Curriculum for Preschoolers SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

Transcription

1 3 5 year olds Curriculum for Preschoolers SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 We want preschoolers to take a first look at who God is and understand... GOD MADE ME GOD LOVES ME JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER Editor in Chief: Kathy Hill Editor: Kristin Brady Copy Editor: Dana Wilkerson Curriculum Writer: Autumn Ward, Donna High Illustrators: Jodi Blackwell Graphic Designer: David Hill FL Creative Team: Sue Miller, Lois Pallansch, Kathy Hill, Kendra Fleming, Autumn Ward, Ashley Hiers, Donna High, Abbey Carr, Danielle Schneller Chief Executive Officer: Reggie Joiner Chief Operating Officer: Reggie Goodin Executive Director: Sue Miller Technical and Web Support: Hadley Brandt Partner Support: Deb Springer Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws First Look. All rights reserved. STATEMENT OF FAITH USER AGREEMENT The rethink Group, Inc. gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor First LookTM materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we ve expressed in our Statement of Faith.

2 3 5 year olds SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 BASIC TRUTH God Made Me. KEY QUESTION: Who has a plan for you? BOTTOM LINE: God has a plan for me. MEMORY VERSE: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV BIBLE STORY FOCUS: God made me special. Joseph s Family Genesis 37:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27 Here s an overview of what you ll be teaching in 3s 5s this week. Make It Fun (Choose one or all of these activities.) Game Plan Starting Our Day Look at Me Make It True Worship Introductory Sketch Bible Story Make It Stick (Choose as many of these activities as you like.) Marching to God s Word Joseph s Story Big Fan of God Wonderful Wave God Made Me Make It Real Small Group Time Prayer Dismiss Parent CUE 2

3 Key Question: Who has a plan for you? Bottom Line: God has a plan for me. Memory Verse: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV Bible Story Focus: God made me special. Joseph s Family Genesis 37:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27 Prepare to offer one or more of the following activities as your 3-, 4-, or 5-year-olds arrive. Let one or two teachers lead activities in different areas of the room while another teacher greets parents and kids at the door. Make it Fun 1. Game Plan The Game Plan activity incorporates large motor and cooperation skills as it introduces the Bible story idea of having a plan. What You Need: Two suitcases and an assortment of baseball items such as gloves, baseballs, batting gloves, ball caps, jerseys, pennants, etc. You will need to use multiples of each item to have enough to fill both suitcases. You will also need a timer that has an alarm or buzzer. What You Do: Divide children into two teams. Place the two suitcases at one end of the room. Ask your two teams to stand on the other side of the room. Place a pile of baseball items beside each team. The object of the game is for both teams to fill their suitcase with all of their items before the timer goes off. Begin with a lot of time and then reduce the amount of time they have each time they play. Repeat as long as there s interest. What You Say: During the activity: Who can tell me what this is? (Hold up a baseball item, continuing through each item until you have named them all.) These are all things you use when playing baseball, right? (Pause.) We re going to play a different game with them today. Want to hear about it? (Pause.) Great! Okay, here s the plan for what we re going to do. All of you will be a team (gather team #1) and all of you will be a team (gather team #2). I want you to take turns running one of your baseball things down to your suitcase until they re all in your suitcase. Got it? (Pause.) Oh! One last thing, you have to do it before this timer goes off. Do you understand the plan? (Pause.) Okay, let s see how fast you are! On your mark get set GO! At the end of the activity: Boy! You worked that plan! You were super fast! (Pause.) Hey, guess what! You know how we had a plan to play our game? (Pause.) Well, God has a plan for your whole life! It s true! That s what our Bible story is about today God has a plan for you! 2. Starting Our Day Starting Our Day is a sequencing activity that prepares the children for the concept of the story. This helps them see that everything has a plan just as God has a plan for us. What You Need: Activities from the Activity Pages found on the Website, white paper, any color of construction paper, scissors, glue, and crayons. What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Activities from the Activity Pages onto white paper for each child. Cut out the four squares on the Activity Page. (Option: If the children in your class are able to cut paper well you can allow them to cut the squares in class.) During the activity: Give each child the four different squares and allow them to 3

