Blank memory crosses available from Memory Cross and regular crayons. Kids can draw something important, or something they were thinking about during the Bible story. For older kids, they can write the memory verse on it.
March 12, 2012
Art Shelf: Memory Cross
March 5, 2012
Art Shelf: Shuttle Pens
Mini shuttle pens available from Oriental Trading and mini trifold books made from colored paper. I used these during the story of Jesus’ baptism, and had kids draw 1) A voice coming down from heaven, 2) Jesus in the Jordan, and 3) the Holy Spirit descending “like a dove”.
Technically, Godly Play allows children to freely respond by drawing whatever they wish. But I’ve found having a specific activity planned helps avoid directionless kids.
February 27, 2012
Art Shelf: Puzzles
Blank Design-Your-Own puzzles available from Oriental Trading and regular markers. Kids are to draw a scene from the story, or draw what someone was thinking during the story, or draw what Jesus wants us to do in response, etc.
An alternative to coloring pages.
February 20, 2012
Art Shelf: Sequencing Cards and Crayon Rocks
Crayon rocks available from Amazon or Montessori Services and index cards cut in half. Kids are to draw a scene from the first part of the story on the first one, etc. Then write 1, 2, 3 on the back so they know what order they go in. I suggest the kids challenge their parents to put them in order.
So far, I’ve needed to suggest to the kids what to draw as “first” in the story.
October 31, 2011
8 Mini-Books for Ancestors of Jesus Lapbook
This is a list of all the posts I have made on the Ancestors of Jesus lapbooks. Why make a lapbook? I realized kids weren’t retaining knowledge from one Sunday to the next. I also wanted to increase the home-church connection, and give the parents something that could talk about with their child. This particular lapbook was made over two months. During that time, Lifeway covered Abraham, Ruth, David, Noah, and Creation (Adam and Eve).
9 Items for Lapbooking – the shopping trip I made before starting
Petal Outline – the outline of Genesis
Abraham map – a map showing the journeys of Abram
Abraham trifold – highlighting the three promises God made
David circle – highlighting the varied roles of the shepherd king
David pop-up – providing a succinct biography
Creation circles – what God made on each of the six days
Noah accordion – a child draws the most important part of the story to him
Jesus squash book – how each of these people fit into Jesus’ family tree
For more information on making lapbooks, check out
Minibook Gallery – step by step photo illustrations of small books that fit in a manila file folder
October 24, 2011
Family Tree of Jesus Squash Book
Target Age
Kindergarten-1st
Materials
See 9 Items for Lapbooking for more information.
- 3 sheets of 4 x 4 inch paper
- Labels – address labels saying respectively Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ruth+Boaz, David, and Jesus
- Colored pencils
Prep Work
Lots. For instructions on making a squash book, see How to Make a Three Square Unfolding book and How to Make an Explosion book.
Activity Description
We never actually made this book in class, because I ran out of energy and time. But I had a couple of templates made up that I pasted into the kids lapbooks, with instructions for completion. The picture above was my prototype. The idea was to use this book to tie the two months of disparate characters together into a cohesive story line. I would print labels with the names on them, and have the kids draw little pictures next to the names that illustrate that character.
Final Result
I spent a weekend gluing the books the kids had made into manila folders, and gave them to the kids on Sunday. Here’s one final result that showcases the squash book.
September 15, 2011
Genesis Outline Petal Book
Target Age
Kindergarten-1st
Materials
- Paper measuring 3×6 inches for the cover. (I used 12×12 paper, cut it into fourths, and cut the resulting squares in half.)
- Scotch double-sided tape
- Self-adhesive jewels or other embellishment
- Printed template [Genesis Outline Petal Book]
- Labels saying “Outline of Genesis”
- Scissors for kids
- Bibles
Division of Labor Description
Kids: Cut out the petal book – I “fixed” some sloppy cutting. In retrospect, I wish I had waited until after class, as I think doing it in front of them devalued the kids’ work
Teacher: Fold cover in half – I wanted it to be perfectly aligned, so I did it myself.
Kids: Fold petal book tabs inward – I had to help some of them fold it on the line.
Teacher: Apply tape to back of petal book, ensure it is oriented correctly, i.e. words are right side up
Kids: Stick petal books inside cover
Kids: Choose embellishment and place in middle of petal book
Teacher: Peel off label and hand to kid, making sure it is right side up – you’ll see that in the picture above the right-hand book does have the label oriented differently than the others… oh, well!
Kids: Stick “Outline of Genesis” label on front of book
Kids: Choose color and style of ribbon
Teacher: Measure and cut appropriate length of ribbon
Kids: Stick ribbon on cover
Bible Drill
After we finished making the books, I had the kids get out their Bibles. (We’ve been working most of the year on finding Genesis.) Holding up one of the mini-books, I read the word “Creation” and had them find Genesis 1. Then the Fall, Genesis 2. Then the Flood in Genesis 10, and so on. My goal was that the words in this mini-book would have some meaning for them.
Storage
I wrote each kid’s name on an index card, and stuck it inside a ziploc sandwich bag. Throughout the two months we worked on this project, the books went into the bags and came home with me each week.
Final Result
I spent a weekend gluing the books the kids had made into manila folders, and gave them to the kids on Sunday. For the kids who only attended a few Sundays, I used Lifeway provided materials to fill in around the edges. Here’s one final result that showcases the Petal Book.
