Toddlers & 2s
Visuals in This Pack
Sheet 1 Unit 1 poster
Unit 2 poster
Sheet 2 Unit 3 poster
Activities to Do with Babies poster
Sheet 3 Animal photos (lessons 1, 2)
Peekaboo photos (lessons 1, 3)
Sheet 4 Unit 1 mobile pictures
Unit 1 song poster
Unit 2 mobile pictures
Unit 2 song poster
Sheet 5 Food photos (lessons 4, 12, 13)
Unit 3 mobile pictures
Bible figures (lesson 12)
Sheet 6 Unit 3 song poster
Fruit photos (lesson 11) Apple tree (lesson 11)
God Made My Face board book (unit 1)
God Made My Body board book (unit 2)
God Gives Us Food board book (unit 3)
Digital Files
The digital files include reproducible audio tracks and printable files. The audio tracks can be played using a media player. The printable files must be viewed and printed from a computer.
Audio Tracks
Reproducible Songs
Track 1 Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible
Track 2 God Made Me, unit 1
Track 3 God Made Me, unit 2
Track 4 Can You Sing?
Track 5 God Gives Us Food
Track 6 I Like Food
Instrumental Music
Tracks 7, 8 Active Music
Tracks 9, 10 Quiet Music
Sounds and Activities
Track 11 Sounds for unit 1
Track 12 God Made My Body activity for unit 2
Printable Files
Bonus Unit: God Helped David
Unit page, Bible Time Story, lessons 1–4, reproducible figures
Family Together Time
Take-home resource for all 13 lessons, plus 4 bonus lessons
Family Letters
Units 1–3, bonus unit
Reproducible Figures
Visuals to complete some learning activities
Special Needs Helps
Training and resources for including children with special needs
Teacher Helps
Allergy notice, check-in sheet, dedication certificate, information cards, name tags, Teddy the Bear art, and much more!
See the Read Me file for instructions on how to access the printable files. See the Contents file for a complete list of files and instructions on using modifiable files.
Toddlers & 2s Teacher’s Convenience Kit is published quarterly by Standard Publishing, an imprint of David C Cook, DavidCCook.org. © 2025 by David C Cook, 4050 Lee Vance Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, U.S.A. HeartShaper and David C Cook and its related logo are registered trademarks of David C Cook. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-784778-31-9 #1620625. Printed in Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, February—April 2025. Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
David C Cook would like to thank the following contributors: Marjorie Redford, editor. Patty Crowder, Lu Ann J. Nickelson, Karen Statzer, Tara Wallace, contributors. Music Precedent, Ltd., audio tracks. David C Cook Creative Services Team, design and production. Images by Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images, cover photo. Thinkstock, interior photos. Kathryn
illustrators.
Marlin, Jodie McCallum,
Toddlers & 2s Contents Ages 1–2,
Toddlers & 2s K Teacher Guide is published quarterly by Standard Publishing, an imprint of David C Cook, DavidCCook.org. © 2025 by David C Cook, 4050 Lee Vance Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, U.S.A. HeartShaper and David C Cook and its related logos are registered trademarks of David C Cook. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-784778-32-6 Printed in South Korea. Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Digital products are subject to the End User License Agreement (EULA) found at DavidCCook.org/eula/ and any additional terms or restrictions that may accompany the product. Digital products cannot be returned, sold, or relicensed. This product license is good for 6 months. After 6 months, you must purchase another license.
David C Cook would like to thank the following contributors: Marjorie Redford, editor. Lu Ann J. Nickelson, Vangie Rodenbeck, Karen Statzer, Tara Wallace, contributors. David C Cook Creative Services Team, design and production. Ahaa! Design, typesetting. Images by Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images, cover photo.
How to Use HeartShaper®
Welcome to HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum!
With HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum, your children will be engaged in Bible stories through multisensory learning, Bible skillbuilding activities, and focused life application.
Here’s how to start
• Pray for God’s help to guide children to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Read the introductory pages and the unit pages.
• Use the HeartShaper teaching tools.
How the lessons are organized
2+ Hours of correlated material.
Activity Time: Toddlers and 2s are introduced to the day’s lesson.
Bible Time: Children learn Bible stories and Bible Words through a variety of methods and activities. Choose between a longer and a shorter version of the Bible story.
Discovery Time: Children continue to explore the Bible theme.
Activities for Babies 12 months and under are included.
Important things to know
Bible Words gives the words children will repeat in each lesson.
Focus is the main thought that children will learn and remember in each lesson.
Want
a more detailed overview?
Go to HeartShaper.com. Click on Age Levels and choose Toddlers & 2s. View the Scope and Sequence and watch the overview video for this age level.
Use one or more of the activities provided. YOU choose what works best for you and the different kinds of learners in your class.
Tell parents something their child enjoyed. Greet new children and engage them in a fun activity. Continue the learning with Extra Hour Activity and Bible Time and Extra Hour Discovery Time. Suggestion for what to expect from 1- and 2-year olds are provided.
Special Needs
Reach kids with special needs
HeartShaper gives the resources you need to understand kids’ different abilities and adapt lesson activities so you can include kids with special needs in your Sunday school classes.
Examples
Look for this symbol throughout the teacher guide to identify activities that work well for all kids, including those with special needs.
Surprise Boxes
Before class, press out the photos and glue one inside each box. Encourage children to open the boxes and look at the pictures. ASK: Who do you see? Encourage verbal children to respond. SAY: That’s a family. ❤ Jesus loves families! Do you know who else Jesus loves? Jesus loves you (point to a child) and Jesus loves me! Invite verbal children to say the Bible Words with you.
Quick Step I Know I’m Ready
Have kids gather in a circle. SAY: Today we’re going to explore being ready. Explain that you will start a sentence. You will toss a beanbag to someone. That person should tell a way to finish the sentence and then toss the beanbag to someone else, who will finish the sentence another way. After three sentence endings, the beanbag should be tossed back to you, and you will start another sentence. Use these sentence starters:
I know I’m ready for school when ___ . I know I’m ready for a party when ___ . I know I’m ready for my sports game when ___
Going to Church
Set out several riding toys and push/pull toys children can play with. SAY: It’s time to go to church. Follow me! Play the car sounds from the audio track as you lead the children around the classroom while they either ride their vehicles or push/pull their toys. After a short walk, SAY: Here we are at church. ❤ We can pray at church. Let’s pray and thank God for a safe trip. Say a short prayer and encourage the children to pray with you. If children are interested, do the activity again and let one of the older children be the leader.
1s will enjoy riding or pushing/pulling a toy and may follow you.
2s will do the above, possibly say a prayer, and possibly be the leader.
Materials small boxes with lids, sheet 4 lesson 5 photos of families, glue
Something More! Obtain photos of the children’s families and place them in some of the boxes.
Materials beanbag
Some children may find it easier to participate if they are allowed to watch other students first and then join in after a few turns.
Something More! Let children suggest additional sentence starters.
Materials riding and push/pull toys, audio track 12, media player
Read Drive Me Crazy in the Convenience Kit Unit 1 Special Needs Helps file to adapt this activity for children who have special needs.
When you see this symbol after a title, it means the activity will work well for all kids, including those with special needs.
When you see this symbol in the narrow column, it may give you a helpful tip on how you can tweak the activity to make it better for kids with special needs.
Or this symbol may indicate that there’s an adaptation in the Convenience Kit files that will make the activity work better for kids with special needs.
Additional helps for teaching kids with special needs can be found in the Convenience Kit files and at HeartShaper.com. Online resources include training videos, Shaping Special Hearts podcast episodes, and free downloads for both teachers and families.
Teaching Tools
Multisensory teaching tools are an integral part of HeartShaper!
Toddlers & 2s Teacher’s Convenience Kit
Simplify lesson planning and engage children with different learning styles and abilities. Besides Toddlers & 2s Teacher Guide, the kit includes visual, print, and audio resources.
On the 6 sheets you’ll find:
• Unit and song posters
• Activities to Do with Babies
• Mobiles, photos, and figures
In the 3 board books you’ll find:
• Simple pictures children can point to
• Simple sentences children can hear and repeat
In the digital files you’ll find:
• Reproducible songs and activities. Make copies or e-mail the audio tracks to parents so families can sing the songs together.
