David Becomes a King - November 8

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

This Sunday we learned about the shepherd boy, David, that God called to be king. Even though David was very young when he was anointed king, he trusted and obeyed God. We learned to trust and obey God too!

We played "follow the leader" to help us understand what it means to listen to and follow God. Then we made crowns just like the one king David wore when he was a young boy:

David the Shepherd - November 1

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 17:12-15, 34, 35; Psalm 23:1-4

"The Lord is my shepherd." David, the shepherd psalmist, wrote those words from experience, David led sheep to green pastures and beside still waters. He knew what it meant to take them through valleys of death where lions or bears might attack. This Sunday, we talked about David when he was just a young boy. We talked about how brave David was to protect his sheep from wolves, lions and bears. We are so thankful that God loves us and takes care of us like a shepherd takes care of his sheep.

Parents, set up an obstacle course with a laundry basket "mountain" to go over, chair "bushes" to go around, and sheep "streams" to cross. Be the shepherd, and lead your "sheep" through the obstacles to the "pasture." Remind them that God takes care of them, just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep.

God Gives Moses 10 Commandments - October 25

Bible Text: Exodus 19:1-8; 20:1-17

This Sunday, we learned that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments for God's people to live by. We memorized all ten of them. Okay, we didn't really memorize them, but we did make a cool coloring book to take home and help us memorize!

Throughout the week encourage your child to say, "I will obey," whenever you ask her to help you. Remind her that one of the Ten Commandments is "obey your father and mother." Thank your child for obeying.

God Gives Moses & His People Food - October 18

Bible Text: Exodus 16:1-26; Numbers 11:7-9

This we learned that God is our provider. When the Israelites started complaining to Moses about their hunger, God graciously provided them with daily food. During our story, our teacher gave us some saltines. We loved getting to have a snack, but we complained that there was no juice (just like Israel complained to Moses). We made pretend food out of playdoh and talked about our favorite meals. After our story we made a food collage out of fruit stickers. It was a lot of fun!

Parents, plan a trip with your child to a farmers' market or pumpkin patch this week. Talk about the sun and rain God sends to help the food grow. Thank God for food.

God Leads Moses - October 11

Bible Text: Exodus 12-15

"My help comes from the Lord, Psalm 121:2" is our memory verse and we really got to see it in action this Sunday. The story was about Moses leading God's people out of Egypt. We talked about the things we would put in our suitcases if we had to pack up and leave home. We talked about how far God's people had to walk and how long it took. For an activity, we got to reach in a grab bag and pull out different photos of transportation - cars, trucks, trains, boats, airplanes. The Israelites did not have any of these things! Then we found out that Pharaoh's army was marching after them the whole time. Next, we heard the coolest part of the story - God helped Moses make a pathway through the Red Sea by parting the waters. Then, when they were all the way across, he made the water collapse on the army (that was the boys' favorite part).

Our teachers put a long strip of masking tape on the floor and practiced balancing ourselves to walk along the tape without stepping off into the "water." Next, we stood on a piece of construction paper and got our feet traced. We did this so that we can see our foot and be reminded that we need to try and be a Christian leader, just like Moses led God's people.

Parents, lay two large bath towels together on the floor. Have your child "blow like the wind" to "part" the towels so she can "walk through the waters."

God Sends Frogs - October 4

Bible Text: Exodus 8:1-13

Pharaoh was a defiant ruler. He resisted the commands of God even when his nation suffered as a result. But God knew how to handle Pharaoh. God created ten different plagues to help Moses convince Pharaoh to change his mind. God is creative in the ways he chooses to send us help...he was really creative in today's story. Instead of talking about all ten plagues in one lesson, we talked about the one kids would most delight in hearing about...FROGS!!!

We had so much fun hunting for frogs around our classroom. We also made frogs out of green dessert plates and googly eyes. We are thankful that God helped Moses and his people by sending slimy green amphibians!

Parents, do some frog hunting in your backyard this week!

God Protects Baby Moses - September 27

Bible Text: Exodus 2:1-10

This Sunday, we learned that God kept Baby Moses safe from harm. We made a picture of Moses floating in the water, hiding in the reeds (not to be confused with weeds). We are so thankful that a princess found Moses and took care of him.

