****************************************************************************** Title: Kindergarten Sabbath School Program, July 17, 1999 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date Completed: June 15, 1999 Abstract: Activities to use as a supplement to help teach the lesson, SHEPHERDS FIND THE BABY ****************************************************************************** Lesson Aim: To teach the child to praise God for His gift of Jesus. Memory Verse: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men......" Luke 2:14, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - ANGEL ANNOUNCEMENT (A visual & kinesthetic activity) Materials needed: Angel picture on p. 10 of Kindergarten quarterly One piece of posterboard cut 4 1/2" wide by 8 inches high for each child 2 cotton balls for each child Glitter Glue Sticks Small dowel sticks cut in 12" lengths (one for each child) Masking tape WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Cut the angel out of the picture on p. 10 of the Kindergarten quarterly. Trace an angel using the pattern or draw one free-hand on each child's piece of posterboard. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: The children decorate their angel by adding light wisps of cotton to the wings, and glitter to the clothing. Tape a dowel stick to the back of each posterboard. Have the children wave and flutter their angels in the air. Comment on how pretty they are. How would they look if they were real and they lit up the night sky? What would it be like if there were hundreds of them? In our story today many beautiful shining angels pay a visit to some shepherds to deliver a very important announcement. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - BIBLE PEOPLE POP-OUT (A multi-sensory activity) Materials needed: Canes or sticks for shepherd's staffs Robes (several boys and girls or mens and womens rolled up) Pillowcases and soft-stretch headbands White choir or baptismal robes White posterboard & safety pins Towels (for use as turbans on head) Scroll Large appliance box or curtain on rod or anything that serves as a visual barrier WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Place the visual barrier in a central location. Place a box containing the materials listed above behind the visual barrier. Make angel wings out of the white posterboard. Make several scrolls (depending on the size of your group) by taping brown paper bags to dowel sticks and rolling them up. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Assign each child in the group one of the following roles: An angel, a shepherd, Priest Simeon, or Prophetess Anna. There can be any number of children to a role, but at least one child to each role. Explain to the children that there were four people or groups of people that praised God for Baby Jesus in this week's Bible story. Call the names of the children who chose to be shepherds to the front. Behind the barrier have them dress in robes, pillowcases on their heads with headbands holding them on and canes or sticks in hand. Stand them in a row behind the curtain or set them in the box and put the lid on. Give the children the following clues. When they guess who is ready to "pop out", unveil the shepherds. Continue in this manner until the angels, Simeon and Anna are discovered. Keep the props and dress-up on a small scale to eliminate dead-space time for the remainder of the audience. Clues: We love God and often talk about His promise to send us Jesus as our Savior. We watch sheep on the hills outside of town. Special messengers came to tell us the promised baby had been born. At first we were afraid, but then we were filled with joy. We went to Bethlehem and knelt and worshiped Baby Jesus. Who are we? (Shepherds) Clues: We are special messengers from God. We sang a beautiful song to praise God and let some shepherds know that Baby Jesus was born. Who are we? (Angels) Clues: I work in the temple. I am a priest I too have been waiting and praying for the special baby to be born. I get to hold Baby Jesus in my arms and praise God for Him. Who am I? (Simeon) Clues: I work in the temple also. I am a prophetess. I have been wanting to see the promised baby before I die. God lets me know that Baby Jesus in the temple is the special baby I've been praying for. Who am I? (Anna) GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE -ANNOUNCING THE GOOD NEWS (An auditory & kinesthetic activity) Materials needed: Musical instruments (bells, cymbals, tambourines, drums, trumpets etc.) Pre-recorded music or pianist Music for Joy to the World Bibles WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Pre-record the first line only of Joy To the World 6-8 times in a row. (Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Let earth receive her King) If you're using a pianist, arrange for them to play the first line over and over as directed below. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Show the children where the memory verse is found in the Bible. Explain how it was an announcement made by the angels to let the shepherds know about Jesus' birth. The announcement was accompanied by beautiful singing and praises by the angels. Tell the children they are special messengers from God also. When we learn our memory verse and share it with others we can praise God for Jesus too. Have each child pick a musical instrument. Form a line and march around the room while the piano or recorder plays the first line of Joy to the World. After they have played the first line once, stop the music. Have the children shout out the memory verse as an announcement. The music and the marching then r‚sum‚ until the end of the first line of the song again. The memory verse is again announced. Continue this activity until the children can say the verse without hesitation. (Instruments can be traded for variety) ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - JESUS PRAISE Materials needed: None WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: There are no advance preparations necessary. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Explain to the children that you are going to say some praise verses to them about someone special. At the end of each verse, they are to follow the directions as they spell the answer, J-E-S-U-S. Who's the baby born to men So we can live with God again? J-E-S-U-S (Children spell the name, Jesus while clapping each letter.) Who's the baby loved by all Born inside a cattle stall? J-E-S-U-S (Children spell the name, Jesus while alternately stomping their feet with each letter.) Who's the baby angels love Sang to shepherds from above? J-E-S-U-S (Children spell the name, Jesus while turning their head from side to side with each letter.) Who's the baby the priest did bless And to his heart brought happiness? J-E-S-U-S (Children spell the name, Jesus while squatting up and down with each letter.) Who's the baby, God's dear Son The promised Savior for everyone? J-E-S-U-S (Children spell the name, Jesus while waving their arms in the air from side to side with each letter.)