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Editor in Chief: Kathy HillCopy Editor: Wendi ZebellCurriculum Writers: Autumn Ward, Kendra FlemingIllustrator: Jodi BlackwellGraphic Designer: Elloa DavisFL Creative Team: Sue Miller, Lois Pallansch, Kathy Hill, Kendra Fleming, Autumn Ward, Ashley HiersChief Executive Officer: Reggie JoinerChief Operating Officer: Reggie GoodinExecutive Director: Sue MillerTechnical and Web Support: Hadley BrandtPartner Support: Deb Springer

January WEEK 01 3–5 year olds

Curriculum for PreschoolersJanuary 2, 2011

We want preschoolers to

take a first look at who God is and

understand...

God madE mE

God lovEs mE

JEsusWants to

bE my friEndforEvEr

KEy QuEstion:

Who is special to God?

bottom linE:

I am special to God.

mEmory vErsE:

“Let the little children come to me.” Luke 18:16, NIV

biblE story focus:

Jesus told us,“God loves children.”

Jesus and the children •Luke 18:15-16

Here’s an overview of what you’ll be teaching in 3s–5s this week.

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Make It Fun(Choose one or all of these activities)• Red Light/Green Light• People I Love• All the Children

Make It True• Introductory Sketch• Bible Story• Worship

Make It Stick(Choose as many of these activities as you like)• God Made Me Special• People Food• Come to Me (Bible story review)• Keep in Rhythm• Look at Me! (Especially for 5s)

Make It Real• Small Group Time• Prayer• Dismiss–Small Talk

January

Week 01

basic trutH

3–5 year olds

January 2, 2011

If you are choosing to lead “People Food” during Make It Stick, post the “Allergy Alert Poster” (from Other Resources on the Web site). Be sure to list the foods you will be serving today. As parents bring their children to your room, call their attention to the sign.

God made me

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1. red light/Green lightWhat You Need: Green and red cardstock, scissors, two rulers, and tape.

What You Do:Before the activity: Make a “stop” sign and a “go” sign. Do this by cutting one large circle out of the green cardstock and one large circle out of the red cardstock. Tape the red circle to one ruler and the green circle to another ruler.

During the activity: Play a game of “Red Light/Green Light.” Tell the children to back up to the opposite wall from you. Explain that when you hold up the green sign, they can walk toward you. When you hold up the red sign, they must stop. Continue playing until all the children have made it to you. Some will reach you before others. If the children are having fun, play again.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “Raise your hand if you know how to play ‘Red Light/Green Light.’ This is a very fun game. When I hold up this green sign (do so), that means you can walk to me. When I hold up this red sign (do so), that means you have to stop. Let’s see who can get to me first!”

Each time you hold up the “go” sign: “Come to me!”

Each time you hold up the “stop” sign: “Stop!”

At the end of the activity: “That was fun! You all made it to me! Good job! In our Bible story today, some children are trying to get to Jesus. Some people tell the children to stop, but not Jesus. Jesus said, ‘Come to me!’”

2. People i loveWhat You Need: A large sheet of art paper, masking tape, and washable markers. Make sure you have a red marker.

What You Do: Tape a long piece of art paper to a table. Draw several red hearts here and there on the paper, leaving plenty of room for the children to draw. As the children come in the classroom, ask them to draw people whom they love on the art paper. They can draw as many people as they want.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “Look at the pretty hearts on the paper. Hearts remind me of love. I love a lot of people! I love my mom, my dad, (continue naming people you love). Who do you love? (Allow child to respond.) Wow! That’s a lot of people. I’m sure they love you, too! I want you to use these markers to draw pictures of some of the people you love.”

At the end of the activity: (Gather the children around the paper.) “Look at all the people you love. I see pictures of mommies and daddies and grandparents and

Prepare to offer one or more of the following activities as your 3-,

4-, or 5-year-olds arrive. Let one or two teachers lead activities in different areas of the room while

another teacher greets parents and kids at the door.

