Scripture reference: 1 Cor. 13:4-7

1. Send Valentine cards to your students before Valentines Day with the "Love Is . . ." verse printed on one side.  On the other side write a note to the child telling him/her how wonderful he/she is and that you will be giving a prize to the student that learns the most of the verses printed on the back of the card.  In Sunday school class read or tell a Bible story and then have your children identify any of the different ways to love from 1 Cor. 13:4-7 in the story you read.

Love Is - Spinner Game

Children take turns spinning the heart in the center of the game, determine which word the heart is pointing to, and then give an example of how we can show love in that particular way. For example, if the spinner lands on "Love is kind", he may say, "We can show kindness by giving to people in need."

The pattern for this game is available to members only on The Resource Room.

Scratch Art Hearts

This craft comes from Oriental Trading Company. You receive black heart shapes and sticks. Your children will have fun scratching off the black film to reveal beautiful colorful designs. They cost $5.95 for 12 hearts, or about 50 cents each. To order this craft go to Oriental Trading Company's web site. Type in 48/3537 in the search box on the left hand side of the page.

Manna

We learned about how God provided food for Moses and the Israelites. We then asked if they said table prayers. Some children did and they shared their prayers with the class. We talked about the importance of saying prayers for the food that God has provided for us. We then made place mats not only to remind us to pray, but to learn a new table prayer. I cut out poster board for each child ahead of time. They then glued on a table prayer that I had printed up earlier. The one we used was (but you can use anyone you like):

"Thank you God for the food we eat,
Thank you God for the world so sweet.
Thank you God for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything!"

The children then cut out food from magazine pages and glued them around their prayer. Then once they were finished we cut out clear contact shelf paper to place on top to protect them. Sent in by Sheila Rodriquez

Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha Sunday School Lesson - Do the Right Thing at the Right Time - You can find a complete lesson with crafts and activities on The Resource Room.

Bible Reference: Luke 10:38-42  and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Teaching Concept: Sometimes doing the right thing is not always the right thing to do if you do it at the wrong time.

Crafts:

1. Clock Picture with Moving Hands - Children glue pictures that relate to each season in the appropriate place on the picture. (Patterns and Pictures for this craft are available on The Resource Room.)

Activities:

1. The Right Time Activity

Have your children hold hands in the middle of the room and form a circle. Two adults hold hands to form a tunnel. The children walk around in a circle passing through the tunnel as they sing the song below. When the last word of the song is sung, the tunnel comes down and captures a child. The child then must answer a question (below) to be freed. Keep playing until all the children have had a chance to answer a question.

Do You Do the Right Thing?
Written by Carolyn
(Sing to the tune of "Do Your Ears Hang Low?)

Do you do the-right thing?
At the time you're supposed to do it?
Do you listen to your mom?
Do you listen to your dad?
Do you do it at the right time or do you wait to long to do it?
Do you do the-right thing?

Questions:

1. When is it the right time to brush your teeth - in the morning or before you eat?
2. When is it the right time to comb your hair - before you go to church, or when you're sitting at the dinner table?
3. When is the right time to clean your room - when your mother tells you to, or when you feel like it?
4. When is the right time to do your homework - when you get home from school, or on the bus on the way to school?
5. When is the right time to interrupt - when you mother is on the phone and you want to ask her a question, or when there is an emergency?
6. When is the right time to talk - when your teacher is talking, or at recess?
7. When is the right time to have dessert - before dinner, or after dinner?
8. When is it the right time to yell - when you are in the car, or when you are outside playing?
9. When is it the right time to stay home from school - when you don't feel like going, or when you are sick?
10. When is the right time to be quiet - during the church service when the minister is talking, or when you are asked a question?

Older Children

1. Act Out the Story - Act out the story from the Bible or have your children place it in modern times and then act it out.

2. Play Charades using Eccl. - write the verse on pieces of paper. Have your children take turns picking a piece of paper and acting out what is written. The person who guesses correctly gets to take his turn next. Let each child guess only one time.

3. Bible Verse Review Game - - Read Eccl. 3:1-8, and then hold up the pictures that your children have drawn one at a time. See if the children can identify which pictures go with which part of the verse. Place all the pictures in order and see if the children can say the complete verse by looking at the pictures.

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Miracles - Jesus Heals a Blind Man

Scripture Reference: John 9:6
Concepts:  Jesus heals.

