Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – What’s the Word?
Materials: white board or large paper, marker
On a large white board or posted piece of paper, draw six blanks in a line. Tell kids that this word is related to today’s Bible story. (If you choose, you can tell them it’s a name.) Guide kids to take turns naming letters, guessing which letters go in the blanks. (Answer: Isaiah) Repeat with other key words from the Bible story. Use Savior as the last word. Tell kids they will hear about God’s promise to send a Savior.
Live It Out
Game – Wheelbarrow Relay
Materials: self-stick notes, marker
Print the words of today’s Bible verse (or the Unit Verse) on self-stick notes, one word per note. Mix the words and stick them to a wall or board at one end of the game area. Gather the kids at the opposite end of the game area. Tell kids that the first two kids will move to the wall to get a word of the verse. They should move as a wheelbarrow – one kid lies on the floor (stomach down); the second kid grabs and holds the first kid’s ankles; the first kid pushes up on his hands. They walk in this manner to the wall. They work together to choose a word of the verse. Then, on the return trip, they switch roles and move back to the start line, carrying the word on the back of the “wheelbarrow.” When they get back, the next two kids move to get the next word. Continue until you have retrieved all the words. Put the words in order on a wall and say the verse together. Use the verse as a starting point to recall the Bible story. Talk about the Life Point.
Craft – Folder Book
Materials: file folders (one per child), markers, blank index cards or white paper squares, colored pens and pencils, glue, decorative tape, other art materials
Lead kids to create folder books. On the front of the folder, lead kids to write the Life Point and decorate around it. On the cards, kids can draw pictures or write information about the Savior. Kids can glue or tape their cards on the inside of the folder. Suggest they arrange the information in interesting configurations or add additional pictures or words around the cards. They could also draw frames and symbols about Jesus, too. Offer kids a list of other verses about Jesus, the Savior. (See “God’s Plan for Me” information in the leader guide for Bible verses and other statements.) Talk about the Bible story and the Life Point. On the folder back, lead kids to write today’s Bible verse. Tell kids that they can learn more about Jesus, the Savior and God’s promise to provide a Savior.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Off the Top of Your Head
Materials: paper plates, markers, timer
Choose 3–5 kids to sit in chairs. Give each one a paper plate and marker. Tell them to hold the plate on their heads. Then say to draw a picture of a house on the plate while it’s on their heads. Give a signal and time for 30 seconds to a minute. Call time and ask kids to display their drawings. The group can choose the best one (if you choose). Select another group of kids, give them plates, and ask them to draw snowmen. Continue, choosing simple illustrations for the groups to draw or words for them to write (such as their names). Ask the last group to write the word Savior. Say that kids will learn about a prophet’s words about the Savior.
Live It Out
Game – Quick Verse
Materials: foam ball
Guide kids to sit in a circle. Repeat today’s verse a few times as practice. Give a preteen the foam ball. Tell him to pass the ball to the left and say the verse as the ball is passed. The kids pass the ball quickly around the group. Encourage kids to pass the ball quickly and try to get the ball back to the one saying the verse before he finishes it. When he finishes the verse, the ball stops. The person holding the ball will say the verse next as the ball passes. Talk about the Bible story and what Isaiah wrote about the Savior that God promised. Say the Life Point together. (Extend the game by saying the Life Point as the ball is passed.) If you have a large number of kids, you can form more than one circle and give each circle a ball to play the game independently or against one another.
Craft – Window Clings
Materials: gallon ziplock freezer bags, glue, food color, toothpicks or coffee stirrers, scissors, hair dryers, paper, pencils
Guide kids to cut a shape from the paper; they could choose a cross shape or other shape to remind them of the Savior. Help a preteen slide the shape in a ziplock bag, remove all the air, seal, and lay the bag on a table. Lead kids to spread glue over the outside of the bag only where the shape is. They can add drops food coloring to the glue and swirl it around with toothpicks. Encourage them to add a few drops of different colors and create swirled designs in the glue. Use hair dryers to help the glue dry. When the glue is dry, cut along the sides the glue shape and discard the rest of the ziplock bag. Tell kids that when they get home, they can peel the plastic from the back of the shape, lightly moisten the back of the shape, and stick the shape to a window or mirror. (You may want to plan to set aside the clings to dry completely for the week and cut them out next week.) Talk about the Bible story. Say that Isaiah wrote about the Savior that God promised to send. Jesus is the Savior. Say the Life Point.
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