• Printable files for families—Family Together Time weekly take-home pages
• Printable files for teachers— letters to families, patterns and figures, special needs helps, teacher helps.
• Bonus Unit—all the materials needed for four additional lessons that can be used to teach older 2s or younger 3s
Children will love seeing Teddy the bear as he welcomes them each week. Use the patterns provided in the Convenience Kit files to make a paper-bag or a stick puppet. Or purchase a plush hand puppet from a puppet distributor.
Free
resources
Go to HeartShaper.com to find additional helps and resources for teachers and families!
For teachers:
• Overview by age level
• Training videos
• Family Connections quarterly letters
• Holiday helps
• Special needs resources
• Puppet patterns
For families:
• Family Together Time pages with family activities that reinforce each week’s focus
You’ll also want to visit MinistrySpark.com for free ministry resources, articles, and webinars with valuable insights from children’s leaders like you!
Understanding Toddlers and 2s
Get to know the children in your class. Plan your class sessions with these characteristics in mind.
Physically, toddlers and 2s
• are active.
• can walk without falling, but are awkward.
• may do things you don’t want them to do.
Intellectually, toddlers and 2s
• are very curious.
• learn through repetition.
• learn through all their senses.
Emotionally, toddlers and 2s
• sometimes don’t want to leave their parents.
• have feelings that may be immediate, intense, and personal.
• are more secure with familiar people, surroundings, and structure.
Socially, toddlers and 2s
• play alone.
• don’t want to share toys.
• are mostly concerned with themselves.
Spiritually, toddlers and 2s
• are developing attitudes about God, Jesus, and the church.
• can listen to and may sing songs about God.
• can listen to and may pray simple prayers to God.
With HeartShaper, toddlers and 2s will grow spiritually
Toddlers and 2s will know these important facts:
• God made all things
• Jesus loves them
• The Bible is God’s special book
• Church is a happy place
Toddlers and 2s can show these godly attitudes:
• Enjoy trying to sing a song about God
• Listen to and may pray simple prayers to God
• Enjoy trying to follow an action rhyme
Toddlers and 2s can exhibit these desirable behaviors:
• Say “Jesus” and “Bible”
• Bow their heads when the teacher prays
With HeartShaper, toddlers and 2s will begin to develop these Bible skills
Toddlers and 2s will:
• Be interested in the Bible and like to pat it and look at it
• Say some Bible words and repeat short phrases
• Begin to understand that the Bible is God’s special book
• Feel love toward God, Jesus, and the Bible
See the complete Spiritual Growth Chart and Bible Skills Plan in the Convenience Kit files or at HeartShaper.com.
Teaching Toddlers and 2s
This curriculum has been planned to help 1- and 2-year-olds relate to and enjoy things they are familiar with as they learn about God, Jesus, and the church. Here are some ideas to help you as you plan to teach.
Activities
• Activities are best done with individual children or small groups of children. One-yearolds, especially, need one-on-one attention.
• Choose the activities your children will enjoy the most.
• Talk to the children while doing activities with them. Connect activities to what a child is familiar with.
• Remember that children at this age understand more than they are able to say. Don’t be afraid to talk and ask questions even if you get little or no response.
• Speak slowly and use simple words.
Bible Time
• Try to do Bible Time at approximately the same time each week. Remember that structure and predictability are important for toddlers and 2s.
• You can do Bible Time with individual children, with a few children at a time on carpet squares, with children on chairs at a table, with children at a table with built-in seats or clip-on chairs, or in your own creative way.
• Sing the suggested songs. Encourage verbal children and other helpers to sing the songs with you. If you don’t feel comfortable singing, you can speak the words to the songs.
• Remember to speak and sing slowly so that verbal children can join in.
• Keep it moving! If children don’t seem very interested at one point, move on.
Crafts
• Use large crayons, but not washable ones. Washable crayons will come off in children’s mouths when they taste them (and they will!).
• Remember that God made children to learn through their senses. Craft activities for toddlers and 2s are about experimenting, not about creating finished products. Let the children have fun!
Music
• The songs in the Convenience Kit files are reproducible! Share copies or e-mail the song files to parents. Children will love hearing the music at home. Verbal children can sing along.
Additional supplies needed
Basic supplies
classroom Bible, media player, bear hand puppet, simple rhythm instruments, cookie cutters, child-size rolling pins, baby dolls and accessories, soft blocks, toy food, plastic dishes, toy pots and pans, child-size kitchen equipment, beanbags, soft balls, picture books, puzzles
Consumable supplies
large crayons, construction paper, glue, poster board, modeling dough, resealable plastic bags, address labels, napkins, paper, bubble solution and wands, clear tape, masking tape, yarn
Suggested Schedule
Only you know the schedule that works best for you and the children. Once you have a schedule that works well, you will want to distribute it to all teachers and helpers and post it in your room. The following is a suggested schedule for using HeartShaper Toddlers & 2s curriculum. You can use this schedule for both the first hour and the extra hour.
• Greet children and parents at the door to your room. As you check children in, tell them how glad you are to see them. Don’t forget to label diaper bags and sippy cups. Call children by name as you or another teacher direct them to an activity.
• 25–30 minutes Engage children in some of the fun activities described in Activity Time. How many you do depends on the number of teachers and helpers available.
• 5–10 minutes Gather children for Bible Time. Your time may be shorter or longer, depending on which version of Bible Time you do. Or you may wish to do Bible Time with individual children.
• 5–10 minutes Serve children a snack. Be aware of food allergies.
• 15–20 minutes Let children enjoy some of the fun activities described in Discovery Time. You may want to let children repeat activities that they enjoyed during Activity Time.
• As needed, check diapers or pull-ups and give restroom breaks. Provide a quiet place where children can rest.
• Transition to the extra hour if you offer one. If not, tell children good-bye. Give parents copies of Family Together Time from the Convenience Kit files and any craft activities their children may have done.
Setting up the room
• Make sure your room is child-safe. Toddlers and 2s love to explore. Make sure they can explore safely.
• Don’t overload the environment with too many toys or activities. Plan to rotate toys.
• Have at least two each of the children’s favorite toys. Young children usually don’t like to share and will cry if you force them to share. Favorite toys may include soft blocks, soft balls, push-pull toys, unbreakable mirrors, picture books, stacking/nesting items, soft climbing forms, washable dolls, rhythm instruments, and crawl-through tunnels.
Picture schedule
Make a picture schedule (available in the Special Needs Helps folder in the Convenience Kit files) that visually tells your children what will happen next. The stability and predictability of your classroom may not completely alleviate separation anxiety, but will likely shorten its duration.
Toy safety
When purchasing toys, read packages carefully. Many are not designed for toddlers and 2s. All toys should meet the following guidelines:
• too large to swallow
• unbreakable
• washable
• no sharp edges or points
• no exposed nails or wires
• no parts that could pinch fingers
• do not need electricity
• made with nontoxic materials
Note concerning stickers When choosing activities, please remember that stickers or other small parts are not recommended for very young children.
Allergy notice
Before each class session, print and fill out the Allergy Notice from the Convenience Kit files. Post it visibly where parents will see it. Always check the children’s information forms.
Unit 1 God Made My Face
Lesson Scripture Focus
Bible Words “God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27).
Possible Responses by Children
During Unit 1
Children will
• know God made them.
• sing or listen to songs about God making them.
• become familiar with the words God and God made me.
• point to their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths.
• thank and praise God for making their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths.
• say “God made me.”
Especially for Older 2s and Younger 3s!
If you are teaching older 2s and/ or younger 3s, you may want to substitute the printable Bonus Unit in the Convenience Kit files for one of the other units in this guide. The unit is entitled “God Helped David.”
Special Needs Helps
Look for this symbol to identify activities that work well for all children, including those with special needs. Additional helps for teaching children with special needs can be found in the Unit 1 and Special Needs folders in the Convenience Kit files and at HeartShaper.com.
Family Together Time and online teacher helps are available at HeartShaper.com.
Lesson 1
God Made My Eyes
Lesson 2
God Made My Ears
Lesson 3
God Made My Nose
Lesson 4
God Made My Mouth
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16 ❤ God made my eyes.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16 ❤ God made my ears.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16 ❤ God made my nose.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16 ❤ God made my mouth.
