God Saves His People - Part 3

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

Introduction:

This third lesson in the series is titled Moses and the Pharaoh.  This story is another example of God's power, patience, and His justice.  The Egyptians worshiped false gods (Exodus 12:12), and through the plagues He brought down these gods.  He also used the plagues to bring down Egypt and to show that He is indeed God of all.  They were spread out over the course of a year, the Lord gave Pharaoh ample time to let the Israelites go and to come to believe that He was the one true God.

The message:  
  
Preschool thru Grade 1:  God saved the Israelites.  God takes care of His people.
  
Grades 2 and 3:  God saved the Israelites.  The Lord is just, He will fight for you.

I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level.  For the younger children, the message is about how God will take care of those who believe in Him.  He is our perfect heavenly father who wants to take care of us, and keep us from harm.  Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson.  

For the older children, we expand on this message and say that God is fair and someday the righteous will get what they deserve in Heaven, but in the meantime He will fight for us and be the winner in the end (Exodus 14:14). The term "fight" used here does not necessarily imply a physical one but that God looks out for us because we are His children.  Like a parent would "fight" for their child if they were treated unjustly.  (They would discuss the problem and try to fix it).  Send the "Moses and the Pharaoh" 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.  

Suggestion:  When you teach the plagues, I bought some simple hoppy frogs at a party store. The frogs have a little tab in the back and you push it down and the frogs jump. Oriental trading company sells them in packs of 144!  It's quite a plague!

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 or the Ancient Egypt 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, cotton balls and whatever other materials (such as wiggly eyes or buttons) you have available to personalize their name tag. Sing the Learning our Names song	15 to 20 minutes	Pyramid name tags. scissors (or adults can precut),  crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape.
Craft time! Preschool thru Grade 1:  Make the Paper Pyramid craft . Depending on time, the children could color the pyramid before it's glued together (pictures of Moses and Pharaoh, the different plagues, the red sea, etc.). Grade 2 and 3:  Use the Moses crossword puzzle.  Something a little different from the usual crafts.  If you have an overhead available its nice to enlarge the puzzle on an empty wall and work on it with the whole class.   Or give each child a copy and work together that way.	15 to 30 minutes  depending on your adult/child ratio	Preschool thru Grade 1:  Paper pyramid craft. printer, paper, scissors, glue. OPTIONAL: sand, thin cardboard. Grade 2 and 3: Moses crossword puzzle answers. printer, paper. OPTIONAL: overhead projector and transparent paper.
Bible Story/Song Time: All Grades:  Sing the Pharaoh, Pharaoh song.  It will help learn the story, and its tons of fun to sing! Preschool thru Grade 1:  Read the Children's Version of Moses and the Pharaoh.  (or read from your own store bought children's bible).   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 Coloring Pages can be distributed to the children so can color during the story or at home this week.
Closing: Preschool thru Grade 1:  Depending on the time remaining, help the children to brainstorm about how their father or mother take care of you?  How does he/she keep you safe?   How does it make them feel?  That is exactly what God our heavenly Father does for us, just like He helped the Israelites from the mean Egyptians. Grade 2 and 3:  Depending on the time remaining, allow the children to discuss what it means when we say 'God is just'?  The world is not always fair, but God will be the ultimate judge and He will be fair.  The Israelites had to be patient, they didn't tease the Egyptians when they were going through the plagues.  How can we be better examples to those who treat us unfairly? All Grades: Have the Moses crosses the Red Sea snack.  Make the jello ahead of time, or at the start of the class with the kids (as long as you have a nice cold place to store it). 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: standard ending song