Make home-made soap using pure soap flakes (Lux pure soap flakes - detergent flakes won't work) as a way to remind the children about the lesson. Make soap using 4 parts pure soap flakes to one part warm water.  Just mix with hands and mould into bar of soap - leave on piece of foil to dry for approx. 48 hrs before use.  You can add one drip of food colouring if want to colour or a couple of drops of perfume. You can also mould it around a rope to make "soap on a rope".

Glue blue circle to the center of a sturdy paper plate. Glue on a two foott shapes, a small bar of soap on the blue circle, and pieces of terry cloth to represent a wash cloth. I wrote the Bible verse, " Serve only God" and "Jesus washed his disciples feet" around the edge of the paper plate. Sent in by Denise King

The Widow's Offering Sunday School Lesson Ideas

Scripture Reference: Mark 12:41-44 or Luke 21:1-4
Concepts:

Crafts:
We used an empty plastic container like a small baby wipes container or a plain butter dish and let the kids decorate with stickers. We cut a slit in the top for a bank and put two pennies in each child's bank. We asked that they save more money in their banks to give to the church. A clear container would be good so the children can see the money.
Thanks, mm,  for your suggestions.

This Sunday we will be doing the story of the widow's offering with our combined preschool and kindergarten class. (About 14 children, ages 2-5). For the Bible activity, we are planning to hide coins around our Sunday school room (one of the teachers will take the children to another area or to visit another class while we are doing this). The children each have to find two coins (we are using nickels) and then go and deposit them in our "change for others" box. They can then go back and look for two more coins, or help another child to find a coin. Our Sunday School is in the middle of collecting money for a mission outreach so this will tie in quite nicely. Our teachers are each bringing in coins for this activity, and ultimately for the mission outreach. We are also purchasing chocolate coins and the children will each be given two to take home at the end of the morning. Elizabeth Bartlett

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Witnessing Sunday School lesson Ideas

Scripture Reference: Acts 17:1-34 and other journeys

Paul's Missionary Journeys - This is a great way to teach children about Paul's Missionary Journeys. They will experience some of the same things that Paul and other missionaries experienced.  When they land on certain spaces like Bit by a snake. Lose a turn,  you can compare what happens to them while playing the game to what Paul actually experienced.

Concepts: Paul traveled to many towns to tell people the Good News. He faced many obstacles but God was with him wherever he went.  We can share God's message too.  God's message is for all people everywhere.

What you will need: Large piece of foam core board or card board, markers, paper, etc.

What to do:

1. To see a simple diagram of the game board click here. Draw four different cities in different locations on the board. You may want to look at a map to be more accurate with older children.  I used: Berea, Athens and Thessalonica, and Home.  I didn't worry about accuracy.  I was happy if they just learned the names of the cities.  Label each city in bold letters.  Draw a circle around all the cities except home. Draw small circles on the lines of the large circle to make spaces for the kids to land on. One space in each city should be reserved for the temple. Draw a temple next to that space and connect it to the space with a line.
2. Connect the cities by drawing a line from each city circle to the middle of the board. Draw the middle space big and write on the space Wait for God to tell you which direction to go. Lose a Turn..
3. Between the Home Space and the Middle Space (Wait for God) pick five different spaces to write these words: Forgot your Bible, go back home. Lost in the Desert. Lose a turn., Forgot to pray.  Go back home., Your camel died. Go back home. Bit by a snake, Lose a turn.
4. Draw an x on about 4 or 5  spaces surrounding the city. 

Object of the Game: The object of the game is for each missionary team to visit all three cities, land on the temple space, and witness to the people.  In order to witness the missionary team must answer a question correctly.  If they don't answer a question correctly they can keep circling the city until they land on the temple space again or they get thrown out of the city by landing on a space marked by an x. When a team lands on an x space they pick up a card and do what the card says.  The x cards have different situations on them that Paul or another missionary experienced such as being thrown out of a city or mobbed, although not all of the x cards are bad.

How to play:

1. Divide the children up into teams. Explain that Paul and the other missionaries usually traveled with a companion.
2. The children take turns throwing a die and following the direction written on the space they land on, if there is any.
3. In order to win the game a team must land on all three temples in the three cities and witness to the people of that city. To witness they must answer a witness card correctly. You can provide a list of the three cities on an index card to each team.  When a team answers a question correctly, they can mark an x in front of the city they witnessed in.

Witness Cards and x cards: Type out each question on a separate card. When a child lands on a temple space, ask him one of the questions. Click here to view and print out the questions and experiences.

Crafts:
1. Make a witnessing bracelet - Go to Handprints from Heaven for directions.

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Isaiah 52:7 Mobile Craft for Kids-  A craft and a memorization tool all in one.

What you will need: Paper (card stock), computer printer, crayons or markers, scissors, and string.

What to do: Print out the patterns, pattern 1 or (pattern 1 in Spanishand pattern 2.  Cut them out, color, and tie them together to make a mobile. They are in a specific order to go with Isaiah 52:7

Each picture is related to a line in the memory verse.

