The Good Samaritan is one of the stories that Jesus told and is from Luke 10. It teaches one simple truth about how we treat other people. Here is a simple storytelling idea for young children.. Characters for telling the good Samaritan story The Good Samaritan Story Idea To tell the story I had several… Continue reading The Good Samaritan – Stories Jesus Told
Author: Rachel Ball
Hi! Let their light shine is where I blog about Toddler Group and Sunday School ideas.
Cup Cake Cases Flower Wreath
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means if you click on the link and purchase the item I will receive commission at no extra cost to you. A cup cake case flower wreath is a colourful craft to celebrate spring and summer. Paper cake cases are inexpensive and come in… Continue reading Cup Cake Cases Flower Wreath
God Knows When I Feel Sad and When I Feel Happy
God knows when I feel sad and when I feel happy is a toddler friendly version of the Easter Story. We focus on how Jesus' friends felt and how they were sad because he had died and then happy at the conclusion of the story. This is a suitable way to tell the Easter story… Continue reading God Knows When I Feel Sad and When I Feel Happy
Easter Craft – a paper Easter Garden
Easter Garden Craft Easter Craft - a paper Easter Garden that is easy to make. Easter Gardens are lovely but if you don't have the time to make a garden with soil and real plants then this is a simple alternative. It is a great reminder of the Story of Easter. To make the Easter… Continue reading Easter Craft – a paper Easter Garden
God Knows when I feel….excited!
God knows when I feel excited is all about Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. Children are often excited so it's great to tell a story they will relate to. This story from Matthew 21 is about the excited crowd who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Traditionally this event is called Palm Sunday. It begins the week of… Continue reading God Knows when I feel….excited!
God knows when I feel….thankful
God knows when I feel thankful is a story from Luke 17:11-19. God knows when I feel thankful story idea I used 10 wooden spoons to represent the ten men that asked Jesus to help them. On one side there is a sad face and on the other a happy face. Turn the spoons around… Continue reading God knows when I feel….thankful
God knows when I feel….scared
God knows when I feel scared. God really does know how we feel. This week's story is from Luke 8:22-25 when the disciples were scared. Even though Jesus was sleeping during the storm he is the Son of God, and he still knew how the disciples felt. God knows when I feel scared story idea… Continue reading God knows when I feel….scared
God knows when I feel….. busy!
God knows when I feel busy! This term we are telling Bible Stories that remind us that God knows how we feel. We start with Martha feeling busy. The story is from Luke 10: 38-42. Each week there will be a different emoji paper plate face that represents how the character in the story is… Continue reading God knows when I feel….. busy!
Valentine Craft
Valentine craft to make! Valentine card A home made Valentine craft that is easy to make. The heart shapes become flower petals. You can buy heart shaped paper punchers/cutters which make the preparation of this craft quick and easy. You could buy heart shaped stickers to add to the choice of hearts too. All you… Continue reading Valentine Craft
The Boy with 2 Fish and 5 Loaves – A Bible Number Story
This Bible Story had lots of numbers! 2 fish, 5 loaves, 12 baskets of leftovers and 5,000 people! But we are using it to count to five. The Story is from John 6. It is, of course, 'The feeding of the 5,000'. The Bible Truth for Toddlers is 'Jesus is amazing!'. There is also something… Continue reading The Boy with 2 Fish and 5 Loaves – A Bible Number Story
Weaving Craft
Weaving craft is a great activity for an after school club for children aged 4-plus. It needs a bit of prep but is well worth the effort. We made these at our children's club and everyone joined in; there was lots of concentration! Try to have yarn of different colours so the children can make… Continue reading Weaving Craft
The Man with Four Friends – A Bible Number Story
The Man with Four Friends is our next Bible number story in the series. We are up to the number four! For the other numbers we have told stories about have a look at these links - Number One, Number Two, Number Three This week the Bible Story is from Mark 2:1-22. The Bible Truth… Continue reading The Man with Four Friends – A Bible Number Story
Paper Plate Fish Craft
Paper plate fish craft to make. There are so many Bible Stories with fish! You could use this craft for Creation, the Calling of the first disciples, the Great catch of fish, Jesus making breakfast. Paper plate fish craft - all you need Paper plate (inexpensive and not too sturdy) Cut out a triangle from… Continue reading Paper Plate Fish Craft
Jesus and Three Disciples – A Bible Number Story
Jesus and three disciples is our next Bible number story. We are up to the number 3. This Story is from Matthew 17:1-13. (We have already thought about Jonah and One Big Fish and Noah and Two of Every Animal.) This week's Bible Truth for Toddler's is, 'We can listen to Jesus.' To tell the… Continue reading Jesus and Three Disciples – A Bible Number Story
