jesus wants to be my friend forever. - Bridge Kidz
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
Editor in Chief: Kathy Hill
FL Creative Team: Brittany Compton-Robertson,
Executive Director: Brittany Compton-Robertson
Copy Editor: Dana Wilkerson
Kathy Hill, Autumn Ward, Ashley Hiers, Donna High,
Technical and Web Support: Hadley Brandt
Curriculum Writer: Emily Meredith, Donna High
Danielle Schneller, Mary Beth Brannan
Partner Support: Deb Springer
Illustrator: Jodi Blackwell
Chief Executive Officer: Reggie Joiner
Graphic Designers: Sharon van Rossum, David Hill
Chief Operating Officer: Reggie Goodin
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New
“STATEMENT OF FAITH” USER AGREEMENT
International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
tailor First Look® materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale
These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the
and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish
subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated
to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities,
by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material
scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are
or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. ©2016
presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we’ve
Orange. All rights reserved. First Look® and the First Look® logo are trademarks
expressed in our Statement of Faith.
of Orange.
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT FUN
Prepare to offer one or more of the following activities as your preschoolers arrive. Let one or two teachers lead small groups of children in activities throughout the room while another teacher greets parents and kids at the door.
• Measuring with Kids • What’s That Smell? • Oil and Water
MAKE IT TRUE (LARGE GROUP) • Worship • Introductory Sketch • Bible Story
MAKE IT STICK
These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand and remember today’s Bible story and Bottom Line. Offer as many of the following activities as your time, facilities, resources, and leadership allow. You may want to lead one activity at a time. Or, offer two activities at once and allow half the kids to participate in each, then switch groups and repeat the activities.
• • • • •
How Wide? Act and Retell Let’s Measure It! Big Feet Heart Necklace
MAKE IT REAL
Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. They’ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer requests. Divide kids into small groups of about five to eight children with each leader. Ideally, assign the same small group leader to the same group of preschoolers for the entire year.
• Small Group Time • Prayer
This symbol indicates an activity with potential allergens. Be sure to post allergy allert sign and inform parents at drop-off.
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 2
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT FUN
MOVEMENT
Activities designed to draw children into
An activity that uses a preschooler’s natural desire to move to help them learn and grow.
the classroom and introduce vocabulary and concepts needed for the Bible story.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
MEASURING WITH KIDS
“Measuring with Kids” is an activity that allows the children to have a vital role in learning how to measure different objects. WHAT YOU NEED: A small table and a wall cleared of objects
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
WHAT YOU DO: During the Activity: Ask the children to lie on their backs parallel next to the wall, but still touching it. Have the children lay head to toe with each other. Count to see how many children it takes to take up the length of the wall. Then announce, “The wall is [number] kids long.” Repeat the activity using the table to measure the length of the room. Make sure all of the children are able to participate. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “I think we should measure today!”
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
During the Activity: “We do not need a tape measure or a ruler for our activity today. We can use our bodies to measure instead! Lie down next to the wall, so close that you can touch it. (Pause.) Great job! Now make sure you are very close to the person above your head. (Pause.) Perfect! We have kids for the entire length of the wall. Let’s count how many kids we have. (Count the children.) AWESOME! The wall is [number] kids long! Now let’s measure using the table.” (Finish the activity.) After the Activity: “Great job! It is fun to measure things! Did you know that Jesus loves us SO much that we cannot even measure it? His love for us is that BIG! WOW!”
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 3
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT FUN
GAME
Activities designed to draw children into
An activity that encourages preschoolers to follow guidelines while having fun and learning new concepts.
the classroom and introduce vocabulary and concepts needed for the Bible story.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
“What’s That Smell?” is an activity that uses sense of smell to introduce today’s Bible story. Be sure to list the items you will be using today on the “Allergy Alert Poster” and post it at the door to your room. WHAT YOU NEED: “Allergy Alert Poster”; white cardstock; 3-4 drops of 4-5 different cooking flavors or oils such as vanilla, coconut, almond, and peppermint; cotton balls; small plastic cups; a permanent marker; and aluminum foil WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Copy “Allergy Alert Poster” on white cardstock and hang it on the door. Drop three or four drops of each cooking flavor/oil onto individual cotton balls. Place each cotton ball inside a plastic cup, cover the top with foil, and cut out a couple of small holes at the top for the children to smell what’s inside. Use a marker to write the name of the flavoring/oil on the bottom of each cup for reference.
MEMORY VERSE
During the Activity: Pass the cups around for the children to smell. See if they can identify the smell, but be prepared to help them.
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
WHAT YOU SAY: During the Activity: “Have you ever helped your mom or dad bake something yummy in the kitchen? (Pause for responses.) Today I want to see how good your noses are! I have some different cooking flavors and oils inside these cups for us to smell. I want you to pass these around, take a good sniff, and tell me what you smell. Are you ready?” (Do activity.)
