1. family and parenting
2. children

Sample
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Tell the Story. Live the Story.
Preschool
option option option optio
Y
Close with prayer, thanking God for each child by name and for any helpers who are with you, as well as those who
helped behind the scenes. Have the children put away their nametags. Send the children home with a smile, their
take-home cards, and their magnets.
Sock Ball Word Smart
+ OVERTIME
Litany and Song of Praise
2 KNOW
Make a sock ball by turning a sock inside
Time
out, folding it as you do. Sit in a circle. Tell Music
10 minutes
Smart
the children that when the ball comes to Body Smart Music Smart
Word Smart
them, they should name something that Materials
I Old sock
Tell
thetoss
children
thatback
eachtotime
God made,
then
the
ball
you.you hold
Creation
Story
Time
up everyone
your index
finger, they
will say: “God,
Be sure that
is offered
a turn.
minutes
areisaover,
great
God!”
Practice to
doing
this once
a 10
When
theyou
game
the children
tell you
again
who made the world.
Introduce
the action
rhyme
“Theask
Bible,”
Goal
few
times.
Then
handbeout the shakers,
teaching the words
and
actions.
You’ll
Name some of theMaterials
things God made: land, sea, sky, sun, moon,
showing
the children
how to shake them
using it to introduce
each
week
Iand
Shakers
made
with plastic
filmyoung
canisters
filled Some
1/3 with
Thethe
firststory
day of
church
schoolstars,
can be
a big
deal—perhaps
even
a scary
event—for
children.
willsand or salt,
trees,
flowers,
so on.
1:1-19
upyou
andteach
down.
Tell
that they will also
for sessions Genesis
1-4. As
havethem
your
per child
respond
withit,shyness
or reluctance to participate intwo
activities.
Your gentle encouragement and willingness to
Time
to do what you do. Practice
with a
Bible on your lap.need
Song: “Come
Praiseeveryone
the Lord”
(song
3, afile
box;
CD,Soon,
track 3)
allow a child to sit near you and watch, but notI
participate,
will show
that
this is
safe
place.
10 minutes
few movements. Then have the
children
thehas
reluctant
child
will
be ready to participate.
When youreven
group
settled
intoon
the
set the
shakers
thespefloor inMaterials
front of
God
made
the
world
beautiful
and
good.
cial place you havethem
chosen
for telling
the the litany based on Psalm 95.
before
you begin
I Hand-held mirror
story each week, invite the children to put
Biblein yourPicture
God,
you hold theIearth
(crouch down)
Smart
on their listening earsLeader:
and open
their
hands.
I “The Bible” (action story/rhyme 1, file box)
God,
are a great God!
watching eyes. God isAll:
going
toyou
do someI Story
pictures
(poster
1, file
box)
Leader:
The
sea isthe
yours, People
for
you
made
it. (knees
bent,
hands
on knees)
thing pretty spectacular!
Then,
using
Smart
Smart
God!
Music
I Song: “That’s
Good” (song 2, file box; CD, track 2)
Magnets
All:Story
God,
are
a great
four story pictures, read
or
tellyou
the
story.
Earth Smart
dry
Leader:
land and made the trees stand tall. (stand, arms at sides)
The story text is provided
onYou
the shaped
back of the
Each child will
make
All:Friends,
God,two
youstory
are
amagnets—
great God!Names
Goal
each picture.
Meeting
Learning
one
of the sun
and one
the
night sky. belong
Leader:
Theofmountaintops
to you.God
(stand,
hands
formingthings
a peakin
overhead)
Thank
for the
wonderful
our world.
When you
have
finished
telling
the story,
ask the
children to think about how God felt when the world looked exactly
Help
thewarmly
children
assemble
thea magnets
All:as
God,
great
God!
Welcome the children
theyyou are
Time faces, encouraging them to show how God felt about
the way like
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be. Hold
the amirror
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arrive. Invite them
to comeAll:
to the table
minutes
such a good,
good
world.
welcomed10
and
accepted.
Give
each
child
two
magnets.Feel
(Magnets
and pick out a •nametag.
