Primary Teacher Guide September 2017
Table of Contents Lesson Warm Up Story Activity Page September 3 Keep Your Promise (based on Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17) Describe a rainbow in 30 seconds Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 1: The Purpose of the Ark Make an ark 2 September 10 An Important Promise (based on Genesis 17:1-9) September 17 Remember to Rest (based on Exodus 31:12-18) September 24 A Change of Heart (based on Ezekiel 36:22-32) Play Spin and Say Share how you get ready for special days Listen to Fix Me New by Tim Bowman, Jr. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 2: Benefiting from Our Faithful Ancestors Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 3: God Gave Us a Day of Rest Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 4: What is in a Box of Chocolates? Make a bookmark Make a church fan Make a card of encouragement 4 6 10 Appendices Title Page Appendix A Ark Template 11 Appendix B Bookmark Template 12 Appendix C Church Fan Template 13 Appendix D Encouragement Card Template 14 1 P a g e
Lesson 1 September 3, 2017 Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17 Keep Your Promise Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Describe a rainbow. Use a stopwatch to challenge students to describe a rainbow in 30 seconds. Remind students the best descriptions have lots of details. Scripture Summary Noah built a large boat, called an ark. God told Noah to build the ark and gave him instructions regarding size and details for the inside and exterior. This boat was large enough to put human beings and two of each clean animal that existed in it. When the ark was completed, it started raining. The rain lasted so long that it flooded the earth. However, the ark was a place of safety. Noah allowed living creatures to enter the ark before the door was closed. When it stopped raining, there was rainbow in the sky. The rainbow symbolized God s promise that the earth would not flood again. Key Verse Exercise Read the verse to remember aloud. I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:13) Tell students to match the appropriate pictures to the missing words in the verse to remember. 2 P a g e
Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 1 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 1: The Purpose of the Ark During Art Class, the teacher asked students to use their imagination and create something that could float on a large body of water. Terrain features could be added to enhance the project. Since the pieces of art were going to be displayed for the entire school year, children were encouraged to present their best work. Students were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 5 children. Taj, Aaliyah, Akeem, Israel and Tori were in Group 1. They decided to use Genesis 8:20-9:17 as an inspiration for their artwork. Taj and Aaliyah decided to make an ark. Akeem and Tori created a 3D rainbow. The teacher asked them why they were making an ark and rainbow. Aaliyah replied, It is raining outside and if it starts flooding, this will remind us of the covenant God made to never destroy the earth by a flood again. key words terrain a stretch of land with specific physical features ark a large boat built by Noah to save his family and two of every clean animal from the flood rainbow an arc of the sun s light separated into different colors that represents God s promise to Noah covenant an agreement Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. What did Group 1 make? Group 1 made an ark. What scripture inspired Group 1 to create their piece of art? Genesis 8: 20-9:17 What did Aaliyah say to the teacher? The rainbow will remind them of the covenant God made. Complete the Superhero Challenge KEEPING A PROMISE, if time permits. Ask students to help the Faithful Five write a story by writing answers for the missing text in the story. See if any students want to share their responses. Keeping a Promise It was Saturday morning. promised to clean up the your best friend s name a room in a house before going outside to play. knocked on the door to tell one of the Faithful Five your best friend s name about the kickball game the children on were getting ready to play. the name of your street put down the and started to go outside. The your best friend s name a house cleaning tool symbol of promise 3 P a g e
hanging on the door knob reminded of the promise made. your best friend s name choose he or she finished cleaning the and joined the kickball game afterwards. your best friend s name a room in a house Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Noah s Ark. Materials needed: Craft sticks (15-20 per student), copies of the ark template in Appendix A printed on cardstock paper, brown foam self-adhesive sheet (one per student), foam self-adhesive animal shapes or animal stickers, scissors, crayons Instructions: Glue the craft sticks to the pattern on the ark template. Cut the brown foam self-adhesive sheet into strips and stick them to the craft sticks to make the appearance of wood. Color in grass, a sky with clouds, and a rainbow. Stick animals as desired into the picture. Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, thank you for being our protection during times of trouble. Help us become better listeners and more obedient. In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen. Lesson 2 September 10, 2017 Genesis 17:1-9 An Important Promise Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Spin and Say. Before class use super glue to secure a fidget spinner to the center of a small poster board. Place a sticker on one arm of the fidget spinner to create a pointer. Spin the fidget spinner. The student closet to the arm with the sticker must say the name of a person who did a lot to benefit others. Examples can include, but are not limited to, civil rights leaders, parents, pastors, teachers or Biblical persons. Scripture Summary Abram was 99 years old when God made an agreement or covenant with him. But everyone from Abram, to all of Abram s relatives had to follow the rules of the covenant. The blessings would come if Abram and his relatives were obedient to God. Abram was told his name would change to Abraham and the land in Canaan would be given to him and his relatives. 4 P a g e