Make it Fun Key Question: Who is special to God?

bottom line: i am special to God.

memory verse: “let the little children come to

me.” luke 18:16, niv

bible story focus: Jesus told us,

“God loves children.” Jesus and the children •

luke 18:15-16

January

Week 01 maKE it fun maKE it truE maKE it sticK maKE it rEal

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds • © 2010 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.whatisorange.org

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brothers and sisters. The best part is that all these people love you, too! Our Bible story today is about someone very special who loves you a LOT. I mean He loves you a WHOLE lot. His name is Jesus. That’s right! Jesus loves ALL children. That means Jesus loves YOU!”

3. all the childrenWhat You Need: Small baby and children figures and an assortment of other play figures, such as mommy and daddy dolls, army men, plastic animals, and action figures.

What You Do: Mix up all the toys together in a pile on the floor. Ask the children to find all the babies and children and lay them aside away from the other toys.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “This is a big pile of toys. I see army men and grown-up dolls and animals, but where are all the children? I want ALL the babies and children in a pile over here. Can you find ALL the babies and children and put them over here for me?”

At the end of the activity: “Babies and children are very special to Jesus. Jesus loves them very much. In our Bible story today, Jesus wants ALL the children to come to Him.”

Make it Fun

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introductory sketchWhat You Need: Toys, paint, paper, streamers, a temporary tattoo, a tutu, a fanny pack, cookies, and a kid’s painting of a rainbow and a smiling dog.

What You Do: Host should be wearing a tutu, have a temporary tattoo on his face, have his hair disheveled, and have a fanny pack around his waist that contains one cookie. Exhausted, he should be sitting on the stage in the middle of a mess—toys strewn everywhere, paint tipped over, cookies crumbled on the floor, and the craft table a big mess. The kid’s painting should be lying on a table or stuck to a bulletin board.

HOST: (Let out a big sigh, slowly stand up, and start to clean up the mess.) “What a mess! I thought I could handle it. Really, I did. They are just kids—just 10 4-year-old kids. What could be so tough about that? Right?

(Voice gains heat and enthusiasm as you continue.) “Well, just let me tell you what could be so tough about that! They are crazy! They are maniacs! They have no clue how to be quiet or still. They have no idea how to BEHAVE! They’re crazy, I tell you!

“I think my sister tricked me! She needed a little help for the afternoon, so she asked if I would help with her preschool class for just a little while. (Sound casual.) You know, just a few hours while she ran to an appointment. She even said she would pay me! What could be hard about that, right? Do you want to know what they did?

(Wait for the kids in the audience to answer. Then go to each area that is a mess and describe the mayhem that occurred. You can replace these toy references with the toys that you have in the scene.)

“Look right here. Do you see these blocks? (Kneel down, show them to the kids, then start picking them up and putting them in the proper container as you talk.) Do you think you should throw these blocks? (Let the kids answer.) No way! They are made of wood! They could hurt somebody! These kids today, they threw the blocks ... at each other. I had to watch them every minute.

(Pick up a doll.) “And poor Abigail. Do any of you have a doll like this? (Let kids respond.) Is her name Abigail? (Pause for responses, then pick up the doll stuff and tuck Abigail safely in her doll bed as you talk.) Well, if you can imagine, one little girl grabbed this arm (act it out gently without harming the doll, as if you feel sorry for the poor doll), and then one little girl grabbed this arm, and they... (pause as if horrified) pulled! They fought over poor Abigail! If I hadn’t stepped in when I did, poor Abigail would have been history! She’d be torn in half! Abigail has had a rough day!

(Move to the art mess and start cleaning up.) “Don’t even get me started on the painting. Do you guys like to paint? (Let the kids respond.) Yeah. My sister said that

Make it True

After children have participated in Make It Fun, gather them for a large group time that includes an introductory sketch, a Bible story,

and interactive worship.