4 Make it Fun color each one with the crayons. Once they re finished coloring, give them a piece of construction paper and ask them to glue the squares in order. What You Say: Before the activity: We have four pictures here that show how our morning might go. Let s color them to make them beautiful and when you are finished we will decide together which one should come first. During the activity: Great job coloring! Let s look at our four pictures together. They are: (point to each picture) brushing your teeth, child at church, a child leaving church with her family and children listening to a Bible story. Hmmmm. Which did you do first this morning? (Pause.) Yes! We brushed our teeth. Everyone take that picture and glue it to this side of the paper. (Demonstrate.) Great job! Now what did we do next? (Pause.) You got it! We came to church. Okay, so glue that picture to the first one. (Demonstrate.) Perfect! Now what will we do next? (Pause.) Yep! We ll listen to our Bible story. Glue that picture next. (Demonstrate.) The last thing we re going to do this morning will be what? (Pause.) Awesome! We ll leave church. Glue the last picture on your paper. (Demonstrate.) Great job! At the end of the activity: It is so easy to get things done when we have a plan. God has a plan for all of us and all we have to do is follow His plan. We are going to hear a story from the Bible today about a boy named Joseph. I can t wait to hear about God s plan for him! Let s get ready for our Bible story so we can hear all about it! 3. Look at Me The Look at Me activity will challenge your preschoolers creativity and imagination as they think about the Bible story focus that God made them special. What You Need: One large child-proof rectangle dressing mirror hanging at the children s eye level or a hand held mirror for each child, dry erase markers, and erasers. (Note: Hang the mirror side-to-side so several children can stand should-to-shoulder and look into it at the same time.) What You Do: The children will look into a mirror and use a dry erase marker to draw on their reflection. Encourage the children to look at themselves in the mirror. What do they see? Ears, freckles, eyes, nose talk about it! What color skin, hair, and eyes do they see? What about those teeth and that tongue? After you have talked about everything they see, give them each a dry erase marker and tell them to draw themselves a mustache or fuzzy eyebrows or some wacky hair onto the mirror. Tell them if they stand real still their drawings will look like they re really on their face! 4

5 Make it Fun What You Say: During the activity: Come look in the mirror with me. What do you see? (Pause.) Yes! It s you! God made you SO special. He gave you special eyes and a special smile. He made you to do all kinds of special things like run and sing. He even chose what color hair you would have and if it would be curly or straight! But what if He had made your hair look like this. (Look in the mirror and draw wacky hair on the mirror so that it looks like your hair.) Look in the mirror at my hair! That so funny! Now you try! You can draw on the mirror and give yourself a moustache or a long beard or freckles or funny hair like mine. Draw whatever you want! Then you can erase it and draw again! (Repeat as long as there s interest.) At the end of the activity: God made you special. He made (child s name) special and (child s name) special and (continue naming each child). Our Bible story today is about another guy God made. His name is Joseph, and God made him pretty special, too! Let s get ready for our Bible story so we can hear all about Joseph! 5

