All Things New What Will Children Learn? 78 best-loved Bible stories and Christian Basics. Year 1 The Bible The Basics Fall-1 Winter-1 Spring-1 Genesis: Stories of Beginnings Creation Adam and Eve The Fall The Flood Abraham Sarah Rebekah s Well Jacob s Ladder Rachel & Leah Joseph s Dreams Joseph and Pharaoh Joseph and His Brothers The Jesse Tree: An Old Testament Review Jesus: Stories of God s Kingdom Zechariah and Elizabeth Mary Says Yes Jesus in the Manger The Magi Into Egypt John the Baptist Jesus and Nathanael Jesus & Jairus Daughter Jesus Calms the Storm Jesus Feeds 5,000 Jesus and the Children Parable: The Good Samaritan Bartimaeus Easter and Pentecost: Stories of the Church The Prophet Isaiah & the Suffering Servant Jesus Enters Jerusalem Jesus Teaches: The Ten Bridesmaids Jesus & His Friends: At Bethany The Last Supper Jesus Death and Resurrection Mary Magdalene, Witness to the Risen Lord Road to Emmaus Ascension Pentecost The First Christians A Letter on Love (1 Corinthians) One in Christ (Galatians 3) Prayer Hearing and Sharing Faith Stories Stewardship Advent and Christmas Baptism The Apostles Creed Holy Week and Easter Holy Communion Year 2 The Bible The Basics Fall-2 Winter-2 Spring-2 Heritage: People of God Miriam Saves Moses Burning Bush Moses and Pharaoh Exodus Manna in the Desert Gift of the Law Entry into Canaan God Calls Samuel David Elijah & Elisha Stories of Exile: Daniel, Esther and Others Return & Rebuilding The Jesse Tree: An Old Testament Review Emmanuel: God With Us Mary & Elizabeth Birth of John the Baptist Shepherds to the Manger Anna & Simeon Jesus at Twelve Baptism and Temptation The First Disciples Jesus & the Paralyzed Man Jesus Walks on Water Parable: The Great Dinner Party Mary & Martha Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son Zacchaeus A New People: God s Spirit and the Church The Prophet Jeremiah & the New Covenant Jesus in the Temple Jesus Teaches: The Widow s Gift Jesus & His Friends: Preparations The Last Supper Jesus Death and Resurrection Thomas, Witness to the Risen Lord The Sea of Tiberias The Great Commission The Good News Goes Out: Paul, the Ethiopian and Others The House of Lydia A Letter on Love (1 John) A Final Vision (Revelation 21) Fellowship Bible Skills The Church The Church Year Baptism The Lord s Prayer Reconciliation Holy Communion Outreach Preschool & Kindergarten 5
Session 1 Focus Creation In this Session We tell the story of God s creation (Genesis 1: 1 2:4). We explore how we are made to be like God. We practice the faith skill of praying together. Timing Scripture Background: The Bible begins with a beautiful affirmation of God as Creator of the cosmos, the earth, the living world and all people (Genesis 1:1 2:4). We are made in God s image. That means God makes us creators, too. We can help children explore ways we act as creators: we make things, we enter into relationships and we bless the world and people around us. When we affirm each child as the unique person he or she is, we faith formation leaders share in God s creative work. For more information on scripture and faith formation, turn to page 12. 1. Open (5-15 minutes) 2. Tell the Story (5-10 minutes) 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more: Art (10-20 minutes) Movement (10-15 minutes) Faith Skills (10-15 minutes) 4. Close (5-10 minutes) Materials God saw that it was good. Art: Free Play: play dough or other art material; Creation Portraits: big sheets of paper, markers Genesis 1:12 Preschool & Kindergarten Session 1 9
Session 1 Session Plan 1. Open Make a Circle: As the children arrive, learn each child s name. Stoop or sit as necessary so you are on the children s eye level as you talk with them. Invite the children to come sit around you, but keep in mind that many young children can t stay in a circle for more than 5-10 minutes. You help them best by helping them feel welcome in the room, just as they are today. 3. Respond to the Story Choose one or more of the response activities on the facing page. Remember that young children need free play, too, so have materials available (blocks, stuffed animals, clay, etc.) Plan that at least half of the session time will be spent in free play. Opening Prayer: You can begin by using Track 1 on the All Things New CD to lead children in singing Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works.. This creation hymn sets the words of an American folk hymn to the tune of a Dakota Indian chant. Help the children pray together with you this short prayer: Thanks be to God. Repeat the short prayer several times. You can lift up your hands as you pray. 2. Tell the Story Getting Ready: Open a Bible. Explain: This is a story from the Bible, the special book of God s people. Today s story is the first story in the Bible. Story: (abridged from Genesis 1:1-31, NRSV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God said, Let there be light. God saw that the light was good. God said, Let dry land appear. And God saw that it was good. God made the wild animals of the earth. And God saw that it was good. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. 4. Close Make a Circle: Gather once more in a circle. Take time to invite children to share their responses, such as a picture or a movement game. Closing Prayer: Invite children to say together, slowly, several times, today s opening prayer: Thanks be to God. You can also repeat with the children the opening song. Distribute today s All Things Newspaper (#1) to children and their parents as they depart. Response: Sit quietly for a few seconds, letting children absorb the words of the story. Then repeat several times, slowly, God saw that it was good. Encourage children to join you. 10 Session 1 Preschool & Kindergarten