Print
the
chilto 1"
the
first verse
of “Come
the Lord” as it’s recorded on the CD. Then sing it through together, asking
cantags
be Listen
cut
into
squares
before
class.) Praise
Materials
dren’s Introduce
names on the
before
asking
song
“That’s
Good.”
Sing Time
theonsong
times,
each time
leaving
out the repeat
word “world”
and inviting
the
children
join
the several
parts I
they
remember.
If you
the use
litany.
sure to save the shakers to
Addtags
a bit
of
glue
toto
the
topyou
of each,
Fridge
magnets,
the have
kind time,
that businesses
for (Be
advertisement,
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with
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thedecorate
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to insert
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of some15ofminutes
the many good
things
God made.
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show
the
two per child
stickers. When thethen
nametags
are children
finished,how press a
Materials I Black felt or craft foam, cut into 4" (10 cm) circles, one per child
on top.
ask the children tocircle
put them
on. Point out
Children
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well, I
so Play-Doh
if you
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fromcircles,
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prayers,
or litanies
that
youfoam
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that each time •they
to class,
the first
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Prepare
by from
immersing
yourself
in the scriptural account and meditating on it
children
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child
and place
the cards
where you one
can per
easily
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thing they shouldthen
do is put the
on their
Nametags
sturdy
cardboard,
4" Then
x 5" you will be
until theon
wonder
andtopower
ofI
God’s
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captured approximately
your heart anew.
the glue
represent
the
sun’s
I from
White
gluehas
nametags. (Show glitter
everyone where
the tags
(10
cminxthe
13I
cm)
ready to look
your four-year-olds in the eye
and
heart,
passing
on not only the story, but also the testimony of
brilliance.
Foil
stars
will be kept.)
I Markers
your own
faith.the stars on the black circle,
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then
I Word
GoldSmart
and silver glitter
I silver
Yarn cut into 26" (66 cm) lengths, one per child
When you’ve cleaned
theof
table,
placeup
dots
gluedistriband sprinkle
I Paper
punch Ask
this silly
with
your
ute a ball of Play-Doh
child.
Have
glittertoEnjoy
toeach
represent
thegame
sparkling
stars.group.
Time
Body
Smart animals, birds, flowers
Stickers
assorted
thepressing
childrenPlayif God putIthe
stars
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botfun squishing, rolling, and
10 minutes
While shapes.
thetom
children
areitems
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talk
about
the to
beauty
day and
Song:
“Hello,
Everybody”
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of
a lake.
SomeoneI
will
be quick
tell of the (song
Doh into interesting
Supply
Materials
night sky.
When
areIthem
finished,
setGod
their magnets
aside to
CD where
player
you
thatthe
hechildren
didn’t! Ask
from nature—twigs,
leaves,
stones,
flowI
None
needed
askput
theuse
children
pray
with you,
after you the
Story
Drama
did
them.
Telltothe
children
that repeating
if you
ers, shells—fordry.
the Then
children
to
to make
of this
prayer:
something
silly, they
jump up,
imprints.
Invitephrases
the children
to
makeactivity
Creative
drama
issay
a full-body
that should
then
tell
you
where
God
didplay
putsparkling
the item. stars.
But the
warn
them tobywatch
everything
you say might not be silly.
shapesoffers
of animals
and
other
wonders
too.really
AsGoal
you
together,
call
children
name,out:
telling
them how
Thank
you,natural
God,
the warm
sun
and
the
Amen.
a great
opportunity
forfor
expression.
Realize
thatthey
Godare
made
glad
you are
here.our
Tellworld
themand
thateverything
today you in
willit.have a
Encourage your kidsDid
to use
their
God
. . . entire
special
the things
Smart they have printed in their
Timestory about someofPicture
including
their
Invite
Before bodies,
class, cut
the nametags
to
punch
a the moon?
• faces.
putsize,
the
treesthe
on
Play-Doh.
(But mostly, just enjoy getting to know each other!)
10the
minutes
to imagine
actually
the
hole inchildren
the top Ahead
corners
each
one, being
thread
the1-6 by on
• make
stack
the
mountains
sun?
ofoftime,
patterns
tracTime
things
that
at secure
the
beginyarn piece
through
eachcreated
hole
it.
