalms.) 3. Now we will practice our memory verse with motions five times. Story Hits Supplies: Flannel graph Scripture: Genesis 37 (Joseph s Family) A man named Jacob was part of God s special promise for a special country of people. Jacob and his family owned many animals including sheep and goats. They were very wealthy. Jacob had 12 sons and cared more about one son than the others. The name of his favorite son was Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he made Joseph a fancy coat of many colors. This hurt the older sons feelings. Joseph had some dreams where his brothers and parents bowed down to him. When Joseph told his family about his dreams, Joseph s brothers were angry and plotted to kill him. Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers and then report back to their father Jacob. One day, the brothers were so angry about Joseph being the favorite and about his dreams, that they plotted to kill him. The brothers were rough with Joseph and took his coat. Joseph s brothers threw Joseph in a pit. Enrichment Three Ways to Be Special Motions 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body. When I become God s child, God changes me into a new person and makes me special. 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart. 3. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position. God wants me to ask Him for help so He can teach me right from wrong. 16

Three Year Olds Application Station (2) Small Group Supplies: None 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Today s 100% Response Tool is called Happy Face/Sad Face. If what I say makes God happy, show me a big smile. If what I say makes God sad, make a sad face. 1. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we learn true stories from His Word? (Happy) 2. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How did God feel that Jacob picked favorites?(sad) 3. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How did God feel that the brothers wanted to hurt Jacob? (Sad) 4. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we want to hurt each other? (Sad) 5. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we want to love Him? (Happy) 6. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we want to love each other? (Happy) 7. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when people pick favorites? (Sad) 8. Volunteer: Share a part of the story that makes you sad. Then share about when you were born again. 9. Ask children to share a part of the story that made them sad. Special Prayer Time Let s spend time in prayer thanking the Father for His Word and everything it tells us. Thank You Father for Your special book, and for all Your instructions on how we can be special because of Jesus. Help us Father to live for you each day. In Jesus name, Amen. Activity Abstract Painting Supplies: Canvas with outlined child, watercolors, brushes, water cups Set Up: Using your own blank canvas, tell children that we are all the same - just like our canvas. But when we give our heart to God and become His child, He makes us special. (Dab outline with colors.) When we obey His Word, He makes us special. God loves us no matter what we do, but when we follow Him, He changes us to be special. 1. Give each child a blank canvas and a paint brush. 2. Ask them to start painting their person. 3. Talk about common verses in the Word where God tells us how to live. (Honor your mother and father, be kind one to another, love your neighbor, trust in the Lord, tell God you are sorry when you sin, worship only God) Wrap Up: No matter how you ever feel, God loves you and wants to make you special! Activity God Makes Me Special Parade Supplies: Instruments for children to play 1. Allow children to choose an instrument. Line up to walk in the parade. 2. Lead children in this repetitive cheer: Thank you God for making me special. 3. Lead the parade and help children to thank God for making them special. Wrap Up: Cheer for the Lord for all He has done for us. Listening Time Sit quietly and listen to what children want to tell you about what they heard, saw and learned today. Supplies: Coloring pages, crayons, P devo take-homes 17

