PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME FOR CRAFTS

Transcription

1 1 Crafts Bible Story: Paul s Conversion Acts 1-3; 9:1-9 Bottom Line: If you want to know who God is, find out more about Jesus. Memory Verse: When you walk, nothing will slow you down. When you run, you won t trip and fall. Hold on to my teaching and don t let it go. Guard it well, because it is your life. Proverbs 4:12-13, NIrV PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME FOR CRAFTS Crafts: Exploring Biblical Truths through Creativity (Choose one activitiy for each age group.) Whichever activities you choose, provide a way for kids to place their names on their projects before they begin. You ll thank yourself later! 1. Nature Bracelets (best for K-1, but also appropriate for 2-3 Grade) Duct tape* cut into 8 to 10-inch strips - 1 for each child Scissors A safe and contained outdoor area for the kids to gather natural items; or ahead of time gather natural items (such as flowers, leaves, seeds, and bits of bark) Optional: Magnifying glasses *Duct tape is also a suggested supply for I Will Survive! (Session 3) as well as Walk this Way (Session 4). 2. Sun Prints (all ages) Purchase Nature Print Sun Sensitive Paper (available online) - at least one sheet per child A safe and contained outdoor area for the kids to gather natural items; or ahead of time gather flat natural items with interesting contours (such as flowers, leaves, and seeds) Pieces of corrugated cardboard, approximately 8x10 inches - one for every child Straight pins - at least 2 for each child Plastic wrap A pan of water 3. Let the Light Shine (all ages) Bible marked at John 14 Sturdy page protectors (the thicker the better!) or craft plastic sheets (You can purchase Grafix Clear Plastic Sheets online or at some big box stores); cut into 5x7-inch, 6x6-inch, or similar sizes - one for each child 1

2 Glitter glue or gel glue - squeeze 1 to 2 tablespoons of glue into 2-oz. plastic portion cups; add a little water, and mix thoroughly (to improve spreading consistency) - one portion cup for each child (you can replenish the cups between sessions) Craft sticks Toothpicks Liquid food coloring in a variety of colors (neon colors work great!) Newspaper or plastic table cloths to cover your tables or work areas Sheets of wax paper* - one for each child Optional: Fun foam or cardboard - cut into frames *Wax paper is also a suggested supply for Glow! (Session 2). Bible Story: Paul s Conversion Acts 1-3; 9:1-9 Bottom Line: If you want to know who God is, find out more about Jesus. Memory Verse: When you walk, nothing will slow you down. When you run, you won t trip and fall. Hold on to my teaching and don t let it go. Guard it well, because it is your life. Proverbs 4:12-13, NIrV Crafts: Exploring Biblical Truths Through Creativity (Small Groups, 25 minutes) Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences through creative, hands-on activities and discussion questions. 1. Nature Bracelets (best for K-1, but also appropriate for 2-3 Grade) What You Need: duct tape, scissors, outdoor area or a variety of natural items; Optional: magnifying glasses (see Preparing ahead of time for Crafts above for more details) Help kids wrap strips of duct tape around their wrists, sticky side OUT. As kids wait their turns, keep them engaged with the conversation below. Lead the kids outside to gather natural items they can stick onto their bracelets. Add engagement as you go by playing Follow the Leader ( Walk this Way style, of course). Or, if you provided the natural items, invite kids to choose. Specify any do s and don ts before turning the kids loose. Lead the kids inside and guide them to look closely at the items they chose. This is a great opportunity to ask prompting questions that expand the kids vocabulary and observation skills. Add a level of interest and invite the kids to use magnifying glasses to look at their items. 2

