Saturday, August 25, 2012

The Ravens Fed Elijah (GOD WILL PROVIDE!)

I am beyond excited about this lesson.  I know the KIDDOS will LOVE learning all about the Ravens Feeding Elijah.  I LOVE how GOD takes care of HIS FOLLOWERS.    There is so many exciting aspects to this lesson...Although, we will focus on the HISTORY of this lesson...we will make sure to DRAW out the conclusion that GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE!!!

By the end of class time the KIDDOS will be able to answer the Who? What? When? Where? Where? Why? and How is this story Important to ME?  Questions!!  If they can answer those questions, I know they understood the LESSON. 












We  have added an Elijah card to our "GOD'S AWESOME PLAN FOR MAN"  Time Line Wall.  We add a CARD each time we have a NEW lesson...This helps the KIDDOS remember where in HISTORY a story took place.  It also helps me REVIEW past lessons...and helps me lead the children through BIBLE HISTORY....Continually showing the THEME of the BIBLE.  JESUS IS COMING....JESUS IS HERE...JESUS IS COMING AGAIN.    GOD wants us to live in such a way as to be READY when JESUS RETURNS.  (YES, KIDDOS understand this!!) 









We get to add a "NEW" Prophet to our List of PROPHETS.  


ELIJAH!!!! 














We will be SINGING this song this week.  I know the KIDDOS will love this one.  My little boy, often goes around singing this song already.  Have I mentioned, I LOVE hearing the KIDDOS sing songs that I have written.  I LOVE knowing they are learning their BIBLE STORIES through songs.  It is so much easier for me to recall BIBLE STORIES when I have a SONG that goes along with the story. 






















Our memory verse this week is Philippians 4:19!  I feel this verse helps put the focus on the HOW THIS LESSON IS IMPORTANT TO ME?  Question.  I want the KIDDOS to understand that GOD will always PROVIDE for our needs.  We need to LOVE, HONOR,  and TRUST GOD!

















Our "WORD WALL" is really being "built" up!!  I know this weeks  words are not necessarily HARD words...But, they are words the KIDDOS do not use everyday.  Matter-of-fact, I will be surprised if they know what a BROOK is.  And around here, we refer to Ravens as CROWS.  So, I will be interested to see how many of them KNOW what a Raven is...we will see.  











We will add the Brook Cherith to our MAP.  I want the KIDDOS to know that Cherith is in the NORTHERN Nation...and am looking forward to showing them all the TRAVELS of Elijah. 




















The KIDDOS will be making a flying Raven as their "TAKE HOME" activity. Before, I show you the finished product, I wanted to share with you something that made me laugh.  Because I do NOT want our TAKE HOME projects to take up a TON of my teaching time...I do a LOT of the prep work ahead of class time.  So, this week that involved making BIRD LEGS and FEET.  Well, this is what my table looked like....and, I could NOT help but LAUGH!  These BIRD legs were made from chenille sticks....and I think they are cute but, just a bit creepy sitting on my table like this.  LOL.












NOW, on to the Ravens the KIDDOS will be making...During class, they will color the Ravens and wings.  We will slide the wings in place and then glue the "bread" in the Raven's mouth.   



After they have completed their RAVEN they will "FLY" them around the room as we sing "The Ravens Fed Elijah" song. 














To make our RAVENS "fly," I attached a small dowel and fishing line to the Raven.  This will allow the KIDDOS to "FLY" their Raven around the classroom. 
 












The KIDDOS will be PLAYING TIC-TAC-TOE as a REVIEW GAME.  We will play this by having the KIDDOS answer a question from the LESSON.  They will then add a "RAVEN" or a "BROOK" to the TIC-TAC-TOE board.    FYI, I decided to use the FOAM blocks to make my GAME BOARD!....This saved me a TON of TIME!  And, I LOVE the LOOK!  So easy and SO effective!!!  :-)












After I got home I realized I forgot to take a picture of the KIDDOS EXPLORER JOURNAL activity that they will do NEXT week....So, please check back later this week.  I will get a PICTURE of what the KIDDOS  will be making and add it to the website.






OK...This is the KIDDO'S EXPLORER JOURNAL activity for NEXT SUNDAY.  The KIDDOS will Color Elijah, the BROOK CHERITH, and the Ravens.  Then the KIDDOS will add "BREAD" to the RAVENS mouths.  I am have the KIDDOS glue on Oyster Crackers on to the Raven's Mouths. 


