Friday, October 31, 2008

Religious Games





*If you are interested in File Folder Games or other games that focus on religious subjects, here are links to Yahoo Groups that have lots to choose from that are for all ages and grades.


The Creative Kingdom- This is the "mother group" to all the Creative Kingdom groups. You must be a member of this group in order to access the files in any of the other Creative Kingdom groups (e-mails pertaining to all The Creative Kingdom groups are posted from here).

Old Creative Kingdom- File folder games pertaining to the Old Testament.

New Creative Kingdom- File folder games pertaining to the New Testament.

Other Creative Kingdom- File folder games that relate to other Christian subjects: Holidays, Church, Liturgy, Prayer, Rosary, Sacraments, Saints, Stations of the Cross, etc.

Creative Kingdom of Games N More- Games and other materials that relate to Bible stories (Old & New Testament) or other Christian subjects. Games include: Bingo, Memory, Go Fish, Sequencing, Card Games, Can Games, etc.

Creative Kingdom for Learning- This group makes and posts educational religious file folder games, crafts, worksheets, etc. The Christian educational materials will also include Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Language Arts, etc. with a Biblical focus.





Are you a lurker?





This is a post for all you lurkers out there. You know who you are. Don’t try to hide behind a “not me” expression on your face. We see right through it and we want you to come out, come out, where ever you are.

According to Blogs as Virtual Communities: Identifying a Sense of Community in the Julie/Julia Project by Anita Blanchard states that lurkers are people who regularly read blogs but do not leave comments.

So how many lurkers are there out in cyber space? Blanchard says that lurkers may comprise the vast majority and they get none of the attention they so rightly deserve because they do not comment on blogs.

You don’t want to end up at Lurkers Anonymous and have to go through a 12 step program that will make you feel embarrassed and forever labeled as a “lurker”.

Believe it or not, we want to here from you. Your comments DO matter. So why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself- who you are, where you’re from, what you do, what you like the most and what you would like to see on this blog. This will also help you to get to know some of the other lurkers and will even give you a few hits to your blog if you have one.

It’s now time to come out of the blog lurker closet and give us a holler. You’ll be glad you did!


Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ministering to People with Special Needs





Here is some great information on how to teach children and adults with Special Needs. Lots of tips, curriculums, resources, articles, etc. for you to choose from.

Ministering to People with Special Needs





Lesson Plan- Moses in the Desert (1st grade on up)



Moses in the Desert


Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story Moses in the Desert
- explain that we need to obey God and why



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write the words on the board and discuss with class)

Quails- small birds
Israelites- they were God’s chosen people (slaves that went with Moses)
Manna- food (bread) provided by God to feed the Israelites
Desert- an area of land where there is little water or rainfall.



Plan:

Read story: "Moses in the Desert" and then ask questions



Activities:

Introduce activities: What did God give the people to eat? Quails and bread called manna.

sermons4kids.com- What Is It? object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, quizzes

sermons4kids.com- Water From A Rock object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

calvarycurriculum.com- Bread From Heaven, Water From A Rock lessons with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

kidssundayschool.com- Wandering in the Desert (lesson with game)

jesuswalk.com- Grumbling, Conflict, and Delegation (Exodus 15-18)

bible.org- Lesson 6: Moses and the Challenges



Crafts

sermons4kids.com- What Is It? group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- Water From A Rock group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground group activities (crafts)

daniellesplace.com- Paper Bag Quail

daniellesplace.com- Paper Circle Quail Craft

daniellesplace.com- Thankful Quail Paper Plate Craft

dltk-kids.com- Paper Plate Quail Craft




Games

sermons4kids.com- What Is It? group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- Water From A Rock group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground group activities (games)

kidssundayschool.com- Desert Venture Review Game (scroll down to this)



Introduce game: Did the people listen and do what Moses said? Do you think that is easy? Can you do that?


Moses Says

Need: Nothing

Directions: Played just like Simon Says. Moses says, “Hop on one foot.” Etc.



Introduce game: So you think you are good at following directions? Let’s find out.

Following Directions

Need: Bop It, Ballzerko, Simon, etc.

Directions: Divide the class into groups. Have one group play one game and the other plays another, etc. Students must do what the toy tells them to do. Change games after all students get a chance to play.



Introduce game: Moses led his people through the desert. Do you think they did what he told them to do? Do you think this was easy? Let’s find out.

Outrageous Desert Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course that the students must do the crab walk backwards through it. Have them crab walk around objects, go under the table, carry a ball on their stomach and put it into the trash can, etc. Demonstrate what you want the students to do.

Another version:

Introduce game: Do you think it was easy to walk in the desert? Let’s find out.

Supply list: one table, one chair

Set up your obstacle course as described in your instructions and have the children watch you walk through the obstacle course before they try it themselves. As you go through each stage, explain what it represents.

Say: First, you’ll hop on one foot because the sand is so hot. Next, you will crawl under a table to get away from the sun. Then you roll on the ground from exhaustion. Finally, you crawl to a chair to rest.

Have the children go through the obstacle course, resetting it for each child as needed.



Introduce game: What did the Israelites see day in and day out on the desert? (Sand.)

Pass the Sand!

Divide the group into two teams and line them up. Have the first team players in line grab a handful of sand from a container. They must pass the sand to the next player, who passes it to the next player, and so on down the line. When the sand reaches the last player, she pours what's left of it onto a plate. The team with the most sand at the end of the relay wins the game. You may have to weight the sand on a food scale to find out, if it's close!



These game are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Moses Says (file folder game)- Let’s see how well you can follow directions.




Introduce game: What mountain did Moses climb?



Climb Mount Sinai (file folder game)- Be the first to climb Mount Sinai and win!