The following ideas come from Bethany Davis:

Lesson:

5 to 10 minutes - Sit in a circle on the floor with an open box of first aid supplies in the middle of the circle.  One by one take the supplies out and talk about what they are, what we use them for and why.  Lay them on the floor when you are finished with each one.  Have you ever been sick, or gotten hurt?  Who took care of you?   Doctors - doctors are smart people, and they are smart because God gives them the knowledge to heal people.  God helps the doctors learn about making sick people well again.  

Stay on the floor in a circle; keep the first aid supplies in the box next to you.  Read story of Jesus healing the blind man, Mark 10:46. Emphasis the fact that this man's faith in Jesus - he believed in his heart that Jesus could heal him - was very important.  All He had to do was ask Jesus to make him well, and Jesus did it.  Can Jesus heal us when we are sick?   How can we ask Jesus to help us feel better when we are hurt or sick? 

Game:

The man Jesus healed was blind, which means he couldn't see anything at all, even when his eyes were wide open and all the lights were on in the room.  Close your eyes tight - that's what it is like to be blind.  You can open your eyes now. We are going to play a game that will show you what it's like to be blind for a while.  Blindfold each child, play a short game of Simon Says while they are blindfolded.  Then put them all in a line, have them hold onto each other's waists and walk around the room, led by you of course.  After a minute or two of walking, sit down on the floor again.  Take the blindfolds off.  Don't let them take them off until you sit down. 

Questions: Could you see anything with the blindfolds on?  What was it like walking around the room when you couldn't see where you were going?  Would you want be blind all the time?  How did you know you weren't going to bump into anything while you were walking around? You knew I was leading you - that's called faith, when you trust someone to lead you and not let you get hurt.  The blind man had FAITH in Jesus that He would heal him, and make him see again.  That's why Jesus was able to heal him.  Jesus can only help us if we believe that He can.  Do you believe that Jesus can make you well when you are sick or hurt?  Let's make something to help us remember that Jesus can heal us when we are sick or hurt.  

Craft

 Make Popscicle stick picture frames. All the supplies are in the activity box in the cabinet.

What you will need: 12 sticks, length of yarn, white glue, 2 or 3 Band-Aids, one piece of cardboard

What to do: Stick the Band-Aids& stickers to the cardboard around the wording "Jesus heals the sick".  Lay one Popsicle stick on the bottom and top of the cardboard, run thin line of glue across them and attach to cardboard.  Lay two more sticks at the sides, and keep building up like a log cabin until all 12 sticks are used up.  HELP THEM WITH THIS AND DO NOT LET THEM SPREAD THE GLUE THEMSELVES!  Keep the picture frames flat on the table.  When they are finished, glue the yarn to the top corners on the back of the frame as a hanger. Keep pictures flat on the table so they will dry without falling apart.

Crafts and Activities:

1. Finger paint using chocolate pudding - Make some chocolate pudding and let the children finger-paint on a piece of paper.  Talk about how the pudding looks like mud and how Jesus put mud on the blind man's eye and healed him.
2. Another activity to get the kids thinking about Jesus healing the blind man is to play with mud. Mix 5 pounds of topsoil, 1/3 cup liquid starch, 1/3 cup liquid soap, and enough water to make the soil feel like mud. It is messy, but cleans up well.
3. Play a touch and feel guessing game. Fill a bag with lots of small objects of different textures.  Have the children pick out one object in the bag and guess what it is by feeling it.  Talk about being blind.

Miracles - Jesus Calms the Storm
Mark 4:35-41 or Matthew 8:23-34

Make a 3-D picture. Mark off 3" from the bottom of a sheet of blue construction paper. Fold it up. Cut a wave pattern on the top of the 3" fold. Cut a sheet of black construction paper in half and cut a wave pattern on one side. Glue the black waves to the blue sheet at the fold. Cut a boat shape from brown construction paper, a Jesus silhouette from white construction paper, and a disciple silhouette from black construction paper. Have the children glue Jesus and the disciples inside the boat. Using a brad, attach the boat to the background and then fold the 3" waves in the front and glued it only on the sides. Now, the children can retell the story using a boat that rocks during the storm. Sent in by Theresa Bostick

Jesus Calms the Storm Bible Lesson on The Resource Room - In this lesson children learn that you don't have to be afraid of anything because Jesus is in control of everything. A visual is used to tell the story. It can also be used as a craft. Jesus is shown sleeping on the boat with calm, happy waves. When the storm comes up clouds are folded down and new, angry waves can be folded up to make a new stormy picture. A new standing Jesus picture is presented when Jesus wakes up. He tells the storm to stop and the waves and clouds are folded out of the way to reveal a calm sea. A pattern for this craft is available to Resource Room members only.

