Story Sparklers

[]

Sunday, December 20th, 2015 .:. Room 101, 104 & 105A
Pathways Kids Weekend Small Groups 3, 4 and 5 year Olds

This Weeks Scope

Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Key Question: How do we know God loves us?
Bottom Line: God gave us Jesus.
Memory Verse: God has given a Son to us. Isaiah 9:6, NCV
Bible Story Focus: The angels tell about Jesus. The Shepherds Luke 2:8-20

Memory In Motion
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Spread out in an open area in the room.
During the Activity: Teach the kids the words and motions for this months Memory Verse.
Repeat as many times as desired.
After the Activity: Say the Bottom Line together.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: Come spread out in a circle around me. (Pause.) Lets say our memory
verse!
During the Activity: Im going to say the new verse and do the motions and then well do it
together. Watch and listen. God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of
you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like youre holding a baby) to us
(point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6. (Open your hands like a book.) Okay, this time
lets do it together. (Repeat slowly.) Super job!

Make It Real
What you Need: Bible marked to Isaiah 9:6 and prayer journal
SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): Who did the angels tell about Jesus? Yes! The angels told
the shepherds about Jesus. And then the shepherds told everyone they knew about Jesus!
God wants every person to hear the good news that [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. God
wants every person to know that He loves them! How do we know God loves us?
CHILDREN and SGL: [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus!
SGL: One more time! How do we know God loves us?

CHILDREN and SGL: [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus.

SGL: [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus is the best news you will ever hear! Thats why the
shepherds were so excited! It was good news!
Lets practice saying our Bible verse. It will help us remember that [Bottom Line] God gave
us Jesus because it says, God has given a son to us, Isaiah 9:6. Lets say that together with
the motions.
CHILDREN and SGL: God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you
like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like youre holding a baby) to us (point
your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6. (Open your hands like a book.) (Repeat the verse a
few times together.)
SGL: You are so close to knowing that awesome verse! I am so proud of you! Its time to write
in our prayer journal. Today were going to make a list of people we can tell the good news that
[Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. When I say your name I want you to tell me one person
you can tell the good news to, just like the angel told the shepherds and the shepherds told the
people in town. So, who will you tell the good news to?
Remember to print the words so the children can recognize their names and the letters.
SGL: You came up with a great list. I hope we tell all of these people the good news that
[Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus! Would anyone like to pray before I pray for us?
Give each child that wants to pray the opportunity to do so.
SGL: Now Ill pray.

Prayer
SGL: Dear God, we want everyone to hear the good news that You gave us Jesus to be our
friend forever. We want them to know that You love us so much You gave us Your Son. Please
help (name of child) tell (name on list) about Jesus and (name of child) tell (name on list) about
Jesus and (say this with each childs name). If everyone knew the good news about Jesus,
it would be the merriest Christmas ever! We love You, God. In Jesus name, amen.
It All Fits
Together
Make
It Fun
Make a Christmas Ornament!
What You Need: Ornament kits
What You Do: Give each child a kit to make an ornament. Included is an example of the finished
ornament.

What You Say: Today we are going to make an ornament that you can take home and put on your
Christmas tree! The ornament says Joy! Do you know what Joy is? Joy is the feeling of being happy!
Inside of the O is Mary and baby Jesus! God sent Jesus as a gift to us to bring happiness and joy!

Make It Fun
Pick Up the Sheep
What You Need: Dice, bag of cotton balls, spring clothespins, and a small basket
What You Do:
Before the Activity: Lay out the cotton balls in the play area. Place the basket in the middle of
the cotton balls.
During the Activity: Give each child a clothespin. Have a child roll the die. Help the children
determine what number comes up on the die. Using the clothespins, have the children pick up
that particular number of cotton balls (sheep) and place them in the basket.
After the Activity: Continue with activity until all of the cotton balls are in the basket.
What You Say:
Before the Activity: Look at all of the sheep on the floor! We need to be shepherds just like the
ones in our story today and take care of the sheep!
During the Activity: (Give each child a clothespin.) Lets roll our super cool die (hold up die) and
see what number comes up. (Roll die) How many dots do you see on the die? (Help the
children count the dots.) Great job! There are (number) dots! Now use your clothespin to pick
up (number) sheep and put them into the basket. (Play as long as interest holds.)
After the Activity: You are all magnificent shepherds! The shepherds in our story today were
taking care of their sheep too when God sent angels to tell them about the wonderful news!
God gave us Jesus! God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus! WOW! How do we know
God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus!

Make It Fun
Match the Sheep
What You Need: Crazy Sheep cards
What You Do:
During the Activity: Encourage kids to find the sheep that match.

What You Say:

Before the Activity: We have a lot of pictures of sheep and I need to find the ones that match.
Will you help me find the ones that look the same? (Pause.) Great!
During the Activity: Look at this sheep. Can you find another one that looks like it? (Pause.)
Wow! Great job! What about this sheep? Can you find the match to it? (Pause.) You did it!
(Continue with the others and then mix them up and do it again.)
After the Activity: Super job matching the sheep! We heard about some shepherdspeople
who take care of sheepin our Bible story today.

Need More
If you happen to finish up with these activities early feel free to use any of the activities in the
preschool game binder. If you are unsure as to where to find this binder, please contact your
service coach.

Story Cards
Be sure to fill out a story card! A drawing will occur every week for those that turn in story cards
and the winner will receive a Starbucks gift card!