Today the kids will finish adding their prayers to the evergreen branches. Please send the branches home with the kids today.

Transcription

1 Preparing to Teach Advent, Year 2: Waiting for and Welcoming Jesus Unit Intro Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. Ever since the garden, we have been reminded of how desperately we need a healer, a peacemaker, a rescuer. During this season of Advent, we too, can wait for the Rescuer just as the Children of God did after they returned from captivity. We can prepare for Jesus coming, just like Mary and Joseph. We are invited to enjoy the Light, just like the heavenly host singing, Glory to God in the highest! And we are invited to continue to seek Jesus, just like the wise men. Prayer for teachers: God you sent your Son into this world to be with us thank you! Spirit, prepare us for the coming of our King! Jesus, help us to love as you love, especially during this season we celebrate your birth. Lessons in this Unit: Lesson 1. Nov. 29: Thanksgiving Weekend/First Sunday of Advent: Hope/ The People Get Ready: Get Ready JSB Lesson 2. Dec. 6: Faith/God does what God promises: He s Here JSB Lesson 3. Dec. 13: Joy/Angels: Light of the Whole World JSB [Luke 2:8 20] Lesson 4. Dec. 20: Love/The wise men come: The King of all kings JSB [Matthew 2:1 12] Today s Lesson: Three clever men in the East were also waiting for a special King. When Jesus star appeared, they prepared gifts and sought him out wanting to welcome him. Seeking Jesus is rarely a quick trip and when we find him, the circumstances might not be what we expected. Today the kids will finish adding their prayers to the evergreen branches. Please send the branches home with the kids today. 1

2 Lesson Plan Love/The Wise Men Come Bible Story: The King of all kings Jesus Storybook Bible [ Matthew 2:1 12] Memory Verse: Matthew 1:21 She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Song: Joy to the World Welcome/Getting Ready: What we need: Advent wreath and 5 electrical candles, four candles should be lit. Co Teacher at door welcoming kids, helping kids to recognize this space as sacred. Co Teacher with hands out and let kids respond/chose greeting, high five, knuckles or a hug. (see options at the door on the wall connect) Teacher on floor in a circle on the carpet (K 2) or at the table (3 5th), getting kids ready (i.e. helping them prepare their hearts and minds for today s time together and specifically the story). TEACHER: Good morning! My name is. At this time we will include Brain Smart Start elements: unite and disengage stress. Before we hear today s story, let s review our three basic truths. Say all 3 Basic Truths together I believe that over the next few weeks, we will see how each one of these truths is seen throughout the Bible. This morning, before storytelling, I want to teach you a new way to breath so you can get ready to hear today s story. It s called balloon breathing. Let s do it together. Teach children balloon breathing to disengage stress. See to learn balloon breathing (it s just one of several breathing options) 2

3 Okay, now you are ready for today s story. Storytelling: What we need: Jesus Storybook Bible, pgs , large gold foil or yellow star to hang from the ceiling, very long piece of brown felt, image of Herod s palace printed on cardstock (please add a tab on the back so it can be propped up), 3 rectangular, natural wood blocks for a simple house frame, wooden figures: 3 wise men, Mary, Joseph, small child (Jesus), a basket to contain all the storytelling props; [3 5th: NIrV Bible]. A NOTE TO PREK 2nd TEACHER: before the kids arrive, please hang the star from the ceiling, above the place where you will eventually sit Mary, Joseph and Jesus during the story. I suggest that if kids try to talk to you during the story, you simply put a finger up to your ear to indicate listen and wait for quiet to start again. If a child is persistent, then maybe offer a no thank you or remind them that they ll have a turn to talk when you finish the story. PreK 2nd: smooth out the very long piece of brown felt in front of you. (As you read, set up the props. Herod s palace will be in the center, the three wise men will start their journey to your very right, on the felt. The Holy Family will be to your left, under the star.) Read The King of all kings from the Jesus Storybook Bible. Introduce and move the props as they come up in the story. Take care to move the wise men slowly, slowly. [3 5th: Read Matthew 2:1 12 from the NIrV Bible] WONDERING: While you may choose to use all of the questions, be sensitive to the Spirit s leading as you move into this phase. You may find that one or more of the questions seems particularly important to spend time with. Also, it is okay if the children speculate inaccurately. They are processing the story. Teachers can share their wondering as well since building relationship with the children is one of the goals. It may be best for teachers to share after the kids so kids aren t tempted to mimic the teacher. 3

