First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
May 4, 2014 Basic Truth: God made me. Key Question: Who will take care of you? Bottom Line: God will take care of me. Memory Verse: “My God will meet all your needs.” Philippians 4:19 NIrV Bible Story: God will take care of me. Flowers and Birds • Matthew 6:25-34
Make It Fun (Introductory Activities, 10 minutes) 1. Growing Flowers “Growing Flowers” is an activity that uses large motor skills and imaginary play to introduce flowers in today’s Bible story. What You Need: No supplies needed. (Option: Rain and wind sounds.) What You Do: During the activity: Lead the children in some imaginary play as they grow like flowers. Ask them to ball up on the floor like a little flower seed. Walk around and tickle their backs; this is the rain falling down on the seeds. Tell them the sun is out and it’s time to begin slowly growing until they are standing tall. Once all of the children are standing tall, make a wind sound and guide them to sway in the wind. When you are done you can ask the children to ball up like little seeds and do it all over again! Repeat as many times as desired. (Option: Use the rain sound when you tickle their backs and the wind sound when they sway. Ask the children to listen for the sounds as their cue.) What You Say: During the activity: “Come over here with me. I have something fun for us to do! Today we are gong to pretend to be flowers. Who can tell me what a flower starts out like? (Pause.) Yes! A flower starts out as a seed. I need all of you to ball up in a little ball on the floor like a little seed. Okay, here comes the rain. All little seeds need rain to grow. Oh! The rain stopped! Now the warm sun is coming out. The sun makes the seeds grow into beautiful flowers. (Cue the children to start growing like a flower.) Grow, little flowers! Grow! I hear the wind. When the wind blows the flowers sway side to side. (Demonstrate.) Let me see the flowers sway side to side.” (Repeat as many times as desired.) At the end of the activity: “Seeds, rain, growing, swaying. Seeds, rain, growing, swaying. That’s the life of a flower! Have you ever thought about who takes care of all the flowers and trees and bushes? Who gives the beautiful roses their color and makes the pumpkins get so big and round? (Pause.) Yes! God does! Our Bible story today is about
First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
how God takes care of the flowers, but not just the flowers—God takes care of you, too!”
Make It True (Large Group, 15 minutes) Worship WORSHIP LEADER: “Hi, friends! It’s so nice to see you all! Tell me, do you know who will take care of you? (Pause.) Oh, those are some great answers! Mommies, daddies, and grandmothers all take care of us. You’re right! But there’s someone even better than all of those who will ALWAYS take care of us. Can you guess who that is? (Pause.) Yes, it’s God! [Bottom Line] God will take care of me, and He will take care of you, too! We’re going to spend time learning about how God takes care of us all month long. So when I ask you: Who will take care of you? I want you to say, [Bottom Line] ‘God will take care of me.’ Let’s practice. Ready? Who will take care of you?” CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: [Bottom Line] “God will take care of me!” WORSHIP LEADER: “You got it! I have a new song for us to sing that will help us remember that. Everyone jump up on your feet and let’s sing it together!” Lead children in singing “God Will.” WORSHIP LEADER: “Great singing! Tell me, who will take care of you?” CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: [Bottom Line] “God will take care of me!” WORSHIP LEADER: “That’s right! [Bottom Line] God will take care of me and of you, too! The Bible tells us that same thing using some different words in our Memory Verse this month. It says, ‘My God (push both palms up into the air) will meet (bring both hands together in front of you in a clap/clasp on the word ‘meet’) all (do jazz hands from above your head and down to each side) your needs’ (jump and land with your hands on your hips and your feet planted like a cheerleader), Philippians 4:19. (Open hands like a book.) Let’s learn our memory verse together. Are you ready? (Pause.) I’ll go slow so you can follow along.” CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: “‘My God (push both palms up into the air) will meet (bring both hands together in front of you in a clap/clasp on the word ‘meet’) all (do jazz hands from above your head and down to each side) your needs’ (jump and land with your hands on your hips and your feet planted like a cheerleader), Philippians 4:19.” (Open hands like a book.) WORSHIP LEADER: “Great job, you guys! We know that God will always take care of us because the Bible tells us He will always meet our needs no matter what they are. Isn’t that so AWESOME? (Pause.) I think so, too!
First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
WORSHIP LEADER: “You sounded great! Thanks for singing with me today; I had lots of fun with you! Let’s get ready for our Bible story so we can hear a lot more about how [Bottom Line] God takes care of me and of you, too.”
