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ISBN-13: 978-1-426-75191-2

JJA EE LG Covers 1-4.indd 4-1 1/14/13 11:02 AM

ContentsWritten by Anita Edlund

2 Introduction 4 Welcome to Leaper’s Pointe

UNIT 1: Making Choices 5 Unit 1 Overview 7 June 2, Session 1:

Adam and Eve 13 June 9, Session 2: Daniel Chooses 19 June 16, Session 3:

Jonah 25 June 23, Session 4: The Temptations 31 June 30, Session 5:

Levi 37 Unit 1 Reproducibles

UNIT 2: Having Courage 49 Unit 2 Overview 51 July 7, Session 6: Esther 57 July 14, Session 7:

The Fiery Furnace 63 July 21, Session 8: Daniel and the Lions 69 July 28, Session 9: Paul’s Journey to Rome 75 Unit 2 Reproducibles

UNIT 3: Being Friends 85 Unit 3 Overview 87 August 4, Session 10:

David and Jonathan 93 August 11, Session 11: Ruth and Naomi 99 August 18, Session 12: Paul and Barnabas 105 August 25, Session 13: Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila 111 Unit 3 Reproducibles

Supplemental Pages 121 Summer Ministry article 122 Bible Verse Sign Language 125 Unit Coloring Sheets 128 Comments From Users

Visit GrowProclaimServe.com/leaders to join the community with other leaders and find helpful weekly content and

articles. Websites are constantly changing. Although the

websites recommended in this resource were checked at the time this unit was developed,

we recommend that you double-check all sites to verify that they are still live and that they are still suitable for children before doing the

activity.

JJA EE LG pp1-4 front ID000.indd 1 1/14/13 12:11 PM

2 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

IntroductionFirst and foremost, Grow, Proclaim, Serve is a

Bible study. Your children will hear the Bible story, apply the Bible message, and then live out the message in their lives in concrete and age-appropriate ways.

Each session begins with the Bible story reference and the monthly Bible verse. Grow, Proclaim, Serve uses one Bible verse for the entire month to give the children the opportunity to learn the verses. Each month the sessions also have a “Leap of Faith.” This is the main idea for the month’s sessions.

Each session is divided into the four sections. The first section is “Grow Together.” You may use these activities in learning centers as the children arrive or choose one or more of theses activities to be done with the entire group. Regardless of what you choose, involve the child as soon as he or she enters the room.

The second section is “Proclaim the Word.” The first activity in this section is a transition activity to move the children from their interest activities to the Bible story activities.

In this section, you may choose to use the DVD and the CD-ROM. The DVD has the Leaper’s Pointe episode (see page 4) for each week, as well as the monthly music video (with lyrics),

“Leaper’s Pointe in Concert.” At the end of both the episode and the monthly music video is the Bible verse—written, spoken, and signed using signs from American Sign Language. If you do not choose to use

the DVD, you will skip “Visit Leaper’s Pointe” and go directly to “Moving to the Bible Story.” The CD-ROM contains instrumental and vocal music, sheet music with lyrics, printable lyric sheets for each song, and PowerPoint® lyric presentations. The CD-ROM is found in the Early Elementary Resource Pak.

The third section is “Serve With Love.” In this section the children will experience activities that help them apply the Bible message to their lives.

The fourth section is “Worship.” Here the children will have the opportunity to sing and praise God. Each week you will close with prayer requests by the children and a prayer for the children.

The reproducibles for each session are found at the end of each unit. The reproducibles for the five sessions in June are on pages 37–48, after Session 5. Reproducibles for the four sessions in July are on pages 75-84, after Session 9. Reproducibles for the four sessions in August are on pages 111–120, after Session 13.

In each Leader’s Guide, there is a mission project which relates to the Bible stories. For summer, the mission project begins in Session 10. Your children will be collecting items to assemble School Kits to send to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Information about how to assemble the kits a is included in Session 10. If your church or denomination is involved in a different mission project, feel free to substitute that project as the mission focus.

As a leader for Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, you are the most important resource for the children. Be open to sharing your own faith with the children of God in your care.

Common English Bible (CEB)

The CEB is the primary Scripture resource for Grow,

Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary resources. Have at least one CEB in your room for the children to handle.

We also recommend having a copy of the New Revised

Standard Version (NRSV) and the Contemporary English Version

(CEV) of the Bible

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary resources are available in Braille on request.Contact:

Braille Ministry,

c/o Donna Veigel

10810 N. 91st Avenue #96

Peoria AZ 85345

(623-979-7552)


Summer 2013 GrowProclaimServe.com 3

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, Bible Story Pak (one per child, one per leader)

The Bible Story Pak involves the children in the Bible story and provides them with a connection between the story and real life. The colorful activities are age-level appropriate, and Stickers for the Attendance Chart and other activities are included.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, Leader’s Guide (one per leader)

The Leader’s Guide contains step-by-step instructions to for each session. Leaders are encouraged to choose activities that best suit the needs of their children and the time available. At the end of each monthly unit are reproducible sheets that coordinate with the individual sessions.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, Resource Pak (one per group)

The Resource Pak contains interactive Bible murals, storytelling figures, Bible verse posters, and games that contribute to each session with the children. See the back cover of the Resource Pak for contents.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, CD-ROM (one per group)

The Early Elementary CD-ROM is part of the Resource Pak. The CD-ROM contains six songs that are specifically chosen for the stories this quarter. Also included are the sheet music with lyrics, printable lyric sheets for each song, and PowerPoint® lyric presentations for large groups.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, Fun Pak (one per child, one per leader)

The Fun Pak is a set of quick-and-easy craft activities that relate directly to each session. These activities are colorful, creative, and fun. They require few outside supplies and are aimed at the skill level of the early-elementary child.

Photo/art credits—covers: logo design by Marc Whitaker, MTWdesign; background and

frog (& all frogs throughout): Shutterstock®, Julien Tromeur; cover design by Mark Foltz

and Phillip Francis; pp. 1, 46, 81, 82, 83, 113, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 127: Shutterstock®

; p. 4: UMPH Design dept.; pp. 38, 40, 42, 43, 48: Laura Close, Portfolio Solutions; pp.

76, 78: Paige Billin-Frye, Portfolio Solutions; pp. 92, 98, 104, 110, 122, 123, 124: Diana

Magnuson; pp. 112, 117, 119: Eulala Conner, Portfolio Solutions


4 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Welcome to Leaper’s PointeLegend has it that a long time ago, a very thirsty

man was walking along an unfamiliar road. He was in need of water and kept looking for a stream or a pond from which he could drink. From a nearby forest, a frog jumped across the road in front of the man. He knew that where there is a frog, there is bound to be water. Sure enough, the frog led him to a pond of pure clean water, fed from a nearby spring. The man thanked God for the strength and courage that he had been given to continue looking for water. He was so grateful that he decided to live on that very spot near the pond.

And so, Leaper’s Pointe was founded. Today, Leaper’s Pointe is a town in the middle of everywhere. Its citizens have continued to thank God for the many blessings they have, and to appreciate the leaps and bounds that led their founder to water. The town is a colorful, cartoonlike world, rich with tradition as well as humor.

Leaper’s Pointe is a place where people understand that God loves everyone, no matter what mistakes they might have made. All of them make mistakes. The messes they make along the road of life and the lessons that they learn from these mistakes are all part of how they learn that God is the most important thing in their lives.

The Bible is the handbook of Leaper’s Pointe. The characters in this zany, colorful town have lots of stories to tell and lots of experiences to share—and they all relate to the Bible in some way. Join the fun in Leaper’s Pointe and see how your faith can grow in leaps and bounds as you become one of the people of Leaper’s Pointe.

The People of Leaper’s PointeThe Mayor

Merrilee McAfee is a second-generation female leader of Leaper’s Pointe. She leads with “hearts and smarts,” and is strong and courageous.

Ernie the Intern

New to Leaper’s Pointe, Ernie Meeks is here to learn. Prone to make mistakes here and there, Ernie is eager to be a leader.

Mondo Solo

Owner of the Leaper’s Pointe theatre. A lover of “one-man shows,” Mondo never met an audience he didn’t like. He loves to exaggerate, but has a heart of gold.

Furleen Finnanfeathers

Owner of the pet store, The Leaping Frog—a place for ALL animals. You never know what animal sounds will come out of her pet store!

Rose

Owner of the Old Stuff shop, a place where you can find, well…old stuff. She is the wise voice of Leaper’s Pointe.

Poppa B

Owner of The Bookworm, Leaper’s Pointe’s bookstore. He is a gentle soul who loves to read. He and Rose grew up together.

Gabby Gabbler

Gabby is in charge of the Leaper’s Pointe garden. She loves to grow things. She has a very sunny disposition—she’s happy a lot of the time.

Harley & Farley

The twins. Hard to tell apart, these mischievous and competitive young men like to show up out of nowhere and keep things lively in Leaper’s Pointe.


Summer 2013 Unit 1 GrowProclaimServe.com 5

Unit 1Making ChoicesBible Verse

You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice. (Psalm 16:5, CEV)

Leap of Faith I choose to follow God.

In this unitSession 1, June 2Adam and EveBible story: Genesis 2:10–3:24

Session 2, June 9Daniel ChoosesBible story: Daniel 1:3-21

Session 3, June 16JonahBible story: Jonah 1–3

Session 4, June 23The TemptationsBible story: Luke 4:1-13

Session 5, June 30LeviBible story: Luke 5:27-32

CD-ROMGod’s a Good Choice• Instrumental and sung

version available • Music sheet with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Growing in Leaps and Bounds (theme song) • Instrumental and sung

version available • Music sheet with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Leaper’s Pointe (DVD)Session 1: The mayor places a very big gift box in the middle of town with strict instructions to NOT OPEN! It is a present for the town and will be opened the next day. Furleen Finnanfeathers is very tempted to open the box. Surely a peek won’t hurt!

Session 2: Harley is training for the “It’s a Frog Hop Race.” He’s watching what he eats and practicing daily. Farley’s in the race, too, but he’s more relaxed with his training. Who wins the race?

Session 3:Mondo tells “The Tale of Jonah: A Fish Tale!” with the help of Gabby and Farley.

Session 4: Poppa B, Rose, and Farley are each struggling with temptation. The mayor reminds her friends that even Jesus was tempted.

Session 5:Gabby receives an invitation from Thurston Treegrove to help with the Plant-a-Thousand-Trees Project. Gabby decides to go. She leaves so quickly, she forgets to let Mondo know she won’t be at her voice lesson. Mondo is worried about her. The mayor assures him that Gabby is all right. She tells Mondo that Gabby is doing the same thingLevi did when Jesus called Levito follow him.

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)• God’s a Good Choice • Growing in Leaps and

Bounds (theme song)

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6 Summer 2013 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Supplies

The BasicsBiblebox of tissuesprojector or television card stock CD playerch enille stems (variety of

colors) colored copy paper colored tissue paper computer & printer construction papercotton ballscotton swabs

craft stickscrayons crepe paper streamersDVD player gluesticks index cards lunch-sized paper bags ma rkers (watercolor and

permanent)newsprintoffering basketpaintpaintbrushes

paper clips pa per or plastic table

coverings paper bowlspaper cupspa per plates (variety of

sizes and weights) paper punch pencils plastic drinking straws posterboardrecycled newspaper

resealable plastic bagsribbon (variety of widths) scissors smocks stapler, staples tape (clear, masking) televisionwashable paint watercolor paints wooden craft sticksyarn

Beyond the BasicsSession 1basketsp ring-type

clothespinsspongebowlsh allow boxes

(soda can boxes)

plastic foambr own shredded

gift-bag paperred applegreen apple

Session 2 metal bradsbasketva riety of

vegetables for snack

va riety of dips for snack

ta bletop garden from Session 1

circle sponges

Session 3wiggle eyesfoam coffee cupsbasketcl ear nine-ounce

plastic cupsheavy nailblue tissue papercraft glueta bletop garden from

Session 1optional: gift bags

Session 4 metal bradsyardstickmagnet ta bletop garden from

Session 1

Session 5 coins of various sizesbasketsa mple of strawberries,

blueberries, grapes, and pineapple for each child

spoonsta bletop garden from

Session 1two plastic platestwo plastic cupstw o plastic forks,

knives, and spoons

Tips for Teachers• The CD-ROM will play

music in a CD player.• View the end of each

Leaper’s Pointe episode or music video several times to learn the Bible verse using signs from American Sign Language.


Summer 2013 Session 1 GrowProclaimServe.com 7Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Adam and EveBible Verse

You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice. (Psalm 16:5, CEV)

Bible StoryGenesis 2:10–3:24

Leap of FaithI choose to follow God.

Before You Begin

Adam was in the garden of Eden, and God’s plan was for Adam to farm it and take care of it. There were foods from trees that he was allowed to eat,

but one tree was forbidden. It was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God created all the animals, birds, and fi sh, and Adam gave each of them a name. God saw that Adam could use a companion more like himself, so God created Eve from the rib of Adam. That sounds like a happily-ever-after, doesn’t it? Well, it did not turn out that way.

When the snake appeared to Eve in the garden, it asked her about eating the fruit from the trees there. She told the snake what they could and could not do and what would happen to them. The snake essentially laughed off those ideas and tried to persuade Eve to take a bite. Eve had a choice to make. We know that she took a bite and then offered some to Adam. Adam had a choice to make. We know, too, that Adam took a bite as well.

Our Bible verse this month says, “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV). Life is full of choices! And God cares about the choices we make. This month the children will hear about choices Adam and Eve made, choices that Daniel made, and choices that Jonah made from the Old Testament. They will also see how Jesus fared when he was tempted and had choices to make. The last lesson shows the children that Jesus calls us, and we have a choice to make in answering his call. Will we say, “You, Lord, are all I want!” or will we be like Eve and follow our own way? Young children are capable of learning that they have choices too. Just like adults, they can learn to put God fi rst when they have choices to make.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Session 1June 2

Requires preparation.

Visit GrowProclaimServe.com/leaders to join the community with other leaders and fi nd helpful weekly content and articles.

JJA EE LG pp7-12 ID001.indd 7 1/14/13 12:24 PM

8 June 2 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Grow TogetherThe following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with the entire group.

WelcomeSupplies: Bible, Stickers, Resource Pak, CD-ROM, CD player, offering basket

• Greet each parent and child. Play music (CD-ROM) as they arrive.

• Show the children where to place their offerings on the worship table.

• Have the Bible open to Genesis 2.

• Give each child the Sticker of the apple to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

The Fruit of the TreeSupplies: Reproducible 1b, Stickers, small white paper plates, brown and green copy paper, red construction paper, adult scissors, gluesticks, marker, safety scissors

Photocopy a stem on brown paper and a leaf on green paper and cut both out for each child (Reproducible 1b).

• Give each child a small paper plate. Encourage each child to tear the red paper into smaller pieces and glue them all over the paper plate to make fruit.

• Have the children glue a stem and leaf at the top of the plate.

• Give each child the Sticker of the snake and have each child attach it to the fruit.

• Draw a line on each child’s plate that looks like a bite is being taken of the fruit. Have each child cut along the line.

SAY: Adam and Eve were told not to eat the fruit of one tree in the garden. The snake tried to get Eve to eat it anyway. Eve had a choice to make. We will see what Eve did in our story today.

Bible PuzzlersSupplies: Bible Story Pak, crayons or markers

• Give each child “The Garden” and “Adam and Eve’s Favorite Fruits” (Bible Story Pak—Session 1, pp. 3–4).

• Tell the children that there are things hidden in the garden picture. On the right side of the page are pictures so they know what to look for in the garden. The children can circle them as they find them.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. They will see half fruits that need to be matched to the whole fruit.

• Have the children draw a line from the half of a fruit to its whole.

SAY: God made everything, including Adam and Eve. Adam lived in a garden called Eden. Eve lived there too.



Bible Story CenterSupplies: Bible Story Pak

• Give each child “Adam and Eve” (Bible Story Pak —Session 1, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

ASK: Where did Adam and Eve live? (in the garden of Eden) What did God tell them NOT to eat? (the fruit from one certain tree) Who told Eve that the fruit was good to eat? (the snake) What choice did Eve make? (to eat the fruit) What choice did Adam make? (to eat the fruit)

Sneaky SnakeSupplies: Fun Pak, drinking straws, paper punch

• Give each child the “Sneaky Snake” page (Fun Pak—p. 3). Have the children punch out the snake and punch out the hole in the snake’s tail with a paper punch.

• Show them how to fold the snake on the dotted lines, accordion-style, and using the hole in the tail as a guide, help them punch a hole in each section of the snake, lining up with the previous hole(s), all the way to the head section.

• Encourage them to thread the snake onto the straw. Have them insert the straw from the back of the snake’s tail and thread the straw to the snake’s head. The snake will be short. Stretch it out and read the Bible verse on the snake to the children.

SAY: The snake told Eve that she could eat the fruit that God told them not to eat. Eve made a choice. Should she listen to God or listen to the snake? What choice did Eve make? (She listened to the snake.)

Proclaim the WordMaking ChoicesSupplies: Resource Pak, basket

Punch out “‘Making Choices’ Cards” (Resource Pak—p. 5). Place them in a basket, and turn the cards face-up. Let each child “pick” a fruit.

• Call out the name of one of the fruits. All the children who chose that fruit get to do something fun (like skip) to the Bible story area. Do this with all but one fruit. The last fruit has a more difficult task. Have them do something more tiring (like jumping ten times) before they come to the Bible story area.

SAY: You did not know what would happen when you chose your fruit. One group had a hard job to do because of the fruit they picked. We have many choices to make every day. Some choices we make are easy, and some are hard. We should keep God first and let God help us with our choices.

TIPYou will need one card for each child. Be sure to have at least two pictures of each fruit.




Visit Leaper’s PointeSupplies: DVD, DVD player, television

• Play the theme and unit songs from Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” and “God’s a Good Choice” (DVD). Have the children do the motions suggested in the chorus.

SAY: The mayor places a very large gift box in the middle of town with strict instructions to DO NOT OPEN! It is a present for the whole town and will be opened the next day. Furleen Finnanfeathers is very tempted to open the box; she really wants to know what’s inside. Surely a little peek won’t hurt!

• Show the children the Leaper’s Pointe video for today’s session (DVD). Have the children sign the Bible verse with the DVD at the end of the episode.

Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 1a, Resource Pak, five sheets of construction paper, tape

Punch out the Bible story pictures of the animals, the trees, Adam, Eve, and the snake (Resource Pak—p. 8, bottom).

• Roll a sheet of paper into a tube for each storytelling figure and tape each figure to a tube. Cut the paper tube so that it better fits the picture size. These figures will move around easily as you tell the story to the children.

• Read the Bible story, “Adam and Eve,” to the children (Reproducible 1a).

• Sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell” at the end of the story (also see column at right).

ASK: Did Eve choose right or wrong?

Learn the Bible VerseSupplies: Resource Pak

• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 3). Say the Bible verse to the children: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

• Sing the song, “You Are My Choice,” to the tune of “Shoo Fly” (see column at right). Sing it several times so the children become familiar with the words.

• The children can move around as they sing. Have them stop and clap three times as they sing, “Yes, yes, Lord!”

My Fruit TreeSupplies: Reproducible 1b, Stickers, brown copy paper, light-colored construction paper, adult scissors, gluesticks, spring-type clothespin, sponge, green paint, shallow bowl

Photocopy and cut a tree trunk (Reproducible 1b) for each child from brown paper. Gather the ten fruit Stickers with the Bible verse for each child.

• Have the children glue the brown tree trunk to the bottom of a light-colored sheet of construction paper.

TIP

“Choices” (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)

Eve had a choice.

Eve had a choice.

Did Eve choose right or wrong?

Eve had a choice.

“You Are My Choice” (Tune: “Shoo Fly”)

You, Lord, are all I want!



Yes, yes, Lord! You are my choice!

This activity may be substituted for a previous activity in the session or added to the session, if you have more time.



• Pour a shallow layer of green paint into the bowl. Put a small sponge piece into a spring-type clothespin. Encourage the children to dip the sponge into the green paint and dab it all around the top of the tree trunk to make a large tree. Let this dry slightly.

• Give the children the ten fruit Stickers to add to the tree.

• Read the Bible verse on the Stickers to the children.

SAY: God told Adam and Eve to leave the fruit alone on one tree. The snake told Eve that it was okay for her to eat it. Did she listen to God or did she listen to the snake? When we have choices to make, we should think about what God wants us to do.

Serve With LoveGarden of Good ChoicesSupplies: Stickers; shallow boxes such as those for soft drink cans; long piece of plastic foam; paintbrush; brown shredded gift-bag paper; six-inch white paper plates; brown, red, black, and green paint; cotton swabs; large craft sticks; wide clear tape; hand-washing supplies

Before the children arrive, prepare the garden where they will “plant” their fruits each week. This is made one time and used all month long. (See column at right for instructions.)

SAY: We are going to grow a Garden of Good Choices. God wants us to make good choices. If we keep God first, God will help us “pick” good things to do and say. Each week we will make a fruit to plant in our Garden of Good Choices. Then when it’s time to leave, you will get to “pick” your fruit and take it home.

• Give each child a paper plate. Turn the plate over and tape a large craft stick to the back so that about half of the stick shows below the plate. Help each child write her or his name above the craft stick.

• Paint the child’s hand with red paint and make a handprint on the plate. Keep the fingers close together and have the fingers point downward to make a strawberry. Clean the red paint from the child’s hand and let the paint dry.

• Pour a shallow layer of black paint in a paper plate. Have the child dip a cotton swab into the paint and make small dots on the strawberry.

• Pour a shallow layer of green paint in a paper plate. Help the child paint a small green cap on the top of the strawberry.

• Invite the child to add one of the fruit basket “PICK” Stickers to the plate and then “plant” it in the garden by pushing the craft stick into the foam. Show the children how to plant their fruits one behind the other so they appear to be in rows.

• As you work with this Garden of Good Choices, you can talk to the children about “picking” good things to do or say—those are good choices.

TIP

How to Make the “Garden of Good Choices” • Use a shallow box

such as one that canned drinks are transported in and cut a piece of plastic foam to fit inside. Paint the plastic foam brown and then place it inside the box. If you have a larger group or want a larger garden, make two or more boxes the same way.

• Sprinkle the brown paper shreds on top of the foam to look like loosened dirt.

Each week this craft uses one or two six-inch paper plates and a large craft stick for each child. When you are gathering supplies for this week, you may want to gather enough plates and craft sticks for the whole month.




Red Apple, Green AppleSupplies: red apple, green apple, masking tape

• Play, “Red Apple, Green Apple,” like “Red Light, Green Light.”

• When you hold up the green apple, the children can move toward you. When you hold up the red apple, they must stop. If they move when you hold up the red apple, they are sent back to the starting place.

• The first child to reach you can be the new leader.

SAY: God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the garden. The snake told Eve: “It’s okay!” (Show the green apple.) Eve should have stopped (Show the red apple.) listening to the snake. When we have choices to make, we can GO (Show the green apple.) to God in prayer and ask God to help us make the right choice.

WorshipPraise and PrayerSupplies: Bible Story Pak

• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Love to Praise God,” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” (printed in the column at right). You can add a motion that shows a way to praise God each time you sing the song. Try clapping, holding hands in a praying position, or moving arms in the air.

SAY: We can praise God each and every day. We can praise God in our own kind of way. We are showing our love for God. God loves to hear our praise!

• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child in the circle

• Ask the children if there is someone else for whom they would like to pray. Pray for those people.

• Invite the children to Sunday school next week and tell the children that you will pray for them during the week.

• Send home “Adam and Eve” (Bible Story Pak—Session 1, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week As you prepare for next week, trace the corncob pieces for each child and cut yellow construction paper into one-inch squares for “Daniel’s Choice” (p. 14). You will need a crown to wear, and need to assemble the Daniel stick puppet from the Resource Pak—p. 8 (top) If you are going to provide a vegetable snack for the children (p. 17), purchase and prepare the snack for them.

TIPOption: Replace the red apple and green apple with red and green beanbags or balls.

“I Love to Praise God” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

I love to praise God each and every day. (Clap, clap—or other praise motion you choose.)

I love to praise God each and every day. (Clap, clap.)

I know God really loves me, and that God is always with me. (Hug self.)




