Children walk around the room like robots.
When the teacher calls “freeze”, students hold their position and quote the verse together in a robot voices.
A VERY MARY CHRISTMAS
18 awesome songs for kids on this CD: Candy Cane, Angel Band, Camels Are Cming, Go Tell It, Favored One / What Child is This?, Unwrap the Gift, Here in a Child, Sheep Party, Best Story of All, Peace on Earth Begins at Home, Imagine a Christmas, Just One, Manger of My Heart, Christmas Blessing, Christmas Joy / Joy to the World.
Click HERE to listen to song clips.
Order album HERE.
THE BEST GIFT OF ALL - Mini-Musical for Christmas
The Best Gift of All is approx. 20 minutes in length. Easy to perform!
A neighborhood child wonders why her friend’s family decorates their Christmas tree with candy canes.
When they discover she has never heard of Jesus, they invite her to the
children’s Christmas program practice at church where she hears about
God’s gift of love.
You will receive:
Downloadable script with permission to reproduce copies; production
notes which includes flexible cast of characters (11-15); staging
suggestions; listing of props (Christmas tree, candy canes, red/white
ornaments, manger, doll wrapped in swaddling clothes, Bible); listing
of costumes needed (Caesar Augustus, Joseph, Mary, shepherds, angel);
sheet music for the five songs; and MP3 stereo and accompaniment tracks
downloaded.
Click HERE to hear song clips and read lyrics.
Available from www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
ONE-THIRD OF TEACHING TIME SHOULD BE SPENT REVIEWING
"There will be a TEST next Sunday. Everyone be sure and come!"
The boys and girls in your class would not jump for joy upon hearing such an announcement, yet the basic goal of teaching is learning! Acquiring knowledge comes through reinforcement, and reinforcement comes as a result of continual review.
A Calvin and Hobbes cartoon pictures Calvin sitting in class, eyes half closed, about ready to drift off to sleep. Suddenly he sits upright and screams, "BORING!" "UNINTERESTING!" "HO-HUM!"
I've seen it often. The child who sits in class like a zombie, showing no interest, will become almost automatically drawn into a Bible game. Or Joe Cool who wouldn't be caught dead singing or participating in any way, can't resist participating in a game.
"A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down," sang Walt Disney's Mary Poppins. Her point, of course, was that even things which are distasteful can be made pleasant - in fact, downright fun.
This same principle applies to Christian Education. The primary purpose of Bible games is to review Bible facts, verses, and concepts. Educational experts tell us that one-third of our teaching time should be spent in review!
Application of knowledge is important for utilization. Reviewing helps learning become a meaningful part of a child's life. One way to accomplish this goal, is to teach with Bible games. The components of games are the same as for tests: questions and answers, with the added ingredient of fun!
PRODIGAL SON ACTIVITY
At station 1, place a hat, a bag, and a pile of money (cut green construction paper) in a shoe box.
At station 2, place an empty shoe box to hold the money.
At station 3, make a square of masking tape on the floor for a pigpen.
At station 4, place a robe on a chair to represent “home.”
Let each child go through the obstacle course. At station 1, the child should stuff the play money in the bag and put on the hat. At station 2, the child should dump the money into the shoe box. At station 3, the child should get on all fours inside the pigpen square and oink a few times. At station 4, the child should put on the robe and sit in the chair. Have a helper return the items to their proper stations as children finish with them so they’ll be there for the next child moving through the game.
As you let each child try the obstacle course, listen to the song “Come on Home” from Come on Home album by Mary Rice Hopkins. (Click on song title to hear a clip.)
10 WAYS TO PRAY FOR THE STUDENTS IN YOUR CLASS
2. Pray about specific situations a child’s family is facing and the impact it has upon the children in the home.
3. Pray that your students will do well in school.
4. Ask God to protect your students from negative influences in their schools or neighborhoods.
5. Pray that the children will remain tender toward God and will receive Jesus as Savior as soon as the Holy Spirit makes them aware of their need.
6. Pray for wisdom in dealing with your more difficult children. Ask God to help you reflect His love to those children even when you have to correct them.
7. Pray that your students can positively impact their world, even while they are young.
8. Pray for your students’ safety and protection.
9. Pray for your students’ parents, particularly for the salvation of unsaved parents.
10. Pray that God will someday help each child make wise courtship and marriage choices.
FREE PRINTABLE! 52 Scriptures for Kids Which Teach Values
Click HERE for the free printable which includes a list of Bible verses plus 52 cards which may be printed and cut out.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT HANG Bible Verse Memorization Activity
BIBLE VERSE: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
MATERIALS NEEDED: Construction paper, crayons or markers, scissors, tape or Christmas tree hooks, Christmas tree garland or yarn.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Ask children to draw and cut out Christmas tree ornaments.
2. Write one word from the verse on each ornament. Write the Scripture reference on a separate ornament.
3. Hang garland or yarn on a wall or bulletin board.
4. Let children take turns hanging the ornaments in order on the garland or yarn with tape or Christmas tree hooks.
5. Ask children to remove one ornament at a time, reciting the verse each time an ornament is removed.
CHRISTMAS GIFT HUNT - Bible Verse Memorization Activity
PREPARATION: Find pictures
of Christmas packages on the internet, print and cut out. Using your chosen Bible memory verse, write
one word & the reference on each package.
“Hide” these on your walls of your room.
ACTIVITY: Have the children hunt for the Christmas
packages. When all have been found, line
the words up in correct order on a table.
Say the verse together several times.
Then play “Take-Away” by choosing a child to take away one gift. Say the scripture together in unison. Choose another pupil to take away a gift and
say the verse. Continue until all
packages have been removed and verse is being said from memory.
FREE PRINTABLE ADVENT SCRIPTURE CARDS
DAYS OF ADVENT Family Resource
