lesson 5 alotwithalittle - cokesbury | home lesson 5 step11...

LESSON 5

A Lot with a LittleScripture: John 6:1-14Lesson Focus: Jesus can do a lot with a little.Memory Verse: Nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

This symbol appears whenever preparation takes more than five min-utes or supplies are needed that are not included on the list of stan-dard supplies (on page 6).

Getting Ready for the BibleTo help the children relate to today’s Bible story,they will listen to a story and talk about their ownexperiences of a lot and a little.

Opening Activity: Piece of construction paper,(optional: piece of bread, cell phone)

• Sharing Time: No materials needed

Bible Story Time: John 6:1-14The children will discover that Jesus used a boy’slunch to feed over 5,000 people.• Bible Story: Teaching Aid 8 (from Preschool CreativeTeaching Aids), flannel board, Bible

• Bible Story Review: Teaching Aid 9 (from PreschoolCreative Teaching Aids), scissors

• Bible Memory Verse: No materials needed

The Bible and MeChildren will explore activity centers to helpthem understand that Jesus can do a lot witha little.• Bible Story Card: Page and add-on figure for Lesson5 (from Preschool Make-It/Take-It), crayons, tape

• Popcorn Game: No materials needed• Flannel Storytelling: Teaching Aid 8 (fromPreschool Creative Teaching Aids), flannel board

Going Home with the BibleBy remembering that Jesus can do a lot with alittle, the children will see how the Bible storyworks in their own lives.

Bible, construction paper, crayons, (optional: smallpaper plates), My Sunday Pictures, Lesson 5, FamilyCard B

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U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e B i b l eJesus’ feeding of the 5,000 is the only miraclethat is recorded in all four Gospels (Matt.14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17).Jesus and His disciples had crossed the Sea

of Galilee to seek a quiet place of refuge on thenorthern shore, near Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). Bythe time John wrote his Gospel account, thelake was called “the Sea of Tiberias,” after theRoman emperor (John 6:1). This event proba-bly occurred after Jesus heard about the execu-tion of John the Baptist (Matt. 14:13).

After teaching the large crowd that followedHim, Jesus set the stage for a miracle byasking Philip where they could buy bread.Philip was from Bethsaida and knew the area(John 1:44). Philip’s reply referred to theRoman currency. A denarius was a Romancoin equivalent to one day’s wages. Philipestimated that it would cost over 200 days’wages to feed the crowd.The lunch offered by the boy was a common

lunch which Jesus used in a miraculous way.

It included five barley loaves and two fish.The round, flat loaves were probably madeby the boy’s mother. Barley bread was thecheapest bread at the time. The fish mayhave been caught close by in the Sea of Galileeand then cooked over an open fire.The 12 baskets showed there was an

abundant supply. Bread was important tothe Jews, so scraps would not be wasted.The baskets may have been lunch basketscarried by the disciples (Mark 6:43).

Teacher Devotional

The smell of fresh bakedbread can bring smiles tomany people.In John 6:1-14, Jesus

takes an important stapleof the Jewish people,bread, and uses it to showthat He can do a lot witha little. He fed over 5,000hungry people from fiveloaves of barley bread.Later in John 6, Jesus

talks about a moreimportant bread, thebread of life.Jesus said, “I am the

bread of life. He whocomes to me will nevergo hungry, and he whobelieves in me will neverbe thirsty” (John 6:35).Jesus does a big thing

by giving us the “bread oflife,” or life through God’sSon. This bread can satisfyall your spiritual hunger.How does the bread of

life nourish you?__________________________________________________Write a prayer praising

God for the many thingsHe does in your lifebecause you have thebread of life.__________________________________________________

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As your preschoolershear Bible stories likethe feeding of the 5,000,they begin to see theawesome power ofGod. Preschoolerswill easily accept themighty acts of Godin history. They willquickly learn what Jesusdid. The children in yourclass are also ready tobegin learning what the miraclesof Jesus show us about Him.Here are a few tips to help yourchildren come to know who Godis through the miraculous actionsof Jesus:• Contrast the size of the boy’slunch with the size of the crowd.While the children will notcomprehend how big 5,000 is,they will understand it is a verybig number. Only Jesus couldfeed the crowd with a smalllunch!• Preschoolers can begin to knownumbers such as two, five, andtwelve. Helping to count the fish,bread, and baskets of leftovers willhelp the children understand thatJesus did a lot with a little.• Jesus responded directly to thecrowd’s need. God’s power canmeet our needs too.

