First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

First LookTM
Curriculum for Preschoolers
We want preschoolers to take a first look at who God is and understand... God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Editor in Chief: Kathy Hill Copy Editor: Wendi Zebell Curriculum Writer: Autumn Ward Illustrators: Jodi Blackwell Graphic Designer: Elloa Davis FL Creative Team: Sue Miller, Lois Pallansch, Kathy Hill, Kendra Fleming, Autumn Ward, Ashley Hiers Chief Executive Officer: Reggie Joiner Chief Operating Officer: Reggie Joiner Executive Director: Sue Miller Technical and Web Support: Hadley Brandt Partner Support: Deb Springer Scripture quotations marked (NCV) are quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75234. Used by permission. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other nonsubscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. STATEMENT OF FAITH USER AGREEMENT The reThink Group, Inc. gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor First LookTM materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines weve expressed in our Statement of Faith.

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

July 24, 2011

Basic Truth: God loves me. Key Question: Can you believe what God says? Bottom Line: God does what He says He will do. Memory Verse: Trust the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5, NCV Bible Story Focus: God does what He says He will do. Gideon at Battle Judges 7:9-22

Heres an overview of what youll be teaching in 3s5s this week. Make It Fun (Choose one or all of these activities) Ready for Battle Hand Horn Big and Small Make It True Introductory Sketch Bible Story Worship

If you are choosing to lead Torches and Trumpets 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.

Make It Stick (Choose as many of these activities as you like) Dont Drop It! Sound the Trumpets Torches and Trumpets All Your Heart Twist the Torch (Especially for 5s) Make It Real Small Group Time Prayer DismissSmall Talk

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

July 24, 2011

Basic Truth: God loves me. Key Question: Can you believe what God says? Bottom Line: God does what He says He will do. Memory Verse: Trust the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5, NCV Bible Story Focus: God does what He says He will do. Gideon at Battle Judges 7:9-22

Make It Fun (Introductory Activities, 10 minutes)

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. 1. Ready for Battle What You Need: Green plastic army men, wooden blocks, brown pillows, and a few small fabric pieces in blue and light tan. What You Do: Use the brown pillows for mountains, the blue fabric for water, the light tan fabric for sand pits, and the wooden blocks to make buildings, trees, or whatever else your imagination can come up with. As you and the children play with the army men, ask the kids if their men are ready for battle. Do they have a hat? Water? Food? Boots? What You Say: During the activity: Its time for these army men to go to battle! Are they ready? Lets see. Hat? Check! Boots? Check! What about food and water? Check! Check! Looks like were all ready for battle. Lets go! At the end of the activity: Our Bible story is about a man named Gideon and his army of soldiers. God tells them exactly what they will need so they will be ready for battle. 2. Hand Horn What You Need: A CD player and a CD of fun preschool music. What You Do: Think of ways you can pretend to play an instrument while marching or dancing along with the music. Air guitar? Clapping? Pat your legs? Hand horn? Once

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

everyone has chosen what to do, march or dance to the music while playing your new instruments. What You Say: During the activity: This is fun music! It makes me want to toot my horn! Come on everybody! Do your hand like this and make a horn. Dooo, dooo, dooo, dooo! You can play an air guitar like this (demonstrating). How about drums? You can pat your legs or clap you hands. Horns, guitars, and drumswere ready! (March and dance around to the music. Encourage the children to pretend to play a horn, a guitar, or drums.) At the end of the activity: Whew! That was fun! I like making a horn with my hand. Dooo, dooo, dooo, dooo! In our Bible story today, Gideon and his army use real horns to help win a battle. I cant wait to hear how God made that happen! 3. Big and Small What You Need: Picture Cards (from the Activity Pages on the Web site), light colored cardstock, and scissors (optional). What You Do: Before the activity: Make a copy of Picture Cards on a light colored cardstock. During the activity: Gather the children around. Show them the picture cards one at a time. Ask them to tell you which object is big and which one is small. Save the soldier picture for last. Extend the activity: Cut the big and small pictures apart. Ask the children to help you line up all the big pictures in one area and all the small pictures in another area. What You Say: During the activity: I have some pictures I want to show you. (Begin holding the pictures up one at a time for the children to look at.) What is this picture of? (Pause for responses.) Yes! These are teddy bears. One of them is very big, and the other one is small. Which teddy bear is BIG? (Pause for responses.) Which teddy bear is small? (Pause for responses.) Good job! What about this picture? (Continue this kind of discussion with each picture.) While holding up the soldier picture: What is this a picture of? (Pause for responses.) Yes! These are army soldiers. Which group of soldiers is BIG? Which group of soldiers is small? (Pause for responses.) A man named Gideon has to go to battle with a small tiny army in todays Bible story. I wonder what happens!