Bible Background for the Teacher
Genesis 1:27 clearly states that God, the creator of all, made us. God made a man and woman in His own image, setting people apart from the rest of creation. People can think and make moral choices. Most important, people enjoy the great privilege of having a relationship with God— communicating with Him, loving Him, and worshipping Him. How pleased God must be to hear little voices say “God” and “God made me,” or see a child clap his hands because he hears that God made him. And how pleased God must be to see you guiding little children to praise Him. Keep in mind how God made precious children with lots of curiosity and energy. They learn through their senses about themselves, about others, about what their world is like, and about God. Your children will learn when you teach them in the way God made them!
HeartShaper Materials for Unit 1
Toddlers & 2s Teacher’s Convenience Kit
Digital Files
Audio Tracks
“Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” (track 1)
“God Made Me,” unit 1 (track 2)
“Can You Sing?” (track 4)
Sounds for unit 1 (track 11)
Active music (tracks 7 and 8)
Quiet music (tracks 9 and 10)
Printable Files
Teaching Tip
Mark name tags so volunteers can easily identify dietary needs.
Save visuals and props you have created for classroom use—whether made from items in the Convenience Kit or from other materials. A number of these can be reused throughout any given unit.
Unit 1 Family Letter; Family Together Time take-homes, issues 1–4; Boy Face (lesson 1); Cat, Bird, and Dog (lesson 2); Girl and Flower (lesson 3)
Visuals
unit 1 poster (sheet 1); animal photos, peekaboo photos (sheet 3); unit 1 mobile pictures, unit 1 song poster (sheet 4); food photos for surprise boxes (sheet 5); God Made My Face board book
Teddy the bear puppet Use the patterns provided with the Convenience Kit files to make a puppet, or purchase a plush bear puppet.
Bible Time Story for Unit 1
Focus
❤ God made my face.
Bible Words
“God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27).
God Made My Face
(longer version)
Based on Genesis 1:27 and Psalm 139:13-16
The Bible Time story, “God Made My Face,” can be told in two ways: (1) Use the shorter stories printed within the weekly lessons, or (2) Tell the story in its entirety each week. The entire story is printed below.
Bible Time can be done in a variety of ways. You can do Bible Time
• with individual children.
• with a few children at a time on carpet squares.
• with children in chairs or clip-on chairs at a table.
• in your own creative way.
Encourage verbal children to sing the songs with you. Ask other teachers and helpers to sing too! The songs “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” and “God Made Me” (unit 1) are with the Convenience Kit audio tracks.. Materials
Teddy the bear puppet; hand mirror; Bible; paper towel tube; sheet of yellow paper; Convenience Kit tracks 1, 2, 11; wrist bells (or shakers); artificial flower (spritz with a fragrance); cut-up orange in a container; feather; media player.
See the Special Needs Tip article in the Convenience Kit files for how to use Bible Time with children who have special needs. Use your voice in both simple songs and in “sing-song” instruction. Music activates the brain differently than spoken verbal instruction. Children with developmental delays may especially benefit from the simple sound of your voice in song.
Sing this song several times as each child pets or hugs Teddy the bear puppet:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) I like to go to church. I like to go to church. With all the other boys and girls, I like to go to church.
At the end of the song, clap and ask everyone to clap. SAY: We’re glad to be at church! We’re glad you’re at church today. Hold the mirror in front of a child. SAY: We’re so glad ___ is at church today. And we’re so glad ___ is at church today. Do this with each child, using each child’s name.
Show your Bible. ASK: What is this? Encourage verbal children to say “Bible.” SAY: We love our Bible. Let’s pat our Bible. Hold the Bible in front of each child. Let each child pat the Bible while singing “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” (track 1) several times:
(tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Oh, I love to pat the Bible, The Bible, the Bible.
Oh, I love to pat the Bible, For it is God’s Word.
SAY: Our Bible tells us that God made you (point to children) and me (point to self). Sing “God Made Me” (track 2) and encourage children to point to their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths:
(tune: “This Old Man”) God made me. God made me.
Thank You, God, for making me
With my eyes and ears
And nose and mouth.
Thank You, God, for making me.
SAY: Touch your eyes. Do this and encourage children to touch their eyes. Close your eyes. Now open your eyes. God made your eyes! Look at each child through the tube while singing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
My eyes can see ___ (child’s name). My eyes can see ___ (child’s name). Thank You, God, for my eyes.
My eyes can see ___ (child’s name).
Show the yellow paper. ASK: What color is this? Encourage verbal children to respond. Let each child touch and look at the paper while singing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) God made my eyes to see. God made my eyes to see. Thank You, God, for my eyes. God made my eyes to see.
Play a peekaboo game with the children. Cover your eyes; then uncover your eyes. SAY: I see ___ and I see ___. Play this with each child.
SAY: God made our ears. Touch your ears. Now let’s listen with our ears. Play track 11 from the Convenience Kit files. Listen to the first sound. ASK: What was that? There may be some guesses. The narrator will then say what the sound was. That was a cow! Show lots of enthusiasm. Do this for each of the sounds.
SAY: Listen! What do you hear? Shake a wrist bell Let each child shake it, or let children have their own wrist bells. As they shake, sing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) God made my ears to hear. God made my ears to hear. Thank You, God, for my ears. God made my ears to hear.
Collect the wrist bells.
SAY: God made our noses. Touch your nose. Now let’s smell this flower with our noses. Let each child smell the flower while singing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
God made my nose to smell. God made my nose to smell.
Thank You, God, for my nose. God made my nose to smell.
Show the orange in the container. ASK: What is this? Encourage verbal children to respond. This is an orange. You can smell it with your nose. Let each child smell it while singing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
God made my nose to smell.
God made my nose to smell.
Thank You, God, for my nose.
God made my nose to smell.
SAY: God made our mouths. Point to your mouth. Let’s open our mouths real wide. Let’s blow a feather. Show children how to do this. As children try to blow the feather, sing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
God made my mouth to blow.
God made my mouth to blow.
Thank You, God, for my mouth.
God made my mouth to blow.
SAY: Let’s touch our tongues. Do so. God made our tongues. We taste food with our mouths and tongues.
Sing “God Made Me” (track 2) and encourage children to point to their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths:
(tune: “This Old Man”)
God made me. God made me.
Thank You, God, for making me
With my eyes and ears
And nose and mouth.
Thank You, God, for making me.
SAY: The Bible tells us that God made me. Encourage children to point to themselves and verbal children to repeat the Bible Words with you.
Hold the mirror in front of a child. SAY: God made you, ___. ❤ God made your face. Do this with each child, using each child’s name.
Fold your hands and encourage children to fold their hands. PRAY: Thank You, God, for making each one of us. In Jesus’ name, amen. Encourage verbal children to say the prayer with you. They may say “thank You” or “God” or most of the prayer.
Have Teddy say good-bye as each child pets or hugs the puppet.
Activities for Babies 12 Months and Younger
If there are no babies in your class, copy and give this to a teacher who will use these activities with babies.
Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16
Focus: ❤ God made my face.
Bible Words: “God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27).
Possible Responses by Babies: Babies will hear that God made them, smile, and be happy to hear about God making them.
Use these activities with individual babies to help them explore the theme, ❤ God made my face.
When determining what activities to do with babies, take cues from the babies as to their abilities and preferences. Some babies prefer to be held, while others do not.
Hello God Time Pat the Bible
Help each baby pat the Bible as you talk. SAY: God made me! God made me! The Bible tells me God made me!
SAY: God made you, ___ (use each child’s name). God made your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Point to these parts on the baby’s face.
Floor Time Peekaboo
Gently place a colorful see-through scarf over a baby’s head. Remove it when you say “peekaboo.” Use this rhyme as you point to a baby’s eyes. SAY:
Peekaboo, peekaboo.
God made two eyes for you!
Hug and Hold Time Book of Babies
Hold a baby in your lap, and help him turn the pages of a book. Point to a baby in the book. SAY: Can you find the nose on the baby? There it is. Touch the baby’s nose. This is your nose. Thank You, God, for making my nose.
Hug and Hold Time “God Made Me”
Hold a baby in your lap and point to her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as you sing this song to the tune of “This Old Man.” SING: God made me. God made me.
Thank You, God, for making me
With my eyes and ears and nose and mouth. Thank You, God, for making me.