1. Top picture - How beautiful on the mountain . . .
2. Feet - are the feet of those who . . .
3. Bible -. bring good news.
4. Dove - who proclaim peace.
5. Angle - who bring good tidings.
6. Cross - who proclaim salvation . . .

 

Sunday School lessons on Witnessing on The Resource Room The following lessons are available on The Resource Room a subscription site. The Great Commission- In this lesson your children will learn about The Great Commission -- Jesus, the greatest man that ever lived, gave his disciples the most important assignment they ever had. For a craft to reinforce this lesson children make a travel cases in which they can put paper, pencils, a small Bible, Christian tracks, etc. to help them witness to others.

Writing the Bible Sunday School lesson Ideas

Crafts and Activities:
1. Pretend to be scribes - Scribes used pens made by sharpening reeds with their knives.  The made ink by mixing soot with other substances to form a dried cake of ink.  When the scribe was ready to write, he would moisten his pen by dipping it in water and then dipping it on the cake of ink to mix the ink and then write.  Your children can pretend to be scribes by using sticks that have been sharpened at one end (Use sandpaper. Just rub the end across the sand paper until it is sharp) and water colors.  Have them dip the stick in a glass of water and then in the water color to make it moist.  (It's basically painting with a stick).  Use a long piece of paper that they can write their memory verse on.  Talk about Bible scrolls and how they were made.  When their verse is dry, roll up the ends to make a scroll. You can tape craft sticks or straws at the ends to make it easy to roll up. For more information about how papyrus was made go to The Egyptian Bazaar web site.

2. Practice writing the Hebrew alphabet - Since the old testament was written in Hebrew, you can have your children practice writing the characters.  Print out the pattern provided and make enough copies for each child. They can practice writing the character using the method above or just using markers.  Remember, Hebrew is written from right to left so the first letter Alef is on the first column on the right. For move information on the Hebrew language go to the Judaism 101 site.

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The Woman at the Well or Living Water Sunday School lesson Ideas

Scripture Reference: John  4:3-30, 39-41
Concepts:  God loves you. God loves everyone.

Activities for The Woman at the Well:

 Act out the story:   You will need a large box painted to look like a well, large bowl of water, a ladle, a cup, and dress up clothes. Have the children dress up in costumes  as Mary.  (Younger children will want to dress up like Mary because she gets to play in the water.)  Have a teacher dress up like Jesus. To act out:  Jesus comes up to the woman sitting at the well and asks for a drink of water. The woman gives him a drink.  Jesus tells the woman that God loves her.  Have each child take a turn being Mary.  If you teach older children go into more detail about the living water.

We crafted a small well from Styrofoam blocks, spray painted it gray, and placed a bucket of water inside with a ladle. As we told the story about Jesus and the woman at the well, we let the kids eat pretzels but did not offer a drink. At the end of the story we asked them if they we getting thirsty.  Just like in the story, when Jesus helped the woman, we all brought our cups to the "well" and filled them with water. The kids thought it was fun too! Lisa

Make a paper water cup

Woman at the Well Crafts and Lesson on The Resource Room The following lessons are available on The Resource Room a subscription site. Woman at the Well pencil holder - This pencil holder has the verse, He who believes in Me shall never thirst. Around to rim.  This craft goes with the lesson, The Woman at the Well which also comes with games and activities. The directions and pattern for this craft can be found on The Resource Room. Water Drop Bible verse cards and a paper cup (that really works!) to hold the water drops. Children can take the drops home to practice their memory verse or use them to play a game in class.

 

  Don't Worry - God takes Care of Us Sunday school Lesson Ideas

Scripture Reference: Matthew  6:25-34
Concepts:  Don't worry about the food you will eat or drink, or clothes you wear. Consider the birds and the flowers. God takes care of them and will take care of you.

 

Games and Activities:
1. Make a flower collage - Before class cut out flowers from flower patterned material. Cut out green stems and leaf shapes. Have the children glue the material onto a piece of construction paper.  Instruct the children to make pictures out of fabric scraps of flowers or birds to remind them how much God cares for us. Make a card for each picture that has a memory verse on it or a thought like God Takes Care of Us. Have the children glue the verse cards onto their pictures when they are finished. Use glue sticks to glue on the fabric.  White glue tends to soak through the material and makes a mess. 

2. Make a flower puppet

 Cut out flower shapes from construction paper.   Glue on a circle in the center. 
Write around the circle God cares for Us and on the bottom of the circle, Matthew 6:25-34.  Glue leaves on to each end of a green pipe cleaner.  Use two leaves at both ends to cover the pipe cleaner.  Have the children draw a face on the flower and color  the paint stir stick.  You can probably get the paint sticks free anywhere they sale paint.  Wal-mart gave me 30 of them for free. Have the children draw a face on their flower.  Wrap the pipe cleaner around the paint stick to form hands. You can use your puppet to talk to the children about how much God loves us.

3. Make a bird puppet

What you will need: Paint stir sticks (You can usually get these free from paint stores) or large craft sticks, construction paper, low temp glue or paper glue, crayons or markers.