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

Make It True (Large Group, 15 minutes)

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. 1. Introductory Sketch First Look offers weekly introductory sketches on the DVD titled Wonder! Look at Gods Story. This DVD is available for purchase at the reThink store on our Web site. What You Need: White flour, a large mixing bowl, a big spoon, two eggs, water, a cupcake pan, an apron, a table, and a plastic drop cloth. What You Do: Place the plastic drop cloth in the center of the storytelling area. The table will sit on the drop cloth. HOST: (Enter wearing the apron and carrying the mixing bowl full of all the other supplies. Quickly set out all the supplies on the table and hurriedly begin making cupcakes. Dont acknowledge the children at first.) I will NEVER get these cupcakes made in time. Why did I have to tell (Storytellers name) that I would make cupcakes for our meeting today? WHY? (Notice the children and begin addressing them directly. Talk slowly at first, and then get faster as you go.) Have you ever told someone you would do somethingand you REALLY meant to do itbut then you totally forgot to do it, so you tried to do it really fast so they wouldnt know you forgot to do what you said you would do? Have you? Oh, it makes my head hurt. (Begin pouring flour, eggs, and water into the bowl and stirring it around. Make sure to get flour on your face and make somewhat of a mess. After a few moments, begin talking to the children again.) I told (Storyteller name) I would make cupcakes for this meeting we have today, but then I forgot. Well, today is here! Ive got to come up with some cupcakesfast!
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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

(Go back to your pouring and mixing. Things are not going very well. You lose your mixing spoon only to find that it sank down into your cupcake batter. As you pull it out of the batter, you begin talking to the children again.) (Whining) Yuck. This is not going as I planned. Why, oh, why did I forget to do what I said I would do? (Look at your watch.) I still have a little time. Maybe I can pull this off. (Begin pouring the batter into a cupcake pan, making an even bigger mess. Storyteller enters.) STORYTELLER: Hi, friends. Hey, (Hosts name). Whats up? HOST: Oh, um ... not much. (Look up at the kids with a nervous smile.) Just hanging out with our friends. Right, friends? STORYTELLER: It looks like youre making something. Whats in the bowl? (Host keeps his back to the Storyteller, trying to hide what he is doing. Each time the Storyteller tries to look at what the Host is doing, the Host moves so his back is still to the Storyteller. The Storyteller eventually goes one way and then quickly back the other way to trick the Host and see the mess the Host has made.) STORYTELLER: What is THAT supposed to be? HOST: (Drops the bowl and spoon and faces the Storyteller with his head down in shame.) I guess theres no hiding it anymore. (Storytellers name), I forgot to make the cupcakes for our meeting today. I didnt do what I said I would do. (In a loud, wailing cry) IM A FAILURE! STORYTELLER: (Take the arms of the Host and look him in the eye.) There, there, (Hosts name). Youre not a failure. But now I understand why you didnt want me to see what was in the bowl. Hey, its okay if you forgot about the cupcakes. Everyone forgets to do things every now and then. HOST: But I said I would do something, and then I didnt do it! STORYTELLER: I know you didnt mean to forget. HOST: (Looking up, seeming encouraged) So youre not mad at me? STORYTELLER: No way! How about you and I go buy some cupcakes at the grocery store after church? Well get the cupcakes and get to hang out all at the same time.

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

HOST: Cool. Ill just go clean all this up while you tell the Bible story. And this time I wont forget. How could anyone forget THIS mess? (Host drags the drop cloth with the table on it out of the storytelling area or picks up the table and exits the storytelling area leaving the drop cloth.) 2. Bible Story First Look offers a weekly Bible story on our DVD titled Wonder! Look at Gods 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. What You Need: A Bible; a large, plastic, brown pitcher; and a party horn. STORYTELLER: Wow! (Hosts name) was really upset that he forgot to make the cupcakes. We all say were going to do something and then forget sometimes. God is the only one who ALWAYS does what He says He will do. Thats why we can always trust and believe what He says. Can you believe what God says? CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do! STORYTELLER: Thats right! We know we can trust God and believe what He says because of all the true stories in the Bible about how [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do, like the true story of Gideon. (Open your Bible.) God told Gideon that his army of soldiers was too big. Even though this didnt make sense to Gideon, he trusted God and did what God told him to do. God chose only 300 soldiers to stay in Gideons army. The rest of the soldiers had to go home. This left Gideon with a very (in a small, mousey voice) tiny army compared to the (with a deep, booming voice) BIG, BAD army that wanted to fight them. God told Gideon not to worry and that He would help his (mousey voice) tiny army win the battle against the (booming voice) BIG, BAD army. Gideon would have to trust God and believe that He would do what He said He would do. Can you believe what God says? CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do! STORYTELER: He sure does! One night while everyone was sleeping, God told Gideon to wake up and go down into the (booming voice) BIG, BAD armys camp. It