Teaching
Tip
Some of these activities can also be found on sheet 2 poster in the Convenience Kit.
Materials Bible
Materials see-through scarf
Materials book with pictures of babies
Materials none
God Made My Eyes
Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16
Focus: ❤ God made my eyes.
Bible Words: “God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27).
Heart to Heart Teacher Devotion
ACTIVITY
TIME
Use one or more of these activities to help children explore the theme, God made my eyes.
Note: You can find the digital files, visual sheets, and board books in the Toddlers & 2s Teacher’s Convenience Kit.
BIBLE TIME
Help children know that God made their faces, especially their eyes.
DISCOVERY TIME
Use one or more of these activities to help children continue exploring the theme, God made my eyes.
Lesson 1
Our eyes are composed of over 2 million working parts. They can process 36,000 bits of information every hour and can see over 1,000 different shades of color. In a normal life span, our eyes will bring us over 16 billion images.
So what do you see with your eyes? Do you see only fussy children, or do you see little hearts to help shape for God? Do you see only a messy room, or do you see precious children being happy at church? Do you see only stressed-out parents, or do you see families to whom you could be a blessing? Pray for eyes to see clearly—eyes to see your important ministry to the children you teach and to their families.
Lesson 1 at a Glance
First Hour Unit 1 Activities poster, books and puzzles, song Ball Toss
Surprise Boxes
Bible Time can be done several ways and whenever best fits your schedule. If you do the longer story on the unit pages, you will need more items.
Hide and Find
Jump High
Beautiful Eyes
Saying Good-bye or Transition to Extra Hour
Materials
• sheet 1 unit 1 poster, sheet 4 unit 1 song poster, God Made My Face board book, Convenience Kit tracks, books and puzzles, media player
• balls, containers
• small boxes with lids, sheet 3 animal photos, glue
• Teddy the bear puppet, hand mirror, Bible, paper towel tube, yellow paper, Convenience Kit tracks, media player
• items familiar to children, pillowcase
• sheet 4 unit 1 mobile pictures, hole punch, yarn
• Convenience Kit Boy
Face printable file, large crayons
• bubble solution, Convenience Kit Family Together Time issue 1
Extra Hour
Unit 1 Activity
God Made My Face
Materials
• basket, dolls, toy animals
“Look What God Made”
Bible Time can be done several ways. If you do one of the other story options, you will need different items.
Puppet Fun
God Made My Eyes
Flashlight Fun
Peekaboo Pictures
I See Pretty Colors
Saying Good-bye
• Convenience Kit Family Together Time issue 1
• Teddy the bear puppet, Bible, mirror, Convenience Kit tracks, media player, God Made My Face board book
• Teddy the bear puppet
• flashlight
• sheet 3 peekaboo photos, glue, poster board
• construction paper, scissors, glue
• Convenience Kit
Family Together Time issue 1
Activity Time (25–30 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children explore the theme, God made my eyes.
Welcome
• Welcome each child by name.
• Follow check-in procedures (name and security tags, etc.).
• Play quiet music in the background (tracks 9 and 10).
• Lead each child to an activity.
Unit 1 Activities
Use these activities anytime during your session. Children will enjoy doing them each week.
Poster: Before class, display the unit 1 poster in your room. Ask children to point to the boy’s eyes. SAY: ❤ God made our eyes. Can you point to your eyes? What can you see with your eyes?
Books and puzzles: Use the God Made My Face book and other books and puzzles that show pictures of children. Look at books with children who are interested, and help children do puzzles. Talk about how God made us.
“God Made Me” song: Before class, display the unit 1 song poster in your room. Play “God Made Me” (for unit 1). Sing with individual children or small groups. Encourage children to point to their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths.
Ball Toss
Guide children to toss balls into containers. ASK: Where did the ball go? Let’s look with our eyes and find the ball. Pause. There it is! Encourage verbal children to respond, “There it is!” SAY: I see the ball. Do you see it? ❤ God made our eyes so we can see things. God made me. Encourage verbal children to say the Bible Words with you.
1s will enjoy tossing balls into containers and looking for them.
2s will do the above and say the Bible Words.
Surprise Boxes
Before class, press out the animal photos and glue one inside each box. Encourage children to open the boxes and look at the pictures. ASK: What do you see? Encourage verbal children to respond. ❤ God made your eyes so you can see ___. Ask children to point to their eyes. ❤ God made your eyes. God made you and God made me. Ask verbal children to say the Bible Words with you.
1s will open the boxes, look inside, and may close boxes.
2s will do the above, name the animals, and say the Bible Words. While exploration can be frightening and anxiety-filled for children with developmental delays, it should be encouraged to help these children courageously push past their impairments and participate in the world that awaits them. Use of the Surprise Box is a secure way to allow these children to explore a world that can seem confusing and alarming.
Focus
❤ God made my eyes. Bible Words “God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27).
Materials
sheet 1 unit 1 poster, sheet 4 unit 1 song poster, God Made My Face board book, Convenience Kit audio track 2, books and puzzles, media player
Teaching Tip
Cover the poster with clear adhesive covering.
Nonverbal children who can’t join in singing will nevertheless benefit from language-rich lessons that include simple music.
Materials balls of different sizes, containers (laundry baskets, boxes, or other containers)
Materials small boxes with lids, sheet 3 animal photos, glue
Teaching Tip
Keep surprise boxes to use in lesson 2.
Transition to Bible Time
• Use a cleanup song or signal to transition to Bible Time.
Focus ❤ God made my eyes.
Bible Time (shorter version: 5–10 minutes)
Use this Bible Time or the longer version found on the unit pages to help each child know that God made my eyes.
Materials
Teddy the bear puppet, hand mirror, Bible, paper towel tube, yellow paper, Convenience Kit audio tracks 1 and 2, media player
Tips About Bible Time
Encourage verbal children and other helpers to sing the songs with you!
The songs “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” and “God Made Me” are in the Convenience Kit files. Call Teddy by name. Children will love to hear the name of their furry friend!
Read Special Needs Tips in the Convenience Kit Special Needs Helps folder for how to use Bible Time with children who have special needs.
After children have gathered for Bible Time, sing this song several times as each child pets or hugs Teddy the bear puppet: (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
I like to go to church. I like to go to church. With all the other boys and girls, I like to go to church. At the end of the song, clap and ask everyone to clap. SAY: We’re glad to be at church! We’re glad you’re at church today. Hold the mirror in front of a child. We’re so glad ___ is at church today. And we’re so glad ___ is at church today. Do this with each child, using each child’s name.
Show your Bible. ASK: What is this? Encourage verbal children to say “Bible.” We love our Bible. Let’s pat our Bible. Hold the Bible in front of each child. Let each pat the Bible while singing “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” (track 1) several times:
(tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Oh, I love to pat the Bible, the Bible, the Bible. Oh, I love to pat the Bible, for it is God’s Word.
SAY: Our Bible tells us that God made you (point to children) and me. Point to self. Sing “God Made Me” (track 2) and encourage children to point to their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths:
(tune: “This Old Man”)
God made me. God made me. Thank You, God, for making me With my eyes and ears and nose and mouth. Thank You, God, for making me.
SAY: Touch your eyes. Do this and encourage children to touch their eyes. SAY: Close your eyes. Now open your eyes. ❤ God made your eyes! Look at each child through the tube while singing this song: (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) My eyes can see ___ (child’s name). My eyes can see ___ (child’s name). Thank You, God, for my eyes. My eyes can see ___ (child’s name)
Show the yellow piece of paper. ASK: What color is this? Let each child touch and look at the paper while singing this song: (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) God made my eyes to see. God made my eyes to see. Thank You, God, for my eyes. God made my eyes to see.
Play a peekaboo game with the children. Cover and uncover your eyes. SAY: I see ___ and I see ___. Play this with each child. The Bible tells us that God made me. Encourage verbal children to repeat the Bible Words with you and point to themselves.
Hold the mirror in front of each child. SAY: God made you, ___. ❤ God made your eyes. PRAY: Thank You, God, for making our eyes and for making us. In Jesus’ name, amen. Encourage verbal children to say “thank You” or “God.” Have Teddy say good-bye as each child hugs the puppet.
Discovery Time (15–20 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children continue exploring the theme, God made my eyes.
