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Pentecost

Pentecost Bible story for young children with some craft ideas courtesy of Pinterest.

I’ve started the story in Luke 24:36-53 so that we can set the day of Pentecost in the context of the great commission. The disciples were told to tell others about the Lord Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit enabled them to do just that. The rest of the story idea is based on Acts 2

Bible story idea

Bible Truth for toddlers – Jesus keeps his promises

The Lord Jesus had died and come back to life again. Many people saw him and he spent time with his disciples. He had a very special job that he wanted his disciples to do. What could it be? He told them to tell everyone about him. Not just the people close by but people who lived far away too. But how could they do that? It was a huge job to do! The Lord Jesus promised that he would send God the Holy Spirit to help.

And then Jesus went back to heaven, where he still is now.

His friends waited. If Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit they knew it would happen. Jesus always keeps his promises.

The friends and followers of Jesus all met together in a house. It was a special time, there was a big festival called Pentecost and lots and lots of people were travelling to Jerusalem from all over the place to celebrate. They spoke different languages, wore different clothes and traveled from here, there and everywhere.

Meanwhile in the house there was suddenly a sound like the wind, and something that looked like flames rested above the heads of Jesus’ friends. Suddenly they could speak in languages they had never learned.

They were able to tell the people in Jerusalem who were from here, there and everywhere about the Lord Jesus! God, The Holy Spirit had come and he was helping them. And that day lots and lots of people believed in Jesus and became his followers.

Prop Ideas to help tell the story

I’ve used some picture from Lamp Bible Pictures and attached them to large lollipop sticks. Here’s the link to Lamp Bible Pictures. I purchased the Power Point and printed the pictures that i wanted to use.

Pentecost crafts Pinterest Board

Here’s a few craft ideas – look out for the super play dough mat idea.

Here’s a link to a fuller retelling of the Ascension

Valentine Collage

Valentine collage to make using coloured tissue paper.

Tissue paper is a wonderful paper that can be torn, layered, crumpled and glued. It comes in a whole variety of colours and is relatively inexpensive. I use it a lot in crafts with children.

This Valentine themed tissue paper collage is very simple to prepare and make. The added hearts are a nice touch but if you don’t have a paper punch to make heart shapes stickers would be great.

All you need to make the valentine collage

A4 or A3 sugar paper
Glue sticks
Hearts cut from paper (and/or heart stickers)
Tissue paper torn into shapes – I used pink, red and yellow in large squares and some green in smaller shapes

Young children can be given the torn tissue paper shapes. Older children could select the colours they wish to use and tear the paper themselves. Tissue paper tears easily but usually there is a direction in the paper that tears in a straightish line – so experiment and see how the older children get on. If they are having trouble tearing the paper easily suggest that they turn the paper 90 degrees and try again.

Some other ideas for Valentines Day

Card to make

Valentine heart wreath to make

God sees us – Hagar

God sees us is a truth from the Bible. The story of Hagar from Genesis 16 illustrates this truth in a really beautiful way. Hagar is comforted knowing that she is seen by God, who cares for her.

To tell the story use a doll to represent Hagar.

knitted doll to represent Hagar for What is God like story series for toddlers

God sees us – Hagar story idea

Say hello to Hagar!

Hagar was very sad. (Can you look sad?) She ran away from her home. (Make the sound of running by tapping hands on knees – encourage everyone to do this action with you). She sat down and looked around. There was no one there. No one. It was very quiet. (Everyone say ‘shush’).

But God knew where Hagar was. He spoke to her, ‘It will be alright Hagar. Go back home.’

Hagar listened. She knew that God could see where she was. She knew that God is everywhere. Hagar said, ‘You are the God who sees me. You are the God who looks after me.’

God sees you and me too. He cares for us and is able to look after us.

God sees us – Hagar craft idea

Make a happy and sad paper plate face. On one side make a sad face and on the other side a happy face.

Glue plates back to back with a large lollipop stick between them so they can be held and turned. Hagar was sad but at the end of our story she is happy. Here’s some ideas from Pinterest.

Paul meets Jesus

Paul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus. The story is from Acts 9:1-19. We’ve used the name Paul for the story as it’s easier for young children to stick to one name – but of course you could use the name Saul.

To tell the story – have a story bag or basket with Paul and Ananias and a bright yellow cloth or similar for the bright light.

