GOD CREATED THE ANIMALS

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1 BOOK 2, PART 2, LESSON 4 GOD CREATED THE ANIMALS THE BIBLE: Genesis 1:20-25; Psalm 104:24 THEME: The Bible gives us a record of God as creator and sustainer of the universe, and of the persons who are created in the image of God. PREPARING FOR THE LESSON MAIN IDEA: God created many different kinds of animals. The Bible story helps us to identify some of those animals. We praise God for creation and we also enjoy and care for animals. MEMORY VERSE: O Lord, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures. Psalm 104:24 CEV KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS TO BE LEARNED: a. Fish and animals those things that live within the waters that are sometimes used for food. b. Birds, flying creatures warm-bodied animals covered with feathers, usually having a beak. c. Wild animals animals that are not tamed and live in a state of nature. d. Domestic animals animals that are tamed, used to living with people. MAJOR LEARNINGS: Genesis 1:14-17 Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. God made the two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars. God set them in the dome of the ski to give light upon the earth; to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Psalm 33:6 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. BIBLE BACKGROUND: The Bible story of creation gives us the record of living beings that God placed on the earth. God intended that the earth be inhabited by living beings. Perhaps because God had created the waters and sky, God sensed a need to have creatures that could enjoy that creation, as well as creatures that could enjoy and live upon the earth. Each of the animals is well-suited to the place where it lives. The verses for today tell us that God created all of the living creatures and then put a method into place for each of those creatures to multiply, or procreate, in order to have descendants for as long as the creation was in place.

2 The second creation story is found in Genesis 1:4b 24. In this story, God has created humans and gives the first human the opportunity to name the animals. The man gives names to every creature that God has created. And God said, Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky. So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind. And it was so. Genesis 1:20-25 Countless are the things you have made, Lord. By your wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24 UNDERSTANDING YOUR STUDENTS: Most of the children will have some knowledge of animals and living creatures. They may own or know others who own domesticated animals such as cats and dogs. They will also be aware of a number of animals that roam the street and are not cared for. Children love animals of all kinds. They are naturally compassionate people and they care about what is happening to animals. However, some will be frightened by animals because they have never been around an animal or have been frightened by one. It is important to recognize their love and their fears. You may help them deal with their feelings in a realistic manner as you lead them in thinking about how animals are a very special part of God s creation. DEVELOPING YOUR FAITH: As you prepare for this week s lesson, examine your feelings about the animals God has created. During this week, notice animals that you see running free in your community. Is there any provision for caring for them? What kinds of sea animals are available for food in your community? Continue to keep a journal (a book in which you write your thoughts and observations) this week. Note in it anything that you see and/or hear related to living creatures. Study the Scripture passages for this lesson. If you have access to a Bible, read the second creation story. We will deal with the creation of human beings in the next lesson, so don t try to work with that part of the story. And you will not use the naming of the animals this week unless some discussion arises in the class as to how they received their names. Pray daily for each child in your class. Are there children you know in the community who are not practicing a faith or going to class? Pray for them and consider how you might invite them to be a part of your group. 1. INTRODUCTION TEACHING THE LESSON Today when the children enter the room, whisper in their ear that you would like them to think about an animal they have seen or heard. Tell them not to tell anyone what animal they are thinking about because you are going to play a game with the. Encourage them to sit down at the table or at the appropriate place on the floor while they think. If available, have pictures or books that illustrate different kinds of animals.

3 (Artist: Make a composite picture (a montage) that has some of the animals of your country and others the children might know about.) Have the teaching picture of animals posted somewhere in the room. This will help give the children some ideas. When most of the children have arrived, sit with them on the floor or at the table. Tell them that you are now going to play a game about animals. Give them the following instructions: Everyone who wants to let us guess what animal you are thinking about will get a chance. When I call your name, stand up and do something with your body that will help us to know the animal you are thinking about, or just make a sound like the animal. When you have done that, we will guess what kind of animal it is. Let each child who wants to do this participate. You will most likely have many who will do the same animal or bird and that is okay. Praise each child for being creative in the way that they helped us know about their animal. 2. EXPLORE THE BIBLE MESSAGE Ask the children to remember with you the other lessons you have had together about creation. Let them recall the things you have talked about and what they remember about them. SAY: We have been identifying animals by our actions and sounds. All of us like to see animals. Where do you think they came from? Remind them that the story of creation so far has not had any living beings in it. Help them to understand that the animals are also a part of God s creation and that there are many animals around he earth that they do not have in their country. Read to them the Scripture selection from Genesis. Read it to them two times. Then ask if they have questions about what you have read. Ask what they heard and give them a chance to tell you the story. Help the children to understand the meanings of the key words, and the difference between wild animals and domesticated animals. Also talk about different kinds of birds and fish that they are familiar with. You must help them see the creation that they know and experience is part of the larger creation of God. 3. RESPOND TO THE BIBLE MESSAGE ACTIVITY 1: Story game Use the following story with the children. It is not based on the Scriptures but relates to the creation of animals. Instructions: Divide the children into three groups. Tell them that each group will have a different task to do in the story. Assign the tasks as follows: GROUP 1 Each time they hear the words God created, they will make a blowing wind sound; GROUP 2 Each time they hear the words big fish and little fish, they are to stand up and make swimming motions with their hands and arms; GROUP 3 Each time they hear the word birds they are to flap their arms as if they are birds flying and say chirp, chirp. When they understand your instructions, begin the story.