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What is out in a desert? Sand

kindernature.org- Ants in the Sand (scroll down to this)


What did the Israelites eat out in the desert? Manna and quail.

applesaucekids.com- Unleaven Bread



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

The Great Bible Big Fun Activity Book: From the Old and New Testaments by Toni Lind
Follow the Dots to find what the Israelites found in the desert. (quail)

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Moses in the desert puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from March 20 - 26).

biblewise.com- Moses (maze)

biblewise.com- The 40 Year Journey (maze)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground (maze)

freesundayschoolcurriculum.weebly.com- God Gives Manna To Eat
Match the puzzle pieces to complete the verse (page 9).

dltk-bible.com- Moses (anagrams, crossword, cryptograms, mazes, word mining sheets, word searches)

sermons4kids.com- Water From a Rock (word search)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground (word search)

sermons4kids.com- Manna From Heaven (word search)

sermons4kids.com- Water From a Rock (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- Manna From Heaven (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground (word shape)

sermons4kids.com- Manna From Heaven (jumble)

biblewise.com- Where Did They Go? (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- Water From A Rock (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- Manna From Heaven (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- Manna From Heaven (multiple choice)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner on the Ground (fill in the blanks)

sermons4kids.com- Manna From Heaven (fill in the blanks)

jesuswalk.com- Grumbling, Conflict, and Delegation (Exodus 15-18) lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet

bible.org- Lesson 6: Moses and the Challenges (lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet)

smp.org- Moses Stations
An activity where students are asked to visit each “Moses Station” based on an Old Testament Scripture passage. Students are then asked to give a brief summary of the passage, list the individuals involved, make a connection to a Scriptural parallel, and then explain the significance of this connection.



Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Discipline in the Classroom





You have volunteered to be a CCD teacher and you find yourself with challenges that all catechists must face. You wonder how you are going to do it and how you are going to handle certain situations in the classroom. So to combat this, you thoroughly plan and prepare for your class, but the nagging feeling of losing control of the classroom because of misbehaved students makes you feel discouraged, unequipped, and scared.

Believe it or not, you are not alone in this dilemma. When asked what their major concern when teaching CCD, catechists usually say discipline.

So how can catechists not lose control of their classroom?


Rule #1: Don’t panic. When discipline problem arise, remain calm and in control.


Rule #2: Have a Behavior Management System.
The Four Components of (just about) Any Good Classroom Behavior Management System

theteachersguide.com- Classroom Management Strategies


Rule #3: Have Classroom Rules. If your church does not have classroom rules you need to write up some for your class. Write up rules and have them approved by the DRE.

When writing your classroom rules, state rules in a positive manner. Rules should tell students what they are supposed to do, not just what to avoid.

Devise consequences for when rules are violated. They must be related to the offence, respectful, and reasonable.

Go over rules and consequences thoroughly (giving examples for each rule) during class and post them so students can see it. Make sure that each student understands the rules and consequences. You can also type it up and have each student bring it home for their parents to read, sign, and bring back to your class.

Example:

Classroom Rules

We will be kind to everybody.

We will raise our hand when we want to speak.

We will use inside voices.

We will walk inside the room.

We will listen to the teachers and follow directions.

We keep our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves.

We respect others and their property.

We will clean up after ourselves.


Consequences

1st time- Verbal reminder to show the correct behavior. (Example: Tommy, we raise our hand when we want to speak.)

2nd time- Move to a table by themselves.

3rd time- Sent to the office of the DRE.


Rule #4: Reinforce Good Behavior.
Catch them being good. (Example: Thank you Tommy for raising your hand.)


Rule #5: Be Consistent.
Always keep to the rules and follow through with consequences.





Monday, October 27, 2008

Religious Education for Special Needs Children





When faced with a special needs student in your CCD classroom it can be rather daunting. What do you do? What can you expect? How do you teach this child? Etc. These questions and many more inundate your mind when you are told that a special needs child will be coming to your class.

I used to be a special education teacher in the public schools and I use this knowledge to teach any special needs student that is in my classroom. What I do is just a modification of the regular curriculum. Each student is different and the program should reflect the child's individual and unique needs. Remember, a program that is appropriate for one child may be inappropriate for another.

Be sure to gather information from the parents about the child before they come to class. This information can help identify what changes need to be made in the religious education environment. Some children may need to be in a separate structured program, others may need an aide (or the parent) that has been trained to help so the child can participate in the regular program. Some children just need a few accommodations and modifications to the classroom and program. Remember that each child is different and their needs are different as well.





Saturday, October 25, 2008

Lesson Plan- Moses Leads His People Out Of Egypt (1st grade on up)



Moses Leads His People Out Of Egypt


Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story Moses Leads His People Out Of Egypt
- locate the Red Sea on a map
- identify the characters in the story and sequence of events that led to the Exodus from Egypt
- identify the ten plagues God sent upon Egypt and the Pharaoh
- explain that the first Passover was celebrated in conjunction with these plagues



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Obey- do what someone tells you to do
Plagues- something that happens that causes great harm
Desert- an area of land where there is little water or rainfall.
Doorposts- the sides and top of a door frame
Pharaoh- another name for an ancient Egyptian king.
Parted- to split or separate
Red Sea- this sea divides Arabia from northeast Africa. It is linked to the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal (show students this on a map or have one of the students find it on a map).
Drown- to be underwater until you die from not having oxygen



Plan:

Read story:"Moses Leads His People Out of Egypt" and then ask questions



Activities:

dltk-bible.com- God Saves His People (Part 2) lesson

childrensermons.com- Burning Bush (lesson)

calvarycurriculum.com- The Burning Bush, The Ten Plagues, The First Passover, Crossing the Red Sea lessons with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, quiz, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- The First Passover object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- Parting the Red Sea object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

kidssundayschool.com- God Speaks To Moses lesson

kidssundayschool.com- Pharaoh’s Last Chance lesson

kidssundayschool.com- Parting the Red Sea lesson

jesuswalk.com- The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4) lesson

jesuswalk.com- Finding Courage to Stand (Exodus 5-11) lesson

jesuswalk.com- Passover and Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 12-15)

bible.org- Lesson 2: Moses and the Call

bible.org- Lesson 3: God is Stronger Than Your Enemies

bible.org- Lesson 4: Moses and Growth

bible.org- Lesson 5: Moses and the Victories



Crafts:

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- The First Passover group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- Parting the Red Sea group activities (crafts)

toriavey.com- Passover Finger Puppets – The Ten Plagues

craftingthewordofgod.com- 10 Plagues of Egypt Wheel

lambsongs.co.nz- Moses and the 10 Plagues Activity Wheel (scroll down for this)

tes.com- Moses and the 10 Plagues Wheel

orientaltrading.com- Color Your Own 10 Plagues Wheels
Teaching the story of Moses and the 10 plagues can be a challenge, but this Color Your Own Wheel makes it easy. Children can color the wheels and the different plagues. When it's put together, the wheel gives an easy explanation of each plague and references where in the Bible to find more about the plague. Perfect for Sunday School or as part of your VBS curriculum. Fun to give to adult members to test their knowledge of the plagues. Paper. 9".