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

was time for battle. Can you pretend to be Gideons army for me? (Pause for responses.) Great! Stand up, soldiers! God gave Gideon some special instructions for how he was going to defeat this (booming voice) BIG, BAD army. He told Gideon to separate his army into three groups. (Call out a Small Group Leaders name to be the leader of each group and to help the children in separating into the three groups.) I need you all to be army group #1. You all will be army group #2. And you all will be army group #3. (Point to the groups as you count.) One, two, three. Now we have three groups of army soldiers, just like Gideon had. Next, God told Gideon to give all his soldiers an empty jar (hold up your pitcher) to go over their torches and a trumpet to blow (hold up your horn). You can hold up your hand and pretend you are carrying a torch (demonstrating). A torch is like a stick with fire on it. Come on! Hold your torch up high so everyone can see the light of the fire. Now put a pretend jar over your torch (putting your pitcher over your hand) so the (booming voice) BIG, BAD army wont see the light of the fire. You can make a horn with your other hand, like this (holding your hand to your mouth like a trumpet and saying, dooo, dooo, dooo, dooo). Let me hear you blow your horns. (Allow the children to make horn sounds with their hands for a second.) Okay, we have a torch, we have a jar on our torch, and we have a hornjust like Gideon. We are ready for battle. Gideon told his (mousey voice) tiny army to follow him and do exactly what he did. He said they were going to sneak down to the (booming voice) BIG, BAD army and surround them. Come on, soldiers! Its time to sneak. (Tiptoe in place like you are sneaking around and begin to whisper.) Hold up your torches. Make sure you have a jar on your torch to cover the light. (Keep tiptoeing.) We dont want the (booming voice) BIG, BAD army to hear or see us coming. (Keep tiptoeing.) Shh, were almost there. (In a loud whisper) Stop! When you hear me blow my trumpet, I want you to blow your trumpet and say, (in a loud announcer voice) For the Lord and for Gideon! (Back to a loud whisper) Then you will break your jars so the light on your torches will shine. Get ready! (Blow your horn and throw down your pitcher. Hold your hand up like you are holding a torch. Keep blowing your horn until the children begin to blow their horns.) CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: (Loudly) For the Lord and for Gideon!

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

(Blow your horn again.) CHILDREN and STORYTELLER: (Loudly) For the Lord and for Gideon! (Keep blowing your horn and saying, For the Lord and for Gideon until you are ready to stop.) STORYTELLER: Okay, stop blowing your horns and sit down. That was awesome! When Gideon and his (mousey voice) tiny army started blowing their horns and CRASHING their jars and SHINING their torches, God made the (booming voice) BIG, BAD army get so confused that they didnt know what was happening! The (booming voice) BIG, BAD army began running into each other with their swords and the rest of them just ran away. God did exactly what He said He would do! He helped Gideon win the battle! Gideons (mousey voice) tiny army had won the battle against the (booming voice) BIG, BAD army, just like God said! Yes, [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do every time. We may not understand how Hes going to do it, but He does. God is able to do anything! Lets pray and thank God that He is able to do what He says He will do. 3. Prayer STORYTELLER: Dear God, we praise You today for Your power. No one is bigger or stronger than You. You are always able to do what You say You will do. We love You, God. Amen. 4. Worship For additional worship resources to equip your worship leaders and worship team, visit www.amberskyrecords.com. What You Need: Paper clip Memory Verse Card (from the Activity Pages on the Web site) in your Bible at Proverbs 3:5. You will also need a CD player and this months worship song, God Said So, which you will need to download from the Web site. You will also need My God Is So Big, available at www.amberskyrecords.com on the One Big Gulp album. Be sure to download the hand motions that accompany each song. WORSHIP LEADER: God was able to help Gideons (mousey voice) tiny army defeat the (booming vice) BIG, BAD army because God is SO big. No one is bigger or stronger or more powerful than our God. Stand up and lets sing about how my God is so big! Lead children in singing My God Is So Big.