When Teachingthe Bible to

Preschoolers...

Before you begin today’s lesson, you may want to have a short worship time.• Have the children sit down on a rug or in chairs. Worship time is a time when we tell God how muchwe love Him.• Choose a child to collect the offerings. Dear God, these offerings are one way we can say thank Youfor the many things You give us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.• Teach these words to the tune “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.”

My Jesus has power to help me.There’s nothing that He cannot do.And He even knows what we’re thinking.He knows all about us, it’s true.

• Close with a short prayer. Thank You, God, for sending Your Son, Jesus, to show us what You are like.Help us learn about You today as we hear about something special Jesus did. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Worship Time

These activities are designed to engage your children in a funand purposeful way while freeing you to interact with parents andchildren as they arrive. The centers require little or no supervisionand can be set up before class. After greeting each child, direct himor her to a center and suggest a way to start or join the activity.

Welcome Time Activities

MovingandDoing

Projects

TablePlay

Before moving into the lesson or Worship Time, have the childrenput away the activities, and gather into a big group. You could usethis rhyme to attract their attention. Let the children buzz like beesas they clean up.

Buzz along with me,You bunch of cleanup bees.

Buzz along with me,We’re as busy as can be.

Put a piece of masking tape on the floor. Encouragethe children to walk on this “balance beam” usingdifferent types of steps such as little steps and lots ofsteps. As they actively compare a lot and little, theywill begin to have a background understanding fortoday’s Lesson Focus.

Have the children cut or tear magazine pictures oflunch items and glue them onto paper plates. Whiletheir lunches will be very different from the boy’slunch in the feeding of the 5,000, thinking aboutlunches helps them relate to today’s Bible story.

Set out paper clips and containers. Invite childrento count two clips into one container, five clips intoanother container, and ten clips into the remainingcontainers. Encourage them to put the “ten”containers together. Have the children compare thedifferences in the numbers to begin to understandthat Jesus fed a lot of people in John 6:1-14.

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Lesson 5 Focus: Jesus can do a lot with a little.

Jesus, Jesus.Oh, Jesus has shown us what God is like.Praise Him, praise Him!He loves me and I love Him, too.


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STEP11

again. Again use your hand “phone” or cell phone.Hello. Yes, that’s fine. Put your phone away. Thatwas my friend again. Each of her friends is goingto bring a friend to lunch. Now I have to makethe bread feed six! Tear the paper or bread intosix pieces.

At lunch time I can use my one piece ofbread, which is a little, to feed six people. But noone will be full. It would take a lot more breadto fill up six people. Let’s talk more about a littleand a lot.

Sharing TimeAs you and your class talk, be sure to allow timefor each child to say something. This gives everychild an opportunity to connect to the Bible storyand Lesson Focus, “Jesus can do a lot with a little,”through his or her own experiences.

� What is a little? (Children may say that theyare little, talk about little objects such as blocks,or talk about one thing.)

� What is a lot? (This question helps you learntheir understanding of a little compared to alot. Accept their answers. These may includea large number of an object, such as blocks,or something they consider big.)

� When have you seen a little become a lot?(This question helps the children understandthe relationship between a little and a lot.They may talk about popcorn popping, fillinga jar or container with candy, or even yeastdough growing. Accept all the children’sanswers.)

