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Parables: Jesus Tells Stories- Part 1

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

Introduction:

This lesson will help younger children to understand what a parable is, why Jesus told them, and who he told them for. It includes the parable about the sower and the seed which was a challenge to translate to make younger children understand. By the completion of this guide the message should be clear and understood.

The message:

Preschool thru Grade 1: Listen and learn to Jesus' stories and your seed will grow.

Grades 2 and 3: By understanding Jesus' parables you will learn an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level. For the younger children, the message is simple: Listen and learn to the stories and the seed (or knowledge of God) in your mind will grow. For the older children, we expand on this message and say: By understanding the parables Jesus told about real life situations, we are able to learn more about spiritual things.

Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson. Send the Jesus Tells Parables Take Home Sheet home with the children to encourage parents to reiterate 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 a Mini Book or 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 mini book or 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, feathers and whatever other materials (such as sparkle glue) that you have available to personalize their name tag. Sing the Learning our Names song	10 to 15 minutes	Seed name tags, scissors (or adults can precut), crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape.

Craft time! All Grades: There is more information and an experiment on How Do Seeds Grow? For more information. Preschool thru Grade 1: Make Sunny the Sunflower. You can use this craft or a great project to do after this craft is to grow a bean seed in a clear plastic cup (put the seed near the edge of the cup so you can see what happens to it!) Draw pictures or take photos as the plant develops. Grade 2 and 3: Make the Learn about Flowers Paper Craft. This craft will help the children understand the importance of the roots of a flower and how it grows.	15 to 30 minutes depending on your adult/child ratio	Preschool thru Grade 1: Sunny the Sunflower template. printer, glue, scissors, a piece of paper, seeds (sunflower, popcorn or dried peas beans or lentils all work well), yellow and green tissue paper. Grade 2 and 3: Learn about Flowers template. printer, glue, scissors, something to color with and a piece of paper.

Bible Story/Song Time: Preschool thru Grade 1: Read The Story of Jesus Telling Parables (or read from your own store bought children's bible). Grades 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. All Grades: sing or read the Seed Song or use the I'm a Little Seed action rhyme for the younger children.	10 minutes	The Mini Book or Coloring Pages can be distributed to the children so they are able to color at home, or during the story. Or use a page for each lesson plan to have the children color to form a book at the end of the life of Jesus. 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.

Closing: Preschool thru Grade 1: depending on the time remaining ask the children if they know how a seed grows into a plant. What do you need to make it grow? Just like the plant how can we make the seed grow in our mind? (ask questions, try to learn more, don't worry - trust in God) Just like when we learn the abc's we practice and repeat what we learn so we can remember, we should do the same when we hear Jesus' stories. Grade 2 and 3: depending on the time remaining ask the kids what they do to study for a test. What do they do to try to know God better? They need to do the same thing if they want to understand and learn about God. Just like the seeds in the story we want to grow in our relationship with God and then help others know what we know so we can grow the kingdom of heaven. All Grades: Make the Candy Corn Cookies. You could make them ahead of time for a treat at the end of class or make them instead of doing the craft if you don't have time. 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, poster board,...) Words to: standard ending song