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

First Look

3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

WORSHIP LEADER: Not only is God BIG and STRONG and POWERFUL, but He loves you. God loves YOU! Who loves you? CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: [Basic Truth] God loves me! WORSHIP LEADER: You can trust God with all your heart because He loves you. You know our verse. Keep standing and lets say it together. CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: Trust (hug yourself) the Lord (point one index finger straight up above your head) with all (make big circles with both arms) your heart (put both hands over your heart), Proverbs 3:5 (open your hands like a book). WORSHIP LEADER: Perfect! Okay, girls, you know what to do. Let me hear you! GIRLS and WORSHIP LEADER: Trust (hug yourself) the Lord (point one index finger straight up above your head) with all (make big circles with both arms) your heart (put both hands over your heart), Proverbs 3:5 (open your hands like a book). WORSHIP LEADER: Love it! Now its all you, boys. Let me hear YOU say it. BOYS and WORSHIP LEADER: Trust (hug yourself) the Lord (point one index finger straight up above your head) with all (make big circles with both arms) your heart (put both hands over your heart), Proverbs 3:5 (open your hands like a book). WORSHIP LEADER: Fabulous! I love hearing you say our Bible verse. That means you are hiding it in your heart. When Gods words are in your heart, it helps you trust Him even more. We have one more song to sing today. Its our new song. Lets sing it as loud as we can. Lets tell God how much we believe that He does what He says He will do. Lead children in singing God Said So, this months worship song. WORSHIP LEADER: (Clapping) Clap if you love God! Woo-hoo! Yay, God! We trust God because He does what He says He will do. One more time: Can you believe what God says? CHILDREN and WORSHIP LEADER: [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. WORSHIP LEADER: Bye! See you next time!

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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

Make It Stick (Application Activities, 35 minutes)

These activities are designed to help preschoolers understand and remember todays 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. 1. Dont Drop It! What You Need: Large, plastic, disposable cups and a large basket. What You Do: Line the children up on one side of the room. Give each child a plastic cup. Set the basket on the other side of the room. Tell the children that their arm is a torch and the cup is their jar. They are to put the cup over their fist and hold it up. Next, they are to say, For the Lord and for Gideon as they run and throw their cup in the basket. Once everyone has run and thrown their cup in the basket, line up and do it again. Make it more challenging by increasing the distance between the children and the basket. Continue playing as long as the children are interested. Try not to drop it! What You Say: During the activity: For the Lord and for Gideon! At the end of the activity: Gideon believed what God said. He trusted that [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. Can you believe what God says? Yes! [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do! 2. Sound the Trumpets What You Need: An empty paper towel tube for each child; markers; waxed paper; a rubber band for each child; small, fun stickers; scissors; and a writing pen. What You Do: Before the activity: Cut the waxed paper into squares large enough to fold around one end of a paper towel tube. Secure it with a rubber band. Each child will need one square of waxed paper. Use a writing pen to punch several holes in a row down the center of each tube. During the activity: Give each child a paper towel tube. Encourage the children to decorate their soon-to-be horns using the markers and stickers you provide. Once everyone has a horn, march the children around the room, shouting, For the Lord and for Gideon and blowing your horns.

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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

What You Say: At the start of the activity: God told Gideon and his tiny army to fight the BIG, BAD army with a torch, a jar, and a ... what else did God tell them to use? (Pause for responses.) Oh, yes! A horn! God told them to use a horn. Lets make a horn and pretend we are in Gideons army. During the activity: For the Lord and for Gideon! At the end of the activity: (Gather the children around you.) It doesnt sound right to fight a battle with a horn, does it? But God did what He said He would do and used those horns to help Gideon win the battle. Gideon believed what God said, and we can too. Do you know why we can believe what God says? Because [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do! Can you believe what God says? [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. 3. Torches and Trumpets Be 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: Pretzel rods, white frosting, orange food coloring, Bugles chips, a plastic spoon, paper plates, napkins, and wet wipes. What You Do: Mix a few drops of orange food coloring with the white icing to make fire. Give each child a paper plate, one pretzel rod (a torch), a scoop of orange icing (fire), and a few Bugles chips (horns). Review the Bible story while you and the children enjoy a yummy snack. What You Say: During the activity: In todays Bible story, God told Gideon and his tiny army to fight the BIG, BAD army with a horn. (Give each child a few Bugles chips. Hold one up and pretend to blow it.) God also wanted Gideon and his army to hold torches with fire on them. (Give each child a pretzel rod and a spoon full of orange frosting. Show them how to put orange frosting on the tip of their pretzel to make it look like a torch on fire.) God also wanted each soldier to have a jar. Look! We have torches and trumpets that we can eat. Yum! While the children eat: It was a strange way to fight a battle, but God did what He said He would do. He helped Gideon win the battle with a horn, a torch, and a jar. God will do what He says He will do for you and me, too. [Bottom Line] God always does what He says He will do. So tell me, can you believe what God says? Yes! [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do!