Introduce craft: What did Moses see on fire, but it wasn’t burning up?

Moses Meets God as the Burning Bush- The Encyclopedia of Bible Crafts for Children by Group Publishing, page 17.

dltk-bible.com- Moses and the Burning Bush Craft

auntybearsblog.wordpress.com- DIY Burning Bush Luminary Tutorial

funexpress.com- 3D Burning Bush Stand-Up Craft Kit



Introduce craft: What kinds of plagues happened when the King would not let the slaves go?

Frog

Need: Paper plates, white and red construction paper, crayons, glue

Directions: Pre cut tongue for students out of red construction paper. Have the tongue about one inch wide and twelve inches long. Have students color paper plate green on one side and fold plate in half. (Note: Be sure to have students use old crayons and peel the paper off of crayons and rub the side of the crayon on the paper plate instead of coloring it. This will be a lot faster and easier for the students). Students then cut out two eyes that are pre drawn on white construction paper (round circles that are at least three inches across) and color eyes. Glue on eyes on outside of frog (green side) on the top of the paper plate that is folded in half. Have the eyes halfway on and halfway hanging off the fold near the center. Glue tongue inside the frog’s mouth starting from the center of the fold and out the front of the mouth. Curl tongue with pencil and draw a bug on end of tongue if you wish.


tlc.howstuffworks.com- Puddle Jumping Frog (pattern included)

*I adjust this craft for my students and this is what we do to make it extra fun:


Cut the frog out of dark green construction paper instead of felt. Use light green construction paper for spots on the frog’s back. Follow directions above but omit using any chenille stems. You can also use dark and light green crayons to color on the frog for that added touch. For a fun tongue tape a red party blower under the frog. Blow party blower and watch the frog’s tongue try to catch flies.


Tree Frog Beanbag- A cute beanbag of a frog that the students can make out of a sock. (Crafts for Kids who Are Wild About The Wild by Kathy Ross, pages 92 & 93 or Crafts for Kids Who Are Wild About Rainforests by Kathy Ross, pages 28 & 29).

Folded Frog Puppet- By folding a sheet of paper, you can make this funny frog puppet. (The Kids Can Press Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts by Judy Ann Sadler, page 61).

Frog Prince- A fun paper plate craft of a frog with a tongue that pops in and out of it's mouth by blowing on a party blower. (Crafts From Your Favorite Fairy Tales by Kathy Ross, page 42 & 43).


Introduce craft: What did Moses do at the Red Sea so the Hebrews could escape from the Egyptians?

The Parting of the Red Sea- A craft that allows a hands-on experience of parting the Red Sea (Crafts from your favorite Bible Stories by Kathy Ross, pages 22 & 23).

Crossing the Sea- Reenact the crossing of the Red Sea with this easy and fun to do Red Sea model. Even though this is from a preschool craft book, it is appropriate for older children to make. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke, page 17 & 18).

makingfriends.com- Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea craft

dltk-bible.com- Moses and the Red Sea Paper Craft

dltk-bible.com- Parting the Red Sea Craft

meaningfulmama.com- Red Sea Craft

123homeschool4me.com- Parting the Red Sea Bible Craft (scroll down to this)



Games:

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- The First Passover group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- Parting the Red Sea group activities (games)

papergiftsforestefany.wordpress.com- Let My People Go! Game (scroll down to this)

admwgames.com- Exodus: Moses vs Pharaoh


Introduce game: Who led the people out of Egypt? Can you follow Moses? Let’s find out.


Follow Moses

Need: A large walking stick

Directions: Someone is the Leader (Moses) and carries a stick for his staff. Students follow Moses and do what Moses does. (Like Follow the Leader).


Introduce game: What happened when the pharaoh would not let the Israelites go?

Scrambled Plagues (Moses Pleads With Pharaoh)- This game will help your students discover or review the plagues God used to convince Pharaoh to let his people go. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry by Group Publishing, page 33 & 34).

tes.com- Moses and the Ten Plagues (printable board game)


Introduce game: What was the seventh plague? (Give students hints if needed).

The seventh was a fearful hailstorm. "The hail destroyed through all the land of Egypt all things that were in the field, both man and beast: and the hail smote every herb of the field, and it broke every tree of the country. Only in the land of Gessen, where the children of Israel were, the hail fell not."

Hail Relay

Divide the class into teams and line them up in a single line. Set up the following items so that each group has its own supplies: one bowl with ice cubes and one large stirring spoon a few feet in front of the team. At the other end of the room have an empty bowl. Say: I want you to work as a team to move the hail from one bowl into the other. Point to each appropriate bowl as you speak. Each of you will go and scoop out one piece of hail with the spoon and put it into the empty bowl across the room. Then you will go to back to your team, hand off the spoon to the next person, go to the end of the line and sit down. When everyone has put a piece of hail into the bowl, everyone in your group should be sitting in a single line. (Demonstrate what you want the children to do). The first team that is finished, wins.


Introduce game: What did Moses do at the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape from the Egyptians?

Silent Crossing (Crossing the Red Sea)- In this game your students will explore what the Israelites may have felt when crossing the Red Sea. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 35).

