Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity—Teach the Teacher
Materials: None
Ask kids if there is anything they think they know how to do that you (the teacher) doesn’t know how to do. It might be a dance, how to draw something, or an activity. See if any child would volunteer to get up and teach you how to do that thing, whether by showing you or telling you. After every volunteer has finished, tell kids that today’s story tells about a time when Jesus went to the temple and taught the teachers what He knew.
Live It Out
Game—Hoop Toss
Materials: Six hoops (or smaller rings, if desired), small beanbags in different colors for each team, masking tape
Place the hoops on the floor, in two parallel lines of three hoops. Use masking tape to create a line, three feet from the fist row of hoops, where kids can stand to toss the beanbags. In each hoop, place a piece of paper with a number for the amount of points for each hoop. You can make farther hoops with more points. Divide the group into two or more teams. Give each team the same number of beanbags, but different colors for each team. Ask review questions, alternating between teams. When someone answers a question correctly, she will stand at the line and toss the beanbag into a hula hoop, and her team is awarded the number of points assigned to the hoop. Continue until each kids has a turn for his team. Remind kids that they are learning a lot about God by showing up at church every week. Encourage them that God is doing big things in them already!
Craft—Envelope Church
Materials: Envelopes, construction paper, markers, mini craft sticks, glue stick
Give each child a piece of construction paper and an envelope. Help them glue the opened envelope to the construction paper. On the tip of the envelope, kids cab draw a cross (like a steeple). Encourage kids to decorate the top half of a few craft sticks like people. Place the “people” inside the opening of the envelope so it looks like the people are in church. Kids can play with the stick people inside the church! Remind kids that it is the people that are the church. Tell them to print the Life Point across the bottom of their papers.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity— Church, Church, Temple
Materials: None
Play a game of Duck, Duck, Goose, but instead of using those words, say “Church, Church, Temple.” Tell kids that in a similar way like people, and even Jesus, went to the temple in Bible times, we learn and talk about God at church today!
Live It Out
Game— Roll and Answer
Materials: One or more numbered cubes
Choose a volunteer to roll a cube. If the number rolled is even, ask a review question. If the number is odd, ask a question about the Bible. Use questions about the Bible similar to the following:.
-What is the longest book of the Bible? (Psalms)
-Name the fist five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
-What is the only prophecy book in the New Testament? (Revelation)
-Name the four Gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
Continue playing as long as time allows. When you finish, gather kids and remind them that there are all kinds of tests in life. Remind kids that the church is a place to learn about God.
Craft—Craft Stick Church
Materials: Craft sticks, white glue
This is a group craft! Create groups of five or so kids and give them a pile of craft sticks and liquid glue. Tell them that their goal is to build a church building out of the craft sticks. Kids will need to work together to hold the sticks together while the glue dries. Remind kids that it’s not the building that makes the church. It’s the people! When each group has finished their church, say together: “The church learns and talks about God.”
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