Grades 1–6: God Is in Control — Session 1: God Sent Ten Plagues (August 1)

Grades 1-3

Introductory Activity – Hopscotch

Materials: masking tape, dry erase board and marker

Use masking tape to create a hopscotch board on the ground with ten sections. Allow kids to play hopscotch as they come in and write each of the ten plagues on a board in the front of your space. See if kids can memorize the ten plagues and then recite them as they play hopscotch. After everyone has arrived, gather them together, and explain that in this session, they will learn about the ten plagues and how God used them God is the only God.

Live It Out

Game – Tennis Ball Bible Toss

Materials: tennis ball, poster board and marker or dry erase board and marker

Write the Weekly Verse, Isaiah 46:9, on a poster board or dry erase board at the front of your space. Lead the kids to read the verse together. Invite the kids to sit in a circle and give one kid a tennis ball. She will say the first word of the verse and then pass the ball to her left. Each kid will say the next word while he holds the tennis ball, then pass the ball. Say the verse in this way a few times. Then challenge volunteers to say the verse from memory.

Craft – Make a Question Bookmark

Materials: cardstock, markers, stickers

Cut sheets of cardstock into three pieces to create bookmarks. Make enough for each kid in your group. Provide craft supplies including markers and stickers to decorate the bookmarks, and instruct kids to print the following questions on index cards.
What does this teach me about God or Jesus?
How might God want me to respond?
What questions do I have about what I read?
As kids work, talk about how they can put these bookmarks in their Bibles to help them as they read the Bible this week. Encourage them to bring any questions they have about what they read with them next week.

Grades 4-6

Introductory Activity – Make a Change

Materials: none

Guide kids to form pairs. Have one partner to turn her back or close her eyes. Give the other partner 30 seconds to change three things about his physical appearance. The partner might take off a shoe, tie up his shirt, switch his watch, or switch up his hairstyle. Then challenge the first child to identify the three changes. Switch rolls and play again. As time allows, form new pairs and play again. Afterward, guide kids to think about the fact that people can change appearances, but ultimately, God is the only one who can change the heart. Through the ten plagues, God changed Pharaoh’s heart so His people could go free.

Live It Out

Game – Question Roll

Materials: 2 number cubes

Form two teams of kids. Choose one team to roll two number cubes. Multiply the number rolled by 10 to determine a question’s point value. Ask a review question and allow that team to answer. A team has 30 seconds to give a correct response and earn points. Continue back and forth with additional questions as long as time allows. The team with the most points wins. Afterward, gather kids together and tell them that when God sent the ten plagues, He showed His power as the only God.

Craft – Make a Remembrance Journal

Materials: copy paper, stapler, crayons or colored pencils, patterned duct tape

Give each student five to ten pieces of copy paper. Guide them to stack the paper together and fold in half, hamburger style. Allow kids to staple the folded side together to create a small book. Encourage kids to decorate the outside of the journal and write the Weekly verse.  Tell kids that this is a journal where they can write all the times God has been faithful to them. Like the Israelites could remember God’s faithfulness to bring them out of slavery in Egypt, we can look back and remember His faithfulness in our lives, too!