• and
put
thevery
sun
in cutting
the sky?
Before
going
to the story circle, introduce the song “Hello,
Materials
ing God
them
onto
stiff
paper
and
out
10 minutes
ning: allowing
light,
stars,
ortomoon.
As
think
This will save time,
you
names
and
•write
put
thethey
bushes
onsecure
the
stars?
Everybody.”
I
Masking
tape
several
sets.
Use
masking
tape
to
the
about
how
they
might
that,
make
aon the
talk freely with
the children
while
they
are
working.
• do
put
the
grass
hills?
mightMaterials
patterns
at various
places
around
theYou
table.
large circle
on the
the children
floor
using
• put
themasking
moon
rivers?
want
I Drawing paper,
one sheet
per child
Show
how
to holdina the
sheet
of to sing
If buying
Play-Doh
isn’t in your church
tape. Thepaper
circleinshould
be
enough
forthen
your
group
stand andshapes
move
inside
Invite
children
to stand
• over
putlarge
flowers
in
the
ground?
it to
the
chilItoCreation
(patterns
1-6,
fileyour
box)
place
athe
pattern
and
budget,
this of.
recipe
works
well.
Mix together:
with you
outside
circle
looking
into
it.
outIthat
there istape
nothing there, just like the time when God began
•useput
the
oceans
in
the
sky?
dren today,
making
sure
tothe
each
child’s
name
at Point
least once.
Masking
color
the of
paper
until
the
shape
emerges.
4 cups flour
to recorded
make(Or,
the on
world.
(It’s also
the CD,
track
if you’d could
preferplace
to play itI Crayons
if they
prefer,
the1,children
2 marker
cups salt
for theIn
children,
them
to
add
their
names.)
I Black
theasking
cutouts
on top
ofnothe
paper
andsaid,
trace
the beginning,
there
was
light.
Who
“let there
be light”?
children have responded that it was
4 TbspWhen
alum thefor
I bodies
Construction
mounting
the
(optional)
around
Oncircle
the bottom
of each
God, invite
themthem.)
into the
to be light,
moving their
as light paper
might shine
or dazzle
orpictures
shimmer
or flow.
I TapeAdd:
or tacks
mounting
the pictures
on the
(optional)
child’s
pagethe
print:
YOU, GOD,
Then step
outside
circleTHANK
and continue
the creative drama,
each
timefor
asking,
Who said,
“Let there
be . wall
. .” water,
FORmoon,
[whatever
child
has illustrated].
plants, sun,
stars,the
land,
flowers,
and so on. After responding
thatboiling
it was water
God, invite the group back into the cir4 1⁄2 cups
cle to express that item. When finished, give God a hearty “Hooray!”
1
⁄3 cup baby oil
1
God Made the World
Scripture
Focus
4 SHOW
1 HELLO
GOD MADE ME!
God made you! (clap, clap, point at partner)
God made me! (clap, clap, point at self)
I’m as thankful as can be! (clap on each word)
THE ANIMALS ON THE ARK
Noah stood in the door of the ark. He looked up at the dark clouds. A drop of rain
splattered off the end of his nose. He watched the crowd of animals coming toward
him. “Time to get on board,” he called out with a smile. “The rain’s coming. Let’s
see . . . two of every animal. Are you ready?”
ption option option optio
3.
THE BIBLE
This is the Bible, (fold hands as though praying)
let’s open it wide. (open both hands so that palms show)
We’ll hear God’s story (one hand behind ear)
that’s written inside. (index finger pretending to write on other hand which is open)
Action Stories/Rhymes
2.
Patterns 1-3
1.
Creation Tracings/Rubbings
Walk With Me, Preschool, Session 1 www.WalkWithMeOnline.org Faith Alive Christian Resources
published by CRC Publications. © 2004 by CRC Publications, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids,
MI 49560. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America on recycled paper.
Creation Mix-up
3 GROW
a few drops of food coloring
Mix with a spoon until dough is cool enough to
knead with your hands. Store in an airtight container.
“We’re ready,” the animals shouted back, each in its own special language.