Some little things can become a lot. Todaywe’re going to learn that Jesus can do a lot witha little. As you hear today’s Bible story, listen tofind out what Jesus does with a boy’s little lunch.

Opening ActivityOnce the children are seated in a circle and readyto listen, tell the story to begin talking about a lotand a little. Discussing making a lot and a littlewill help the children understand today’s Bible storyfrom John 6:1-14.

Good morning everyone. Can you help mewith a little problem I have? I have a friendcoming over for lunch today. All I have for lunchis one piece of bread. Hold up the piece of paperor optional bread. I don’t have time to go to thestore. What can I do? Lead the children to suggesttearing the bread in half.

Brring, brring. Excuse me a minute, myphone is ringing. Make a telephone receiver withyour hand or use a cell phone. Pretend to talk onyour “phone.” Hello. Yes, that’s fine. Put your“phone” away. That was my friend. She’s bring-ing two friends to lunch. Now the bread has tofeed four people. What can I do? Tear the paperinto four sections.

Brring brring. I have to answer my phone

To help the children relate to today’s Bible story, they will listen to a storyand talk about their own experiences of a lot and a little.

Materials: Piece of construction paper, (optional: slice of bread, cell phone)

Getting Ready for the Bible

Attention GrabberIf you have not already gathered the children intoa group or you need to focus their attention backto you, ask them to copy your actions as you saythis rhyme.

Reach up high.Bend down low.

Jump in the middle,And wiggle like so.

Take a step back.Twirl around.

Fold your hands,Now sit down.


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STEP22

Philip said, “We don’t have enough moneyto buy food for all these people!”

Then Andrew, another one of Jesus’ helpers,said, “Here is a boy with five small loaves ofbread. (Hold up five fingers on one hand.) He hastwo small fish, too. (Hold up two fingers on yourother hand.) But this little lunch is not enoughto feed so many people!” (Place the boy, Figure 5,between Jesus and the disciples; place basket, Figure6, beside the boy.)

Jesus said, “Have all the people sit down.”(Place basket, Figure 6, near Jesus’ hand.) He tookthe five loaves of bread and said a thank-Youprayer to God. Then Jesus started using a littlefood to feed a lot of people. There was moreand more bread—enough to feed every oneof the 5,000 people. (Place bread, Figure 7, nearJesus’ feet.)

Then Jesus took the two fish, and the samekind of thing happened. Jesus did a lot with alittle again! There was more and more fish—enough to feed every single person! (Place fish,Figure 8, near Jesus’ feet.)

The people had plenty of food to eat. Jesustold His helpers to gather the leftover pieces ofbread and fish after everyone finished eating.Soon there were 12 baskets filled with thepieces of food.

Jesus took a boy’s little lunch (Place handdown low.) and made it a lot to feed manypeople. (Spread arms wide.) He made that lunchbig enough to feed 5,000 people! Jesus can doa lot with a little.

John 6:1-14The children will discover that Jesus used a boy’s lunch to feed over 5,000 people.

Materials: Creative Teaching Aids—Teaching Aids 8 and 9, flannel board, Bible, scissors

Bible Story Time

Bible Story

Punch out the flannel figures from TeachingAid 8. Put them in the order you will use them inthe story.The children should still be gathered in a

group ready for the story. Have your Bible opento John 6:1-14. Today’s story comes from theBible. It is found in the book of the Biblecalled John. (Show the children where John is inthe Bible. Keep your Bible open to John 6 as youtell the Bible story.)

(Place Jesus, Figure 1, on the right side of theflannel board. Put the disciples, Figure 2, in the

center.) The Bible tells usthat one day Jesus and Hishelpers had crossed a biglake. A lot of people hadfollowed them. (Put people,Figure 4, on the left side of theboard.) That’s because theyhad seen all the wonderfulthings Jesus could do. Andthey wanted to be close toHim.