6 Key Question: Who has a plan for you? Bottom Line: God has a plan for me. Memory Verse: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV Bible Story Focus: God made me special. Joseph s Family Genesis 37:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27 After children have participated in Make It Fun, gather them for a large group time that includes interactive worship, introductory sketch and Bible story. A Worship Leader and live instruments are recommended to sing along with the music tracks. Encourage children to be active during worship by incorporating the appropriate hand motions. Make it True Worship What You Need: Paperclip Memory Verse Card from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website in your Bible at Jeremiah 29:11. You will also need a CD player, this month s worship song, Plan For Me, which you will need to download from the Website. You will also need God Made Me Special, available at www. AmberSkyRecords.com or on the CD I Count on You. WORSHIP LEADER: Hello, friends! It s so GREAT to see you all! I sure do love spending time with you each week! Does anyone know what today is? (Pause.) It s the start of a brand new month, and you know what that means! It s time for new Bible stories, a new Memory Verse, and new songs to sing! Oh, my! I m more excited now just talking about it! Everybody up on your feet! Hurry! I m ready to get started, and I bet you are too! All month long we re going to be talking about a man named Joseph and the AMAZING plans that God had for his life! You know, we re a lot like Joseph in that God has some pretty AMAZING plans for our lives too! This first song that we re going to sing talks all about that! If you re ready to sing, let me hear you say, God has a plan for me, as loud as you can on the count of three! Ready? (Pause.) One two three! CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: God has a plan for me! WORSHIP LEADER: That was AWESOME! That s right! God has a plan for all of us! Let s sing about that right now! Lead children in singing Plan For Me, this month s worship song. Choose an adult or teenager who relates well to preschoolers to tell the Introductory Sketch. If possible, use the same person for an entire month as the Host role stays the same each month. Choose an engaging adult to tell the Bible story. This person should be able to command the attention of preschoolers and control the group through animated storytelling. These scripts are written to be told and not read. Advanced preparation is necessary. For additional worship resources to equip your worship leaders and worship team, visit WORSHIP LEADER: What a great song to start the month off with today! I am soooo glad that God has a plan for me! Aren t you? (Pause.) Our Memory Verse this month tells us that very same thing, can you believe it? (Pause.) It does! It says, For I know the plans I have for you, says that Lord, Jeremiah 29:11. Can you say that with me? I ll say it and then you repeat after me. CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: For I know (pause) the plans (pause) I have (pause) for you, (pause) says the Lord, (pause) Jeremiah 29:11. (Repeat the verse a few times.) WORSHIP LEADER: Great job! God knows the plans He has for us and He created those plans when He made us before we were born! Who made you? (Pause.) That s right! God made me, and He made you, too! How cool is that? This next song we re going to sing talks about how God made each and every one of us special. The words say, I know that I am special (thumbs pointing to chest). I know because (fingers pointing to head) God made me special (both hands pointing up) because of His great love. (Bring jazz hands down in big motion and then hug yourself.) Do you think you can do the motions with me before we start? (Pause.) You do! Great! Let s get started. 6

7 Make it True First Look offers weekly introductory sketches on the DVD titled Wonder, Look at God s Story. This DVD is available for purchase at the rethink store on our Web site. (Go through the motions with the children a few times.) WORSHIP LEADER: I think you guys have it! Let s sing! Lead children in singing God Made Me Special. WORSHIP LEADER: You guys sounded AWESOME! I just love spending this time with you. Thanks for letting me join you! Tell me one last thing before I go. Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) Yes! God has a plan for me, and all of you too! I can t wait to hear the plans He had for Joseph in our Bible story today! Get those listening ears ready because we ll hear about it soon! Bye! Worship Leader exits. Introductory Sketch What You Need: Favorite baseball team attire such as a hat and T-shirt, large map of either your state or the entire U.S. with visible stickers marking locations to travel to, an easel, and a list on a clipboard with a big pen attached to it. HOST: (Enter carrying a large map of your state or the U.S. and an easel, wearing a favorite team hat and shirt.) Hello, friends! It is so good to see you again! You guys are going to just love what I brought with me today! (Place map onto an easel.) Did you guys see my awesome outfit today? (Strike a pose and pause.) My family and I are going on a super, duper, way cool, extra fun road trip to see my favorite baseball team! Woo-hoo! I cannot wait! Do you know what a road trip is?! (Pause.) It means you have a plan and are going to hop in the car and drive and visit all of those places on your list. And we have a plan to go do some really cool things! (Act really excited!) A plan is just like a list or a schedule you make ahead of time so you know what to do next each time. See, so far on my list of things to do today I had wear my favorite baseball team T-shirt. (Look down at chest.) Check! (Dramatically cross something off your list.) And wear my favorite baseball team hat. (Pat different parts of body until you find your hat.) Oh! Ha ha, there s my hat! Check! (Cross off list.) Soon we ll be hopping into the car and driving to see and cheer on my favorite baseball team. I cannot wait! (Do your team cheer.) All right (point to stickers on map), we ll start right here and then go here, then here, and then, finally, here. Phew! This is going to be so much fun! I m so glad that I mapped out a plan for us so we know where to go next and we won t miss a thing with my favorite team! GO, TEAM, GO! (Suddenly get an idea.) Oh! I just came up with a GREAT idea! I think I ll go make a plan of what I want to bring in the car with me. I don t want to forget anything! It s going to be a long trip. I cannot wait! You know, the Bible talks a lot about plans. In fact, today you are going to get to learn about a man that God had really (hold arms out wide), really (hold arms out really wide) BIG plans for! Get ready, and I ll see you later, friends! 7