And so they came, ready for God’s great adventure.
(After naming each of the animals below, pause to let the children act out how
they might have entered the ark.)
Here come the bears. (Act like bears.)
Look, it’s the waddling ducks. (Act like ducks.)
Oh my, here are the slithering snakes. (And so forth.)
Welcome aboard, elephants!
40 Session Plans
Good to see you, hippety-hopping kangaroos.
Come right in, beautiful butterflies.
We’re ready for you, gorgeous gorillas!
(The children might like to add to your list!)
When everyone was on the ark, God shut the door. “There is so much work to do
on this ark,” Noah said. “Who will help?”
Who has a long neck for cleaning the ceiling? (giraffe) (Pause for the answer.)
Who will give us fresh milk each day? (cow)
Who will lick up the milk that we spill? (cat)
Who will wake us up each morning? (rooster)
Who will give us eggs each day? (chickens)
Who has a long hose to give us showers? (elephants)
Who has whiskers to dust under the beds each day? (cats, mice, etc.)
(20 Old Testament, 16 New
Testament, 2 Christmas,
and 2 Easter)
Who can sing us wonderful songs while we work? (birds)
“What about us?” asked the monkeys.
Stories/Rhymes
Walk With Me, Preschool www.WalkWithMeOnline.org Faith Alive Christian Resources published by CRC Publications.
© 2004 by CRC Publications, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. All rights reserved. Printed in the United
States of America on recycled paper.
Pa t t e r n s
HELLO, EVERYBODY
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2 If you have
3 If you feel
4 If you like
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stand up.
stand up.
stand up.
stand up.
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stand up.
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5 If you like bananas, stand up.
If you like spinach, stand up.
If you like carrots, stand up.
If you like apples, stand up.
Refrain
XX
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-
day.
XX
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stand up.
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stand up.
stand up.
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stand up.
stand up.
stand up.
stand up.
_________,
If your name is
green
on,
If you have
cheer - ful,
If you feel
rain - bows,
If you like
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blue
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rain - drops,
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6 If God loves boys, stand up.
If God loves girls, stand up.
If God loves me, stand up.
If God loves you, stand up.
Refrain
Be creative; add your own stanzas, always ending with stanza 6. Sing the refrain before each stanza.
The refrain may be used by itself as an opening song.
Words and Music: Traditional
Take-Home Cards
Songs
God Made the World
Session 1 WORDSearch
1
Scripture
Genesis 1:1-19
Focus
God made the world beautiful and good.
WORDSearch
Pray About It
Think About It
Before this and every subsequent
At the core of each lesson in this course
session ask God’s Spirit to prepare
is a Bible story. The Bible contains lots
your heart, your words, and the
of different kinds of God-inspired
hearts of the children. You have the
writings: prophecies, psalms, laws,
awesome privilege of sowing God’s
doctrinal teachings, and wise sayings.
Word in their lives, but only the
So why focus on stories? For a number
Holy Spirit can make it take root
of reasons:
and produce a rich harvest of faith.
• Preschoolers come to know and love
God best through stories.
• The Bible stories together form the central story of the gospel: how God saves
us through sending us Jesus.
• The Bible stories provide a starting point and the framework that gives meaning to all those other kinds of writing.
• Young children love stories. We know you do too!
Each lesson retells one Bible story in kid-friendly language. The way it’s told is
only an example. We urge you to tell the Bible story in your own words and to be
as imaginative and as concrete as you can. But in the telling remember several
important things:
• These are not fairy tales but actual accounts of God’s redeeming work for us.
• Show the children how much you treasure these stories because they come
from God’s book, the Bible.
• Always emphasize what God is doing in the story before sharing what we may
and should do in response.
• You’re called to interpret the story in a way that
makes sense to kids and helps them to respond
appropriately. Read and re-read the actual story
Don’t let the recurrent refrains in the
from the Bible before using WordSearch and the
creation story throw you. While repetilesson to round out your preparation.
tion may drive teens around the bend,
• Be sure that your words and emotional tones tie
preschoolers love it. Where appropriin to concepts and feelings that preschoolers
ate, have your class chime right on in.
actually understand and experience.
