Abraham's Descendants as Numerous as Stars

Abraham's Descendants

Genesis 15:5 and Genesis 22:17

(This is also great for the story of Creation- Day 4)

I found this really cool glow in the dark sand at the pet store.  (Make sure it has the glow in the dark sticker or says "Glow in the Dark" on the package.)  I let the children put tiny drops of white glue all over a piece of black construction paper to be the stars.  I put this sand into a salt shaker and let the kids shake the sand onto the glue spots like they would apply glitter.  They lift the paper to let the excess slide off.  They have a paper of many, many, many stars which actually glow in the dark.  We turn off the lights and see the stars.

Hint:  To make it glow in the dark right away, leave the sand out in the light to "charge".  When the sand stops glowing, just "charge" it again by putting it in the light for quite a while.

Another hint:  I usually put a tub or a tray under the paper to catch the excess sand.  It's easier to clean up that way. Pin It

Fiery Furnace

The Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3

I found this fabric book cover as the school supplies were being set out for the fall.  I opened up the cover and stretched it out over a piece of sturdy cardboard.  I use any type of figure I have on hand to be Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as well as an angel made from white fabric.  This is my background for the story.  The neatest part is when I turn off the lights and shine a blacklight on it.  It glows beautifully!

This "used to be" a book cover for school and now it's a wonderful backdrop for a story!

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Lost Sheep Game

The Lost Sheep

Luke 15:1-7

This is a game we played when we taught the lesson about the lost sheep.  I purchased a bag of tiny white pom poms.  I hid as many pom poms as their were children. I hid them in various places around the room.  When telling the story, each child used their magnifying glass and looked for a lost sheep. Then I finished telling the story.  We invited another Bible class group to join us for a little party with party hats, cookies, and punch celebrating finding the sheep each person had lost.

If the children are old enough not to eat or swallow these, I sent home a bag like this one with pom poms, a magnifying glass, and instructions on how to play this game at home so they can retell the story many times.

I also used this when teaching a different group of children about David as a Shepherd and about Jesus being our Shepherd.

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Call of Abram

Call of Abram

Genesis 12:1-9

In this story, God tells Abram to pack up everything you have and "go to the land I will show you."  I found these cute backpack gift sacks (I know they are actually for the children's show "Dora, the Explorer").  I cut out clothes shapes from scraps of fabric, cut a blanket from a piece of flannel, and printed off some other things we might pack if we were packing up and going someplace today.  

As I tell the story, I set up a small, easy to set up pup tent (or just drape a blanket over a table). When it's time to pack up, I have the kids pack all their possessions in their gift sack backpack, we take down the tent, and move on to another place in the room or in the church building (depending on the age of the children).  Then we go to the trouble of setting up camp and taking our things out of the backpacks.  Later, when it's time to move again, we repeat the process.  I even have stuffed animal sheep, camels, etc. we have to herd and move along with us.

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Aaron's Staff Becomes a Snake

 

Aaron's Rod Becomes a Snake     Exodus 7:8-13

I found these neat wavy craft sticks at a local craft store.  I painted one side to look like a rod and the other side to look like a snake.  The kids made different snakes so one could be Aaron's snake and the others could be the Egyptian magicians' snakes.  Of course, Aaron's snake swallows up the others!  They love that part!

When making these, I spray painted one side of all the sticks brown before I gave it to the kids.  The kids just had to add brown lines with a permanent marker to make it look like a rod.  That way, the brown side will be dry and they can go ahead and paint the snake pattern on the other side using acrylic paint or write on it with permanent markers. 

This could also be used when telling the story of the Burning Bush when God gives Moses signs.  God tells Moses to throw his staff down and it becomes a snake. Pin It

Aaron's Rod That Buds Scratch Off Game

 Aaron's Rod that Buds

Numbers 17

The technique for making this scratch off activity is the same as for the Lost Coin and Lost Sheep Scratch-Off games but the use for it is a little bit different.

In this story, Moses was to get twelve staffs - one from the leader of each tribe.  They were to write their name on the staff and give it to Moses.  Aaron's name was put on the staff for the tribe of Levi. God would show which man He was chosing to be High Priest by allowing that staff to bud.

When telling this story, I use this scratch off activity.  I put the 12 paper staffs on a table.  I pick 12 people to be leaders of their tribe.  I let each one take turns using a penny or a Popsicle stick to scratch off the white paint to see if they are the one chosen to be the high priest or not.  There is a lot of anticipation as they find out if their rod buds or not.

To make this game, print out the game pages, laminate or cover them with clear contact paper, paint over the leaves with white paint (mixed with dish soap), paint a white area beside each rod that looks like the page with the leaves you just painted, and let it dry.  A link to print complete instructions and game pages are found under the following pictures.

To print complete instructions, click here.
To print gameboard #1, click here.
To print gameboard #2, click here. Pin It

Lost Coin Scratch Off Game

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Luke 15:8-10

I made this scratch off game the same way I made the one for the parable of the lost coin.  The children can use a penny or a Popsicle stick to scratch the paint off the middle of each vase and see if they can find the lost coin. 

I have made 8 different game boards (on 4 pages linked below).



Print out the game boards, cut the page in half, laminate or cover each page with clear contact paper, paint a brown circle in the middle of each vase (with a little dish soap mixed in), let it dry and then let the children begin their search!

Tip:  I found it works better to dab on the paint rather than just brush it on.  It covers the coin better.

Instructions
Gameboard #1
Gameboard #2

Gameboard #3

Gameboard #4

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