Crafts and activities for Jesus Calms the storm:

1. Make wave streamers - Cut light blue, dark blue, and white crepe strips into three feet lengths. In class have the children gather about 5 strips together and staple them together at one end. Tape the strips to a jumbo-sized craft stick. Show the children how they can move their hands up and down and make the streamers look like waves. Use the streamers later during music time.

2. Make a Wind and Wave Wind Sock Craft - Wind and Waves Windsock Craft - This craft goes along with the lesson “Jesus Calmed the Storm” The windsock says, “Even the wind and the waves obey him.” Mark 4:41

What you will need: Card stock, markers or crayons, fish or butterfly stickers (optional), blue Rick rack, 7/8” blue and purple ribbon, glue, tape, and staples, laminator or clear contact paper (optional).

What to do: Before class print out the pattern (available to Resource Room Members only) or have your children draw their own designs onto card stock. Cut off the excess paper leaving 1/2” on top and the bottom of the picture. Cut one end off at the line. Leave extra on one end to staple under. Cut up pieces of ribbon and Rick rack into 12” lengths. In class have the children color the picture and add stickers and Rickrack. When they are done with their pictures give them ribbon and Rickrack across the length of the bottom. When they are done with that staple the sides together to make at tube. Staple yarn or ribbon at the top to hang the windsock.

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3. Make Jesus and His Disciples in a Boat Craft

What you will need: Card stock, craft sticks, block of Styrofoam, markers, and straws.

What to do:

1. Before class print out the boat pattern (available to members only), cut it out and use it as a template to cut out boats from card stock.

2. To make the boat, fold on the dotted lines. At each end of the boat bring the pointed ends together and glue or tape them together.

3. Cut pieces of Styrofoam to fit inside the boat and glue them to the bottom of the boats.

4. Cut the craft sticks in half or close to half. Make the sticks different lengths, some shorter and taller than the others.

5. In class have the children count out 12 sticks plus one for Jesus. Have them draw faces on the sticks and color the bottom of the sticks for the clothes.

6. Cut out triangle shapes for the boats sail. Tape the sail to a straw.
Show the children how to press all the craft sticks and the straw into the Styrofoam.

**You can also use this craft for a lesson on “Jesus walked on the Water” (not on this site yet). Glue the boat onto a piece of blue card stock and use a small piece of blue play dough or salt dough to stand Jesus up in the water.

**You could also use this craft for the lesson “Follow Me” about becoming fishers of men. Have the children draw pictures of fish on a piece of blue construction paper or card stock or glue gold fish crackers to the paper. Use netting from vegetable bags to make a net.

Comment: My husband is a pastor of a small church, I teach Jr. church ages from 5-11. I am so thankful that I found your web site!! Most of my lessons come from your web site. The class really enjoyed making the boat with the disciples in it. Kathy Aurandt.

For the lesson Jesus calms the storm. We took a piece of clay and rolled it into a ball and placed it in a bowl of water and talked about how without Christ in our lives we sink to the bottom. Then we pushed our thumbs in the middle and made a boat like shape and explained that with Christ in our lives we take shape and we float safely. It only takes about a marble sized piece of clay. Jennie

We acted out this story using our “box boat”. For the sound effects we used cookie sheets for the thunder, flashlights for lightening, spray bottles for rain, and had the children blow and make wind noises for the wind. We had three or four children doing each effect. We repeated the story about three times so they could take turns with the effects. We made the windsocks and had a “wind sock parade” around the room, as the weather did not permit us to go outside. Elaine

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4. Make Origami boats - See these sites for folding instructions of two different boats:

http://www.geocities.com/Rachel_Katz/stories/pilgrims.htm

 http://www.nagpurcity.net/netzine/980815a1.html

 Sent in by Anita Reeves

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Miracles - Jesus Walks on Water

Draw a picture of a simple face - two eyes, a nose and a mouth. In class let the kids color them and then glue wiggle eyes on. I also had a sticker of Jesus walking on the water that I let them put on their paper as well. Sent in by Rebecca (You can add "Keep your eyes on Jesus" to the bottom of the page.)

Miraculous Catch of Fish
Luke 5:1-11 and Matthew 4:17-22

"Go Fish" Bible Lesson on The Resource Room - In this lesson children learn what it means to be a "fisher of men" and are given examples of how to "fish for men". This lesson is available to Resource Room members only.