Bible Story Review:

• Who put Baby Moses in a basket boat to keep him safe? (his mother)
• Who watched Baby Moses in the water? (his sister, Miriam)
• Who kept Baby Moses safe? (God)
• Can you tell of a time when God kept you safe? (answers will vary)

Parents, look for opportunities throughout the week to talk with your child about safety. Ask her how to keep safe in different situations: riding in the car, at home, etc.

Joseph Forgives His Brothers - September 20

Bible Text: Genesis 37-45

Forgiving is a difficult concept for preschoolers. They are still self oriented and are just beginning to stretch their boundaries to include interaction with others. However, they are always so quick to "forget" arguments and to be "friends" again. This morning, we talked about how Joseph forgave his brothers even though they had been so disrespectful and cruel towards him. We played a game similar to hot potato, but instead of passing around a potato, we passed around a picture of Joseph. If the music stopped and we were still holding Joseph, we would have to say, "God forgives me." Then, we made money bags like the ones Joseph's brothers carried when they went to Egypt to purchase food.

Parents, talk with your child about the importance of saying, "I forgive you," when someone says, "I'm sorry."

Joseph Helps Others - September 13

Bible Text: Genesis 37:27, 28; 41:1, 14-44 ,47-49

In this week's Bible story Joseph encountered a number of lifestyle changes. He moved from a prison to a palace, from thirteen years of slavery to wearing Pharaoh's signet ring, from walking in chains to riding in a chariot. Because Pharaoh gave Joseph a position of authority, he was able to help God's people! We talked about how Joseph's interesting dreams and his leadership saved Egypt from a seven year famine. In class, we made our own bag of grain, just like the grain that Joseph stored in the barn.

Parents, this week enjoy some popcorn with your child and watch the Disney movie "The Prince of Egypt" to reiterate the story.

PreK - Fall Curriculum

Unit 1: Joseph
This unit provides three Bible stories about Joseph that will teach the children about loving families, helping others, and forgiving. Joseph and his father loved each other. God gave Joseph a plan to help others. Joseph pleased God by forgiving his brothers.
September 6 - Joseph's Special Coat
September 13 - Joseph Helps Others
September 20 - Joseph Forgives His Brothers

Unit 2: Moses
Unit 2 provides five stories about Moses. The children will hear how God protected Moses when he was just a baby. Fun activities involving frogs will teach how God helped Moses. God helped Moses and the Israelites cross the Red Sea, and God send special food for Moses and the Israelite people. God gave Moses ten rules to help His people obey.
September 27 - God Protects Baby Moses
October 4 - God Sends Frogs
October 11 - God Leads Moses
October 18 - God Gives Moses and His People Food
October 25 - God Gives Moses Ten Commandments

Unit 3: David
Five stories about David will teach the children that David was a shepherd boy who was chosen by God to become the king of Israel, that God helped David fight Goliath, that David became good friends with Jonathan, and David showed kindness to Jonathan's son Mephibosheth (say that 10 times fast!)
November 1 - David the Shepherd
November 8 - David Becomes King
November 15 - David and Goliath
November 22 - David and Jonathan
November 29 - David and Mephibosheth

Joseph's Special Coat - September 6

Bible Text: Genesis 37:1-3, 12-17

This Sunday, we learned about a father who loved his son, Jacob, and gave him a special coat as a gift. The coat was made out of all different colors of fabric. Our teacher held up different colored crayons and we had to match them to an item of clothing we were wearing. It was a lot of fun! For our craft, we made colorful coats out of construction paper and glue. This week we heard how much Jacob's father loved him and next week we're going to hear that Joseph's brothers got jealous.

Parents, this week ask your child who gave them their clothes. It may have been a father, mother or grandparent. Remind them how much that person loves them, just like Joseph's father loved him.

Bible Review:

• Who is the boy who felt so glad because he loved his good, kind dad? (Joseph)
• Who is the man who loved his son and gave him a new coat? (Jacob)
• What color was the coat? (all different colors, like a rainbow)
  

PreK - Memory Verse - September 2009

The Lord was with Joseph.

Genesis 39:2

God loved Joseph when he was small;
(Point up; squat down with hands on floor.)
God loved Joseph when he grew tall.
(Point up; stand on tiptoes with arms stretched above head.)
God helped Joseph as he grew.
(Squat; grab your child's hand; and slowly stand up tall.)
God helps me - I'm growing too.
(Point up; point to self; squat down, then slowly rise until standing.)