Choose an adult who relates well to preschoolers to tell the Introductory

Sketch. If possible, use the same adult all year. To add variety,

consider videotaping the sketch and playing the video during Make

It True.

A Worship Leader and live instruments are recommended to sing along with the music tracks. Encourage children to be active

during worship by incorporating the appropriate hand motions found on the Web site. Smaller groups

may want to provide assorted percussion instruments for children

to play while singing.

First Look offers monthly introductory sketches on the DVD

titled “Wonder! Look at God’s Story.” This DVD is available for purchase at the reThink store on

our Web site.

Key Question: Who is special to God?






luke 18:15-16

January



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these kids like to paint too. She said they created beautiful masterpieces. (Either hold up the picture or point to it.) She forgot to tell me about the HUGE mess they make. Paint was EVERYWHERE! What a mess!

(Plop down on a preschool chair at the art table as you finish.) “Would you guys ever act like this? (Pause for responses.) Would you make such a mess? (Pause.) Would you throw blocks? (Pause.) Would you fight over poor Abigail? (Pause.) I didn’t think so! You guys look like the kind of kids who would share and help me clean up after making a mess.

“I’m thinking that I might not be cut out for taking care of 10 kids all by myself. I’m thinking I could’ve used a little help!

“You know, our story today is about children. It’s about children who are coming to Jesus. Jesus wanted them to come. It’s a great story. (Take a cookie from your fanny pack.) I think I’m going to rest and eat my very last cookie! I’ve earned it!”

(Host exits.)

bible storyWhat You Need: A Bible.

STORYTELLER: (Enter looking around at the mess.) “Wowzer! What a mess! Did you guys make this big mess? (Kids respond.) Hmm ... I didn’t think so. But it does look like a bunch of kids were here and left a great big mess. Are you sure it wasn’t you? (Kids respond.) Okay. I’ll have to talk to (Host’s name) later and see what happened. Someone has some cleaning to do.

“I have a great story to tell you today. (Hold up your Bible.) It’s a great story from the … (pause for kids to say ‘Bible.’) That’s right. This is a great story, and I can read this story right here in my Bible.

“In our story today, there are parents who are bringing their children to see Jesus. Now, whenever I think of children, I think of kids like you! Some of them were happy! (Swing your hips back and forth with your arms bent at your sides, saying, ‘Cha, cha, cha! Cha, cha, cha!’) Can you do that with me? (Do it again with them. Even though the kids are sitting on the floor, they can rock back and forth on their hips and move their arms at their side.) Very good!

“Some of them were sad. (Make a very dramatic crying baby sound.) Can you do that with me? Let me hear all of the sad, sad children. (Kids respond.) That was very good. You guys sound really sad.

“Some of them were quiet. (Put your index finger in front of your lips and say, ‘Shh.’) Can you do that with me? (Kids respond.) Very good. You guys were quiet.

Make it True

January



First Look offers a weekly Bible story on our DVD titled “Wonder!

Look at God’s Story,” which you may choose to use rather than a

live Storyteller this week. This DVD is available for purchase at the reThink store on our Web site.

7

“Some of them were loud! (Say, ‘I want my mommy!’ as loud as you can.) Can you guys say that with me? (Kids respond.) Yikes! That was loud!

“Like I said, the Bible says that these parents were bringing their children to Jesus. They knew Jesus was special, and they wanted their children to meet Him. There were all different kinds of children. There were children just like you there that day, and they wanted to see Jesus.

(Continue to do the motions and sounds when appropriate throughout the story. Encourage the kids do them with you.) “There were happy kids! (‘Cha, cha, cha. Cha, cha, cha.’) There were sad kids. (‘Waa! Waa! Waa!’) There were quiet kids. (‘Shh, shh, shh.’) And there were LOUD kids! (‘I want my mommy!’)

