******************************************************************************
Title: Kindergarten Sabbath School Program, November 27, 1999

From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders)

Date: November 1, 1999

Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, 
JESUS FEEDS MANY PEOPLE
******************************************************************************
Lesson Aim: Jesus sees and provides for the needs of people.

Memory Verse: "Give, and it till be given to you........"  Luke 6:38, NIV


GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - SHARING SECRETS (A multi-sensory activity)

Materials needed:
An apple
A banana
A cracker 
A Ziplock bag with 6 pieces of cereal in it  (Cheerios, flakes etc.....)
Pretzel or some other kind of chip
(3) peanuts in the shell
Napkins
Plastic knives or blunt table knives
Ziplock bags

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Right before the activity cut the apple and put a quarter of a slice into 
a bag.   Cut the banana in half and put half in a bag.  Put the six pieces of 
cereal into a bag.  (IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN SIX CHILDREN IN YOUR GROUP, ADJUST 
THE AMOUNT OF FOOD YOU PASS OUT TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTRA CHILDREN. THE IDEA 
IS FOR EACH CHILD TO ONLY HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF EACH FOOD TO KEEP OR SHARE.)

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
Give each child one of the food items, a napkin and a knife.  (When you 
give a child the peanuts, give them all three.  Six children should have a
different food item to keep or to share.)  Ask them if they would like to 
each eat what is in front of them or would they like to share together? 
Those who pick sharing are to cut or break up their food item into enough 
pieces to share and pass them out.  The child with the peanuts cracks them 
open and shares one nut with each child. Say a blessing of thanks before 
eating.  While eating discuss the following questions:
1.  What makes sharing more fun?
2.  What are some other things that are as fun to share as food?
In our Bible story today a little boy shares His lunch with Jesus.  Is he 
in for a big surprise!  GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY.

***THE FOOD IN THIS ACTIVITY CAN BE SUBSTITUTED WITH ANY ITEM SUCH AS
CRAYONS ETC. WHERE THE CHILDREN FIND THEY ARE BETTER OFF WITH SMALL
AMOUNTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS RATHER THAN A LARGE AMOUNT OF ONE
THING.  EXAMPLE: GIVE EACH CHILD ONE COLORED CRAYON AND A PICTURE. 
SUGGEST THAT THEY BREAK THE CRAYONS AND SHARE IT WITH EACH OTHER
SO THEY CAN ALL HAVE MORE.

GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - SAND STORY (A multi-sensory activity)

Materials needed:
Box filled with sand (A Tupper-ware or deep-dish baking pan works well.)
Toothpicks
Popsicle sticks
Several rocks
Two different colored Chenille stems
Fish crackers
Wheat Thins

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Fill the box with sand.

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
As you tell the story, have the children add the following objects to the 
box to make a sand story.

Toothpicks - represent multitudes of people.  Add a lot!
Large Chenille stem - represents Jesus.  Add to the center of the box.
Rocks - add for decoration.  Add one right in front of Jesus
Popsicle sticks - represent disciples.  Add twelve in various locations 
in box.
(Re-arrange toothpicks in small groups when Jesus prepares them for the 
meal.  Put a popsicle stick disciple in charge of each group.)
Chenille stem cut in half - represents boy who shares lunch.  Add near 
Jesus.
Fish crackers & wheat thins - represent loaves and fish from boy's lunch.  
Place on rock in front of Jesus.


GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - PASS THE BASKET (A multi-sensory activity)

Materials needed:
Basket (with lid or cover with towel)
Silk or plastic flowers (small bunch that will fit into basket)
Small toy doll or car
Watch or small clock
Small Bible or New Testament

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Fill the basket with the above items and cover.

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:  
Have the children sit in a circle.  Show them where the memory verse is 
found in the Bible. Repeat it several times together.  Pass the basket to 
someone in the circle.  Say the memory verse as you pass it.  They must 
pick someone in the circle to pass the basket to, saying the memory
verse at the same time.  Each person, thereafter, passes the basket to 
someone new.  When the basket has been passed to the final child in the
circle open the lid and discover some things other than food that we can 
give others.


ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - GIVE- AWAY CARDS (A primarily visual & kinesthetic
activity)

Materials needed:
Stickers
3 X 5 cards (2 for each child)
Scissors

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Cut the 3 X 5 cards in half.  On each half print the following poem OR 
type it and xerox it so each child will have four copies.

I give this little card to you
To brighten up your day
To do the same for someone else
Just send it on its way

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
Give each child four halves of 3 X 5 cards.  Read the poem to them.  
Give them stickers to decorate their cards with.  Encourage them to share
the cards with four people this week.  When they give the card to someone, 
they tell them it's a pass-it-on card.  They cannot keep it for themselves, 
they must pass it on to someone else, instructing that person to also pass 
it on etc. When we give to others the good feeling just keeps coming back 
over and over.