Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity— Missing Vowels
Materials: paper, markers
Print this message for kids. You could print and display one large message or make a copy of the message for each child:
P__ __ple r__ __d th__ B__bl__ t__ l__ __rn __b__ __t G__d __nd w__rsh__p
G __ d.
Lead kids to work in partners or alone to figure out the message. Tell them that the vowels are missing in each word. After kids fill in the message, tell them they will discover more about reading the Bible and worshiping God today. (The message is the Life Point.)
Teaching Tip: For younger kids, fill in some of the vowels and make fewer blanks.
Live It Out
Game— Spider Web Catch
Materials: masking tape, cotton balls
Use masking to create a spider web in the doorway of your room. Do this by taping random lines across the doorway. Be sure that the stick side of the tape is facing inside the room. Tape a tossing line five feet from the door.
Create two teams of kids. Choose a child from each team, one at a time, to toss a cotton ball onto the web. If the cotton sticks, ask the team a review question. Award points for correct answers. Continue to play until every child has a turn. Say the Life Point together.
Craft— Praise Hands
Materials: tan or brown construction paper, printer paper, colorful writing utensils, scissors, glue sticks
On the tan or brown construction paper, help kids trace both hands and then cut those hands out of the paper. Kids can then glue the hands onto the computer paper to look like praise hands. Ask kids what kinds of things they want to praise God for, and encourage them to decorate around the hands with the words that make God worthy of praise.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity— Bull’s Eye
Materials: masking tape, paper squares, marker, beanbag
Use the tape to make a four-ring target on the floor. Write point values (increments of 5 or 10) on the paper squares and tape one in each ring. Group the kids into teams (or play as one group). Ask the kids (or a team) to name a Bible book that meets a certain criteria. Some ideas:
–Name a book of Old Testament History.
–Name a book that begins with the letter “E.”
–Name an Old/New Testament book that has a first and second.
–Name the first four books of the New Testament.
–Name the book that comes before/after ______.
If the answer is correct, toss the beanbag for points. Tell kids they will hear an Old Testament story about reading the Bible.
Live It Out
Game— Scramble Race
Materials: white board or long bulletin board paper, markers
Write the Weekly Verse and the Unit Verse on the board with each word scrambled. For example:
Ym slip lwil ourp tuo eiaspr, rof ouy atech em yrou sstattue. (Psalm 119:171)
Het retyient fo yoru rwod si hurtt, heac fo oury suoeritgh jumentsdg duresen rfvoeev. (Psalm 119:160). Leave a space under each one for kids to write.
Create two teams of kids. Line up each team in front of their assigned verse. When you say “Go,” the first person from each team should write the unscrambled first word; the second person unscrambles the second word, and so on. When both verses are complete, say each one together. Say the Life Point and discuss how these verses support the Life Point.
Craft— Bible Reading Journal
Materials: heavyweight paper, hole punches, colored pencils, stickers, other art supplies, chenille craft stems or binder rings Lead kids to cut the paper into 4-by-6-inch rectangles. (You could choose another size for your journals.) Tell kids to print Bible Journal on a card. They can decorate their card as they choose. On other cards, kids can print statement starters, such as What I learn about God from these verses is… or An important idea in this verse is… . They can print the same starter on each card or different ones on the cards. Encourage each to make at least seven cards for their journals. Guide kids to punch holes in their cards and use chenille stems or binder rings to join them together. Tell kids they can use these journals as they read their Bibles at home. Suggest they add additional pages as these pages are filled. Comment that kids can learn about God and worship Him at home and at church as they read their Bibles.
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