Naaman Had Leprosy

 We are ALL excited around here...We are getting ready to learn about Naaman.  I love this story for so many reasons.

We will focus on the HISTORY of this story.  The facts that Elisha, GOD'S prophet, was performing miracles.   We will look at how Naaman refused to do something so simple...because, he wanted something more dramatic.    We will then talk about the need to OBEY ALL of GOD'S COMMANDS...no matter how "STRANGE" we might think the commands are.  

I wanted a "different" type of VISUAL AID for this story...So, I decided to make a "PUPPET STAGE" of a sort.  I used an old shoe box.  I just cut a slot in the top...so that I can move the people around as I tell the story.    

I used clip art from the cool clip collection.   I did manipulate a few of them...cutting out things I did not need...attaching heads to different bodies...a copier works magic for this...LOTS of clipping and cutting...but, it works.    I glued them to craft sticks/tongue depressors so that I have a "handle" to move them around with.

I think this will be a FUN way of telling this story.  

I know the KIDDOS will love having  the ability to move these people around inside the "STAGE."  

 

I felt Isaiah 55:9 would make a wonderful Memory Verse to be used with this lesson.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."  We will sing this verse to the tune:  "If you're happy and you know it..."

We have added a new card to our "GOD'S AWESOME PLAN for MAN" wall.  We love to see how GOD'S PLAN is unfolding through all of these stories.

 

We will add this word to our Word Wall.  I want the KIDDOS to know how BAD LEPROSY is and since we do not hear much about LEPROSY (except in Bible Lessons) I wanted to make sure they understand that it was a HORRIBLE disease. 

The KIDDOS will be making their "TAKE HOME" projects out of the items in this picture. 

I had a bunch of these FRY CUPS...so, I decided to use them....because, they were FREE!!!!    I copied the WAVES onto blue cardstock.    The blue water will be painted with the pudding.  I like painting MUD  out of pudding. It makes the MUD look without completely covering up the original color of the BLUE PAPER.  (I used this method of painting MUD when I taught the story of the PRODIGAL SON...and the KIDDOS LOVED painting with the pudding.  And is smells better than paint.) I just add a little bit of pudding mix and water...GREAT for finger painting.  Then each of the KIDDOS will color their own NAMMAN.  On one side he has leprosy....on the other side he does NOT have leprosy.   This will enable the KIDDOS to be able to dip him SEVEN times and give their stick a twist and he will be cleansed!!    

I used an exacto knife to cut a slit in the bottom of the fry cup so, the KIDDOS can slip their Naaman down into the "water." 

The KIDDOS will DIP him seven times then flip him over and he'll be cleansed. 

We will also be singing a song abour the story of Naaman.  I like singing songs that go along with the lesson....In my opinion it reinforces the story and helps the KIDDOS remember the lesson.

As a review game we will be DIPPING Naaman Seven times in the "River Jordan."    Each of the "waves" is a thin pocket...This took me a bit to figure out how to make..but, I love how it turned out!!!

 

I laminated a small Naaman....that will move up the river as he is dipped.  The KIDDOS will get to dip Naaman---by answering questions from the lesson.   I have strategically place a "cleaned" Naaman inside the last wave/pocket.   I will make sure to pull him out after the last dip.   

When Naaman obeyed HE WAS CLEAN!!!!

Next week the KIDDOS will be making this project.    They will color the "River Jordan,"  color  the two sided Naaman and then place him in the slot....then then can dip him seven times. 

I realize the KIDDOS activities are similar to each other...BUT, they seem to WORK BEST for this lesson.  

I am excited about this lesson...I have always LOVED the story of Naaman.  I am praying that the children get the AWE effect...after all, Naaman was CLEANSED of his DEATH SENTENCE....and we can be too!!!!  All Naaman had to do was OBEY GOD...and ALL we have to do is OBEY GOD!!!

 

Blessings,

Ronda

FLIP YOUR LID!!!! Bible Facts Review Game

 We have a new EARLY ARRIVER ACTIVITY!

I have been slowly collecting these tops to LYSOL wipes.....You could use ANY brand you like...I just happened to have LYSOL brand wipes,  so I that is what I am currently using.

However, I put the word out and have had several donations  of lids come in from members and friends.  So, I will probably make more of these...just using the other styles of lids. 

Currently, I have SIX lids that I have CODED with REVIEW Questions.     

I can hand out the lids individually....  After I know that they KNOW the answer...they can get a new LID.  