Repeat often the simple themes that
• Don’t confuse your kids by adding names of peochildren need to understand: “God is
ple that are not named in the Bible or by dreamgood,” “God loves each one of us,”
ing up events that the Bible doesn’t record.
“God takes care of us,” “God helps us
This first lesson begins the creation account. Don’t
when we’re in trouble,” and “God
get off-track by trying to harmonize scientific
always keeps a promise.”
models with the Genesis account. Focus on the clear
Tell About It
CD
Walk With Me, Preschool, Session 1 www.WalkWithMeOnline.org Faith Alive Christian Resources published by CRC
Publications. © 2004 by CRC Publications, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. All rights reserved. Printed
in the United States of America on recycled paper.
(Songs & Stories)
Bible Backgrounds
Welcome!
1. The children will experience your group as a loving, inviting place in which to learn more about
God’s care for them.
2. The children will hear the great stories of Scripture, especially those about Jesus and his love for them.
3. The children will respond with joy, growing closer to God and experiencing what it means to be part
of God’s family.
Getting Started
You’ve agreed to teach preschoolers—and you’ll be glad you did! We hope you’ll find
these materials helpful as you and the children in your care learn what it means to walk
with Jesus. As you begin, here are some simple goals to guide your walk:
The Walk With Me
curriculum is kid-friendly,
easy-to-use, and designed
with your busy schedule in
mind. Order today!
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Song 1
Refrain
(one set for the teacher)
Preschoolers are proud
of what they’ve learned.
Colorful take-home cards
provide visual reinforcement of the lesson and a
tie-in story for families to
read to their children
during the week.
for a sample Bible
background, session
guide, and children’s
take-home card!
Session 1
ou’ll love the
convenience of our
preschool teacher’s
resource box. It includes
everything you’ll need to
lead your little ones
through age-appropriate
Bible stories (40 sequential
lessons including 20 Old
Testament, 16 New
Testament, 2 Christmas
and 2 Easter). In addition
to the session guides, you
get Bible backgrounds,
posters, songs, patterns,
and rhymes that give depth
and variety to your lessons.
vertime overtime overtime overtime overtime overtime overtime overtime overtim
tion optio
Everything you need,
RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS…
Look inside
Here’s what’s in this box:
Introduction
Bible Backgrounds
Old Testament Stories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
God Made the World
God Made Fish, Birds, and Animals
God Made People
Adam and Eve Disobey
Noah Obeys God
Abraham and Sarah Obey God
God Takes Care of Joseph
Joseph Helps His Brothers
Moses: From Basket to Palace
Moses: The Burning Bush
Moses: The Exodus
Moses: Manna in the Desert
Joshua and the Tall Wall
Hannah’s Prayer
Samuel Listens
David and Goliath
Elisha and the Widow’s Oil
Elisha and Naaman
Jonah and the Big Fish
Daniel and the Lions
New Testament Stories
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
Anna Waits
Jesus Calls His Disciples
Jesus Heals a Little Boy
Jesus Heals a Man Who Couldn’t Walk
Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus Feeds 5,000 People
Jesus Heals Ten Sick Men
Jesus Heals a Man Who Couldn’t See
Mary and Martha
The Lost Sheep
Jesus and the Children
Zacchaeus
Jesus Changes Paul
Over the Wall
A Little Boy Helps Paul
Shipwreck
Church Season Stories
37. The Birth of Jesus
38. The Magi
39. Palm Sunday
40. Easter
Posters
Songs/CD
Patterns
Action Stories/Rhymes
Introduction
f a i t h f u l . f r i e n d l y. f u n
To o r d e r c a l l 1 - 8 0 0 - 3 3 3 - 8 3 0 0 o r v i s i t w w w. Wa l k W i t h M e C u r r i c u l u m . o r g
Po s t e r s
Scripture
Genesis 1:1-19
Focus
God made the world beautiful and good.
WORDSearch
Pray About It
Think About It
Before this and every subsequent
At the core of each lesson in this course
session ask God’s Spirit to prepare
is a Bible story. The Bible contains lots
your heart, your words, and the
of different kinds of God-inspired
hearts of the children. You have the
writings: prophecies, psalms, laws,
awesome privilege of sowing God’s
doctrinal teachings, and wise sayings.
