Count on the Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) Ten Commandments: God Speaks Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness for a long time. As they walked and walked through dry deserts with little water, they wondered where God was leading them. God told Moses that if the people loved and obeyed, they would be God s beloved people. The people said, We will do what God asks! Moses went up on a high mountain. The top of the mountain was hidden in a cloud, so the people down below couldn t see Moses. But they could hear God speaking to Moses. Here are the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses and all the people: I am the Lord, your God, who has brought you out of slavery. You shall have no other gods but me. You shall not use my name in any way that is wrong or disrespectful. Remember, there is one Sabbath day. is a day of rest. Keep it holy. Love and honor your mother and father. Do not kill. If you are married, love only the person you are married to. Do not steal. Never tell a lie. Don t wish for something that belongs to someone else. Be happy for what you have. When the people saw lightning and heard God s voice, they were afraid. But Moses told them, Do not be afraid! God will help you follow these commandments! Pre-K/Kindergarten 51
Firelight II: Bible Learning Curriculum: Most Certainly True! Reproducible Home Pages 2004 Augsburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use only. Pre-K/Kindergarten 52
Count on the Commandments Here s the Story (Exodus 20:1-17) Two Great Stones God gave Moses Ten Commandments, or rules, on stone tablets. Rules help everyone live better together. Count to 10 and connect these dots to make the stone tablets. 3 7 2 4 6 8 5 1 10 9 Pre-K/Kindergarten 53
Let s Do What are some of your family s rules? Talk with your child about the rules that you have to make everyone safe. What are some rules in your community or school? Why is it important for everyone to follow some rules? What happens if we don t follow rules? How about God s rules? Do you ever break the rules perhaps drive a little faster than the speed limit? Think about the kinds of rules you follow every day without thinking. Is it as easy to follow God s rules? God gave us the rules that we know as the Ten Commandments out of love for us. Is it easier to follow rules that are given in love? Key Verse Note Home I am the LORD your God. Exodus 20:2a CEV Make a heart stamp as a reminder of God s love. Trace around a heartshaped cookie cutter on a sponge and cut the heart shape out with scissors. Press the sponge shape into red paint and print hearts on paper to use for note cards. My Let s Make Prayer Dear God, we may not always like the rules that we have to follow, but thank you for helping us to see that they are important to us. Amen? Families Keep Talking What else can your family learn about the Ten Commandments? Write your thoughts, questions, or ideas here. Catechism Tunes Listen to The Ten Commandments Song, Track 1 on the Catechism Tunes CD. Have fun counting down as you listen to how the Ten Commandments are numbered in the song. Firelight II: Bible Learning Curriculum: Most Certainly True! Reproducible Home Pages 2004 Augsburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use only. Pre-K/Kindergarten 54
Count on the Commandments Here s the Theme (Exodus 20:1-17) The Gift of Rules God s rules help us love God and other people. Rules make our world a nicer place. Circle things that make our world a better place. Put an X on things that don t. Pre-K/Kindergarten 55
Let s Do Does your family have a favorite game to play together? could be a board game, a card game, or a game like Simon Says. Choose a game you all want to play and, before you begin, take some time to talk about the rules of the game. Why is it important for everyone to know the same rules? What happens if someone doesn t play by the rules? How does everyone else feel? Note Home Life hands us challenges. All of us turn to guidelines of one kind or another when we don t know what to do. How do you make difficult decisions? How have you taught your child to think through difficult decisions? Take time this week to talk with your child and the members of your family about the different ways that God has helped you to do the right thing. Key Verse I am the LORD your God. Exodus 20:2a CEV Help your child make a Ten Commandments necklace using 10 empty sewing spools. Let your child write the numbers 1-10 on the spools, then thread the spools on a length of string or yarn. Tie a knot between spools. Your child can wear the completed necklace or display it somewhere where it will be a reminder of God s rules for living. Let s Make My Prayer Thank you, God, for rules! Sometimes we don t want to follow the rules. Sometimes we think we would have more fun if we didn t follow the rules. Be our guide and reminder whenever we feel like that! Amen? Families Keep Talking What else can your family learn about the Ten Commandments? Write your thoughts, questions, or ideas here. Catechism Tunes Listen to The Ten Commandments Song, Track 1 on the Catechism Tunes CD. Can you hold up the correct number of fingers after shouting out each number? Firelight II: Bible Learning Curriculum: Most Certainly True! Reproducible Home Pages 2004 Augsburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use only. Pre-K/Kindergarten 56