Session 1 Respond to the Story Art Free Play: In this first session, take time to help children see what choices of art materials they have for free play. If possible, have a table available with at least one art material the children can use as they like. Crayons, markers and play dough are easy to clean up after. You can switch materials from week to week. Model ways to use the materials with care. We use one marker at a time. We put the cap on when we re done. You may want to wait to introduce paint until you ve established set-up and clean-up routines with the children. Creation Portraits: Have available markers or crayons and big sheets of paper. Gather the children around a work area. Remind the children: God makes all things. God makes all things good. Hold up markers, one at a time, perhaps beginning with green. Say, God makes all things green. Let s thank God for green. Help the children join you in saying, Thank you, God. After you ve named several colors, explain that God makes each one of us, too. Name each child by name, using these or similar words: God made Julio. Invite the children to draw pictures of things or people that God makes. Say: You can draw a picture with your favorite color. God makes all colors! You can draw a picture of something you like. God makes all things! You can draw a picture of yourself. God makes each one of us! You may wish to play music in the background as children create. Movement Creation Story: You ll find a dramatic telling of the creation story on Track 7 on the All Things New CD. This story is told with a dramatic refrain of Sooo good chanted by a group of young children. The story takes about 4 minutes to play. Play the story for the children. Invite them to join in the refrain throughout the story. Help the children move as they say the refrain in creative ways. For example, as the words Sooo good are said by the storyteller, get ready to: stretch your arms way over your head jump to your feet sway back and forth with your body Choose one of these movements for each of the refrains Sooo good. Encourage the children to join you in these movements as you listen to the story together. Faith Skills: Prayer Thank-You Prayers: This month we focus on helping children develop prayer skills. Gather the children in a circle or group. Explain that when we pray, we talk with God. Today we will say thank you to God. Stand behind one child. Say: God made Julio. Thanks be to God. Help the children join you in this chant. Repeat the prayer for each child in the room. Preschool & Kindergarten Session 1 11
More More for You, the Leader More about Today s Story There are two creation stories in the Bible. Today s session tells the first creation story, in which God calls forth from the void the cosmos, the earth and its living creatures (Genesis 1:1 2:4). In the creation stories of many other cultures, creation is portrayed as an accident or an act of evil. In sharp contrast, the Bible affirms creation as the deliberate act of a God who pronounces all things good. The creation story was not intended as early science but as early prayer. It doesn t attempt to explain every detail of the physical cosmos, but lovingly affirms the nature of God as Creator and the nature of human beings who are made in God s image. When we read aloud the story, we praise God as the One who brings life into the world, enters into relationship with that creation and blesses all things made. The Basics for Leaders First Sessions: In these first sessions, help children learn one another s names and the routine of the sessions. Today s Faith Skills activity also helps children practice each other s names. Feel free to repeat this activity more than once today, as well as in coming weeks. Children feel secure when we provide a reliable, but welcoming, structure for the group. You are the source of the children s security in the room. If you are there before them, looking warm and unhurried, you have set the tone of a secure and happy session. You ll find that songs and simple activities repeated from week to week help create a familiar environment for the children. Because we are made in God s image, we, too, are called to bring life to God s world, enter into relationship with all beings and bless all that is made. Early Christian writers noted that the story names the sixth day (Friday) as the day of creation for people. They wrote that Jesus recreated human nature by offering himself to God on the cross on Good Friday. Reflection: We invite you to reflect prayerfully on today s story. What part of creation moves you to feelings of wonder, love or praise? God blesses all things and all people by calling them good. How do you know yourself as ultimately good, made in God s image and loved and blessed by God? How do you know yourself as a creator, too? The good God...has made all things good. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome (461 A.D.) 12 Session 1 Preschool & Kindergarten