Daniel ChoosesBible Verse


Bible StoryDaniel 1:3-21


Before You Begin

Under King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians took over the land where Daniel lived and took many of the people captive. Daniel was a young man

at the time. Our Bible story starts as King Nebuchadnezzar instructed his highest offi cial, Ashpenaz, to choose from those captives men that were “good-looking young men without defects, skilled in all wisdom, possessing knowledge, conversant with learning, and capable of serving in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1:4). That’s a tall order! But Ashpenaz made his choice. He chose Daniel and three of his friends. They were to be trained in the Babylonian way of doing things so they received Babylonian names —Belteshazzar (Daniel), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

After being chosen to serve in the king’s palace, Daniel and the others were going to be served the foods the king ate. Daniel and his friends believed in God and did not want to do anything that dishonored God. Daniel knew that the meat the Babylonians ate was forbidden under the Mosaic laws that they followed. The Babylonians also had likely offered up this meat as a sacrifi ce to their gods, and consuming those foods would be like participating in the worship of those gods. Daniel asked the guards if they could have vegetables and water instead of those foods. Although the servant feared what would happen to him if these men were not kept strong and healthy, he agreed to give it a try for ten days. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in better condition than the others. God blessed them for honoring God’s laws.

“Dare to Be Like Daniel” is one of the songs the children may sing this week. Can we dare to be like Daniel and honor God, even in the midst of hardship? The stories the children will hear this month are about choices and the people who made those choices—some were good, and some were not. Through these stories and all the activities included, the children can learn to seek God in the choices they make. “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Session 2June 9




14 June 9 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s GuidePermission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.





• Have the Bible open to Daniel 1.

• Give each child the Sticker of the vegetables to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Daniel’s ChoiceSupplies: Reproducible 2b, green and white copy paper, yellow construction paper, white paper, marker, adult scissors or paper cutter, gluesticks, safety scissors, metal brads

Photocopy the corncob on white paper and two corn husks on green paper for each child (Reproducible 2b).

• Cut the yellow construction paper into one-inch squares so the children can cover their corncobs.

• Encourage each child to glue the yellow squares on the corncob until it is covered.

• Invite each child to cut out the two green husks for the corn.

• Overlap the husks at the bottom and insert a metal brad through both of them, then insert the brad through the bottom of the corncob.

• Optional: Write the first part of the Bible verse on the left corn husk (“You, Lord, are all I want!”) and the second part of the Bible verse on the right corn husk (“You are my choice.”).

• Show the children how they can cover and uncover the corncob by moving the green husks.

SAY: Daniel had a choice. He could eat the king’s meat that God did not want him to eat or he could honor God and eat the vegetables instead. We will learn what choice Daniel made in our story today.


• Give each child “What Did Daniel Choose?” and “Where Is Daniel?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 2, pp. 3–4).

• Tell the children that there are three plates of food on page 3. Have them follow the line from each plate of food to see which one Daniel chose to eat. Have the children circle the plate of food that connects to Daniel.



• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Have them look at the small picture of Daniel, and then look in the crowd of people to find Daniel. Have them draw a circle around Daniel and color the picture.

SAY: Daniel was chosen to work for the king in his palace. Daniel could eat the same food that the king ate. Daniel wanted to honor God and eat foods that God said were good for him to eat.

Bible Story CenterSupplies: Bible Story Pak, Stickers

• Give each child the story, “Daniel Chooses” (Bible Story Pak—Session 2, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

• Invite the children to add the ten plates of vegetables Stickers to the Bible story pages. Remind them that Daniel asked the guard to let him and his friends try vegetables and water for ten days.

ASK: What job did Daniel get chosen to do? (He worked for the king in the palace.) What did Daniel ask the guard to do for him? (bring him vegetables and water for his meals) The guard agreed to try it for ten days. Was Daniel still healthy? (Yes.) Why did Daniel choose the vegetables and water? (He wanted to honor God by eating the food God said was good for him to eat.)

Cool CarrotsSupplies: Fun Pak, cotton balls, glue, stapler, safety scissors

• Give each child the “Cool Carrot” page (Fun Pak—p. 5).

• Help the children punch out the three pieces for the carrot.

• Invite each child to turn one carrot piece over so that he or she does not see the orange side, and glue the point of the green triangle, facing down, at the top of that carrot.

• Have each child stretch a cotton ball to make it thinner and glue it down on the inside of the carrot. Use more than one cotton ball, if needed.

• Have each child place the other carrot piece on top so that the orange faces out, and staple the edges together. Cut away any excess cotton sticking out of the carrot.

• Have the children cut lines from the top edge of the green triangle down close to the carrot to give it a “leafy” top.

SAY: Daniel made a choice. He could listen to God or he could listen to the king. What choice did Daniel make? (He listened to God.) Was that an easy thing to do? (No.)




Gather “‘Making Choices’ Cards” (Resource Pak—p. 5). Place them in a basket, and turn the cards face-up. Let each child “pick” a fruit.

• Call out the name of one of the fruits. All the children who chose that fruit get to do something fun (like skip) to the Bible story area. Do this with all but one fruit. The last fruit has a more difficult task. Have them do something more tiring (like jumping ten times) before they come to the Bible story area

SAY: You did not know what would happen when you chose your fruit. One group had a hard job because of the card they drew. We have many choices to make every day. Some choices we make are easy, and some are hard. We should keep God first and let God help us with our choices.



SAY: Harley is in training for the “It’s a Frog Hop Race.” He’s watching what he eats and practicing daily. Farley’s in the race as well, but he’s a bit more relaxed with his diet and training. Guess who wins the race?


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 2a, Resource Pak, large craft stick, clear tape, crown

Punch out the Daniel storytelling figure (Resource Pak—p. 8, top) and attach it to a large craft stick. Purchase or make a crown to wear.

• If there are two adults in the classroom, one of you can be Daniel and one of you can be the king.

• Read the Bible story, “Daniel Chooses,” to the children (Reproducible 2a).

• Sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell” at the end of the story and ask the children the question: Did Daniel choose right or wrong?


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 3) and read it to the children: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

• Sing the song, “You Are My Choice,” to the tune of “Shoo Fly.” Invite the children to hold hands as they stand in a circle. As you sing, have them circle

TIPYou can use these cards in a “Memory”-type game, if you need a time filler while waiting for the parents to arrive.

“Choices” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)

Daniel had a choice.


Did Daniel choose right or wrong?









to the right. When they reach the last line, have them stop and clap three times as they sing, “Yes, yes, Lord.”

Valuable VeggiesSupplies: vegetables, container for vegetables, glove for handling food, dips, spoons, paper plates, napkins

• Purchase, wash, and cut some vegetables the children can eat (carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, and so forth). Choose several types of dip the children can use with their vegetables such as cream cheese, ranch dressing, or veggie dip.

• Serve the children some vegetables on their plates. Let them choose the dip(s) they want to use.

SAY: Daniel knew that the food the king ate was not the same as the food that God said Daniel could eat. Daniel had a choice—do what the king wants or do what God wants. Daniel chose to honor God. Daniel made a good choice.

Serve With LoveGarden of Good ChoicesSupplies: Stickers, tabletop garden made last week (p. 11), brown shredded gift-bag paper, six-inch paper plates, large craft sticks, wide clear tape, blue and green paints or blue and green stamp pads, dark blue or black markers, circle sponges or corks for stamping

• Gather the children around the tabletop garden (see p. 11) to work on their fruit craft for today.

• As you work with this Garden of Good Choices, planting and picking the fruit, you can talk to the children about “picking” good things to do or say—those are good choices.

SAY: We are going to grow a Garden of Good Choices. God wants us to make good choices. If we keep God first, God will help us “pick” good things to do and good things to say. Each week we will make a fruit to plant in our Garden of Good Choices. Then when it’s time to leave, you can “pick” your fruit and take it home.

• To make blueberry stamps, use a circle sponge about the size of a film canister or smaller. To make the leaf stamp, use half a circle sponge.

• Give each child a paper plate. Turn the plate over and tape a large craft stick to the back so that about half of the stick shows below the plate. Add the child’s name.

• Pour blue paint onto a paper plate. Invite the children to dip the circle sponge into the paint and onto their plates. Encourage them to stamp a good number of “blueberries” on their plates.

• Pour green paint onto another paper plate. Invite the children to use the half circle sponge to make green leaves among the blueberries on the plate.

TIP

TIP

As always with a food activity, check for allergies or notify the parents of what foods the children will be eating during today’s session.

Reuse the tabletop garden that you made last week. Add more of the shredded brown gift-bag paper, if needed, in the garden box.

Instead of blue and green paints, you can use blue and green stamp pads.

Instead of circle sponges, you can use a whole cork for blueberries and half a cork for leaves.



• Let the paint dry slightly and have the children add a blue or black dot with a marker tip near the center of each blueberry.

• Provide each child with the fruit basket “PICK” Sticker and have the child add it to the paper plate.

• Encourage the children to plant their berries in the garden by pushing the craft stick into the foam board. Show the children how to plant their fruits one behind the other so they appear to be in rows.

Dare to Be Like Daniel• Sing, “Dare to Be Like Daniel,” to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”

Each time the children say Daniel’s name, have them stomp their foot.

SAY: Daniel wanted to honor God by eating the food God said was good. Daniel made a good choice. We can “dare” to be like Daniel and make good choices that please God too.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Love to Praise God,” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” (printed in the column at right). You can add a motion that shows a way to praise God each time you sing the song. Try clapping, holding hands in a praying position, or moving arms above your head.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child in the circle.



• Send home “Daniel Chooses” (Bible Story Pak—Session 2, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week Photocopy the large fish reproducible for each child (Reproducible 3b). Next Sunday is Father’s Day.

“Dare to Be Like Daniel” (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)

Dare to be like Daniel,

Like Daniel, like Daniel.

Dare to be like Daniel and try to choose right.

Like Daniel, like Daniel, Like Daniel, like Daniel.

Dare to be like Daniel and try to choose right.








JonahBible Verse


Bible StoryJonah 1–3


Before You Begin

The fi rst lesson this month told the story of Eve listening to the snake and disregarding what God said about the fruit on the tree. Then the children

heard about Daniel and how he made the right choice to honor God by choosing to eat vegetables rather than the food that was unclean for his people. In today’s story, the children will hear of Jonah and the choice he made.

Other prophets in the Bible told of their calling by God and how they responded positively to it. Jonah, however, chose to run. He did not like what God had asked him to do. God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh, known for its wickedness, and tell them that God was going to destroy their city. That’s like walking right into the arms of your enemy! This calling of Jonah has been compared to going into Moscow during the Cold War and telling them God was going to destroy the Soviet Union. How many of us would respond favorably to God’s call if that was the job to be done? Jonah chose to run. The great fi sh that we know of so well swallowed Jonah whole, and he stayed in the belly of that fi sh for three days. After being spit out on dry land, Jonah made another choice. This time he did as God asked him to do.

The children continue “growing” fruits in their Garden of Good Choices this week. They make a craft of a fruit each week that would grow in a garden. They “plant” it in the pretend garden and then get to “pick” their fruit to go home at the end of the day. As you work with the Garden of Good Choices, talk to the children about choices they make. You can talk about their choice to say something mean or something kind. What would God want them to do? Talk about their choice to welcome the new child in their school or laugh at him because he stutters. What would God want them to do? Today’s fruit is the watermelon. The fruits used in this Garden of Good Choices should be readily available this time of year. Choose one for the children to try—they would enjoy that choice!


Session 3June 16










• Have the Bible open to the Book of Jonah.

• Give each child the Sticker of the fish to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

The Great Big FishSupplies: Reproducible 3b, light blue construction paper, crayons and markers, safety scissors, gluesticks, wiggle eyes

Photocopy the large fish and Jonah (Reproducible 3b) for each child.

• Give each child a sheet of blue paper. Turn the paper horizontally and have them draw wavy lines across the paper with blue markers.

• Invite the children to color both parts of the large fish and cut them out. Have them do the same for the circle that has Jonah inside.

• Have them glue one fish (with the colored side up) to the blue paper. Have them glue Jonah on top of that fish in its mouth. They can add glue to the tail of that fish. Have them place the other fish on top (colored side up again) and press the tails together. Have them add two wiggle eyes to the face of the fish.

• When the glue dries, show the children how to open the fish to see what is inside.

SAY: God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah knew that was a scary place. He was scared to go. Jonah had to make a choice. We will see what he did in our Bible story today.

Bible PuzzlersSupplies: Bible Story Pak, crayons or markers, pencils

• Give each child “Color By Shapes” and “Where Is Jonah?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 3, pp. 3–4). Encourage them to color the spaces with a circle blue, and the spaces with a triangle orange. What do they see? (a fish in the water)

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. They see another fish, but this one is quite large. Have them draw a man like Jonah inside the large fish.

SAY: God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah did not want to. He got on a boat going to another city. We will find out how Jonah ended up in the belly of the big fish in our Bible story today.



Bible Story CenterSupplies: Bible Story Pak, markers

• Give each child the story, “Jonah” (Bible Story Pak—Session 3, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half to make a book. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time.

• Show the children the large fish that swallowed Jonah. Invite the children to add some small fish to the storybook pictures with markers.

ASK: What did God tell Jonah to do? (go to Nineveh and tell them about God) What did Jonah do? (got on a boat going to another city) How did Jonah end up in the belly of the big fish? (The other men threw him off the boat, and the fish swallowed him.) What did God tell Jonah to do then? (go to Nineveh and tell them about God) What did Jonah do this time? (what God asked him to do) Did Jonah make a good choice? (At first, he did not; the second time, he did.)

The Big Fish and His BellySupplies: Fun Pak, foam cups, crayons, glue, 12-inch pieces of yarn, tape, sharpened pencil or scissors

• Give each child “The Big Fish and His Belly” (Fun Pak—p. 7). Have the children punch out the three pieces.

• Give each child a foam cup to color with a blue crayon. Encourage the children to glue the whale picture to the outside of the cup. Poke a small hole in the bottom of the cup with a sharpened pencil or scissors.

• Thread one end of the yarn through the bottom of the cup and tie a knot inside the cup. Set this aside for now.

• Pick up the two strips of paper with Jonah’s picture on them. Form a circle with each one and tape the ends together. Place one circle inside the other and turn it sideways to make a ball. Add a dot of glue or tape where the circles touch to keep them in position. Attach the loose end of the yarn to the ball.

• Show the children how to move the cup so that the ball swings upward. They are trying to catch Jonah (ball) in the belly of the big fish (cup).

SAY: Jonah made a choice. He could listen to God or he could run away. What choice did Jonah make? (He ran away the first time.) What did the big fish do to Jonah? (swallowed him and spit him on dry land) God gave Jonah a second chance. What choice did Jonah make this time? (He listened to God.)


• Gather “‘Making Choices’ Cards” (Resource Pak—p. 5). Place them in a basket, and turn the cards face-up. Let each child “pick” a fruit.





SAY: You did not know what would happen when you chose your fruit. One group had a hard job. Maybe they will make a better choice next time. We have many choices to make every day. Some choices we make are easy, and some are hard. We should let God help us with our choices.



SAY: This week Mondo tells, “The Tale of Jonah: A Fish Tale!” with the help of Gabby and Farley.


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 3a

• Read the Bible story, “Jonah,” to the children (Reproducible 3a). Encourage the children to make movements with you as you tell the story.

• Sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Ask the children the question: Did Jonah choose right or wrong?


• Point to the Bible verse poster (Resource Pak—p. 3) and say to the children: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

• Sing the song, “You Are My Choice,” to the tune of “Shoo Fly.” Invite the children to hold hands as they stand in a circle. As you sing, have them circle to the right. When they reach the last line, have them change directions and circle to the left. Do this more than once so the children become familiar with the movements you are asking them to make.

A Whale of a Dad!Supplies: Reproducible 3c, Stickers, clear nine-ounce plastic cups, heavy nail, blue tissue paper, blue copy paper, red construction paper, adult scissors, craft glue, wiggle eyes, white or light blue chenille stems, optional: gift bags

Prepare one cup for each child to use. Turn the cup upside down and poke a few holes with a heavy nail through the bottom of the cup. The holes will be used for inserting the chenille stems.

• Cut the chenille stems in half. Each child needs one stem for each hole.

TIPYou can use these cards in a “Memory”-type game, if you need a time filler while waiting for the parents to arrive.


Jonah had a choice.

Jonah had a choice.

Did Jonah choose right or wrong?

Jonah had a choice.








• Photocopy and cut two whale flippers and a long whale tail (Reproducible 3c) from blue paper for each child. Cut a red smile for each from the red paper.

• Give each child one of the prepared cups. Help the child insert the chenille stems in the holes from the outside to the inside. Curl the ends of the chenille stem inside the cup so the stems stay in place.

• Have the child crumple a sheet of tissue paper so that it fits inside the cup.

• Invite the children to draw a line of glue around the mouth of the cup. Turn the cup upside down and place it on the round part of the whale tail. Have the children glue wiggle eyes, a smile, and the two flippers on the cup.

• Show the children how to curl the tops of the chenille stems to make them look like a spout. Have the children add the “You’re a Whale of a Dad!” Stickers to the craft.

• Allow the children to place their whales in a gift bag to carry home.

SAY: We have made a special gift to give our dads so they know how important they are. Your gift tells your dad that he is a WHALE of a DAD!

Serve With LoveGarden of Good ChoicesSupplies: Stickers, tabletop garden (p. 11), red construction paper, adult scissors, six-inch paper plates (two per child), green crayons, gluesticks, black paint, cotton swabs, large craft sticks (two per child), wide clear tape, stapler

Cut two red circles for each child that are the same size as the center of your paper plates.

• Gather the children around the tabletop garden to work on their fruit craft for today. As you work with this Garden of Good Choices, planting and picking the fruit, you can talk to the children about “picking” good things to do or say.

SAY: We are going to grow a Garden of Good Choices. God wants us to make good choices. If we keep God first, God will help us “pick” good things to do and good things to say. Each week we will make a fruit to plant in our Garden of Good Choices. Then when it’s time to leave, you can “pick” your fruit and take it home.

• Have the children color the bottoms of two plates green. Invite the children to turn their plates over and color the outer rims of the plates green. Give each child two red circles to glue to the center of the plates.

• Pour a shallow layer of black paint on a paper plate and invite the children to use a cotton swab to make the black seeds on the red part of the watermelon.

• Attach a large craft stick to the inside of both of the plates with tape. Part of the sticks show below the plates. Be sure to make them even.

• Place one plate on top of the other so that the inside of the plates are facing. Staple the tops of the plates to hold them together.

TIP

TIP

Be aware that not all children have dads living in their homes. Tell the children that they can give this to their dad or someone who is special to them. If you are aware that the child will not give this to a dad, you can omit the sticker.

Reuse the tabletop garden that you made two weeks ago. Add more of the shredded brown gift-bag paper, if needed, in the garden box.

OPTION: You can make this watermelon craft with just one plate, if desired. The children will see the green on the outside of the watermelon on the bottom of the plate. They will flip the plate over to see the red inside. Add the craft stick as described so it can be planted in the garden.




• Give each child a fruit basket “PICK” Sticker to attach to the outside of the fruit. “Plant” each watermelon in the Garden of Good Choices.

Turn Around, Jonah!Supplies: masking tape

• Make a masking-tape starting line on the floor and have the children stand on it. The leader stands across the room. Tell the children that their goal is to walk quickly and make it all the way across the room to you.

• When you say “Freeze,” they must stop. If they continue to move, they must go back to the starting line. When you say “Turn around, Jonah,” they must turn around and walk quickly in the other direction. Make them “freeze” each time before you make them turn around so all the children can hear you.

• Continue doing this so that the children change directions several times. The first child that reaches you is the winner.

SAY: God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah turned the other way and went to another city. God told Jonah again to go to Nineveh. This time he turned around and did what God said to do.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Love to Praise God,” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” You can add a motion that shows a way to praise God each time you sing the song. Try clapping, holding hands in a praying position, or moving arms above your head.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child.



• Send home “Jonah” (Bible Story Pak—Session 3, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week Be in prayer for each of your children. Look ahead to the next session and make sure you have all of the next session’s supplies.

TIPFor added fun, you can change the ways they are moving. Have them start by walking toward you. Tell them to “freeze.” Then say, “Turn around, Jonah, and hop” (or some other movement). They must hop in the opposite direction.








The TemptationsBible Verse


Bible StoryLuke 4:1-13

Leap of Faith I choose to follow God.

Before You Begin

The children have heard the stories of Eve, Daniel, and Jonah. They all had important choices to make. They saw what happened to Eve when she made

the wrong choice, what happened to Daniel when he made the right choice, and then what happened to Jonah when he changed his mind! It’s important for the children to see that, like us, Jesus had to make some hard choices too. Today’s lesson tells the story of the tempter talking to Jesus.

The lesson begins right after Jesus was baptized. The Holy Spirit had come to Jesus like a dove and God even said, “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I fi nd happiness” (Luke 3:22). What a high time in the life of Jesus! Then, he was led into the wilderness. He had not eaten for forty days. The tempter came to him at a time when one would expect Jesus to be at his weakest. The forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness thinking of his work as the Messiah has been compared to the forty days Moses spent in the desert. That is when Moses received his instructions from God for the work he was supposed to do. Each time the tempter came to Jesus, he responded with a verse from the Book of Deuteronomy which was from the time of Moses.

Even though the young children you teach may not be able to read their Bibles like adults, they can begin to understand that, like Jesus, we can rely on what we know from the Bible to help us. That’s why they come to church. That’s why they hear the stories from the Bible each week. That’s why they are encouraged to learn Bible verses—so they can say in their hearts: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

Session 4June 23









• Have the Bible open to Luke 4.

• Give each child the bread Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

The No-Way WheelSupplies: Reproducibles 4b and 4c, Stickers, markers, safety scissors, metal brads

Photocopy the two “No-Way Wheels” (Reproducibles 4b and 4c) for each child. Invite the children to decorate and color the letters and both wheels.

• Have the children place the wheel with the pictures on it in front of them. Give each child three “No Way!” Stickers. Have them place one Sticker on each black dot in between the pictures.

• Tell the children to pick up the wheel that has the words on it. Encourage them to cut out the box at the bottom of the wheel on the dotted lines.

• Have the children place the wheel with the words, “What Did Jesus Say?” on top. Insert a metal brad in the center to hold the two wheels together. Show the children how to turn the circle to see what Jesus said.

SAY: Jesus had to make choices too. In our story today, we will see how the tempter tried to get Jesus to do things that were not right. We will see that Jesus told him, “No! No way!”


• Give each child “Jesus in the Wilderness” and “What Is Missing?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 4, pp. 3–4).

• Jesus is by himself in the wilderness (or desert). On page 3, encourage the children to find the path that Jesus can take to get out of the wilderness. When the children have finished, point out the three stones that Jesus passed along the way.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. The Bible verse has some missing letters. Invite them to use the code to fill in the blanks.

SAY: Jesus was in the desert for forty days, and he did not eat. The tempter came to Jesus and tried to get Jesus to do wrong. We will find out what Jesus said and did in our story today.



You can use these cards in a “Memory”-type game, if you need a time filler while waiting for the parents to arrive.


• Give each child the story, “The Temptations” (Bible Story Pak—Session 4, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify simple words in the story. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

ASK: Where did Jesus go? (He went into the wilderness.) What did the tempter want Jesus to do with the stone? (turn it into bread) Did Jesus do it? (No.) When the tempter showed Jesus all the beautiful land, what did he want Jesus to do? (worship the tempter instead of God) Did Jesus do it? (No.) What did the tempter say would happen if Jesus jumped from the top of the building? (The angels would take care of him.) Did Jesus do it? (No.) Did Jesus make good choices? (Yes.)

What Did Jesus Say?Supplies: Fun Pak, gluesticks, straws, tape, short yarn pieces, scissors

• Give each child the page, “What Did Jesus Say?” (Fun Pak—9). Help the children punch out the face and only the facial features they want to use. Invite them to glue the eyes, nose, and mouth they have chosen onto the face. Encourage them to add a few pieces of yarn for hair at the top.

• Attach a straw to the back of the face. Show the children how to roll the straw in their hands so that the face goes back and forth as if to say no.