 

1. Color and paint a picture of fish talking. Have children color the fish with crayons and then use watered down blue paint to paint over top of the fish and the rest of the picture. A pattern for this idea is available on The Resource Room. The fish in the pictures say, "Would you like to go to church with me. Sure, that sounds like fun."

2. Work on a "Fishers of Men" bulletin board display. Draw kids in the shape of fish or use the "fish kids" pattern available on The Resource Room and cut them out. Prepare your bulletin by placing blue paper for the background and drawing a net pattern on top. Or find net material and staple it onto the board. In class have the children color the "fish kids" and staple or clip them to the net. Cut out some extra fish and write the memory verse on the fish or use the ones in the game below. A pattern for this idea is available on The Resource Room.

1. Fish for Men - In this game children pull on a string to see if they can catch a fish. If the string has a fish at the end the children answer a question. Before class print out the "fish kids" pattern (A pattern for this idea is available on The Resource Room.) Or make your own and cut them out. Make enough so that you have one for each child. Punch a hole at the top of each "fish kids" and tie some yarn through the hole. Cut some extra pieces of yarn. Hang the "fish kids" and the extra pieces of yarn over a box so that the ends with the "fish kids" are inside the box so that the children cannot see them. Make sure they aren't overlapping because a child may pull out more than one by mistake. Let the children take turns pulling on a string to see if they can catch a "fish kid". If they "catch one" read one of the following scenarios and have the children tell how they can be a "fisher of men".

1. Amy - Amy is new in school and is very shy. She doesn't have any friends and stands by herself most of the time. How can you be a fisher of men to Amy? You can ask Amy to join in when you are playing a game. You can talk to her and introduce her to your friends. You can ask her to come to church with you and meet more people.

2. Mike - Mike is your neighbor. His parents work on Sunday and don't take him to church. What can you do to be a "fisher of men" to Mike? You can tell Mike about Jesus. You can invite him to church and offer to pick him up and take him.

3. John - John is your neighbor. He is a big boy and picks on the little kids in your neighborhood, calling them names and hitting them. What can you do to be a "fisher of men" to John and the kids in your neighborhood? Talk to John about Jesus. Tell him that he doesn't want us to treat others that way. Everyone is special no matter how big they are or small or what they look like.

4. Rachel - Rachel loves to sing and is very good at it. You asked her to come to Sunday school with you several times but she said she didn't like school and she didn't want to get up that early. How can you be a "fisher of men" (talk to her about Jesus) to Rachel? Invite her to join your kid's choir at church, which meets on a Tuesday night, or introduce her to some good Christian music.

Activity

1. Play "Go Fish" Bible verse review game - Before class print out the net pattern (A pattern for this idea is available on The Resource Room.) Or make your own and the fish patterns onto computer paper. Write the memory verse on the fish patterns, one word per fish. Tape the fish onto the back of the net patterns. Leave some papers blank. Spread out the papers on the floor with the net side up. Before the game, go over the memory verse. Write it on the board if you have children that can't read.

Before starting remind the children that the fishermen in our story didn't have much luck fishing until Jesus told them where to find the fish. Let's see if you can catch some fish today. Have the children stand in a circle around the papers (nets) on the floor. Have them take turns picking up the nets and seeing if they caught any fish. If they turn over a paper with a fish taped to the back, ask them if they know what the word is on the fish and to find the matching word on the board. Give them a piece of tape to hang up the paper underneath the matching word. Or you can hang a string or net up in the room and have the children clip the fish to the net with clothespins in the correct order.

1. Make "Fisher of Men" pictures.

What you will need: Card stock, paper, crayons, sticks, yarn, tape, and small bobbers (optional)

What to do:

1. Before class print out the fish kids pattern (This pattern is available to Resource Room Members only.) Or draw your own and cut them out and print out the "Follow Me" background pattern.

2. In class have the children color the "fish kids", punch a hole at the top, tie a length of yarn to the hole and place a bobber onto the yarn. Give them a stick and help them tie the yarn to the string. Tape the fishing pole stick to the background paper with the Bible verse.
Caution: Do not use pointy sticks with young children. Make sure that they tape their fishing poles onto the paper. If you don't want to use sticks because you are afraid someone might get hurt. Draw a fishing pole on the paper and then tape the string to the end of the fishing pole drawing. Make sure you let the children know that the bobbers are not toys. You could also draw a paper bobber instead of using a real one. They should not play with them. They are only for looking at and reminding them of the lesson. Also let their parents know.