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
After the Activity: “Which smell is your favorite? (Pause for responses.) You did a great job identifying our smells today. It would have been super easy to name these smells if I’d given you the bottle to look at with your eyes, but instead you had to use your noses! In our story today, a woman uses something that smells to show a special someone that she cares for them. I wonder who it is? We will find out soon!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 4
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
MAKE IT FUN Activities designed to draw children into the classroom and introduce vocabulary and concepts needed for the Bible story.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
INVESTIGATION/ROLE PLAY An activity that channels either a preschooler’s innate curiosity or desire to play dress up into a discussion of concepts crucial to the lesson.
OIL AND WATER
“Oil and Water” is an activity that introduces the children to a key concept of today’s Bible story. WHAT YOU NEED: Empty water bottle with lid (clean and dry), water, vegetable oil, hot glue gun, hot glue, sequins, and food coloring (any color)
BOTTOM LINE
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Peel any labels off of the bottle. Fill the bottle ¾ full of water. Add a few drops of the food coloring and replace the lid. Shake the water and the coloring until the color has disseminated throughout the water. Remove the lid and fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable oil. Sprinkle in the glitter and the sequins in the bottle. Use the glue gun to glue the lid permanently onto the bottle.
JESUS LOVES ME.
(NOTE: A hot glue gun should never be used near young children. Be sure to either use the glue gun before the children arrive or in an area away from the children.)
WHO LOVES YOU?
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
During the Activity: Have the children gather around you. Take turns letting each child look at the bottle. Ask the children what is in the bottle. Point out the difference of the water and the oil. After the Activity: Introduce today’s Bible story. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: (Hold up the bottle.) “WOW! I have a water bottle, but it looks like more than water is in here. What else do you think is in here?” (Pause.) During the Activity: “You can all come and see. Let’s be sure to take turns. Can you tell me what you think is in here? (Pause.) Yes! There is water, but there is also oil. Oil does not mix with water, so that is why it’s sitting on top. I also see glitter and shiny sequins inside!” (Continue until every child has had a chance to look at the bottle.) After the Activity: “It is really cool to see the oil sitting on top of the water like that. In our story today we are going to talk about oil. I wonder what it was used for. Let’s go find out!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 5
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
MEMORY VERSE REVIEW
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that encourages preschoolers to learn the monthly memory verse.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
HOW WIDE?
“How Wide?” is an activity that uses fine motor and memory skills to review this month’s memory verse. WHAT YOU NEED: “Ephesians 3:18 Labels” Activity Page, Avery® labels #5160 or equivalent, construction paper, pencils, string or yarn, scissors, and tape WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Copy the “Ephesians 3:18 Labels” onto the labels; you will need one label per child. Cut the construction paper in half and in half again so you have four pieces from each page. Cut the string/yarn into 12-inch pieces. You will need one piece per child. During the Activity: Give each child two pieces of construction paper. Instruct the children to place a hand on a page, trace it, and cut it out. They should do both hands. Be prepared to help the children complete these steps. Then pass one piece of string/yarn to each child. Help them tape each end of the their string to the back of each handprint. Then pass out a label to each child for them to place on the front of one of their hands. After the Activity: When finished, let the children hold their handprints in each hand and say the verse together. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Today we’re going to make some heart hands to help us remember our memory verse for this month!” During the Activity: “First, I want you to trace your hand onto two pieces of paper and cut them out so that you have two hands. Then, we will use these pieces of string to connect the two hands. (Hold up string.) Do you see these labels? (Hold up labels.) Right here it says, ‘Ephesians 3:18.’ That’s our memory verse this month. “Let’s hold up our handprints, one in each hand, and say our verse together. You can move your handprints to show deep and wide like this. (Demonstrate with your hands.) How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Ephesians 3:18. Great job! Let’s say it again.” (Repeat.) After the Activity: “Awesome! I LOVE your handprints. I want you to take these home to remind you of our verse this month. Tell me: Who loves you? Jesus loves me. That’s right! His love for us is wide and long and high and deep.”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 6
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
E BIBL
BIBLE STORY REVIEW
ORY R E
IEW
Activities designed to reinforce the
ST
YEAR OLDS
V
MAKE IT STICK
4
An activity that reviews the entire Bible story in a fun and interactive way allowing preschoolers that repetition they crave.
ACT AND RETELL
“Act and Retell” is an activity that offers a visual to the children while the Bible story is being retold. JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
WHAT YOU NEED: Baby doll, baby oil, and wet wipes
KEY QUESTION
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Have the children sit around you on the floor.
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
During the Activity: Begin retelling the Bible story. When you get to the part where the woman washed Jesus’ feet, start washing the doll’s feet with the wet wipes. After the Activity: Finish telling the story and then add a very small amount of the baby oil to the doll’s feet.