8 Make it True First Look offers weekly Bible story on our DVD titled Wonder, Look at God s Story, which you may choose to use rather than a live Storyteller this week. This DVD is available for purchase at the rethink store on our Web site. Host exits. Bible Story What You Need: Bible STORYTELLER: Hello, friends! You sure are looking good today! I m excited because our Bible story today reminds us that God has a plan for me! How amazing is that?! God made you special and He has BIG things for you to do, just like the man in our Bible story today! The man s name was Joseph and God planned for a long, LONG time for Joseph to be born! He gave him a grandpa named Issac, a grandma named Rebekah, a dad named Jacob, and a mom named Rachel. He also gave Joseph a LOT of brothers! Let s count them on our fingers. Ready? (Pause.) Go! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven! There were so many brothers that we ran out of fingers! But Joseph was special. He wasn t exactly like all of his brothers. His eyes looked different. His smile was different. Joseph wasn t like anyone else God had ever made! And God had a BIG (stretch arms out wide) plan for him and for everyone in his family. Joseph knew that! He said: I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) Say that with me! CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) STORYTELLER: Good job. Do you want to know something awesome? (Pause.) God made YOU special, too. (Point to the children.) He did! And, He has a plan for you, too! He planned for a LONG time for you to be born. He gave you a grandma and grandpa, a mom and dad, and maybe even some brothers and sisters! Maybe you were born into a family, or maybe even adopted into a family which is a super cool part of God s plan for you! God made you different from everyone else. Blink your eyes really fast. (Blink.) Oooo! Okay, stop. Your eyes are beautiful, and nobody has eyes just like yours. Now give me your biggest smile ever. (Grin.) Oh, wow! I love it. Every single one of your smiles is different! You can use your smile to make a new friend or make someone happy. Smiles are awesome! Now hold up your hands like this and look at your fingers. (Hold out hands, palms up.) Now take a look at those itty-bitty lines on your fingers. (Look at your fingers super close.) You gotta look super duper close! They are SO tiny! And there s so many lines. Those are called fingerprints! Ah-mazing! No one who has ever lived has little lines on their fingers just like yours. WOW! Every single person s fingers have different lines on them. There are no two people that have the same fingerprints. How cool is that!? 8

9 Make it True God made you super special, and He made each person in your family special, too! He has a plan for you and your whole family. That s why we can all say, I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) God has a plan for me! Say it with me! Who has a plan for you? CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: God has a plan for me! STORYTELLER: That was great! Let s do it one more time. Who has a plan for you? CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: God has a plan for me. STORYTELLER: You guys are awesome! Thanks for bringing those super awesome and special listening ears with you today. You all did great! Let s pray. Dear God, thank You for making each and every one of us SO special. Help us to always remember that You have a plan for us. We love You, God. Amen. I ll see you next time, friends! Storyteller exits. 9

