25 Newest Activites

Top 10 Activities

<BACK

God Made Families - Part II

Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. Visit the Abram and Lot Section for further ideas to supplement this.

Introduction:

Preschool - Grade 1: What is a family? In the first "God Made Families" lesson we discussed Cain and Abel -- two brothers. But God has provided us with more family than just our parents and siblings. Abram was Lot's uncle.

The message:

Preschool thru Grade 1: God made families.  God loves everyone in our family.

Grades 2 and 3: God has given us families to support us, guide us in our choices and help us in times of trouble.

I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level. For the younger children, the message continues the God as our loving creator theme, this time in the form -- God loves everyone in our family. Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson. At this early age it is important to reinforce God's love for each of us over and over. The underlying truth of God's love will open the children's hearts to God's commandments as the children grow.

For the older children, we expand on this message and begin to speak about the freedom God has given us to make our own choices and the support network He has provided us in the form of our family. Send the "God Made Families to Support Each Other" Take Home Sheet home with the children to encourage parents to discuss the message during the week. It includes a poster at the bottom that the children can color and hang on their wall or refrigerator.

Preview of the lesson:

Some people like to do craft time first and story time second and some like to switch it around. I like the first option, myself.

Always consider offering Coloring Pages for children who aren't interested in participating in the group activity (or if you get done the group activities very quickly and need something to fill in the spare time). Everyone has a need for "alone time" once in awhile. Also, sending home the coloring pages with the Take Home sheet provides parents with much needed help in reinforcing the lessons. You can make a nice little booklet each week with the take home sheet on top -- I promise that most parents will appreciate the effort!

Description	Time Allotted	Supplies

Welcome! Receive name tags. Have the children use crayons, markers, yarn and whatever other materials (such as wiggly eyes or buttons) you have available to personalize their name tag -- the last "God Made Families" lesson we made our family portrait we focused on our immediate family. This time have the children draw a picture of themselves and one of the members of their extended family (grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc). Sing the Learning our Names song	15 to 20 minutes	Family Portrait tags, scissors (or adults can precut), crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape.

Craft time! Preschool thru Grade 1: Make the folded sheep paper chain (there are many other lamb crafts on the site -- if you'd prefer something that doesn't need scissors, try the egg carton lambs or the cotton ball lamb.) Grade 2 and 3: Expand the Family Trees. During the last "God Made Families" lesson we made Family Trees about our immediate family. During this lesson, we will expand this activity by including extended family members like great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Allow for the inclusion of "special" family members (good friends, adoptive parents, step parents, etc). The children can take home their expanded Family Tree sheets to fill in any blanks. Allow for time the following week for each child to share one piece of interesting information about their family.	15 to 30 minutes depending on your adult/child ratio	Preschool thru Grade 1: folded sheep paper chain template, glue, crayons, scissors, OPTIONAL: cotton balls. Grade 2 and 3: family tree templates, pencil crayons, glue, scissors, markers, optional: photos of extended family members

Bible Story Time: Preschool thru Grade 1: Read the Abram and Lot Story included with the folded sheep craft. (or read from your own store bought children's bible). When it gets to the part that talks about "lots of sheep", let the children hold up all their sheep (you may want to try counting them all!) Grade 2 and 3: it's tough to know when it's the right time to start readings from the Bible, but if the children have been read a children's version of the story in the past, I believe this is a good age to introduce the King James (or your preferred) bible reading.	10 minutes	Our mini books or Coloring Pages can be distributed to the children so they are able to read along. Print the pages, staple them together in order and let the kids know when to turn the page. The handouts can be taken home to color in. the mini books are coming soon!

Closing: Preschool thru Grade 1: depending on the time remaining, allow the children to brainstorm about some of the things God did to make members of the families special. (what makes grandmas special, grandpas, etc) Grade 2 and 3: depending on the time remaining, allow the children to brainstorm about some of the things the times their family has helped them make choices or helped them when they had trouble (ex: doing homework, solve a disagreement with a sibling, learn to knit, plan a birthday party, etc) All Grades: Thank-you Jesus for my... (you can hand out the words or hang them up somewhere. The verses are very repetitive, so the kids will catch on to them easily -- use extended family members -- ex: thank you Jesus for my grandma...) Standard ending song: for example We love to learn together, together, together We love to learn together And give thanks to God. substitute "learn" for sing, pray, etc (to the tune of The More We Get Together)	5 to 15 minutes	Brainstorm Board (chalkboard, whiteboard, posterboard,...) Words to: Thank-you Jesus for my... standard ending song