Comments from Resource Room subscribers:

(I am doing the Fishers of Men lesson and I love the paper with the bobber! But I am not able to use the bobbers so I dipped small Styrofoam balls 1/2 way into red paint and then dipped some toothpicks or you can use skewers into white paint. I cut these so they could be placed in the top of my make believe bobber and then glued it onto your memory verse sheet with the boy or girl. I let the kids dip the bobbers into the paint, but if you don't want to do that you can do this ahead of time. This was very inexpensive. Thanks, Nancy)

This week we are doing the miraculous catch of fish so I am using your Fish Kids poster craft idea and also using the fish kids to write questions on, putting magnetic tape on the back and letting the children fish" for questions to review the story. Sherry Winter, Carmel, Indiana

I did the fishers of men lesson with my Sunbeams and it went really well. I use the wall tacky a lot to stick lesson parts on the wall. I put the words across the wall for them to match on. When we did the "Go Fish" Game each time a child matched a word on the wall we all said the verse together, very repetitious and they loved it. Not only did they learn their memory verse but also a week later they still knew it! With the activity we made up more scenarios so each child would have a chance to answer one. I did make the mistake of using crochet twine so they kept tangling on the edge of the box. I think Macrame or twine would be better. You could also make the fish and boys and girls out of foam sheets and decorate for a more permanent game or send one home with each child to remind them to be fisher of men. When we were done, I divided the fish evenly among the children, the class had only 5 that night and tied the strings together like a string of fish caught and wrote heir memory verse on one for them to take home. I also ran the fish off on the copier on bright wallpaper with all kinds of designs. Made them pretty, fun and cheap to make! I did find two really neat snacks to make to go with the lesson: They were on http://childfun.com/themes/fish.shtml#food that has a lot of neat 'fish' ideas someone might want to use. I used the first snack - fish crackers on a blue napkin and Jell-O aquariums.

We did the Fishers of Men lesson last night, and it was well received by the kids (preschool through 5th grade). I added a snack that was a hit ... I made berry blue Jell-O in a trifle bowl, let it partially set, and then added gummy fish, gummy octopuses (octopi?) and gummy worms and served goldfish crackers on the side. They enjoyed the link to the theme. If I'd taken more time, I might have done it as Jigglers with fish cutouts. Thanks!! Cheryl Gross

I really love your site. We use it almost every Wednesday night for our preschool children. The last lesson we did was "Go Fish". My children had a wonderful time especially making the fisher man . They really enjoyed listening to the story about the fishermen and then really enjoyed making fishers of men on there papers. The real bobbers did it for them. They were hooked. Thank you so much. Christina

I did this lesson with my preschool class. Instead of using sticks and bobbers, I just drew the fishing pole on the pre- printed follow me background paper and took a yarn needle, threaded it with a 6 inch piece of yarn and poked it through the paper at the top of the fishing pole and tied a knot in it on the back of the paper so it wouldn't go all the way through, then I let the children color their boy or girl and tied it on the end of the line. It was a lot more economical and easier and you didn't have to worry about the children getting hurt on anything. They loved it.

I used the Go Fish game, but changed it into a craft for our little ones. I enlarged the net so it covered a piece of blue stock paper, then made orange fish with the words of the memory verse on them. I had each child glue a fish onto the net (making sure I emphasized that the fishermen caught lots of fish!) then gave them some stickers of shiny fish to also put on their papers. It turned out really cute and the kids love anything with animals on it. They are so excited to show their parents something they make themselves. As a treat, I took little Ziploc snack bags and drew lines on them to resemble a "net" on either side then filled them with Goldfish, so the kids could take home their own net full of fish! The kids loved it and it was easy and cheap for me to make! Thanks for all your hard work, Rachel O'Dell

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Miracles - Jesus Turns Water into Wine

1. First we provided large gifts for the kids to open just like at a wedding. Inside they found rolls of toilet paper which they used to dress up like brides! We served wedding cake for our snack. Then we "magically" turned water into wine by having cups with pre-measured grape Kool-Aid powder in them (make sure to use pre sweetened).  We took a large clear pitcher of water and when we poured it into the cups it changed to wine! We explained to the children that Jesus really did perform this miracle and we were only pretending, etc. It was a big hit! Lisa

2. Make "Water to Wine Pots". For this craft, you need six toilet paper rolls per child (You can just roll up some construction paper into tube if you don't have TP rolls.). Wrap the rolls with different colored construction paper. Staple them together in two rows of three. Then staple the two rows together. Give children six pieces of blue tissue paper each (water) and have them stuff one piece into each tube. Give them each a sign that says "water" and help them to glue it to the side of the pots. Turn the pots up side down. Give each child six pieces of purple tissue paper (wine) and have them stuff one piece into each tube. Give each child a sign that says "wine" and help them to glue it to the other side of the pots. Now, the children have something to take home that will remind them of Jesus' First Miracle: Water to Wine. (This craft idea was sent in by Theresa Bostick.)