Hide and Find
Before class, place the items in a pillowcase.
Ask a child to look inside and then pull out an item. ASK: What do you see? Encourage verbal children to respond. I’m glad ❤ God made your eyes so you can see ___. God made you. And God made me. Ask verbal children to say the Bible Words with you.
1s will pull out an item and listen to you name it or possibly name it themselves.
2s will do the above, name the item, and say the Bible Words.
Jump High
Before class, press out the flowers and birds. Punch holes in the tops of figures, tie with yarn, and hang the flowers and birds from the ceiling in your room. Or hang them from a dowel rod to hold above the children’s heads.
Sing this song to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”:
See the flowers way up high; jump to reach them, high, high, high. See the birds way up high; jump to reach them, high, high, high.
See the flowers way up high; jump to reach them, high, high, high. Encourage children to look at the flowers and birds and jump to try to reach them. SAY: ❤ God made your eyes so you can see the pretty flowers and birds. God made you. Ask verbal children to name colors they see.
1s will enjoy jumping. Some may only be able to bounce.
2s will do the above and name colors.
Beautiful Eyes
Before class, print copies of the coloring page.
Give each child a coloring page and a crayon that matches his eye color. Have children color their pages. SAY: God gave you ___ eyes. Thank You, God, for giving ___ beautiful ___ eyes. Encourage children to look at each other’s eyes. Write each child’s name in the space provided.
SAY: ❤ God made your eyes. God made me. Encourage verbal children to say the Bible Words with you.
1s will enjoy scribble-coloring and looking at other children’s eyes.
2s will do the above and say the Bible Words.
Saying Good-bye
• For children who are leaving, give parents craft activities and copies of Family Together Time issue 1 from the Convenience Kit files. Note: Family Together Time is available to download and send to families. See the unit page for more info.
• Tell parents something their children enjoyed. Tell each child good-bye.
Focus
❤ God made my eyes.
Materials items familiar to children
(Examples: ball, sippy cup, book, block, toy animal), pillowcase
Be sensitive to children who experience a visual disability. Replace “God made your eyes so you can see” with “God made your beautiful eyes!”
Materials sheet 4 unit 1 mobile pictures, hole punch, yarn (optional: dowel rod)
Teaching Tip
Keep the mobile so you can use it throughout unit 1.
Materials
Convenience Kit Boy
Face printable file, large crayons (have at least blue, brown, black, gray, and green)
Transition to Extra Hour
• Greet new children and have another adult engage children in activities away from the door.
• Continue Discovery Time choices.
• Blow bubbles. SAY: Do you see the bubbles? ❤ God made your eyes!
• Have children lie down and pretend to sleep. SAY: Time to wake up! Open your eyes!
❤ God made your eyes.
Focus
❤ God made my eyes.
Extra Hour Activity and Bible Time (25–35 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children explore the theme, God made my eyes
Bible Words “God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27).
Materials basket (or box) containing dolls and toy animals
Materials Convenience Kit Family Together Time issue 1
Materials Teddy the bear puppet, Bible, mirror, media player, Convenience Kit audio tracks 1 and 2, God Made My Face board book
Tips About Bible Time Encourage verbal children and other helpers to sing the songs with you!
The songs “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” and “God Made Me” are in the Convenience Kit files.
Welcome
• Welcome new children by name.
• Follow check-in procedures (name and security tags, etc.).
• Check and change diapers and/or have restroom time.
Unit 1 Activity God Made My Face
Let a child choose a doll or animal. Ask the child to point to its eyes. Then ask the child to point to his eyes. SAY: ❤ God made your eyes so you can see. God made you. God made me. Repeat this several times.
“Look What God Made”
Do the rhyme from Family Together Time. Invite children to do the actions with you. Use a cleanup song or signal and transition to Bible Time.
Bible Time
Use this Bible Time, the one from first hour, or the longer version found on the unit pages.
Sing this song several times as each child pets or hugs Teddy: (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) I like to go to church. I like to go to church. With all the other boys and girls, I like to go to church.
At the end of the song, clap and ask everyone to clap. SAY: We’re glad you’re at church today. Hold the mirror in front of a child. SAY: We’re so glad ___ is at church today. Do this, using each child’s name.
Show your Bible. ASK: What is this? Encourage verbal children to say “Bible.” We love our Bible. Let’s pat our Bible. Hold the Bible in front of each child. Let each pat the Bible while singing “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” (track 1) several times:
(tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Oh, I love to pat the Bible, the Bible, the Bible. Oh, I love to pat the Bible, for it is God’s Word.
Read the God Made My Face board book, showing the pictures. Emphasize that God made eyes. Sing “God Made Me” (track 2) and encourage children to point to their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths: (tune: “This Old Man”)
God made me. God made me. Thank You, God, for making me
With my eyes, and ears, and nose, and mouth. Thank You, God, for making me.
SAY: The Bible tells us that God made me. Hold the mirror in front of each child. SAY: God made you, ___. ❤ God made your eyes. PRAY: Thank You, God, for making us. In Jesus’ name, amen. Have Teddy say good-bye as each child pets or hugs the puppet.
Extra Hour Discovery Time
(20–25 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children continue exploring the theme, God made my eyes.
Puppet Fun God Made My Eyes
Take Teddy around to children. SAY: Hi! My name is Teddy. Would you like to pet me? Let each child pet and hug Teddy. I’m happy to see ___ . Use each child’s name. I can see you with my eyes. ❤ God made my eyes. Can you point to my eyes? Can you point to your eyes? Let’s thank God for making our eyes. Thank You, God!
Flashlight Fun
Show children the flashlight. SAY: A flashlight helps us see when it is dark. Tell the children you are going to dim the lights. Do not darken the room too much. A very dark room may scare some children and is not safe. Shine the flashlight and ask the children to follow the light as you walk around the room.
Ask children to point to their eyes. ❤ God made our eyes to see. God made me. Encourage verbal children to say the Bible Words. Shine the light on an object. ASK: What do you see with your eyes God made? Encourage verbal children to respond. Repeat: Yes, that’s a ___ .
1s will follow the light and point to their eyes.
2s will do the above, name objects they see, and say the Bible Words.
Peekaboo Pictures
Before class, press out the pictures, fold on the scored lines so the pictures are inside, and glue the folded pictures to the poster board.
Put the poster board on the floor or on a table, and encourage a child to lift a flap and look at a hidden picture. ASK: What do you see? Encourage verbal children to respond. SAY: It’s a ___ . ❤ God made your eyes so you can see ___ .
SAY: Thank You, God, for making our eyes. God made me. Ask children to point to themselves and say the Bible Words with you.
1s will enjoy lifting the flaps and looking at the pictures.
2s will do the above, name what they see, and say the Bible Words.
I See Pretty Colors
Before class, cut an assortment of shapes in different colors. Write on white construction paper “God made my eyes,” one sheet for each child. Give each child a paper and some shapes. Put dots of glue on the papers and encourage children to press the shapes onto their papers. SAY: I see _____ (child’s name) pressing a red circle on his paper. ❤ God made our eyes to see all the pretty colors. Ask verbal children to name the colors.
1s will enjoy pressing on shapes and listening to you name colors.
2s will do the above and may name some colors.
Saying Good-bye
• Give parents copies of Family Together Time issue 1 from the Convenience Kit files and craft activities their children may have done. Tell each child good-bye.
Focus ❤ God made my eyes.
Materials Teddy the bear puppet
Materials flashlight
Children who become overstimulated by light and sound will enjoy this quiet game. Consider providing additional flashlights for children who aren’t mobile, so they can “follow you” with their own lights.
Materials sheet 3 peekaboo photos, glue, poster board
Teaching Tip
Keep the peekaboo poster to use in lessons 3 and 6.
Materials
construction paper in a variety of colors, scissors, white construction paper, glue
Note: Family Together Time is available to download and send to families. See the unit page for more info.