JESUS LOVES ME.
(NOTE: Be sure to wash the doll’s feet thoroughly before allowing a child to play with it again.)
MEMORY VERSE
WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Today in our Bible story, there was a woman who had not made very good choices.”
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
During the Activity: “Jesus came to where the woman was and there were many people there. The woman asked Jesus if she could wash His feet. The other people thought Jesus would not let her wash His feet, because of all of the bad choices she had made. But do you remember what happened next? (Pause.) Yes! (Begin washing the doll’s feet.) Jesus allowed the woman to wash his feet and put oil on them!” (Put oil on the doll’s feet.) After the Activity: “Jesus forgave the woman for her bad choices and let her wash His feet. Jesus loves us and will forgive us if we make bad choices too. Tell me: Who loves you? Jesus loves me! That’s right!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 7
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
JUST FOR FIVES
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that calls on older preschoolers’ more developed cognitive and fine motor skills while reviewing the Bible story, bottom line or memory verse.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
LET’S MEASURE IT!
“Let’s Measure It!” is an activity that uses investigation and fine motor skills to review this month’s theme. WHAT YOU NEED: Things to measure with such as: rulers, yardsticks, paper rulers, tape measures (the type used for sewing), etc. WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Put the items you’ve gathered in the center of the table. Grab five or six items from the classroom for the children to measure, such as a baby doll, a cup, a marker, a Bible, a wipes container, a piece of paper, etc.
BOTTOM LINE
During the Activity: Encourage the children to use the measuring tools to measure the items on the table to figure out which item is the biggest.
JESUS LOVES ME.
WHAT YOU SAY: During the Activity: “Do you see these rulers and yardsticks and tape measures? (Point to items.) Do you know what they are used for? (Pause for responses.) To measure things! So today, I thought it would be fun to measure some things I’ve gathered here on the table. You can use any of these items, but remember to share them with friends too, so everyone gets a turn. I want to see if we can figure out which item is the BIGGEST!”
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
After the Activity: “Okay, so now that everything has been measured, someone raise your hand and tell me what the BIGGEST item is. (Pause for responses.) You’re right! Great job measuring, friends! You found the biggest item. All month long, we’ve been learning about something else that is SO BIG. What is it? (Pause for responses.) Jesus’ love for you is SO BIG! Who loves you? Jesus loves me. Jesus’ love is SO BIG!”
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 8
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
MOVEMENT
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that uses a preschooler’s natural desire to move to help them learn and grow.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
BIG FEET
“Big Feet” is an activity that allows the children to have fun and be silly while exploring the concept of today’s Bible Story. WHAT YOU NEED: Empty shoeboxes with lids (2 per child), a utility knife, and masking tape
BOTTOM LINE
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Secure the lids to the boxes with the masking tape. Cut a semicircle hole in the top of each box with the utility knife. The hole should be large enough for a child to place a foot in. (Take into account whether you plan to allow the children to leave their shoes on or do the activity with just socks. This will determine the size of your hole.)
JESUS LOVES ME.
During the Activity: Help the children place each foot into a box. Encourage them to try to walk with the boxes on their feet.
WHO LOVES YOU?
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
After the Activity: Be sure an adult stays next to the children at all times to catch anyone that may fall. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Let’s be silly today! We are going to pretend to have BIG feet and walk around!” During the Activity: (Help the children get into the boxes.) “Wow! What big feet you have! Can you try to walk?” (Do activity.) After the Activity: “Great job! You did very well walking with those BIG feet! In our story today, we heard about how a woman who made bad choices washed Jesus’ feet. Jesus forgives us if we make bad choices, because He loves us! His love for us is SO BIG! Who loves you? Jesus loves me!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 9
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
CRAFT
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, bottom line or memory verse by creating a fun craft to take home.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
HEART NECKLACE
“Heart Necklace” is an activity that uses fine motor skills and creativity to review today’s Bible story and Bottom Line. Be sure to list the items you will be using today on the “Allergy Alert Poster” and post it at the door to your room. WHAT YOU NEED: “Allergy Alert Poster,” “Heart Charm” Activity Page, white cardstock, dry tubular pasta noodles, 3-4 paper plates, tape, and string
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Copy “Allergy Alert Poster” on white cardstock and hang it on the door. Cut the string into 24-inch pieces. You need one piece of string per child. Copy the “Heart Charm” Activity Page onto white cardstock and cut out the heart charms. You will need one heart charm per child. Place the pasta on the plates in the center of the table. Lay each piece of string on the table perpendicular to each chair and tape down the far end to the table, so that every seat has a piece of string. During the Activity: Point out the taped down string to the children. Explain that today you will be making heart necklaces for them to take home. Instruct the children to count out five pieces of pasta and place them on the string. When finished, pass out a paper heart charm to each child to add to the string. Fold the heart tab over the string and tape it to the back of the heart. Then, encourage the children to add five more pieces of pasta. Be prepared to pull the tape off and tie the two ends together to make a necklace as each child finishes. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Today, I want us to make some heart charm necklaces to remind us of how much Jesus loves us! During the Activity: “Do you see the string in front of your chair? (Point to string.) Great! Let’s count out five pieces of pasta and string them on. (Allow time for children to work.) “Now, let’s add our ‘Jesus loves me’ charm next to the pasta noodles. And finally, add five more pieces of pasta. As you finish, we’ll come around and help you tie off
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 0
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
CRAFT
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, bottom line or memory verse by creating a fun craft to take home.