Introductory Sketch What you Need: “Jtan” nametag, a big plastic bucket with a sign that says “food” on it, blanket, and a clipboard. HOST: (Host enters dressed as a zookeeper, carrying blanket and pet food bucket. She notices kids while putting blankets into a comfy pile for a new baby animal.) “Oh, hey there! (Point to nametag.) I’m Jan the zookeeper. I just love taking care of animals. They are the coolest! There are just so many awesome things about animals. Aren’t you glad that God made animals? (Pause.) There are so many different kinds of animals, and they all like different things! “You see, I was just getting this space ready for the newest family member of the zoo— a baby elephant! He’s SO cute! He has those big, cute floppy ears and a cute little trunk. (Sigh.) For being such a new baby animal (lean into audience), he’s gonna be a lot of work! Phew! He likes things a certain way. He likes a nice warm snuggly pile of hay to sleep on and blankets to roll around in. (Point to big food bucket.) And we can’t forget about his food! This guy is going to eat a lot! Oh, and we’re going to have to give him regular baths, too. There are just so many details about animals and all the things that are needed to take care of them. “This guy is also going to want to have some toys to play with. Who doesn’t, right?! But right now I’m focusing on getting all the things that he needs right away. Hey, you know, today, you are going to hear a great story about how God takes care of you and me and other things by giving us what we need. You guys turn on your best listening ears and get ready for a great story!”
Bible Story What You Need: A Bible and a bag stuffed with the following: animal bird, gummy worms, and a bouquet of flowers or fake flowers. STORYTELLER: “Hi, friends! It is so great to see you again. I’ve got this awesome Bible story about how God takes care of us. It’s a story that Jesus told! Are you ready to hear it? (Listen.) Great! (Open Bible.) Today’s Bible story starts with some people who were really REALLY worried. (Chew on your fingernails like you’re nervous.) Can you guys put your hands to your mouth like this and say, ‘Yikes!’? (Pause.) YIKES! The people in today’s Bible story probably said stuff like (worried voice), ‘What if I don’t get a snack and I’m SOOOO hungry?’ Or they might have said (worried voice and chew fingernails), ‘What am I going to wear?! I need new clothes.’ They didn’t know who would take care of them! So Jesus told a special story. He started with … (pull a stuffed
First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
animal bird out of bag and hold it up) … a bird! Aren’t birds cool? Everybody say, ‘tweet tweet.’ (Pause.) Great job! “Okay, when this bird gets hungry, do you think it … opens up the fridge? (Pause.) No way! Do you think maybe the bird goes to a restaurant? (Pause.) No. Birds don’t go to a restaurant for food. When this bird is hungry, God makes sure that lunch shows up! What are those slimy wiggly things that are in the dirt that birds love to eat? (Pull out gummy worms.) Worms! Eww! Worms are yucky. But if I were a bird, I’d think they were even better than French fries! The birds don’t worry, because God takes care of them. “You know what else doesn’t worry? (Pull out a bouquet of flowers from bag.) Flowers don’t worry! These are so awesome and bright (smell the flowers) and they smell great, too! Everybody say, ‘Ooooo, so pretty!’ (Pause.) These flowers are SO fun. Do you think they worry about what clothes to put on in the morning? (Pause.) No way! They don’t worry; God takes care of them and makes them look super cool. “God takes care of the birds and flowers because He loves them. But God loves you and me WAAAY more than the birds! And He will give us what we need to eat and drink. So when we’re worried or afraid, we can pray and ask God to help. ’Cause [Bottom Line] God will take care of me and you! Who will take care of you? (Pause.) [Bottom Line] God will take care of me! Ready to say it with me?! (Pause.) Who will take care of you?” CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: [Bottom Line] “God will take care of me!” STORYTELLER: “Great job! One more time! Who will take care of you?” CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: [Bottom Line] “God will take care of me!” STORYTELLER: “It’s true, friends! God will take care of us no matter what! Let’s pray. “Dear God, thank You for this incredible true story. Jesus, help us to always remember that You are our good friend and You will always take care of us. We love You, God! Amen.”
Make It Stick (Application Activities, 35 minutes) 1. Memory Verse with Motions “Memory Verse with Motions” is an activity that uses repetition and movement to teach this month’s Memory Verse. What You Need: No supplies needed. What You Do: Before the activity: Have the children stand in a circle about two feet away from each other.