Toddlers & 2s
Visuals in This Pack
Sheet 1 Unit 1 poster
Unit 2 poster
Sheet 2 Unit 3 poster
Activities to Do with Babies poster
Sheet 3 Animal photos (lessons 1, 2)
Peekaboo photos (lessons 1, 3)
Sheet 4 Unit 1 mobile pictures
Unit 1 song poster
Unit 2 mobile pictures
Unit 2 song poster
Sheet 5 Food photos (lessons 4, 12, 13)
Unit 3 mobile pictures
Bible figures (lesson 12)
Sheet 6 Unit 3 song poster
Fruit photos (lesson 11) Apple tree (lesson 11)
God Made My Face board book (unit 1)
God Made My Body board book (unit 2)
God Gives Us Food board book (unit 3)
Digital Files
The digital files include reproducible audio tracks and printable files. The audio tracks can be played using a media player. The printable files must be viewed and printed from a computer.
Audio Tracks
Reproducible Songs
Track 1 Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible
Track 2 God Made Me, unit 1
Track 3 God Made Me, unit 2
Track 4 Can You Sing?
Track 5 God Gives Us Food
Track 6 I Like Food
Instrumental Music
Tracks 7, 8 Active Music
Tracks 9, 10 Quiet Music
Sounds and Activities
Track 11 Sounds for unit 1
Track 12 God Made My Body activity for unit 2
Printable Files
Bonus Unit: God Helped David
Unit page, Bible Time Story, lessons 1–4, reproducible figures
Family Together Time
Take-home resource for all 13 lessons, plus 4 bonus lessons
Family Letters
Units 1–3, bonus unit
Reproducible Figures
Visuals to complete some learning activities
Special Needs Helps
Training and resources for including children with special needs
Teacher Helps
Allergy notice, check-in sheet, dedication certificate, information cards, name tags, Teddy the Bear art, and much more!
See the Read Me file for instructions on how to access the printable files. See the Contents file for a complete list of files and instructions on using modifiable files.
Toddlers & 2s Teacher’s Convenience Kit is published quarterly by Standard Publishing, an imprint of David C Cook, DavidCCook.org. © 2025 by David C Cook, 4050 Lee Vance Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, U.S.A. HeartShaper and David C Cook and its related logo are registered trademarks of David C Cook. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-784778-31-9 #1620625. Printed in Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, February—April 2025. Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
David C Cook would like to thank the following contributors: Marjorie Redford, editor. Patty Crowder, Lu Ann J. Nickelson, Karen Statzer, Tara Wallace, contributors. Music Precedent, Ltd., audio tracks. David C Cook Creative Services Team, design and production. Images by Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images, cover photo. Thinkstock, interior photos. Kathryn
illustrators.
Marlin, Jodie McCallum,
Toddlers and 2s Digital Files
A complete menu of Toddlers & 2s Convenient Kit files is listed here to help you plan your lessons. When printing these files, be sure your printer is set to print at 100%.
BONUS UNIT
ABonusUnit.pdf
BUBibleTimeLong.pdf
BUFamilyLetter.doc
BUFamilyTogetherTime.pdf
BULesson1.pdf
BULesson2.pdf
BULesson3.pdf
BULesson4.pdf
BURepros.pdf
SPECIAL NEEDS HELPS
AllAboutMeBook.pdf
PictureSchedule_EC.pdf
SensoryInventoryForm.pdf
SensoryInventoryFormKey.pdf
SpecialNeedsFriendlyClass_Toddler.pdf
Tod_2sSpecialNeedsTips.pdf
TEACHER HELPS
AllergyNotice.pdf
BibleSkillsPlan.pdf
CheckInSheet.pdf
ChildInfoCards.pdf
DedicationCertificate.pdf
Easels.pdf
HaveAPlan.pdf
HealthAndSafety.pdf
NameTags.pdf
SeparationAnxiety.pdf
SpiritualGrowthChart.pdf
TeacherTips.pdf
Teddy the Bear
Teddy Clip Art
TeddyColor1.jpg
TeddyColor2.jpg
TeddyLine1.jpg
TeddyLine2.jpg
TeddyBagPuppet.pdf
TeddyStickPuppet.pdf
Contents
Toddlers and 2s Digital Files
UNIT 1
Unit1FamilyLetter.doc
Unit1SpecialNeedsHelps.pdf
Lesson 1
BoyFace.pdf
FamilyTogetherTime1.pdf
Lesson 2
CatBirdDog.pdf
FamilyTogetherTime2.pdf
Lesson 3
FamilyTogetherTime3.pdf
GirlFlower.pdf
Lesson 4
FamilyTogetherTime4.pdf
UNIT 2
Unit2FamilyLetter.doc
Unit2SpecialNeedsHelps.pdf
Lesson 5
FamilyTogetherTime5.pdf
Lesson 6
FamilyTogetherTime6.pdf
Lesson 7
BoyRunning.pdf
ChildOutline.pdf
FamilyTogetherTime7.pdf
Lesson 8
FamilyTogetherTime8.pdf
GirlToes.pdf
Lesson 9
BoyPraise.pdf
FamilyTogetherTime9.pdf
UNIT 3
Unit3FamilyLetter.doc
Unit3SpecialNeedsHelps.pdf
Lesson 10
FamilyTogetherTime10.pdf Pumpkin.pdf
Contents
Toddlers and 2s Digital Files
Lesson 11
Apple.pdf
AppleTree.pdf
FamilyTogetherTime11.pdf
Lesson 12
FamilyTogetherTime12.pdf
Lesson 13
FamilyTogetherTime13.pdf
GirlJuice.pdf
The Dedication Certificate and Name Tags in the Teacher Helps folder are modifiable PDF documents, which means you may open them, add your own information, and then save them onto your computer with new names. The text boxes (“Type here”) allow ministry or individual information to be added. You should tab to advance to the additional boxes. Name tags are designed to be used with purchased name badge label paper, 10 to a page. When printing name tags, be sure to have the Page Scaling on your Printer Features set on None. Otherwise, the printer will automatically reduce the size of the art and the name tags will not print correctly on the label paper.
For clip art, scroll through the list and choose the image you want. Click Copy. Launch your favorite word processing program (i.e., WordPerfect®, Appleworks®, Microsoft® Word). Under the Edit menu, select Paste to paste the art into a document. Position and size the image however you like.
Copyright Information
All art, worksheets, letters, activities, and teacher helps copyright © by HeartShaper® Curriculum. Permission is granted to use the Convenience Kit files as instructed in Toddlers & 2s Teacher Guide. All photos copyright © Thinkstock.
Fall, Toddlers & 2s, HeartShaper® Curriculum
Permission is granted to reproduce this page for ministry purposes only—not for resale.
Thank You, God, for giving beautiful eyes.
Permission is granted to reproduce this page for ministry purposes only—not for
Art by Kathryn Marlin Lesson
Fall, Toddlers & 2s Teacher, HeartShaper® Curriculum
God Made My Eyes
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16
God made you and me. God made our eyes. Point to the girl’s eyes. Point to your eyes. God made our eyes to see. Thank You, God, for making our eyes.
Bible Words
“God made me” (based on Genesis 1:27). Say these words and help your child point to himself. Clap hands when done and say, “Yay, God made me!”
Look What God Made God gave me eyes (point to eyes) So I can see. (look around) Thank You, God, (clasp hands) For making me! (point to self)
Go on a Color Walk
Start walking through your home. Tell your child to look for things that are blue and touch or point to those things. Do with several colors. If nice weather, go outside for your color walk. Remember to thank God for eyes to see pretty colors.
Sunglasses Fun!
Let your child have fun looking at his world through different sunglasses. Let him try on his and other family member’s sunglasses. Ask him if things look different. Help him look at something without sunglasses and then with the sunglasses. Remember to thank God for eyes to see.
God Helped David Care for Sheep
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16–18, 20; Psalms
Focus: ❤ God helps me.
Bible Words: “God helps me” (based on Psalm 118:7).
Heart to Heart Teacher Devotion
It’s so interesting that people are referred to as sheep in the Bible. We sheep listen to our Shepherd’s voice but sometimes go astray. Jesus calls His sheep by name. Jesus laid down His life for His sheep.
A shepherd caring for his sheep is a tender picture of love. And the great Shepherd Jesus caring for us is an even more tender picture of love. Think of the many ways Jesus cares for you and then pass along this tender loving care to the little lambs you teach. The children will learn that Jesus cares for them and loves them. And don’t forget that Jesus cares for you and loves you too!
Bonus Unit
Lesson 1 at a Glance
ACTIVITY TIME
Use one or more of these activities to help children explore the theme, God helped David care for sheep
BIBLE TIME
Help children know that God helped David care for sheep.