Jesus and His helpers walked up the side ofa mountain and sat down. (Replace the standingJesus, Figure 1, with Jesus sitting, Figure 3.) WhenJesus looked up, He saw many people there.There were more than 5,000 people. That’sa lot of people.

Soon it was time to eat. All the peoplewere hungry. Jesus said to Philip, one of Hishelpers, “Where can we buy bread for thesepeople to eat?”

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Teaching Aid 8


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Bible Story Review Bible Memory VerseTo check for the children’s understanding oftoday’s Bible story, have them answer thesequestions or do the activity, or both.

Questions� What was in the boy’s lunch?(Five small loaves of bread and two small fish.)

� What did Jesus do with the lunch?(He fed 5,000 people.)

� Why did Jesus feed all the people with theboy’s lunch? (This question may be difficult forchildren to answer. They may say “to show thatHe can do a lot with a little,” or “I don’t know.”)

� Who can do a lot with a little?(Jesus can do a lot with a little.)

ActivityThis activity helps the children review the storyby putting togethera puzzle.

Cut TeachingAid 9 on the cutlines after showingthe poster to thechildren.

We learned thatJesus can do a lot with a little. Let’s review ourBible story by putting a puzzle together. I willgive you a question. If your puzzle piece showsthe answer to the question, put your piece in thepuzzle. Give each child one of the puzzle pieces.Repeat the activity so all children can participate.

Have the children add pieces of the puzzle asyou tell the following clues.

•Who was sitting on the side of a mountain?(Add the pictures showing Jesus.)

• 5,000 of these followed Jesus and then gothungry. (Add the pieces showing people.)

•Who had a small lunch of fish and bread?(Add the pieces of the boy.)

• Show me what the people ate. (Add the piecesof the food and any remaining pieces.)

As children practice a Bible verse week after week,they will be able to understand and remember it.Have the children do either the practice or therhyme, or both.

Nothing is impossible with God.Luke 1:37

PracticeSay the Bible memory verse to the children andhave them repeat it back to you.

Setting words to music helps preschoolersremember them longer. Sing the words with thechildren to the tune of “Alouette.” Teaching theactions with the words will help the children learnthe verse. Jesus can do a lot with a little becausenothing is impossible with God.

Nothing is impossible with God.

(Shake head no, then point up.)

Oh, nothing is impossible with God.


From Luke 1 verse 37, from Luke 1 verse 37.

(Hold hands like a book.)

Nothing is, nothing is, Oh!

Nothing is impossible with God.


Oh, nothing is impossible with God.


The Bible verse is in the last line of the rhyme.Teach the words and actions one line at a time.Have the children repeat each line back to you.Our new Bible verse tell us that nothing isimpossible with God.

Listening to us when we pray.(Fold hands.)

Caring for us when we play.(Run in place.)

Loving us every day.(Hug self.)

Nothing is impossible with God.(Open arms wide.)

Bible Rhyme Time


Teaching Aid 9


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STEP33

Materials: None needed

This game helps the children exploretoday’s Lesson Focus, “Jesus can do a lotwith a little.”Talk about things Jesus can do with

a little. Some suggestions to help thechildren: feeding a lot of people, lovingus, coming as a baby, healing people,etc. Have the children pretend to bekernels of popcorn, curled up small.When each child thinks of somethingJesus can do, he or she can “explode”into a standing position and tell whatJesus does.

Children will explore activity centers to help them understand that Jesus can doa lot with a little.

In today’s Bible story, your class learned that Jesus used a boy’s lunch to feed over5,000 people. To help the children understand that Jesus can do a lot with a little,choose one or more of the following activities. Before you let the children beginthese activities, demonstrate each one you have chosen. This week the “PopcornGame” needs the most teacher supervision.

The Bible and Me

Popcorn Game:

Flannel Storytelling:Materials: Creative Teaching Aids—Teaching Aid 8,flannel board

In today’s Bible story, thechildren learned that Jesus useda boy’s lunch to feed manypeople. This activity will helpthem tell others what they knowabout the story.Set out the flannel figures

from Teaching Aid 8, foundin your Creative Teaching Aidspacket. Have them put thefigures in order as they tell whatis happening in the story.