First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
During the activity: Teach the following motions and words to the children. ‘My God (push both palms up into the air) will meet (bring both hands together in front of you in a clap/clasp on the word ‘meet’) all (do jazz hands from above your head and down to each side) your needs’ (jump and land with your hands on your hips and your feet planted like a cheerleader), Philippians 4:19. (Open hands like a book.) At the end of the activity: Repeat the Memory Verse and motions several times and explain the meaning of the verse. What You Say: Before the activity: “We have a new Memory Verse this month. Let’s learn it together! Watch me very closely and do what I do and say what I say. Are you ready?” During the activity: “‘My God (push both palms up into the air) will meet (bring both hands together in front of you in a clap/clasp on the word ‘meet’) all (do jazz hands from above your head and down to each side) your needs’ (jump and land with your hands on your hips and your feet planted like a cheerleader), Philippians 4:19. (Open hands like a book.) Awesome job! Let’s try it again! (Repeat as long as there’s interest.) At the end of the activity: “You did such a wonderful job! Our Memory Verse tells us that God takes care of all of our needs. Our story told us that He takes care of the flowers and birds and our verse says He takes care of EVERYTHING—even us! I am so thankful that God takes care of us! Who will take care of you? (Pause.) You got it! [Bottom Line] God will take care of me!” 2. Birds and Flowers What You Need: “Open Field” from the Activity Pages on the Website, white cardstock, crayons, and sheets of bird and flower stickers. What You Do: Before the activity: Make one copy of “Open Field” from the Activity Pages on white cardstock for each child. During the activity: Give each child a copy of “Open Field” and instruct them to color it. Next, give each child a sheet (or part of a sheet) of bird and flower stickers and encourage them to place the bird stickers in the air and the flower stickers in the field of grass. What You Say: Before the activity: “I’m going to give each of you a picture for you to color. What color is grass? (Pause.) Yes, grass is usually green. What color is the sky? (Pause.) Right again. Most of the time the sky is blue. When you are finished coloring your picture I
First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
have some beautiful bird stickers you can use to put in your blue sky and some flower stickers you can add on the green grass.” During the activity: “Jesus told a story in the Bible about how God feeds the birds and He dresses the flowers. They never have to worry about what to eat or what to wear. Who do you think God loves more? You or the birds and flowers? (Pause.) YES! God loves YOU more! So, should you ever worry about what you will eat or wear? (Pause.) No way! God will take care of you! Who will take care of you? (Pause.) [Bottom Line] God will take care of you!” At the end of the activity: (Let each child stand and show everyone the picture they made.) “Wow! You did a great job on your pictures. I want you to take them home and put them on your fridge so you will remember that God will take care of you. Who will take care of you? (Pause.) [Bottom Line] God will take care of me!”
Make It Real (Small Groups, 5 minutes) Small Group Time What you Need: Paperclip “Memory Verse Card” from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website in your Bible at Philippians 4:19. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): “Who made the birds? (Pause.) Yes, God made the birds! And He makes sure the birds have plenty of berries and insects and wiggly worms to eat. Birds don’t ever have to worry about what they’re going to eat. “Who made the flowers? (Pause.) Right again! God made the flowers! And He dresses the flowers in beautiful colors. Flowers don’t ever have to worry about what to wear, and they always look fabulous! “Who made me? (Pause.) Yes, [Basic Truth] God made me, and He made you, too! And because God made you, He loves you and wants to take care of you. He doesn’t want you to worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. If He’ll take care of the birds and flowers, He will take care of you too! He loves you WAY more than birds and flowers! “Our Memory Verse this month says, ‘My God will meet all your needs,’ Philippians 4:19. That means God will take care of you. Who will take care of you?” CHILDREN and SGL: [Bottom Line] “God will take care of me!” SGL: “You got it! Let’s say our Memory Verse together a few times so we can hide it deep in our hearts.” CHILDREN and SGL: “‘My God (push both palms up into the air) will meet (bring both hands together in front of you in a clap/clasp on the word ‘meet’) all (do jazz hands from
First Look
3- through 5-year-olds, May, Week 1
above your head and down to each side) your needs’ (jump and land with your hands on your hips and your feet planted like a cheerleader), Philippians 4:19.” (Open hands like a book.) SGL: “Good job! I think today we should tell God thank you for our favorite foods and clothes. We all have a favorite yummy food, right? (Pause.) And we all have a favorite shirt or dress or shoes that we love wearing, right? (Pause.) Let’s make a list in our prayer journal, and then we’ll thank God for giving them to us.” Write down the children’s names and what they say in your journal. Remember to print the words so they can recognize their names and letters.
Prayer SGL: “Dear God, we just want to say thank You for giving us what we need. (Name of child) wants to say thank You for (name of food and piece of clothing). (Repeat for each child.) And I want to thank You for (things you’re thankful for). We love all the yummy foods and warm clothes You have given us. Thank You for loving us and taking care of us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Get Ready to Dismiss Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Greet parents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that [Bottom Line] God will take care of me. Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that [Bottom Line] God will take care of me. Have this month’s Parent CUE available for parents to pick up or send it in a monthly email. Encourage parents to use the activities found in Parent CUE to reinforce this month’s Bottom Line: [Bottom Line] God will take care of me.