Moses Crossing the Red Sea Game- A fun and simple board game for younger children reviewing the story of Moses from his birth to parting the Red Sea. (Super Bible Game Book by Linda Standke, page 60 & 61 for game board and page 55 for directions).



These games are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.



Plagues Cards- Cards for Memory, Go Fish and Sequencing. Print out 2 copies, cut out, laminate or cover with clear contact paper to make them last.







Leaping Frogs (file folder game)- The object of the game is for the player (the frog) to get to the Pharaoh’s Palace first. The players roll a die and follow the directions on the space they landed on. If the player lands on a space that is already occupied by another, BUMP that player back to the START space. The first frog to the Pharaoh’s Palace wins.






Plagues (file folder game)- The objective of the game is to collect 10 plague cards by answering questions about each plague. The first player with all 10 plague cards, wins.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What was the second plague? Thousands of frogs swarmed out of the river and into all the Egyptian homes.

familyoven.com- Sherbet the Frog



What did Moses do so the Hebrews could escape from the Egyptians? Parted the Red Sea.

dltk-kids.com- Moses Crossing the Red Sea Snack

dltk-kids.com- Moses Parts the Red Sea Snack



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

biblewise.com-Plagues for Pharaoh (color by number)

biblewise.com- Moses Finds His Way in the Palace (maze)

biblewise.com- The Ten Plagues (maze)

biblewise.com- The Miracle at the Red Sea (maze)

The Exodus: God Frees His People (page 5)- Bible Story Mazes: All Through the Bible

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Moses puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from March 12 – 19).

Sea Crossing (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s World: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 7. (Click on Additional Views)

biblewise.com- The Ten Plagues (maze)

dltk-bible.com- Moses (anagrams, crossword, cryptograms, mazes, word mining sheets, word searches)

The Plagues on Egypt- How many plagues did God send before Pharaoh finally let the Israelites leave? To find out, fill in the blanks and complete the math problem. (Red Hot Bible Puzzles by Nancy I. Sanders, page 11).

Miriam’s Song- Miriam, Moses’ sister was so happy she sang a song of praise to God. Use the code to discover the words to her happy song. (Red Hot bible Puzzles by Nancy I. Sanders, page 13).

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush (word search)

sermons4kids.com- The First Passover (word search)

biblewise.com- Dry Ground (word search)

sermons4kids.com- The Parting of the Red Sea (word search)

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush (decoder)

biblewise.com- Burning Bush: God’s Name (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- The First Passover (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- The Parting of the Red Sea (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- The First Passover (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- The Parting of the Red Sea (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- Moses and the Burning Bush (fill in the blanks)

calvarycurriculum.com- The Burning Bush, The Ten Plagues, The First Passover, Crossing the Red Sea lessons with circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, etc.

jesuswalk.com- The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4) lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet

jesuswalk.com- Passover and Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 12-15) lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet

bible.org- Lesson 2: Moses and the Call (lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet)

bible.org- Lesson 3: God is Stronger Than Your Enemies (lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet)

bible.org- Lesson 4: Moses and Growth (lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet)

bible.org- Lesson 5: Moses and the Victories (lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet)



Friday, October 24, 2008

Adam & Eve





This game is free, however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on all activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.






Adam & Eve File Folder Game: A fun way to review the Bible story.



Winter Coat Drive





This Sunday kicks off our annual Winter Coat Drive at our church. Every year we have parishoners donate a used or a new coat for someone in need. We even have a dry cleaner who does free cleaning of any used coat that is donated. It's a great way to help your fellow neighbor who is having a hard time making ends meet in this economy and is in need of a warm winter coat.





Lesson Plan- Moses and the Bulrushes (1st grade on up)



Moses and the Bulrushes

Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story Moses and the Bulrushes
- explain that God uses all kinds of people to do his work in the world
- locate Egypt and the Nile River on a map



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Hebrews- people from Israel that are also called Israelites (show students this on a map or you can even have one of the students find it on a map)
Slaves- person forced to work for another
Bulrushes- very tall plant that grows by the water with leaves like grass
Nile River- the longest river in the world that empties in the Mediterranean Sea (show students this on a map or have one of the students find it on a map).



Plan:

Read story: "Moses in the Bulrushes" and then ask questions



Activities:

Introduce activities: What did Moses’ mother do so that the soldiers would not kill him?

dltk-bible.com- God Saves His People (Part 1) lesson

sundayschoolsources.com- Baby Moses (lesson)

calvarycurriculum.com- Moses Is Born lesson #35 with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

sermons4kids.com- Baby Moses by the River object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

kidssundayschool.com- Moses As A Baby lesson

theisraelofgodrc.com- The Birth of Moses lesson

kimberlinglutheran.com- Exodus, Lesson 1: Introduction to the Birth of Moses

jesuswalk.com- The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4) lesson

thereligionteacher.com- Moses Lesson Plans



Crafts:

sermons4kids.com- Baby Moses by the River group activities (crafts)

dltk-bible.com- Moses crafts

daniellesplace.com- Moses Bible Crafts

Moses in the Bulrushes- The Encyclopedia of Bible Crafts for Children by Group Publishing, page 16.

dltk-bible.com- Weave a Basket

Baby Moses- Bible Story Wheel (Bible Wheels to Make and Enjoy by Carmen Sorvillo, page 17 & 18.)

lambsongs.co.nz- Baby Moses Wheel (scroll down to this)


Introduce craft: What is in the Nile River that could have eaten baby Moses? A crocodile.

easypeasyandfun.com- Paper Crocodile

theinspirationedit.com- Alligator Craft And Paper Bag Puppet For Preschoolers (make it brown to be a crocodile)

dltk-kids.com- Crocodile Paper Craft

first-school.ws- Crocodile Paper Bag Puppet

enchantedlearning.com- Alligator Craft or Card (just call this a crocodile)



Games:

sermons4kids.com- Baby Moses by the River group activities (games)


Who Has Baby Moses?

Need: Small object to be baby Moses (example: clothes pin).

