The Light in the Flatworld: Bible Recap and Jesus and Palm Sunday

Teaching the 7-8 year olds are much enjoyable for me because I am able to hear more about what they think. More interaction. Their able to express themselves really well, though some are shy to speak in front. There are also some who have a lot of stories to share and it's hard since I have to keep the lesson flowing.

How do you manage blurters in class? How do you address kids who want to say something even when it's not yet time for them to speak?

Class rules
After getting to know each other, this next session, will ask the kids for rules that we may follow in order for the class to be fun and worthwhile. Will post a big sheet of paper on the wall and write down their suggestions. My target is for them to acknowledge sharing, teamwork and taking turns when talking.

Bible Verse
Psalm 119: 105 Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.
Salita mo'y isang tanglaw na sa akin ay patnubay, sa landas kong daraanan, liwanag na tumatanglaw.

Message
Since this Sunday is Palm Sunday, would like the kids to learn:

1. The story of Palm Sunday - Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt aware of what would happen to Him
2. The various traditions done on Palm Sunday
3. How the Bible illustrates all of these

Lesson Introduction

Will be asking the kids if they know what they are celebrating that day. Once they've nailed that it's Palm Sunday, will tell them three things:

• What I remember most fondly about Palm Sunday when I was still a kid
• What I look forward to about the Lenten season
• What I want to do this coming Holy Week

Afterwards, will be asking the kids to come in front one by one, those who are ready, to answer those three questions. I try to do this for them to be used to standing in front and speaking to a group.

Lesson Time

Will then show them this video of the origin of Palm Sunday by Curtis Burthe of Vimeo. Thanks, Curtis for sharing this!

The Story of Palm Sunday by Children from Curtis Buthe on Vimeo.

Before playing the video, will tell them to pay attention since we will be doing something fun afterwards. This is to entice them to concentrate and watch.

Will point them to Matthew 21:1-11, pausing as I read, and asking them to fill in, it to check they remember the story.

Afterwards, will be handling out to them a comic strip with blank frames to fill in and color and write the words of the story.

Matthew 21:9 

Image credits:
http://ourpreciouslambs.wordpress.com/smiles-2/new-testament/jesus-and-disciples/ http://www.onlinefellowship.org/2011/03/26/childrens-fellowship-what-is-palm-sunday/

The Light in the Flatworld 2 - 7 to 8 year old lesson about the Bible, trivia about the Bible

Our head teacher told me last time that I am now to handle 7-8 year old class in the second service, 10am-12noon. The same topic would be discussed until April 8, Resurrection Sunday. It is my first time to handle such and am eager since these age group are more able to handle formal classroom setting. Though our class is still informal, we may hold more conversations and interactivity.

Bible verse

My two kids and I made this poster of the memory verse.

Message

1. To encourage the kids to read the Bible regularly
2. To introduce to the kids the habit of making a journal of interesting things they read on the Bible

Lesson Introduction

Since it will be my first time to teach this group of kids, an introduction about us is in order. Will be telling them who I am, what I do for a living, and why I volunteered to be part of the Sunday School ministry.

In turn, will be telling that I would love to hear about them to. If they may come in front and say their name and what they would like to become when they grow up.

Lesson Time

We will be focusing on the New Testament (Bagong Tipan). Will give a short summary of the things learned last session about the Bible - its two parts: old and new.

Will ask them if they know what testament is. Testament may mean different things:

1. Proof or evidence
2. Law
3. A covenant (agreement) between God and His people
4. Two main parts of the Bible

Then will tell them these trivia, at the same time handling out to them several Bible for them to check. Two or three kids may share with a Bible depending on the number of the kids. As I say the facts, they may verify it, or they may fill in the phrases of what I will say:

• There are 66 books in the Bible. The Bible is a library on its own.
• Its main parts are the Old and New Testament 
• Old Testament has 39 books = Old (3 letters) Testament (9 letters) = 39
• New Testament has 27 books = New (3 letters) Testament (9 letters) = 3 multiply by 9 is 27
• The New Testament has five parts which are:

1. Gospels (4 books)
2. Acts (1 book)
3. St. Paul's Letters + Hebrew - (14 books)
4. General Letters - (7 books)
5. Revelation - (1 book)

You may download the PDF file of that here.

