"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -- Jesus
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SSTN # 4 - January 13, 2006
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
Lady Bug Hunt
1) Games involve kids 2) Teaching Preschool 3) Sunday School Music? 4) Words to Cowboy song?
The Alpha & Omega...
5) Skit, an awesome blessing 6) Soul Survivor Camp Ideas? 7) Nursery kids can learn 8) Nursery Age 9) Christmas Party Games
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Lady Bug Hunt
If you had fun finding the Lady Bugs @ ChristianCrafters.Com, then you'll love the book, "Big Thoughts For Little People".
This beautifully illustrated ABC book designed to teach Christian values will win the hearts of children and parents alike! (For ages 2 to 6.)
There are surprises in every picture. For example, how many ladybugs can you find in each illustration? You'll also have fun finding all the objects on the page which begins with the theme letter. The questions are thought-provoking and an important part of each lesson.
I also agree that playing games and doing crafts that help reinforce the lesson plan are a great way to get the kid involved and coming back to class.
Each week as I plan out my lesson a large group of 3rd Graders, I use a format
a) Greet each child by name as they come in and ask about there week. b) Gather around our Prayer table and say The Apostle Creed (the hardest to memorize) c) Do this weeks book lesson (our book has a scripture reading in each) d) Have each child have there bible (We are lucky enough to have one for each student to use) Game: We race to see who can find it first. Then we reread it and compare it to our book version and discuss it. (Winner gets to help hand out snack) e) Snack f) Craft or Game time permitting (90min class)
* I also have a game the children love for a filler, if I under estimated my time We call it the M&M game (In Our Church 3rd graders work on learning their prayers and The Church itself.) How to Play: 30 flash cards/ pictures one side is an item in Church or Thing they should know. The other side has the word of what is pictured. 1st child gets 1 M&M for saying the word and Second M&M for telling me where in the church item can be found. But if the child can't name it goes to the next child until someone can name it then again until someone can tell me where it is found. If everyone is ask and they do not know I give hints. or tell them the word and let them guess where in church. Then we go back to the next person in line (Child #2...) with the new flash card. This game never ends we just play until the parents come. We may only get to 10 cards or less usually everyone is at least asked once if they know the answer at some point. (Some times I give each child 1 M&M before they leave if it was a short game)
Samples: Procession (picture of priest and alter servers lectors entering before mass) Pew (Picture of benches inside the church that we sit on) Chalice (Cup the wine is in) Jesus (on the cross in front of church) sometimes they say all over and that makes me :)
I have found this not only lets them know the correct names but they can impress there parents with there knowledge. We also tour the church in the middle of the year so they can match each card with where it is at in church. This game could be adapted to learn anything you want on flashcards.
One year I did have a child allergic to peanuts and we changed it to the Skittle game.
Hope I wasn't to long windid....LOL God Bless Deb from Michigan
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2) Teaching Preschool
Ok, I LOVE three's and four's and this is what my "day job" is. I teach a three's and four's preschool at a small private Christian center. I also teach a three's Sunday School at a large church. Most children I have had on one Sunday is 36. I love it.
I have used the same format in Sunday School for six children as when I have had 36.
The first 15 to 20 minutes is free play. Materials that are set out are set UP for the bible lesson. I "tip off" my parent helpers as they come in. I say, "we have coffee sand and toy animals in the sand table so we can talk about how dusty it might have been for Abraham and Sarah as they walked along the desert..." I might bring in my play tent, I might have puzzles out of people, I might have toy people etc. The lesson papers or a craft is also an open table that children are encouraged to attend.The children head for the centers to simply play but as they play you can mention the bible lesson. Then, we clean up and do some gross motor play. Songs and dancing for about 10 or 15 minutes to get the wiggles out then slow it down and sing a few songs.
I then read the bible story using the bible on my lap but paraphrasing, I might have flannels, I might have a story prop...after the bible story I might read a preschool book like "Sheep in a Jeep" as I read the story I can say, "We had sheep in our bible story today do you think they travelled by Jeep?" after the story I remind them that the sheep book was a silly book and not really true was it? but the story of Abraham was from God's word and that is true isn't it? We might do another preschool book the same way, talk again and pray. Then we go back for more free play and snack. One of the open play centers will be the lesson page or craft from earlier. Sometimes as I read the bible story children who did the paper will chime in that they know this story. I always invite the children who didn't get to do their paper to go to the art table. That way almost all the children do their paper or craft. It works quite nice. This age group defiently can do bible verses. (we do that as we quiet down in group time) Our preschool at my center memorizes monthly verses but for the summer we do a bigger verse. Two summers ago they memorized the Fruits of the spirit. That's a big verse. I LOVE this age group and learn more prepping for my class and listening to children put a bible story or verse in their words than I ever learn in any adult Sunday School. Anyone who might need more tips is free to email me.