Directions: The children sit in a circle close together. The child who is “It” stands away from the circle and hides their eyes while baby Moses is passed around. When “It” says "STOP!", the child holding baby Moses hides it (under their leg, up their sleeve, etc.). The child who is “It” guesses who has baby Moses. The child who had baby Moses is now “It”.


Wrapping Baby Moses (God Protects Moses)- This game will help your students discover the incredible act of faith that Moses’ mother demonstrated in hiding her baby among the reeds of the Nile to save him from certain death. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry by Group Publishing, page 30 & 31).



This game is free, however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.




Moses in the Bulrushes (file folder game)- The players spin the spinner and follow the directions. If the player spins “Leader’s Spot”, they get to move their marker to where the leader is and share that spot. The first player to the princess wins.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What is in the Nile River that could have eaten baby Moses? A crocodile.

pillsbury.com- Crescent Dogs (looks like a baby wrapped in a blanket) For an added touch put a face on the baby using mustard.

dltk-kids.com- Baby Moses in a Basket (snack)



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

A Baby in a Basket- Amazing Bible Mazes by Anita Reith Stohs, page 7. (Click on Sample and go to page 7.)

A Princess Rescues A Baby (maze)- Big Puzzles for Little Hands by Carla Williams, page 24.

biblewise.com- The Baby in the Basket (maze)

getcoloringpages.com- Color by Number

i.pinimg.com- Hidden Picture

dltk-bible.com- Moses (anagrams, crossword, cryptograms, mazes, word mining sheets, word searches)

sermons4kids.com- A Baby By the River (wordsearch)

sermons4kids.com- A Baby By the River (decoder)

freesundayschoolcurriculum.weebly.com- God Protects Baby Moses (decoder), page 8

sermons4kids.com- A Baby By the River (crossword)

calvarycurriculum.com- Moses is Born lesson #35 with circle the correct words, true or false, word searches, mazes, fill in the blanks, crossword, etc.

ubdavid.org- The Baby Moses (cut and paste this quiz to make into a worksheet)

quiz.christiansunite.com- Baby Moses (cut and paste this quiz to make into a worksheet)

sherwoodbaptist.com- The Birth of Moses lesson (questions at the end of the lesson that can easily be made into a worksheet)



Lesson Plan- Noah's Ark (1st grade on up)



Noah’s Ark

Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story of Noah’s Ark
- describe ways that we can obey God like Noah
- explain that God always keeps his promises
- explain the meaning of the rainbow



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Ark- a very large boat built by Noah for his family and all the animals
Noah- man who built the ark when God told him to
Flood- a very large amount of water covering land that used to be dry
Drown- to be underwater until you die from not having oxygen
Dove- a small bird from the pigeon family
Rainbow- a multicolored arc (half circle) of light that is separated into bands of color



Plan:

Read story: “Noah’s Ark” and then ask questions



Activities:

Introduce activities: Who built the ark?

sermons4kids.com- A Plan For Success object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, quiz

sermons4kids.com- A Rainbow of Promise object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- The Colors of the Rainbow object lesson

dltk-bible.com- The Story of Noah’s Ark lesson with memory verse, teacher's guide, puzzles, take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts and activities, etc.

childrensermons.com- God’s Plan To Save Us object lesson

childrensermons.com- The Great Flood lesson

childrensermons.com- Rainbows & Promises lesson

calvarycurriculum.com- Noah Builds An Ark, God Sends A Great Flood, God’s Covenant lessons with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

bible.org- Lesson 16: Standing Alone (Genesis 6:9-22)


Crafts

sermons4kids.com- A Plan for Success group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- A Rainbow of Promise group activities (crafts)


Introduce craft: Who built the ark? Noah. What did it look like? What was it like on the ark? Let’s find out!

Noah’s Ark Craft- a fun and educational craft

first-school.ws- Rainbow and Noah's Ark Craft
Students make an ark with God's gift of a rainbow that represents that promise.

sundayschoolkids.com- Noah’s 3D Ark (two versions available)

freekidscrafts.com- Paper Plate Noah’s Ark Craft

biblewise.com- Build an Ark Out of an Old Shoe Box


Introduce craft: How many days did it rain?

enchantedlearning.com- Rainstick

dreamboardgenesis.com- Rainstick


Other crafts:

Rainbow Light Catcher- A rainbow light catcher that can be used to emphasize God's gift of a rainbow that represents his promise never to flood the world again. (Gifts to Make for Your Favorite Grownup by Kathy Ross, pages 74 & 75).

Raindrop Mobile- God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. (Every Day Is Earth Day by Kathy Ross, page 28 & 29).

Taking Flight- A bird that can be a dove that you make out of white paper and using the child's handprints. (From the Hands of a Child by Anthony Flores, page 41).



Games

sermons4kids.com- A Plan for Success group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- A Rainbow of Promise group activities (games)


Introduce game: What was on the ark with Noah and his family? Can you find what animal is missing from the ark?


Noah’s Ark (What animal is missing)

Need: Cards with animal pictures on them.

Directions: Place a group of different animal cards on the chalk tray. Have the students name what animals that they see. Students hide their eyes while the teacher removes one animal card. Then the students look and guess which animal is missing. Who ever guesses right gets to remove an animal and have everyone guess "Who's Missing".


Memory- Play Memory using animal cards (must have two cards of each animal).