Candle – colouring stained glass craft
Candle - colouring stained glass craft. This is a very simple candle craft - you can choose whether to cut out the flame and glue tissue paper to the back for a stained glass effect or just colour in the flame or add some glitter! And you can choose whether or not to add a… Continue reading Candle – colouring stained glass craft
Noah and two of every animal – A Bible Number Story
Noah and two of every animal is our second bible number story. Last week we thought about the Number One and Jonah and the One Big Fish. This story is all about counting to two! The Bible Truth for toddlers is, 'Those who trust in God are rescued'. You can read the story from Genesis… Continue reading Noah and two of every animal – A Bible Number Story
Jonah and the One Great Big Fish – A Bible Number Story
Jonah and the One Great Big Fish - A Bible Number Story. We are thinking about counting in toddler group. So we have some Bible Stories with numbers. First up is Jonah. The Bible truth for toddlers in this story is 'God always knows where we are'. The story is from the book of Jonah.… Continue reading Jonah and the One Great Big Fish – A Bible Number Story
Playdough Recipe
Playdough recipe to make in the microwave. Don't be tempted to leave out the cream of tartar, you need it to stop the dough going off. Ingredients 2 Cups plain flour 2 Cups water 1 Cup salt 2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar 2 Tablespoons oil (not nut oil or olive oil) Food colouring Playdough recipe… Continue reading Playdough Recipe
Stortelling tip #27
storytelling tip#27 is ... Tell it like you mean it Tell your Bible Story with conviction. These are the best stories and we have the privilege of sharing them. Tell them in such a way that your listeners know that the Bible is important to you. Tell them in such a way that your listeners… Continue reading Stortelling tip #27
Storytelling tip #26
Some details add to your story Young children are focused on their world. They know about feeling hungry, tired, happy, sad. They know about home. They know what daytime and nightime are. The weather is part of their everyday. Use these familiar things when you tell the Bible Story. If it happened at night mention… Continue reading Storytelling tip #26
Storytelling tip #25
Be clear When telling the Bible Story use words that everyone understands. Don't clutter your story with terminology that you won't have time to explain. Tell everyone that Zacchaeus was short but leave out his job. You don't have time to explain to toddlers what tax is.
Storytelling tip #24
Use your voice You can talk quietly, you can whisper, you can talk LOUDLY. (Don't shout). Vary your volume. It will make the story sound more interesting. Don't talk too quickly - we sometimes speed up when we are nervous. Try to use a friendly, calm tone. If you aren't sure how you sound, record… Continue reading Storytelling tip #24
Stoytelling tip #23
Keep your adult listeners busy When telling a Bible Story to toddlers it helps to keep their adults involved. Encourage everyone to join in with a variety of actions to do, phrases to repeat, sounds to make.
Storytelling tip #22
Repetition is good.. repetition is good.. A phrase that repeats during the story is great for helping everyone to join in. It could be 'can you see him?' for a story about the lost sheep or, 'where is it?' for the lost coin. Have a look at this retelling of The Good Samaritan and spot… Continue reading Storytelling tip #22
Storytelling tip #21
Add some sound What sound does a .... make? This is a great question to ask during a Bible Story. It gets the toddlers thinking and they can all join in and make the noise. If it's a story about sheep everyone can say baa. If it's a pig in the story, it's an oink.… Continue reading Storytelling tip #21
Storytelling tip #20
Give your listeners something to do Think - 'are there any actions we could do during this story?' Actions are a good way of getting everyone involved (especially the adults). Looking, walking, running, sleeping, hidingclimbing - all these things can have actions. You don't need too many. But add a few actions if they naturally… Continue reading Storytelling tip #20
Storytelling tip #19
Keep it short Do your best to keep the story short. Toddlers aren't going to listen to a long story. Practice your story - time yourself. Aim for your story to feel short to the listeners. It shouldn't drag or go on and on...
Storytelling tip #18
Be prepared for Christmas! Invite your pastor or a staff member from your church to come to toddler group to tell the Christmas Story. It's an opportunity for them to meet people at the group. And it gives you time to think about the special craft and festive food that you will probably be busy… Continue reading Storytelling tip #18
Storytelling tip #17
Share the load If you can, share the telling of Bible stories with others. We can learn from each other. Be supportive of one another and offer encouragement. It's sometimes really helpful to have an extra pair of hands to hold a storytelling prop; ask for help from others in the team.