Bible story and bottom line.
your string to make a necklace!” After the Activity: “Wow! Your necklaces look great! I hope you will wear these and be reminded that Jesus loves you very much. His love for you is SO BIG! Who loves you? Jesus loves me. It says so right here on your heart! Jesus loves me.”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 1
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT REAL A time for preschoolers to meet with a consistent small group leader, apply the lesson to their lives and pray together.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
Investing in a few to encourage their authentic faith.
SMALL GROUP TIME WHAT YOU NEED: Paperclip “Memory Verse Card” (from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website) in your Bible at Ephesians 3:18. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. You will also need a red marker and reward stickers or a hand stamp.
SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): “The woman in our Bible story today had made a lot of wrong choices. There were people who didn’t want to be her friend anymore, but not Jesus. Jesus still loved her and wanted to be her friend. The woman was so thankful that Jesus had forgiven her and was still her friend that she washed His feet and put perfume on them. It was her way of saying thank you. “We’ve all done something wrong. It’s wonderful knowing that our friend Jesus loves us with a love that is SO big He will keep loving us no matter what. Who loves you?” CHILDREN AND SGL: “Jesus loves me!” SGL: “Yes, He does! And Jesus will never stop loving you because His love is SO big we can’t even measure it! Remember what our verse says?
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
(Open Bible to memory verse card.) SGL: “How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Ephesians 3:18. (Lay Bible down.) Jesus’ love is SO big He can forgive us when we do wrong things. That’s why we should be thankful like the woman in our story today. Let’s say our verse with the motions one time and then anyone who wants to try and say it by yourself can give it a try. I brought my hand stamp/stickers because I know you can do it! CHILDREN AND SGL: “How wide (hold arms out wide) and long (hold arms out vertically) and high (jump as high as you can) and deep (pretend to dig with a shovel) is the love (hug yourself) of Christ (point up), Ephesians 3:18.” (Open hands like a book.) (Repeat several times.) (Give each child the opportunity to say the verse on his or her own. Have your
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 2
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT REAL A time for preschoolers to meet with a consistent small group leader, apply the lesson to their lives and pray together.
Investing in a few to encourage their authentic faith.
stickers/hand stamp ready to give when they say it.) SGL: “Look at all of those stickers/hand stamps! I am so proud of you! And the best part is that verse will help you always remember how big Jesus’ love is for you! It’s SO big! “Come sit with me now. It’s time to write in our prayer journal. Today I want us to make a list of things we’ve done that were wrong. When we’re done with our list, I’m going to do something special to it that I think will make you smile. “First, I’ll write everyone’s name in our prayer journal. When I say your name, I want you to tell me one thing you’ve done that was wrong and I’ll write it beside your name. (Open prayer journal and hold your fun pen. Write each child’s name and what they say beside their name. Remember to print the words they say so the children can recognize their names and the letters.) SGL: “Thank you for sharing your wrong things with me. Are you ready to see what I’m going to do that will make you smile? Watch this! (Use a red marker to draw a big red heart over the list.) “Jesus’ love for you is SO big He can forgive you when you do something wrong. He still loves you and wants to be your friend forever. Who wants to be your friend forever?” CHILDREN AND SGL: “Jesus wants to be my friend forever.” SGL: “Yes, He does! And nothing will ever change that. Okay, let’s pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray? (Give each child who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.) “Now I will pray.”