Puzzled and Mixed Up (Noah Builds the Ark)- In this game, your students will identify with Noah the Ark builder as they work with their friends to complete a challenging task. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry by Group Publishing, page 19.

thefamilygamers.com- Ark & Noah: A Game Drenched in Biblical Themes



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What was the sign that God did that promised that He would never flood the whole Earth again? A rainbow.

enchantedlearning.com- Rainbow in a cup


What did Noah build? An ark.

christiancrafters.com- Edible Ark



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

The Great Bible Big Fun Activity Book: From the Old and New Testaments by Toni Lind
Follow the Dots to find Noah’s special helper. Draw a branch in it’s mouth. (dove)

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Noah puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from January 13 - 23).

sermons4kids.com- Rainbow of Promise (dot-to-dot)

dltk-bible.com- (anagrams, crossword, cryptograms, maze, word mining sheets, word search)

A Beautiful Sign (find and circle the story related items hidden in the picture)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word: Grades 1 - 3 by Linda Standke, page 4.

maxipraise.com- Noah & the Ark (maze #1)

maxipraise.com- Noah’s Ark (maze #2)

maxipraise.com- Noah & the Dove (maze #3)

sermons4kids.com- Noah and the Ark (word search)

sermons4kids.com- The Rainbow of Promise (word search)

sermons4kids.com- The Rainbow of Promise (decoder)

sermons4kids.com- Noah and the Ark (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- The Rainbow of Promise (crossword)

calvarycurriculum.com- Noah Builds An Ark, God Sends A Great Flood, God’s Covenant lessons with circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, etc.

sermons4kids.com- Noah and the Ark (multiple choice)

sermons4kids.com- Noah and the Ark (fill in the blanks)

biblewise.com- Circle the number that answers correctly answers each question.

bible.org- Lesson 2: Noah- Hebrews 11:7 lesson with questions that can easily be made into a worksheet

bible.org- Lesson 16: Standing Alone (Genesis 6:9-22) (questions in lesson that can easily be made into a worksheet

bible.org- 3. Noah, The Man Who Stood Alone (questions that can easily be made into a worksheet)



Lesson Plan- Adam & Eve (1st grade on up)



Adam & Eve

Objectives: The students will be able to
- identify the first man and woman God created
- retell the story of Adam & Eve
- explain that people are free to choose and are responsible for their decisions



Review:
Prayer, Take Home Sheet, and vocabulary from last week’s lesson and also Objects Used at Mass cards.



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)
Adam- the first man
Eve- the first woman
Garden- where plants, fruits, flowers, etc. are grown
Sin- to disobey God



Plan:

Read story “Adam and Eve” from your Bible or story book. Then ask questions.



Activities:

Introduce activities: Have you ever been tempted to do something?

sermons4kids.com- The Oldest Trick in the Book object lesson with coloring page, puzzles, quiz

sermons4kids.com- Just Say No To Temptation object lesson with coloring page, puzzles, quizzes

sermons4kids.com- Just Say No (group activities) games, crafts, etc.

dltk-bible.com- The Story of Adam and Eve lesson with memory verse, teacher's guide, puzzles, take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts and activities, etc.

calvarycurriculum.com- God Makes Adam and Eve, The Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve are Tempted lessons with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

ministry-to-children.com- Adam and Eve – The First Sin (Bible Lesson for Children)

kidssundayschool.com- LESSON 3: Adam and Eve Disobey God

mobilefaithformation.org- Consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin (lesson)

ignatius.com/promotions- Adam and Eve and Original Sin page 45 – 48

classroom.synonym.com- Tree of Right and Wrong (scroll down to this)



Crafts

Introduce craft: What did Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge? Who told Eve to do this?


Apple

Need: Red poster board, brown pipe cleaners, green construction paper, tape

Directions: Pre cut a large apple from red poster board and cut out worm hole for finger to poke through from back. Have students cut out leaf drawn on green paper. Tape brown pipe cleaner (stem) and leaf on back of apple.


kiwico.com- Spinning Spiral Snake

freekidscrafts.com- Sleepy Snake from Pantyhose

goodhousekeeping.com- Door Draft Stopper Craft Snake

confessionsofahomeschooler.com- Giant Bubble Snakes

makeandtakes.com- Snake Tie



Adam & Eve Story Wheel:

This craft is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on this craft are not my own and are from various internet sources.

Directions: Print the top and bottom wheels out on cardstock. Cut out wheels. Cut out apple shape (not stem and leaves) on the inside line edge. Have children color wheels. Attach a brass fastener through the center of both wheels. On the back of the bottom wheel attach a strip of cardstock (at least 1 inch wide and 6 inches long) leaving half extended over the side (so you can turn the wheel). You can also draw an arrow on the top side of the strip on the end to indicate which way to turn the bottom wheel.

Adam & Eve Story Wheel- Printable



Games

oureverydaylife.com- Adam & Eve Games for Kids



Introduce game: Who named all the animals? Adam. Let’s see if we can name some animals.

Name the Animals ABCs

Call on a student and ask them to name an animal that starts with the letter A. Go through each letter of the alphabet and have the students name an animal. To make it harder make it a memory game. Have the players seated in a circle. The first player begins by naming an animal that starts with the letter A. The next player says the animal that starts with A and adds an animal that starts with the letter B. It continues until the whole alphabet is said using animal names. If a player mixes up the list or can’t think of a name of an animal, he/she is out. (You can also help the player if necessary so anyone can play.)




The game below is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.




Adam & Eve File Folder Game- A fun way to review the Bible story.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: Who told Eve to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge? The snake.

pillsbury.com- Silly Snake Hot Dogs
A cute snack that you can make with a hot dog inside the breadstick or without.

dltk-kids.com- Chocolate Snake


Introduce snack: What did the snake tell Eve to eat? The fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.

dltk-kids.com- Apple Snack



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Adam and Eve puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from January 3 - 9).

The Great Bible Big Fun Activity Book: From the Old and New Testaments by Toni Lind
- Color by Number- Garden of Eden
- Follow the Dots to find a special tree. Draw fruit on the tree. (snake)

Did God Really Say . . . ? (find and circle the story related items hidden in the picture)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word: Grades 1 - 3 by Linda Standke, page 3.

sermons4kids.com- The Temptation and the Fall of Man (maze)

dltk-bible.com- Adam & Eve puzzles (anagrams, crosswords, cryptograms, maze, word-mining sheets, word searches, etc.)

sermons4kids.com- Temptation in the Garden (word search)

sermons4kids.com- Temptation in the Garden (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- The Fall of Man (word jumble)

sermons4kids.com- Temptation in the Garden (fill in the blanks)

sermons4kids.com- Temptation in the Garden (multiple choice quiz)

quickworksheets.net- Adam & Eve (multiple choice)

dltk-bible.com- Adam & Eve Story Comprehension and Memory Worksheets

smp.org- Effects of Original Sin Today
A group brainstorm activity on temptations to sin that young people face today, and the effects of Original Sin.