4 Tell the story: Once upon a time, before people walked on the earth, God created the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. There were big fish and little fish that swam in the waters that God created. When the big fish and little fish were swimming around in the big seas, they saw some other living creatures that God created. There were huge swimming things of all shapes and sizes. In addition to the sea creatures that God created, there were things flying all over the sky that we call birds. Now when the birds were flying through the sky and landing on the trees, they were so happy. They could see for miles and miles around and could fly from one town to another. God created them so that they could be free. When they flew over any body of water the sea, a lake, a river or any body of water they sometimes would see big fish and little fish from way up in the sky. They were usually swimming beneath the water because God created them to swim there all of their days. Sometimes, however, the big fish and little fish would jump up out of the water and almost seem to be flying like birds. When that happened, they felt as free as the birds. But when they were not jumping out of the water, they were also free to swim anywhere in the water in which they were living. God created every living creature on the earth, in the sky and in the waters. God saw everything that had been created and said that it was good. All around the world there are creatures that God created. In our part of the world, there are living creatures, animals and birds that live only in this area. In other parts of the world there are creatures, animals and birds which are very different than those we know and see. So wherever we may go in the world, there are big fish and little fish that swim around and sometimes jump. And wherever we may go in the world, there are birds that fly in the sky and they may look different than the birds we see everyday. Some big fish and little fish, as well as birds and other animals are created to live where it is warm, others are created to live where it is cold. Sometimes the birds travel from cold places to warm places because God created them to need warmth, like us. Sometimes the big fish and little fish travel to warmer waters also during the cold season. Isn t it wonderful that God created just the right creature to live in just the right place? We are created to live right here in our town or community, just like the big fish and little fish and just like the birds.

5 After you have finished the story, the children may want to do it again. If time permits and you want to do so, repeat the story with each group doing a different part. Let them enjoy making the notions and sounds. ASK: How many of you have a cat or dog living in your house or in your yard? How are those animals different than the birds and fish that we have been talking about? How are they different than the monkeys, giraffes, lions and other animals we read about in books or hear stories about? SAY: The kind of animals that we keep as pets are called domesticated animals. They are animals that like for us to take care for them, feed them and pet or love them. God created those animals too. In fact, remember that the Bible told us that God created all of the living creatures on the earth, in the sky and the waters of the earth. Listen to this verse from Genesis 1:24 again: And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind; cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind. And it was so. ACTIVITY 2: Animal puppets (Artist: You will need to draw small pictures of a variety of animals (wild and domesticated), fish and birds that can be cut out and used a puppets held in the hand.). Distribute the animal puppets to as many children as there are puppets. You will need to cut the puppets from the teaching picture in your packet. Let those children who have the puppets come to the front of the class. Let them identify what creature they are holding. Ask each child about that creature and what sound, if any, that creature might make. Then, let another group of children hold the puppets. Let them talk for the puppet they are holding. ASK: What might a dog say if it could speak like children? What might a cat say? What might a horse say? (You can include whatever animals are represented by the puppets they are holding.) When they have each had a turn, take the puppets up and place them on a wall with tape, if you have it, or sit them on the table or against the wall. ACTIVITY 3: Sculpting, Drawing and Charades If you have the ingredients to make homemade clay dough or can purchase modeling clay or some form of play dough, use the following activity: Give each child a piece of the play dough or clay. Instruct them to use the clay to form some kind of creature. They can do a bird, fish, or other kind of animal that they know about or like. (Remember that what the creature actually looks like is not the most important thing. It is the act of creating something from the clay that is the learning experience for the child.) When they have completed working on their project, let those who wish to share their creature and tell a little about it. When all have shared, help them to see that they, too, have created something from a mound of clay that had no shape or form to it before they worked with their hands. That is like the way that God formed the earth and the living creatures from almost nothing.

6 Alternate activity if you do not have access to supplies for play dough: Provide each child with a piece of drawing paper. Have them draw a large border around the piece of paper with a crayon or pencil. Then instruct them to draw a picture that would include some of the living creatures that God placed on the earth and in the sky and waters of the earth. When they have completed their drawing, let each child share about their picture, asking them questions as you desire. Alternate activity if you do not have drawing paper and crayons or pencils: Play a game of charades. (This is a game in which someone acts out something without using words that they want the others to guess.) Explain to the children that one person will be chosen to stand up in front of the room. That person will whisper quietly to the teacher which living creature they will act out for the rest of the group to guess. Then the child will act out their chosen creature in whatever way they can without using their voice. The rest of the group will guess what creature the child is portraying. Whoever guesses correctly first will be the next person to be up front. 4. CLOSE IN PRAYER SAY: Today we have been talking about the living creatures that God created. We call these creatures animals. We have learned that there are many kinds of fish, birds, wild animals and pets. God has given us all of this wonderful creation to enjoy and to care for. In Psalm 104:24, it says O Lord, by your wisdome you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures. We are thankful that God created so many wonderful living things for us to enjoy. This has been a busy time of working on projects and thinking about the creation of God. Just close the session today with a time of quiet prayer.