PRAYER
SGL: “Dear God, thank You for giving us Jesus. Thank You that He loves us and wants to be our friend forever. Thank You that there is nothing we can do that will make Jesus stop loving us. I pray that when we do things like (read the list the children made) we will always ask Jesus to forgive us and know that He still loves us. I pray my friends (name each child) will grow up with thankful hearts because Jesus loves them. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 3
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
Editor in Chief: Kathy Hill
FL Creative Team: Brittany Compton-Robertson,
Executive Director: Brittany Compton-Robertson
Copy Editor: Dana Wilkerson
Kathy Hill, Autumn Ward, Ashley Hiers, Donna High,
Technical and Web Support: Hadley Brandt
Curriculum Writer: Emily Meredith, Donna High
Danielle Schneller, Mary Beth Brannan
Partner Support: Deb Springer
Illustrator: Jodi Blackwell
Chief Executive Officer: Reggie Joiner
Graphic Designers: Sharon van Rossum, David Hill
Chief Operating Officer: Reggie Goodin
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New
“STATEMENT OF FAITH” USER AGREEMENT
International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
tailor First Look® materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale
These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the
and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish
subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated
to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities,
by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material
scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are
or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. ©2016
presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we’ve
Orange. All rights reserved. First Look® and the First Look® logo are trademarks
expressed in our Statement of Faith.
of Orange.
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT FUN
Prepare to offer one or more of the following activities as your preschoolers arrive. Let one or two teachers lead small groups of children in activities throughout the room while another teacher greets parents and kids at the door.
• Measuring with Kids • What’s That Smell? • Oil and Water
MAKE IT TRUE (LARGE GROUP) • Worship • Introductory Sketch • Bible Story
MAKE IT STICK
These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand and remember today’s Bible story and Bottom Line. Offer as many of the following activities as your time, facilities, resources, and leadership allow. You may want to lead one activity at a time. Or, offer two activities at once and allow half the kids to participate in each, then switch groups and repeat the activities.
• • • • •
How Wide? Act and Retell Let’s Measure It! Big Feet Heart Necklace
MAKE IT REAL
Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. They’ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer requests. Divide kids into small groups of about five to eight children with each leader. Ideally, assign the same small group leader to the same group of preschoolers for the entire year.
• Small Group Time • Prayer
This symbol indicates an activity with potential allergens. Be sure to post allergy allert sign and inform parents at drop-off.
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 2
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT FUN
MOVEMENT
Activities designed to draw children into
An activity that uses a preschooler’s natural desire to move to help them learn and grow.
the classroom and introduce vocabulary and concepts needed for the Bible story.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
MEASURING WITH KIDS
“Measuring with Kids” is an activity that allows the children to have a vital role in learning how to measure different objects. WHAT YOU NEED: A small table and a wall cleared of objects
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
WHAT YOU DO: During the Activity: Ask the children to lie on their backs parallel next to the wall, but still touching it. Have the children lay head to toe with each other. Count to see how many children it takes to take up the length of the wall. Then announce, “The wall is [number] kids long.” Repeat the activity using the table to measure the length of the room. Make sure all of the children are able to participate. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “I think we should measure today!”
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
During the Activity: “We do not need a tape measure or a ruler for our activity today. We can use our bodies to measure instead! Lie down next to the wall, so close that you can touch it. (Pause.) Great job! Now make sure you are very close to the person above your head. (Pause.) Perfect! We have kids for the entire length of the wall. Let’s count how many kids we have. (Count the children.) AWESOME! The wall is [number] kids long! Now let’s measure using the table.” (Finish the activity.) After the Activity: “Great job! It is fun to measure things! Did you know that Jesus loves us SO much that we cannot even measure it? His love for us is that BIG! WOW!”
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 3
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT FUN
GAME
Activities designed to draw children into
An activity that encourages preschoolers to follow guidelines while having fun and learning new concepts.
the classroom and introduce vocabulary and concepts needed for the Bible story.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
“What’s That Smell?” is an activity that uses sense of smell to introduce today’s Bible story. Be sure to list the items you will be using today on the “Allergy Alert Poster” and post it at the door to your room. WHAT YOU NEED: “Allergy Alert Poster”; white cardstock; 3-4 drops of 4-5 different cooking flavors or oils such as vanilla, coconut, almond, and peppermint; cotton balls; small plastic cups; a permanent marker; and aluminum foil WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Copy “Allergy Alert Poster” on white cardstock and hang it on the door. Drop three or four drops of each cooking flavor/oil onto individual cotton balls. Place each cotton ball inside a plastic cup, cover the top with foil, and cut out a couple of small holes at the top for the children to smell what’s inside. Use a marker to write the name of the flavoring/oil on the bottom of each cup for reference.
MEMORY VERSE
During the Activity: Pass the cups around for the children to smell. See if they can identify the smell, but be prepared to help them.
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
WHAT YOU SAY: During the Activity: “Have you ever helped your mom or dad bake something yummy in the kitchen? (Pause for responses.) Today I want to see how good your noses are! I have some different cooking flavors and oils inside these cups for us to smell. I want you to pass these around, take a good sniff, and tell me what you smell. Are you ready?” (Do activity.)