10 Key Question: Who has a plan for you? Bottom Line: God has a plan for me. Memory Verse: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV Bible Story Focus: God made me special. Joseph s Family Genesis 37:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27 These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand and remember today s Bible story and Bottom Line. Offer as many of the following activities as your time, facilities, resources, and leadership allow. You may want to lead one activity at a time. Or offer two activities at once and allow half the kids to participate in each, then switch groups and repeat the activities. Make it Stick 1. Marching to God s Word Marching to God s Word is an activity that uses movement and repetition to help the children memorize and retain the Memory Verse. What You Need: Four pieces of white construction paper and masking tape. What You Do: Before the activity: Tape the four pieces of paper down on the floor of your activity area an equal distance from each other in a diamond shape to resemble a baseball field. The paper will serve as bases. (Note: Make sure you tape the paper to the floor with the tape on all sides so that a child does not trip over a loose side.) During the activity: Designate one base as home plate and have the children line up behind it. Lead the children in a march around the bases as you say the Memory Verse. Every time you pass home plate, challenge the children to say the verse louder. (Repeat as many times as desired.) What You Say: During the activity: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, Jeremiah 29:11. At the end of the activity: Our Memory Verse today tells us that God has a plan for each one of us, just like He had a plan for Joseph. All we have to do is follow God s plan! Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) You got it! God has a plan for me! 2. Joseph s Story The Joseph s Story activity uses fine motor, critical thinking, investigation, and observation skills to review today s Bible story and its focus. Children will also see how their fingerprints are just a small example of how God made us each special. What You Need: Joseph from the Bible Story Review folder on the Website, Fingerprints from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, white paper, crayons, wet wipes, ink pad, magnifying glasses, and tape. (Note: This Bible Story review activity will continue throughout the month. Each week you will introduce the children to a new picture from Joseph s story. You will tape the picture to the wall or hang it on a clothesline to create a story timeline in pictures. Each week will also have an activity for the children to complete that reinforces the story focus.) What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Fingerprints from the Activity Pages onto the white paper for each child. Next, copy Joseph from the Bible Story Review folder onto white cardstock. 10

11 Make it Stick During the activity: Retell the Bible story introducing the first picture in the sequence of Joseph. Talk about how God made us special by making us different and show how even our fingerprints are different. Children will stamp their fingerprint on the paper to help them remember that God made them special. Once everyone is all cleaned up, pass out the magnifying glasses so the children can look at all the different fingerprints. Talk about how God made each of them special! No two prints are alike! What You Say: Before the activity: What a fantastic Bible story we heard today! We learned God made us special! We are all wonderfully different! God made Joseph and had a big plan for him. (Pull out the picture of Joseph and tape to the wall.) Joseph knew that God s plan was best and he said: I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) Great job! God has a plan for all of us too! Are you a big fan of God s plan? (Pause.) Yeah! Let s say it together. I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) During the activity: God made us super special! God made our hands, our toes, our fingers, and our nose! My hands and my fingers don t look like yours, do they? (Pause.) Each of our fingerprints are different, too! Look, this is my fingerprint. (Make your fingerprint on a sheet of paper.) Now, let s make your fingerprint and see if they look the same. (Assist children if needed in stamping their fingerprints.) They don t look the same! If we look at our prints with these magnifying glasses (hold up a magnifying glass) we will really be able to see just how different our prints are from our friends. (Guide the children in looking at and comparing their fingerprints.) God made each of us different even down to our fingertips! Isn t that amazing? At the end of the activity: God made us special and He has a special plan for each of us! God has a plan for you, and you, and you, and me! I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) God has a plan for me. 3. Big Fan of God Big Fan of God is a craft-based activity that uses fine motor skills and creativity while reinforcing the concept of this month s Bottom Line. What You Need: Fan from the Activity pages from the Website, white cardstock, markers, stickers, a 12-inch long small wooden dowel for each child, masking tape, and scissors. (Note: You will need to make one to use again for the Follow That Pennant activity in Week 3.) What You Do: Before the activity: Copy Fan from the Activity Pages onto cardstock for each child. 11

