Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Nighttime Mural
Materials: large pieces of dark-colored paper, yellow and white construction paper, scissors, neon markers, metallic pens, glue sticks, other appropriate art materials
Tape large pieces of dark paper to the walls. Place art materials near the dark paper. Lead kids to create nighttime scenes on the paper. They may want to draw and cut out designs to glue or draw directly on the dark paper. As they work, mention things that people do at night. Say: “Today we will hear a story about a man who came to see Jesus during the night.”
Live It Out
Game – Balloon Battle Trivia
Materials: balloon
Form two teams with your children, and place each team on opposite sides of the room with you standing in the middle. Tell your children they will send one representative to the middle of the room, where they will have a balloon battle. Each representative will hit the balloon back and forth, trying to get the other person to miss it so it hits the ground, which will result in one point. The child who scores a point will then get to answer a review question from the curriculum, and if they get it correct, they will receive a second point. Repeat this process with multiple children. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner!
Craft – The Whole World
Materials: white paper, markers, crayons
Give each child a piece of paper and some markers or crayons. Instruct them to write the Weekly Verse on top of the page. Next, direct them to draw and color the picture they imagine when they hear the Weekly Verse. Encourage them to be creative! Allow several volunteers to share their pictures with the class. Have everyone say the Weekly Verse together.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Round Robin Writing
Paper, pencils, timer
Group the kids into groups of 3-5. Give each kid a piece of paper and a pencil. Say: “What do you know about Jesus? When I say go, list as many things as you can. Write neatly so others can read what you right.” Set a timer for 30 seconds and say: “Go.” After 30 seconds, say: “Stop.” Tell kids to pass their papers to the person on their left. Say: “When I say go, read through the list and add more to the paper.” Set the timer for 45 seconds and tell kids to go. Stop, pass, and repeat until kids receive their original papers. Say: “In our story today, a man went to see Jesus to find out more about Him.”
Live It Out
Game – High/Low Relay
Materials: Paper squares or cards, marker, tape
Print the words of John 3:16 on paper squares or cards, one word per square. Make a set for each team. Mix and tape the words to a wall at one end of the play area.
Group kids into two or more teams. Say: “We will have a high/low relay. Each team’s players will move to the words, take a word, and move back to team. When I say, ‘High,’ players must walk on tiptoes. When I say, ‘Low,’ players must crawl. Work to put the verse in order as players bring back words. If your team gets a duplicate word, the next player must take the word back to the wall but not bring another one.”
Line up teams and start the relay. Say: “High” as you start the relay. Say: “Low” as second players begin their turns. Alternate “High” and “Low” as players run the relay. After verses have been assembled, say the verse together. Say: “This verse is part of our Bible story today.” Talk about the Bible story and the Life Point.
Craft – New Life Bookmarks
Materials: construction paper, markers, hole punch, yarn, scissorsGive each child a piece of construction paper and the rest of the supplies. Instruct them to cut a bookmark out of their paper. On the front of the bookmark, tell them to write the Life Point. Next, direct them to decorate the front and back of the bookmark. Instruct them to punch a hole in the top of the bookmark, run a piece of yarn through the hole, and tie the two ends of the yarn together, creating a loop. Encourage them to use this bookmark when they read their Bibles at home. Have everyone say the Weekly Verse together.
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