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
Tag: toddler group
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 #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 #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 #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
Shepherd craft
Luke tells us that shepherds were told that the Saviour had been born! 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord' Luke 2:11 So here are some shepherds to make ... using paper plates All you need to make these shepherds - paper plates,pipe… Continue reading Shepherd craft
Group craft to make!
Group craft to make! offers an alternative to having everyone make something to take home. Some things really lend themselves to a big group make. For example you can draw a large Goliath to decorate with collage material, make the Tower of Babel either build the tower with cardboard boxes or create a 2D version… Continue reading Group craft to make!
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… Continue reading Let’s Share Bible Stories with Toddlers
Baby Moses 3D craft
Baby Moses 3D craft for young children. This is a lovely Baby Moses craft that is easy to make and very effective. It uses easy to find materials that take just a little bit of time to prepare. All you need for this Baby Moses 3D craft - A4 card (cut the slits so that… Continue reading Baby Moses 3D craft
Thank you God for family and friends
To make - sugar paper, tissue paper, cut up petit four cases, heart shapes, wool, crayons, glue, people shapes (bought from Amazon - girl shapes and boy shapes) These can be cut into individual people. Let the children choose how many people to add to their family and friends picture.
Jesus goes back to heaven
The content narrates the ascension of Jesus after Easter, emphasizing that He lives forever and will return. It explains Jesus' instructions for His followers to spread the Good News and includes details about visual aids used in storytelling. The narrative concludes with a promise of His eventual return as King.
Journey to Bethlehem – Adam and Eve disobey
Adam and Eve break God's law
Toddler Group timings
A friend has asked for some ideas on what happens when at toddler group. So here are a few examples. I go to three groups a week at the moment and each one is different. Mondays and Thursday we are in community halls and on Tuesday we are in a church. Monday group ( venue… Continue reading Toddler Group timings
God gives us ..animals!
This term we are thinking about the good things that God has given to us. The idea is borrowed from Christ Church Dunstable (big thank you to them!!). Each week we discover something that God has given to us. We aren't exactly telling a story each week but are taking things from a story bag.… Continue reading God gives us ..animals!
God gives us…
It's nearly summer! This term we are thinking about the things that our Good God has given to us. This idea is borrowed from a Toddler Group scheme from Christ Church Dunstable. Last week we thought about the world. We had a globe (that lit up!) and lots of pictures. All the pictures were freely… Continue reading God gives us…
Easter at toddler group
Lovely crafts were made today ..
Q is for question
Q is for Question is part of our Bible Alphabet series. Starting at A we have told a Bible Story for each letter of the alphabet. It can be anything - a person, place or object - so long as the letter we are doing comes somewhere. Q was a bit tricky! There are names… Continue reading Q is for question
Favourite books to share
Do you have a cosy corner for sharing books? Does your toddler group have a special space for parents and children to read a book together? Last week I spotted a mum sitting in our comfy book corner with her son and baby daughter. They were surrounded by books and were, in her words, having… Continue reading Favourite books to share
Jacob and the ladder
Story - (I used the above pictures - found via google- as puppets) Jacob and Esau were brothers. In fact they were twins! Esau had been born first and then Jacob. They were very different to look at. They liked doing different things. Esau loved to be outside and to go hunting. Jacob liked to… Continue reading Jacob and the ladder
Rhythms of Grace conference
On Saturday we drove to Wembley nice and early to go to a Toddler Group leaders conference. I was leading a couple of workshops about Crafts. It was a really good day. The Keynote speaker, Mary Hawes drew our attention to how toddler groups should be places of generosity, relationships, accessibility, community and encouragement. She… Continue reading Rhythms of Grace conference
Noah’s ark
I really enjoyed putting this craft together and the children enjoyed making their own too - which is the main thing! There was a bit of prep - cutting an ark shape from a folded paper plate and tearing tissue paper into long strips. the ark 'floats' on the tissue paper water. The animal stickers… Continue reading Noah’s ark
God made plants – story and craft ideas