12 Make it Stick During the activity: Give the children a Fan Activity Page, allowing them to cut out the pennant using the dotted lines as a guide. After they have cut them out, encourage the children to decorate the pennant with the markers and stickers. Once they have finished, turn the pennant over and tape the dowel securely to the wide side of the flag. What You Say: Before the activity: Joseph sounds like he was pretty special to God so much so that God had an amazing plan for Joseph and his family. I can t wait to find out more about Joseph this month and what a big fan he was of God s plan for him! I have these pennants here for you to decorate however you wish. A pennant is what people wave when they re cheering on their favorite team. When we re finished we ll be able to wave our pennants as we cheer for the plan that God has for each of us. During the activity: Here s a pennant for each of you to cut out. (Hand each child a Fan Activity Page.) You can use the lines to help guide you as you cut. When you re all finished cutting, here are some stickers and markers you can use to decorate your pennants any way that you wish. When your pennant looks exactly the way you want it to, bring it to me and I ll tape it securely to one of these wooden sticks (hold up a dowel rod) so you can wave it around. At the end of the activity: You guys made some GREAT-looking pennants! I am so glad that God has a BIG plan for me and for you too! Our pennants say, I am a big fan of God s plan! Let s wave our pennants everywhere we go so that everyone knows that we are big fans of God s plan. Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) Yes! God has a plan for me! 4. Wonderful Wave The Wonderful Wave activity is a fun large motor and coordination skills game that will get the kids moving while reviewing the idea of being a fan of God s plan. What You Need: No supplies needed. What You Do: Teach the children how to do the wave, like fans at a baseball game. Ask them to squat and wrap their arms around their knees (like giving their knees a big hug). Next, tell them to watch you and when you point to them it will be their turn to stand, throw their arms in the air, and then squat back down with their arms wrapped around their knees. Do this slowly the first few times and then get faster and faster until you have a wave! (Option: Arrange the children in a circle with hands by their side. When you point to them they will put their hands over their head and then back down by their sides.) What You Say: During the activity: Raise your hand if you ve ever been to a baseball game. (Pause.) Have you ever seen the fans in the crowd do the wave? (Pause.) Well, I m going to teach you how to do the wave today! Are you ready? Get in a line and 12

13 Make it Stick squat down like this (demonstrate) with your arms around your knees. When I point to you I want you to stand up tall with your arms in the air like this (demonstrate) and then squat back down really fast again. (Demonstrate.) Okay, I think we re ready. Here we go! (Continue as long as there s interest.) At the end of the activity: Yay! You did it! You looked just like a fan at a baseball game cheering on their team! People are fans of all kinds of things. Do you know what I m a big fan of? (Pause.) I m a big fan of God s plan! Say that with me! I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) One more time! I m a (point to self with right thumb) big fan (punch right arm up in air) of God s plan! (Point fingers and raise arms above head.) Woo-hoo! Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) God has a plan for me! 5. God Made Me God Made Me is an activity that uses fine motor skills and creativity to reinforce the basic truth and concepts of the Bible story. What You Need: Butcher paper, markers, large buttons, large goggle eyes, scissors, black permanent marker, glue, and red, brown, and yellow yarn. (Option: If you do not have access to butcher paper or you would like to do the activity on a smaller scale you can use the Me Activity page from the Website and white cardstock.) What You Do: Before the activity: Have the children lie down on the butcher paper so that you can trace them with the permanent marker. (You may wish to do this at beginning of class as each child comes in.) Cut out the outlines. If you are using the Me Activity Page, copy it on white cardstock and cut them out for each child. Cut the yarn into 2-inch strips to be used for hair. (Option: If you do not have time to trace each child, you can have one child pose and use that silhouette for all of the children.) During the activity: Give each child a cutout and allow them to decorate it to look like themselves. Encourage them to glue the goggle eyes on the face and draw other features with the markers. You may need to help them glue on the yarn (for hair) and the buttons (on their clothes). At the end of the activity: When the children have completed their project, consider hanging the cutouts on the wall in your classroom or in the hallway. If possible, leave them up all month. It is a wonderful way to show the children how God made them! What You Say: Before the activity: We learned today that God made us and that He has a special plan for all of us. He made all of us special! Some of us have green eyes and brown hair and some of us have blond hair and blue eyes. We are all different. I am going to give you a shape of a body and I want you to use all of these fun decorations to make your project just like God made you! 13