SAY: Jesus made a choice. He could listen to the tempter or he could think about what God wanted him to do. What did Jesus say when the tempter tried to get him to do wrong? (No! No way!)


Gather “‘Making Choices’ Cards” (Resource Pak—p. 5). Place them in a basket, and turn the cards face-up. Let each child “pick” a fruit.


SAY: You did not know what would happen when you chose your fruit. One group had a hard job. Maybe they will make a better choice next time. We have many choices to make every day. Some choices we make are easy and some are hard. We should let God help us with our choices.

TIP




Jesus had a choice.

Jesus had a choice.

Did Jesus choose right or wrong?

Jesus had a choice.








SAY: Poppa B, Rose, and Farley are each struggling with temptation. The mayor reminds her friends that even Jesus was tempted.


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 4a, three large stones

Place the three large stones in three different areas of the room.

• Read the Bible story, “The Temptations,” to the children (Reproducible 4a). Have the children move with you from stone to stone as you tell them about the three times the tempter talked to Jesus in the story.

• At the end of the story, sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Ask the children: Did Jesus choose right or wrong? What helped Jesus make the right choices? (the Bible, and Jesus thought about God)


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 3) and say the Bible verse to the children: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

• Sing the song, “You Are My Choice,” to the tune of “Shoo Fly.” As you sing the song this week, have the children squat down as they sing the first line, stand up on the second, squat on the third, and jump up for the last line.

Go FishingSupplies: Resource Pak, yardstick, string, magnet, paper clips

Punch out the five numbered fish (Resource Pak—p. 16). Add a paper clip at the mouth of each fish. Prepare the yardstick to be a fishing pole. Attach the string to the yardstick and attach the magnet to the other end of the string.

• Allow a child to go fishing and tell you the number on the fish that was caught. Read the story below (in italics) that corresponds with the number.

• At the end of the story, ask the children, “What choice would be a good choice?” Any child can answer the question.

• This is a game about choices. The children are giving you their thoughts. Accept what they say unless the answer is obviously wrong. If need be, redirect their thoughts so the children are not misguided by someone’s answer.



Story 1: There is a new child at your school. He stutters when he talks, and no one wants to be his friend. The other children at school laugh when he talks because it sounds different. What choice would be a good choice?

Story 2: You have a new toy that your grandmother bought for you. Your little brother wants to play with it too. Your grandmother says you need to share, but you do not want your brother to break it. What choice would be a good choice?

Story 3: You get to have a birthday party at your house! One of your friends does not bring you a present because his dad does not have a job, and they do not have much money. All the other children brought gifts. What choice would be a good choice?

Story 4: Your mom just made cookies to take to a neighbor who has been in the hospital. She tells you to leave them on the kitchen counter so they can cool. The cookies sure do smell good, and you want one. What choice would be a good choice?

Story 5: A friend of yours named Suzanne invited you to come to her house to play. You told her that you would come. Now, your best friend has called and wants you to play on the same day. You told Suzanne that you would come to her house, but you would rather play with your best friend. What choice would be a good choice?

SAY: Life is full of choices. You never know when you might face a tough decision. Keep in mind our Bible verse: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice.” Let’s make choices that are pleasing to God.

Serve With LoveGarden of Good ChoicesSupplies: Stickers, tabletop garden, six-inch paper plates, yellow and brown markers, green construction paper, pencil or pen, safety scissors, gluesticks or stapler, large craft sticks, wide clear tape

• Gather the children around the tabletop garden to work on their fruit craft for today. As you work with this Garden of Good Choices, planting and picking the fruit, you can talk to the children about “picking” good things to do or say—those are good choices.

SAY: We are going to grow a Garden of Good Choices. God wants us to make good choices. If we keep God first, God will help us “pick” good things to do and good things to say. Each week we make a fruit to plant in our Garden of Good Choices. Then when it’s time to leave, you get to “pick” your fruit and take it home.

• Have the children color the whole plate with a yellow marker so it is bright. As the children color, trace each child’s hand onto green paper. Have them place their fingers close together, and you can trace around the tips of their fingers, instead of tracing around each finger.

• Draw straight lines for them to cut where the fingers would be on the paper. Make the lines only as long as the fingers would be. Put these aside for now.

• Show the children how to draw diagonal lines from the top left of the paper plate to the bottom right. Do the same from the top right to the bottom left. Invite them to do this with a brown marker to make a pineapple.

TIPReuse the tabletop garden that you made three weeks ago. Add more of the shredded brown gift-bag paper, if needed, in the garden box.



• Give each child the handprint you traced. Have them cut out around the hand. Have them cut the lines you made for the fingers. Remind them to stop where the line stops. Glue or staple the handprint to the top of the pineapple.

• Give each child a fruit basket “PICK” Sticker to add to the pineapple. Attach the large craft stick to the back of the plate.

• Invite the children to “plant” their pineapples in a garden row.

My B-I-B-L-E• Sing the song, “My B-I-B-L-E,” to the tune of “The B-I-B-L-E” (printed in the

column at right). Show the children the motions they can add as you sing.

SAY: When the tempter tried to get Jesus to do wrong, Jesus used the Bible to talk back to the tempter. When we are tempted to do wrong, we can remember what we know from our Bible to help us too.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Love to Praise God,” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” You can add a motion that shows a way to praise God each time you sing the song.





• Send home “The Temptations” (Bible Story Pak—Session 4, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week Photocopy the money bag (Reproducible 5b) for each child. Punch out five of the storytelling figures from the Resource Pak—p. 17, and add magnets to the back of them (Jesus, Levi, group of people, coins, table of food) so they can be attached to a cookie sheet. If you plan to let the children weave a place mat (p. 34), cut the construction paper with slits as described in the activity. You will also need to cut strips of paper for the children to use as they weave. To play the game, “Let’s Get Ready” (p. 36), you will need a construction paper place mat, a plate, a cup; and a plastic fork, knife, and spoon for each team.

“My B-I-B-L-E” (Tune: “The B-I-B-L-E”)

My B-I-B-L-E (Hold up one finger for each letter.)

My Bible will help me (Hold hands like book in front of you.)

To choose what’s right (Point to your brain.)

In the day or night (Hands up and out like sun rays, then by your head as if sleeping.)

My Bible will help me! (Hold hands like book in front of you.)








LeviBible Verse


Bible StoryLuke 5:27-32


Before You Begin

Luke’s version of this Bible story is about a man named Levi. Mark also calls the man in this account Levi. However, Matthew tells the story and calls the

man Matthew. He is telling his own version of what happened to himself. Bible scholars agree that all of these stories are talking about the same person, just one person who has two names that he uses which was common in those days. The timing of the story and the placement of it in their texts make this true.

The stories the children have heard this month have been about people who are making choices. This story, however, is important because not only did Levi choose to follow Jesus when he called him, but Jesus chose to call Levi. Levi was a tax collector, and they were not well liked by the public. The people knew that the tax collectors took more money than they needed for the taxes, and they kept some for themselves. When Jesus saw Levi at the table collecting taxes, he told Levi to follow him. Jesus chose Levi. The Bible tells us that: “Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him” (Luke 5:28). Levi chose Jesus too.

This is the last week for the Garden of Good Choices. If time allows, a game has been added just for fun. Have a sample of each of the fruits the children have “planted” in their garden. Put each sample in its own bag so the children cannot see it. Have them reach inside and guess which fruit they are touching. Some are quite easy, but some are not. Just like our choices in life—some are easier than others. Each week through the Bible stories, the activities the children have completed, and through the Garden of Good Choices, it has been emphasized that God will help the children when they have choices to make. Let’s learn from the mistake Eve and Adam made. Let’s dare to be like Daniel, like Jonah (the second chance he had), like Jesus himself when he was tempted, and like Levi—“You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).


Session 5June 30










• Have the Bible open to Luke 5.

• Give each child the coins Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Money BagSupplies: Reproducible 5b, crayons (especially brown), coins of various sizes, tape

Photocopy “Money Bag” (Reproducible 5b) for each child. Make an extra copy of the money bag and tape coins of various sizes in the center of the bag. The coins should be below the top fold line and above the bottom fold line.

• Invite the children to color the top and the bottom of the money bag with a brown crayon. Place the money bag with the coins taped to it in front of each child. Invite the child to place his or her money bag on top of the coins. Have the child use the side of a brown crayon to finish coloring the money bag while rubbing over the coins.

• Have the children fold the bottom edge of the paper back along the bottom dotted line. Then, using the middle dotted line, have them bring the folded bottom of the bag up to meet the top dotted line. The money bag is now smaller. Invite them to open the paper to see the coins inside the money bag.

SAY: Levi was a tax collector. Many people didn’t like tax collectors because they took their coins for taxes. We’ll hear what Jesus said to Levi in our story.


• Give each child “What Is Different?” and “Help Levi Follow Jesus” (Bible Story Pak—Session 5, pp. 3–4). On page 3, have them find seven things that are different between the two pictures.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Have the children follow the path that has the numbers in the right order (1, 2, 3...10) to help Levi.

SAY: Jesus told Levi to follow him. Many people did not like Levi because of his job. We will find out what job Levi had when we read our Bible story.




• Give each child the story, “Levi” (Bible Story Pak—Session 5, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half like a book. If you are using the book in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify words in the story. If you have readers, let them read to you.

• Encourage the children to find Levi in each of the pictures. Give the children the three coin Stickers to put near Levi.

ASK: What did Jesus say to Levi? (Follow me.) What did Levi do? (followed Jesus, then had a feast for him at his house) Who did Levi invite to the feast? (his friends and tax collectors) Why did the leaders think Jesus was wrong by eating with Levi? (because they thought the tax collectors were bad people)

You Are Invited!Supplies: Fun Pak, gluesticks, safety scissors, crayons or markers, light blue construction paper

• Give each child the page, “You Are Invited!” (Fun Pak—11). Invite the children to remove all the pieces from the page. Encourage them to glue the stained glass windows on the picture and then color the trees and the door on the church. The square piece with words on it is used later.

• Have the children cut the doors along the dotted lines so the doors can open. Invite the children to glue the church to a sheet of light blue paper. Remind them not to glue the doors. Tell the children to open the doors and glue the word square inside. Write across the top of the paper: “The door is open.”

• Read the invitation to the children. Encourage them to give the picture to a friend and invite that friend to come to church.

SAY: Levi invited his friends to come to his house so they could meet Jesus. You can invite a friend to come to church to learn about Jesus too.

Proclaim the WordFruit Basket TurnoverSupplies: Resource Pak, basket, construction paper, tape

• Gather “‘Making Choices’ Cards” (Resource Pak—p. 5). Place them in your basket. Each child needs a card. Be sure to have at least two pictures of each fruit. Turn the cards face-up in the basket and let each child “pick” a fruit. This time, though, they will play a different game.

• Tape a colored sheet of paper on the floor for each child. Spread them out in a large area of the room. Have each child choose a paper to stand on.

• Call out the name of one of the fruits. The children holding that fruit card in their hand must swap places. Call the names of the fruits quickly so the children have to listen closely. When you call, “Fruit Basket Turnover,” all of the children must change places.

• After a brief time playing the game, take two sheets of paper out of the game each time. The two kids that do not have a paper to stand on will come to the




Bible story area, and place their cards in your basket. Continue until there are only two children left in the game. Then invite them to join the rest of you.

SAY: We have many choices to make every day. I am glad you made the right choice to come to church today!



SAY: Gabby receives an invitation from Thurston Treegrove to help with the Plant-a-Thousand-Trees Project. Gabby decides to drop everything and go. She leaves so quickly, she forgets to let Mondo know she won’t be at her weekly voice lesson. Mondo is worried about her, but the mayor assures him that Gabby is all right. She tells Mondo that Gabby is doing the same thing Levi did when Jesus called him to come and follow him.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 5a, Resource Pak—p. 17, cookie sheet and magnets, money bowl or bag, checkers or tokens, snack

Punch out the five storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 17). Add magnets to the back of the pictures. Add them to a large cookie sheet as you tell the story.

• Read the Bible story, “Levi” (Reproducible 5a). After the story, let the children act it out. The directions for this are on Reproducible 5a.

• Encourage the children to sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Ask them the question: Did Levi choose right or wrong?


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 3) and say the Bible verse to the children: “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice” (Psalm 16:5, CEV).

• Sing the song, “You Are My Choice,” to the tune of “Shoo Fly.” Encourage the children to squat down as they sing the first line, stand up on the second, squat on the third, and jump up for the last line.

Place Mat WeavingSupplies: construction paper in a variety of colors, safety scissors, gluesticks

Cut the paper into one-inch-wide strips, ten per child. Fold a 9-by-12 sheet of construction paper in half, like a book. Start on the folded edge and cut lines about one inch apart from the fold to the other side of the paper. Stop about one inch before the outer edge. Open the paper and you will have a place mat ready for weaving.

TIPYou can also use wooden blocks in the classroom and tape the storytelling figures to the blocks to make them stand, instead of using magnets and a cookie sheet.


Levi had a choice.

Levi had a choice.

Did Levi choose right or wrong?

Levi had a choice.








• Show the children how to weave the strips over and under the slits. One will be over, under, over, under. The next strip will be under, over, under, over.

• When the place mat is full, cut off any excess lengths. Have the children add a dot of glue to the end of each strip so that it stays in place. They need to add glue to the top and bottom of each strip. Turn the page over and do the same on the other side.

SAY: Jesus told Levi to follow him. Levi made a choice. He left everything behind and followed Jesus. Then Levi had a big feast at his house so that his friends could come and meet Jesus too. They all sat around a big table. You have made a pretty place mat that you can put on your table at home.

Food FunSupplies: samples of real fruit made for the Garden of Good choices (strawberry, watermelon, blueberries, pineapple, grapes), small bowls, spoons, napkins

Cut the fruit ahead of time and make a large fruit salad for the children to enjoy. Include strawberries, blueberries, grapes, watermelon, and pineapple. Give each child a small bowl and a spoon to sample the fruits.

SAY: We have been learning about making good choices. We can ask God to help us when we have to make a choice. If we keep God first, we will make good choices. Today we made a good choice for a snack!

Serve With LoveGarden of Good ChoicesSupplies: Stickers, tabletop garden, six-inch paper plates, green marker, pen, light green chenille stem, large craft sticks, wide clear tape

• Gather the children around the tabletop garden to work on their fruit craft for today. As you work with this Garden of Good Choices, planting and picking the fruit, talk to the children about “picking” good things to do or say.

SAY: We are growing a Garden of Good Choices. God wants us to make good choices. When God is first, God will help us “pick” good things to do and say.

• Give each child a plate and ten round purple Stickers. Have them start at the bottom of the plate and add one round Sticker. Ask them to move up a row and put two Stickers on that row. The next row up has three Stickers, and the top row will have four Stickers. This makes a bunch of grapes. Invite them to draw a green stem at the top. Poke a hole with a pen in the top of the plate.

• Show the children how to wrap the chenille stem around a marker. Then have them slide it off the marker and stretch it out gently. Insert one end of the stem in the hole at the top of the grapes. Bend the tip and tape it to the back of the plate to make a vine.

• Give each child the fruit basket “PICK” Sticker to add to the grapes. Turn the plate over and attach the large craft stick to the back. Invite the children to “plant” their grapes in the Garden of Good Choices.

TIP

TIP

TIP

In order to make the weaving go faster, you can cut the slits on the construction paper about two inches apart instead of one. Then you can cut the weaving strips about two inches wide as well. The children will not have as many strips to weave. Each child will only need about five strips this way.

Have the fruit uncut as you would buy it at the grocery store. Place each one in a bag. Let the children reach in the bag without looking and guess which fruit they are touching. The strawberries, watermelon, and pineapple would be quite easy, but the grapes and blueberries would be quite tricky!

Reuse the tabletop garden that you made at the beginning of the month. Add more of the shredded brown gift-bag paper, if needed, in the garden box.




Let’s Get ReadySupplies: two large sheets of construction paper; marker; masking tape; two boxes; two plastic plates; two plastic cups; two plastic forks, knives, and spoons; table

On each sheet of paper, draw the outline of a plate, a cup, and the utensils where they belong in a place setting. These are your place mats. Place the place mats on a table along with a box holding the items each team will use. Make a masking tape line on the floor and divide the children into two teams.

• The first child goes to the place mat at the table and puts all of the items in the box where they belong on the place mat. Once you see this is done, the child has to place all of the pieces back in the box and go back to the team’s line to tag the next child. Each child does the same thing. The team that finishes first is the winner.

SAY: Jesus called Levi to follow him. Levi wanted his friends to meet Jesus, so he planned a big feast. I wonder if Levi set the table as fast as you did today!


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Love to Praise God,” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” You can add a motion that shows a way to praise God each time you sing the song. Try clapping, hands in a praying position, or moving arms in the air.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing. Say a small prayer for each child.



• Send home “Levi” (Bible Story Pak—Session 5, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week You will need musical instruments. If you plan to make the scepters (p. 54), you will need paper towel tubes, gold wrapping paper, posterboard, pompon balls, gold glitter, and curling ribbon. Make at least one scepter to use for “The King’s Scepter” game (p. 56).







Unit 1 Reproducibles GrowProclaimServe.com 37Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Reproducible 1a: Adam and EveGather the storytelling figures of the trees, the animals, Adam, Eve, and the snake (Resource Pak—p. 8). Roll a sheet of construction paper into a tube shape and tape the ends together for each figure. Attach one of the figures to each tube. Cut the tubes shorter, if needed, to better fit the figure size. Move the figures around as you tell the story to the children.

Adam lived in a garden. (Add trees, Adam, and animal pictures.)

God made a friend to live with Adam in the garden. Her name was Eve. God told Adam and Eve they could eat the fruit on the trees in the garden, but there was one tree’s fruit that they should leave alone.

(Add Eve.)

One day a snake came to Eve. The snake told her that she did not have to listen to God. The snake told her that she could eat the fruit they were told not to eat. (Add snake.)

Eve had a choice to make—Do I listen to God and leave that fruit alone? Or is it really okay for me to take just a bite of it? The snake is a wise animal. Should I listen to him? (Remove snake and animals.)

Eve decided what she would do. She took a bite of the fruit. Then she gave some to Adam. He ate the fruit too.

God did not want them to eat that fruit. God was not happy with the choice they made. God did not let them live in the garden anymore. (Remove trees.)

(Based on Genesis 2:10–3:24.)

Sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Let the children sing with you and then let them answer the question: Did Eve choose right or wrong? Why?


Eve had a choice.

Eve had a choice.

Did Eve choose right or wrong?

Eve had a choice.

JJA EE LG pp37-48 repro ID001.indd 37 1/14/13 1:00 PM



Reproducible 1b: The Fruit of the Tree/ My Fruit Tree



Punch out the Bible story puppet of Daniel (Resource Pak—p. 8, top) and attach it to a large craft stick. You will also need a crown to wear during part of the story. If there are two adults in the classroom, one of you can be the king and one of you can be Daniel.

(Put the crown on your head.) Hi, my name is King Nebuchadnezzar (Neb-uh-kud-nez-er). I live in a palace, and I eat very good food every day. I told my helper to choose some young men to come live at the palace and be my helpers. These have to be smart, healthy, and handsome young men. They will be trained to work for me. I want some very good helpers. While they are here, they can even eat the same good food that I eat!

(Hold Daniel puppet in front of you.) Hi! I am Daniel. I lived in another land, but the king’s helper chose me and three of my friends to come to the palace. We will be trained to work for the king. Then the king will choose which ones get to stay. The king’s helper brought me dinner tonight. It looked like good food, and it smelled like good food. But the people in my country are not allowed to eat this food. Hmmm, what should I do? Should I eat this food or eat only what God says my people can eat?

(Put on the crown. Talk like the king.) After these boys live at my palace for a while and eat my good food, then I will choose which ones I think will be the best helpers for me. I wonder how those guys are doing. I bet they like living in my palace. They have a nice place to live and all kinds of good food to eat.

(Hold Daniel puppet in front of you. Speak like Daniel.) I asked the king’s helper to take away that food. I asked him to let me and my friends just eat vegetables and drink water for our meals. That is what the people in my country can eat. The guard was not sure that was a good idea. So I told him,

“Let’s just try this for ten days. Then you can look at us to see if we are still strong and healthy like the king wants us to be.” He agreed to do this for ten days. And you know what? My friends and I looked better than all of the other guys here!

(Put the crown on your head. Talk like the king.) This is the big day! I have already looked at those young men. I know which ones I am going to choose to stay at the palace and work for me. I am going to choose Daniel and his three friends. They are smart, they are handsome, and they are all so healthy!

(Hold the Daniel puppet in front of you. Speak like Daniel.) Guess what?! I was chosen to stay and work for King Nebuchadnezzar! He thought my friends and I looked very healthy. The king does not know that we did not eat his foods. I had a choice to make. Should I eat the king’s food or eat the food that God wants me to eat? I wanted to do the right thing. God helped me make the right choice. I ate the food that God wanted me to eat. I am healthy and strong.

(Based on Daniel 1:3-21.)

Sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Let the children sing with you and then let them answer the question: Did Daniel choose right or wrong? Why?




Did Daniel choose right or wrong?


Reproducible 2a: Daniel Chooses




Reproducible 2b: Daniel’s Choice


Unit 1 Reproducibles GrowProclaimServe.com 41


Reproducible 3a: JonahInvite the children to join you in making the movements during the story. You can then briefly retell the story by using the motions again.

Sailing. Sailing. (Pretend to be rocking back and forth in a boat.)

God spoke to Jonah one day. God told Jonah to go to a city called Nineveh and tell the people there about God. Jonah heard that Nineveh was a bad place. He was afraid to go. Jonah had a choice to make. Would he listen to God and go to Nineveh or not? Jonah did not listen to God. Instead, he got on a boat going in the other direction!

Raining. Raining. (Pretend it is raining. Start with your hands high in front of you and move them downward. Wiggle your fingers as you move your hands down.)

While Jonah was on that boat, it began to rain. It did not just rain—it stormed! Jonah knew that he could not hide from God. He told the men on the boat to throw him overboard into the water, and the storms would stop. They did not want to throw him into the water. They did not want Jonah to drown. They tried to row the boat to shore, but the storms were too strong. The men decided to do what Jonah said.

Swimming. Swimming. (Pretend to swim by moving your arms.)

When Jonah was thrown into the sea, the storms stopped just like Jonah said they would. Along came a big, big fish that swallowed Jonah whole. Jonah stayed in the belly of this big fish for three days and three nights. From inside the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed.

Praying. Praying. (Pretend to pray by putting your two hands together under your chin.)

God made the big fish spit Jonah out on dry land. God listened to Jonah when he prayed. Then God told Jonah again to go to Nineveh to tell the people there about God. Jonah had a choice to make. Would he listen to God and go to Nineveh or not?

Sailing. Sailing. (Pretend to be rocking back and forth in a boat.)

This time Jonah listened to God. Jonah went to Nineveh and talked to the people about God. Jonah made the right choice this time.

(Based on Jonah 1–3.)

Sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Let the children sing it with you and then let them answer the question: Did Jonah choose right or wrong? Why?


Jonah had a choice.

Jonah had a choice.

Did Jonah choose right or wrong?

Jonah had a choice.




Reproducible 3b: The Great Big Fish



Reproducible 3c: A Whale of a Dad!

Flippers

Whale tail




Reproducible 4a: The TemptationsBring three large stones with you to use during the Bible story. Place them in three different areas of the room. Have the children move with you from one stone to the next as you tell them the story of the tempter and Jesus. If you do not have stones, use three Bibles since Jesus used the Scriptures to make his choices.

Stone One (Gather the children together with you at Stone One. You will be moving soon, so allow the children to remain standing.)

Jesus had just been baptized. God said, “You are my Son and I am so happy with you.” There were many people who followed Jesus everywhere he went. After he was baptized, Jesus went into the wilderness, the desert, for some quiet time to think. He spent his time thinking and fasting, which means he did not eat! (Pick up Stone One.) After Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, the tempter came to Jesus. He said, “Look at that stone on the ground. Why don’t you take that stone and turn it into bread? Then you can eat the bread. I know you are hungry.” Jesus said to him, “It is written in the Scriptures that people don’t live only by bread.” Jesus made a choice. He did not take the stone and turn it into bread. Jesus knew that he went into the wilderness to spend some time thinking and praying to God. (Put Stone One down.)