“All these kids started coming to Jesus. His friends, the disciples, did not think that was a good idea! They scolded the parents and told them not to bother Jesus!

“You see, the happy kids, the sad kids, the quiet kids, and the LOUD kids were all probably making a ruckus. The disciples did not think that Jesus needed to deal with a ruckus. But do you know what Jesus said?

“Right here in the Bible (hold up your Bible) it tells us that Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me.’ Jesus told His friends not to turn them away. Jesus told His friends that He loved the children. Jesus told His friends that God loved children. Jesus told everyone that day that children are special to God. Jesus told them that you (pointing to the kids) are special to God and that I am special to God (pointing both thumbs back to yourself). Who is special to God?”

CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: “I am special to God.” (Point both thumbs back to yourself.)

STORYTELLER: “Yes! Jesus let everyone know that day that children are special to God. The happy kids (do the sound and motions) are special to God. The sad kids (do the sound and motions) are special to God. The quiet kids (do the sound and motions) are special to God. EVEN the LOUD kids (do the sound and motions) are special to God.

“Jesus wanted everyone to know that God loves you. Jesus wanted everyone to know that God loves ALL (spread your arms out wide) the children. You (pointing to the kids) are special to God, and I am special to God (pointing both thumbs back to yourself). Who is special to God?”

CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: “I am special to God.” (Point both thumbs back to yourself.)

STORYTELLER: “Let me see you point to your friends and say, ‘You are special to God!’”

Make it True

January



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CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: (Pointing to each other) “You are special to God!”

STORYTELLER: “Now can you point to yourself and say, ‘I am special to God.’ Let me hear you!”

CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: “I am special to God!” (Point both thumbs back to yourself.)

STORYTELLER: “Let’s pray and thank God for loving us so much!”

PrayerSTORYTELLER: “Dear God, thank You for loving us so much. Thank You for making each one of us special and unique. We love You. Amen.”

WorshipWhat You Need: Paper clip “Memory Verse Card” (from the Activity Pages on the Web site) in your Bible at Luke 18:16. You will need a CD player and this month’s worship song, “No Matter What,” which you will need to download from the Web site. You will also need “I Can See,” available at www.amberskyrecords.com in the “Preschool Singles” section. Be sure to download the hand motions that accompany each song.

WORSHIP LEADER: “Wow! I am special to God (pointing both thumbs back to yourself), and you are special to God (pointing to the kids). Jesus told everyone that we are special to God! Who is special to God?”

CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: “I am special to God.” (Point both thumbs back to yourself.)

WORSHIP LEADER: “I want to hear you sing this song loud and proud to our God who loves us!”

Lead children in singing “No Matter What,” this month’s worship song.

WORSHIP LEADER: “I love that new song, and I love to hear you sing it! You are special to God! In fact, in our story today, Jesus told everyone, ‘Let the little children come to me.’ That’s our memory verse for this month. Watch me do the motions, and then I want you to do them with me.

“‘Let the little children (motion kids toward you with your hands) come (run in place) to me’ (point both thumbs to your chest), Luke 18:16 (open your hands in front of you like a book).”

CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: “‘Let the little children (motion kids toward you with your hands) come (run in place) to me’ (point both thumbs to your chest), Luke 18:16 (open your hands in front of you like a book).”

Make it True

January



For additional worship resources to equip your worship leaders and worship team, visit www.

amberskyrecords.com.

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WORSHIP LEADER: “That is a great verse! It reminds us that God made us and loves us and wants us to be with Him. I am so glad God made me! Can you say that with me?”

CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: “God made me!”

WORSHIP LEADER: “That’s right! He made us, and He will take care of us! Let’s sing!”

Lead children in singing “I Can See.”

WORSHIP LEADER: “Wow! That was some good singing! I know that God was listening to everything you sang to Him today. I’ll see you next week!”

