===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, March 13, 1999 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date: January 31, 1999 Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, AN UNSELFISH GIRL, A SELFISH MAN ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: I will ask God to help me be unselfish so that I can be a good witness. Memory Verse: "'You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord,' and my servant whom I have chosen.'" Isa. 43:10, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - LEPROSY SPOTS OBJECT LESSON Materials needed: Baby powder Bowl Cotton swabs Jar of clean water Jar of muddy looking water WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Give each child a cotton ball. Have them dip it into the bowl of baby powder and dab white dots all over their arms, neck and face. Explain to them that the disease of leprosy left people with white splotches all over their bodies. The skin ate away at itself leaving raw wounds and gaping holes. Leprosy was a very contagious disease, and people who got it had to live separate from other people. In our Bible story today a man with leprosy is told he will be cured of the disease if he will dip in a river. (Bring out both jars of dirty muddy water and clean water) Give each child a new cotton ball. Ask them how many of them would like to clean their "leprosy spots" off using the dirty muddy water? (Before telling the Bible story wait for a few moments for the children to clean off their spots with the clean water. Some children will decide to leave them on or rub them in. Then go straight into the Bible story.) GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - BIBLE STORY DRAMATIZATION Materials needed: Large flashlight or spotlight Cleaning tools such as broom, dustcloth, small vacuum Play money Clothing articles Ropes Baby powder Cotton balls WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare in advance) There are no advance preparations necessary except to set up a spotlight if you are using one. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Explain to the children that there are 4 dramatic parts to the Bible play; the horses, Little Maid, Captain Naaman and Gehazi. Each child chooses which role they would like to play. It does not matter how many children are in each group, however you do need at least one child in each group. Position the four groups in four different areas of the room, preferably against a white wall. Give the cleaning tools to the children who will portray Little Maid. Give the play money and clothing articles to the group who will portray Gehazi. Tie ropes around the waists of the children who will portray the horses. Select one child in the group to be the driver of the horses. Have the children portraying Naaman put more powder dots on as in the Getting Their Attention activity above. Explain to the children that you will narrate the story. They are to listen closely and when their character is doing something in the story, you will shine the flashlight or spotlight on them. They are to do the appropriate action that would go with that part of the story. Some ideas for actions for each group are: Little Maid: cleaning with tools, speaking to Naaman, kneeling in prayer Captain Naaman: Looking at his leprosy, bowing to the King of Israel, dipping in the river Horses: Galloping whenever appropriate Gehazi: Running after Naaman, hiding gifts, finding leprosy on himself GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - MEMORY VERSE COUNT-OFF Materials needed: Bibles WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Have the children sit in a circle. Look up the memory verse together in the Bible. After reading it talk about the difference between a slave and a servant. A slave usually works against their will and is not paid or rewarded. A servant is paid or rewarded and chooses to be in the service of their employer. Why does Jesus call us to be servants and not slaves? (He wants us to willingly work for Him in His service as witnesses of His love and kindness.) Have all the children scoot close together so everyone can easily reach the middle of the circle. Each child holds both fists in front of them. The child designated as first, places his right fist into the circle and says the first word of the memory verse, then places his left fist into the circle as he says the second word of the verse. The child to his left places his right fist into the circle and says the third word of the verse, then places his left fist into the circle and says the fourth word. Continue in this manner until all verse words are said. Whichever child says the word "chosen", (which is the last word of the memory verse) pulls that fist out of the game permanently. Begin the verse again right at that point. The object of the game is to practice saying the verse over and over pulling the fist out that the last word of the verse lands on until only one fist is left in the game. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - GIVING BANKS Materials needed: Small cans (soup or juice size) (one for each child) Felt Clothes pins Glue Construction paper 1 sheet each of 5 different colors Scissors WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Collect the cans ahead of time and tear the labels off. Make sure the insides are clean and dry. Cut felt into circular pieces that will wrap around each can. Cut construction paper into small 4" X 4" strips. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Being unselfish is more than sharing toys or possessions. It means sharing your time, money, love and ideas in addition to your things. Little Maid shared an idea and her love when she told Captain Naaman about Elisha the prophet. Explain to the children that they will make Giving banks. Inside the banks they will store ideas of things that they are willing and able to share with others. When they see someone in need, they can go to the bank and share one of their ideas. They then follow through and actually do it. 1. Have children wrap a felt piece around a can and glue it holding the top and bottom together with clothes pins. Other scraps of felt may be used for decoration. 2. Have the children print the word "time" on all the colored construction paper strips of one color. They then roll them up and each child adds some to their bank. 3. Pass out another color of construction paper strips and print the word, "things" on them. Roll them up and have each child add some to their can. 4. On a third color of construction paper strips, write the word, "love". Roll them up and have each child add some to their can. 5. On a fourth color of construction paper strips, write the word, "ideas". Roll them up and have each child add some to their can. 6. If children can think of any other ways they can share, have them write them on strips and add them to their jars. 7. Encourage the children to "empty their bank" during this week. See how many unselfish ways they can share themselves with others. Be sure they understand to follow through with the action written on the paper they pass to someone. (For example: If they give someone a paper with the word "time" written on it, they give someone some extra time in babysitting or doing a chore or whatever is needed.)