Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, September 5, 1998 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author Cyndi Long) Date: August 1, 1998 Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, A TALKING DONKEY Lesson Aim: I will ask Jesus to help me be a person who can be respected. Memory Verse: "A good name is more desirable than great riches." Proverbs 22:1, NIV. GETTING THEIR ATTENTION: PET TALKS Materials needed: Plain white paper (typing paper would do fine) Pencils WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Instruct the children to draw a picture of their pet at home. If there is more than one, they choose only one. If they don't have a pet, they may draw one they would own if possible. Next to the pets mouth they draw a balloon signifying that the animal is speaking. The children write a brief message in the balloon of what they think the pet would say if it could talk. Discuss the pictures and messages briefly. In the story today there is an animal that talked. I wonder what it had to say. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE: BIBLE STORY MIME Materials needed: None WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Read the story and know it well enough to be able to tell it without the quarterly. Plan in advance the places in the story where the children will mime a character's part. (Miming is silent drama with no speaking or props.) WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Assign character parts to the students. Show them how to make the motions that are needed to characterize their person. You will need a King Balak, Balaam, and an angel. For larger classes, messengers, Princes and Israelites may be added. As you narrate the story, the children add the motions and drama needed. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE: SPECIAL NAMES Materials needed: Paper Stickers Markers Glue Yarn Book containing the meanings of names WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Print each child's name in the middle of the paper. Keep the letters large and not too close together. Print the memory verse on the bottom of the paper. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Doing only one letter of their name at a time, have each child apply a medium line of glue on the letter, then lay yarn on the glue. Don't be too miserly with the glue or the yarn will not adhere as quickly or as well. Help each child locate their name and its meaning in the book. The meaning can be written beside or under the name. Fancy stickers will add a nice decorative touch. Whether or not they think their name is special or not, God wants them to be a person that can be respected. That's what the memory verse means when it says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches." Prov. 22:1 ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - PRAYER REMINDING BOOKMARKS Materials needed: One pre-made bookmark per child Posterboard OR write on/wipe off board OR paper Marking pen WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Make one bookmark for each child from heavy paper cut into rectangles of approx. 2"x 6". In pretty handwriting print the words, "With Jesus' help I can be respected by others." Design a decorative border around each one. Vines and/or flowers, mini Bibles, or praying hands, are a few suggestions. Small stickers are a nice addition, especially ones of Jesus, or other religious themes. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Ask the children for 5 names of men or women respected in the Bible. Examples are Noah, Elijah, Ruth, etc. After each name ask them why that person was respected. Ask for specific qualities. (Example - Noah, because he continued to preach the Word of God for a very long time.) Next ask them for 5 names of famous men or women who are respected today. Examples are President Clinton, Gloria Estafan , Mother Theresa. Again, after each name ask for specific qualities that make that person respected. (Example - Gloria Estafan,- the great amount of charity work she does for those less fortunate.) Now ask for 5 people they know personally whom they respect and why. ( Example - Pastor, he spends time with those that are sick or in need of spiritual help.) Now discuss the list of qualities that you have made. Find out how God feels about those qualities. Is it a quality God would want them to have? Cross out the ones that are not selected. Talk about how some people may be respected because they have a lot of money or because they have become famous. God has shown us through His Word that respect is earned in a different way than this. Respect comes from keeping your promises, treating others fairly and obeying authority. God has to help you earn respect and show respect to others. Without Him it is impossible to do even for adults. Pray with the children and ask God to help you and each of them to be people who can be respected. Pass out the bookmarks. Explain that these are reminders for them to place in their Bibles to remember to ask God everyday to help them be someone who can be respected.