Age 2 - 5K Week of June 21st - June 27th
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Download the Parent Cue for Week 1 HERE or View Below
Monday: Match
What You Need: “Match” Activity Page (Download HERE), two pieces of cardstock, and scissors
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Make two copies of “Match” on cardstock and cut on dotted lines. You will have a total of eight cards and four matches.
During the Activity: Place the cards face down in the activity area. Choose one child to go first. Ask that child to turn over one card so that everyone can see it. Ask the child to turn over another card to see if it matches. If it matches, identify the emotion on the card and set it aside. If it does not match, simply turn the cards back over in the original spot. Choose another child to have a turn. Cards are: happy face, sad face, angry face, and heart-eyes face. Repeat the activity until all of the matches have been made and all emotions have been identified.
NOTE: If all matches are made before all of the children have had a turn, simply add the matched cards back into the game until each child makes a match.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: “We are going to play a game!”
During the Activity: “We have cards (point) that all have matches. (Choose a child to go first.) Choose a card and turn it over. Great job! Now, turn over another card to see if we have a match (continue the activity). YAY! We have a match! This card is of a (name emotion) face! Let’s try to make another match!” (Finish activity.)
After the Activity: “Great job! Sunday, we heard a Bible story about someone who was happy and sad.”
Tuesday: Write
What You Need: foam shaving cream, preschool paint smocks (If you have them), wax paper, and wet wipes
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Lay the wax paper on top of a table in the activity area. Place a smock on each child and ask them to sit at the table.
During the Activity: Squirt a large dollop of shaving cream on the table in front of each child. Encourage your children to practice writing their name with their finger in the shaving cream. As the children write, say the memory verse.
After the Activity: Remove smocks and clean hands. Roll up the wax paper and discard.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: “Let’s practice writing our names in a super fun way!”
During the Activity: (Give each child the shaving cream.) “Use your finger to write your name in the shaving cream. You’re doing a great job of writing! Writing reminds me of our memory verse this month. The Bible was written so that we can believe in Jesus! Let’s say our memory verse while we write.” (Say the memory verse with your children.)
After the Activity: “Great job! The Bible was written so that we can know and believe in Jesus! Who can believe in Jesus? [Bottom Line] I can believe in Jesus!”
Wednesday: Smiling for Jesus
What You Need: “Smiling for Jesus” Activity Page (Download HERE); cardstock; and colorful painter’s tape or four hula hoops (or someway to mark off 4 circular areas)
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Copy “Smiling for Jesus” as directed on pages. Make four circles with painter’s tape on the floor or spread out four hula hoops. Tape a happy face to the floor in two of the circles and a sad face to the floor in the other two circles.
During the Activity: Invite your children to gather around the circles. When you hold up the Jesus picture and say, “Paul did not believe in Jesus,” everyone must get inside of a circle that has a sad face, while making a sad face. When you hold up the Jesus pictures and say, “Paul believed in Jesus,” all of the children must get inside of a circle that has a happy face, while making a happy face.
What You Say:
During the Activity: “Come here everyone! I have a game for us to play. When I say, ‘Paul did NOT believe in Jesus’ (hold up Jesus), I want you to stand inside of a circle that has a sad face while you make a sad face. If I say, ‘Paul BELIEVED in Jesus’ (hold up Jesus), I want you to stand inside of a circle that has a happy face while you make a happy face. Got it? Good!” (Go back and forth saying “Paul did NOT believe in Jesus” and “Paul BELIEVED in Jesus” as you hold up Jesus.)
After the Activity: “That was fun! You are great listeners. Now, I need everyone to sit inside of a circle that has a happy face. (Wait for children to settle.) In our story, Paul did not believe in Jesus (hold up Jesus) at first. In fact, Paul was mean and hurt people who did believe in Jesus. This made Jesus sad, because Jesus loved Paul.
“But Paul met Jesus (hold up Jesus), and Paul believed in Jesus! This made everyone happy! Jesus was happy that Paul believed in Him. Paul was happy that Jesus loved him. And all of the people who believed in Jesus were happy that Paul wouldn’t hurt people anymore. Paul wrote down what happened so that we can read it in the Bible and believe in Jesus, too! Who can believe in Jesus? [Bottom Line] I can believe in Jesus!”
Thursday: Follow Me
What You Need: Bandanas and floor tape
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Use the floor tape to create a winding road or create a winding path in around your house.