I will probably coat the Oyster Crackers with Elmer's Glue...That seems to keep them from breaking apart and becoming crumbs! 



 

Blessings,


Ronda

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Bible Detectives!!!!

We are starting something NEW.  This is an opportunity for all of OUR KIDDOS, that attend Bible Classes here at our congregation, to expand their Bible Knowledge!!!


We are going to encourage all of our KIDDOS to be BIBLE DETECTIVES!!!  









We have an area in our classroom hallway that is PERFECT for displaying this BOARD.    It is in a central location and very easy for ALL parents, visitors and students to see.  



Detective Notebook and Special Pencil. 
Each KIDDO will be given a Detective Notebook and Pencil.  Then they will go to the board and jot down the BIBLE Question for the week.  














Date, Question, Answer and Reference. 
They will have a WEEK to FIND the Answer....On WEDNESDAY following the posting of the NEW Question....we will post a CLUE that will help the KIDDO find the answer.  That way if they are STUMPED by the question...they know they will get a bit of help on Wednesday Evening. 












We plan on making the Bible Questions RANGE in difficulty.  We want our little ones to be able to participate...so, we will have a few "easier to answer questions"...but, since we want to challenge our older Kiddos we will have some questions that will put their Detective Skills to WORK.  





The area that we will be posting the questions is simply a laminated piece of yellow cardstock paper.  Makes it easy to CHANGE the question.  We simple write on it with an Erasable White Board Marker.  


 

We want this to be FUN and Educational.  We know that FACTS are very Basic Learning Skills ...but, if we can get the KIDDOS searching the Scriptures for answers then we will be helping to establish a LIFE PRINCIPLE.  











The little POCKET on the bottom right of the board will house PAST Questions (we will write the past questions on those little Magnifying Glasses)...that way if a KIDDOS misses a question they have the opportunity to go back and add the question to their Detective Notebook.  










We are excited about this activity....ALL the teachers are going to participate as well...We are asking them to submit various Bible Questions to be added to the Board.  














NOW,  just some technical info.  The Blue Board is a Science Project Board...I purchased it at Hobby Lobby with a 40 % off coupon.  The Detective Dog, Magnifying Glasses and Border all came from a Classroom Bulletin Board Poster Kit that I purchased at Mardel (school supply store.)  The little box on the bottom right corner came from Dollar Tree.  The words "Bible Detective" were printed from my computer graphics program.  The little Detective Notebooks are from Dollar Tree (4 for $1.00)...I just printed a Label and recovered the front of each Notebook.  The pencils came from Dollar Tree.  I had the Yellow Cardstock Paper in my supplies.  

Hope this might inspire you to challenge the KIDDOS that attend your congregation....Help them LEARN to LOVE EXPLORING their BIBLE!!!  The BIBLE holds all the ANSWERS to LIFE!!!  Let's get the KIDDOS SEARCHING their BIBLE today!!!!


Blessings,


Ronda






Friday, August 10, 2012

The Divided Kingdom...Jeroboam WAS NAUGHTY

Who? What? When? Where? Why? & How?
 
 This Sunday we will be officially on to lesson two of the Divided Kingdom.  Since I am blessed to teach a lesson one week and then REVIEW the lesson the next week...each lesson last me two weeks.  This really is a blessing, as I am writing these lessons.  Sometimes, LIFE gets me going in about a 100 different directions...I am sure you ALL have been there!!!  

So, what is LESSON TWO about???  It is about Jeroboam the very NAUGHTY King.  We are going to be focusing on Jeroboam's wicked decision to place Altars at Dan and Bethel.  We are going to talk about IDOLS and what can become IDOLS in our life.  














God's Awesome Plan For Man--Time Line Card
I want the KIDDOS to understand the HISTORY in this LESSON. I want the KIDDOS to get the fact that Jeroboam had his own justification for erecting the altars---after all, he was worried about the people's allegiance.  (I want them to understand that we can NEVER JUSTIFY SIN.)  I want them to know that Jeroboam was sinning against GOD and leading the people of Israel into sin.  I want them to understand that GOD had promised Jeroboam that HE would be with him....AS LONG AS JEROBOAM did what GOD wanted...but, sadly, Jeroboam chose to be naughty.    There are so many life lessons found within the story of Jeroboam.  I am attempting to BRING those stories out as we Explore this lesson. 