Puppets representing Paul and Ananias to use when telling the story Paul meets Jesus

Paul meets Jesus story idea

Paul was not happy! He was really, really cross. He was angry with all the people who believed in Jesus. Paul believed in God. He worked very hard to keep all of God’s rules. But now people had started to go around telling everyone that Jesus was God the Son who had died and three days later come back to life again.

Paul was angry. He wanted to stop people talking about Jesus. But what could he do? He decided that he would find as many people who believed in Jesus as he could and put them in prison. That would stop them telling everyone!

So Paul started to go to the town of Damascus. He knew people there were talking about Jesus and he wanted to shut them up!

Suddenly, as Paul was on his way there was a really bright light – a light from heaven. Paul fell to the ground and then he heard someone talking to him. It wasn’t one of the people with him, it wasn’t an angel. Who could it be?

Paul why are you being so horrible to me? the voice said.

‘Who are you?’ Paul asked

‘I am Jesus’, came the reply. ‘go into the city and you will be told what to do’.

Paul got up but he couldn’t see anything and the people with him held his hand and helped him into the city.

Meanwhile Ananias was at his home. God said to him, Ananias, go to Straight Street to Judas’ house. When you get there pray for a man named Paul.

Ananias had heard all about Paul and he wasn’t too sure at first but God told him to go and so he did.

When he met Paul he prayed for him and then Paul could see again. And Paul knew that Jesus really was alive in heaven. He realised that Jesus is the Son of God and he started to tell everyone he met about Jesus.

craft ideas

Here’s a link to another story from Acts – Tabitha

David and Psalm 139

David wrote Psalm 139. We are going to focus on verses 1-16. It’s a personal Psalm that shows us that the Creator God knows us as individuals. This is comforting and challenging; God knows everything about us. We can’t hide from God, we can’t escape him but it is comforting too; he knows us and he leads and guides us. Our story also mentions that The LORD was with David – see 1 Samuel 16:18.

David and Psalm 139 Bible Story for young children

Bible Truth – God knows about me

To tell the story use a story bag with a doll for David, a sheep and a crown. You could write the shortened and simplified Psalm 139 (see below) out on a big piece of paper for the adults to say together. You can add actions to Psalm 139 too – point upwards for God and then do simple actions for the main words.

Say hello to David! (take David from the story bag). David lived a long time ago. He had two different jobs at different times. When he was young he was a shepherd who looked after sheep. (take sheep from story bag). What sound does a sheep make? (everyone make a ‘bah’ sound). Later on David became a very important King (take crown from the story bag).

The Bible tells us something special about David – it tells us that the LORD was with him. The LORD is a way of speaking about the God who made everything and rules over everything.

David wrote a song all about how God knew him, God was with him and God had made him –

God knows me!

He knows what I think

He knows what I say,

He knows when I sit down and when I stand up.

Everywhere I go God is there. He is always with me.

God knew all about me even before I was born because he made me!

David was sure that God knew all about him, that God was always with him and God had made him. Being sure of these things helped David to be a good shepherd looking after the sheep and a good King looking after God’s people.

Craft ideas

Make a sheep – David was a shepherd

sheep-2 Download

Decorate people shapes using tissue paper and fabric

People shape cut outs decorated with tissue paper and fabric

I found this blog post really helpful when thinking about this Psalm – https://jemwwg.wordpress.com/bible-study-notes/old-testament/psalms/psalm-139/

Let’s Share Bible Stories with Toddlers

“Hello friends, hello friends. How are you, how are you? It’s time for a story, time for a story. Come and listen, come and listen.”

We sing this song to the tune of ‘Frere Jacques’ every week at toddler group. We gather round the story chair in a semi – circle; some sit on the rugs and others on chairs and then we share a story together.

By saying ‘share a story together’ I mean that I don’t just read a story from a book or recite a story script. It is story telling – a much more interactive group activity. We are ‘in it together’, taking part, joining in.

There are different ways of creating a joining in experience when telling a story. Here are a few ideas

Sounds to make – the sound of the storm on the lake
Actions to do – climbing the tree with Zacchaeus
Saying hello to the characters in the story as they come out of the story bag
Singing a song – include ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ part way through the story of the shepherds and angels.

So how do you choose which stories to tell?

As a church-based group (although we meet in a community hall) we tell stories from the Bible. It can help if each story is connected to a theme for half a term. Animal Bible stories, Homes Jesus Visited, Stories Jesus Told, Creation. Choose stories that you feel comfortable with and will enjoy telling.