3. Make veils for the girls to wear on their heads using white 1/4" elastic and white netting and bow-ties for the boys to wear around their necks using black 1/4" elastic, Velcro and black felt. She also took a group-wedding picture. Thanks, Theresa for all the great ideas.

4. This is a game that I remember playing when I was in children's church over 20 years ago. Instead of saying duck, duck, goose, have the children say water, water, wine. This is an easy way to reinforce Jesus' first miracle of him turning the water into wine. I use it with my 1 and 2 year olds now and they love it.

5. Have your children glue wedding confetti to a picture of a bride. Sent in by Jeannette 

Lessons about Jesus turning Water into Wine on The Resource Room

Jesus Cares About You (Jesus Turns Water into Wine) - Sunday school lesson - (This lesson is available to members only.) In this lesson children learn about how Jesus fixed a problem at a wedding by performing a miracle. They learn that Jesus cares about our problems and wants to help us deal with them.

Crafts and Activities

1. Send out invitations before class inviting the children to a wedding feast (Pattern available on The Resource Room)
2. Decorate your room with wedding shower decorations or have the children who arrive early help.
3. Decorate wedding cakes.
4. Make wedding bells for decorations. (Pattern available on The Resource Room)
5. Play a Bible verse memory game.

6. Play a Bible verse memory game - Go over the Bible verse several times so that the children can say it without help. Have the children all stand in a large circle. Give a child a beanbag or other object. Play like hot potato. When you start the music the children start passing the beanbag, but they must first say the verse before they pass it. For young children use just the last part of the verse ("He cares about what happens to you."). When the music stops the child who is holding the bean bag must sit down. You can also have more than one bean bag going around the circle at the same time.

   You can also play by having the children pass the beanbag until the music stops. The child who is holding the beanbag must say the Bible verse.

   3. Have a wedding dress contest - Break the children up into teams of 3 or 4. Give each team a roll of TP and have them dress up one of their team members as a bride. Have the children vote on which bride looks the best.

7. You will find more ideas for this lesson on The Resource Room.

Copyright Notice - While many of the crafts on this site are free, they are still copyrighted. They are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for local church, school, home use, etc. It is illegal to copy any part of this craft and place it on another web site, bulletin board, or personal web site. To request permission to copy this material for any other use than personal use contact me by e-mail.

Miracles - Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Scripture reference: Luke 5: 17-26
Concepts: Jesus heals.

1. Build a Bible house to act out the Bible story - This idea comes from Susan Vaughn. Construct a Bible-times house with two different sizes of large boxes.  You can find them at appliance stores.  Use duct tape to attach them to make a two-room home.  Cut an opening between the boxes for an inside door and a window.  Attach flowers and vines made from construction paper of different colors to the outside.  Cover the roof with palm leaves cut from paper bags.  The roof is removable.  This house can be used for other lessons as well such as lessons on how to be friends.

2. Make a sod house - I divided the children into groups of four and gave each group a copy paper box with a lid. The children painted the boxes with tan tempera paint and then sprinkled the wet paint with sand to give the house a sandstone appearance. The next Sunday we created construction paper windows, doors, and a staircase and glued them to the box. After the children left, my faithful helper and I wired the upturned lid to the bottom of the box. When the children returned on the third week, they filled the lid with potting soil and sowed grass seed. By the next Sunday, seeds had sprouted and the little houses truly appeared to have a sod roof. *Note-Make sure that the grass is watered a time or two during the week. Connie Melloway

3. Lesson about Jesus healing the Paralytic on The Resource Room

Bear One Another's Burdens Sunday School Lesson - (This lesson is available to members only.) In this lesson children learn about how four friends bring their sick friend to Jesus. They learn that when they put their faith in Jesus and bring people to him Jesus will do amazing things. This lesson belongs to a series of lessons in which each lesson relates to a different letter of the alphabet. It is not only good for Sunday school, but also preschools, and home school children.