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
After the Activity: “Which smell is your favorite? (Pause for responses.) You did a great job identifying our smells today. It would have been super easy to name these smells if I’d given you the bottle to look at with your eyes, but instead you had to use your noses! In our story today, a woman uses something that smells to show a special someone that she cares for them. I wonder who it is? We will find out soon!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 4
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
MAKE IT FUN Activities designed to draw children into the classroom and introduce vocabulary and concepts needed for the Bible story.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
INVESTIGATION/ROLE PLAY An activity that channels either a preschooler’s innate curiosity or desire to play dress up into a discussion of concepts crucial to the lesson.
OIL AND WATER
“Oil and Water” is an activity that introduces the children to a key concept of today’s Bible story. WHAT YOU NEED: Empty water bottle with lid (clean and dry), water, vegetable oil, hot glue gun, hot glue, sequins, and food coloring (any color)
BOTTOM LINE
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Peel any labels off of the bottle. Fill the bottle ¾ full of water. Add a few drops of the food coloring and replace the lid. Shake the water and the coloring until the color has disseminated throughout the water. Remove the lid and fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable oil. Sprinkle in the glitter and the sequins in the bottle. Use the glue gun to glue the lid permanently onto the bottle.
JESUS LOVES ME.
(NOTE: A hot glue gun should never be used near young children. Be sure to either use the glue gun before the children arrive or in an area away from the children.)
WHO LOVES YOU?
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
During the Activity: Have the children gather around you. Take turns letting each child look at the bottle. Ask the children what is in the bottle. Point out the difference of the water and the oil. After the Activity: Introduce today’s Bible story. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: (Hold up the bottle.) “WOW! I have a water bottle, but it looks like more than water is in here. What else do you think is in here?” (Pause.) During the Activity: “You can all come and see. Let’s be sure to take turns. Can you tell me what you think is in here? (Pause.) Yes! There is water, but there is also oil. Oil does not mix with water, so that is why it’s sitting on top. I also see glitter and shiny sequins inside!” (Continue until every child has had a chance to look at the bottle.) After the Activity: “It is really cool to see the oil sitting on top of the water like that. In our story today we are going to talk about oil. I wonder what it was used for. Let’s go find out!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 5
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
MEMORY VERSE REVIEW
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that encourages preschoolers to learn the monthly memory verse.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
HOW WIDE?
“How Wide?” is an activity that uses fine motor and memory skills to review this month’s memory verse. WHAT YOU NEED: “Ephesians 3:18 Labels” Activity Page, Avery® labels #5160 or equivalent, construction paper, pencils, string or yarn, scissors, and tape WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Copy the “Ephesians 3:18 Labels” onto the labels; you will need one label per child. Cut the construction paper in half and in half again so you have four pieces from each page. Cut the string/yarn into 12-inch pieces. You will need one piece per child. During the Activity: Give each child two pieces of construction paper. Instruct the children to place a hand on a page, trace it, and cut it out. They should do both hands. Be prepared to help the children complete these steps. Then pass one piece of string/yarn to each child. Help them tape each end of the their string to the back of each handprint. Then pass out a label to each child for them to place on the front of one of their hands. After the Activity: When finished, let the children hold their handprints in each hand and say the verse together. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Today we’re going to make some heart hands to help us remember our memory verse for this month!” During the Activity: “First, I want you to trace your hand onto two pieces of paper and cut them out so that you have two hands. Then, we will use these pieces of string to connect the two hands. (Hold up string.) Do you see these labels? (Hold up labels.) Right here it says, ‘Ephesians 3:18.’ That’s our memory verse this month. “Let’s hold up our handprints, one in each hand, and say our verse together. You can move your handprints to show deep and wide like this. (Demonstrate with your hands.) How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Ephesians 3:18. Great job! Let’s say it again.” (Repeat.) After the Activity: “Awesome! I LOVE your handprints. I want you to take these home to remind you of our verse this month. Tell me: Who loves you? Jesus loves me. That’s right! His love for us is wide and long and high and deep.”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 6
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
E BIBL
BIBLE STORY REVIEW
ORY R E
IEW
Activities designed to reinforce the
ST
YEAR OLDS
V
MAKE IT STICK
4
An activity that reviews the entire Bible story in a fun and interactive way allowing preschoolers that repetition they crave.
ACT AND RETELL
“Act and Retell” is an activity that offers a visual to the children while the Bible story is being retold. JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
WHAT YOU NEED: Baby doll, baby oil, and wet wipes
KEY QUESTION
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Have the children sit around you on the floor.
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
During the Activity: Begin retelling the Bible story. When you get to the part where the woman washed Jesus’ feet, start washing the doll’s feet with the wet wipes. After the Activity: Finish telling the story and then add a very small amount of the baby oil to the doll’s feet.
JESUS LOVES ME.
(NOTE: Be sure to wash the doll’s feet thoroughly before allowing a child to play with it again.)
MEMORY VERSE
WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Today in our Bible story, there was a woman who had not made very good choices.”