When to have Story Time?

Pick a time in your session when there are less distractions. If you want the children to join in, then serve snacks before or after. Try to time things so that hands are free to take part in the story actions. If possible, have a space where there are no toys or do Story Time at the beginning or towards the end of the session.

Create a space

The storyteller needs to be seen and to be on the children’s level. Choose a low seat and create a semi – circle. Clean rugs encourage parents/carers and children to sit on the floor, but chairs are good for adults who need a higher seat.

The idea is to know the story well and encourage interaction with the group. The Bible is full of the most wonderful stories. Enjoy sharing them!

(This is an article I wrote for CEF Britain’s Newsletter)

Here are some of the items I use when telling stories…

The spies hiding

Easter Story Idea

Jonah

the big fish that swallowed Jonah

Thank you God for my feet..

Acts 3:1-10 is a great story for thanking God for our feet. The children will enjoy jumping and walking. To tell the story use actions – these are in italics. Use as many or as few as suits your group.

Bible story from Acts 3:1-10. The lame man is healed

Bible truth for toddlers – we can thank God for our feet

‘There was a man who was very sad – can you look sad?

Each day he sat outside and asked people for money so he could buy food – rub thumbs and fingers together to illustrate money

One day two of Jesus’ friends came walking by. They were called Peter and John. Tap hands on knees to make sound of walking.

They stopped and looked at the man. Everyone sit still.

‘Look at us’ they said. Ask everyone to repeat this.

The man looked and he hoped they would give him some money. Rub thumb and fingers together again.

We don’t have any money! Ask everyone to repeat this.

‘But what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus get up and walk!’

Peter held out his hand and helped the man up.

Could he walk? Yes! He could walk – can you walk? He could jump – can you jump?

He was happy!

We can thank God for our feet that we use for standing, walking, running and jumping.’

You could use pictures instead if you prefer – Free Bible Images have these.

This is a craft idea.

Thank you God for my hands..

This last term at Toddler Group we thought about ourselves – our hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose and mouth. It is a very easy starting point for the children as they are learning about themselves as well as hearing a short story.

We started with Tabitha. We’ve done her story before but with young children repetition is good.

Tabitha came along to toddler group and bought some sewing supplies with her. We talked about what we could do with our hands – wave, shake hands and help tidy away toys.

For the craft we made coloured rice pictures. Children and adults loved this craft and it was very easy to prepare. I dyed the rice using food colouring and a spoonful of vinegar. Just put the rice in a plastic freezer bag, add food colouring and a teaspoon of vinegar and then smoosh it all around. Pour out onto a tray to dry. ( You can cover the tray in kitchen roll – you just need to then tease the rice off when it’s dry). Once it dries and you break it up with your fingers. We then made rice collages – I used black, square paper plates rather than paper as the rim of the plate kept the rice and PVA glue a bit more contained.

We have a large group so I separated the rice into small containers – two lots of each colour. Half way through the activity I was able to refresh the supplies so that everyone got a chance to choose individual colours.

‘Thank you God’ big book

This past week I needed a large -ish visual aid to use at Toddler Group that was a change from a story bag. So I made a big book. Well, it’s nearer to an envelope really. Very simple to make. All you need is A3 cartridge paper (it does need to be strong paper) x2, some double sided tape, string and cellotape. The basic idea is that you gradually take pictures out of the book/envelope by pulling on the string that has pictures attached.

To make – print out pictures of the things you are thankful for. On one of the A3 sheets of paper secure the string. Then attach your printed pictures onto the length of string – make sure you space them well. Better to have loads of string rather than very small gaps between pictures. Leave a length of string to hang outside the book/envelope. Decorate your front cover. Then using double sided tape stick the A3 sheets of paper together on three sides only. I also used cellotape around three sides.

The person is meant to be me! I used large people shapes from Baker Ross. These are OK but a bit tricky to colour with crayons as they are shiny. The pictures were from the internet – food, a home and a family.

If I was doing this with over three’s I would get enough supplies for each child to make their own and then use the ‘book’ as a prayer help. Older children could select their own pictures or write. If doing the latter an A4 or A5 sized book would be fine.

A-Z of the Bible

A couple of years ago we used the alphabet to teach a Bible story a week at Toddler Group. We used a person, place or object and once or twice a word from a story for a letter of the alphabet. For example a is for Adam, b is for Bethlehem, c is for carpenter and so on. The downloads are the wall chart that we built up over the weeks.