Lastly, will show to them a sample journal. Will tell them that it may be any notebook. They may write poems they find on the Bible, verses that they like. Thoughts. Stories. 

The Light in the Flatworld

Bible Verse
Psalm 119:105 Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.

Message

1. The Bible is the most important book. It is God's message to us.
2. We should read it regularly.

Lesson Introduction

Treasure Hunt

I have created flash cards of the letters B-I-B-L-E.

Will be posting them on the wall far apart. Then will place three boxes filled with various items for the kids to check. Some items will have the stickers "Get me!" and the label of what item they are. Once they find all five items, we will form the world BIBLE.

I have chosen these five things, with the following explanations:

B - ball (the Bible starts with the letter B. In Filipino, it is Bibliya)
I - insect (insects are small and of different kind. The Bible said God made all of them.)
B - ear (My daughter loves teddy bears. She sleeps embracing her teddy bear. May the Bible be as precious to you to)
L - etter (The Bible is God's letter to us. We should read it to know his message for us)
E - egg (Like an egg that is white, the Bible tells us the things that can make us white as snow because God will clean us from our hearts)

Download PDF printable of this activity here (page 1)and here(page 2).

Lesson Time
Will be showing different types of Bibles - mine, my kids' and the one available in the Sunday School. Will explain to them that the Bible are stories and lessons from God to His children - us.

We read it everyday because we want to learn what to do. Will explain that personally, I get inspiration (songs that we know come from the Bible), enlightenment (the things we should do) as well as stories like those about Jonah, Noah, Adam and Jesus.

Will ask them these questions:

1. Who is their favorite Bible character?
2. Do they have Bibles at home?
3. Do they read it? 

Then lastly, will tell them how to take care of their Bibles.

• Hold it properly.
• Don't tear the pages.
• Put a cover.
• Don't let it get wet.

Activity Time

God Made All Men

Bible Verse
John 13: 34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

34Isang bagong utos ang ibinibigay ko sa inyo, kayo ay mag-ibigan sa isa't isa. Kung papaanong inibig ko kayo ay gayundin naman kayong mag-ibigan sa isa't isa.


Message:

1. We have been commanded to LOVE one another as Jesus showed us how much He loves us - let the preschoolers aged 5 and below understand how it is to love the way Jesus loves.
2. One another means everyone - who are the people I should love?

Lesson Introduction:

Holding a drawing of a big heart, will ask them what they see? Download a PDF printable of a heart here.

As the little ones answer, will ask them what does our heart do? How it serves us? What kind of feelings it feels.

Lesson Time:

Digital - How Do I Feel With This?

Will be showing the kids photos of different actions and will ask them what the kids in the photo feel. This is so they will associate an action or situation to a feeling, as kids do not know yet to identify what they feel as being pissed, afraid, hurt, etc.

Delighted - she's playing with bubbles Photo copyright of Edita Photography

Cool - she's playing with water Photo copyright of  Vi Rocha

Scared - she is afraid of the zebra Photo from aaanything.net

Angry - why is the baby mad? Photo copyright of babydurbin.blogspot.com

Afraid - why is she scared? Photo copyright of thepinkboss.com

Bored - sleepy dog Photo copyright of howismyface.com

Curious - she's listening to something and learning Photo copyright of   OOSH Ana Halah

Spiritual - Who is My Neighbor
As the kids find out that different situations make them feel different emotions, that's okay. However, we should choose to feel the right way no matter what. We may feel scared, but we may choose to love still.

Will be showing them a modernized video of the Good Samaratan Parable, copyright of Kidmo.




Practical - How have I been Loving to my Neighbor Today?
After watching, will tell the kids that as young as they are they may do loving and kind acts to their neighbors. Ask them what are the good things they have done to their neighbor today, or yesterday. Or what they plan to do tomorrow?

Social - Heart Cards for Craft Time
Have prepared folded colored board cards that may be used as greeting cards. In front is a figure of a heart drawn on it. The kids may paste small bits of recycled paper to make a mosaic heart.

Inside, they may write their message to anyone they wish to give the card to.

And if we still have time, will also show them this as we wait for their parents/fetchers. Video copyright of Max7.org from aldrincenalimosnero.