DISCOVERY TIME
Use one or more of these activities to help children continue exploring the theme, God helped David care for sheep
First Hour Bonus Unit
Activities books and puzzles, song and game, poster
David’s Little Lambs
So Soft
Bible Time can be done several ways and whenever best fits your schedule. If you do the longer Bible Time story, you will need more items.
Materials
• storybooks and puzzle about David, magazines, scissors, poster board, glue stick
• white construction paper, scissors, hole punch, yarn, sheep pattern, cotton balls, glue
• containers, cotton balls, spoons; tongs, egg cartons, ice cube trays or bowls
• Teddy the bear puppet, hand mirror, Bible, David and sheep figures and easels from the BU Repros file, card stock, markers, scissors, tape, cotton balls, grass, water in a container, media player
A Home for the Animals
The Lost Sheep
Food Collage
Saying Good-bye or Transition to Extra Hour
• blocks, toy animals, plastic bowls and plates, toys found in farm sets
• white construction paper, sheep pattern, scissors,cotton balls, glue
• magazines, scissors, glue sticks, paper plates
• blanket, picture books, Family Together Time Bonus Unit issue 1
Extra Hour Bonus Unit
Activity
David Drama
“Our Friend David”
Bible Time can be done several ways. If you do one of the other story options, you will need different items.
Materials
• none
• Family Together Time Bonus Unit issue 1 printable file
• Teddy the bear puppet, hand mirror, Bible, Bible storybook about David, Convenience Kit audio track 1, media player
Puppet Fun David and His Sheep
The Shepherd Animal Hospital
Have You Any Wool?
Saying Good-bye
• Teddy the bear puppet
• plastic or foam bowls, table
• white shirts, stuffed animals, doll beds, plastic bowls, toy doctor kits
• (see activity for supply list)
• Family Together Time Bonus Unit issue 1
Activity Time (25–30 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children explore the theme, God helped David care for sheep.
Welcome
• Welcome each child by name.
• Do check-in procedures you follow (name and security tags, etc.).
• Play soft music in the background (Convenience Kit tracks 9 and 10).
• Lead each child to an activity.
Activities for the Unit
Use these activities every week of the unit anytime during your session. Children will enjoy doing them each week.
Books and puzzles: Use storybooks and puzzles about David. Look at books with interested children and help children do puzzles. Talk about how God helped David.
Song and game: Sing the following to the tune “London Bridge” while children walk under the bridge. SING: ❤ God helps me, yes He does, yes He does, yes He does. God helps me, yes He does. God helps ____. Use the name of the child who is caught when the bridge comes down.
Poster: Cut pictures of boys and girls from magazines. Let children glue a few pictures to a piece of poster board each week. As children glue on pictures, talk about the day’s theme. SAY: There’s a girl who God can help. And God will help you too!
David’s Little Lambs
Before class, use the pattern provided and cut sheep from construction paper. Glue cotton balls to sheep. Punch a hole in each sheep. Thread varying lengths of yarn through the holes and tie. Hang the sheep from the ceiling in your room, leaving one or two for children to touch.
SAY: A man in the Bible named David had some sheep and lambs he cared for. Ask the children to point to the lambs hanging from the ceiling. Let the children feel a lamb. Encourage them to move on the floor like lambs and baa like sheep while you sing “David Had Some Little Lambs” to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” SING: David had some little lambs, little lambs, little lambs. David had some little lambs that were as white as snow
SAY: God helped David care for his lambs. God helped David find food for his lambs. God will help you too. ❤ God helps me. Ask children to point to themselves and say with you, ❤ “God helps me.”
Children will pretend to be sheep and say the Bible Words.
So Soft
ASK: Have you ever touched a sheep? How does a sheep feel? Talk about how soft sheep feel. Sheep feel soft and their fluffy wool looks like cotton balls. Invite the children to touch and play with the cotton balls. They can pick up the cotton balls with spoons or tongs and place them in the other containers. SAY: A man in the Bible named David cared for sheep. God helped David care for his sheep. God helps you too. And ❤ God helps me. Encourage children to say the Bible Words with you.
Children will feel the cotton balls, pick them up, and say the Bible Words.
Focus
❤ God helps me.
Bible Words “God helps me” (based on Psalm 118:7).
Materials
storybooks and puzzles about David, magazines, scissors, poster board, glue sticks
Materials sheep pattern printable figure from the BU Repros file, white construction, cotton balls, scissors, hole punch, yarn, glue
Materials plastic containers; cotton balls; spoons; tongs; egg cartons, ice cube trays, or bowls
Before Class
Fill a couple containers with cotton balls. Set the other items beside the containers.
Transition to Bible Time
Use a cleanup song or signal to transition to Bible Time. See Tips About Bible Time in the narrow column on the next page.
Materials
Teddy the bear puppet, hand mirror, Bible, Convenience Kit audio track 1 and printable easels and figures (David, sheep), media player, white card stock, markers, scissors, tape, cotton balls, grass, water in a container
Before Class
Print the David and sheep figures and easels on card stock. Cut out several sheep and glue on cotton balls. Color the David figure and attach an easel to the back so it will stand. Keep the David and sheep figures to use in lesson 2.
Tips About Bible Time
Bible Time can be done in a variety of ways. You can do Bible Time with individual children, with a few children at a time on carpet squares, in chairs at a table, or in your own creative way.
Encourage verbal children and other helpers to sing the songs with you!
The song “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” is in the Convenience Kit audio tracks
Call Teddy by name. Children will love to hear the name of their furry friend!
Read Special Needs Tips in the Convenience Kit Special Needs Helps folder for how to use Bible Time with children who have special needs.
Bible Time
(shorter version: 5–10 minutes)
Use this Bible Time or the longer version of the Bible Time to help each child know that God helped David care for sheep.
After children have gathered for Bible Time, sing this song several times as each child pets or hugs the Teddy the bear puppet:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) I like to go to church. I like to go to church. With all the other boys and girls, I like to go to church. At the end of the song, clap and ask everyone to clap. SAY: We’re glad to be at church! We’re glad you’re at church today. Hold the mirror in front of each child. We’re so glad ___ is at church today. And we’re so glad ___ is at church. Do with each child using each child’s name.
Show your Bible. ASK: What is this? Children should say “Bible.” We love our Bible. It tells us about God. Let’s pat our Bible. Hold the Bible in front of each child. Let each pat the Bible while singing “Oh,I Love to Pat the Bible” (track 1) several times: (tune:“Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Oh, I love to pat the Bible, the Bible, the Bible. Oh, I love to pat the Bible, for it is God’s Word.
SAY: Our Bible tells us about a boy named David. Show children the David figure. Even though David was just a boy, he had a job. His job was to watch and care for sheep. God helped David care for his sheep. Show children the sheep figures. What sounds do sheep make? Lead children in baaing. Let children touch and hold the sheep while singing this song: (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
David cared for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
God helped David care for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
SAY: God helped David care for his sheep. David gave his sheep food to eat. What do you think sheep like to eat? (grass) David gave his sheep grass to eat. Let children touch the grass while singing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
David cared for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
God helped David care for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
SAY: God helped David care for his sheep. David gave his sheep something to drink. What do you think sheep like to drink? (water) David gave his sheep water to drink. Let children touch the water in the container while singing this song:
(tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
David cared for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
God helped David care for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
SAY: The Bible says that God helped David care for his sheep. And ❤ God helps me. Say this several times as you lead the children to point upward on the word God and point to themselves on me. Hold the mirror in front of each child. SAY: ❤ God helps you, ___. Do this for each child. PRAY: Thank You, God, for helping each one of us. In Jesus’ name, amen. Encourage children to say the prayer with you. Have Teddy say good-bye as each child pets or hugs the puppet.
Discovery Time (15–20 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children continue exploring the theme, God helped David care for sheep
A Home for the Animals
Show the children how use the blocks to build a pen for the farm animals. Then invite them to care for the animals. They can pretend they are giving the animals water, feeding the animals, finding them a place to sleep, and so forth. ASK: What can you do to take care of the animals? (give them water, food, a place to sleep) You are caring for the animals. God helped David care for his sheep. And ❤ God helps me. Encourage the children to say the Bible Words with you.
Children will build a pen for the animals, pretend to care for them, and say the Bible Words.