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
During the Activity: “Jesus came to where the woman was and there were many people there. The woman asked Jesus if she could wash His feet. The other people thought Jesus would not let her wash His feet, because of all of the bad choices she had made. But do you remember what happened next? (Pause.) Yes! (Begin washing the doll’s feet.) Jesus allowed the woman to wash his feet and put oil on them!” (Put oil on the doll’s feet.) After the Activity: “Jesus forgave the woman for her bad choices and let her wash His feet. Jesus loves us and will forgive us if we make bad choices too. Tell me: Who loves you? Jesus loves me! That’s right!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 7
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
JUST FOR FIVES
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that calls on older preschoolers’ more developed cognitive and fine motor skills while reviewing the Bible story, bottom line or memory verse.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
LET’S MEASURE IT!
“Let’s Measure It!” is an activity that uses investigation and fine motor skills to review this month’s theme. WHAT YOU NEED: Things to measure with such as: rulers, yardsticks, paper rulers, tape measures (the type used for sewing), etc. WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Put the items you’ve gathered in the center of the table. Grab five or six items from the classroom for the children to measure, such as a baby doll, a cup, a marker, a Bible, a wipes container, a piece of paper, etc.
BOTTOM LINE
During the Activity: Encourage the children to use the measuring tools to measure the items on the table to figure out which item is the biggest.
JESUS LOVES ME.
WHAT YOU SAY: During the Activity: “Do you see these rulers and yardsticks and tape measures? (Point to items.) Do you know what they are used for? (Pause for responses.) To measure things! So today, I thought it would be fun to measure some things I’ve gathered here on the table. You can use any of these items, but remember to share them with friends too, so everyone gets a turn. I want to see if we can figure out which item is the BIGGEST!”
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
After the Activity: “Okay, so now that everything has been measured, someone raise your hand and tell me what the BIGGEST item is. (Pause for responses.) You’re right! Great job measuring, friends! You found the biggest item. All month long, we’ve been learning about something else that is SO BIG. What is it? (Pause for responses.) Jesus’ love for you is SO BIG! Who loves you? Jesus loves me. Jesus’ love is SO BIG!”
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 8
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
MOVEMENT
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that uses a preschooler’s natural desire to move to help them learn and grow.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
BIG FEET
“Big Feet” is an activity that allows the children to have fun and be silly while exploring the concept of today’s Bible Story. WHAT YOU NEED: Empty shoeboxes with lids (2 per child), a utility knife, and masking tape
BOTTOM LINE
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Secure the lids to the boxes with the masking tape. Cut a semicircle hole in the top of each box with the utility knife. The hole should be large enough for a child to place a foot in. (Take into account whether you plan to allow the children to leave their shoes on or do the activity with just socks. This will determine the size of your hole.)
JESUS LOVES ME.
During the Activity: Help the children place each foot into a box. Encourage them to try to walk with the boxes on their feet.
WHO LOVES YOU?
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
After the Activity: Be sure an adult stays next to the children at all times to catch anyone that may fall. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Let’s be silly today! We are going to pretend to have BIG feet and walk around!” During the Activity: (Help the children get into the boxes.) “Wow! What big feet you have! Can you try to walk?” (Do activity.) After the Activity: “Great job! You did very well walking with those BIG feet! In our story today, we heard about how a woman who made bad choices washed Jesus’ feet. Jesus forgives us if we make bad choices, because He loves us! His love for us is SO BIG! Who loves you? Jesus loves me!”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 9
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
CRAFT
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, bottom line or memory verse by creating a fun craft to take home.
Bible story and bottom line.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
HEART NECKLACE
“Heart Necklace” is an activity that uses fine motor skills and creativity to review today’s Bible story and Bottom Line. Be sure to list the items you will be using today on the “Allergy Alert Poster” and post it at the door to your room. WHAT YOU NEED: “Allergy Alert Poster,” “Heart Charm” Activity Page, white cardstock, dry tubular pasta noodles, 3-4 paper plates, tape, and string
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
WHAT YOU DO: Before the Activity: Copy “Allergy Alert Poster” on white cardstock and hang it on the door. Cut the string into 24-inch pieces. You need one piece of string per child. Copy the “Heart Charm” Activity Page onto white cardstock and cut out the heart charms. You will need one heart charm per child. Place the pasta on the plates in the center of the table. Lay each piece of string on the table perpendicular to each chair and tape down the far end to the table, so that every seat has a piece of string. During the Activity: Point out the taped down string to the children. Explain that today you will be making heart necklaces for them to take home. Instruct the children to count out five pieces of pasta and place them on the string. When finished, pass out a paper heart charm to each child to add to the string. Fold the heart tab over the string and tape it to the back of the heart. Then, encourage the children to add five more pieces of pasta. Be prepared to pull the tape off and tie the two ends together to make a necklace as each child finishes. WHAT YOU SAY: Before the Activity: “Today, I want us to make some heart charm necklaces to remind us of how much Jesus loves us! During the Activity: “Do you see the string in front of your chair? (Point to string.) Great! Let’s count out five pieces of pasta and string them on. (Allow time for children to work.) “Now, let’s add our ‘Jesus loves me’ charm next to the pasta noodles. And finally, add five more pieces of pasta. As you finish, we’ll come around and help you tie off
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 0
3-5
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT STICK
CRAFT
Activities designed to reinforce the
An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, bottom line or memory verse by creating a fun craft to take home.