Yours sister in Christ, Diane B/MI
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3) Sunday School Music?
I am wondering if anyone has any ideas for Music/praise 'n worship with kids aged between 3 and 13 at our Sunday School. I would love to know of any CD's that teachers have used with children and also if they know of any simple music books that we could get hold of. I would love to get some singing going as part of our hour together with the children every Sunday but am not sure where to start looking!!!! I would like to develop a songbook with simple songs in.... what are your ideas??? Michele-Australia
from SSTN: there are some great choices in our bookstore. Type "Sunday school songs" or "bible songs" into the search box to locate them. You can listen to some clips too:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html
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4) Words to Cowboy song?
I have lost the words to a song about being a cowboy that is sung to the tune, I'm in the Lord's Army. The only phrase I remember is "I may never stomp on a rattlesnake"
Can anyone help me?
Shrlee
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The Alpha & Omega...
This is another one of the names of God children will learn about in the hands-on Bible series: "His Name Shall Be Called... ".
My name is Kenndy Medeiros and I attend Hope Chapel Waianae. I wanted to inform you that we used one of the Christmas Skits. I presented the play called "A Christmas Play" to our Youth Ministry. They looked over the play and they liked it, but they wanted it to be more "Local". The youths got together and they revised it. The play was really great and our Youths did a great job in acting out the play and also revising the play to make it more on the local style. I did get feedback and everyone said they enjoyed it. Even the Youths and the Youth Ministry Leaders enjoyed doing the play. The Pastor of our church also was pleased and said that the Youths and their leaders did a great job. I Thank God for all the Hearts that were involve in making our Christmas Program happen. It was awesome! Oh yea there is one more thing I wanted to share, it was a blessing and that made the play more AWESOME was that we had two SALVATIONS that evening, How AWESOME our GOD IS.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS, Kenndy Medeiros Hope Chapel Waianae
--from SSTN: thank you for sharing that awesome news!
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6) Soul Survivor Camp Ideas?
My husband and I are youth leaders for Jr. & Sr. High. We are planning a "Soul Survivor Camp" this summer for four days. We would like any ideas anyone might have that would pertain to this type of camp. We are going to have 3 different "tribes" and they will compete with physical and biblical challenges. We did this last year and I was able to get some ideas from the website, but now we have to perfect on last year's camp and could use some help! You can reply through posting on SSTN or you can email me directly at nunez227@msn.com. Thank you!! Michelle Lopez
--from SSTN: please respond to SSTN so all may benefit. As to a Survivor theme, check out the Survivor - Temptation Island lesson in the Sermons and Lessons section, under Bible Series, Clubs & VBS at: http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com
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7) Nursery kids can learn
Absolutely nursery kids can learn. A problem is that a 2-year-old's needs are hugely different from a five-year-olds. You need to do something that can help all of them.
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8) Nursery Age
I am the Director of Preschool Ministries at our Church. In response to your Nursery age question, we actually started this year buying curriculum for 1 year olds. It's amazing how much they can comprehend from pictures, songs, games. Last year our 1 year olds and 2 year olds were combined into one class for Sunday School. This year the 1 year olds have their own SS class because it is a larger group (8-10). We have a 2 year old SS class, as well as a 3 year old class and a separate 4 year old class.
June Eschenmann Director of Preschool Ministries Simpson Creek Baptist Church
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9) Christmas Party Games
>I'm having the kids a Christmas party and I'm trying to find some games to >use at the party. My problem is - the kids range from 5 years old to 11
Too late for this year, but may be helpful for Christmas 2006 -- A game that I "revised" for my Primary Sunday School Class' Birthday Party for Jesus is Pin the Tail on Mary's Donkey. I purchased an inexpensive ($1.00) Pin the Tail on the Donkey game and attached it to a large piece of tag board. I made a nice colored sign that says "Mary's Donkey" and attached it to the top of the tag board and game. I hang the tag board on the wall and the kids take turns pinning the tail on Mary's Donkey. Everyone gets a bookmark, pencil or some other small prize for playing, the one who gets the tail closest to where it should go gets the prize and also some type of candy. I have found that it is better to tie a scarf around the children's head instead of using the mask that comes with the game, because they can sometimes see out under the mask. The kids love to play this game and it is good for a wide age group.
God Bless You. Debbie
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