Materials: Make-It/Take-It page and add-on figure for Lesson 5, crayons, tape

Today’s project helps the children review the Bible story, from John 6:1-14, where Jesus fed5,000 people. Remove the page and add-on figure for Lesson 5 from the Make-It/Take-It books.Have the children color the pictures. When the coloring is done, let children tape the add-onfigure to the X. After the children have folded the page on the broken line, let them take turnstelling the Bible story to each other. Encourage them to use their projects to help tell the story.

Bible Story Card:

When you are ready to close this step, havethe children put away the activities,and gather into a big group. You could usethis rhyme to attract their attention. Let thechildren buzz like bees as they clean up.

Buzz along with me,You bunch of cleanup bees.

Buzz along with me,We’re as busy as can be.


L e s s o n 5

Teaching Aid 8


Time to Go• Before children leave for the day, be sure to handout the My Sunday Pictures card for Lesson 5 andFamily Card B.

• Let children play the “Popcorn Game,” frompage 41, until their parents pick them up.

• As you say good-bye to each child, remind himor her of the Lesson Focus: Jesus can do a lot witha little.

What tosend home...

My Sunday Pictures for Lesson 5

Family Card B fromMy Sunday Pictures

Make-It/Take-It picture

STEP

44 By remembering that Jesus can do a lot with a little, the children willsee how the Bible story works in their own lives.

Materials: Bible, construction paper, crayons, (optional: small paper plates)

Going Home with the Bible

Before teaching today’s lesson, cut a doorknobhanger out of paper for each child. To cut eachhanger, cut a 5-inch circle of paper. On one sideof the circle cut a slit to the middle. Cut a small1 1/2-inch circle out of the middle. You could usesmall paper plates instead of construction paper.Write the Lesson Focus, “Jesus can do a lot witha little,” on each hanger.After cleaning up, have the children sit on

chairs around a table. Use this time to help thechildren create a reminder that Jesus can do a lotwith a little. Show the children once again whereJohn 6:1-14 is in the Bible. In today’s story, Jesusused a small lunch of five loaves of bread andtwo fish to feed over 5,000 people. Who knewhow to make a little feed a lot of people? (Jesus.)Show the children one of the doorknob hangers.

This is a doorknob hanger. It can be put arounda doorknob or hung on a wall. (If you have a doorin your classroom, put the hanger on the doorknob toshow the children how it works.)

Where could you put a doorknob hanger tohelp you remember that Jesus can do a lot witha little? (Some possible answers children may giveare on a bedroom door, on the door going outside,on the bathroom mirror, or any other place in thehouse.)Give each child a doorknob hanger to color.

As you color your hanger, choose a place to putit to help you remember that Jesus can do a lotwith a little.When the children are done coloring, gather

them in a circle on the floor. Let each child sharehow he or she is going to use the hanger. You maywant to model the sharing time for the children.I am going to put my hanger on (Name whereyou have chosen.) to help me remember thatJesus can do a lot with a little. Give each childa turn to tell where he or she will put the hanger.

Close with a prayer. Dear Jesus, thank Youthat You can do a lot with a little. In Yourname. Amen.

If you celebrate birthdays each month, do thattoday. Another activity is included if you talk aboutbirthdays once a quarter.

The day you were born is special. Some ofyou were born in October. Have each birthdaychild stand next to you. _________ has a birthdaythis month. He/She will be ____ years old. As aclass, sing “Happy Birthday,” then say a prayer.Dear God, thank You for (children’s names).We’re glad they come to Sunday school. InJesus, name. Amen.

Here is another option if you aren’t celebratingbirthdays. Gather the children into a circle. Havethem work together to put the puzzle fromTeaching Aid 3 together.

If you have extra time


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