Word in their lives, but only the
So why focus on stories? For a number
Holy Spirit can make it take root
of reasons:
and produce a rich harvest of faith.
• Preschoolers come to know and love
God best through stories.
• The Bible stories together form the central story of the gospel: how God saves
us through sending us Jesus.
• The Bible stories provide a starting point and the framework that gives meaning to all those other kinds of writing.
• Young children love stories. We know you do too!
Each lesson retells one Bible story in kid-friendly language. The way it’s told is
only an example. We urge you to tell the Bible story in your own words and to be
as imaginative and as concrete as you can. But in the telling remember several
important things:
• These are not fairy tales but actual accounts of God’s redeeming work for us.
• Show the children how much you treasure these stories because they come
from God’s book, the Bible.
• Always emphasize what God is doing in the story before sharing what we may
and should do in response.
• You’re called to interpret the story in a way that
makes sense to kids and helps them to respond
Tell About It
appropriately. Read and re-read the actual story
Don’t let the recurrent refrains in the
from the Bible before using WordSearch and the
creation story throw you. While repetilesson to round out your preparation.
tion may drive teens around the bend,
• Be sure that your words and emotional tones tie
preschoolers love it. Where appropriin to concepts and feelings that preschoolers
ate, have your class chime right on in.
actually understand and experience.
Repeat often the simple themes that
• Don’t confuse your kids by adding names of peochildren need to understand: “God is
ple that are not named in the Bible or by dreamgood,” “God loves each one of us,”
ing up events that the Bible doesn’t record.
“God takes care of us,” “God helps us
This first lesson begins the creation account. Don’t
when we’re in trouble,” and “God
get off-track by trying to harmonize scientific
always keeps a promise.”
models with the Genesis account. Focus on the clear
Walk With Me, Preschool, Session 1 www.WalkWithMeOnline.org Faith Alive Christian Resources published by CRC
Publications. © 2004 by CRC Publications, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. All rights reserved. Printed
in the United States of America on recycled paper.
Session 1 WORDSearch
1
God Made the World
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Session 1
1
God Made the World
SE SA
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Scripture
Genesis 1:1-19
Focus
God made the world beautiful and good.
People Smart Music Smart
Earth Smart
1 HELLO
Meeting Friends, Learning Names
Welcome the children warmly as they
arrive. Invite them to come to the table
and pick out a nametag. Print the children’s names on the tags before asking
them to decorate the tags with a few
stickers. When the nametags are finished,
ask the children to put them on. Point out
that each time they come to class, the first
thing they should do is put on their
nametags. (Show everyone where the tags
will be kept.)
Goal
Feel welcomed and accepted.
Time
15 minutes
Materials
I Play-Doh
I Items from nature
I Nametags cut from sturdy cardboard, approximately 4" x 5"
I
I
I
I
I
I
(10 cm x 13 cm)
Markers
Yarn cut into 26" (66 cm) lengths, one per child
Paper punch
Stickers of assorted animals, birds, flowers
Song: “Hello, Everybody” (song 1, file box; CD, track 1)
CD player
When you’ve cleaned up the table, distribute a ball of Play-Doh to each child. Have
fun squishing, rolling, and pressing PlayDoh into interesting shapes. Supply items
from nature—twigs, leaves, stones, flowers, shells—for the children to use to make
imprints. Invite the children to make
shapes of animals and other natural wonders too. As you play together, call the children by name, telling them how
glad you are they are here. Tell them that today you will have a
special story about some of the things they have printed in their
Before class, cut the nametags to size, punch a
Play-Doh. (But mostly, just enjoy getting to know each other!)
hole in the top corners of each one, thread the
yarn piece through each hole and secure it.
This will save time, allowing you to write names and
talk freely with the children while they are working.
Before going to the story circle, introduce the song “Hello,
Everybody.”
You might
want to sing
If buying Play-Doh isn’t in your church
it to the chilbudget, this recipe works well. Mix together:
dren today, making sure to use each child’s name at least once.