14 Make it Stick During the activity: I m here to help you if you need it. Make sure to give yourselves eyes (hold up the goggle eyes), noses, and mouths. You can use the yarn to give yourself hair. Make sure you pick the color of hair that God picked for you! Use the markers to give yourself clothes, and glue on the buttons (point out the buttons) for decorations if you would like. At the end of the activity: Great job! These look just like you! You are just the way that God planned for you to look. He has a plan for everyone and makes everyone very special! Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) Absolutely! God has a plan for me! 14

15 Key Question: Who has a plan for you? Bottom Line: God has a plan for me. Memory Verse: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV Bible Story Focus: God made me special. Joseph s Family Genesis 37:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27 Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. They ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer requests. Divide kids into small groups of about five to eight children with each leader. Ideally, assign the same small group leader to the same group of preschoolers for the entire year. Make it Real Small Group Time What You Need: Paperclip Memory Verse Card from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website in your Bible at Jeremiah 29:11. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): God made you, just like He made Joseph in our Bible story today. God made (name of child) and God made (name of child) and God made (name each child; point to them as you say their names). Who made you? (Pause.) God made me! That s right! And when God made you, He made you SPECIAL! You are SO very special just because God made you! I think that is SUPER cool! You know what else is SUPER cool? (Pause.) When God made you, He also made a special plan for you. God has a plan for your life, and it s a good plan. That s why you re going to hear the question, Who has a plan for you? a lot, because we want you to know God has a plan for you. So when someone asks you: Who has a plan for you? I want you to say God has a plan for me. Got it? Who has a plan for you? CHILDREN and SGL: God has a plan for me! SGL: Our new Bible verse this month even tells us that God has a plan for me and you. Listen to this. (Open Bible.) For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, Jeremiah 29:11. See! God has a plan for you! Say that verse with me. CHILDREN and SGL: For I know (pause) the plans (pause) I have (pause) for you, (pause) says the Lord, (pause) Jeremiah 29:11. (Repeat the verse a few times.) SGL: Who has a plan for you? (Pause.) God has a plan for me. In our Bible story today, God told Joseph about His plan in a dream. Do you think God tells us about His plan in other ways? (Pause.) Sure, He does! Let s think of ways God tells us His plan and we can write them in our journal. Write down the children s names and what they say in your journal. You may need to help them think of some ways God tells us His plan. (Bible, people, music, prayer) Remember to print the words so they can recognize their names and letters. Mention their list when you pray together. This is great! I m so glad God has a plan for us and that He tells us what we need to know. Let s pray. Prayer SGL: Dear God, You are such a good God. I hope we always remember that we are special because You made us and love us and have a plan for us. Thank You for telling us about your plan through (read list). Help us to hear You and obey. In Jesus name, Amen. 15

16 Dismiss Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Greet parents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that God has a plan for me. Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that God has a plan for me. Have this month s Parent CUE available for parents to pick up or send it in a monthly . Encourage parents to use the activities found in Parent Cue to reinforce this month s Bottom Line: God has a plan for me. 16

17 Activities Starting Our Day September Week 1 Copy on white paper. One per child. CURRICULUM FOR 3- to 5- YEAR OLDS 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved.

18 God made me special! God made me special! God made me special! God made me special! Fingerprints Joseph s Story September Week 1 Copy on white paper and cut into rectangles. One per child. CURRICULUM FOR 3- to 5- YEAR OLDS 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved.

