Grades 1–3
Introductory Activity – Windblown
Materials: balloons (one per child), plastic cups, tape, stopwatch or timer
Use tape to make a
line on a table. Set 7 cups in a row on the line. Set up several stations of 7
cups for several kids to participate at a time.
Guide a child to stand at the table. Set the timer for 40 seconds (or whatever
time you choose). On your signal, the child will inflate his balloon, hold the
end of the balloon near a cup, and use the air to blow the cup off the table.
He should try to blow off all the cups in the time allotted. After the time is
up, he can reset the cups for the next player. Tell kids that in the Bible
story today, a strong wind blew.
Live It Out
Game—Catch the Verse
Materials: plastic bin with water, table tennis balls, permanent marker, small nets (aquarium nets, insect catching nets)
Print the words of
the Bible verse on balls, one word per ball. Make as many sets of balls as you
choose. Place all the table tennis balls in the bin of water. Add balls with no
words if you choose.
Say the verse together. Lead kids to take turns scooping out the words of the
verse in order. (To make the game less challenging, allow them to scoop any
word and put the verse in order after they scoop all the words.) Talk about the
Bible story and about Jesus’ power.
Craft—Storm Bottle
Materials: small clear water bottles with lids (one per child), water, vegetable oil, blue food color, funnels, blue or silver glitter (optional), construction paper, scissors, glue, towels
Guide the kids to fill their bottles one-third to one-half full with water. Add a few drops of food color and shake to color the water. If you choose, add a small scoop of glitter. Pour oil into the bottle, filling it almost full. Seal the lid with glue. Guide kids to shake their sealed bottles to create a stormy lake or sea. Talk about the Bible story. Tell the kids to cut out boat shapes and sail shapes from the construction paper and glue to the outside of their bottles. (Make sure bottles are dry before gluing paper onto the outside.) Shake bottles again and watch the storm around the boat. (Option: Use permanent markers to draw boats instead of making them out of paper.)
Grades 4–6
Introductory Activity—Four-Square Definition
Materials: paper, pencils
Guide kids to fold their paper in half and then fold in half again. When they open their papers, they should have four sections. They can draw lines over the folds if they wish. Tell them to write in the first square what the word miracle means. In the second square, they can write an example of a miracle. In the third square, they can list something that is not a miracle. In the last square, they can draw a picture of a miracle. Guide kids to find partners and talk about their ideas (showing their papers) with the partners. Tell kids that they will hear a story today about a miracle. Talk about what a miracle is.
Live It Out
Game—Odd Man Out
Materials: chairs, one for every kid but one; Life Point printed on paper squares, one letter per square; bag; music; tape
Mix the letters of the Life Point and put them in a bag. Say the Life Point. Place the chairs in a circle and play a game like musical chairs. Play music while kids walk around the chairs. Stop the music in an unexpected place. All the kids should try to sit down. Ask the one without a chair to pull a letter from the bag. Tape the letter on the wall. Start the music again. Repeat. As more letters added, try to place the letter in the correct position. To maintain interest, remove 1-2 other chairs and ask all children with no chair to pull letters. When the Life Point is complete, talk about the Bible story. Ask kids to explain how Jesus showed His power over nature.
Craft—Dimensional Painting
Materials: heavyweight paper plates, markers, blue liquid watercolors, shaving cream, school glue, craft sticks, plastic bowls
In a bowl, mix two
parts shaving cream with one part glue. Add a small amount of blue watercolor
and stir. Continue to add blue watercolor until you get the color shade you
desire.
Lead kids to print the Life Point at the tops of their paper plates. Tell them
to use craft sticks to scoop and spread the mixture into waves underneath the
printing. Encourage them to experiment and explore with using the medium to
create waves. Talk about the Bible story while kids work. Talk about the way
Jesus showed His power and other stories that show Jesus’ power. (Note: The
paintings may still be wet at dismissal time. Guide kids to transport carefully
or store the paintings to be picked up after the next session.)
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