4 cups flour
(It’s also recorded on the CD, track 1, if you’d prefer to play it
2 cups salt
for the children, asking them to add their names.)
4 Tbsp alum
Add:
4 1⁄2 cups boiling water
1
⁄3 cup baby oil
a few drops of food coloring
Mix with a spoon until dough is cool enough to
knead with your hands. Store in an airtight container.
2 KNOW
Music Smart
Word Smart
Creation Story
Introduce the action rhyme “The Bible,”
teaching the words and actions. You’ll be
using it to introduce the story each week
for sessions 1-4. As you teach it, have your
Bible on your lap.
When your group has settled into the special place you have chosen for telling the
story each week, invite the children to put
on their listening ears and open their
watching eyes. God is going to do something pretty spectacular! Then, using the
four story pictures, read or tell the story.
The story text is provided on the back of
each picture.
Goal
Name some of the things God made: land, sea, sky, sun, moon,
stars, trees, flowers, and so on.
Time
10 minutes
Materials
I Hand-held mirror
I Bible
I “The Bible” (action story/rhyme 1, file box)
I Story pictures (poster 1, file box)
I Song: “That’s Good” (song 2, file box; CD, track 2)
When you have finished telling the story, ask the children to think about how God felt when the world looked exactly
the way God wanted it to be. Hold the mirror to the children’s faces, encouraging them to show how God felt about
such a good, good world.
Introduce the song “That’s Good.” Sing the song several times, each time leaving out the word “world” and inviting
the children to insert the names of some of the many good things God made.
Children love a story read well, so if you chose to read it, read it for all it’s worth. But telling a story from your
heart is even more powerful. Prepare by immersing yourself in the scriptural account and meditating on it
until the wonder and power of God’s mighty act of creation has captured your heart anew. Then you will be
ready to look your four-year-olds in the eye and in the heart, passing on not only the story, but also the testimony of
your own faith.
3 GROW
Body Smart
Story Drama
Creative drama is a full-body activity that
Goal
offers a great opportunity for expression.
Realize that God made our world and everything in it.
Encourage your kids to use their entire
Time
bodies, including their faces. Invite the
10 minutes
children to imagine actually being the
things that God created at the very beginMaterials
ning: light, stars, or moon. As they think
I Masking tape
about how they might do that, make a
large circle on the floor using masking
tape. The circle should be large enough for your group to stand and move inside of. Invite your children to stand
with you outside of the circle looking into it. Point out that there is nothing there, just like the time when God began
to make the world.
In the beginning, there was no light. Who said, “let there be light”? When the children have responded that it was
God, invite them into the circle to be light, moving their bodies as light might shine or dazzle or shimmer or flow.
Then step outside the circle and continue the creative drama, each time asking, Who said, “Let there be . . .” water,
plants, sun, moon, stars, land, flowers, and so on. After responding that it was God, invite the group back into the circle to express that item. When finished, give God a hearty “Hooray!”
option option option optio
Sock Ball Word Smart
Make a sock ball by turning a sock inside
Time
out, folding it as you do. Sit in a circle. Tell 10 minutes
the children that when the ball comes to
Materials
them, they should name something that
I Old sock
God made, then toss the ball back to you.
Be sure that everyone is offered a turn.
When the game is over, ask the children to tell you once again who made the world.
The first day of church school can be a big deal—perhaps even a scary event—for young children. Some will
respond with shyness or reluctance to participate in activities. Your gentle encouragement and willingness to
allow a child to sit near you and watch, but not participate, will show everyone that this is a safe place. Soon,
even the reluctant child will be ready to participate.
4 SHOW
Picture Smart
Story Magnets
Each child will make two story magnets—
one of the sun and one of the night sky.
Help the children assemble the magnets
like this:
• Give each child two magnets. (Magnets
can be cut into 1" squares before class.)
Add a bit of glue to the top of each,
then show the children how press a
circle on top.
• On the yellow circle place dots of glue,
then help the children sprinkle gold
glitter on the glue to represent the sun’s
brilliance.
• Glue the stars on the black circle, then
place dots of glue and sprinkle silver
glitter to represent the sparkling stars.
