===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, February 13, 1999 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date: December 15, 1998 Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, BIRDS FEED A HUNGRY MAN ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: God loves to take care of His friends. Memory Verse: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:8, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - FOOD FUN Materials needed: Croutons (Large pieces, not crushed) Ziploc bags Masking Tape or Yarn Large bag or basket WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Make a line across the floor using masking tape or yarn. Place the croutons in a large bag or basket. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Students line up on the same side of the line facing you. Place the croutons in front of you. Give each child a Ziploc bag. Explain to them that they are birds. They want the croutons you have in your bag. Every time they come up with an answer to one of the following questions, they can "fly" (jump) over the line and open their bag to receive some croutons. They may not repeat each other's answers and may not blurt out an answer before being called. 1. What kinds of foods can you get from a garden? 2. What kinds of food can you get from a fast-food store? 3. What kinds of food can you get from a Chinese restaurant? 4. What kinds of food can you get from an Italian restaurant? 5. Can you think of a place where meals are brought to you? (Restaurant, hospital, home sick in bed, Meals on Wheels, Nursing Home, ) 6. Who received his meals from the birds? (Elijah) Have the children sit down on the floor. They may eat their bread crumbs while you tell the story or may take them home to feed the birds. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - MEMORY VERSE VALENTINES Materials needed: Red and pink card stock or other heavy paper that can still be xeroxed Heart shaped pattern Heart stickers Scissors WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Using a heart-shaped pattern, draw two connecting hearts (connected at the top) on a sheet of plain white paper. On the bottom heart type or print the memory verse. Xerox these hearts onto pink and red card stock or other heavier paper. Xerox enough for each child to have 3-4. Depending on the age and abilities of your children you may wish to precut the hearts out ahead of time also. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Give each child 3-4 heart valentines. Have them fold the hearts at the top so they have two hearts on top of each other. When the top heart is lifted up the bottom heart should have the memory verse printed on it. On the top heart the children print the words, "Be God's Valentine". Both hearts can be decorated with stickers. Encourage the children to share the valentines with others. Guide the children in understanding that Jesus is the very best valentine that has ever been given. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - GOD'S SURPLUS OF SUPPLIES Materials needed: Bibles Texts WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Write the following texts on slips of paper, roll them up and put them all in a small container. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Have the children choose a rolled up text from the container. After looking up the text they decide what God provided in order to take care of His friends. They then try to get the rest of the class to guess what it is by using hand motions, signals and mimes. (Add to the texts as desired.) 1. Matt. 14:19 (Loaves & Fishes) 2. Exo. 16:15 (manna) 3. Matt. 17:27 (tax money) 4. John 13:5 (He provided them with a servant, Himself. He washed their feet.) 5. Luke 8:25 (Peace; He calmed their fears.) 6. John 2:7-9 (wine) 7. Joshua 10:13,14 (Extra daylight time) 8. Joshua 10:11 (Hailstones) ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - VALENTINE BIRD TREATS Materials needed: Toast (1-2 slices per child) Peanut butter Bird seed Large plastic needle Yarn Blunt table knives Zip loc bags Large men's shirts or aprons WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Prepare 1-2 slices of toast for each child. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: This activity is designed to teach the children that just as God cares for us, we care can take care of our friends in nature. February is a hard time for animals and birds. Each child will prepare one or two valentine treats for the birds. 1. Using the table knife cut the toast in the shape of a heart. 2. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on each slice of toast. 3. Sprinkle bird seed over the peanut butter. Press down. 4. Using the large plastic needle, thread the yarn through the toast and tie at the top to form a hanger. 5. Place the valentine treat in a Zip-loc bag and take home to share with God's nature friends.