4 TEACHER: I wonder what your favorite part of the story is? I wonder how we see love in this story? I wonder what it means for Jesus to be the King of all kings? I wonder what the Wise Men thought of their journey? I wonder what the journey was like for the Wise Men? I wonder what Herod thought when he heard about the King of all kings? I wonder how Mary and Joseph felt when the Wise Men arrived? I wonder why others didn t make that same journey to see Jesus? I wonder if we still journey to see the King of all kings today? [3 5th Graders use above and the following focus on the wise men s response] TEACHER: Will you pray with me? Amen. Tell them that over the next few minutes they get to work on something of their choosing as a response to today s story. Describe what materials or activities are available to them and encourage them to think of how they will respond before they leave the circle. Let each child think about it for a second and then share what they have chosen to do (with the group) before releasing them. Remind the kids that they will have plenty of time to do their work (if they don t finish something, they can take it home and finish it later or come back to it next week here). Also remind them that they ll be coming back together for FEAST at the end. At this time, please pass out the river rocks. Then remind children of our commitments. These are our behavioral expectations, which they may be reminded of throughout the morning as needed. Our Commitments: (see posters on the wall) Teacher, remind kids of the following (and unpack any of these as needed): It is my job to keep you safe, and your job to keep it that way...so we commit to the following. Helping hands Listening ears Quiet voices Walking feet Right to pass 4

5 We re going to have you put your stone in the basket now and commit to keeping our space safe, as you put your stone in the basket you can say I commit to keeping our space safe. Before kids are released from the circle, allow them to put their stone in the basket. As they do so, each child can say I commit to keeping our space safe. (This basket and stones will remain in the classrooms at all times) RESPONSE: *During response time you may play the cd with Joy to the World in the background. Co Teacher should be responsible for oversight, set up, clean up (i.e. helping kids clean up and get things back where they belong give kids responsibility) of the response time. When it is about 10:05am/11:50 you should enter Feast. TEACHER/Co TEACHER: During response time, please help the children focus on responding to the story by asking them how their work helps them remember and understand today s story. 1. Touch the Story We need: Jesus Storybook Bible, sharpened colored pencils, clipboards, pastel colored paper. Allow the children to look through the bible story as they write or draw out a response to the story. Allow older children to help younger children re read the story as desired. 2. Prayer We need : Evergreen branch (big enough to tie things onto the branch), strips of gold/yellow ribbon, fabric markers/sharpies. Allow the children to write/draw out their prayers on pieces of ribbon and tie it on the branch reminding them of the hope that the green symbolizes. Generally it is a great idea for a teacher/co teacher to be at the prayer station to talk through prayer and help with writing as needed. Take delight in whatever prayers they offer up. This is a time that we are helping the kids learn that there is nothing too big or too small to bring to our caring Lord. Please send these branches and prayers home with the kids today. 3. Recreate We need: cardstock, gold foil or gold wrapping paper, felt craft pieces, glue, scissors. 5

6 Allow the children to recreate a part of the story that was meaningful to them. Help the children as you discuss how their creation relates to the story. Encourage the children to talk with one another as they work side by side with the ideas in the story. 4. Art/Movement/Explore We need: Playdough, playdough tools. Allow the children to respond to the story through play. Maybe see if they would all like to work on something together. Encourage the children to talk about the story as they work together or individually. This is a great chance to build community within the kids as they work together or next to one another. It is time to prepare for the feast! Please put your work in a safe place and prepare the room for the group of kids who will be in here after you. FEAST: ***Please use Feast language (not snack time ) during this section of the lesson and remind children why we feast together (you may even ask them why we have feast and what our feast together helps us remember). Feast is a time to engage in relationship building and fellowship around something to eat in communion with one another. It should bring us back to the day s story and God, but also into deeper community with one another.*** What you need: napkins, hand sanitizer, bowl for Enjoy Life allergen free cookies, organic fruit juice boxes (allergen free). Have kids circle up again on the carpet with Teacher and Co Teacher. Pass around hand sanitizer, napkins, then the bowl with Enjoy Life allergen free cookies, organic fruit juice. Welcome them to the Feast. Engage in discussion with the kids. This is a time for relationship building. Go around the circle and let kids all have a chance to respond. Possible wondering questions: During Advent, let s focus on praying for the kids. Be sure to ask: What can we pray for one another this week? Take notes! 6

7 [Name of child], I noticed you made. What did that mean? Why, etc.? Who else would like to share their work with us? (Teacher can share his/her response as well.) What are you looking forward to this week? BLESSING: Give each child an opportunity to share their work during the Feast and ask them how their work connects them to the story. Feel free to use any unused wondering questions (from the above wondering section if you re looking for more conversation starters.) What You Need: Parent Cue sheets at the door, anything children worked on that they want to take home Co Teacher, help dismiss kids from the circle. Teacher, keep kids in FEAST mode until their parents arrive. Bless them as they leave saying: [ Child's name], the God who is with us is with you this week." 7