Stone Two (Move the children to the next stone.)

The tempter was not pleased that Jesus did not do what he wanted him to do. Jesus just quoted him part of the Bible! The tempter thought he would try again. He took Jesus to the top of the mountain. The tempter told Jesus, “Look at all this beautiful land! I have power over this land, and I can give that power to anyone I want. If you will worship me instead of God, I will let you have all that power.” (Pick up Stone Two.) Jesus said to the tempter, “It is written in the Scriptures that we are to worship and serve God, no one else.” Jesus made a choice. He heard what the tempter told him, but he knew that God was the only one we are supposed to worship. (Put Stone Two down.)

Stone Three (Move the children to Stone Three.)

The tempter was not pleased that Jesus did not do what he wanted him to do. Jesus just quoted him part of the Bible! The tempter thought he would try again. He took Jesus to the top of a building. He told Jesus, “Since you are God’s Son, why don’t you jump down from this building? You won’t get hurt. The angels will take care of you. You are God’s Son!” (Pick up Stone Three.) Jesus said to him, “It is written in the Scriptures that we should not test God like that.” Jesus made a choice. He did not jump off the building just to see if the angels would take care of him. He knew they could. Instead, he told the tempter what he knew from the Scriptures. (Put Stone Three down.)

(Have the children turn around and look at all three stones.)

Jesus learned the Scriptures when he went to the Temple, just like you learn about the Bible when you come to church. When Jesus had a choice to make, he thought about God. He thought about the Scriptures. You can do that too. When you have a choice to make, you can think about God. You can think about the Bible stories you have learned. You can think, What would God want me to do? That will help you make a good choice.

Do you remember our Bible verse? Let’s say it together while we walk from Stone One to Stone Two to Stone Three. (Repeat the verse with the children until all of them are back in the Bible story area with you.) “You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice. You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice.”

(Based on Luke 4:1-13.)


Jesus had a choice.

Jesus had a choice.

Did Jesus choose right or wrong?

Jesus had a choice.



Reproducible 4b: No-Way Wheel

What Did Jesus Say?




Reproducible 4c: No-Way Wheel

Temptation 1

Temptation 2 Te

mpt

atio

n 3



Reproducible 5a: Levi

Read the story below to the children. Use the storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 17) as you tell the story. Magnets can be added to the back so the figures can be attached to a large cookie sheet or you can tape the figures to wooden blocks in the classroom. After you tell the story, the children will be able to act it out using the actions that follow the story.

(Display the figures of Levi, the crowd of people, and the coins.)

Levi was a tax collector. People came to Levi, and they had to give him some of their money to pay taxes. Then Levi gave the money to the leaders of his country. Just like all the tax collectors, Levi would keep some of the money for himself. That’s why tax collectors were not well liked. The people knew that the tax collectors kept some of the tax money for themselves.

(Add Jesus.)

One day Levi was at the table collecting taxes from the people. Jesus saw him. Jesus said to Levi, “Come, follow me.” Levi had a choice. Should he keep his job and the money as a tax collector or should he follow Jesus? Levi made his choice. Levi left everything behind and followed Jesus.

(Remove the coins and the crowd of people. Add the banquet table.)

Levi wanted his friends to meet Jesus too. He had a big banquet at his house so all of his friends could come. Jesus was there, Levi was there, and so were his friends and other tax collectors. The church leaders saw what was happening. They did not think Jesus should eat with people like that! They were tax collectors! They were crooks!

(Remove all figures except Jesus.)

Jesus knew what they were saying. He asked them, “Who needs a doctor—the sick people or the ones who are well?” Jesus told the church leaders that these people were like sick people. They needed his help. They needed to know about God too.

(Based on Luke 5:27-32.)

Allow the children to act out the story. Choose one child to be Levi and one to be Jesus. Give all of the other children large tokens like checkers to use as coins.

Have Levi sit at the table with a bowl or bag while all the other children (except the one who will be Jesus) line up and give Levi their coins.

Let Jesus appear and say to Levi, “Come, follow me.”

Have Levi leave the table and follow Jesus. Then have Levi invite all the children to come to his house (a large table where all the children can sit) to meet Jesus.

As the children come to the table, have them sing the song, “Choices,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” Allow the children to answer the question: Did Levi choose right or wrong?

Give the children a simple snack to eat with Levi and Jesus at the table.


Levi had a choice.

Levi had a choice.

Did Levi choose right or wrong?

Levi had a choice.



Reproducible 5b: Money Bag



Summer 2013 Unit 2 GrowProclaimServe.com 49

Unit 2Having CourageBible Verse

Hope in the LORD! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the LORD! (Psalm 27:14)

Leap of Faith God gives me courage.

In this unitSession 6, July 7 EstherBible story: Book of Esther

Session 7, July 14The Fiery FurnaceBible story: Daniel 3:1-30

Session 8, July 21Daniel and the Lions Bible story: Daniel 6:1-28

Session 9, July 28Paul’s Journey to Rome Bible story: Acts 27:1-44

CD-ROMGod Is There• Instrumental and sung

version available• Sheet music with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Growing in Leaps and Bounds (theme song) • Instrumental and sung

version available • Sheet music with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Leaper’s Pointe (DVD) Session 6: Harley has been asked to watch over the Leaper’s Pointe frog statue because the statue mysteriously disappears around this time every year. While Harley is telling Rose about his important task, he realizes the frog statue has gone missing. Harley doesn’t want to tell the mayor about the missing statue, but Rose tells him the story of Esther to help him gather his courage.

Session 7: Ernie wants to be a brave superhero. He tries to help Rose cross the street—but she doesn’t want to go. He tries to rescue Poppa B from a fi re—but the fi re was only burnt toast. Finally, he helps Mondo at his theater while Mondo tells the story of the fi ery furnace.

Session 8: Furleen’s lion is roaring, and Furleen Finnanfeathers is gone! Harley and Rose want to help, but that roar is really scary. As Rose tells the story of Daniel in the lions’ den, Harley gathers his courage and braves Larry the lion in the pet shop.

Session 9: Gabby and Mondo use puppets and props to tell the story, “Paul Goes to Rome.”

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)•God Is There • Growing in Leaps and

Bounds (theme song)

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)•God Is There

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Growing in Leaps and Growing in Leaps and BoundsBounds (theme song) (theme song)

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Growing in Leaps and Growing in Leaps and

(theme song)

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)



Supplies The BasicsBiblebox of tissuesprojector or television card stock CD playerch enille stems (variety of



permanent)newsprintoffering basketpaintbrushes

paper clips pa per or plastic

tablecoverings paper bowlspaper cupspa per plates (variety of



Beyond the BasicsSession 6wooden blocksfo ur types of musical

instrumentspaper towel tubesgold wrapping papergold glittershallow boxlarge pompon ballsstar-shaped patterncurling ribbonscepter or wand

Session 7 re d, orange, and yellow

tissue papergold wrapping papergold stickersgold craft itemsem pty eight-ounce water

bottlesfunnelshallow boxmu lticolored aquarium

rocks

Session 8wiggle eyesblindfold or bandanna

Session 9 bulletin board paperdowels or yardstickplay dough or clayspring-loaded clothespinscantaloupe slicessm all people or bear

cookiesplastic forksre freshments for Brave

Parade Partyga me supplies from

Sessions 6–8 for Brave Parade Party

Tips for TeachersSession 9 suggests food activities. Always check for food allergies before serving food to your children.



EstherBible Verse

Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)

Bible StoryBook of Esther

Leap of FaithGod gives me courage.

Before You Begin

This week begins a new unit. The Bible stories the children will hear are about people of great courage. The Bible verse says, “Hope in the Lord! Be strong!

Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14). The men and women in these stories had choices to make, too, like the stories the children heard just last month. But these people were able to make good choices in the face of danger—good choices when it took courage to do so. The children will learn of Esther, Daniel and his friends, and Paul.

King Ahasuerus (uh-has’yoo-er’uhs) was not a happy man. He had asked his wife to do something and she refused. The king did not want the word to get out that she had treated him this way. He made it known that she was being replaced for what she did. The men in the king’s inner circle helped him make this decision so that other wives would not get any crazy ideas to act like her! Esther was a beautiful woman, and she is the one the king chose as his new queen. Esther knew he could get angry, so she did not want to make him mad by coming to talk to him without his permission. This is why her bravery was so important to today’s story.

At the end of this month, the children may have a “Brave Parade” where they celebrate the courage and the bravery of these Bible story friends. Each week the children will make an item that can be used in a parade—streamers, musical instruments, decorated hats, and banners. Collect these items (with the child’s name on each item he or she makes) in a box until the big day of the Brave Parade. Then let the children choose one of their items to carry as they march. Your children’s minister may want to involve the entire children’s department in this activity or you may do this with only the children in your classroom. If the latter is what you choose, then let the children march around the room to some of the CD music. Try “God Is There” or “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” depending on the tempo of your parade. You may even wish to ask other teachers if your children can parade briefl y through their rooms to show the things they have made. things they have made. things they have made. things they have made. things they have made. things they have made.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

things they have made.


Session 6July 7



JJA EE LG pp51-56 IN006.indd 51 1/14/13 1:05 PM

52 July 7 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide






• Have the Bible open to the Book of Esther.

• Give each child the crown Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

The King and the QueenSupplies: Reproducible 6b, crayons, safety scissors, tape

Photocopy “The King and the Queen” (Reproducible 6b) for each child.

• Have the children turn the paper so they see the king and can color that side. Have them rotate the paper and color the side with the queen.

• Encourage the children to cut along the zigzag line to separate the king and the queen. Invite them to roll each one into a tube and tape the ends together.

SAY: We will hear a story of a king and a queen today. Queen Esther did something very brave, and we will hear what she did in our story today.


• Give each child “Find the Scepters” and “Dot-to-Dot” (Bible Story Pak—Session 6, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to look at the picture on page 3. On the right side of the page, they can see a picture of a scepter. Have them find five of the scepters hidden in the picture (besides the one the king is holding).

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Have the children follow the dots, starting with the number 1. What do they see? Encourage them to color the picture of Esther wearing her crown.

SAY: If anyone needed to talk to the king, that person had to wait until the king held up his scepter. That was true for Queen Esther too. She could only talk to him if he raised the scepter. Esther did something very brave.


• Give each child the story, “Esther” (Bible Story Pak—Session 6, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half like a book.



• If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify simple words in the story. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

• Give each child a Bravery Badge Sticker. Have them find Esther in one of the pictures and put it on her.

ASK: What did Haman want the king to do? (get rid of all the Jewish people) Why? (He did not like Mordecai, and Mordecai was a Jew.) Why did that upset Queen Esther? (She was a Jew, and the king did not know it.) What did Esther do that was so brave? (She told the king that she was Jewish, and about what Haman was trying to do.) Did the king change his mind? (Yes.)

Crown MeSupplies: Fun Pak, gluesticks, construction paper, adult scissors, stapler

Cut construction paper into strips that will fit around a child’s head. Each child needs one headband. Give each child the crown page (Fun Pak—p. 13).

• Invite the children to remove all the pieces from the page. Encourage them to glue the jewels on the crown front. They should have some extra jewels.

• Fit a headband to each child’s head and staple the ends. Have them glue the crown front onto the headband. If they have extra jewels, they can add these to the headband.

SAY: The king was going to get rid of all the Jewish people. Queen Esther was a Jewish person, and she did not want that to happen. She asked the king to save her people. Esther had courage.

Proclaim the WordGrowing in Leaps and BoundsSupplies: CD-ROM, CD player, crepe paper streamers, scissors

Cut crepe paper streamers of various colors so that each child has two streamers to hold in each hand.

• Familiarize yourself with the song, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” (CD-ROM), and create some repetitive movements for the children on the chorus. Otherwise, let the children move as they wish and use their streamers. You can save the streamers to use again next week, but replace as needed each week.

SAY: Welcome to church today! When we come to church, we learn about God and about our Bible. That helps us to grow in leaps and bounds in our faith. That helps us grow closer to God.


• Play the theme and unit songs from Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD). Have the children do the motions suggested in the chorus.

Suggested Movements for “Growing in Leaps and Bounds”

Clap your hands (Clap hands with streamers three times.)

and move to the music. (Shake streamers above your head.)

Stomp your feet (Stomp three times.)

and shake it up and down. (Shake streamers up and down.)

Clap your hands (Clap three times.)


Jump for joy (Jump three times.)

as we grow in leaps and bounds. (Shake streamers above your head.)

TIP




SAY: Harley has been given the task of watching over the Leaper’s Pointe frog statue. While Harley is telling Rose about his important task, he realizes the frog statue has gone missing. Harley doesn’t want to tell the mayor about the missing statue, but Rose tells him the story of Esther to help him gather his courage.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 6a, Resource Pak, wooden blocks, tape, four types of musical instruments

Punch out the storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 17) of King Ahasuerus, Queen Esther, Haman, and Mordecai. Tape these pictures to wooden blocks you may have in the classroom so they will stand in front of the children.

• Read the Bible story, “Esther,” to the children (Reproducible 6a).

• After you read the story, divide the children into four groups. Give each child in one group the same musical instrument to use. Then give each child the name of one of the people in the Bible story. Stand that figure in front of its group. Each group has a different person and a different instrument.

• Retell the story. Each time the children hear the name of their person, they sound their instruments.


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 21) and say the Bible verse to the children: “Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

• Keep the children in the same four groups that they were in previously. Give each group a part of the Bible verse to say. Have one child be the leader for her or his group.

• Start with the first group, have them stand quickly, and raise their hands in the air. They will say their part of the verse: “Hope in the Lord!” The next group quickly follows, using the same actions, but repeating their part of the Bible verse: “Be strong!” Continue until all four groups have participated. Group 3 says, “Let your heart take courage!” Group 4 says, “Hope in the Lord!”

• Repeat the activity and pick up the pace now that the children know what to do. You have just created a “Bible Verse Wave.”

Gold SceptersSupplies: paper towel tubes, adult scissors, gold wrapping paper, posterboard, gold glitter, shallow box, large pompon balls, a star-shaped pattern (cookie cutter works well), glue, curling ribbon

Cut gold wrapping paper so that it will wrap around a paper towel tube. Cut a star shape for each child from posterboard. Cut a hole in the center of the star the size of the paper towel tube. The star needs to fit snugly around the tube.

TIP

TIPIf you do not have access to instruments, let the children make sounds like foot stomping, slapping their hands on their legs, growling, clapping, and so forth. Each group needs its own sound.

The king is mentioned more than the others, so use a simple sound or a bell when you retell the story.

For the Bible verse activity that follows, keep the children in the same four groups. Put the instruments away.

Instead of large pompon balls, you could twist a plastic foam ball on the top until it stays in place. If you use the plastic foam ball, you can do the glittering after the ball is attached so that the entire top piece has gold glitter on it.



The activities located here each week are for a “Brave Parade” that the children can participate in at the end of the month. The children will make something different each week and then will get to choose which item they carry with them in the parade. This activity may involve only the children in your classroom, or the children’s minister may choose to do this with the entire children’s department. If your children will have a parade by themselves, you can ask other teachers if you can walk through their classrooms that day. Keep these items each week until you have the parade, and be sure the child has his or her name on each item that is made.

• Give each child a piece of the gold paper and a paper towel tube. Invite the child to wrap the gold paper around the tube and glue it in place.

• Slide the star around the top of the paper towel tube and push it down slightly. Apply glue to one side of the star and sprinkle it with gold glitter.

• Use craft glue to attach a large pompon ball to the star. Add curling ribbon to the tube just under the star, and gently curl the ends. Let the scepters dry.

SAY: Esther was brave. She went to see King Ahasuerus even though he did not call for her to come. When the king saw her, he raised his gold scepter so she could come see him.

Serve With LoveBrave Parade: Parade Streamers Supplies: Stickers, nine-inch paper plates, adult scissors, crepe paper streamers, gluesticks, stapler, other stickers or markers, large box

Gather the five “Brave Parade” Stickers for each child—the Bible verse sticker, the large crown, the flame, the lion, and the ship.

SAY: Each week we will make something to use in a parade. I will keep all of your things in this box. On the day of the parade, you can choose one of your things to carry in the parade. After the parade, you can take all of your things home. Our parade is going to be in three more Sundays. We call this our Brave Parade. We are learning about people in the Bible who were very brave. Today we learned about Queen Esther.

• Fold a nine-inch paper plate in half. Cut a semicircle out of the plate near (but not on) the folded edge. The straight line of the semicircle will be along the folded edge. This makes a handle for the parade streamers. You will need one prepared plate for each child.

• Cut crepe paper streamers into twelve-inch lengths in a variety of colors. Each child will need at least six.

• Open the plates so that one half of it is in front of the child. Invite him or her to choose streamers of any colors to glue along the rounded edge in front of him or her. Close the plate again and staple the edges together.

• Encourage the children to decorate their parade streamers with the five “Brave Parade” Stickers. They will not understand all the pictures just yet, but by the time they use their streamers for the Brave Parade, they will.

• Offer the children other stickers you have on hand, or they can use markers to add more decorations to their parade streamers.

• Be sure to label each craft with the child’s name and keep it in a large box that you keep until the day of the Brave Parade.

TIP




The King’s ScepterSupplies: crown, a scepter or wand, masking tape

• Make a masking tape line on the floor. Have the children stand on the masking tape line. Choose one child to be the king. Give him or her the crown to wear and a scepter to hold. Have this child stand across the room.

• When the king holds up the scepter, the children can move towards the king. If the king lowers the scepter, the children must stop. The first one to reach the king becomes the new king.

SAY: People could only talk to King Ahasuerus when he gave them permission to come. When the king raised his gold scepter, it was okay to come.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Can Have Courage,” to the tune of “Rock-a-Bye Baby” (printed in the column at right). Have the children hold their hands as if in prayer as they sing the song.

SAY: We can have courage and we can be strong because God is with us.




• Send home “Esther” (Bible Story Pak—Session 6, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next WeekUse the pattern (Reproducible 7b) to cut out the paper doll shapes from black paper for each child. Cut red, yellow, and orange tissue papers into flame shapes using the pattern on Reproducible 7b. Gather the streamers you used this week for “Growing in Leaps and Bounds.” Replace any that are too worn. Find gold-colored items for the children to use if you plan for them to make a “Gold Collage” (p. 61). Things to consider are star stickers, ribbons, paper scraps, scrapbook papers, wrapping paper, gold foil, chenille stems, glitter, or buttons. For the Brave Parade (p. 61), the children will make musical shakers. You will need a small empty water bottle for each child and some colorful aquarium rock.

“I Can Have Courage” (Tune: “Rock-a-Bye Baby”)

I can have courage.

I can be strong.

I know God is with me

all the day long.

When I am scared,

I whisper a prayer,

and I can have courage

because God is there.



The Fiery FurnaceBible Verse




Before You Begin

Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Jerusalem was conquered and many were taken to Babylon as captives. Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abednego were among those taken captive. The Babylonians had a large gold statue which they bowed down to and worshipped. Even though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were chosen to work for the king, they would not worship this statue. They lived by the Ten Commandments, the laws that God’s people followed. They remained loyal to the God they served.

Nebuchadnezzar was rich and powerful and expected the people to obey his commands. When he had this gold statue built, the people were told that they must bow down to the statue whenever they heard the music play. This statue was hard NOT to see—it was over 88 feet tall and almost 10 feet wide, and it was covered in gold! A horn would sound and was then followed by other instruments so that the air was full of music. The people fell to the ground and worshipped this golden statue—everyone, that is, except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king was unhappy when he found out. Their punishment was to be thrown into the fi ery furnace, just as the king’s law said.

It took courage to tell the king no. It took courage to face the punishment when they did nothing wrong. How would your courage stand up in times of such adversity? Would fear take over and make you cave? What if you knew you were being punished and you had done nothing wrong? Would you continue to hope in the Lord as these men did? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that even though they were far from their own home, they should remain faithful to the God they served. Their hope was in the Lord, their strength came from the Lord, and their hearts were given courage from the Lord. God will do the same for you.


Session 7July 14











• Give each child the flame Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

The Men in the FireSupplies: Reproducible 7b; white and black construction paper; adult scissors; red, orange, and yellow tissue paper; glue

Photocopy and cut out the doll and flame patterns (Reproducible 7b). With the long edges at the top and bottom, fold the black construction paper in half and in half again vertically. You will have four thicknesses. Center the doll-like pattern (Reproducible 7b) on the paper (the arms will reach off the paper on each side), and trace and cut it out for the children. Each child needs one set of four friends linked at the arms. Cut yellow, red, and orange tissue paper into flames using the pattern (Reproducible 7b) or into one-inch squares.

• Give each child a sheet of white construction paper. Invite them to glue the tissue paper pieces all over the white paper.

• Give each child the set of four friends that you cut from the black paper. Show them how to open them up to see all four. Encourage them to glue the friends on top of the flames.

• Show the children how to fold one-fourth of the paper back so that they see only three of the men. Have them open the paper to see all four of them again.

SAY: We will hear a story today about three men who were put in a hot fire. They would not worship the gold statue. How many friends do you see on your paper? There are four! We will find out who the fourth friend is when we hear our story today.


• Give each child “Courage” and “What’s Missing?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 7, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to look at the word, COURAGE, in the center of page 3. Tell them that the word is “Courage.” Have the children find the lowercase letters floating around the page that match the capital letters in the word in the center of the page.



• Invite them to draw a line from each floating letter to the one it matches in the center word, COURAGE

• Encourage the children to turn over their papers. Have them look closely at the top picture. Invite them to find what’s missing on the men in the bottom picture. Have them add the missing items to the men in the bottom picture.

• Invite the children to color the pictures.

SAY: Our Bible story tells us about some men who found the courage to do what God wanted them to do. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We will find out what they did when we hear the Bible story today.


• Give each child the story, “The Fiery Furnace” (Bible Story Pak—Session 7, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.


• Give each child one of the Bravery Badge Stickers. Have them find the men that were brave in one of the pictures. Invite the children to attach the bravery badge on one of them.

ASK: What did the king want the people to do when they heard the music? (bow down to worship the gold statue) Who would not do it? (three men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) What happened to them when they did not obey the king? (They were thrown into the fire.) Why was it bad for them to worship the gold statue? (because they loved God and not the statue)

The Fiery FurnaceSupplies: Fun Pak, tape, craft sticks, gluesticks

• Give each child the page, “The Fiery Furnace” (Fun Pak—p. 15). Invite the children to punch out the triangle and the three men. Place the men aside for now.

• Have them turn the triangle over so that the fiery side is not seen. The straight edge should be at the top.

• Help the children fold the right and left sides inward and up so that the points are above the straight edge of the triangle, and both sides are lined up and touching at the center. (It will look like an ice cream cone.)

• Tape these edges together. Turn the paper over and show the children the pocket they just made (lower in the front, with a higher point in the back).

• Give the children three craft sticks. Invite them to glue the three men to the craft sticks. Invite them to place the three men in the fire (the triangle pocket).

SAY: The king was mad when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down to the gold statue. He said, “Throw them in the fire!” God sent an angel to take care of them. They did not get hurt at all.




Proclaim the WordGrowing in Leaps and BoundsSupplies: CD-ROM, CD player, crepe paper streamers

Gather the crepe paper streamers used last week. Replace any that are worn. Each child needs two streamers to hold in each hand.

• Play, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” (CD-ROM). Encourage the children to move as they wish and use their streamers while the music plays.

• Save the streamers to use again next week.



• Play the theme and unit songs from Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” and “God Is There” (DVD). Have the children do the motions suggested in the chorus.

SAY: Ernie wants to be a brave superhero. He tries to help Rose cross the street—but she doesn’t want to go. He tries to rescue Poppa B from a fire—but the fire was only burnt toast. Finally, he helps Mondo at his theater while Mondo tells the story of the fiery furnace.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 7a, sample of finished craft from Reproducible 7b (p. 58)

• Read the Bible story, “The Fiery Furnace” (Reproducible 7a). Let the children repeat the chant with you each time it is used during the story.

• After the story, show the children one of “The Men in the Fire” crafts made earlier (see p. 58). Show the three men in the fire and remind the children that God sent an angel to take care of the men.