Goal
Thank God for the wonderful things in our world.
Time
10 minutes
Materials
I Fridge magnets, the kind that businesses use for advertisement,
two per child
I Black felt or craft foam, cut into 4" (10 cm) circles, one per child
I Yellow or gold craft foam or felt, cut into 4" (10 cm) circles,
one per child
I White glue
I Foil stars
I Gold and silver glitter
While the children are working, talk about the beauty of the day and
night sky. When the children are finished, set their magnets aside to
dry. Then ask the children to pray with you, repeating after you the
phrases of this prayer:
on option option optio
Thank you, God, for the warm sun and the sparkling stars. Amen.
Creation Tracings/Rubbings Ahead of time, make patterns 1-6 by tracing them onto stiff paper and cutting out
several sets. Use masking tape to secure the
patterns at various places around the table.
Show the children how to hold a sheet of
paper in place over a pattern and then
color the paper until the shape emerges.
(Or, if they prefer, the children could place
the cutouts on top of the paper and trace
around them.) On the bottom of each
child’s page print: THANK YOU, GOD,
FOR [whatever the child has illustrated].
Picture Smart
Time
10 minutes
Materials
I Drawing paper, one sheet per child
I Creation shapes (patterns 1-6, file box)
I Masking tape
I Crayons
I Black marker
I Construction paper for mounting the pictures (optional)
I Tape or tacks for mounting the pictures on the wall (optional)
+ OVERTIME
Litany and Song of Praise Body Smart
Music Smart
Tell the children that each time you hold
Time
up your index finger, they will say: “God,
you are a great God!” Practice doing this a 10 minutes
few times. Then hand out the shakers,
Materials
showing the children how to shake them
I Shakers made with plastic film canisters filled 1/3 with sand or salt,
up and down. Tell them that they will also
two per child
need to do what you do. Practice with a
I Song: “Come Praise the Lord” (song 3, file box; CD, track 3)
few movements. Then have the children
set the shakers on the floor in front of
them before you begin the litany based on Psalm 95.
Leader: God, you hold the earth in your hands. (crouch down)
All: God, you are a great God!
Leader: The sea is yours, for you made it. (knees bent, hands on knees)
All: God, you are a great God!
Leader: You shaped the dry land and made the trees stand tall. (stand, arms at sides)
All: God, you are a great God!
Leader: The mountaintops belong to you. (stand, hands forming a peak overhead)
All: God, you are a great God!
All: God, you are a great God! (shake shakers up high)
Listen to the first verse of “Come Praise the Lord” as it’s recorded on the CD. Then sing it through together, asking
the children to join you on the parts they remember. If you have time, repeat the litany. (Be sure to save the shakers to
use another day.)
When you have rhymes, prayers, or litanies that you want to use several times, print the words on cardboard
and place the cards where you can easily read them. That will free you from being tied to the file card.
Creation Mix-up Word Smart
Enjoy this silly game with your group. Ask
Time
the children if God put the stars at the bot- 10 minutes
tom of a lake. Someone will be quick to tell
Materials
you that he didn’t! Ask them where God
I None needed
did put them. Tell the children that if you
say something silly, they should jump up,
then tell you where God really did put the item. But warn them to watch out: everything you say might not be silly.
Did God . . .
• put the trees on the moon?
• stack the mountains on the sun?
• put the sun in the sky?
• put the bushes on the stars?
• put the grass on the hills?
• put the moon in the rivers?
• put the flowers in the ground?
• put the oceans in the sky?
Walk With Me, Preschool, Session 1 www.WalkWithMeOnline.org Faith Alive Christian Resources
published by CRC Publications. © 2004 by CRC Publications, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids,
MI 49560. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America on recycled paper.
tion optio
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Close with prayer, thanking God for each child by name and for any helpers who are with you, as well as those who
helped behind the scenes. Have the children put away their nametags. Send the children home with a smile, their
take-home cards, and their magnets.
TA S
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front
(actual size)
To o r d e r c a l l 1 - 8 0 0 - 3 3 3 - 8 3 0 0 o r v i s i t w w w . W a l k W i t h M e C u r r i c u l u m . o r g