 

I am calling this "FLIP YOUR LID" Bible Review.  Since, I will continually get more lids...after all I really do use these in quick cleaning my home...I decided to GLUE the questions and answers to the lids...I had thought about VELCRO DOTS...that would make them "CHANGEABLE."  But, decided that for now I wanted them to be permanently affixed.   

I want to find a unique way to store these...and I think I will store them according to the THEME.  Meaning that ALL of the lids that have questions about the KINGS/DIVIDED KINGDOM will go together.  That way I can have several "FLIP YOUR LID" Review games.  I am thinking....Genesis Questions, Life of MOSES questions, Judges, New Testament, etc. 

 

Again, my encouragement to you it to THINK before you pitch it in the TRASH.  

 

 

 

Ask yourself, "COULD I DO SOMETHING WITH THIS FOR BIBLE CLASS?"

 

I have thrown SEVERAL of these in the recycle bin through the years....BUT, NEVER AGAIN!!! 

I think this is a FUN and EXCITING way to REVIEW Bible Questions.  

I know my KIDDOS will LOVE the OPENING and CLOSING of the LID!!!!  

BLESSINGS,

Ronda

Save The TRASH!!!

If you follow me on FACEBOOK you already know all about this....I want to encourage you to USE it ALL!!!  

You see, I use a LOT of Sticky Foam Dots.  I LOVE the 3D effect that these Foam Dots give to items on pages.  

But, I have a little secret.  I SAVE all the pieces that the DOTS are POPPED out of....Because, it can serve as a large POP up Sticker.  

I am showing you how I used the "TRASH" from the Foam Dots...on a recent EXPLORER JOURNAL Activity.    Matter-of-fact, if you will look at the lesson that I recently taught...about Elisha and the Woman from Shunem..you will see a BED that POPS up off the page....Well, this is EXACTLY how I did it...I attached one of these to the back of every one of the beds....the KIDDOS peel off the exposed paper and stick it to their activity.  

I am NOT brand specific....so, some of my "TRASH" stickers look like the one above and some look like this.   It does not seem to make a difference....I have had really good luck using all of types.  

This still has paper on it...the KIDDO will peel the paper off and attach it to their EXPLORER JOURNAL ACTIVITY.  

Here is a FINISHED product...The bed POPS off the Paper...and because I used "TRASH" it keeps the cost down and makes my individual DOTS last longer.  

Just wanted to encourage you to THINK before you PITCH items into the trash....Sometimes YOU get a little more out of the money you spend...IF YOU THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.  

Blessings,

Ronda

A WORK in PROGRESS!!!

Can you believe I had a few "SPARE" minutes this morning.

So, I began to "PLAY."    I had collected a bunch of these containers this past Summer.  We used them while we traveled...They are great for snacking and fit perfectly in a cup holder.  When the KIDDOS were done with their treats....I would use the cups and refill them with grapes...etc.  My main goal was to make sure they did NOT get pitched in the trash.  :-)

I know it is a LOOOONG time before I will be teaching the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to my KIDDOS.   However, for some reason, when I was looking at all of these little containers I began thinking about a FURNACE.  

 

As I kept looking at one of these little containers I decided I needed to "see" what I could come up with.  Please realize this is rough....but, I decided to SHARE it with you anyway.  This is truly a work in progress.....

I used an Exacto Knife and cut a door into the front....I added a FLICKERING, Battery Operated Candle (I had purchased these a few weeks back at a Dollar General).   Now, all that it needs is details...I think I would paint the inside red, yellow, or maybe orange. I need to make and add Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego...and the "SPECIAL VISITOR."

When it is time for my KIDDOS to make these, I will probably have them decorate the outside....However, I may detail them to look like bricks....I am not sure yet.  

I might even have the KIDDOS add some cellophane pieces in Yellow, Orange and Red.  Maybe even some sort of  grey cotton type stuff for SMOKE... 

I just wanted to SHARE this with you...I love it when I am musing over something and an IDEA hits me.  

If you make these...PLEASE let me know how the KIDDOS received them.  I am excited about project...but, It will be a LOOOOONG time before I get to teach the lesson that goes with this activity.  

Blessings,


Ronda

Elisha And the Shunamite Woman

This Sunday we will be learning about Elisha, the Shunamite woman and her son.  I briefly, introduced the Shunamite woman at the end of our last lesson. Tell the KIDDOS that Elisha was going to Shunem and would meet a very kind woman there....

God's Awesome Plan For Man Wall

We will talk about the KINDNESS that the woman showed Elisha...the fact that she fed him and even had a room built especially for him.    I want the KIDDOS to understand that GOD wants us to show Kindness to others.  GOD wants us to be generous.    I will use this lesson to  REALLY drive home the importance of SHARING with others. 