Crafts

1. Make a 3D Bible scene with house and people to go with the story. Patterns and directions available to Resource Room subscribers only.

2. Make a house - Bring in boxes, paper, scissors, glue, etc. and pictures of houses in Bible times. Have the children make replicas of the house. Tell them they can use the boxes to make the house or just draw pictures of them. Children can use their house to act out the story.

3. Home school and Preschool children can work on the Letter B Worksheet (available to members only) in print or cursive or write the whole verse or write a story about how Big Bear bears the burden of Little Bear.

4. Color "Bear Burdens" Color Sheet (available to members only) - ask the children as they color why they think the little bear might be crying and what Big Bear might be doing to help little bear.

5. Older children can write a story about how Big Bear helped bear Little Bear's burdens on a special writing sheet available to members only.

Activities

Learn what burdens are. - Place a wet paper towel or facial tissue so that two ends are secured between heavy objects. (Experiment before class to see how well your set up will work.) Ask the children to think of things that might be a burden to someone. When a child thinks of something, let him come up and place a quarter or some other object in the center of the wet paper towel. (Write down the suggestions as they are mentioned.) Let each child come up and place a quarter on the wet paper towel as he comes up with a burden. Keep going until the paper towel breaks or everyone has a turn. If the paper towel breaks during the activity tell the children that some burdens are so hard to bear that they can break a person. That is why it is important for us to bear each other's burdens. Start again with a new paper towel.

When every child has had a turn, go back and ask them how they can help bear the burden that they had mentioned earlier. Let them take a quarter off the paper towel after they give their ideas.

You can find even more ideas for this lesson on The Resource Room.

Miracles - Jesus Heals the Sick - The ideas for this section come from Bethany Davis.

Activities

Talk about first aid supplies - Bring in a variety of supplies from a typical first aid box, Band-Aids, gauze, aspirin, etc.  Let the children discuss them; what they are used for, etc.  Then talk about how Jesus can help you feel better when you are sick or hurt.  Discuss how Jesus wants us to be well, not sick, just like our parents.  Use this to start discussing the healing miracles Jesus did.

Blind man - Blindfold them and lead around the room.  Have them try to touch their toes, scratch their nose, tie their shoes, etc. with the blindfold on.  Then take them off and do same activities.

Jesus healing the sick - Have the children lay down like they are sick in bed. One teacher comes in, kneels beside each child and recites the words Jesus healed Jairus' daughter.  They can do this for each other, and help each other up off the floor.

Play "pin the bandied on the little girl/boy" for younger children.

Bandage Relay - For primary ages, do a "bandage relay".  Two teams, have them try to wrap or unwrap each other from gauze wrap, ace bandages, etc.  Or give them each a stack of Band-Aids and have them unwrap and stick them on each other in a certain amount of time.

Play a memory game - For primary ages, take a tray of first aid supplies and let them look at it for one minute.  Remove several objects and have them try to tell what is missing.

Crafts

Paper maché casts - Primary children can make a paper mache  "casts" of their arm.  Write with a permanent marker on it "Jesus Heals The Sick".

Color pictures - Preschoolers can color in a large picture of a little girl or boy and then stick Band-Aids, glue gauze pads and cutouts of casts, crutches, etc on the drawing.

Thank you, Bethany, for all the great ideas.

1. BASKET OF FISH - cut a paper lunch sack into a shorter height (about 5 inches tall), cut construction paper handle, tape or staple handle to the bag after the kids decorate them with crayons, stickers, etc. Have several fish bread loaf shape cutouts for them to color and then place in the basket. Make the cutouts large enough to stick up past the top of the basket. You could also use a strawberry basket with pipe cleaner for a handle.
2. Use Ellison die cuts to cut fish shapes out of construction paper (Or you can just draw them.) Write, "Jesus will provide" on one and on another of a different color write, "John 6:1-14. Glue them together and leave an opening. Stuff the fish with batting (cotton balls would work) and then let them dry. During Bible class have your children glue eyes to each side of the fish and decorate the fish. Sent in by Rebecca

2. The Big Picnic - This lesson is available on The Resource Room a subscription site. In this lesson children go on a picnic. When they get there they find that Arnie Ant has eaten their lunch. This reminds the teacher of the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. After the story the teacher discovers that the food wasn't eaten after all. It was just hidden under a cloth in the basket so the children enjoy a picnic with Arnie Ant

Crafts

1. Children can make "Arnie Ant" holding a sign that says, "Jesus uses little things to do big things."

2. Children can color a picnic basket and add bread and fish and a few ants, of course.

You will find more ideas, a color sheet, and the complete lesson on The Resource Room.