The Lost Sheep
Before class, print the sheep pattern. Cut several sheep from construction paper and glue on cotton balls. Hide the sheep around the room, leaving a small part of each sheep showing.
SAY: I have lost my sheep! Can you help me find them? Help the children find the sheep you hid around the room. As the children search, sing the following to the tune of “Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?”
Oh where, oh where have my little sheep gone?
Oh where, oh where can they be?
With their tails so short and their coats so warm.
Oh where, oh where can they be?
When all the sheep are found, SAY: When David’s sheep were lost, God helped David find them. God helped David care for his sheep. God also helps you, and ❤ God helps me. Give each child a sheep to take home.
Children will search for the sheep and enjoy listening to the song.
Food Collage
Before class, look through magazines and grocery ads and cut out pictures of food. Give each child a paper plate and a glue stick. Spread the pictures of food out on the table. SAY: Pick the foods you like best and glue them on your paper plate. While the children are choosing pictures and gluing, talk to them about their favorite foods. ASK: Who goes to the grocery store and buys your food? Who cooks the food? Your mommy and daddy care for you by giving you food. David cared about his sheep. God helped David find food for his sheep. God will help you too. And ❤ God helps me.
Children will enjoy choosing pictures of their favorite foods and gluing the pictures onto paper plates.
Saying Good-bye
For children who are leaving, give parents craft activities and copies of Family Together Time Bonus Unit issue 1. Tell parents something their children enjoyed. To each child, SAY: Good-bye. See you next time! Note: The Family Together Time page can be downloaded and sent to families. See the unit page for more info.
Focus ❤ God helps me.
Materials blocks; toy animals (especially sheep); plastic bowls and plates; toys found in farm sets such as fences, hay, buckets, tractors (optional: small amount of real grass)
Materials sheep pattern printable figure from the BU Repros file, white construction paper, scissors, cotton balls, glue
Materials magazines and grocery ads, scissors, glue sticks, paper plates
Transition to Extra Hour
• Have at least one adult greet new children and at least one adult engage children in activities away from the door.
• Continue Discovery Time choices children are enjoying.
• Cover a table with a blanket. Encourage the children to pretend to be sheep and go to their “pen.”
• Choose some animal picture books and read them to the children. Talk about how we care for animals and how God helped David care for sheep.
Focus ❤ God helps me.
Bible Words
“God helps me” (based on Psalm 118:7).
Extra Hour Activity and Bible Time
(25–35 minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children explore the theme, God helped David care for sheep
Welcome
• Welcome new children by name.
• Do check-in procedures you follow (name and security tags, etc.).
• Check and change diapers and/or have restroom time.
• Continue activities from the 1st Hour and/or do the following activities:
Materials
(optional: wrap 4–6 large rubber bands around shoe boxes with no lids to make “harps”; supervise closely when using rubber bands)
Bonus Unit Activity David Drama
Encourage children to act out this simple play. Model the actions for the children. SAY: David cared for sheep. (act like sheep) A bear attacked David’s sheep. (act like bears) David was brave. (flex arm muscle) A lion attacked David’s sheep. (act like lions) David was brave. (flex arm muscle) David praised God with his harp. (pretend to strum a harp) David was a friend. (shake a hand or hug someone) God helped David.
Materials Family Together Time
Bonus Unit issue 1 printable file
Materials
Teddy the bear puppet, mirror, Bible, Bible storybook about David and his sheep, Convenience Kit audio track 1, media player
Tips About Bible Time
Bible Time can be done in a variety of ways. You can do Bible Time with individual children, with a few children at a time on carpet squares, in chairs at a table, or in your own creative way.
Encourage children and other helpers to sing the songs with you!
The song “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” is included in the Convenience Kit audio tracks.
Read Special Needs Tips in the Convenience Kit Special Needs Helps folder for how to use Bible Time with children who have special needs.
“Our Friend David”
Sing the song from Family Together Time. Encourage children to sing with you, especially “E-I-E-I-O.” Use a cleanup song or signal and transition to Bible Time. See the Tips About Bible Time in the narrow column.
Bible Time
Use this Bible Time, the one found on page 3, or the longer version of the Bible Time. Use Teddy the bear to welcome new children. Encourage all children to pet or hug the puppet.
SAY: We’re so glad to be at church! We’re glad you’re at church today! Hold the mirror in front of each child. SAY: We’re so glad ___ is at church today. And we’re so glad ___ is at church today. Do with each child using each child’s name.
Show your Bible. SAY: The Bible tells us about God. Let’s pat our Bible. Hold the Bible in front of each child. Let each pat the Bible while singing “Oh, I Love to Pat the Bible” (track 1) several times: (tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Oh, I love to pat the Bible, the Bible, the Bible. Oh, I love to pat the Bible, for it is God’s Word.
Read from a Bible storybook about David caring for his sheep, showing the pictures as you read. Then sing the following song: (tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”) David cared for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep. God helped David care for sheep. Yes, David cared for sheep.
SAY: The Bible says that God helped David care for his sheep. God helps you, and ❤ God helps me. Hold the mirror in front of each child. SAY: ❤ God helps you, ___. Do for each child. PRAY: Thank You, God, for helping each one of us. In Jesus’ name, amen. Have Teddy say good-bye as each child pets or hugs the puppet.
Extra Hour Discovery Time
(20–25
minutes)
Do these activities with individual children or a few children at a time to help children continue exploring the theme, God helped David care for sheep.
Puppet Fun David and His Sheep
Go with Teddy to individual children or to small groups of children. SAY: Hi! My name is Teddy. Today we are learning about David. God helped David care for sheep. David gave them water to drink. What do you like to drink? Teddy listens to answers. David gave the sheep food to eat. What do you like to eat? Teddy listens to answers.
SAY: The sheep followed David. Can you pretend to be sheep and follow me? Walk with Teddy and invite children to follow. SAY: You followed me! You did a good job. Have Teddy pat each of the children. God helped David care for his sheep. God will help you too!
The Shepherd
Encourage the children to pretend to be sheep. SAY: You pretend to be sheep. I will pretend to be David. I will care for you. Ask your sheep to follow you to the bowls. Here is some water. Encourage them to pretend to drink. Ask your sheep to follow you to the other bowls. Here is some food. They can pretend to eat. Then ask your sheep to follow you to the table. Here is a safe place to sleep. Encourage them to crawl under the table and pretend to sleep. SAY: God helped David care for his sheep. God will help you too, and ❤ God helps me. Encourage children to say the Bible Words with you.
Children will pretend to be sheep and say the Bible Words.
Animal Hospital
Help children put on the shirts. SAY: You can be an animal doctor. Animal doctors are called veterinarians. Veterinarians care for animals. Encourage the children to feed, give water tor, and care for the animals using the doctor kits. ASK: Is your animal sick? What can you do to make him feel better? David cared for animals too. God helped David care for his sheep. God can help you too! And ❤ God helps me.
Children will pretend to care for animals.
Have You Any Wool?
Before class, print the sheep pattern. Cut several sheep from construction paper. Pour a small amount of paint into each bowl. Place a sheep, bowl of paint, and cotton swab on each tray. Put smocks on children and give them each a tray. Show how to dip the swab in the paint and then touch the paper. SAY: You can give the sheep a woolly coat. David’s sheep had woolly coats. David cared for his sheep. God helped David care for his sheep. God helps you too. And ❤ God helps me. Encourage children to say the Bible Words with you.
Children will paint the sheep and say the Bible Words.
Saying Good-bye
Give parents copies of the Family Together Time Bonus Unit issue 1 printable file and craft activities their children may have done. To each child, SAY: Good-bye. See you next week!
Focus ❤ God helps me.
Materials
Teddy the bear puppet
Materials
plastic or foam bowls, table (optional: small soft blankets)
Before the Activity
Set several bowls at two different places in the room.
Provide blankets to hold for children who do not want to or are not able to crawl under the table.
Materials white shirts, stuffed animals, doll beds or small baskets or boxes, plastic bowls or pet food dishes, toy doctor kits
Materials
copies of the sheep pattern from the BU Repros file, construction paper, scissors, white tempera paint, small bowls, cotton swabs, paint smocks, plastic trays
Note: Family Together Time is available to download and send to families. See the unit page for more info.