Four Year Olds Application Station Today s Schedule Purposeful Play (15 minutes pre service/5 minutes during service) Snack, Prayer (5 minutes) Activity (10 minutes) Enrichment (10 minutes) Memory Verse Review (1 minute) Story Room (25 minutes) Story Hits (6 minutes) Small Group (6 minutes) Special Prayer Time (1 minute) Illustration (10 minutes) Listening Time (6 minutes) Purposeful Play Allow children to play within themed bins. Children may choose different bins but themed items must stay with original bin. Affirm children of biblical virtues like patience, believing the best, sharing, waiting their turn, and good stewardship. Snack, Prayer Ask the Lord to bless the snack and pray for the worship service. Activity Abstract Painting Supplies: Canvas with outlined child, watercolors, brushes, water cups Set Up: Using your own blank canvas, tell children that we are all the same - just like our canvas. But when we give our heart to God and become His child, He makes us special. (Dab outline with colors.) When we obey His Word, He makes us special. God loves us no matter what we do, but when we follow Him, He changes us to be special. 1. Give each child a blank canvas and a paint brush. 2. Ask them to start painting their person. 3. Talk about common verses in the Word where God tells us how to live. (Honor your mother and father, be kind one to another, love your neighbor, trust in the Lord, tell God you are sorry when you sin, worship only God) Wrap Up: No matter how you ever feel, God loves you and wants to make you special! Enrichment Three Ways to Be Special Motions 1. Become God s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body. When I become God s child, God changes me into a new person and makes me special. 2. Learn God s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart. 3. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in praying position. God wants me to ask Him for help so He can teach me right from wrong. Memory Verse Review Supplies: P devo take-home Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Memory verse motions can be found in the preschool devo take-home. 1. Read the Bible verse and demonstrate motions. 2. Ask, Do you know that this is a verse found in the Bible? It is found in the book of Psalms. Can you say Psalms? Allow children the opportunity to try. That is fun to say, isn t it? Let s try it again, Psalms. Thumbs up if that is fun to say. Let me tell you where the Bible verse is found again, Psalm 119:11. (It s okay if they say Psalms.) 3. Now we will practice our memory verse with motions five times. Story Room Supplies: Comfort sign with matching lanyards Using the transitional activity, move children to the Story Room using the comfort sign with assigned picture. To remind us that it is God who makes us special, point straight up to the sky and keep your eyes in front all the way to the Story Room. We need to be quiet so we can hear what God wants us to do! Use the same transition to return to classroom. 18

Four Year Olds Application Station (2) Story Hits Supplies: Flannel graph Scripture: Genesis 37 (Joseph s Family) A man named Jacob was part of God s special promise for a special country of people. Jacob and his family owned many animals including sheep and goats. They were very wealthy. Jacob had 12 sons and cared more about one son than the others. The name of his favorite son was Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he made Joseph a fancy coat of many colors. This hurt the older sons feelings. Joseph had some dreams where his brothers and parents bowed down to him. When Joseph told his family about his dreams, Joseph s brothers were angry and plotted to kill him. Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers and then report back to their father Jacob. One day, the brothers were so angry about Joseph being the favorite and about his dreams, that they plotted to kill him. The brothers were rough with Joseph and took his coat. Joseph s brothers threw Joseph in a pit. Small Group Supplies: None 100% RESPONSE TOOL: Today s 100% Response Tool is called Happy Face/Sad Face. If what I say makes God happy, show me a big smile. If what I say makes God sad, make a sad face. 1. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we learn true stories from His Word? (Happy) 2. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How did God feel that Jacob picked favorites?(sad) 3. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How did God feel that the brothers wanted to hurt Jacob? (Sad) 4. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we want to hurt each other? (Sad) 5. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we want to love Him? (Happy) 6. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when we want to love each other? (Happy) 7. 100% RESPONSE TOOL: How does God feel when people pick favorites? (Sad) 8. Volunteer: Share a part of the story that makes you sad. Then share about when you were born again. 9. Ask children to share a part of the story that made them sad. Special Prayer Time Let s spend time in prayer thanking the Father for His Word and everything it tells us. Thank You Father for Your special book, and for all Your instructions on how we can be special because of Jesus. Help us Father to live for you each day. In Jesus name, Amen. Engineering Activity Illustration Each week we will see how to solve a problem by using ordinary supplies to make something special. Build a Tower Supplies: Ordinary materials that children recognize such as craft sticks, plastic cups, wooden blocks and light-weight books (not text books or heavy books). Please test and practice before you complete with children. Say: I need to use ordinary things to build something that will do something special! I need to build a tower to hold all these books. Demonstrate with absurdity. Start placing books on one plastic cup and see them topple over. Begin by building a square base. (Suggestion: use plastic cups.) Add second material (like craft sticks). Make this a big deal. Add a third material (like wooden blocks). Make this a bigger deal. You may stop here and start piling books slowly one on top of another. Ask children to count with you! Look how many books our tower can hold using just ordinary things. Wrap Up: Taking ordinary materials and following a few engineering principles (rules), turns the ordinary materials into something special. This is what God does to us. He takes ordinary kids and turns us into something special when we follow His principles (what He says in the Bible). Listening Time Sit quietly and listen to what children want to tell you about what they heard, saw and learned today. Supplies: Coloring pages, crayons, P devo take-homes 19