We will also,  learn about Elisha wanting to do something SPECIAL for this woman...since she had been so nice to him and his servant.    We will learn that Elisha promises that the woman would have a son!!!  We will learn that the promise came true...she had a son and loved him very much.  Then, we will learn about the son dying and Elisha bringing him back to life.   

I wanted our Memory Verse to focus on being kind/sharing with others...and I thought this verse went with our story perfectly.    I have a little tune that we will sing this Memory Verse too.  Most of the KIDDOS will have it memorized before leaving the classroom.  I really love for the KIDDOS to be able to sing their Memory Verse to a tune...it seems to help them get them memorized quickly.  

Because, we briefly touched on the woman from Shunem during our last lesson...we already have that city on our MAP. 

The Visuals for this lesson come from a clip and copy book....I will attach the picture to the paint paddle as I tell the story.    This will also come in handy when reviewing the lesson....Seeing if the KIDDOS can put the story in the correct sequence. 

After we are finished with this lesson I will add this to my bucket of Paint Paddle Early Arrival Activities....That way the KIDDOS can revisit this lesson in the future. 

I want to be up front with my readers...this lesson presented  a CHALLENGE for me.  That challenge was  coming up with a "TAKE HOME" project.  I wanted the "TAKE HOME" project to go along with the lesson...but, I could not THINK of anything!!!!   So, I pondered....and pondered and pondered.    Well, this is what I ended up doing.   I decided to have the KIDDOS make a "wind sock" to hang in their bedroom....(after all the woman built Elisha a bedroom) and I wanted the "wind sock" to remind them to SHARE!!!  So, I printed their Memory Verse on yellow cardstock.  The KIDDOS will color the verse with MARKERS!!!!  Then roll it into a large tube.  They will  get to add various colored party streamers and glue on a set of googly eyes (above the word eye)....I think it works.  Let me know what you think. 

Our REVIEW game is one that the KIDDOS have played before....  We play it like Musical Chairs....We will sing a song...I say STOP!  We roll the FOAM DIE...and the number rolled will correspond with one of the numbers in the circles...The KIDDOS in that numbered circle answers a question from the lesson.    This game has been well received by the KIDDOS. 

The KIDDOS EXPLORER JOURNAL activity for next week looks like this!!!!  They will add the BED which is on foam sticker paper...so it not just a flat sticker stuck to the page...it actually gives the page a bit of a 3D effect...but, we are not done yet....The KIDDOS will get to glue on a TABLE and a CHAIR....then they will glue the paper LANTERN onto the table.    The tables  and chairs are from DOLLAR TREE.  The table was originally oval...but, my wonder hubby cut them in half---length wise---and the chairs are from a Chair stacking game that Dollar Tree carries.  I was so excited when I found them....I believe there were 10 chairs in a pkg.  

(I went to Dollar Tree...specifically looking for small chairs and when I found these, I sort of did a jig and a small squeal may have been heard down the aisle.)  BTW, the chairs were in the "BOY'S TOYS."

OK...after I finished the post, I was just NOT happy with the FINISHED PRODUCT for the KIDDOS "EXPLORER JOURNALS".....I wanted an Elisha and a little boy....So, my wheels began to turn...

At first,  I considered using clip art.  Then I thought about craft sticks (Tongue Depressors) ....but, when I began looking through all my craft supplies.... I was reminded of  my ABUNDANCE of Chenille Sticks/Pipe Cleaners!!!!   


Please understand, when I say ABUNDANCE...I am in NO WAY EXAGGERATING.  (I buy them at Hobby Lobby when they go on sale for 80-90% off!! Watch for them at the end of Summer, after Easter, after Christmas.   I have also bought a shoe box FULL of them for $0.25 at a Garage Sale.)  






I decided to make a little boy and an Elisha out of the Chenille sticks.    The KIDDOS will attach the boy to the bed with a velcro dot.  That way Elisha can "RAISE" him back to life.  Elisha will be "FREE STANDING." That way the KIDDOS can MOVE him around, sit him down  at the table or have him walk  off and come back...etc.

BTW, I COULD NOT stand for them NOT to have some sort of FACE!!!!!  Is it just me...or is a faceless "person" just kinda creepy?   So, I added some small smiley face stickers to the Chenille Stick Men.  (The stickers were left over from a past Memory Verse Tracker/Reward system.) 

NOW, I am MUCH happier with the Project!!!   

I am looking forward to teaching this lesson....SHARING is such a important topic for KIDDOS.  I want them to understand that when we SHARE it makes GOD happy, others happy and ourselves happy. 

Blessings,

Ronda