During the Activity: Line up your children in pairs or pair up with your children. Help your child put on a bandana blindfold. Encourage the partners without blindfolds to carefully lead their partners around the room and along the “road” on the floor. When you say, “RETURN,” children must lead their partners back to where they started. Have children remove their blindfolds and switch roles so that everyone has a chance to be leader and follower.
After the Activity: Collect all the bandanas for clean-up.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: “In our Bible story, today, we heard how Paul’s friends had to help him get home after he was blinded on the road. Let’s take turns leading our friends down this road on the floor. One friend will be blindfolded while your partner carefully leads you. Be very careful and move slowly as you lead.”
During the Activity: “Okay, now that one partner is blindfolded, let’s move down the road. When you hear me say, ‘RETURN!’, I want you to lead your partners right back here. We’ll switch so that everyone has a chance to lead and follow.”
After the Activity: “After the light, Paul heard a loud voice. Who was it? (Pause.) Jesus! Paul was blinded by the bright light, and his friends had to help him to the house where he stayed. But a few days later, Paul could see again, and he started believing in Jesus! And you can, too. Who can believe in Jesus? [Bottom Line] I can believe in Jesus.”
Friday: Journal and Prayer
What You Need: Paperclip “Memory Verse Card” in your Bible at John 20:31. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen.
Parent: “First, I need everyone to line up behind me. Now, I want everyone to put their hands on top of the shoulders of the person in front of you. The person behind me will hold my hands. (Reach back with your hands.) Now, just look at the person’s head in front of you. As long as you have your hands on their shoulders, they can lead you. Ready? We can do this!”
Slowly guide the children in a line to your spot to do the journal.
Parent: “Yay! We did it. You led each other to our journal spot. Good job!
“Now, let’s sit down and talk about Sunday’s Bible story. One, two, three, sit down with me! (Open the Bible and lay it in front of the children.)
“Our Bible story, Sunday, was about a man named Paul. Do you remember how the people had to lead Paul to a friend’s house? Yeah, Paul didn’t believe in Jesus at first. In fact, not only did he not believe in Jesus, he was mean to people who did believe in Jesus! Then he met Jesus, couldn’t see for a while, people helped him, and soon he believed in Jesus, too. It really is an amazing story, and it’s all right here in the Bible. (Hold up Bible.)
“Paul wrote about everything that happened with Jesus and his new friends, and how he went from not believing in Jesus to believing in Jesus. He wanted us to know that Jesus is alive so that we can believe in Jesus, too. So, tell me, who can believe in Jesus?”
CHILDREN and Parent: [Bottom Line] “I can believe in Jesus!”
Parent: “Yes! And the Bible verse we have been learning says the stories in the Bible are written so that we can believe in Jesus—stories just like Paul’s. The verse says . . . (Turn the pages of your Bible to the Memory Verse Card.)
“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, John 20:31. (Close Bible and lay it down.)
“Let’s stand up and say that together with the motions.”
CHILDREN and Parent: “These are written (open your hands like a book) so that you (point out) may believe (point to head) that Jesus is the Christ, (point up) the Son of God. (Rock baby.) John 20:31.” (Open your hands like a book.)
Repeat the verse with motions a few times.
Parent: “I love hearing you say Bible verses! Now, it’s time to sit down, write in our prayer journal, and talk to God. (Hold journal and fun-shaped pen.)
“Some people may have thought a person like Paul could never believe in Jesus. Paul was mean, he hurt people, and he said bad things about Jesus. But then, Paul met Jesus, and it changed everything! Paul believed in Jesus. He started being kind to people and telling everyone the truth about Jesus. Do you know why Paul changed? Because everyone can believe in Jesus. EVERYONE!
“Because everyone can believe in Jesus, we’re going to make a list of people who can believe in Jesus. It can be anyone you think of, because everyone can believe in Jesus. Got it? When I say your name, tell me one person who can believe in Jesus, and I will write their name in our prayer journal. (Say each child’s name and write down what they say. Remember to print the names so the children can recognize their names and the letters.)
“This is a very special list. Let’s use it when we talk to God. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?”
Give each child who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.
Prayer
Parent: “Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to be everyone’s friend forever. Thank You that everyone can believe in Jesus, like (read the list the children made). Jesus has the power to help every person be kind, tell the truth, and believe in Him. We are so grateful. You are the best, God, and we love You very much. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
