Session 1 Miriam. Kids Cluster. BIBLE TEXT Exodus 1 2:10; 15: FAITH CHALLENGE God is with us during difficult times.

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1 Session 1 Miriam Children are no strangers to difficulty. They understand fair or unfair, right or wrong, and easy or hard before they even enter formal schooling. An important part of learning and maturity is being able to deal effectively with the difficulties we struggle with during our daily encounters with people and with the tasks we are required to accomplish. Through the story of Miriam, we can understand that the life of the Hebrew people was a hard one. Miriam was a brave woman through difficult times. She took initiative to solve problems, to be a leader when one was needed, and to celebrate with joy when God helped. She was someone who caught and held onto the love and strength of God when things were challenging, as we all can learn to do. BIBLE TEXT Exodus 1 2:10; 15:20-21 FAITH CHALLENGE God is with us during difficult times. ADVANCE PREPARATION Read through the entire session and decide what you will do. Set up the space for the various activities. Practice the theme song or other music you wish to sing. Gather session supplies (beanbags, bucket, or hula hoop). Gather supplies for the activities you choose to do. Practice telling the Bible story (p. 27). Prepare a snack (p. 12). Kids Cluster 1. Plan an activity for early arrivals. Check page 6 for ideas. 2. Allow the children to toss away difficulties. Have beanbags and a bucket, hula hoop, or other marked space. The children take turns sharing something that is difficult and then tossing the beanbag into the marked space. 3. Welcome the children and gather for a time of singing (p. 8). Be sure to include action songs, familiar songs, favorite songs, and new songs. 23

2 Kids Explore 1. Begin by singing the theme song, Celebrate God s Love (p. 9). Pray a simple prayer. 2. Introduce the theme of the day: God is with us during difficult times. 3. Open your Bible and read Joshua 1:9. Say: Miriam, the character in our story today, had difficult things happen to her and her people. She found strength in God even when times were tough. This verse can be a good reminder to us when we encounter difficult things like Miriam did. 4. Allow time for the children to think about a difficult time or situation in their lives. Ask them: How did the situation make you feel? What did you do? Did anyone help you? Did anyone show you extra love during that time? 5. Read the Bible story (p. 27). Say: I wonder what the people felt like when they left Egypt. I wonder how they felt when they realized the Egyptians were behind them and the Red Sea was in front of them. What do you think were the most difficult things for Miriam? I wonder how Miriam and all the women felt when they were dancing. 6. Continue with the Reflection Journal (p. 16). Allow time for the children to reflect and respond. 24

3 Kids Create SHAKERS (INDIVIDUAL) Materials: paper plates; rice, beans, or pebbles; heavy tape; markers or crayons; glitter; glue Just as Miriam and others praised God with tambourines, we can also use instruments and music to praise God. Have the children place one plate on the table in front of them. Give each child some rice, beans, pebbles, or other small objects that will make a noise. Have them put the objects on the plate. Place another plate upside down on top of the one on the table. Assist the children in taping the edges of the plates together. They may decorate their instruments with color and glitter. When everyone is finished, shake the plates and praise God! WORRY JAR (INDIVIDUAL) Materials: plastic jar for each child; construction paper, scrapbooking paper, or tissue paper; glue or decoupage glue; paintbrushes; small pieces of paper; pencils Have the children cover the entire jar with colorful paper and label it Worry Jar. Spread decoupage glue with a paintbrush to create a hard, glossy surface. When the children have a worry, they should write that worry on a piece of paper and put it in the jar to symbolize giving the worry to God. Or, instead of using a piece of paper, the children may place a symbol of that worry inside the jar. Note: This may be a two-day project depending on how the glue dries. You can also use a small box and create a Worry Box. WOVEN BASKET BAGS (INDIVIDUAL) Materials: brown paper lunch bags with flat bottoms, ruler, pencil, scissors, construction paper cut into strips six inches long and ½ to ¾ inches wide, glue sticks or clear tape You may want to prepare bags in advance or have several adults on hand who can help. Use a ruler to draw straight lines down the length of the paper bag, front and back. The lines should be ½ to ¾ inches wide and run perpendicular to the bottom. Cut the lines, stopping about one inch from the bottom of the bag. Have the children weave the construction paper strips, lattice-style, into the bag. Secure the ends onto the sides of the bags with glue or tape. Weave on both sides. OVERSIZED COMIC STRIP (SMALL GROUPS) Materials: large paper, art materials (paint, crayons, markers, etc.) Divide the children into groups Each group will work together to retell the story on the large paper. Talk to the children about elements of the story to include. Divide the paper into sections and assign one to each child. Have the children illustrate their section of the story to make a comic strip. Note: If you have children who may struggle with this activity, cut the paper bags to half size. 25