19 God has a plan for me. BIG FAN OF GOD God has a plan for me. BIG FAN OF GOD Fan Big Fan of God September Week 1 Copy on white cardstock and loosely cut out. One per child. Let child finish cutting. CURRICULUM FOR 3- to 5- YEAR OLDS 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved.

20 Me (Optional) God Made Me September Week 1 Copy on white cardstock. One per child. CURRICULUM FOR 3- to 5- YEAR OLDS 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved.

21 Memory Verse September 2013 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV For I know (Touch your finger to your temple.) the plans I have (Separate your hands in front of you and sweep them in one motion from the left to the right.) for you, (point out with both pointer fingers.) says the Lord. (Point both fingers up.) Jeremiah 29:11 (Hold hands open like a book.) Memory Verse September 2013 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV For I know (Touch your finger to your temple.) the plans I have (Separate your hands in front of you and sweep them in one motion from the left to the right.) for you, (point out with both pointer fingers.) says the Lord. (Point both fingers up.) Jeremiah 29:11 (Hold hands open like a book.) Memory Verse September 2013 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV For I know (Touch your finger to your temple.) the plans I have (Separate your hands in front of you and sweep them in one motion from the left to the right.) for you, (point out with both pointer fingers.) says the Lord. (Point both fingers up.) Jeremiah 29:11 (Hold hands open like a book.) Memory Verse September 2013 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV For I know (Touch your finger to your temple.) the plans I have (Separate your hands in front of you and sweep them in one motion from the left to the right.) for you, (point out with both pointer fingers.) says the Lord. (Point both fingers up.) Jeremiah 29:11 (Hold hands open like a book.) Memory Verse Card Make It True and Make It Real September Week 1 Copy on light cardstock cut on dotted lines, and paperclip in Bibles at appropriate verse. CURRICULUM FOR 3- to 5- YEAR OLDS 2013 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved.

22 First Look 3 through 5-year-olds, September, Week 1 September 1, through 5-year-olds Make It Fun Game Plan: o Two suitcases o An assortment of baseball items such as: gloves, baseballs, batting gloves, ball caps, jerseys, pennants, etc. You will need to use multiples of each item to have enough to fill both suitcases. o A timer that has an alarm or buzzer Starting Our Day: o "Activities" from the Activity Pages found on the Website o White paper o Any color of construction paper o Scissors o Glue o Crayons Look at Me: o One large child-proof rectangle dressing mirror or a hand held mirror for each child o Dry erase markers o Erasers Make It True Worship: o A CD player o This month s worship song, Plan For Me, downloaded from the Website o The worship song, God Made Me- Special, from the I Count On You CD o The motions for the songs Intro Sketch: o Favorite baseball team attire such as a hat and t-shirt o Large map of either your state or the entire U.S. o Stickers for marking locations to travel to o Easel o A list on a clipboard o A big pen Bible Story: o Bible

23 First Look 3 through 5-year-olds, September, Week 1 September 1, through 5-year-olds continued Make It Stick Marching to God's Word: o Four pieces of white construction paper o Masking tape Joseph's Story: o Joseph from the Bible Story Review folder on the Website o Fingerprints from the Activity Pages on the Website o White cardstock o White paper o Crayons o Wet wipes o Ink pad o Magnifying glasses o Tape Big Fan of God: o "Fan" from the Activity pages from the Website o White cardstock o Markers o Stickers o 12-inch long small wooden dowels for each child o Masking tape o Scissors Wonderful Wave: o No supplies needed. God Made Me: o Butcher paper o Markers o Large buttons o Large googly eyes o Red, brown and yellow yarn o Scissors o Black Sharpie o Glue o Option: "Me from the Activity Pages on the Website and white cardstock in place of tracing the children on butcher paper. Make It Real: o Memory Verse Card from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website o Bible o Journal for each group o Fun-shaped Pen for each group