• Read the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 21): “Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

• Sing, “Hope in the Lord,” to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.” Let the children form a circle while holding hands.

• Invite the children to rotate and skip to the left as they sing. Sing it again and rotate to the right. Sing it a third time. Holding hands, have them slowly move inward while raising their arms together in the air.

Suggested Movements for “Growing in Leaps and Bounds”

Clap your hands (Clap hands with streamers three times.)


Stomp your feet (Stomp three times.)

and shake it up and down. (Shake streamers up and down.)

Clap your hands (Clap three times.)


Jump for joy (Jump three times.)

as we grow in leaps and bounds. (Shake streamers above your head.)

“Hope in the Lord” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

Hope in the Lo-rd, and be strong,

and be strong, and be strong!

Hope in the Lo-rd, and be strong.

Let your heart take courage.



Gold CollageSupplies: white construction paper, safety scissors, gluesticks, gold wrapping paper, gold stickers, any gold craft items

• Give each child a sheet of white paper. Encourage them to make gold pictures using the items on the table. Provide scissors and gluesticks for their use.

SAY: The king had a gold statue. He told the people to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, “Worship your statue? We will NOT! NOT! NOT!” Then the king put them in the fire that was HOT! HOT! HOT!

Serve With LoveBrave Parade: Parade ShakersSupplies: Stickers, CD-ROM, Reproducible 7c, CD player, box of parade items from last week (p. 55), light-colored construction paper, adult scissors, tape, empty eight-ounce water bottles, funnel, shallow box, multicolored aquarium rock, glue, markers

Remove labels from the water bottles. Using Reproducible 7c as a template, cut the construction paper to make a label to fit around the bottle.

SAY: Each week we are going to make something to use in a parade. I will keep all of your things in this box. On the day of the parade, you can choose one of your things to carry in the parade. After the parade, all of your things will go home with you. Our parade is going to be in two more Sundays. We call this our Brave Parade. We are learning about people in the Bible who were very brave. Today we learned about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

• Place the bottles in the shallow box. Help the children pour the multicolored aquarium rock into the bottles by using the funnel. (The box catches any spills.) Fill the bottles about half full of the aquarium rocks to make musical shakers. Glue the water bottle lid in place on each bottle. Set these aside.

• Give each child a label to decorate for the musical shaker. You can write COURAGE around the label for the children. Encourage them to add the four bravery symbols: crown, flame, lion, ship (Stickers), to their label. The children can also add other colorful decorations with markers to the label. Wrap the label around the bottle and tape the ends together.

• Play some music from the CD-ROM and let the children use their shakers during the song.

• Label each craft with the child’s name and keep it in the large parade box until the day of the Brave Parade.

We Will NOT! NOT! NOT!Supplies: construction paper, marker, tape

Write the word “NO” on a sheet of construction paper for each child. Tape a “NO” sheet to the floor for each child. Have each child stand beside a sheet on the floor. Tell the children the word on their paper is “NO!” (Say it loudly.)

TIPThe activities located here each week are for a “Brave Parade” that the children can participate in at the end of the month. The children will make something different each week and then will get to choose which item they carry with them in the parade. This activity may involve only the children in your classroom, or the children’s minister may choose to do this with the entire children’s department.




• Let the children repeat the chant from the Bible story: Fire, fire, fire! Hot, hot, hot! But worship your God? We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

• After the last line, have the children jump up and down on their “NO” sheets.

• Tell the children that you are going to ask them some questions. If it is the right thing to do, they stay where they are. If it is the wrong thing to do, they jump up and down on the “NO” sheet and say, “We will NOT, NOT, NOT!”

SAY: Sometimes it is hard to do the right thing. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did the right thing. They loved God, and they did not worship the gold statue. They had to be brave to tell the king, “We will NOT! NOT! NOT!”


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Can Have Courage,” to the tune of “Rock-a-Bye Baby.” Have the children hold their hands as if in prayer as they sing the song.





• Send home “The Fiery Furnace” (Bible Story Pak—Session 7, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next WeekGather nine-inch white paper plates so each child can make a “Lion Hat” (p. 64). Prepare the plates and construction paper according to the instructions. Gather the streamers you used for “Growing in Leaps and Bounds.” Replace any that are too worn. Copy the two-page lion (Reproducibles 8c and 8d) to make a “Pin the Tail on the Lion” game (p. 67). Glue this to posterboard for added sturdiness and color it. Cut out a tail for each child from yellow construction paper using the pattern from Reproducible 8d. Bring a blindfold to use in the game. Photocopy the “Certificate of Courage” (Reproducible 8b) and begin thinking of people in the church whom the children might know that could be the recipient of a Certificate of Courage.

Questions to get you started:

Shall I share my book with my sister? (Yes, so no jumping.)

Shall I tell a lie? (No. Jump and shout, “We will NOT! NOT! NOT!”)

Shall I take my brother’s toy away? (No.)

Shall I give my mother a hug? (Yes.)

Shall I eat all the candy so that I don’t have to share? (No.)


I can have courage.

I can be strong.


all the day long.

When I am scared,

I whisper a prayer,



TIP



Daniel and the LionsBible Verse




Before You Begin

When we think of habits, we generally think of bad habits—things that we do repeatedly that are not good for us. But habits can be good too. We can

have the habit of walking every day. We can have the habit of reading the Bible every morning. Daniel had a good habit. Daniel’s good habit was praying three times a day.

This is the same Daniel who asked for vegetables and water rather than the rich foods he was going to be served while working for the king. This is the same Daniel who was friends with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in last week’s lesson. Daniel believed in God. He stopped what he was doing three times a day, went to his room, looked toward Jerusalem—his homeland—and prayed. He lived many years in Babylon after being taken captive when Jerusalem was destroyed. He longed for the time when he could go back. But even while he was in Babylon and trained in their ways, Daniel remained faithful to God.

Even though King Darius, who now reigned over the land, did not believe in God, he respected God. King Darius knew that Daniel was faithful to God and that he was also a good and honest man. But it was Daniel’s good habit that got him in trouble. His fellow leaders did not like Daniel because he was favored by King Darius. They wanted to catch him doing something wrong so it could be reported to the king. They convinced King Darius that he was a wonderful king and that he should make a new law that the people of the land should worship only him for the next thirty days. If the law was not followed, the punishment was time in the lions’ den.

A lions’ den in Daniel’s day was actually a pit or a hole in the ground. Once it was sealed, there was no way out. Imagine the fear! Daniel stayed faithful to God’s law rather than man’s law. He had courage and trusted God to take care of him.

Do you have some good habits like Daniel? Try to spend time this week in prayer and Bible-reading as you prepare to teach the story about Daniel. Reread the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health.

Do you have some good habits like Daniel? Try to spend time this week in Do you have some good habits like Daniel? Try to spend time this week in prayer and Bible-reading as you prepare to teach the story about Daniel. Reread prayer and Bible-reading as you prepare to teach the story about Daniel. Reread the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health. example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health. remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health. example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health. remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health. example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health.


the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health.


the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health. example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health.


prayer and Bible-reading as you prepare to teach the story about Daniel. Reread the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s example and commit to praying at least three times a day for our spiritual health.


Do you have some good habits like Daniel? Try to spend time this week in prayer and Bible-reading as you prepare to teach the story about Daniel. Reread the story from Daniel 6. You may fi nd some interesting details that you did not remember from hearing the story as a youngster yourself. Let’s follow Daniel’s


Session 8July 21











• Give each child the lion Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak— pp. 2 and 23).

Lion HatsSupplies: paper plates, adult scissors, yellow and tan construction paper, markers, gluesticks, box of parade items (p. 55), optional: wiggle eyes

Before the children arrive, prepare the plates as hats. Cut around the center of the plate as if to cut it out. Stop about three-fourths of the way around. This leaves the remaining one-fourth attached to the plate rim. Fold the mostly cut center circle upward and crease. This part will stand up when the child puts the plate on his or her head. Each child needs one plate hat. Cut the center of one paper plate all the way out so you can use the plate center as a pattern. Cut a circle for each child from yellow construction paper, using the center of the paper plate as a pattern. This will make the lion’s face. Cut two small half circles for each child from the yellow paper to make lion ears. Cut the tan construction paper into strips that are about one inch wide and three inches long. Each child will need about ten of these.

• Give each child a yellow circle and the two half circles to begin making the lion’s face. Encourage them to draw two eyes near the top of the circle and a triangle for the lion’s nose. They can add a mouth and some whiskers, if they wish. If you have wiggle eyes, you can use them instead. Invite the children to add the lion’s ears so they will show at the top of its head.

• Give each child a plate hat that you have prepared. Glue the lion’s face to the center part of the plate. Help the children crease the lion’s face where the plate bends to make it stand better. Bend the face forward so the backside is showing. Have the child attach one end of a tan strip of paper to the circle’s outer edge. The strips of paper will stick out from the circle like sun rays. Continue adding these all around the circle. This makes the lion’s mane. Invite the child to put the lion hat on and give you his or her best growl.

• Be sure to label each child’s hat with his or her name. Place them in your parade box. The children will leave the hats with you until the day of the parade (next Sunday).

SAY: We will hear a story today about Daniel. He was brave when he was put in the den with the lions. We will find out why the king put him there in our story today.




• Give each child “Link the Lions” and “Daniel in the Den” (Bible Story Pak—Session 8, pp. 3–4). Ask the children to find the matching lions on page 3. Have them draw a line to link the lions that match.

• Encourage the children to turn over their papers. Daniel is in the den, but the lions are not there. Encourage the children to draw some lions near Daniel.

SAY: Our Bible stories this month tell us about people who were brave. Daniel had to be brave because he was in the den of lions. We will find out why he was put there in our story today.


• Give each child the story, “Daniel and the Lions” (Bible Story Pak— Session 8, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.


• Give each child a Bravery Badge Sticker. Have the child find Daniel, and place the bravery badge on him in the story.

ASK: What did Daniel do three times a day? (He prayed to God.) Why did the king put Daniel in the lions’ den? (because the rule said you could only pray to the king) What happened to Daniel in the lions’ den? (Nothing.) Who took care of Daniel? (God did; God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions.)

PAWS to PraySupplies: Fun Pak, yarn or ribbon, tape, gluesticks, scissors

• Give each child the page, “Paws to Pray” (Fun Pak—p. 17). Give each child a 15-inch length of yarn or ribbon. Help the children remove all four of the paw prints from the page.

• Invite the children to find the paw prints that have words on them. Turn them over. Tape the ends of the yarn or ribbon to the back of these paws. Place it so that it comes out at the bottom of the paw print (not the toes). This makes the words right side up as it hangs around the child’s neck or around a doorknob.

• Have the children glue the top and bottom paw prints together.

• Show the children how to drape the yarn around their necks to wear them home. Read the words on the paw prints to the children: PAWS to PRAY.

SAY: You can wear this around your neck or even hang these paw prints on a doorknob at your house. When you see the lion’s paw prints, you can remember Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel would pause three times each day to pray to God. We can pause each day and pray to God too.





Bring the crepe paper streamers used last week. Replace any that are worn. Each child needs two streamers to hold in each hand.

• Play, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” (CD-ROM). Encourage the children to move as they wish and use their streamers while the music plays. Remember to use the movements (see p. 53) on the chorus. Save the streamers to use next week.

SAY: Welcome to church today! When we come to church, we learn about God. That helps us to grow in leaps and bounds in our faith.



SAY: Furleen’s lion is roaring, but Furleen Finnanfeathers is gone! Harley and Rose try to help, but that roar is scary. As Rose tells the story of Daniel in the lions’ den, Harley gathers his courage and braves Larry the lion in the pet shop.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 8a, lion hats made earlier (p. 64), parade box

• Read the Bible story, “Daniel and the Lions,” to the children (Reproducible 8a). As you read the story, sit in the center of the children and have them wear their lion hats. Tell them that you are Daniel, and they are the lions all around you. Encourage the children to give you their best lion growls.

• Collect the lion hats and place them in your parade box. The children will leave the hats with you until the day of the parade (next Sunday).


• Read the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 21): “Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

• Divide the children into four groups. Give each group a part of the Bible verse to say, as you did in Session 6. Have one child be the leader for her or his group. Start with the first group, have them stand quickly, and raise their hands in the air. They will say their part of the Bible verse: “Hope in the



Lord!” The next group quickly follows, using the same actions, but repeating their part of the Bible verse: “Be strong!” Group 3 says, “Let your heart take courage!” Group 4 says, “Hope in the Lord.”

• Repeat the activity and pick up the pace now that the children know what to do. You have just created a “Bible Verse Wave.”

Pin the Tail on the LionSupplies: Reproducibles 8c and 8d, posterboard, glue, yellow markers, yellow construction paper, adult scissors, masking tape, blindfold

Photocopy both halves of the lion (Reproducibles 8c and 8d). Color it yellow and glue it to posterboard for added sturdiness. Attach it to the wall. Cut a yellow tail for each child using the pattern (Reproducible 8d).

• Blindfold one child at a time and add a piece of tape to the tail in his or her hand. Invite the other children to growl like lions while the child is trying to tape the lion’s tail in place. The child with the tail nearest the right spot wins.

SAY: You were so brave! You touched our lion while you were blindfolded! Daniel was in the pit with a bunch of lions. He was brave too. Daniel knew that God would take care of him. When the king came to check on Daniel, he did not even have a scratch on him. God sent an angel to protect Daniel.

Serve With LoveBrave Parade: Certificate of CourageSupplies: Reproducible 8b, parade box of items from previous weeks, markers

SAY: Each week we have made something to use in our Brave Parade that we will have next week. (Show a sample of the items as you mention them.) Some of you will use your streamers. Some of you will use your shakers. Some of you might want to wear your lion hats. Next Sunday we will have a parade in our room and march all around. We will remember the people in the Bible stories that taught us how to be brave. We will remember Queen Esther. She asked the king to save her people. We will remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. We will remember Daniel who was put in the lions’ den. And we are going to invite a special guest to come to our parade.

• Tell the children about the people you have selected to receive your Certificate of Courage. Have a picture of them, if possible. Invite the children to write their names on the Certificate(s) of Courage (Reproducible 8b) for your special guest(s) next week.

“Daniel and the Lion” Game• Gather the children in a circle and have them hold hands. Choose one child to

be Daniel and stand in the center of the circle. Choose another child to be the lion and stand outside the circle. The lion will try to enter the circle and get to Daniel. The children holding hands try to keep the lion out.

TIPBefore class, think of a couple of people the children might know in your church who have displayed courage. This could be someone who has had an illness and is now well. It could be a child with a physical handicap who tries to come to church often. You can even ask the children’s minister for suggestions. You will invite that person to come to the Brave Parade next week, and the children will present that person(s) with a “Certificate of Courage.”




• Have the children circle around Daniel with their hands in the air. As they circle, they chant: “Daniel, Daniel, in the lion’s den. The lion’s on the OUTSIDE, but he (she) wants IN!” The children stop moving, and they keep their arms in the air. The lion walks around the outside of the circle.

• When the lion is ready, he tries to get inside the circle. If the children see the lion coming, they can drop their arms quickly to keep the lion out. Give the lion three chances to get through to Daniel.

• Choose two new children to be Daniel and the lion.

SAY: In our game, the lion got close to Daniel sometimes, but in our Bible story, the lions did not hurt Daniel. Daniel was brave. He trusted God to take care of him. God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions. Daniel did not even have a scratch on him!


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “I Can Have Courage,” to the tune of “Rock-a-Bye Baby.” Have the children hold their hands as if in prayer as they sing the song.





• Send home “Daniel and the Lions” (Bible Story Pak—Session 8, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week Gather the streamers for “Growing in Leaps and Bounds.” Replace any streamers that are too worn. Purchase a cantaloupe for snack if you plan to make and serve the “Cantaloupe Boats” (p. 73). Bring your Parade Box with the items the children made for the Brave Parade next week. Be sure to invite your “Certificate of Courage” recipient(s) to watch the children in the parade and have the certificate ready to give to that person(s). Make plans for how you wish to conduct your parade. You can serve refreshments and even play some of the games the children enjoyed from this unit: The Scepter Game, We Will NOT! NOT! NOT!, Daniel and the Lions, or Pin the Tail on the Lion.


I can have courage.

I can be strong.


all the day long.

When I am scared,

I whisper a prayer,





Paul’s Journey to RomeBible Verse


Bible StoryActs 27:1-44


Before You Begin

The Old Testament is not the only place to read stories of those with courage because of their faith in God. The New Testament tells us of Paul and his

bravery in telling others about Jesus despite his being beaten, stoned, and imprisoned. Paul was in prison for telling people about Jesus when he was sent to Rome to be tried in court since he was a Roman citizen. To get there, he had to travel by ship under the watchful eye of the guards. Passenger ships did not exist, so anyone going by ship had to wait for a cargo ship that was headed the way they needed to go and would be willing to take them along. They had to bring their own food that would last for the duration of the trip.

Roman ships often stayed in the harbor during the winter months to avoid the bad weather. The passengers were often consulted when making decisions about their trip. This ship had already endured diffi culty and Paul told them “Men, I see that our voyage will suffer damage and great loss, not only for the cargo and ship but also for our lives” (Acts 27:10). The ship’s captain listened to others rather than Paul and forged onward.

The voyage did endure violent storms, but Paul had a vision that he shared with them. He said that an angel told him they would all survive this journey, but they would run aground on an island instead of making it all the way to Rome. Can you imagine how you would look at this man saying these things when you were on a ship being tossed about by the wind and waves and fearing for your own life? Paul’s courage allowed him to say to the other passengers and prisoners on board the ship, “Be encouraged, men! I have faith in God that it will be exactly as he told me” (Acts 27:25). Their ship was tossed about for fourteen days before it shipwrecked at the island of Malta. But it happened as Paul bravely told them it would—all 276 passengers were alive when they arrived.


Session 9July 28










• Have the Bible open to Acts 27.

• Give each child the ship Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Banner of BraverySupplies: bulletin board paper, wide marker, red construction paper, glue, red paint, paintbrush, black marker, dowels or yardsticks, wide clear tape

Turn the bulletin board paper vertically and write a portion of the Bible verse the children have been learning: “Let your heart take courage!” (Psalm 27:14). Write with a wide marker so the words are easily seen. Make a large heart with red construction paper and glue it in place of the word “heart.” Write the names of the Bible story people who had courage on the Banner of Bravery: Queen Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, and Paul.

• Paint each child’s hand with the red paint, and have each child make a heart with two handprints on the banner. One handprint faces left and one faces right, while the palms overlap at the bottom. Encourage the child to clean the paint off his or her hand and then return to write his or her own name on the banner by the handprint.

• Roll the top edge of the banner over a dowel rod or yardstick and tape it down. The pole will be used to carry the banner in the parade. Do the same on the bottom edge of the banner. This rod adds weight at the bottom to keep the banner hanging downward.

SAY: Today is our Brave Parade! We will march and celebrate the courage that the Bible people had in the stories we heard. Their names are on our banner. Your names are on the banner, too. We will carry the banner in our parade today.


• Give each child “Fill in the Blanks” and “Paul’s Journey” (Bible Story Pak—Session 9, pp. 3–4). Invite the children to fill in the blanks on the Bible verse by using the code at the top of the page. (“Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!” Psalm 27:14)

• Encourage the children to turn the paper over. Have them follow Paul through the maze to find the ship going to Rome.



SAY: Our Bible stories this month tell us about people who were brave. Paul had to be brave when he was on the ship. The storms were strong! We will hear what happened to that ship in our story today.


• Give each child the story, “Paul’s Journey to Rome” (Bible Story Pak—Session 9, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.


• Give each child a Bravery Badge Sticker. Have each child find Paul in one of the pictures. Invite the child to place the bravery badge on Paul.

ASK: How was Paul going to get to Rome? (on a ship) What did Paul do on the ship that was brave? (told the people that he knew God was going to take care of them in the storm) Did the ship make it to Rome? (No, it ran into land before it got there.) Were all the people on the ship safe? (Yes.)

Paul’s Trip on the ShipSupplies: Fun Pak, sturdy paper cups, adult scissors, brown markers or crayons, straws, tape, gluesticks, play dough or clay, spring-type clothespins

Cut the tops of the cups off so the cups will not show above the ship pieces.

• Give each child the two pages, “Paul’s Trip on the Ship” (Fun Pak— pp. 19 & 21). Help the children remove all of the ship and sail pieces from the pages. Encourage the children to color the two ship pieces brown.

• Have them tape a straw to the back of one of the sails. Then have them glue the two sails together, sandwiching the straw.

• Give each child a small amount of clay or play dough. Have them put it in the bottom of the cup. Invite them to insert the free end of the straw into the clay.

• Encourage the children to add glue all along the back of the ship pieces. Add one ship piece to each side of the cup, pressing the midsection of the ship pieces to the cup. Then have them press the ship ends together. Use a spring-type clothespin to hold the ends together until the glue is fairly dry.

• Read the Bible verse on the ship’s sail to the children.

SAY: Paul was on a ship that was caught in a bad storm. The people were afraid, but Paul was brave. He told the people what God’s angel told him. The angel said, “Do not be afraid. You will be safe.” Paul believed the angel.

TIPYou may want to add a piece of tape to the ship and over the top of the cup. This helps hold the ship to the cup.





• Bring the crepe paper streamers used last week. Replace any that are too worn. Each child needs two streamers to hold in each hand.

• Play, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” (CD-ROM). Encourage the children to move as they wish and use their streamers while the music plays. Remember to use the movements (see p. 53) on the chorus.




SAY: Gabby and Mondo use puppets and props to tell the story, “Paul Goes to Rome.”


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 9a

• Read the Bible story, “Paul’s Journey to Rome,” to the children (Reproducible 9a). Encourage the children to participate with you on the action words in the story (in bold).


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 21) and say the Bible verse to the children: “Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

• Sing, “Hope in the Lord,” to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus” (printed in the column at right). Let the children form a circle while holding hands. Invite the children to rotate and skip to the left as they sing. Sing it again and rotate to the right. If they sing it a third time, they can hold hands in the circle and slowly move inward as they raise their arms together in the air. By the end of the song, all the children will be in the center of the circle with their arms raised.

“Hope in the Lord” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

Hope in the Lo-rd, and be strong,

and be strong, and be strong!

Hope in the Lo-rd, and be strong.

Let your heart take courage.



Cantaloupe BoatsSupplies: cantaloupe slices, paper plates, small people or bear cookies, plastic forks, knife (for adult use only)

• Cut the cantaloupe into eight slices so they look like rocking boats.

• Give each child a paper plate and a slice of cantaloupe. Invite them to add the small people or teddy bear cookies to look like the passengers on the ship. Can they make their ships rock like Paul’s ship? Will their passengers stay on?

SAY: The angel told Paul that God would keep them safe. Paul said, “I believe what God said.” Paul was brave in the storm. Paul and all the passengers were safe, just like the angel told Paul.

Serve With LoveBrave ParadeSupplies: CD-ROM, CD player, parade box of items, Certificate(s) of Courage for special invited guest(s)

• Today is the day for the Brave Parade. Let the children choose an item to carry in the parade from the items they have made over the last several weeks. The teacher can carry the Banner of Bravery in the front as the children all follow. If you have a child who has not been at church in previous weeks, let that child help carry the banner.

• Remind the children that you are celebrating the courage the people had in our Bible stories: Queen Esther who asked the king to save her people, the three men in the fiery furnace, Daniel in the lions’ den, and Paul on the ship in the storm. If your special invited guest has come, be sure to introduce that person to the children. Present that person with the Certificate of Courage from the children and tell that person how much it helps us to see people today with courage like her or him.

• Play music (CD-ROM) and march around the room or down the church halls as the children wear their lion hats, shake their musical shakers, and wave their colorful streamers in the air.

The Fun Goes OnSupplies: refreshments, paper goods, game supplies

• After the parade, you can serve refreshments.

• If time allows, revisit some of the games the children played about these people with courage:

The King’s Scepter (Session 6, p. 56)

We Will NOT, NOT, NOT! (Session 7, p. 61)

Daniel and the Lion (Session 8, p. 67)

Pin the Tail on the Lion (Session 8, p. 67)




SAY: We met many people in our Bible who had courage. They were brave when it was not easy to be brave. God gave them the courage they needed. God gives us courage when we need it too.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle.