Make it True

January



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1. God made me specialWhat You Need: White art paper, a marker, toddler scissors, glue sticks, an assortment of magazines with pictures of things preschoolers like, and an assortment of stickers of things preschoolers like (optional).

What You Do:Before the activity: Cut a piece of art paper the length of each child. Write, “I am special to God” along the bottom of each piece of paper.

During the activity: Ask each child to lie down on a piece of paper. Trace each child’s body on a piece of paper with a marker. Once a child has had his body traced, instruct him to look through the magazines for pictures of things he likes. When he sees something he likes, tell him to cut it out and glue it inside the outline of his body.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “God made every person special. We all look different. We like different foods. We like to do different things. Everything about us is special. That’s what makes us who we are. Today we are going to make pictures of some very special people whom God loves very much—YOU! You are special to God! Who is special to God? I am special to God!”

During the activity: (Go to each child and comment on their pictures.) “Your pictures tell me about how God made you. God made you to like horses. Oh, and you like cookies. God made you to like flowers too.”

At the end of the activity: “Try to hold the picture of YOU way up high. Look at all these special children! God made you so special! Who is special? I am special to God!”

2. People foodBe sure to list the foods you will be using today on the “Allergy Alert Poster” (from Other Resources on the Web site) and post it at the door to your room.

What You Need: Bread slices, a few gingerbread man cookie cutters, strawberry cream cheese, paper towels, and plastic knives. You will also need food items to make the faces. Suggested items include raisins, jelly beans, thin licorice cut into small strips, mini chocolate chips—any small, edible thing that children can use to make two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

What You Do: Give each child a paper towel and a piece of bread. Show them how to use the cookie cutter to press into the center of the bread to make a person cutout. Next, assist the children in spreading strawberry cream cheese on their bread cutout. The finishing touch will be the face. Show the children how to use the food items you provided to make two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. All that’s left to do is enjoy the snacks!

Make it Stick

These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand

and remember today’s Bible story and Bottom Line. Offer as many

of the following activities as your time, facilities, resources, and

leadership allow. You may want to lead one activity at a time. Or

offer two activities at once and allow half the kids to participate in each, then switch groups and

repeat the activities.

Key Question: Who is special to God?






luke 18:15-16

January



11

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “Raise your hand if you want a yummy snack. Me too! Today we are going to make a yummy and funny snack. We’re going to make YOU!”

While the children eat: “Look what you made! You made YOU! Did you make you all yummy and tasty? Now who can tell me who REALLY made you? (Pause for responses.) Yes! God made you. Who made you? God made me! And that means YOU are special to God. Who is special to God? I am special to God. Jesus knows that ALL children are special to God. That’s why He wants ALL children to come to Him.”

3. come to meWhat You Need: “Jesus” (from the Activity Pages on the Web site), “Children” (from the Activity pages on the Web site), white cardstock, cardstock to represent different skin tones, toddler scissors, crayons, and glue sticks.

What You Do:Before the activity: Make a copy of “Jesus” on white cardstock for each child. Make several copies of “Children” on cardstock in different skin tones and cut out the children. Note: Older children can cut out their own Activity Pages if time allows.

During the activity: Give each child a copy of “Jesus” and instruct them to color it. Place the “Children” cutouts in the center of the table. Allow kids to choose several pictures to glue around Jesus on their “Jesus” Activity Page.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “Jesus told His disciples to let the children come to Him in our Bible story today. Why do you think Jesus wanted the children to come to Him? (Pause for responses.) Yes, Jesus loves children! Jesus knows that ALL children are very special to God. That means YOU are special to God! Who is special to God? I am special to God!”

At the end of the activity: “Our picture shows Jesus and ALL the children coming to Him. Put your finger on Jesus. There’s Jesus! How many children are coming to Jesus in your picture? Can you count them? Good job! Jesus loves ALL children. They are ALL very special to God. Who is special to God? I am special to God!”