Storytelling tip #16
Begin storytime with a song Instead of announcing storytime with, 'It's storytime', start with a song. It will become your theme song that tells everyone that it's time for a story. Choose something simple and easy to join in with. Familiar tunes with your own words are great. Once you have your song stick with… Continue reading Storytelling tip #16
Storytelling tip #15
Involve others Ask for help in collecting items for storytelling props and craft resources. Involve people in your church. Explain what you need and give people the opportunity to join in by collecting cardboard tubes, christmas cards etc. Use your churches' notice sheet to make the needs known and share pictures of the made crafts… Continue reading Storytelling tip #15
Storytelling tip #14
Collect craft ideas for your planned Bible stories Keep your eyes open for craft ideas that fit in with the Bible Stories you are planning to tell. Pinterest is full of ideas that can be used or adapted. There are even some on this blog 🙂 Ideas can come from anywhere! Try out any ideas… Continue reading Storytelling tip #14
Storytelling tip #13
Plan your stories for the year Plan ahead. Look at term dates (use your local school dates) and work out your timetable. Note down any special dates you want to celebrate - Harvest, Christmas, Easter, summer party. Plan your stories for the year ahead. Start with a theme for each half term. Some ideas -… Continue reading Storytelling tip #13
Storytelling tip #12
Collect together resources that can help you Go Teach and Scripture Union have some great resources that will help you tell Bible Stories in Toddler Group. Children's Story Bibles and Bible Story books written for young children can be a big help too. They will give you ideas of how to phrase things and how… Continue reading Storytelling tip #12
Storytelling tip #11
Knit some storytelling characters Knitted toys are some of the best storytelling props you can have. If you can't knit find someone who can. Acrylic yarn is inexpensive and comes in lots of colours. You don't need loads of knitted toys - just a few men and woman with different hair (some grey for older… Continue reading Storytelling tip #11
Storytelling tip #10
Start a file of your storytelling ideas Keeping a collection of ideas is great - if you have a few weeks and you don't know what to do you have ideas to fall back on. Think of themes - homes Jesus visited, stories people told, things God made. Under these headings add specific stories, prop… Continue reading Storytelling tip #10
Storytelling tip #9
Sort out storage for your storytelling items If you can, store your storytelling props in a box. Take a photo of each item and stick it to the outside of the box. You will be able to see at a glance what you have. This should save you time! No more hunting high and low… Continue reading Storytelling tip #9
Storytelling tip #8
Collect items that you can use in storytelling. Taking items from a story bag is great for keeping attention. Props help understanding. Build a collection of items you can use. Blue cloth for sea or sky, toy tools (lots of stories about building), toy animals (creation), a tent to transform into a big fish, a… Continue reading Storytelling tip #8
Storytelling tip #7
Buy or make a story bag that you will love using Taking items out of a storybag during a story builds interest. Use a bag that's large enough and attractive for the children and easy for you to use. No plastic bags!
Storytelling tip #6
Practice what you are going to say Tell your story to yourself. Practice it. Practice using any puppets or props. Get a feel for how it sounds. Don't aim for knowing it word for word - you want to know how the story goes and be so comfortable with it that the telling is fresh… Continue reading Storytelling tip #6
Storytelling tip #5
Use the Bible - not your memory When preparing a Bible story rely on the Bible rather than your memory. Read the story a few times. Get it into your head. Read it out aloud. Sometimes we think we know a Bible story but we've forgotten somthing or added something. So, start with the Bible.
Storytelling tip #4
Know how you are going to finish your story Every story needs to reach a satisfying conclusion. It needs to end in way that is clear. Any problems in the story need to be solved. Zaccheus met Jesus! Jonah went to the town of Ninevah. The Wise men found Jesus. Think through how your story… Continue reading Storytelling tip #4
Storytelling tip #3
Know how you are going to begin Facing an audience can be nerve wracking. To avoid going blank be really sure of your opening sentence. Learn it. Write it down and have a last minute look at it just before you begin. Some ideas - 'There was once a...' 'A long time ago...' Say hello… Continue reading Storytelling tip #3
Storytelling tip #2
Make yourself heard There's no need to shout a story at people but they do need to be able to hear you tell the story. Be close enough to your audience so that they can hear you. If you can, use a PA system. A mic will enable everyone to hear you even if you… Continue reading Storytelling tip #2
Storytelling tip #1
Make sure everyone can see you It's much easier to listen to the story when you can see the storyteller. Think about where the chairs are placed. If everyone is sitting on the floor kneel or sit on a low chair when you tell the story. You want to be a little higher than the… Continue reading Storytelling tip #1