• Sing the song, “I Can Have Courage,” to the tune of “Rock-a-Bye Baby.”

• Have the children hold their hands as if in prayer as they sing the song.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle.

• Say a small prayer for each child in the Praise-and-Prayer Circle.



• Send home “Paul’s Journey to Rome” (Bible Story Pak—Session 9, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week Next week begins a new month and a new unit on being friends. Take time to familiarize yourself with the new Bible verse and any new songs. Photocopy the David and Jonathan “Puppet Pals” (Reproducible 10b). You will also need paper plates for the puppets. The children will begin a Mission Project benefitting school-aged children. Photocopy the parent letter about this project (Reproducible 10c). You can read more about it at www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies. Each week the children will make a craft using one of the items on the list of supplies for UMCOR’s School Kit. Next week’s craft uses crayons to color the parent note before sending it home.


I can have courage.

I can be strong.


all the day long.

When I am scared,

I whisper a prayer,





Reproducible 6a: EstherRead the story below to the children. Use the storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 17) as you tell the story. Tape the figures to wooden blocks in the classroom. You will retell the story and divide the children into four groups for each of the people in the Bible story. The children will use musical instruments to sound each time they hear their person’s name. If you do not have instruments, you can create noises like stomping, growling, clapping, slapping hands on the legs, and so forth.

(TIP: The king is mentioned more than the others, so use a simple sound or bell when you retell the story.)

The king was mad. His wife did not do what he wanted, so he decided to find a new queen. King Ahasuerus (Uh-has’yoo-er’uhs) chose Esther. He thought that she was beautiful. Esther lived with her cousin Mordecai (More-de-kigh). Her family was not there, and Mordecai took care of her. Now she was going to be Queen Esther.

The king had a special helper named Haman (Hay-mun). Haman did not like Mordecai. In fact, he hated him. Haman came up with a plan to get rid of Mordecai. Since Mordecai was a Jewish man, Haman tricked the king into writing a law that said to kill all of the Jewish people.

Queen Esther was sad. She was a Jewish person just like Mordecai, her cousin. The king did not know that. She needed to talk to him right away, but the king had a rule: You can only see him if he raises his gold scepter.

Esther needed to be brave. If she did not talk to the king, all of her people would be killed. What could she do? Esther’s friends and family prayed for her so she could be brave. Esther came up with her own plan. She decided to fix a nice dinner for the king. She would go to him and ask him to come. She knew the king might get mad, but she was brave. When the king saw her, he smiled. He held up his gold scepter which meant she could go see him.

She invited the king to come eat dinner with her. She also invited his helper, Haman. At the dinner, she told the king that someone was trying to kill all of her people. She asked him to save the Jews. The king asked, “Who would do a thing like that?”

Esther said, “It’s your helper, Haman.” The king got mad, then he got rid of Haman.

A new law was written. The new law took care of Mordecai. The new law took care of all of Queen Esther’s people, the Jews. They would not be killed. Queen Esther was brave, and her people were saved.

Here is a shortened version to use for retelling the story:

Our story today is about King Ahasuerus (Uh-has’yoo-er’uhs), Queen Esther, Haman, and Mordecai. Esther lived with her cousin Mordecai (More-de-kigh). The king chose her to be his new wife because he thought she was so beautiful. Now she was going to be Queen Esther.

The king had a special helper named Haman (Hay-mun). Haman did not like Mordecai. Haman came up with a plan to get rid of him. Since Mordecai was a Jewish man, Haman tricked the king into writing a law that said to kill all of the Jewish people.

Queen Esther was sad. She was a Jewish person just like Mordecai, but the king did not know that. She needed to talk to him right away! But there was a rule: You can only see the king if he raises his gold scepter.

Queen Esther’s friends and family prayed for her. She needed to be brave. If she did not talk to him, all of her people would be killed. What could she do? She went to talk to the king. She knew he might get mad, but she was brave. When the king saw her, he smiled. He held up his gold scepter which meant she could go see him.

Esther told the king that someone was trying to kill all of her people. She asked him to save the Jews. “Who would do a thing like that?” the king asked. Esther said, “It’s your helper, Haman.” The king got mad, then he got rid of Haman.

A new law was written. The new law took care of Mordecai and all of the Jewish people. They would not be killed. Queen Esther was brave and her people were saved.

(Based on the Book of Esther.)




Reproducible 6b: The King and the Queen



Reproducible 7a: The Fiery Furnace

Light a candle for the children to see. If you do not feel comfortable lighting it around the children, just hold one up and talk about it being lit. Each time you come to the chant in the story, have the children join you. You will use one of “The Men in the Fire” crafts made earlier (see p. 58) at the end of the story.

Is this candle flame hot or cold? (hot) What would happen if you touched this? (It would burn you.) We do not touch candles or play with matches because they can hurt us. Our story today is about some men who had to STAND in a fire. Oooh! Hot! Hot! Hot!

Say the following chant and then let the children repeat it after you:Fire! Fire! Fire!Hot! Hot! Hot!But worship your statue?We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

There once was a king named Nebuchadnezzar. He told his men to make a big statue out of gold. It was so big that you could see it no matter where you were in town. The king made a new rule. It said, “When you hear the music play, you must bow down. You must bow down and worship the gold statue. If you do not, I will have you thrown into a big fire.”Fire! Fire! Fire!Hot! Hot! Hot!But worship your statue?We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

There were three men who did not want to worship this gold statue. They believed in God. They only wanted to worship God. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three men heard the king’s new rule. They heard the music. But they did not bow down and worship the statue.Fire! Fire! Fire!Hot! Hot! Hot!But worship your statue?We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

Someone told the king. King Nebuchadnezzar called for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king

said, “I hear that you did not bow down to the gold statue. I will give you one more chance. When you hear the music now, you can bow down and you will be safe.” Fire! Fire! Fire!Hot! Hot! Hot!But worship your statue?We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the king, “We will not worship a statue. We want to worship God.” The king was very angry. “Make the fire even hotter!” he ordered. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the hot, hot fire. Fire! Fire! Fire!Hot! Hot! Hot!But worship your statue?We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

The king went to check on the three men in the fire. When he looked in, he did not see THREE men in the fire; he saw FOUR! And they were walking around. He asked his helpers, “Didn’t we put three men in the fire? Look! Now there are four!” Fire! Fire! Fire!Hot! Hot! Hot!But worship your statue?We will NOT, NOT, NOT!

God sent an angel to take care of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king was surprised! The men were brought out. They were not hurt. Their hair was not burned. They did not even smell like fire. King Nebuchadnezzar then said, “Praise their God for taking care of them!”

Show the children one of “The Men in the Fire” crafts made earlier (see p. 58). Fold back one of the men on the page so the children see only three men in the fire. Unfold it to show the children that God sent an angel to take care of them.

TIP: If you used a lighted candle during the story, be sure to blow it out. Keep matches out of reach of the children.




Reproducible 7b: The Men in the Fire




Reproducible 7c: Water Bottle Label Pattern





As you read the story to the children, sit in the center of the circle. Invite the children to wear their lion hats and sit all around you. Tell them that you are Daniel and they are the lions in the den. At the end of the story, they will sing a song about Daniel and circle around you. Encourage them to give you their best lion growls.

Daniel was a hard worker. He worked for the king. The king really liked Daniel. Daniel believed in God. He loved God, and he prayed to God every day. The king’s other helpers did not like that Daniel was such a good worker. They wanted to catch him doing something wrong so they could tell the king.

These helpers told the king he should make a new rule that said: Everyone should pray only to their wonderful king. The king liked that rule! If someone disobeyed, then the king would have them thrown into a den of hungry lions!

Daniel did not want to pray to the king. He wanted to pray to God. Daniel prayed three times every day to God. One of the king’s helpers saw Daniel through the window in his house. He was praying to God. The helper told the king that Daniel had broken the rule.

The king was sad. He loved Daniel. He did not want to put Daniel in the den of hungry lions, but he had to follow the new rule he made. He told his helpers to put Daniel in the den of hungry lions!

I am Daniel. You are the lions. Can you give me your best lion growl? (GROWL!)Would you be afraid if you were in a den of hungry lions? (Let the children respond.)

The king could not sleep that night. He was worried about Daniel. Those hungry lions would surely eat him up! The next morning, the king went to check on Daniel. Would he be alive? The king said, “Daniel, did God save you from the lions?”

Let me hear the lion’s growl again. (GROWL!)

Was Daniel okay? Would he answer the king? Yes, Daniel was okay. He said, “Yes, I am here. God sent an angel to take care of me. The angel shut the mouths of the hungry lions.” The king was happy! He made a new rule: Everyone should pray to God like Daniel.

Daniel was brave. He knew that he should worship God and no one else. It took courage to do that because he knew the king would put him in the lions’ den. Daniel trusted God, and God took care of Daniel.


Teach the children the following song to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie?” Have them hold hands and circle around you. You are Daniel, and they are the lions. At the end of the song, let them growl!

Dare to be like Daniel, like Daniel, like Daniel.Dare to be like Daniel.Remember to pray.Like Daniel, like Daniel, like Daniel, like Daniel.Dare to be like Daniel.Remember to pray.GROWL!

Reproducible 8a: Daniel and the Lions



Reproducible 8b: Certificate of Courage


Certificate of Courage

This Certificate of Courage is presented to:

for showing courage through all things—just like Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, and Paul.

Given to you by:




Reproducible 8c: Pin the Tail on the Lion



Reproducible 8d: Pin the Tail on the Lion





Read the story to the children. Encourage them to participate with you on the action words (in bold).

Sailing. Sailing. (Rock gently side to side.) Paul was going to Rome. He found a ship that would take him there. He was on the ship with many other passengers. It wasn’t long before the wind began to blow. It blew harder and harder, and it blew the boat further out into the water. The waves were tossing the boat back and forth and up and down.

Rocking. Rocking. (Rock harder side to side, being careful not to hit heads with other children.) The waves got even bigger. The waves splashed high into the air and got water inside the boat. The clouds got very dark, and it started raining very hard. They could not see where they were going! This was not a good day to be on a ship. The people on the boat were scared. They thought they were going to drown.

Raining. Raining. (Hold your fingers in front of you. Move them downward while wiggling them to resemble rain.) Paul was on the ship in the storm. He loved God, and he cared about the other people on the ship. He said to them, “Don’t be afraid. No one will get hurt.” The other people wondered why Paul said this.

Listening. Listening. (Cup your hand around your ear as if listening to Paul.) Paul told them that an angel came to him and told him that God would take care of all the people on the ship. “Everyone will be okay,” he said, “and I believe what God said.” He knew God would take care of them in this storm, but he was brave to say that to all the people. He even told them to eat some bread so they could be strong.

Looking. Looking. (Place hand over your eyes as if searching.) One morning the people on the ship saw dry land! “Maybe we can make it over there,” they thought. They tried to sail the ship over to the land, but the waves were too strong. The waves pushed the ship

into some sand under the water and they crashed! The ship started falling apart. What do we do?

Swimming. Swimming. (Make swimming motions with your arms.) The people on the ship jumped into the water and started swimming to the land. Some of them grabbed pieces of wood from the ship that crashed and floated to the land. But everyone made it there safe! Not a single person was missing, just like Paul said to them. Paul was brave when he told the people that God would take care of them. Would they believe him? Would it really happen that way? Everyone made it safe to the land, just like the angel said and just like Paul believed.

(Based on Acts 27:1-44.)

Now review the story quickly with the children by using the action words.

Sailing. Sailing. (Have the children rock gently side to side.) The people were going on a trip.

Rocking. Rocking. (Have the children rock harder side to side.) The storms came while they were on the ship.

Raining. Raining. (Make raining motions with their fingers.) The people thought they were going to drown. They could not see a thing!

Listening. Listening. (Cup your hand around your ear as if listening to Paul.) Paul told them they did not have to be afraid. God would take care of them.

Looking. Looking. (Place hand over your eyes as if searching.) The people saw land! But the ship crashed before they could get there.

Swimming. Swimming. (Make swimming motions with your arms.) The people jumped into the water and started swimming. Everyone made it to land. Everyone was safe just like the angel said, and just like Paul believed.

Reproducible 9a: Paul’s Journey to Rome



In this unitSession 10, August 4 David and JonathanBible story: 1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42

Session 11, August 11Ruth and NaomiBible story: Book of Ruth

Session 12, August 18Paul and Barnabas Bible story: Acts 9:26-31

Session 13, August 25Paul, Priscilla, and AquilaBible story: Acts 18:1-4, 18-22

CD-ROMFriends• Instrumental and sung


Growing in Leaps and Bounds (theme song)• Instrumental and sung


Leaper’s Pointe (DVD) Session 10:Rose gives Poppa B several gifts to thank him for being her best friend for so many years.

Session 11:Gabby isn’t feeling so well. The mayor and Mondo help her by taking care of her plants and offering her their favorite cold remedies.

Session 12:Mondo and Farley are worried about a stranger they see wandering around town. The stranger turns out to be the mayor’s aunt.

Session 13:There’s a leak in the shark tank, and The Leaping Frog Pet Shop is under water. Rose, Poppa B, and Farley all pitch in and help Furleen Finnanfeathers in different ways. Furleen wants to pay Farley for his help, but her friends remind her that in the Bible it says that friends should love each other all the time.

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)• Friends • Growing in Leaps and

Bounds (theme song)

Unit 3Being FriendsBible Verse

Friends love all the time. (Proverbs 17:17)

Leap of Faith Friends love and care for one another.


86 Unit 3 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Supplies The BasicsBiblebox of tissuesprojector or television card stock CD playerch enille stems (variety of



permanent)newsprintoffering basketpaintbrushes

paper clipspa per or plastic table

coverings paper bowlspaper cupspa per plates (variety of



Beyond the BasicsSession 10colorful beadsshoestringspr emade UMCOR School Kit

(see p. 89)

Session 11 collection boxmagnetscookie sheetswheat stalkseaselshallow panpr emade UMCOR School

Kitunsharpened pencils

Session 12collection boxtwist tiessp ring-loaded

clothespinscraft gluepaint mixing stickstick pretzelscheese cubesgrapesfruit snackspr emade UMCOR School

Kitheart patternenvelopesrulersmetal brads

Session 13 collection boxsheets or tableclothgi ft bag crinkle paper

in hair colors12 -by-18

construction paper

sk in-colored construction paper

Tips for TeachersThis month your class is invited to participate in a service project that helps other children of similar ages with school supplies. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) collects School Kits filled with supplies, such as paper, scissors, crayons, pencils, and sharpeners. You can read more about these kits and the proper way to prepare them at: www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies.



David and JonathanBible Verse


Bible Story1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42

Leap of FaithFriends love and care for one another.

Before You Begin

It has been said that friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life. If you love chocolate chip cookies, like many people do, then you understand what a

delightful comparison that is! There are many quotations about friendship, and the Bible has many verses about friendship too. The Bible verse for the children this month is one of them: “Friends love all the time” (Proverbs 17:17).

Children as young as the ones you teach are learning about friendship. They are beginning to develop favorite friendships, and they may have even experienced the pain of hearing one say in anger, “You’re not my friend anymore!” David and Jonathan’s story is a good example of what a friendship is all about. They made a covenant with each other to be friends, and they truly cared for one another. They both loved God, and that was a part of their friendship too. Even though Jonathan was the next in line to be king, he knew that God had anointed David to be the next king. He loved David and knew that God’s plan must be followed. Even after Jonathan’s death, David as the new king remembered their covenant and brought Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth into his household. Just like David and Jonathan, friends love each other.

The children not only learn about caring friends in the Bible this month, but they are also given an opportunity to be a caring friend. The children may participate in a service project that helps other children of a similar age with school supplies. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) collects School Kits fi lled with supplies such as paper, scissors, crayons, pencils, and sharpeners. They are provided to children who need them the most. You can read more about the kits and the proper way to prepare them at: www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies. It’s important that we teach the children about God’s love for us, but it’s also important that we teach them how they can share it with others.


Session 10August 4



88 August 4 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide






• Have the Bible open to 1 Samuel 18 or 20.

• Give each child the Sticker of the man wearing the robe to place on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Puppet PalsSupplies: Reproducible 10b, crayons or markers, safety scissors, gluesticks, paper plates, stapler

Photocopy the David and Jonathan “Puppet Pals” (Reproducible 10b) for each child. Gather paper plates for making hand puppets. Each child will need two whole plates and one plate that is cut in half to make two halves.

• Have them color the puppets and cut them out on the solid lines. Have them glue each puppet to the underside of a whole paper plate. Staple a half paper plate along the top edge of the paper plate with the puppet. The inside of the whole plate and half plate are facing together. Do this for both puppets.

• Invite the children to insert a hand inside the plates to make David and Jonathan puppets.

• The children will use the puppets during the telling of the Bible story.

SAY: David and Jonathan were very good friends. We will hear a story about their special friendship today.


• Give each child “Dot-to-Dot David” and “Who Has What?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 10, pp. 3–4). Invite the children to follow the dots on page 3 to see what David is wearing. He is wearing the robe that his friend Jonathan gave to him. Give them time to color the robe.

• Have them turn the paper over. Encourage them to follow the string to see which friend has the harp and which friend has the bow and arrow.

• Invite the children to trace one string with a colored marker. Have them trace the name of the person it leads to in the same color marker. Do the same with the other string, being sure to use another color marker.

SAY: Our Bible story today is about friends, David and Jonathan. One friend played the harp. The other friend liked his bow and arrow. Which friend played the harp? (David) Which friend had the bow and arrow? (Jonathan)



“I Have a Friend; You Have a Friend” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)

I have a friend.*

You have a friend.

Let’s all do some clapping**

together with our friend.

To move the children to the Bible story area, sing:

I have a friend.

You have a friend.

Let’s go hear the story now,

together with our friends.

*When you sing the first two lines, you and the children are to find a friend in the room. Change friends each time you sing the song.

**Change the action each time you sing through the song (clapping, stomping, spinning, blinking).


• Give each child the story, “David and Jonathan” (Bible Story Pak—Session 10, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify simple words in the story. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

ASK: Who were the two friends? (David and Jonathan) What did they promise to each other? (to be friends forever) Why did David hide? (He thought the king was trying to kill him.) What did Jonathan do to help him? (He found out if it was true or not and kept David safe from his father, the king.)

Friends and FeathersSupplies: Fun Pak, straws, safety scissors, gluesticks, construction paper, stapler

Gather three straws for each child to use with the Fun Pak page, and cut the construction paper into a 9-by-9 square for each child.

• Give each child the page, “Friends and Feathers” (Fun Pak—p. 23). Invite the children to cut out the pieces from the page.

• Give each child three straws. Have the children place two arrow tips together and glue them around one end of a straw. Have them do the same with two arrow feathers, wrapping them around the other end of that straw. Continue until all the pieces are used, except for the Bible verse label.

• Give each child a 9-by-9 square of construction paper and have them fold it in half. Staple the long edge and one end closed. Leave one narrow end open. Have them glue the Bible verse label onto the pouch. Read the Bible verse about friends to the children.

• Read the friendship words on the arrows to the children. Invite the children to put their friendship arrows into the pouch.

SAY: Jonathan used his bow and arrows to help David. He said, “If my father plans to hurt you, I will shoot my arrow far away from you. If it goes far away from the rock where you are hiding, you will know that you should go far away too.” That saved David’s life. What a good friend he had in Jonathan!

Proclaim the WordI Have a Friend; You Have a Friend• Sing the song, “I Have a Friend; You Have a Friend” to the tune of “The

Farmer in the Dell” (printed in the column at right). Each time you sing the first line, the children must find a friend so they can do the action together.

• When you are ready to move the children to the Bible story area, sing the other verse of the song.




SAY: I’m so glad I have a friend, aren’t you? When I count to three, let’s all shout the name of a friend. It can be a church friend, a school friend, your neighbor, or any friend you love. One, two, three, (name your own friend). Today we are going to hear a Bible story about two friends, David and Jonathan.


• Play the theme and unit songs from Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” and “Friends” (DVD). Have the children do the motions suggested in the chorus.

SAY: Rose gives Poppa B several gifts to thank him for being her best friend for so many years.


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Resource Pak, Reproducible 10a, David and Jonathan puppets made earlier (p. 88), a crown, two craft sticks, tape or glue

Punch out the David and Jonathan storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 9) and attach them to large craft sticks. Bring a crown with you to use during the Bible story. Bring the David and Jonathan Puppet Pals the children made earlier.

• Read the Bible story, “David and Jonathan” (Reproducible 10a), to the children and use the storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 9).

• Give the children the Puppet Pals they made earlier. Encourage the children to use their puppets to answer your “Who?” questions at the end of the story.


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 4) and say the Bible verse to the children: “Friends love all the time” (Proverbs 17:17).

• Sing, “Friends Love All the Time,” to the tune of “Bingo” (at right). Invite the children to sing the song again. When they sing the phrase, “Friends love all the time,” have them clap instead of saying the word “friends.”

• As the month goes on, the children will add to the number of claps until they clap for all the words of the Bible verse.

Friendship BanglesSupplies: colorful beads, cups, shoestrings or yarn, table, optional: masking tape

Gather bags of beads in several colors.

• Place a small cup for each child in a line along the table.

• Invite each child to choose which bead color is his or her favorite. Have the child place one bead of that color in each cup.

“Friends Love All the Time” (Tune: “Bingo”)

I have a Bible and it says,

“Friends love all the ti-me.”

Friends love all the time.



My friends make me so happy!



• Give each child one cup of beads. Tell the child that Sunday school friends picked their favorite colors and put them in the cup.

• Knot one end of the shoestring for each child. If you use yarn, you will also want to wrap masking tape around the opposite end so the yarn will not fray as the children thread the beads. Encourage them to thread the beads onto the shoestring or yarn so they can remember their Sunday school friends. Knot the two ends together to finish the bangle bracelet.

• If time allows, let each child tell which color bead was his or hers.

SAY: You can wear your Friendship Bangles home today. When you see your beads, you will remember that you have special friends at church. They helped pick out the colors for your Friendship Bangle.

Serve With LoveFaraway Friends: School Kits for UMCORSupplies: preassembled School Kit for UMCOR

Prepare a School Kit like UMCOR requests to show the children. You can find more detailed information on the UMCOR website: www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies. Each kit should contain these items: 1 pair blunt scissors, 3 pads of paper (spiral notebook or top-bound pads, 150 sheets loose-leaf, no composition books), handheld pencil sharpener, 30 cm ruler (no advertisements), 6 unsharpened pencils (no advertisements), 2½-inch eraser, 24-count box of crayons, 14-by-16 bag (closures optional, but can only be buttons, snaps, or hook-and-loop closure in middle of opening). Keep in mind these items cannot have advertisements on them. Cartoon characters are generally permissible.

• Show the children the School Kit. Go over each item in the bag. Explain the service project to them. Remind them of the Bible verse that “Friends love all the time” (Proverbs 17:17).

SAY: Friends reach out and help one another, just like Jonathan did for David in our Bible story today. When David needed a good friend, Jonathan was there. We are reaching out to help some children just like you who need some supplies so they can go to school this year. They may even live far away from here. We are being their friends—their Faraway Friends. We are acting like Jonathan and David.

School Kit Craft: Crayons Supplies: Reproducible 10c, crayons

Photocopy the Mission Project note to parents (Reproducible 10c) for each child. Each week the children will use one of the items on the School Kit list. Today they are using crayons.

• Give each child a copy of the parent note. Invite the children to color it.




SAY: One thing on our list of school supplies that you can bring is a box of crayons. We used our own crayons to color this note today. This note explains to your moms and dads what we are doing. We are reaching out to help some children just like you who need supplies so they can go to school this year. We are being their friends.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing, “Jesus Is My Good Friend,” to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine.”

• Teach the children the American Sign Language for “Jesus” and “friend” (see column at right). Encourage the children to use the signs in the song.

SAY: Jesus is my good friend. Jesus is your friend too. Let’s pray and thank God for Jesus and for all our friends.

• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child. As you pray, thank God for Jesus and all the friends we have.

• Ask the children if they have a friend for whom they would like to pray. Pray for those people.


