Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity—Four-Square Definition
Materials: Paper, pencils
Distribute paper and pencils. Tell kids they will hear a story about a miracle. Talk about what a miracle is. Invite kids to fold their paper in half and in half again. Lead them to open the paper again. Point out the four areas made by the folds. Kids can draw lines over the folds if they choose. Tell kids to write a definition for miracle in the first space. They can use their own words to tell what the word means. In the second square, they can write an example of a miracle. In the third square, they can list some that is not an example of a miracle. In the last square, they can draw a picture of a miracle. Guide kids to find partners and talk about their ideas (and show their papers) to partners. As time permits, swap partners and talk again. Or call on volunteers to tell their definitions of miracle.
Live It Out
Game—Knock Down and Unscramble
Materials: Cardboard tubes or empty plastic bottles, marker, beanbag or paper wad
Print these scrambled words on tubes or bottles: nibdl; seusJ; istp; udm; oiamSl; ladhee; sseehiPar; aeptrns. (Words: blind; Jesus; spit; mud; Siloam; healed; Pharisees; parents. Add other words from the Bible story as you choose.) Set the scrambled words along a wall. Invite a kid to stand a few feet away and toss a beanbag or paper wad to knock down a word. Kids can work to unscramble the word and talk about how the word relates to the Bible story. Talk about miracles that Jesus did and say the Life Point.
Craft—Miracle Stand-up
Materials: Heavyweight paper, colored tape, scissors, markers, glitter pens
Lead kids to cut seven squares of paper, approximately six inches square. Tell them to print the letters of the word miracle on the squares, one letter per square. They can use decorative lettering or add other designs around the letters. Show kids how to lay the letters side by side (in order) and use tape to connect the squares together; lay a length of tape from top to bottom that covers the two adjoining sides. Fold on the tape accordion style and stand up the word. Talk about the Bible story and other of Jesus’ miracles; repeat the Life Point. Suggest kids print the Life Point (or draw pictures of Jesus’ miracles) on the back of their stand-ups.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity—Headlines
Materials: Pictures of people from magazines or online, paper strips, pencils or markers, tape, Bible story pictures (optional)
Encourage kids to each choose a picture and look at what is happening in it. Each kid can write a headline about the picture. After kids write their headlines, talk about the pictures. Kids can think if the picture/headline is about something amazing or something not so amazing. Tell kids that today they will hear about an amazing thing that Jesus did.
Live It Out
Game—Miracle Search
Materials: Bibles
Group kids into teams or play as a large group. Call out a miracle that Jesus did and guide kids to find it in the Gospels. Remind kids that some miracles are in more than one Gospel, so two kids could find different passages and both be correct. First call out the miracle. Then, if needed, call out the Bible book as a clue. (If kids are still struggling, call out the chapter.) If playing as teams, award points to first finders if you choose. Say the Life Point and pray, thanking God for Jesus and for His help.
Some miracles of Jesus:
-Feeds the 5000 (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6)
-Calms the Storm (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8)
-Turns Water to Wine (John 2)
-Heals Man Born Blind (John 9)
-Heals Paralyzed Man (Mark 2)
-Walks on Water (Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 6)
-Heals Ten Lepers (Luke 17)
-Raises Lazarus (John 11)
-Drove Out Demons (Matthew 8, Mark 5, Luke 8)
-Helps Disciples Catch Fish (Luke 8, John 21)
Craft—Jesus Necklace
Materials: Large metal washers, thin-line permanent markers, baker’s twine or leather shoe lacing
Give each kid a washer. Guide kids to print Jesus and miracle on the washers. They can also draw designs on their washers. Suggest they use both sides of the washer. Cut lengths of twine, about three feet per necklace. Assist kids in folding the twine in half, inserting the folded end through the opening in the washer, and pulling the ends of the twine through the loop. Tie the end to make a necklace. Talk about the Bible story and the Life Point.
Options: Use nail polish or stickers to decorate the washers. Use plastic lacing or yarn for the necklace.
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