Count on the Commandments The Story and Me (Exodus 20:1-17) Count to 10 God gave us Ten Commandments to help us live as God s people. Count these good things and write numbers 1-10 on the lines. Pre-K/Kindergarten 57
Let s Do Read over the Ten Commandments with your family. Talk about some of the rules, and decide which ones you can memorize. You might want to rewrite the wording to make more sense for young children. Work on one rule at a time, and make learning fun by adding a clap pattern or rhyme to each rule. Note Home Ten is a number that we cannot forget we carry it on our hands! Are God s commandments a part of who you are? Which commandments have been especially meaningful in your life. How have you lived the Ten Commandments in your life? How can you help your child to make these commandments familiar, emphasizing the love of God? Key Verse Catechism Tunes I am the LORD your God. Exodus 20:2a CEV Play Keep the Commandments, Track 2 on the Catechism Tunes CD. Have fun moving and dancing together. Make sure everyone hears the message that when you can t keep the Commandments, remember that God still loves you. is always fun to make handprints with children to record their size at a moment in time! Making handprints on a regular basis will give you proof of how quickly children grow. Paint each child s hand with washable paint, then press the hands with the fingers spread apart onto a sheet of paper. Talk about how our 10 fingers can help us remember the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. Let s Make My Prayer Ask your child to pray for you and your family today with everyone adding Amen.? Families Keep Talking What else can your family learn about the Ten Commandments? Write your thoughts, questions, or ideas here. Firelight II: Bible Learning Curriculum: Most Certainly True! Reproducible Home Pages 2004 Augsburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use only. Pre-K/Kindergarten 58
Count on the Commandments The Story and My Church (Exodus 20:1-17) All God s People When we live by God s Commandments, we are living as God s people. Trace the letters for God s name. Then fill God s house with happy people! Pre-K/Kindergarten 59
Let s Do How do we honor God? The first commandment talks about loving the Lord our God. One way we do it is by respecting God s house and God s word. Talk about ways your family can take better care of God s house (your church) and God s word (sharing the good news of God s love with others). Think of ways that everyone in your family can join in church activities or other new ways of giving. Note Home Sharing our faith should be easy, but it often is not. We are most comfortable associating with people who are already involved in our churches, and tend to be uncomfortable talking about God or Jesus in other areas of our lives. Think about the variety of opportunities that are offered in your church and how you and your family could invite people who may never have been invited before. Key Verse Catechism Tunes I am the LORD your God. Exodus 20:2a CEV Listen to Track 2 on the Catechism Tunes CD, Keep the Commandments. Talk about how your family can observe number 3, the Sabbath, each week. Draw a simple 3" x 3" (7.5 cm x 7.5 cm) church shape on craft foam or felt, and cut it out. Attach the church to a refrigerator magnet, and use the magnet to hang the weekly bulletin or church calendar on your refrigerator. Then, when you need to know something about the church week, it will be right in front of you! Let s Make My Prayer Dear God, Thank you for our church, and for all churches around the world. Help us work together as Christians to find ways to share your love with people who may not know you. Amen? Families Keep Talking What else can your family learn about the Ten Commandments? Write your thoughts, questions, or ideas here. Firelight II: Bible Learning Curriculum: Most Certainly True! Reproducible Home Pages 2004 Augsburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use only. Pre-K/Kindergarten 60