Bible story and bottom line.
your string to make a necklace!” After the Activity: “Wow! Your necklaces look great! I hope you will wear these and be reminded that Jesus loves you very much. His love for you is SO BIG! Who loves you? Jesus loves me. It says so right here on your heart! Jesus loves me.”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 1
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT REAL A time for preschoolers to meet with a consistent small group leader, apply the lesson to their lives and pray together.
BASIC TRUTH
JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.
KEY QUESTION
WHO LOVES YOU?
BOTTOM LINE
JESUS LOVES ME.
MEMORY VERSE
Investing in a few to encourage their authentic faith.
SMALL GROUP TIME WHAT YOU NEED: Paperclip “Memory Verse Card” (from the Week One Activity Pages on the Website) in your Bible at Ephesians 3:18. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. You will also need a red marker and reward stickers or a hand stamp.
SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): “The woman in our Bible story today had made a lot of wrong choices. There were people who didn’t want to be her friend anymore, but not Jesus. Jesus still loved her and wanted to be her friend. The woman was so thankful that Jesus had forgiven her and was still her friend that she washed His feet and put perfume on them. It was her way of saying thank you. “We’ve all done something wrong. It’s wonderful knowing that our friend Jesus loves us with a love that is SO big He will keep loving us no matter what. Who loves you?” CHILDREN AND SGL: “Jesus loves me!” SGL: “Yes, He does! And Jesus will never stop loving you because His love is SO big we can’t even measure it! Remember what our verse says?
“How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
BIBLE STORY FOCUS
Jesus loves me no matter what. The Thankful Woman • Luke 7:36-50
(Open Bible to memory verse card.) SGL: “How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Ephesians 3:18. (Lay Bible down.) Jesus’ love is SO big He can forgive us when we do wrong things. That’s why we should be thankful like the woman in our story today. Let’s say our verse with the motions one time and then anyone who wants to try and say it by yourself can give it a try. I brought my hand stamp/stickers because I know you can do it! CHILDREN AND SGL: “How wide (hold arms out wide) and long (hold arms out vertically) and high (jump as high as you can) and deep (pretend to dig with a shovel) is the love (hug yourself) of Christ (point up), Ephesians 3:18.” (Open hands like a book.) (Repeat several times.) (Give each child the opportunity to say the verse on his or her own. Have your
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 2
WEEK
FEBRUARY 2017
4
3-5 YEAR OLDS
MAKE IT REAL A time for preschoolers to meet with a consistent small group leader, apply the lesson to their lives and pray together.
Investing in a few to encourage their authentic faith.
stickers/hand stamp ready to give when they say it.) SGL: “Look at all of those stickers/hand stamps! I am so proud of you! And the best part is that verse will help you always remember how big Jesus’ love is for you! It’s SO big! “Come sit with me now. It’s time to write in our prayer journal. Today I want us to make a list of things we’ve done that were wrong. When we’re done with our list, I’m going to do something special to it that I think will make you smile. “First, I’ll write everyone’s name in our prayer journal. When I say your name, I want you to tell me one thing you’ve done that was wrong and I’ll write it beside your name. (Open prayer journal and hold your fun pen. Write each child’s name and what they say beside their name. Remember to print the words they say so the children can recognize their names and the letters.) SGL: “Thank you for sharing your wrong things with me. Are you ready to see what I’m going to do that will make you smile? Watch this! (Use a red marker to draw a big red heart over the list.) “Jesus’ love for you is SO big He can forgive you when you do something wrong. He still loves you and wants to be your friend forever. Who wants to be your friend forever?” CHILDREN AND SGL: “Jesus wants to be my friend forever.” SGL: “Yes, He does! And nothing will ever change that. Okay, let’s pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray? (Give each child who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.) “Now I will pray.”
PRAYER
SGL: “Dear God, thank You for giving us Jesus. Thank You that He loves us and wants to be our friend forever. Thank You that there is nothing we can do that will make Jesus stop loving us. I pray that when we do things like (read the list the children made) we will always ask Jesus to forgive us and know that He still loves us. I pray my friends (name each child) will grow up with thankful hearts because Jesus loves them. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Curriculum Materials for 3-5-year-olds • © 2016 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
PA G E 1 3