I decided to focus on edible plants for this story time. In Genesis 1:11 it says ' And God said 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed..' I had a fennel plant to show to the children - they are very touchy feely plants!… Continue reading God made plants – story and craft ideas
God made the land
We've been gradually going through all the things that God made using SU's Tiddlywinks 'The Big Green Book' as a starting point. We aren't sticking to a 1-7 day order here. But if you would like to do that then have a look at the creation plates in this post. We've learnt about God making… Continue reading God made the land
Meet the gang! Knitted Bible people
Meet the gang! Knitted Bible people! Say hello to my trusty Bible people. My mum knitted all of these from an Alan Dart pattern for a nativity Available from Amazon set. They are perfect for telling stories at Toddler Group. Although I don't use them every week (as variety is good), I wouldn't want to… Continue reading Meet the gang! Knitted Bible people
Having Breakfast with Jesus
Having Breakfast with Jesus is a Bible Story from John's Gospel. It took place after the resurrection of Jesus and before his ascension. Note - the Sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee. Having Breakfast with Jesus - Story Idea In the story bag I had Peter and some friends (there… Continue reading Having Breakfast with Jesus
Christian Resources Exhibition
The Christian Resources Exhibition is on at the Excel in East London. So this morning I took the train to go and have a look around. I've come home with a few goodies and some ideas! Now in case you aren't able to go along I picked up some of the free books from The… Continue reading Christian Resources Exhibition
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… Continue reading Y is for the rich young man
Jairus’s daughter
Jairus's daughter is a story from Luke 8: 40-56 Meet Jairus! To tell the story I used some simple pictures. I introduced 'Jairus' first and asked the children to repeat his name and say hello. The pictures I used were a selection of symbols and a photo of a house that I made from a… Continue reading Jairus’s daughter
Who’s in the story bag?
I like to use a story bag at toddler group story time. I find it holds the interest of the children and adults better than a picture. My mum is a great knitter and made some Bible characters for me. If you are able to have a go at making some then the pattern is… Continue reading Who’s in the story bag?
It’s cold! Let’s make Bobble hat and mittens craft
A bobble hat and mittens craft to celebrate the cold, wintry weather. There are two free printables for you to use. I printed the outlines of the bobble hat and the mittens onto paper but you could use card if you like. If you are using Pritt Stick the paper will be fine but if… Continue reading It’s cold! Let’s make Bobble hat and mittens craft
Z is for Zacchaeus
I made this to use with under fives to tell the story of Zacchaeus. He moves up the tree which is great for keeping the young children interested. We are doing the story as part of our Bible Alphabet series. It's from Luke 19:1-10. The tree is a Pringles container covered in brown construction paper… Continue reading Z is for Zacchaeus
M is for Moses
M is for Moses is a story in our Bible Alphabet. The story of Moses being hidden in the basket is found in Exodus 2. It is a lovely story to tell to children as children take centre stage. I've included a craft idea too. Sometimes people point out that the Nile would have been… Continue reading M is for Moses
L is for lost sheep
L is for lost sheep - a parable that Jesus told (Luke 15:1-7) To tell the story to young children Very young children will probably benefit from using smaller numbers - maybe just up to ten with the number ten sheep missing. Before you begin hide a sheep but unless you have a small group… Continue reading L is for lost sheep
K is for King David
K is for King David is a story in our Bible Alphabet series. We focus on David being anointed King by Samuel. The story is found in 1 Samuel 16. I used a story bag that contained a crown and pictures of Samuel, Jesse, the seven brothers and David. The pictures were based on the… Continue reading K is for King David
J is for Jesus
J is for Jesus is part of the Bible Alphabet series. I decided on the annunciation story for the letter J because we were so close to Christmas. It followed on from 'I is for Immanuel' really well. The story is found in Lukes Gospel 1:26-33. To tell the story : Before you begin tell… Continue reading J is for Jesus
I is for Immanuel
I is for Immanuel is part of our Bible Alphabet series of stories for young children' I just couldn't think of what to do for the letter i in our Bible alphabet series at toddler group. I looked through Young's concordance and decided on Immanuel. It fitted so well as we are approaching Christmas. Bible… Continue reading I is for Immanuel
a is for Adam
A is for Adam! This is the start of our Bible Alphabet. We'll have a Bible Story connected to each letter of the alphabet each story time for 26 weeks. There will be lots of variety as some letters will stand for people, others for places and some for jobs! This is a really fun… Continue reading a is for Adam