MEMORY VERSE: Gen. 1:1 Slips of paper with the Bible verse written on it can be handed out at the end of class or, if you have 'extra' time, the students can write this verse on a small paper cut like a cloud or sun or any other item in the lesson. (Don't forget to hand out the memory verse at the end of class, after going over the verse a time or two.)
BOOK TO REMEMBER: "Exodus" This word also may be written or typed in advance on a piece of paper and handed out at the end of class with the memory verse. Many things for the teacher to remember, but practice makes perfect! Organization is everything!
PRAYER: Remember to be thankful for this beautiful world in which we live. Before you pray, you can list many things or ask the children what they are thankful for, and include those things in your prayer.
SPECIAL SONG:
DAY 1, DAY 1
Day 1, Day 1,
God made light when there was none.
Day 1, Day 1,
God made light when there was none.
Day 2, Day 2
God made skies and clouds of blue,
Day 2, Day 2
God made skies and clouds of blue.
Day 3, Day 3
God made flowers, grass, and trees.
Day 3, Day 3,
God made flowers, grass and trees.
Day 4, Day 4,
Sun and moon and stars galore.
Day 4, Day 4,
Sun and moon and stars galore.
Day 5, Day 5,
God made birds and fish alive,
Day 5, Day 5,
God made birds and fish alive,
Sixth Day, Sixth Day,
God made animals and man that day.
Sixth Day, Sixth Day,
God made animals and man that day.
Day 7, Day 7,
God, He rested in His heaven.
Day 7, Day 7,
God, He rested in His heaven!
VISUAL AID: Flannelgraph (see February - Visual Aids #3) Either use a large board with fabric pieces of flannel or one of the individual boards like the students will take home at the end of class.
LESSON POINTS:
- When your mom or dad was driving the car this morning to come to Bible class, did you look out your window? What did you see? (Trees, flowers, animals, people, etc.) Do you know who made ALL of these things that we are talking about? That's right! God did! He made the trees and the sky and the clouds and the grass and the birds and even the people!
- Let's read a little from our Bibles today. Let's turn to the first page in the Bible where it says the book. Who knows what the first book of the Bible is? Who knows what the first book of the Old Testament is? They are exactly the same, aren't they? Genesis! Place your finger on that word, "Genesis." The word "Genesis" means "beginning." This book--Genesis--tells us how the world and everything in it and around it was made. Let's put our bookmarks right there. "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Who did the Bible say created the heavens? God!
- Tell the story to the students as you have studied from Genesis 1 in the proper order. Stress the words, "And God said," and the words, "...and it was so..." because God spoke everything into existence. What a great and powerful God! Also, stress the words, "...and it was good..." because everything God created was good in His sight.
- Then, as you come to the end of the verses, explain how God rested on the seventh day and made that day sanctified or special.
"Older Student" Tips:
- Older students may have seen movies made by mistaken men about how the world began. Stress that all we know about how God made the world and things in it is what we can read in the Bible. All other information is man's ideas. In the next blog, we will see what happens when man believes 'ideas' rather than God's Word.
- Even though the song is simple and child-like, older students (8-11 years-old) still enjoy the song and can learn simple truths from it.
- Explain how God set laws into action in those very first days. For example, in Gen. 1:21 and 1:25, God said that whatever He would create--like birds and fish and animals--have the same kind of babies. No one ever sees a hippo with a little elephant baby! That was how God created living things...and it was good.
- Mention how God wanted man to dominate over the earth. (Gen. 1:26-28) Man was meant to rule over all of the animals.
- Talk about what God did when He finished creating--He rested (Gen. 2:2) and He blessed the seventh day and set it apart or sanctified it.
ACTIVITY: Flannelgraph boards and flannelgraph for each student
Materials needed: Different colored fabric (either all flannel or all felt), one piece of cardboard (12" x 12" is a good size) for each child, thick book tape or duct tape, scissors, black marker, bags for each child's fabric (zip-lock plastic bags work well).
- Directions for this entire activity and visual aid is detailed on this blog under February - Visual Aid #3. I have used this lesson many times over the years and have found it extremely beneficial for each child to have their own small flannelgraph board and set of fabric pieces, including numbers 1-7. Is this lesson a lot of work? I will not deny that it is not a lot of work, but trust me, this lesson above all others makes a great impact on each child...because they get to take it home. At home, they will tell and re-tell this story many, many times, ingraining it into their memories. And...that is what teaching is all about...children remembering what you have taught them! Ask their parents after next week's class how their child interacted with the flannelgraph. Perhaps you will be as convinced as I that you will always teach this lesson exactly in this way...every time. Amazing results!
- As you tell the story (almost flawlessly because you have studied it so well), place the corresponding numbers and items on the board. Here are the pieces that will need to be cut out of fabric:
- Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, one half-circle of yellow and one half-circle of black (it's fine that the black is on black), a small square piece of blue fabric, white clouds (two is enough), a tree, a flower, grass, sun, moon, star, bird, fish, two different mammals (doesn't matter which--I used a monkey and an elephant), a man, a woman, a small square piece of fabric with the words, "GOD RESTED" on it, A long narrow piece of fabric (3" x 9") with the words, "In the beginning God created..." Genesis 1 on it. Helps to keep it simple.
- You will also need a flannel board already made for each child. Yes, prepared BEFORE you arrive in class. The students are not "making" or "creating" anything in this lesson; they are "rehearsing." They are learning the story by telling the story multiple times. That is why the numbers are important. They learn what was created IN THE ORDER IT WAS MADE! How wonderful is that?? You will find that you, too, will learn more than you ever thought you could by using this method of activity.
- To help you tell the story smoothly, place your pieces of fabric close by in the order that you will place them on your flannelboard, then practice until you know the lesson well. Your students will love this lesson and learn the lesson!