3 What You Say: (As you help kids put on the duct tape bracelets) Paul thought he knew a lot about God. He d been learning about God and following God s rules all his life. But when Paul saw the light and heard the voice on his way to Damascus, all he could say was, Who are you? Paul still didn t really know God. He didn t really know God because he didn t really know Jesus. So how can you know more about Jesus? (I can read the Bible or listen to Bible stories, I can go to church and hear about Him, I can ask people who know more about Jesus than me questions about Him.) Great ideas! The Bible tells us that we can also find out more about Jesus by looking at the world He made! In a moment we ll have a chance to do just that! (After the activity) Just like Paul learned who God is, you can learn who God is, too. Because if you want to know who God is, find out more about Jesus. Jesus himself said, If you really know me, you will know my Father also. (John 14:7a) What are some things you can learn about Jesus by looking at the things He made? [Make It Personal] (Be sure to tell some things you learn about Jesus by observing creation, too.) So if you re wondering, Who is God? remember: [Bottom Line] If you want to know who God is, find out more about Jesus. 2. Sun Prints (all ages) What You Need: NaturePrint Sun Sensitive Paper, outdoor area for kids to gather natural items (or, natural items with interesting contours), pieces of corrugated cardboard, pins, sunshine, plastic wrap, a pan of water (see Preparing ahead of time for Crafts above for more details) Cloudy day option: 9x12-inch sheets of 90# watercolor paper, watercolor paints and broad brushes, containers of water, paper towels, a variety of flat natural items, a warm area for paintings to dry; Optional: salt Take kids outside and guide them to gather a variety of flat natural items such as leaves, flowers, seeds, bits of shell, etc. Or, if you provided the natural items, invite kids to choose. Give each child a piece of Sun Sensitive Paper. Help each child pin his/her paper to a piece of cardboard, blue side up. Guide kids to quickly arrange their items on the paper. Note: You can hold lightweight items in place by covering them with a piece of plastic wrap. Allow the paper to stay in the sun until it turns a very pale blue. This will take about two minutes. Remove the objects and pins from the paper. Protect the paper from direct sun and soak it in water for about one minute. This will set the design. Dry flat. (The image will sharpen during drying.) When dry, kids can flatten the paper with a book. 3

4 What You Say: Paul thought he knew a lot about God. After all, he d been learning about God and following God s rules all his life. But when Paul saw the light and heard the voice on his way to Damascus, all he could say was, Who are you? Paul still didn t really know God. He didn t really know God because he didn t really know Jesus. So how can you know more about Jesus? The Bible tells us that we can also find out more about Jesus by looking at the world He made. What are some things you can learn about Jesus by looking at creation/the things He made? [Make It Personal] (Be sure to tell some things you learn about Jesus by observing creation, too.) So if you re wondering, Who is God? remember: [Bottom Line] If you want to know who God is, find out more about Jesus. 3. Let the Light Shine! (all ages) What You Need: Bible, page protector sheets or craft plastic sheets; glitter glue or gel glue; craft sticks; toothpicks; liquid food coloring; newspaper or plastic table cloths; sheets of wax paper; Optional: fun foam or cardboard frames. (see Preparing ahead of time for Crafts above for more details) Give each child a plastic sheet and a piece of wax paper. Guide kids to set their plastic sheets on the wax paper. (This will enable the kids to move their designs to a drying area when finished.) Lead the kids to spread glue over their pages. There s no right or wrong way the glue can be thick in some places and thin (or absent!) in others. Encourage kids to use the craft sticks and toothpicks to spread, swirl, dot, squiggle or draw in their glue. Invite kids to add one drop of food coloring at a time to their designs. Be sure to caution kids (especially younger ones!) not to place the drops in one place; if they do, they ll end up with a muddy mess of color. Set the creations aside to dry. When dry, kids can hang their stained glass in a sunny window to remind them of the light Paul encountered on his way to Damascus. What You Say: Long ago, Paul and the men he was with saw an incredibly bright light a light brighter than the sun. It was so bright that Paul and his companions fell to the ground. And then Paul heard a voice calling his name. The voice said, Why are you against me? Paul didn t know what was happening. So he asked a very important question. He said, Who are you, Lord? And what was the answer? I am Jesus. I m the one you re opposing. Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do. 4

5 Paul thought he knew a lot about God. But when Paul heard Jesus voice, all he could say was, Who are you? So Who is God? How do you find out? (Pause.) Here s what Jesus said. (Open the Bible and read John 14:6-7a) I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father also. So [Bottom Line] If you want to know who God is, find out more about Jesus. 5