4. Keep in rhythmWhat You Need: A set of rhythm sticks for each child.Option: Clap rather than use rhythm sticks.

What You Do: Give each child a set of rhythm sticks. Stand in a circle facing one another. Say the Bible verse aloud while hitting your sticks together with each syllable of the words in the verse. Ask the children to join you as you repeat the verse several times while hitting your sticks together. Once you have said the verse together several times, ask the children to march with you around the room while

Make it Stick

January



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saying the verse and hitting your sticks together. Continue as long as the children are interested.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “Everyone hold your rhythm sticks way up high. Great! We’re all ready. Now put them down by your side. Listen to what I say and watch what I do. You will do it with me in just a minute. (Hit your sticks together with each syllable of the memory verse.) ‘Let the little children come to me,’ Luke 18:16. Now I want you to say our Bible verse and hit your sticks together with me. Here we go!” (Lead kids in doing so.)

At the end of the activity: (Gather the children to sit with you on the floor.) “Jesus said to let the children come to Him because He knows ALL children are special to God. You are special to God! Who is special to God? I am special to God! That’s right! You are special to God. God made you, and God loves you! And Jesus wants to be your friend forever! Now THAT’S pretty special!”

5. look at me! What You Need: A few handheld mirrors, paper plates, yarn in an assortment of hair colors, markers, glue, and scissors.

What You Do:Before the activity: Write the words “I am special to God” on the back of each paper plate.

During the activity: Give each child a paper plate. Encourage the children to look in a mirror at how God made them. Direct them to check out their hair color, eye color, etc. Instruct the children to choose the supplies that closest match the way God made them and then use them to make their face on the paper plate.

What You Say:At the start of the activity: “God made you ALL very special. He picked the color of your hair, the shape of your little nose, even the sound of your laugh! I want us to look in these mirrors really closely at how God made us. Then we’ll use these supplies to make our faces on these paper plates.”

During the activity: (Go to each child and comment on how special God made him or her.)

At the end of the activity: “Wow! Your faces look great! Do you know why your faces are so great? God made them! Who made you? God made me! Now, if you look on the back of your plates, you’ll see some words. These words say, ‘I am special to God.’ I don’t want you to ever forget that! Who is special to God? I am special to God!”

Make it Stick

January



13

January



What You Need: Paper clip “Memory Verse Card” (from the Activity Pages on the Web site) in your Bible at Luke 18:16. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group.

SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): (Underline the Bible verse in the Bible.) “Let’s find our new verse in the Bible. Right here it says, ‘Let the little children come to me.’ Let’s say our verse together.”

CHILDREN and SGL: “‘Let the little children (motion kids toward you with your hands) come (run in place) to me’ (point both thumbs to your chest), Luke 18:16 (open your hands in front of you like a book).”

SGL: “Right here in the Bible Jesus told everyone that He loved the children and that God loved children. We are all special to God. Can you think of some things that make you special? Hmm … let me see. I share my things with my friends. I think that makes me special. Are any of you a good friend too? (Make a list with the kids. You may have to coach them a little.) Do you help your mom? Are you good at coloring? Do you like to play soccer? All these things make you special to God. He loves everything about you!

“Let’s pray and thank God for loving us and making us each unique and special.”

PrayerSGL: “Dear God, You made each one of us. You made us to run and jump. You made us to laugh and play. You made us to share and to love our families. Thank You for making each one of us in a special way. We love You. Amen.”

Make it Real Key Question: Who is special to God?






luke 18:15-16

Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies

to them. They’ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer

requests.

Divide kids into small groups of about five to eight children with

each leader. Ideally, assign the same small group leader to the same group of preschoolers for

the entire year.

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Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Greet par-ents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that I am special to God. Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that I am special to God.

Have this month’s Small Talk available for parents to pick up or send it in a monthly email. Encourage parents to use the activities found in Small Talk to reinforce that this month’s Bottom Line: I am special to God.

Dismiss

January



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