Age 2 - 5K Week of May 24th - May 30th
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Monday: Symbol Toss
What You Need: “Symbols” Activity Page (Download HERE); copy paper; scissors; beanbags; tape; and four, medium-sized boxes with no top or lids
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Copy “Symbols” onto the paper and cut on dotted lines. You will have four, ½ pages with these symbols: gift, world, heart, and Jesus. Tape one symbol to the front of each box. Place the boxes about five feet apart in a horizontal line in the activity area.
During the Activity: Point to one symbol on a box. Ask your children to identify the symbol and invite them to toss a beanbag into that box. Continue with the three remaining boxes.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: “There are symbols on all of these boxes!”
During the Activity: “Let’s look at the symbol on this box. (Point.) Do you know what that picture is? Yes, it’s a gift! Let’s toss a beanbag into the box with the gift on it. (Do activity.) Great job! Let’s look at the next picture.” (Finish activity.)
After the Activity: “Fantastic work! The pictures on the boxes are symbols from our Bible story Sunday! We heard a story about the world, a gift, a heart, and Jesus! Sounds like an awesome story!”
Tuesday: It’s a Wrap
What You Need: Gift wrap, bows, tape, and small toys or trinkets
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Place all of the items in the activity area.
During the Activity: Invite the children to wrap the toys or trinkets. Continue until all of the items are wrapped.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: “We are talking about a special gift in our Bible story today.”
During the Activity: “Let’s wrap gifts together! We can use this paper and these beautiful bows!” (Do activity.)
After the Activity: “Look at all of the beautiful gifts! Do you remember what the special gift is from our Bible story Sunday?”
Wednesday: Pictures of Love
What You Need: “Story Review Symbol Cards” and “Story Review Symbol Full Page” Activity Pages (Download HERE), cardstock, and scissors
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Make a copy of “Story Review Symbol Cards” on cardstock for each child. Cut the cards a part. Make one copy of “Story Review Symbol Full Page” on cardstock for yourself.
During the Activity: Give each child a set of “Story Review Symbol Cards.” Hold up the “Story Review Symbol Full Page” as you review the story. Ask the children to find the matching symbol. The goal is for each child to put their story symbols in order.
What You Say:
During the Activity: “Sunday, we heard a story about how much God loves us. Let’s see if we can tell the story using these story cards. When I point to a story symbol, I want you to find the match in your story cards. Ready? Say what I say when you hold up your card.
(Point to the heart and wait for the children to find their match.)
“God loved . . .
(Point to the world and wait for the children to find their match.)
“. . .the world so much . . .
(Point to the gift and wait for the children to find their match.)
“ . . .He gave us . . .
(Point to Jesus and wait for the children to find their match.)
“. . .Jesus.
“You did a great job telling the story with your story cards! Let’s do it again!”
(Repeat several times.)
After the Activity: “You can use your story cards to tell other people the good news that God loves us so much He gave us Jesus! Who loves you? [Bottom Line] God loves me!”
Thursday:Journal and Prayer
What You Need: Paperclip “Memory Verse Card” in your Bible at Romans 8:39. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen.
PARENT: “I want everyone to pretend you are holding a little, bitty baby in your arms. Rock it gently. Keep rocking it while we walk to our small group spot.”
(Pretend you are rocking a baby as you lead the children to a spot to do the journal.)
PARENT: “Shhh. I think the babies are sleeping. Let’s lay them down so they can take a nap while we talk about today’s Bible story. One, two, three, sit down with me!
(Open the Bible and lay it in front of the children.)
PARENT: “Today we learned that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to be our friend forever. That’s a lot of love! But wait, there’s more! Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love either. It’s true! And the Bible verse we are learning will help us remember how much God loves us.”
(Turn the pages of your Bible to the Memory Verse Card.)
PARENT: “Let’s stand up and say it together with the motions.”
CHILDREN and PARENT: “Nothing at all (shake head and wave your arms in front of you) can separate (lock your fingers together) us from God’s (point up with both hands) love (hug yourself). Romans 8:39.” (Open your hands like a book.)
(Repeat the verse with the motions a few times.)
PARENT: “See? God loves you! A lot! Who loves you?”
CHILDREN and PARENT: [Bottom Line] “God loves me!”
PARENT: “Yes, God loves you and everyone in the whole world SO much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our friend forever. Now, let’s sit down so we can write in our prayer journal and talk to God.”
(Hold journal and fun-shaped pen.)
PARENT: “Today, we are going to make a list of people God loves. Think of someone you want to write down in our prayer journal. When I say your name, you tell me their name, and I’ll write it down. It can be anyone, because God loves everyone!”
(Say each child’s name and write down who they say. Remember to print the names so the children recognize their names and the letters.)
PARENT: “Thank you for making this list with me. Let’s pray and thank God for loving everyone so much He gave us Jesus. 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 loving us SO much You gave us Jesus to be our friend forever. Thank You for loving (read the list the children made), and everyone else in the world. You really are the best! In Jesus’ name, amen.”