Key Verse Exercise Read the verse to remember aloud. [And] I will make my covenant between me and you. (Genesis 17: 2) Tell students to fill in the boxes to complete the verse to remember. [And] I will make my c o v e n a n t between m e and y o u. Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 2 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 2: Benefitting from our Faithful Ancestors Ms. Sellars asked the students to give a report on something they talked about in class this year. The Faithful Five remembered that their teacher had taught them about Rosa Parks, civil rights, and the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. They all decided to present one fact about the boycott on a poster. Tori started the presentation by saying, A lady named Mrs. Rosa Parks stood up for civil rights. Israel went next. The Bus Boycott was in 1955. Aaliyah said, Mrs. Rosa Parks was put in jail for not giving up her seat on a bus. Akeem added, Many African-Americans decided not to ride buses because of how Mrs. Parks was treated. Taj finished the presentation by saying, Many people from different backgrounds and races worked together to help others. When the presentation was over, one of the students asked, Why did the you all want to do a report on civil rights? Akeem answered, We learned that civil rights is very important because it protects us from being treated badly. key words Rosa Parks woman whose arrest for refusing to give up her seat led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott civil rights basic rights that every person should have boycott refusing to buy or use something; or refusing to go somewhere 5 P a g e
Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. Abraham was ninety-nine (99) years old when God made an agreement with him. What was God s promise to Abraham? God promised to give Abraham and his relatives the land of Canaan. The Faithful Five decided to give a report on civil rights. Who refused to give up her seat on the bus? Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. What happened in Montgomery, AL in 1955? The bus boycott Complete the Superhero Challenge OBEDIENCE, if time permits. Tell students the Faithful Five know they should obey God every day. Help the Faithful Five make a list of the ways they can show their obedience by using the letters O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E. (Answers will vary, but a few examples are below.) Obey your parents. Be good in school. Encourage your friends to do the right thing. Do not talk back to adults. Ignore others that try to get you in trouble. Eat healthy meals. Never be a bully. Come to church. Exercise to keep your body healthy. Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Promise Bookmark. Materials needed: Copies of bookmark template in Appendix B printed on cardstock paper, scrap paper (such as scrapbook paper, newspaper or magazines), lamination paper, scissors, glue Instructions: Cut out bookmark templates before class. Distribute one bookmark to each student. Tear small pieces of scrap paper. Glue the scrap paper inside the letters and numbers for the scripture reference. Laminate the bookmark. Close the lesson with prayer. Lord teach me how to respond to your call. Give me the confidence to do what you need me to do. Amen. Lesson 3 September 17, 2017 Exodus 31:12-18 Remember to Rest Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Sharing Time. Ask students to share how they get ready for special days. Limit the discussion to five minutes. Scripture Summary Moses was instructed by God to let the Israelites know he wanted them to dedicate one day of the week to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a holy day set aside for rest and worshipping God. It represents 6 P a g e
the day God rested after creating the universe. The Israelites and some faith communities today observe the Sabbath from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday. Many Christians, like us, observe the Sabbath on Sunday. Key Verse Exercise Read the verse to remember aloud. You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you. (Exodus 31:13) Ask students to draw a line to connect the words in the verse to remember in the correct order. 7 P a g e
Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 3 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 3: God Gave Us a Day of Rest The teacher asked the class to develop a product for a fictitious business as their end of year project. Students were required to work and present as a team. Since there were 30 students, they were divided into groups of 5. Taj, Tori, Israel, Akeem and Aaliyah were in Group 2. They begin to brainstorm and determined Israel s idea was the best option. He suggested they make something related to last week s Church School lesson on the Sabbath. Tori said, Our business can make church fans with a message to remind people to observe the Sabbath. Each of the Faithful Five designed their own unique fan. The next thing they needed to do was come up with catchy phrase to put on the fan. Akeem came up with the phrase, Worship + Rest = Sabbath. key words fictitious not real or true brainstorm a group discussion to come up with ideas and solutions to problems Sabbath a holy day set aside for rest and worshipping God The Faithful Five presented their product on the first day of presentations. The teacher asked, Why did you put this message on the fans? Akeem replied, When people use the fans it will be a constant reminder that God created a day for rest and worship. unique being the only one of its kind Rise Up! Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. One of the Ten Commandments is about the Sabbath. True False Who told the Israelites about the Sabbath? Moses told the Israelites about the Sabbath. What product did the Faithful Five make? The Faithful Five made church fans. What was the message they shared with the people? Worship + Rest = Sabbath Can you unscramble these words? yloh dxeosu babahts somse ohron tser Holy Exodus Sabbath Moses honor rest Complete the Superhero Challenge OBEYING GOD S RULES, if time permits. Tell students the Faithful Five know they need to set good examples for other children. The best way to do that is by obeying God s rules. Help them by making a list of the things that children may do that are not pleasing to God. Then come up with ways to change disobedient behavior. Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Church Fan. Materials needed: copies of church fan template in Appendix C, small poster board, large craft sticks, scissors, markers or crayons, glue Instructions: Cut the church fan pattern before class. Distribute a pattern to each student. Trace the pattern on the poster board. Cut out the church fan. Decorate the fan with markers or crayons. Include a 8 P a g e
message about the Sabbath. Encourage students to be creative. Glue the craft stick to the back of the poster board with the tip placed in the middle of the board. Allow glue to dry. Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, thank you for creating a day for rest. Help us remember to keep it Holy. In Jesus Name, we pray! Amen. Lesson 4 September 24, 2017 Ezekiel 36:22-32 A Change of Heart Get Excited! Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity Fix Me New. Tell students to listen to the song Fix Me New and put their hands over their hearts every time they hear the phrase fix me. Scripture Summary God was disappointed with the people of Israel. They were living a life that was not pleasing to God. The people sinned so much that it seemed to be a normal practice. God told them that they should be embarrassed by their behavior. However, God had the power to help them if they wanted to change. Key Verse Exercise I will spirit put within you. give you, and a new Read the verse to remember aloud. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. (Ezekiel 36:26) I will Tell students to find their way to the center of the maze by following the phrases in the verse to remember. A new heart 9 P a g e
Read and Learn! Read Adventures of the Faithful Five: Episode 4 aloud. Review key words. Adventures of the Faithful Five Episode 4: What Is In A Box of Chocolates? Last Summer, Aaliyah and her mother went shopping at the mall. While they were there, Aaliyah asked her mother, Mom can we buy a box of chocolates for my teacher s birthday? Her mother said it was okay so Aaliyah selected a box with a variety of chocolate candies. However, none of them had a tart filling. Aaliyah s mother said, There is a lesson that this box of many different chocolates can teach us about life: God can take the bitterness out of our hearts, like that tart filling, and fill us with a sweet spirit. Rise Up! key words variety having many different types tart a sour taste bitterness an angry feeling sweet spirit the spirit of God that makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, caring and disciplined Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. God was disappointed with the people of Israel. The way the people lived did not please God. God had the new spirit to help them. What lesson did the box of chocolates teach Aaliyah? God can take the bitterness out of our hearts, like a tart filling, and fill us with a sweet spirit. Write the words that describe how God expects us to act toward others in the heart. Loving, Happy, Helpful, Nice Complete the Superhero Challenge SONGS FOR GOD, if time permits. Tell students the Faithful Five want God to know their hearts belong to him. Name as many songs as you can that they could use to express how much they love God. Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity Encouragement Card. Materials needed: Copies of the Encouragement Card template in Appendix D printed on white cardstock (one per student), crayons, scissors, glue Instructions: Cut the templates to separate the outside of the card (top half) from the inside of the card (bottom half) before class. Fold the inside card piece in half and then cut around the heart on the solid line, leaving the unmarked edge uncut. Allow students to color the letters on the outside card piece and the heart on the inside card piece with crayons. Remind them to color inside the lines as best they can because the cards are being shared with people who are not able to come to church. They are practicing behavior God likes to see. Fold the heart back and forth along the uncut edge to create a pop-up. Make sure the middle fold of the heart is pointing toward you. Then fold the inside piece and outside pieces in half. Glue the pieces together. Be careful not to get any glue on the heart pop-up. Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, help me to do what is right and live a life pleasing to you. Amen. 10 P a g e
Appendix A Ark Template 11 P a g e
Appendix B Bookmark Template 12 P a g e
Appendix C Church Fan Template 13 P a g e
Appendix D Encouragement Card Template and so do I! 14 P a g e