Miracles - Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers

"Don't Forget to Say Thank You" - This lesson comes from the Resource Room. A Free Sample lesson is also available - In this lesson Children learn that it is important to tell Jesus how thankful they are. He likes be thanked just like we do when we do something special for someone. Younger children make leper paper dolls to act out the story as a poem is being read. Older children make paper doll puppets to make a puppet show about the lesson. All ages will enjoy playing a "Musical Chairs" game in which they have to say something they are thankful for when they sit on a certain chair. Click on the link to get your free sample lesson.

Copyright Notice - While many of the crafts on this site are free, they are still copyrighted. They are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for local church, school, home use, etc. It is illegal to copy any part of this craft and place it on another web site, bulletin board, or personal web site. To request permission to copy this material for any other use than personal use contact me by e-mail.

Miracles - Jesus Heals the Nobleman's Son

We studied the healing of the Nobleman's son and how Jesus did not touch the boy or even go to where he was to make him well; and that the boy was made well instantly. I printed out the little girl from makingfriends.com (I printed their body form and then printed some of their clothes and hair, cut it out, and tacked it together with a glue stick. Then I scanned it at 300% and printed it out again. I took these copies to class and tacked one up on the magnetic board and handed the others out. Then I did an application story about how the little girl was playing and fell down and skinned her knee. We put a small Band-Aid on her left knee and talked about how her mommy could kiss it to make it better and even put medicine and a Band-Aid on it but it still was not all well. Then the little girl was playing on her swing set and fell off and broke her leg. She had to go to the hospital where the doctor put a cast on her leg Her leg would get better but not for weeks and weeks. Then we talked about the difference between this little girl's booboos and the nobleman's son who was made well immediately without any parent or doctor helping him. Beckye Mosher

Crafts:

1. See the Mother's Day Page for craft ideas.

Activities:

1. Play "Simon Says" but use "Mother Says" instead. Our 3 year olds loved this game and they all wanted to take a turn being the mother.
2. Practice being a good mother - Bring in baby dolls, clothes, towels, wash cloths, soap, diapers, etc. Show the children how to take care of a baby.
3. Sing a Mother's Day song:

   I'm Going to Help My Mom (maybe)
   (Sung to: The Eensy Weensy Spider)

        D                                             A7                   D
   I'm going to help my Mom 'cause today is Mother's Day.
   D                                           A7                     D
   I'll help to cook and clean and I won't go out and play!
   D                                                   A7                       D
   But, look the sun is shining and my friends are calling me,
   D                                                     A7                 D
   Are you okay without me Mom? ~ it's an EMERGENCY!
   © Mary Flynn

    

   M-O-M-M-Y
   (Sung to: B-I-N-G-O)

               D                         G         D
   There is someone that I love best!
                          A7        D
   And Mommy is her name - o.
            G
   MOMMY
   A7      D
   MOMMY
            G       
   MOMMY
            A7                      D
   And Mommy is her name - o .
   © Mary Flynn

   If you like this song, consider purchasing "Praise 4 God ~ Just 4 Kids©"a collection of more than 75 simple songs and poems of praise.

Mother's Day Bible Lessons

"How to Say I Love You" - In this lesson children learn what it means to love someone and how to express their love to their mothers. Many objects are used such as candy, a clock, a compass, a measuring tape and others, to represent different ways our mothers show us love. These objects are also used in a memory game to review the lesson and to study the Bible verses that go to this lesson from 1 Cor. 13.

Opening Activities from this lesson -

Play a Family Feud type game - Before class write at the top of the board "What Your Mother Does to Show You She Loves You". Under the title write the numbers one through five.

Tell your children as they walk in that you are going to have a contest.  Give them each a piece of paper and tell them to write down the numbers one through five on their papers. Tell them that you have a list of the five most mentioned things that mothers do to show us that they love us. You want everyone to write down what they think are the top five things that they think the people surveyed have picked. The student that gets the most right will get a prize.

What your mother does to show you she loves you:
1. She tells me she loves me.
2. She hugs and kisses me.
3. She teaches me.
4. Spend times with me.
5. She takes care of me.

The complete lesson with crafts and activities is available on The Resource Room.

Moses - See Bible Themes - Moses Page