March 2, 2011
9 Items for Lapbooking
Before starting on my lapbook project, I made a large order at Oriental Trading, and a visit to Staples. Four principles guided my shopping.
- Color. Since this is for kindergartners, I avoided the use of white.
- Folds. The coolest lapbooks have at least three levels. Lift one large flap, and there are even more flaps.
- Embellishments. Add glitter and flowers for no reason other than this is for the Bible, and God’s word is beautiful.
- Let the kids own the project!
Super 150 Paper SheetsThese 6×6 sheets are thicker than paper, but thinner than cardstock.
You could buy Scotch double-sided tape at the local store, which is what I usually use. I’d rather be the one in charge of painstakingly putting tape on the back of objects, than turn kids loose with a glue stick. They’re liable to accidentally glue the mini-books closed in their exuberance. I’ve also used glue dots, but they only work for gluing embellishments.
Ribbon Assortment and Self-Adhesive Jewels
Embellishments are the little extras that turn a fun project into a great project.
I tried using scissors, but couldn’t get exact squares, and you can forget about circles. Try to find a guillotine cutter, or a CriCut machine. Our library has one. When making a squash book, you really need the squares to be exactly the same size. Besides, if you’re cutting enough for a class, it’s just plain faster to do several sheets at once, and you can’t do that with scissors.
100 Sheet Rainbow Paper PackThese sheets are 12×12. Cut in four pieces lengthwise, and it’s perfect for an accordion fold. Or cut it into 6×6 pieces, which is what I normally do.
See, the thing about making lapbooks with kindergarteners is they can’t write. They can draw a picture of David and Goliath, but unless teacher writes “David and Goliath” underneath, who can tell? You want this lapbook to go home with the child, and have him pull it out a year later and review what he learned. It needs to grow with the child. So I print out labels with the text I need, and let the kid draw a picture inside a minibook, then stick the label on there.
You can use colored folders or regular ones. I prefer the plain vanilla ones, because then no matter what color I make the mini-books, they go with the background.
This is different from the other papers in that I printed my templates on this, but used patterned paper for the cover of the mini-book.
June 8, 2010
4 Tools a Preschool Sunday School Teacher Can Use to Add Zing
Parachute
Take any story that includes water, add a parachute, and presto, instant game.
- Noah and the Ark. Make paper arks and toss them onto the parachute. Create a flood by shaking the chute rapidly until the arks fall off. Do it again. And again. Do it until the teacher gets tired and says “Enough!”
- Moses and the Red Sea. Play Israelites and Egyptians.
- Jonah and the Whale. First make a storm by shaking the chute. Then have the whale swallow Jonah by raising the chute up, ducking under it, and pulling it down to sit on the edge.
- Jesus Calms the Storm. Shake the chute wildly until they hear the words, “Peace, be still.”
- Peter Walking on Water. Kids take turns “being Peter” by running under the parachute (walking on water) to the other side.
Large Packing Boxes
Even more versatile than the parachute. Packing boxes can be the…
- Belly of the whale Jonah was in
- Ark that Noah put the animals in
- Lion’s den that Daniel was in
- Pit that Jeremiah was thrown into
- House where the angel Gabriel visited Mary
- Stable where baby Jesus was born
- Prison where Paul and Silas were
- …and many more.
Putting several boxes together is better than just one. To ensure they don’t collapse, support the sides with chairs or the table.
Picture Books
By reading books, you build…
- attention span
- Biblical worldview
- memory of previous stories
If the entire class is out of control, sit ‘em down and read books. If you need a controlled activity while kids are being dropped off, read books. If you want to ensure kids don’t forget the Bible story you taught last Sunday, pick a book based on that story and read it for a month.
The books Lifeway provides its teachers are junk with a capital J. Zero plot, no conflict, no character development, and no climax. Children deserve better. Look on Amazon for books that are highly rated.
Scratch Art Paper
A craft with instant zing and zero mess. Experiment by using not just wooden sticks, but pennies and fingernails to draw on the paper. Although scratch art paper can be used with any story, it is best suited for stories with darkness and light, like the:
- Countless stars that Abraham saw
- Midianite camp that Gideon surrounded with trumpets and torches
- Angels that appeared to the shepherds
- Burning bush that Moses faced
- Column of fire that settled over the tabernacle in the Israelite camp
I guarantee the finished result won’t look like the picture to the right, but who cares?
Related Posts
May 17, 2010
4 Ways to Spice Up Your Bible Lesson
Have you fallen into a rut without even realizing it? Sometimes a little change can make the Bible lesson appear new and different. The change doesn’t even need to be related to which story you’re telling.
Always use a teaching picture? Try…
Picture book
Whiteboard
Shadow puppets on the wall with a bright light
Always tell the story in the classroom? Try…
Setting up a tent in the classroom, and telling it in there
Going out to the parking lot, and drawing the story with sidewalk chalk
Always use chairs? Try…
Removing all furniture and sitting on floor
Bringing in sleeping bags, and having everyone lie down on one
Standing up
Always have the chairs in the same position? Try putting the chairs…
In a circle
In rows
Around the table
Facing the opposite direction from usual
In groups of four–focus groups