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

4. All Your Heart What You Need: Heart (from the Activity Pages on the Web site), white cardstock, red washable finger paint, and wet wipes. You may also want to provide some paintbrushes or cotton swabs for children who dont want to touch the paint. Some old, oversized Tshirts would also be helpful to use as smocks. What You Do: Before the activity: Make a copy of Heart on white cardstock for each child. During the activity: Instruct the children to color ALL of their heart pictures red. They can use their fingers, a paintbrush, or a cotton swab. What You Say: At the start of the activity: Our Bible verse says to trust the Lord with ALL your heart. Can you say our verse with me? Trust the Lord with ALL your heart, Proverbs 3:5. Good job! Today we are going to paint ALL of this heart red to remind us to trust the Lord with ALL our heart. During the activity: Make sure you paint ALL of your heart. God wants us to trust Him with ALL of our heart. At the end of the activity: Gideon trusted God with ALL of his heart in our Bible story today. Gideon believed that God would do what He said He would do, and God did! We can believe God, too! Can you believe what God says? [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. Lets say our Bible verse one more time. Ready? Trust the Lord with ALL your heart, Proverbs 3:5. 5. Twist the Torch What You Need: Fire Flames (from the Activity Pages on the Web site); yellow, red, and orange paper; clear tape; masking tape; scissors; and a small, brown paper lunch bag for each child. What You Do: Before the activity: Make enough copies of Fire Flames on yellow, red, and orange paper so that each child will have several flames to tape to their bag. Cut the flames out. During the activity: Show the children how to use the clear tape to secure the fire flame cutouts all along the inside of their paper bag so that the flames stick up out of the opening of the bag. Once the flames are taped down, help the children twist their bags so they make torch handles. Tape the twisted bag in place with masking tape.

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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

What You Say: At the start of the activity: Today Im going to help you make a cool torch like what Gideon had in our Bible story today. Well, almost like Gideons. Were going to make our torches out of these paper bags and paper flames. Come on. Ill show you how! At the end of the activity: Your torches look great! Hold them way up high and say, For the Lord and for Gideon! (Pause for responses.) Awesome! Gideon must have REALLY believed that [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do to go into battle with a torch, a horn, and a jar. Can you believe what God says? YES! [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. One more time! Can you believe what God says? [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do.

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

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3- through 5-year-olds, July, Week 4

Make It Real (Small Groups, 5 minutes)

Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. Theyll 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. 1. Small Group Time What You Need: Paper clip Memory Verse Card (from the Activity Pages on the Web site) in your Bible at Proverbs 3:5. Provide a journal and a fun-shaped pen for each small group. You may also want to have a hand stamp or reward sticker for those who try to say the memory verse. SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): I love hearing Bible stories about how [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. They help me to trust Him more and more. I want to trust God with all of my heart, dont you? Lets say our verse together. Then, if anyone wants to say it all my themselves, they can. CHILDREN and SGL: Trust (hug yourself) the Lord (point one index finger straight up above your head) with all (make big circles with both arms) your heart (put both hands over your heart), Proverbs 3:5 (open your hands like a book). SGL: Would anyone like to try to say our verse by themselves? (Give each child who wants it the opportunity to say the verse. Have a hand stamp or sticker ready to reward those who try.) SGL: You all are so smart! I am very proud of you for learning that verse. Now its time to write in our journal. What shall we write about today? Hmm ... I know! Lets make a list of ways we can trust God. We can trust God to take care of us, teach us, love us, forgive us, and be our friend. How can you trust God? (Write down the childrens names and what they say. Make sure to write in print so the children can recognize their names and other letters.) SGL: This is a great list. Lets pray. 2. Prayer SGL: God, we want to trust You with all our heart, just like Gideon did. I trust that You
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(name something you trust about God). (Name of child) trusts (what they mentioned that you wrote in the journal). (Say each childs name and what they had written in the journal.) Amen. 3. Get Ready to Dismiss Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Greet parents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do. Have this months 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 months Bottom Line: [Bottom Line] God does what He says He will do.

Curriculum Materials for 3- through 5-year-olds 2011 First Look. All rights reserved. www.whatisorange.org/firstlook

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