Lesson Plan- Creation (1st grade on up)



Creation


For older students:

thereligionteacher.com- Genesis Creation Stories Lesson Plan
The first three chapters of the book of Genesis relate important truths about ourselves, our humanity, and our relationship with God. A common pitfall we can run into when teaching about these chapters is the differences between the first chapter and chapters two and three. In this lesson plan, students will compare the first two creation accounts and clarify the important truths that they teach.

bible.org- Lesson 3: Creation and Fall



For younger students:

Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story of Creation
- explain what God created
- identify what God created each day



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)
Create- to make out of nothing
Creatures- any living being or animal
Creation- everything made by God



Plan:

Read your Creation story. Then ask questions.



Activities:

Introduce activities: What did God create?

Review with students in order what God created. Write it on the board.

Say: What did God create on the first day, etc.

1. Light
2. Sky
3. Seas, land, and plants.
4. Sun, moon, and stars.
5. Creatures in seas and sky.
6. Animals on land and man.
7. Rested



Discussion: Help the children become aware of their responsibility to help keep our world good and beautiful.

God created our good and beautiful world for every one. All the gifts in it belong to everyone. God wants us to work together to take care of our world. God is very proud of us when we help care for his creations. How do you think God feels when we do not take care of His creations? (Sad)

Do you see anything outside that is not good or beautiful? (Damaged buildings, trash in the streets, etc.)

Our rivers and lakes and the living things in them are being destroyed by pollution. A lot of our water is not safe to drink, smoke from cars and factories pollute the air, animals such as seals, whales, lions, elephants and others are disappearing from the world because people kill them for their own needs or enjoyment.

When should we start taking care of God’s gifts?

What can you do to help care for God’s gifts?



Activities:

Introduce activities: What did God make?

childrensermons.com- In The Beginning object lesson

dltk-bible.com- Creation lesson with memory verse, teacher's guide, puzzles, take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts and activities, etc.

calvarycurriculum.com- Creation lesson #1 with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

sermons4kids.com- Creation Interactive Group Activities (art, games, etc.)



Crafts:

Introduce activities: What did God make on each day?

craftingthewordofgod.com- Days of Creation Wheel

The Treasured Schoolhouse- The Days of Creation Story Wheel {FREEbie}

Creation- Bible Wheels to Make and Enjoy by Carmen Sorvillo, page 5 & 6.

tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com- God Did Creation Wheel

biblecraftsbyjenny.com- Creation Brad Wheel

arrowskidsclub.wordpress.com- Creation Wheel

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Creation Wheel Craft (scroll down to this)

homeschoolhelperonline.com - Creation Bible Lapbook

tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com- Days of Creation Layered Book (scroll down to this)

busywithblessings.blogspot.com- Creation Lapbooks

looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com- Creation Numbers
Creation Numbers Coloring Book and numbers to make a series of collages

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Days of Creation Globe Craft

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Days of Creation Paper Plate Bible Craft



Games:

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Creation Memory Match Game (scroll down to this)

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Days of Creation Bible Bingo (scroll down to this)

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Days of Creation File Folder Game


Introduce games: What did God do on the seventh day?


What God Made Bingo

Need: Poster board cut into small bingo card sizes, small pictures or stickers of objects that God has made and not made, milk caps to be markers, index cards.

Introduce game: What did God make? This game should help you remember what God made.

Instructions: Cut poster board into bingo card size and draw a bingo board consisting of at least 9 squares. Glue small pictures or stickers of objects that God has made in spaces. Glue the same pictures (what God has made) and pictures of what God has not made on index cards and put in a bag. Students play regular bingo, but with pictures. The first one who gets three in a row (up, down, across, or diagonal) on their bingo card first, wins. Each student picks a picture card from the bag and tells whether or not God made it.


Creation ABCs

Call on a student and ask them to name something that starts with the letter A. Then ask the student if God made it. Go through each letter of the alphabet and have the students name an object and whether God made it.

To make it harder: Have the first player name something that God made that starts with the letter A. Have the next player say what the first student named that God made that starts with the letter A then adds the letter B and something that God made. The third player must say what the two players said before him and then adds letter C. It continues, but if a player cannot remember or mixes up the order, they are out.



childrensministry.com- Creation Racing Game (a relay race and Creation review all in one)



rotation.infopop-

Play several games that focus on the Creation story... (directions posted)
• Scavenger Hunt- Find samples of something from each day of creation.
• Creation Bean Bag Toss- game that can be more difficult for older students.
• Who Am I?- Students will identify what part of creation is taped to their back by asking other class members questions. Discover that what God created was named as "good."
• Order Up- Put cards representing parts of creation in order. Discover God at work! [This game is especially good if your objective is to teach the order of the days of creation.]
• Creation Twister - have fun twisting your body into impossible shapes in this take off on the traditional Twister™ game.
• Creation Pictionary - guess what item a teammate is drawing. Discuss why do you suppose God found his creation "good."
• Creation Cranium- Game similar to Cranium with Game Cards included.




The game below is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.




What did God Make? (file folder game)- Identify whether or not God made it as you work around the board. The first player to FINISH wins.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What did God make the fifth day? Creatures in the seas and sky.

enchantedlearning.com- Cup o’ Fish


What planet do we live on and God made? Earth

dltk-kids.com- Rice Krispie Earth

dltk-kids.com- Creation Cookies



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

Creation Worksheet- Cut and paste or draw pictures of things that are created by God and things that are man made. (Fold a piece of paper in half and draw a line down the middle. Label on one side of the paper Created by God and other the other side put Man Made).

In the Beginning (maze)- Bible Stories Mazes: All Through the Bible, page 4.

Color the things God Created- Bible Stories from A to Z by Mary Murray, page 18.