• Send home “David and Jonathan” (Bible Story Pak—Session 10, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next Week Photocopy the hand (Reproducible 11b) on card stock for each child. Gather golden or tan chenille stems. Each child will need at least three. Prepare the construction paper pieces and lunch sacks the children will need for the Gleaning Game (p. 96). Find several wheat stalks for the children to use if you plan to have them paint or make prints with the wheat stalks. Photocopy the Mission Project note (Reproducible 10c) for those who haven’t received one yet. Have a collection box for the service project. Next week the children will use unsharpened pencils from the UMCOR School Kit list to make something.

“Jesus Is My Good Friend” (Tune: “You Are My Sunshine”)

I am so happy, so very happy, (Point to smile.)

to know that Jesus (sign language for “Jesus”)

is my good friend. (sign language for “friend”)

I know I love him. (Point to heart.)

I know he loves me. (Point to heart.)

And he will love me to the end. (Hug self.)

Jesus

Friend



Ruth and NaomiBible Verse


Bible StoryBook of Ruth


Before You Begin

This week we will continue to learn about friendships in the Bible that teach us how friends love and care for one another. In today’s story, the children

will hear of Ruth and her dedication to Naomi. Naomi had moved to Moab with her husband and two sons because of a famine in Israel. Ruth was from Moab, and she married one of Naomi’s sons. While there, Naomi’s husband and two sons died. Since she did not have family in Moab, Naomi decided to return to her hometown. Ruth vowed to stay with Naomi, her mother-in-law, wherever she went. “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Life was hard for widows in those days because they did not have husbands who would provide for them. They depended on the kindness of others. Boaz heard that Ruth had come to his fi elds, and he told his workers to leave some grain for her. The law in those days said that the corners of the fi eld were not to be harvested. Instead, that was to be left for the poor or for people traveling. If the workers dropped barley stalks while they were harvesting, they were not allowed to pick them up. It had to be left for the poor as well. This allowed the poor to glean in the fi eld which is what Ruth came to do. She was gathering the grain left behind to make bread for herself and Naomi.

Just like Ruth and Naomi, friends are willing to help each other. The children are given an opportunity this month through the mission project in these sessions to help other children who are in need. Not only do they hear stories of friendships from the Bible, they are seeing how they can be a friend themselves. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) collects supplies to send where they are needed in times of devastation or to countries that need them most. School will soon be starting again, so your children are encouraged to bring in specifi c school supplies for School Kits that will be shared with children like them in other parts of the country or the world. You can view UMCOR’s website for more detailed information: www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies.


Session 11August 11






WelcomeSupplies: Bible, Stickers, Resource Pak, CD-ROM, CD player, offering basket, collection box



• Have the Bible open to the Book of Ruth.

• Give each child the grain bundle Sticker to place on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

• Place a collection box in this area where the children can place any donations they bring for the UMCOR School Kit mission project.

Ruth’s Helping HandSupplies: Reproducible 11b, card stock, crayons or markers, safety scissors, tan or golden yellow chenille stems, tape

Photocopy the handprint (Reproducible 11b) onto card stock for each child. Encourage the children to cut out the handprint and then color both sides. The fingers do not have to be cut individually.

• Give each child three chenille stems (the fuzzier, the better). Show them how to wrap about one-third of the chenille stem around a marker or large crayon. Gently slide the chenille stem off and leave the end curled. Have them do this for all three chenille stems.

• Turn the handprint over so the finger lines are not seen. Tape the other end of the chenille stems in the palm of the handprint. Wrap the fingers around the stems so it appears the hand is holding the wheat stalks.

SAY: Ruth loved Naomi. She wanted to stay with her and help her. One way she helped her was by picking grain from the field to make bread. We will hear their story today.


• Give each child “Ruth Goes to the Field” and “Where Is the Grain?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 11, pp. 3–4). On page 3, invite the children to help Ruth find her way to the field so she can pick grain for making bread. Have them use a crayon or marker to mark the path she should take.

• Encourage the children to turn the paper over. There are bundles of grain hidden in the picture. Encourage the children to find all five and circle them.

SAY: Our Bible story today is about two ladies named Ruth and Naomi. Ruth loved Naomi, and Naomi loved Ruth. We will hear their story today.




I have a friend.*

You have a friend.




I have a friend.

You have a friend.






• Give each child the story, “Ruth and Naomi” (Bible Story Pak—Session 11, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.


• Give the children the three wheat bundle Stickers. Encourage them to add the Stickers to the pages where they see Ruth.

ASK: Who were the two friends? (Ruth and Naomi) What did Ruth tell Naomi when she was going back to her homeland? (that she wanted to go with her and help her) Who owned the field where Ruth picked grain? (Boaz) What did Boaz tell his workers in the field about Ruth? (She can pick grain from the field; leave some extra for her.)

Friends Love All the TimeSupplies: Fun Pak, paper plates, adult scissors, yarn, tape, gluesticks, crayons or markers, paper punch

Gather paper plates and yarn. Cut out the center of the paper plates. Each child needs one.

• Give each child the page, “Friends Love All the Time” (Fun Pak—p. 25), and invite them to remove all the hearts from the page.

• Encourage the children to find the two big hearts with the Bible verse on them. Have them tape one end of the yarn to the back of one heart. Have them glue the two Bible verse hearts back-to-back, with the yarn in the middle.

• Tape the other end of the yarn to the back of the paper plate rim. The heart should hang in the center of the opening. Cut off any excess yarn.

• Invite the children to color the paper plate rim as they wish. Then have them glue the little hearts all around the plate rim.

• Punch a hole at the top of each paper plate. Insert a short length of yarn into the hole to make a hanging loop.

SAY: Friends love and help each other. Ruth did that for Naomi in our story today. You can hang this up at home to remember to thank God for friends.

Proclaim the WordI Have a Friend; You Have a Friend• Sing the song, “I Have a Friend; You Have a Friend,” to the tune of “The

Farmer in the Dell” (printed in the column at right).




• Each time you sing the first line, the children must find a friend so they can do the action together.


SAY: I’m so glad I have a friend, aren’t you? When I count to three, let’s all shout the name of a friend. It can be a church friend, a school friend, your neighbor, any friend you love. One, two, three, (name your own friend). Today we are going to hear a Bible story about two friends, Ruth and Naomi.



SAY: Gabby isn’t feeling so well. The mayor and Mondo help her by taking care of her plants and offering her their favorite cold remedies.


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Resource Pak, Reproducible 11a, magnets, cookie sheet, construction paper scraps, adult scissors, lunch sacks

Gather the storytelling figures (Resource Pak—p. 20) of Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, the wheat, and the basket. Add magnets or magnetic strips to the back of the figures. Attach them to the back of a cookie sheet as you tell the Bible story.

• Cut construction paper into a large number of one-inch squares. These will be scattered on the floor and used like grain in the “Gleaning Game” at the end of the story. (See Reproducible 11a for game instructions.) Each child will need a lunch sack to play the game.

• Read the Bible story, “Ruth and Naomi” (Reproducible 11a), to the children and use the storytelling figures as you tell the Bible story.

• Play the “Gleaning Game” with the children.



• Sing, “Friends Love All the Time,” to the tune of “Bingo.” Invite the children to sing the song again. When they sing the phrase, “Friends love all the time” in the middle of the song, have them clap instead of saying the word, “Friends.”

• Sing the song another time. Invite the children to clap two times for the words “Friends love.” They will sing the words “all the time.”







My friends make me so happy!



Wacky Ways to Use WheatSupplies: wheat stalks, large paper, easel, paint, shallow pan, smocks

Gather several wheat stalks to use with paint. These can be found at your local craft store.

• Pour some paint in a shallow pan.

• Encourage the child to use the end of the wheat stalk like a paintbrush. You can also use the wheat stalk as a stamp. Press one side of the wheat stalk into a shallow layer of paint. Have the child place it on the paper and press it down to make a print.

• Have them try a different paint color for each wheat stalk, stamping the different colors around the paper.

SAY: Ruth went to the field to pick grain. She would use the grain to make bread for herself and for Naomi. She loved Naomi and helped her by making food for them to eat.

Serve With LoveFaraway Friends: School Kits for UMCORSupplies: Reproducible 10c, sample prepared School Kit (p. 91)

Photocopy the Mission Project note (Reproducible 10c) for any child who has not received it yet.

• Show the children the UMCOR School Kit you prepared for last Sunday.

• Review the mission project with the children. It is good to do this each week since families may be away from church more in the summer months. Be sure to tell them that the items they bring will help children just like them going to school.

• Each week the children will use one of the items on the School Kit list. Today they are using unsharpened pencils.

School Kit Craft: Unsharpened PencilsSupplies: unsharpened pencils, index cards, adult scissors, tape, markers

Cut the index cards into 3-by-3 squares. Each child will need two cards.

• Tell the children that you are going to make something today that uses one item from the School Kit: an unsharpened pencil.

• Give each child two 3-by-3 cards. Invite each child to draw a happy face on one card with markers.

• Have them draw a large heart that fills the space on the other card. Encourage the children to color it.

• Tape the unsharpened pencil to the back of one card.




• Line up the other card with the first one so that both the happy face and the heart face outward. Tape the cards together at the top and bottom.

• Show the children how to roll the pencil in the palms of their hands. When they roll it quickly, the happy face appears to be inside the heart.

SAY: We can show our love for other people by helping them. It does not matter if they live close or if they live far away. When we make these School Kits for the children we do not even know, we are sharing God’s love with them. That makes them feel happy. (Show the happy face on one card.) That makes them feel loved. (Show the heart on the other card.)


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “Jesus Is My Good Friend,” to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine.” Review the American Sign Language for “Jesus” and “friend.” Encourage the children to use the sign language and the other motions as they sing with you.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child. As you pray, thank God for Jesus and all the friends we have. Ask the children if they have a friend for whom they would like to pray. Pray for those people.


• Send home “Ruth and Naomi” (Bible Story Pak—Session 11, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to guardians at pick up.

Plan for Next Week Photocopy and cut out two paper dolls (Reproducible 12b) for each child. Gather the face Stickers for the paper dolls. Precut the chenille stems into four-inch pieces to use with the paper dolls. Each child needs four pieces. If you plan to do the “Funny Friends” snack next week (p. 102), purchase stick pretzels, cheese cubes, and grapes. You can add fruit snack shapes, but that is optional. Photocopy the Mission Project note (Reproducible 10c) for those who may not have received one yet. Bring the collection box to hold any School Kit items the children bring. Each week the children will use one or more of the items on the School Kit list. Next week they will use scissors and rulers. This highlights the School Kit mission project to help the children see what is needed.








Jesus

Friend



Paul and BarnabasBible Verse


Bible StoryActs 9:26-31


Before You Begin

Sometimes our friends are the ones who walk in when the rest of the world walks out. Paul could have felt that way when he arrived in Jerusalem. He

had changed from persecuting those who followed Jesus to being one of the persecuted. He traveled extensively telling others about Jesus, and new churches were sprouting in many places. When Paul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples already there, but they were afraid of him. They knew of his past. Understandably, they did not know if Paul was just putting on an act to deceive them or if this change in him was real. Barnabas spoke up for Paul and let the disciples know that he really was a follower of Jesus now.

We do not hear as much of Barnabas in the Bible, but the ministry of Paul was greatly enhanced because of the boldness of Barnabas. He “stuck his neck out” among his fellow believers and spoke favorably of the change in Paul’s life. He vouched for him and told the disciples how he had preached in other places with such confi dence about Jesus. Barnabas was a nickname given to a man whose real name was Joseph. Because of his character, he was called Barnabas by those who knew him, which means “son of encouragement.” Without the help and friendship of Barnabas, Paul would not have been able to work with the other disciples. The friendship of Barnabas and Paul shows us that friends are loyal.

Enjoy some time this week thinking of the friends in your own life. Use a concordance or even search the Internet for Bible verses on friendship. Read some of those verses and you will see that the Bible tells us how to pick our friends (Proverbs 22:24-25) and how to treat our friends (Luke 6:31). As Jesus spoke of his commandment to love each other as he has loved us (John 15:12-15), he told the people that he no longer called them servants. Instead, he called them friends! Not only do you have the blessing of earthly friends, you have Jesus as a friend too.


Session 12August 18










• Give each child the heart Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

• Place a collection box in this area where the children can place any donations they bring for the UMCOR School Kit mission project.

Flexible FriendsSupplies: Reproducible 12b, Stickers, skin-colored construction paper, adult scissors, crayons, scissors, chenille stems, tape, yarn, glue

Use the “Flexible Friends” pattern (Reproducible 12b) to trace and cut out two paper doll friends for each child on skin-colored construction paper. Gather the face Stickers for the children to use on the paper doll friends. Precut chenille stems into four-inch lengths.

• Give each child two paper dolls and two face Stickers (there are four to choose from). Have the children place the Stickers on the face area of the paper dolls. Encourage them to draw and color clothes on the two friends, and add yarn hair to the friends.

• Turn the two friends over. Help the children tape chenille stems in four places along the back—two wires are put on the two legs; one stretches from arm to arm; one reaches from the waist to the head. Tape these in place.

• Show the children how they can now move the body of the paper dolls to make them bend over, sit down, bend an arm or leg, and so forth.

SAY: We made paper doll friends today. Today we will hear a Bible story about two friends, Barnabas and Paul.


• Give each child “Fill in the Blanks” and “Where’s Paul?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 12, pp. 3–4). Invite the children to use the code on page 3 to fill in the missing letters of the Bible verse (Friends love all the time. Proverbs 17:17).

• Encourage the children to turn the paper over. Show the children the picture of Paul. Have them find Paul in the picture and circle his face. Invite the children to color the picture.

TIPIf you have twist ties, those will work in the same manner as the chenille stems.




I have a friend.*

You have a friend.




I have a friend.

You have a friend.





SAY: We have another Bible story today about friends. Their names are Paul and Barnabas. We will hear how Barnabas helped his friend Paul in our story today.


• Give each child the story, “Paul and Barnabas” (Bible Story Pak—Session 12, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify simple words in the story.

ASK: Who were the two friends? (Paul and Barnabas) Why were the people afraid of Paul? (They remembered that he did not like followers of Jesus, and he tried to hurt them.) Who helped Paul make new friends? (Barnabas) What did he say about Paul? (He told the people that Paul was a follower of Jesus now; he talks to people about Jesus everywhere he goes.)

Friendly BadgesSupplies: Fun Pak, safety scissors, spring-type clothespins, craft glue, tape

• Give each child the page, “Friendly Badges” (Fun Pak—p. 27). Let the children cut out the circles and rectangles. Give each child two clothespins.

• Encourage the children to add two of the rectangles to the bottom of each badge to look like ribbons hanging down. Have them glue or tape the ribbons in place on the back of each badge.

• Glue a spring-type clothespin to the back of each badge. The end that opens is at the top and the clothespin should not show. Show the children how to open the clothespin and clip the “Special Friend” badge to their shirt or collar.

• Encourage them to keep one badge and give one away to a friend.

SAY: Friends love each other and help each other. Barnabas helped Paul in our story today by being a good friend to him. I know you can be a good friend, too, so you can wear one badge. Give the other badge to one of your friends.

Proclaim the WordI Have a Friend; You Have a Friend• Sing the song, “I Have a Friend; You Have a Friend,” to the tune of “The

Farmer in the Dell.” Each time you sing the first line, the children must find a friend so they can do the action together.


SAY: I’m so glad I have a friend, aren’t you? Today we are going to hear a story about two more friends in the Bible, Barnabas and Paul.






SAY: Mondo and Farley are worried about a stranger they see wandering around town. The stranger turns out to be the mayor’s aunt.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Resource Pak, Reproducible 12a, large craft stick or a long paint mixing stick, glue

Punch out the STOP and GO signs (Resource Pak—p. 9) and glue them back-to-back over a large craft stick or a long paint mixing stick.

• Read the Bible story, “Paul and Barnabas,” to the children (Reproducible 12a).

• After the Bible story, the children will hear some short stories about friends. If the friends are doing the right thing, they will tell you to hold up the GO sign. If the friends are doing the wrong thing and need to stop, the children will tell you to hold up the STOP sign.



• Sing, “Friends Love All the Time,” to the tune of “Bingo.” Invite the children to sing the song again. When they sing the phrase, “Friends love all the time,” have them clap once instead of saying the word, “Friends.” Sing the song another time. Invite the children to clap two times for the words, “Friends love.” They will sing the words, “all the time.” Sing the song one more time and encourage the children to clap three times for the words, “Friends love all.” They will sing the words, “the time.”

Funny FriendsSupplies: paper plates, stick pretzels, cheese cubes, grapes, fruit snack shapes

• Give each child a paper plate. Place pretzel sticks, cheese cubes, and a grape on each plate. Have extras on hand because the pretzel sticks will snap.

• Invite the children to make a “funny friend” using the items on their plates. You may want to make one along with them to give them some ideas.

• Use the pretzel sticks for arms and legs that stick out from the cheese cubes. The grape can be the head. If you have fruit snack shapes, you can attach them to the pretzel sticks as hands and feet.

• Let the children eat their creations.

TIP







My friends make me so happy.

As with any food activity, check for allergies the children may have. Let the parents know what food items are being used today.



SAY: We made “funny friends” today for a snack. Jonathan was a loving friend to David. Ruth was a helpful friend to Naomi. Barnabas was a loyal friend to Paul. What kind of friend are you?

Serve With LoveFaraway Friends: School Kits for UMCORSupplies: Reproducible 10c, sample assembled School Kit

Photocopy the Mission Project note (Reproducible 10c) again. Consider sending it home with each child again to serve as a reminder that next Sunday is the last day to bring items for the UMCOR School Kits.

• Show the children the UMCOR School Kit you prepared and review the mission project with the children. It is good to do this each week since families may be away from church more in the summer months. Be sure to tell them that the items they bring will help children just like them going to school.

• Each week the children will use one of the items on the School Kit list. Today they are using scissors and rulers.

School Kit Craft: Scissors and RulersSupplies: Stickers, construction paper, heart pattern, envelopes, safety scissors, rulers, markers, metal brads, gluesticks

Make a heart pattern to use so that all the hearts will be the same size. Make it a size that will fit in envelopes that you have access to or can easily get. Bring the envelopes too. Trace two hearts on various colors of construction paper for each child. Gather the Stickers (pink squares, symbols, words, kids) for decorating the hearts.

• Encourage each child to choose two hearts to make a card for Sunday school friends that have not been at church lately.

• Let the children cut out the two hearts. (Save the scraps.) Explain that we want to be good friends and let our Sunday school friends know that we miss them when they are not at church.

• Give the children the Stickers to use for decorating the hearts. The “We Miss You” Sticker should go on the heart they choose for the inside/bottom part of the card. The other Stickers are options for them to choose. They will want to save some of their Stickers for the other heart as well.

• When the first heart is decorated, have the children gather the other heart they cut for their cards. Show the children how to use a ruler to draw a line down the middle of this second heart (from the top center to the bottom point). Encourage them to use the scissors and cut along that line.

• Allow them to decorate the two half-heart pieces as well. Ask them to decorate around the outer edges, leaving the center part of each heart half undecorated so you can write a child’s name on the card before mailing it to that child.




• When the children first cut out both hearts, they had scraps of paper left over. Place those back on the table and encourage them to use these scraps to cut some fun shapes to glue onto the two heart halves. The children can also use the rest of their Stickers on the heart halves as well. If you have extra stickers on hand, allow the children to use those too.

• Place the two heart halves together, over and on top of the whole “inside” heart. Overlap the bottom tips of the heart halves slightly. Insert a metal brad through all thicknesses near the bottom. The top heart halves will slide open to each side to reveal the message on the whole heart: “We miss you!” Provide envelopes for the children’s cards.

SAY: Friends love all the time. Friends care about their friends. I will mail these cards you have made to our Sunday school friends who have not been here lately. They will know we care about them when they see the cards.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “Jesus Is My Good Friend,” to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine.” Encourage the children to use the sign language and the other motions as they sing with you.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child. As you pray, thank God for Jesus and for all the friends we have.



• Send home “Paul and Barnabas” (Bible Story Pak—Session 12, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next WeekPlan to have a makeshift tent in the room for the children to sit in as they hear the Bible story. This can be simply a blanket draped over some tables. If you plan to use the Bible verse craft, “Friends Love All the Time” (p. 109), you will need paper plates, 12-by-18 construction paper, handprints photocopied and cut out for the children (Reproducible 13c), the large red heart Stickers, and gift-bag crinkle paper in hair colors. Bring the collection box to hold any School Kits the children bring for the mission project.








Jesus

Friend



Paul, Priscilla, and AquilaBible Verse


Bible StoryActs 18:1-4, 18-22


Before You Begin

Paul’s missionary journeys, as they are called, led him to many places and to many people. When he arrived in Corinth, he connected with fellow

tentmakers, Priscilla and Aquila. They opened their home to Paul while he was there. Priscilla and Aquila were among the Jews who had been forced to leave Rome by the Emperor Claudius. Paul worked during the week making tents as his trade along with Priscilla and Aquila. On the sabbath, he preached about Jesus in the synagogues. Not only were they fellow tentmakers, they were also fellow believers. When he later left Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila went with him. Their story teaches us that friends can work together.

Friends are taking on a more important role in the lives of the children you teach in Sunday school. As you learn about friendships in the Bible, look for opportunities to encourage friendships within the classroom. Commend the children on how well they are working together. Encourage them to let others in their group activity. Seat them at tables where they have time to interact with others. Snack time isn’t just about eating—it’s about socializing too. You may even want to plan a get-together outside of the Sunday school time for the children to play. This can even help the parents get to know one another and enable them to set up “play dates.” As you teach these young children these Bible stories about friends, remind them that Jesus is their friend too.

This is the last Sunday for the service project for the UMCOR School Kits. Collect the items and package them according to the website instructions:www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies.


Session 13August 25










• Give each child a tent Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak— pp. 2 and 23).

• Place a collection box to collect any donations brought for the UMCOR School Kit mission project. This is the last Sunday to collect these items.

TentmakersSupplies: Reproducible 13b, Stickers, safety scissors, crayons or markers, tape

Photocopy “Tentmakers” (Reproducible 13b) for each child. Gather the Stickers of Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila that the children will put inside the tent.

• Give each child a copy of the tent and have them cut it out on the solid lines.

• Show the children how the tent will be folded on the dotted lines (directions below). Once they see how it will stand, they can decide how they want to color it. Give the children time to decorate and color the tent.

• Before folding the tent and taping it closed, encourage the children to put the Stickers of Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila on the inside walls of the tent.

• Help the children fold the tent in half. Then have them fold the flaps inward at the bottom edge and overlap them. Tape the flaps together. Fold the smaller flaps inward to make the front and back of the tent. Tape one end closed and leave the other open, folding those flaps back. When the children look inside the tent, they will see the three friends who were all tentmakers.

SAY: Our Bible stories this month have been about friends. Today we will hear a Bible story about THREE friends named Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila. They were all tentmakers. The three friends lived together, worked together, and told people about Jesus together.


• Give each child “Tent for Three” and “Hidden Letters” (Bible Story Pak—Session 13, pp. 3–4). Invite them to draw three friends in the tent together.

• Encourage the children to turn the paper over and look at the picture of Paul with his friends, Priscilla and Aquila. Show the children the word at the bottom of the page (FRIENDS). Those letters are hidden in the picture.

NOTE: There is a diagram of the assembled tent on Reproducible 13b.



• Encourage them to find all the letters in the word at the bottom of the page and mark them off as they find them.

SAY: Our Bible story today is about three friends—Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila. These three friends lived together, worked together, and told people about Jesus together.


• Give each child the story, “Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila” (Bible Story Pak—Session 13, pp. 1–2). Have them fold the page in half to create a book.


ASK: Who were the three friends? (Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila) What job did all three friends have? (They were tentmakers.) How did Priscilla and Aquila help Paul? (They let him live with them while he was in town.) What else did they do together? (They lived together, worked together, and told people about Jesus.)

Welcome MatsSupplies: Fun Pak, safety scissors, crayons or markers, construction paper, glue

• Give each child the “Welcome Mat” page (Fun Pak—p. 29). Invite the children to cut out the box with the word “Welcome” in it. Encourage them to color the letters with bright colors.

• Allow each child to choose a sheet of construction paper. Turn the paper horizontally and glue the “Welcome” square to the center of the paper.