 What to do:

1. Before class copy the bird pattern.  Cut out the bird and use it as a pattern to trace onto different colors of construction paper.  Cut two birds per child.  If you are using paint sticks enlarge the patterns to double their size.  If you are using the large craft sticks, use the patterns as they are. 
2. Glue the birds back to back onto the craft sticks or paint stir sticks with hot melt glue or rubber cement. Do not glue the wings together. Fold the wings down to the side of the bird so that it looks like it is flying.
3. Write on the craft stick or paint stir stick: God cares for Us, Matthew 6:25-34.
4. In class have the children draw a face on and color the bird.

 

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Jesus Anointed with Perfume at Bethany Sunday School Lesson Ideas
 Scripture  Reference: Mark 14:1-9

Games and Activities:

Make a smelling center using old film canisters.  Fill canisters with spices, cut up fruits or vegetables, or anything that has a strong smell.  Put perfume in one. Have the children take turns guessing what each canister smells like. 

Crafts:

Draw a perfume bottle (or use pattern) on heavy paper or poster board and cut it out.  Have the children paint it with water colors.  Or have them glue on different color tissue paper torn into pieces. Thanks, Gloria, for your ideas.

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Zacchaeus in a Sycamore Tree Sunday School Lesson Idea

Scripture  Reference: Luke 19:1-10
Concepts: Jesus showed people he loved them, Jesus loves you.  Be kind to one another.

Crafts, Games, and Activities:

1. Tape leaves onto a tree to make a mural and then play "Tape Zacchaeus to the tree" game -  Before class draw and paint a tree with lots of branches (draw one or two branches that would be good for Zacchaeus to sit on)  onto butcher paper, approximately 4' x 4' and then tape the tree on the wall.  Draw a picture of Zacchaeus and cover it with contact paper, front and back, and then cut him out. Have the children color and cut out pictures of leaves to tape onto the tree.  After reading the story about Zacchaeus, have the children play a pin the tail on the donkey like game.  Have them take turns trying to tape Zacchaeus to the branch.  There doesn't have to be a winner.  The children will enjoy just seeing how close they can get Zacchaeus to the branch.   As an alternative to taping on leaves, cut leaf shapes from sponges and have the children sponge paint leaves onto the tree.

2. Use the Lift the flap to find Zacchaeus coloring sheet. Print out the patterns (Set Printer to Landscape Mode) , page1 and page 2.  Use a copy machine to make enough copies.  (Be careful when using the copy machine. Make sure the patterns are placed in the exact same spot so that they line up.) Cut out the windows with a razor and glue (use rubber cement) page 1 on top of  page 2 so that the windows line up with the pictures. Be sure not to put any glue where the window are.

3.  Examine things that come from trees with a magnifying glass.  Collect pine cones, leaves,  bark, acorns, etc. and have the children take turns examining them with a plastic magnifying glass.  Talk about the different parts of trees; trunk, roots, leaves, branches, etc.

4.  Look at pictures of trees.  Bring in books about trees (library).  Talk about all the different kinds of trees there are and what we use trees for and the different things we get from trees:  nuts, fruits, paper, maple syrup, figs, lumber, animals use them for houses, etc.

5.  Taste figs.  Bring in figs and have the children taste them.  Make sure you put a sign out before class to make sure none of the children has allergies to figs. Talk about Zacchaeus climbing a fig-sycamore tree to see Jesus.

6.  Play a match game.  Collect different shaped leaves and trace them onto paper.  Have the children match the leaves to their outlines.

7.  If you have any trees nearby, go out side and have each child make a tree bark rubbing with a piece of paper and a crayon.

8.  Sing "Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man".
 Elizabeth shared this on our bulletin board:  "Our preschool & kindergarten children always like singing  this with actions, crouching down for 'wee', pretending to climb up the tree.  We put our  hands over our  eyebrows for 'the Lord he wanted to see'.   And we sing at the end, 'and the Lord said, "Zacchaeus, you  come down from there cuz I'm going to your house for tea", to this we point up in the tree for each syllable  and then pretend to hold a saucer in the palm of one hand, and a tea cup in the other, and make loud slurping noises!! 

Zacchaeus crafts, activities, and Bible lesson on The Resource Room The following lesson is available on The Resource Room a subscription site. Jesus Knows Your Name Bible Lesson about Zacchaeus - In this lesson children learn that they are special to God. He knows their name and even knew them before they were born. Excerpts from the lesson: "Zacchaeus could hardly believe his ears.  Jesus knew his name! He not only knew his name, but he spoke his name the way it was intended to sound. Jesus spoke to him like he was important, like he was pure and innocent and righteous.  Jesus saw Zacchaeus the way he was supposed to be.. . . Jesus knew Zacchaeus before he every met him.  He knew what Zacchaeus needed, and he knows your name and what you need. He cares about you. The Bible says that God knew you before you were ever born.  He loves you and made you special.  He has a plan for your life. He wants to come live with you. He is calling your name. All you have to do is invite him in. It says in John 14:23, "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."