4 Kids Move CROSS THE SEA (GROUP) Materials: ropes about six to eight feet long In preparation, place the ropes parallel to each other on the ground, just a short distance apart, to create the sea. The children take turns jumping over the sea. After everyone has had a turn, move the ropes farther apart. Continue until the ropes are too far apart for the children to jump over. CHARADES (GROUP) DIFFICULT TAG (GROUP) Designate one child to be IT. Tell all the children, including IT, to move in the same unusual way (crawling, crab walking, hopping on one foot, jumping, etc.). After someone is tagged and becomes the new IT, have the children move in a different way. Closing For closing ideas, see page 7. Divide the children into groups of three or four. Each group plans a brief, silent skit illustrating something that is difficult. Groups perform the skits for the larger group, and the larger group guesses the difficult activity. After each skit, say together: God is with us. 26

5 MIRIAM S STORY When the Hebrew people lived in Egypt a long time ago, they were very unhappy. They were slaves to the Egyptians and had to work very hard. The Pharaoh worried because he saw that every year there were more of these Hebrews. He thought that they might rebel against the Egyptians. He ordered the Hebrew midwives, who helped the Hebrew mothers while they were giving birth, to kill all the Hebrew baby boys. Miriam lived with her parents and older brother, Aaron, in the land of Egypt. Her people were Hebrew slaves. She had heard about the new laws of the Pharaoh, and she was scared. She knew her mother was going to have a baby soon. When the baby boy was born, Miriam and her family tried to keep the baby s arrival a secret. Aaron and Miriam would watch the road. If there were any soldiers, they would begin to sing and play loudly so that the soldiers would not be able to hear the baby. Miriam would watch for the soldiers while her mother took the baby to the river for a bath. As the baby grew, Miriam and her mother knew they could not keep him hidden much longer. So her mother devised a daring plan. They made a basket to hold the baby and hid the baby and the basket in the tall grasses in the river. It was Miriam s job to watch her baby brother. It was very hot, and Miriam felt scared. She wasn t sure what was going to happen. The baby s name was Moses. Moses grew up and many years later became a leader of the Hebrew people. He helped them escape from their terrible life in Egypt. Miriam was part of a large number of people who were finally able to pack their belongings and leave their Egyptian slave masters. It was a long trip. They worried that the Egyptians would change their mind about letting the Hebrews go and would follow them and make them go back. The Hebrews walked and walked, carrying children, household goods, and food supplies. They tried to make the animals hurry. Finally they arrived on the shore of the Red Sea. How would they ever get across without boats? They were even more frightened when they realized that the Egyptians in their horse-drawn chariots were quickly catching up with them. Moses went to the water s edge, prayed to God, and lifted his rod over the sea. The wind blew hard on the waters of the Red Sea, and the water divided before their eyes. There was a wide pathway of damp sand between the two towering walls of water. Miriam and all the people hurried to get to the other side. The pursuing Egyptians were not so fortunate. The waters returned and rushed over them and their horses and chariots. Miriam picked up her tambourine and began to lead all the people in singing. She and the other women danced together on the banks of the Red Sea. To show her happiness that God had protected all the Hebrew people, she sang this song: Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed graciously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. Moses and all the people joined in the celebration on the wet, sandy banks. 27

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