For craft we did various things and sometimes chose to print out the letter for that week for the children to decorate – so a bit educational :). We tried to use the phonetic alphabet but did do E is for Eve because I think I just wasn’t thinking straight that week.

Here are the downloads. WALL DISPLAY (a-d) (1)WALL DISPLAY (e-h)WALL DISPLAY (i-l)WALL DISPLAY (m-p)WALL DISPLAY (q-t)WALL DISPLAY (u-x)WALL DISPLAY (y-z)

Jericho

We don’t usually do stories in strict chronological order at Toddler Group. We generally tell Bible stories that are linked by a theme and may or may not follow on from the previous week. However, we followed the story of Rahab and the spies with the story of Jericho and it worked well. The duplo Jericho was very visual – a bit tricky to make sure that Rahab’s home stayed intact when the walls came down but the lego duplo was carefully put together to make sure her home was safe!

The Story (Joshua 6)

To tell the story we had actions for everyone to do – marching, blowing pretend trumpets and a loud shout. We did lots of counting too – the seven days and the final seven times round the city walls. With the shout the duplo walls fell down.

Main Teaching Point – the people believed that God would do what he said. God always does what he says he will do.

Rahab had great faith – she put the red cord in the window and went and got her family together. And she waited. The Israelites had to cross the Jordan before getting to Jericho but she didn’t doubt that God would give them the city. We read about Rahab’s family in Matthew’s Gospel. She was Boaz’s grandmother. Boaz married Ruth and was King David’s great grandfather. She is one of the few women named in the genealogy of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:30,31

‘by faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient’

Y is for the rich young man

The story of the Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17-22) has a sad ending. He loves his money more than Jesus. With older children you could talk about things that get in the way of them following Jesus. You could also add a question mark symbol and talk more about why the young man asked the question, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Did he already think he was good enough?

With young children the story lends itself to using actions – running, kneeling and walking. Make a money bag using real coins as they are weighty and jingle! Or use an action to represent money such as rubbing your thumb and fingers together.

The Story about The Rich Young Man – for younger children

One day a young man came to speak to Jesus. He didn’t walk up to Jesus. He ran to Jesus. (Run on the spot) He wanted to ask a question. He thought that Jesus was important so he knelt down in front of him and asked ‘Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?’ (kneel down)

It was a good question and the young man really wanted to know the answer.

Jesus said to him, ‘ You know what the Commandments are that God gave us, to tell us how to live to please him.’

‘I’ve kept them all since I was a young boy,’ he replied

Jesus looked at the young man. Jesus cared about him. Jesus wanted to help him. Jesus said to him,’Go, and sell all you have and give your money to the poor and then you will have treasure in heaven and come and follow me.’

But, oh dear, the young man had a lot of money.(Show money bag) He loved all his money very much. (Hug money bag to yourself) What a choice! Sell everything and give all his money away and follow Jesus or keep all his things and his money and go back home. What would he do?

The young man walked away from Jesus. (Walk on the spot, looking sad and dejected) He felt sad. He chose to keep his money.

We are almost at the end of our Bible Alphabet – next up is Zacchaeus!

H is for Horeb – Bible Alphabet

In Deuteronomy 5 Moses refers to the mountain where he received the ten commandments as mount Horeb. (In Exodus it is called Mount Sinai – same place; different name)

To tell the story I used a simple picture of a mountain drawn on to a large roll of paper (from Ikea). There was a ‘mini – Moses’ who ‘climbed’ the mountain, a cloud and the fire and smoke were added during the story using marker pens. There was also some actions for the children and parents to join in with. Actions are a great way of involving everyone in the story in a manageable way. As you do the actions say the phrase you are acting out.

Telling the story

Just before the story we practiced the actions we would need during the story. Once the group is settled I explain that during the story there will be something for them to do. We practice the action about twice and then we begin the story. I encourage the parents to join in too.

As the children are very young don’t include all the details – for example I don’t mention the Israelites at the foot of the mountain. The basics are focused on – Moses, Mount Horeb (everyone repeats the name. It’s included because we are doing the letter ‘h’), the cloud, smoke and fire and the ‘Ten good rules to live by’.

Main teaching point – God speaks to us – through the Bible.

The actions referred to the Ten Commandments which I referred to as ‘Ten good rules to live by.’

Ten