Our Prophet Time Line.
We will be introducing 2 more prophets this week.  The YOUNG PROPHET~that was sent to Jeroboam to WARN him.  The OLD PROPHET~that convinced the Young Prophet to sin against GOD.  Again, there is so many LIFE altering lessons found in this story.  My main focus for the KIDDOS will be to NEVER listen to ANYONE trying to tell you it is OK NOT TO OBEY GOD!!! 












Our "WORD WALL."  We will be adding the word IDOL to our wall this week.  This is the "technical" definition.   I will also explain that ANYTHING we LOVE can become an IDOL. 












 The KIDDOS have 2 'NEW' geographical places to FIND on the map.  We will find DAN and BETHEL.  I  will try my best to explain Jeroboam's reasoning for placing the altars at Dan and Bethel.  I want to point out that these two places are a type of "book ends" to the Northern Nation of Israel.











Our Memory Verse this week will be Leviticus 19:4.    I will often use a portion of a verse as a memory verse for the KIDDOS.  I want them to GET the POINT of the verse...and since they are ranging in age from 4 1/2 to 7...I do not want to STRESS them out over a really LOOOOOOOONG memory verse.  BTW, If one of the KIDDOS does NOT have the memory verse memorized "WORD FOR WORD" but, they can tell me the meaning of the verse...that is JUST FINE BY ME!!!  I want them to UNDERSTAND why the verse is IMPORTANT!!!    We will be singing this Memory Verse to the tune of Frere Jacque.  That will help them get it memorized!    I normally inform the parents the "tune" we sing our memory verses too...that way they can SING/REVIEW  the Memory Verse during the week.  







Tune:  "If You're Happy and You Know It..."
We will have another NEW SONG this Sunday.  This song is sung to a familar tune...  If you know the song, "If You're Happy and You Know It..."  Well that is the tune I use for this SONG.  I know the KIDDOS will LOVE to sing this SONG.  I like the fact that this song explains in a nutshell what led the Nation of Israel into captivity.  

















Our "TAKE HOME" activity will be a 'Paper Bible Pop Up.'  At least that is what I am calling it.  :)  This is constructed out of card stock paper.  The little holder is neon green card stock...it is folded like one of those "TABLE TENTS" you see on restaurant tables.  However, attached to it is a paper BIBLE.  The KIDDOS will color the BIBLE and then we will staple the Bible Pages to the edge of the NEON GREEN Table Tent.  That is what gives the Bible the 3D effect!  The KIDDOS will then GLUE their Ribbon Bible Bookmark down.... (I have the RIBBONS attached to the back of the activity....but, it will be up to the KIDDOS how they want to glue their Ribbon Down.   

 After typing ALL of that...I sort of felt CONFUSED...So, I decided to add a few more pictures to try and SHOW you better what I was failing at explaining.  :)


 I felt the Scripture Printed on the "TAKE HOME" activity was very applicable to the lesson....Jeroboam did not KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of GOD... BUT, WE WILL!!!











Our Review Game is one you have seen before....I do REUSE Ideas....Especially if the KIDDOS enjoyed it.  So, this is how we will "PLAY" this Review Game.  We will sing a song that goes along with the LESSON.  (The Kingdom Was Divided, A Prophet is A Messenger, or Jeroboam Was Naughty.)  However, I will say "STOP!" randomly throughout the song.  The KIDDOS will have to stand still in whatever HOOP they are in.  I then let them take turns rolling the die.  The KIDDO in the HOOP with the corresponding number that the DIE lands on will have to answer a question from the lesson.  I like this activity...it get the KIDDOS singing, moving, thinking, and excited!!!  An added BONUS---this can be "played" with SO MANY DIFFERENT STORIES!!!!  Invest/Make It ONCE--USE IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER again!!!!









Our Explorer Journal Activity is so much more simple in nature.  We will be adding DAN and BETHEL to our OWN MAP.  The KIDDOS will color their own MAP of the Divided Kingdoms...and then they will stick a 3D POP up ALTAR at DAN and BETHEL.    We will be doing this activity NEXT Sunday.  SO, by that time the KIDDOS will understand the importance behind this story.  











Hope you can tell how excited I am about teaching this lesson.  I will say, teaching the History of the Divided Kingdom to 4 1/2 -7 year olds is not without its challenges.  BUT it is so worth the effort!!!!  I am thrilled at how they are SOAKING in these stories.   


Blessings,


Ronda