• Show the children how to make short snips on all edges of the construction paper. This makes fringe on the ends of their welcome mat.

SAY: Friends love each other and help each other. We made a welcome mat, like families put at the front door of their house. Priscilla and Aquila helped Paul. They invited him to live in their house while he was in Corinth.

Proclaim the WordI Have a Friend; You Have a Friend• Sing the song, “I Have a Friend; You Have a Friend,” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” The children have been finding one friend to make the motions with in the song. Today, since the Bible story is about a group of THREE friends, let the children form groups of three.



I have a friend.*

You have a friend.




I have a friend.

You have a friend.








SAY: I’m so glad I have a friend, aren’t you? Today we are going to hear a story about THREE friends in the Bible: Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila.



SAY: There’s a leak in the shark tank, and The Leaping Frog Pet Shop is under water. Rose, Poppa B, and Farley all help Furleen Finnanfeathers in different ways. Furleen wants to pay Farley for his help, but her friends remind her that in the Bible it says that friends should love each other all the time.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Resource Pak; Reproducible 13a; craft sticks; tape; sheets, blankets, or tablecloths

Gather the STOP and GO signs used last week (Resource Pak—p. 9) and locate the storytelling figures of Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila (Resource Pak— p. 20). Attach the figures to craft sticks to use as you tell the story.

• Make a tent in your classroom using sheets, blankets, or tablecloths. Invite the children to sit in the tent with you.

• Read, “Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila,” to the children (Reproducible 13a).

• After the story, remove the tent and divide the children into groups of three like Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila. (If needed, make groups of four so that all the children have a group of friends.)

• Think of things the three friends can do together: hold hands and hop, hold hands and circle as they sing “Jesus Loves Me,” hold hands and stomp their feet, make a short line and tiptoe across the room, and so forth.

• Tell the children to watch the signs that you hold in the air. If it says GO, they keep moving. When it says STOP, they stop so they can hear what you tell them to do next. End with the friends doing a group hug.



• Sing, “Friends Love All the Time,” to the tune of “Bingo.” When the children sing the song the first time, remind them to clap one time instead of singing the word, “Friends,” when they come to the phrase, “Friends love all the time,” in the middle of the song. Sing the song another time. Invite the children to clap two times for the words, “Friends love.” They will sing the words, “all the time.” Sing the song a third time and encourage the children







My friends make me so happy.



to clap three times for the words, “Friends love all.” They will sing the words, “the time.” Sing the song a final time and have the children clap five times instead of singing the five words in the phrase, “Friends love all the time.”

Friends Love All the TimeSupplies: Stickers, Reproducible 13c, paper plates, gift-bag crinkle paper in hair colors, 12-by-18 sheets of construction paper, adult scissors, markers or crayons, skin-colored construction paper, glue, stapler

Gather 12-by-18 construction paper in a variety of colors. Cut the papers in half so that you have two pieces that are 6-by-18 each. Using Reproducible 13c as a template, cut two handprints from the skin-colored construction paper for each child.

• Give each child a paper plate. Encourage the child to make a face with the paper plate by drawing eyes, a nose, and a smile. The child can glue gift-bag crinkle paper around the top rim for hair.

• Give each child a 6-by-18 strip of construction paper and two handprints. Invite the child to glue the handprints at the ends of the construction paper strip. This will make a shirt with arms for the puppet.

• Help the children write the word, “Friends,” near the left side of the arm piece. Write the word, “Friends,” on index cards or paper and place it on the table so the children can copy the word.

• Give each child a large heart Sticker to add next to the word, “Friends.” Then encourage the children to write the rest of the Bible verse (“all the time”) across the arms. You can write the words on index cards as before so the children can copy it. Staple the head to the center of the arm piece. Fold the left arm and the right arm inward until the hands touch. Crease the arm piece where it is folded to make a hug.

SAY: Sometimes our friends may need a hug. That’s what we made today. Let’s read the Bible verse together: Friends (heart) love all the time.

Serve With LoveFaraway Friends: School Kits for UMCORSupplies: collected School Kit items

• Show the children the items collected for the UMCOR School Kits. Remind them who this project benefits—boys and girls just like them! Thank the children for being good friends to these other children by caring for them and helping them with supplies for school. Repeat the Bible verse together: “Friends love all the time” (Proverbs 17:17).

“Match Me to My Friend” Memory GameSupplies: Resource Pak




Punch out “‘Match Me’ Game Cards” (Resource Pak—pp. 12–13) to play a memory game.

• Show the cards to the children and let them match one Bible story friend to another—David with Jonathan, Ruth with Naomi, Paul with Barnabas, Paul with Priscilla and Aquila.

• Turn the cards over and mix them up. Invite a child to pick two cards and see if the friends go together. If you get Paul and Paul, remind the children that you are matching Paul with his friends. If the friends go together, the child can hold the cards until the game is over. If the friends do not go together, turn the cards back over. Continue until all the matches have been made.

SAY: We learned about Jonathan and David. Jonathan helped David get away from the king who wanted to hurt him. We learned about Ruth and Naomi. Ruth could have gone to live with her own family, but she wanted to stay with Naomi and help her. We also learned about Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas told the people that Paul was a follower of Jesus, and that they didn’t have to be afraid of him. Today we heard about Paul and his tentmaker friends, Priscilla and Aquila. They lived together and taught others about Jesus.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “Jesus Is My Good Friend,” to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine.” Encourage the children to use the sign language and the other motions as they sing with you.


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child. As you pray, thank God for Jesus and all the friends we have.



• Send home “Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila” (Bible Story Pak—Session 13, pp. 1–2) with each child. Point out the “Hop on Home” section to parents.

Plan for Next WeekTake a few moments to look over the new quarter.








Jesus

Friend



Reproducible 10a: David and Jonathan


Read the story to the children. Wear the crown as needed in telling the story. Attach the David and Jonathan puppets (Resource Pak—p. 9) to large craft sticks to use as you tell the story. At the end of the story, give the children their Puppet Pals made earlier and have them use the puppets to answer your questions about the story.

(Put the crown on your head.)

King Saul liked to hear pretty music. David knew how to play pretty music on his harp. The king let David live in the palace so he could play his harp whenever the king wanted to hear the pretty music. King Saul had a son about the same age as David. His name was Jonathan.

(Remove the crown. Hold up the Jonathan puppet when Jonathan is talking and the David puppet when David is talking.)

David and Jonathan became good friends. Jonathan gave his friend David his robe to wear. He even gave him his sword, his bow, and his belt.

“We will always be good friends,” they said to each other. They shook hands, which meant they promised what they said to each other.

One day David thought King Saul was trying to hurt him. He was afraid. He told Jonathan, “I think your father is mad at me and is trying to hurt me.”

“Oh, that can’t be true, David. My father would not hurt you. You are my friend,” said Jonathan.

David said, “Would you please talk to your father about me? Find out if he is mad. Find out if he is trying to hurt me.” Jonathan said he would.

“But how will I know what your father said?” asked David. The friends came up with a plan.

Jonathan said, “I will talk to my father. If he is mad and wants to hurt you, I will come back to this place to practice with my bow and arrow. You hide behind the big rock. If I shoot my arrow far away from the rock, then you will know that you need to go far away too.” That was the plan that the friends made. Jonathan did not want his father to hurt his good friend David.

(Wear the crown.)

When Jonathan saw his father King Saul, he talked to him about David. His father got angry. His face turned red. Jonathan knew that his father was mad at David. He knew that his father might hurt David after all.

(Remove the crown. Show only the Jonathan puppet.)

Jonathan thought, I have to tell David! He is my friend. I do not want him to get hurt. He went to the field with his bow and arrow, just like he said he would. No one could know that he was sending David a secret message. That would make his father really mad. David was hiding behind the big rock. Jonathan shot one arrow. It went far away from the rock. He loved David, and he did what he could to help his friend.

(Show only the David puppet.)

David remembered their plan. If the arrow was far away, that meant that he needed to go far away too. David was hiding behind the rock, but he saw the arrow that Jonathan shot. He knew that he must leave town so the king could not hurt him. David loved Jonathan, and he loved what Jonathan did to keep him safe. They were best friends, and they would always be friends. That’s what they promised. David left town and went far away.

(Based on 1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42.)

Give the children their puppets. Invite them to use their puppets to answer the “Who?” questions below:

Who was King Saul’s son? (Jonathan)

Who was Jonathan’s friend? (David)

Who played the harp for the king? (David)

Who used a bow and arrow? (Jonathan)

Who was afraid the king wanted to hurt him? (David)

Who hid behind a rock? (David)

Who was brave and took care of his friend so he would not be hurt by the king? (Jonathan)

Who were best friends? (David and Jonathan)




Reproducible 10b: Puppet Pals

David

Jonathan



Reproducible 10c: Mission Project

Dear Parents,

Our class is participating in a mission project for the rest of the month of August. For the next three Sundays (August 11, 18, and 25), we will be collecting items to make School Kits. On August 25, we will assemble the School Kits during Sunday school. Completed School Kits will be sent to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). UMCOR sends School Kits all over the world, wherever they are needed.

Here is a list of the items we are collecting. Please send items you wish to donate to Sunday school with your child on August 11, 18, and 25. Any and all donations are appreciated!

• Blunt scissors (rounded-tip only; no plastic scissors, please)

• Pads of paper (81/2-by-11 spiral notebooks or top-bound pads; 150 sheets of loose-leaf paper; no composition books)

• Handheld pencil sharpener (at least one inch long)

• 30-centimeter ruler (hard or flexible; cartoon characters are acceptable; no advertisements)

• Unsharpened pencils (no advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols; cartoon characters are acceptable)

• 21/2-inch eraser (no advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols; cartoon characters are acceptable)

• 24-count box of crayons

• 14-by-16 cloth bag (homemade or purchased bags are both acceptable; heavy-duty fabric; no advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols; closures are optional but must be buttons, snaps, or hook-and-loop closures sewn in the middle of opening if used)

Thank you for supporting our mission project!




Reproducible 11a: Ruth and NaomiGather the five storytelling figures (Resource Pak— p. 20) to use as you tell the story of Ruth and Naomi. Add magnetic strips to the back of the figures. Attach them to the back of a cookie sheet as you use them in the story. After the story, invite the children to play the Gleaning Game with you. You will need scraps of construction paper and a lunch sack for each child.

(Display the figures of Ruth and Naomi.)

Ruth and Naomi were family. They were also friends. Ruth married one of Naomi’s sons. Sadly, the man that Ruth married later died. Naomi told Ruth she should go back to live with her own family. But Ruth loved Naomi. She wanted to stay with her and take care of her. She said, “Wherever you go, I will go. Your people will be my people.”

(Display Ruth, the basket, and the grain.)

They did not have money to buy food, so Ruth went to find something for them to eat. She went to a field where the workers were cutting grain. Grain is used to make bread. When they cut the grain, part of it fell to the ground. Ruth asked the workers if she could pick up the grain that fell to the ground. This was called “gleaning.” The workers told her she could.

(Display Ruth, the basket, and Boaz.)

There was a man named Boaz who owned that field. He heard about Ruth gleaning in his fields. He saw how hard she was working so that she and Naomi would have something to eat. Boaz told Ruth, “You can have any of the grain in the field that the workers leave behind. If you get thirsty, you can drink water from our water jars too.” That made Ruth happy.

(Display Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi.)

Later that day, Boaz brought Ruth some food. She only ate part of it. She took the rest of the food home to Naomi. She loved Naomi, and she wanted to take good care of her. Naomi loved Ruth, and she was happy that Ruth stayed with her. Ruth was her family and her friend.

(Based on the Book of Ruth.)

Invite the children to play this Gleaning Game.

• Scatter the construction paper pieces you prepared around the floor.

• Divide the children into two groups. Give each child a lunch sack.

• The first group is made up of the workers in the field. Their job is to pick as much grain as they can in the time you give them (about 20–30 seconds, depending on how large the group is and how much paper you put on the floor).

• When their time is up, have them sit down.

• The next group is Ruth. Tell them they are going to “glean” in the fields. They pick up what is left in the time you give them.

• To play the game again, have the children scatter the grain from their paper bags around the same area as before.

• Let the groups swap roles. The workers will now be Ruth. The Ruth group will now be the workers that get to go first.

• Repeat the game as before.

ASK: When you were the worker, did you try to leave some grain for Ruth, like Boaz said to do? When you were Ruth, how did it feel when you had to take what was left? Ruth was happy to take what was left. Ruth took the grain to make bread for her and Naomi to eat. She was a good friend to Naomi.



Reproducible 11b: Ruth’s Helping Hand




Reproducible 12a: Paul and BarnabasPunch out the STOP and GO signs (Resource Pak— p. 9) and glue them back-to-back over a paint mixing stick. Share the Bible story with the children. Then read the short stories about friends to them. They will tell you if the friend is doing right or wrong. You will use the STOP and GO signs with these stories.

A big crowd of people were in the middle of the town. One man said, “Oh, look! Here comes Paul! He is so mean. He does not like Jesus. If he knows that you love Jesus, he wants to put you in jail! I don’t want to go anywhere near him. I do not want to hear anything he has to say.”

Barnabas heard what the people were saying. He knew they were afraid of Paul. They would not look at Paul. They would not listen to Paul. Barnabas knew that Paul did not act like that anymore, so Barnabas talked to the people. He said, “Paul is a different man now. He is a follower of Jesus, just like you. He talks to people about Jesus everywhere he goes. You do not have to be afraid.”

Barnabas was a good friend. The people did not like Paul, but Barnabas told them how much he had changed. The people were willing to let Paul stay in their town now. Paul talked to many people there about Jesus. He was glad that Barnabas was his friend.

(Based on Acts 9:26-31.)

SAY: I am going to tell you a story about some friends. If you think the friend is doing the right thing, tell me to hold up the green GO sign. If the friend is doing the wrong thing and needs to STOP, then you tell me to hold up the STOP sign.

(Use any number of stories you wish.)

Story 1: Jonathan is having a birthday party. Everyone is having a good time. You play games, you get to eat cake, and then you get to watch Jonathan open his birthday presents. When Jonathan opens a gift, he says thank you to the friend that gave him the present. (GO)

Story 2: Micah is new at school. He moved here from another city. He does not know anyone at your school. The teacher asks all of you to help Micah at his new school. Nathan kicked Micah’s backpack when he put it on the floor. (STOP)

STOP! Nathan needs to STOP what he is doing. How could you be a friend to Micah?

Story 3: Your friend Katherine came over to play at your house. You also invited Shelly to come. You have some new crayons and coloring books that you want to share with them. Katherine takes all the crayons to her side of the table. Shelly does not have any crayons to use. (STOP)

STOP! Katherine needs to STOP what she is doing. How could you help Shelly?

Story 4: Justin has a new bicycle. He puts on his helmet and rides it up and down the street. He goes to Dale’s house. Dale does not have a bicycle. Justin gets off his bike and offers to let Dale have a turn. (GO)

Story 5: Your teacher said it is time to line up at school. You like to be the line leader, but Mary got there first. You push her away so you can be the first one in line. (STOP)

STOP! You need to STOP what you are doing! What could you do different next time?

SAY: Barnabas was a good friend to Paul and helped him. Jonathan loved David and helped him. Ruth loved Naomi and helped her. We can be good friends help others too. Our Bible verse says, “Friends love all the time” (Proverbs 17:17).



Reproducible 12b: Flexible Friends




Reproducible 13a: Paul, Priscilla, and AquilaBring the STOP and GO signs (Resource Pak—p. 9) that were used in Session 12. Gather the storytelling figures of Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila (Resource Pak—p. 20). Attach each one to a craft stick that you can hold while telling the story. Use a sheet or tablecloth to make a tent in your classroom. Gather the children in the tent for the Bible story.

Paul went to many places. He loved Jesus, and he wanted to tell people everywhere about Jesus. Paul was called a missionary. One day Paul went to a place called Corinth. When he went to Corinth, he met a man named Aquila and his wife named Priscilla. They were followers of Jesus, like Paul. Their job was to make tents. Paul made tents too. That is why we are in a tent today for our Bible story.

Paul and Priscilla and Aquila became good friends. Priscilla and Aquila invited Paul to stay in their house while he was visiting and working in Corinth. On the sabbath (like our church day), Paul would go to the synagogue (like our church). He preached to the people at the synagogue about Jesus. Priscilla and Aquila went with Paul to the synagogue.

After he stayed in Corinth for a while, Paul was ready to get on a ship and go to a new place. He wanted to tell more people what he knew about Jesus. His new friends, Priscilla and Aquila, went with him. The friends lived together, worked together, and told people about Jesus together.

(Based on Acts 18:1-4, 18-22.)

After the story, divide the children into groups of three, like Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila. (Make groups of four, if needed, so that all the children have a group of friends.)

• Think of things the three friends can do together: hold hands and hop, hold hands and circle as they sing “Jesus Loves Me,” hold hands and stomp their feet, make a short line and tiptoe across the room, and so forth.

• Tell the children to watch the signs that you hold in the air. If it says GO, they keep moving. When it says STOP, they stop so they can hear what you tell them to do next.

• End with the three friends doing a group hug.



Reproducible 13b: Tentmakers




Reproducible 13c: Handprint Pattern


Summer was always my favorite time of year as a child. Summer meant bike rides, swimming, and vacation Bible school. It also included lots of lemonade and lots of down time with my siblings. I anticipated all of these things as much as Christmas morning throughout the school year.

As leaders in ministry with children, we have a seasonal opportunity during the summer months to expand our breadth of ministry. Guardians are searching for things with which to fill their children’s schedule. In a period of our society where church has become a competing event in the church body’s calendar, this gives us opportunities to fill vacant spots left from fall ball and spring soccer. It allows us time to try new things with our kids.

There are many wonderful things to try during the summer. Here are a few simple, yet fun, things you can try with your class this summer:

• “Children’s Ministry on the Go.” With so many families on vacation during the summer, prepare to-go boxes for families to take on their trips. Include the Bible stories from this quarter, copies of the crafts, and something fun that will remind the children your church is thinking about them while they are gone. This continues helping our families grow by leaps and bounds even when they cannot make it to church.

• Twilight Camp. One evening in June, July, or August, take a class “camping trip.” Ask every child’s guardians to bring camp-out food (examples: S’mores supplies, hot dogs, crackers, and so forth) and a fold-up chair or blanket to sit on around a campfire. (This could be a real fire in a pit or grill, or it could be a butcher-paper “fire.”) Sing camp songs and read the Creation story as you bask in the ambience of summer.

• Host a “Splash Day” for your class. This is an easy event where everyone has fun splashing in the cool water. Provide snacks and read, Come, Touch the Water: A Storybook About Jesus’ Baptism, by Daphna Flegal. Remind everyone at Splash Day that anytime we touch the water, we can remember God’s grace through baptism.

• Host a “Prince and Princess Day” for your students. Ask the children to come dressed as their favorite character. Provide snacks, games, and crown crafts. Remind the children that they are already special and don’t need to be anyone but who God has created them to be. We are already princes and princesses!

• Turn your classroom into a drive-in theater. Invite kids to turn cardboard boxes into cars as you transform a wall into a drive-in screen. Using a projector, play one of many great children’s movies that teach all of us how to be better people of God. One of my favorites is Finding Nemo. There are many great examples throughout the movie, but my favorite lesson comes from the willingness of Dory to help Marlin. She didn’t know him, and she stopped everything to help him.

My prayer for your ministry this summer is that the faith of your children grows by leaps and bounds.

Brittany Sky Stanley, Editor Grow: Early Elementary

Summer Ministry An Opportunity to Grow By Leaps and Bounds



JJA EE LG pp121-128 back ID004.indd 121 1/14/13 2:08 PM



Psalm 16:5, CEVYou, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice.

YouPoint out with your index finger.

LordMake an “L” with the right index finger and thumb. Place the “L” at the left shoulder and then move the “L” across the body to the right waist.

AllHold the left palm toward the body. Circle the right hand out and around the left palm. End with the back of the right hand in the open left hand.

I (Me)Point to yourself.

WantHold out both hands with palms up and fingers slightly curved. Move both hands toward your body with your fingers curling in.

ChoiceMake a “V” with the first two fingers of your left hand. Move the thumb and index finger of your right hand as if you are picking something off each finger of the “V.”


Summer 2013 GrowProclaimServe.com 123Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Psalm 27:14 Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage!Hope in the Lord!

HopeHold both hands with your palms open, facing the sides of your head. Your right hand should be above your head. Your left hand should be at eye level. Moving both hands at the same time, bend your hands to make a right angle with your fingers and then unbend them so that the fingers point straight up.

LordMake an “L” with the right index finger and thumb. Place the “L” at the left shoulder and then move the “L” across the body to the right waist.

Strong (Courage)Hold both hands with your palms facing your shoulders and your fingers spread apart. Bring both hands forward as you close both hands into fists with the thumbs on the outside.

HeartUse the second finger on each hand to outline the shape of a heart over the position of your actual heart.

CourageHold both hands with your palms facing your shoulders and your fingers spread apart. Bring both hands forward as you close both hands into fists with the thumbs on the outside.




Proverbs 17:17Friends love all the time.

FriendsHold out both hands with index fingers extended. Hook your right index finger over the left index finger. Reverse.

LoveCross your fists at the wrists and press them to your heart.

All Time (Forever)Hold up your right index finger and circle it in the air. Then bring your hand down and out with the thumb and little finger straight out. The three middle fingers are curled into the palm.



Unit One Coloring SheetWe make choices every day. When we trust God, God helps us make good choices. Draw a picture below of you making a good choice.




Unit Two Coloring SheetWe all are afraid sometimes, but God gives us courage.

Draw a picture of a time below when God helped you to be brave.



Unit Three Coloring SheetDraw a picture of you and your best friend(s) doing your favorite things.




1. Which resources do you use? (check all that apply)

q Leader’s Guide

q Bible Story Paks (Student resources)

q Fun Paks q Resource Pak

q Music CD-ROM / Music CD q DVDs

q Publicity Items (Banner, Postcard, and so forth)

2. Which quarter did you teach?

q Fall q Winter

q Spring q Summer

Use the following scale to rate each of the resources:

1 = NEVER 2 = SOMETIMES

3 = MOST OF THE TIME 4 = ALL THE TIME

N/A = NOT APPLICABLE

3. Leader’s Guide

___ Easy to use

___ Used a variety of learning styles

___ Matched my current church situation

___ Bible story was central to the session

4. Bible Story Paks

___ Activities were fun for the kids

___ Art was appealing

___ Appropriate for the skill level of my boys and girls

___ Encouraged growth in Bible skills

5. Fun Paks

___ Creative activities that the children enjoyed

___ Clear and concise directions

___ Related to the faith experience of the session

___ Age-appropriate for the children

6. Resource Pak

___ Visually appealing to the children

___ Games were fun and easy to lead

7. Music CD-ROM / Music CD

___ Children enjoyed singing and moving to the music

___ Music related to the sessions

8. DVDs

___ Children enjoyed Leaper’s Pointe

___ Children enjoyed the music and movement videos

___ The sign language of the Bible verse was helpful

9. What was your favorite activity this quarter?

10. What was your least favorite activity this quarter?

11. Tell us about one faith experience in your group this quarter.

12. Did you find enough material for the time you had available?

Yes No

How much time did you have?

Comment:

13. Did you see spiritual growth in your kids? (in prayer, eagerness

about the Bible, their relationships with one another)

Yes

No

14. Any other comments?

15. How many children did you have in your group? __________

16. How many leaders did you have in your group for each age level that

you taught? _________________________________________

17. What is the approximate membership size of your church?

q Under 100 q 100–199 q 200–299

q 300–499 q 500–749 q 750–999

q 1000+

18. What area is your church located?

q Urban q Suburban

q Small town q Rural

Name: _________________________________________________

Church Name: __________________________________________

Church Address: _________________________________________

City: __________________________________________________

State: __________________________________________________

ZIP: ___________________________________________________

E-mail Address: _________________________________________

Phone #: _______________________________________________

Please return this form to:

The Children’s Team

201 8th Avenue, South, P.0. Box 801

Nashville, TN 37202-0801

If you have additional questions or comments please contact:

Curric-U-Phone: 1-800-251-8591 Mon-Fri 8:00 am-4:00 pm CST, or

[email protected].

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