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Creation puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from January 1 - 2).

dltk-bible.com- Creation Puzzles (matching, maze, word search, crossword, cryptogram)

sermons4kids.com- And It Was Very Good (word search)

sermons4kids.com- And It Was Very Good (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- And It Was Very Good (multiple choice)

gardenofpraise.coom- Creation (fill in the blanks with word bank)

thereligionteacher.com- Genesis Creation Stories Worksheet (scroll down for this)

smp.org- Creation Worksheets (scroll down for these)



Lesson Plan- Church & Respect (1st grade on up)



Church & Respect

Objectives: The students will be able to
- explain what church is and what we do there
- explain why and how to act in church and what it means to respect others (parents, teachers, and others).



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Priest- he leads us to celebrate Mass and administers the sacraments. Who is our priest?
Church- a sacred building where we worship
God- Our heavenly Father, maker of all things, our creator
Respect- to show consideration or thoughtfulness
Behave- to be good
Crucifix- is a cross with the image of Jesus on it
Bless- to ask that the power of God’s goodness come upon a person or object
Worship- to praise God
Genuflect- to bend the right knee in adoration
Holy- sacred; related to God



Review:

Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Plan:

thereligionteacher.com- What is the Church? Lesson Plan

Lesson 1: The Church Is God’s House (Children Discover the Mass by Mary Doerfler Dall, page 8)- Click to look inside book and see activity.


Review:

1. Why don’t all the churches look the same?
2. What is a church? It is a place where we come together to worship the Lord and it is a place where Jesus lives and the Blessed Sacrament is kept.


Discussion:

We act differently in different places. How do we act at a playground? How would you act in a store? How should you act in church? How should you behave? What do we do when we come into the church? (Have students tell you exactly what you should do from start to end of Mass: Sign of the Cross after you dip your fingers into the stoup, genuflect before you sit down, stand up and kneel during Mass, listen, sing, and pray during Mass, what to do when you go up to receive Holy Communion, what you do when you leave church, etc.)

Read story: dltk-bible.com- Church and Respect

Then ask questions:

1. How should we behave in church? We should be at our best behavior in church.

2. How should you dress when you go to church? People were nice, clean clothes when they go to church.

3. How can you respect others at church? By treating church like God's house and listening to your teachers and parents, by walking instead of running and using your quiet voice instead of your loud voice, etc.

4. Where are we supposed to be good besides church? Everywhere.

5. Why should we be good everywhere? Since God is everywhere he can see how we treat others and if we are making them happy or sad.

6. How should we treat others? We treat them how we would like to be treated.



Or

books.google.com- We Learn About Mass Teaching Edition: Handbook for Teachers and Catechists by Gerard Moore (for second through fifth grade)

Or

Catholic Etiquette: What You Need to Know About Catholic Rites and Wrongs by Kay Lynn Isca

Or

How To Show Good Manners At Church


For those who have forgotten what it means to have manners in church, here's a brief refresher course on what used to be called respect and reverence.


Dress Respectively- No one wants to see 6 inches of someone’s underwear peeking out of their pants or too much skin at church.


Go to the bathroom- Before you leave home, be sure to go to the bathroom. The continual stream of adults and children who repeatedly jump up and down to go to the bathroom during the sermon is annoying and distracting. Granted, there are legitimate reasons for having to use the bathroom during Mass. However, I think that some children have just gotten into a routine: during the homily, go to the bathroom; during Communion, get the drink of water. If you must go again, duck out when everyone is standing up and singing.


Arrive on time for Mass- Leave home with time to arrive at church before Mass begins, preferably about five or 10 minutes. Doing so allows everyone to have a few moments for prayer and to be ready to participate in the Mass.


Enter the church quietly- When entering the church, be sure to make the sign of the cross with the holy water; this gesture reminds us of our baptism and does dispel evil. Before entering the pew, be sure to genuflect, an important act of reverence to the presence of our Lord in the holy Eucharist in the tabernacle.

The sanctuary is not the place to catch up on friendly gossip and race tips, telling jokes or hauling out family photographs. Save the chatter for coffee hour, and keep it quiet in the sanctuary itself. By gossiping in the sanctuary you are interrupting conversations between other parishioners and God.


No gum chewing, candy crunching or eating- Ever. Gum chewing and snapping is noisy, distracting and just plain rude. Plus, it should never ever be allowed to intermingle with the Body and Blood of Christ.


Bow your head during prayer- Show reverence and respect to God.


Turn off your cell phones- This also goes for pagers, iPods, iPads, wristwatch alarms, Game Boys, Kindles, Nintendo DS, etc. Anything electronic should be left in the car.


Do not kick the pews- Refrain from kicking the pews in front of you, resting one's feet on the kneelers, and drumming the fingers on the benches. This type of movement set up vibrations that are felt all the way down the pews, which are highly annoying to those around you.


Say prayers in unison- When it comes time to say communal prayers, such as the Lord's Prayer or Apostle's Creed, recite and/or sing the prayer with the rest of the church instead of racing ahead. No one's going speed up their prayers just because someone else is in a hurry to get to the end.


Worship- In worshiping, participate in the songs and prayers, follow the readings and listen attentively to the homily.


Holy Communion- When receiving holy Communion, always do so reverently. We should be very conscious that we are receiving our Lord. If receiving on the hand, the hands must be clean and held like a throne for the Lord. After receiving, one should consume the Sacred Host before turning around to go back to the pew. Holy Communion must not be reminiscent of a cafeteria line experience, but rather of an encounter with the Lord.

After Communion, each person must give thanks for the precious gift received and allow the grace to fill our souls. How tragic it is to see people leave Mass right after Communion, not because of an emergency, but because they want to get out of the parking lot first. I can only think of Judas, who was the first person ever to leave Mass early. To give the Lord one hour — and usually less — for the holy sacrifice of the Mass is really not much of a sacrifice. I wonder how these same people would feel if someone left their own home in the middle of the meal without even saying thank you.


Do not leave early or leave a mess- After the Mass is concluded with the blessing, wait until the priest has proceeded down the aisle before leaving the pew. The congregation should disperse only after the recessional hymn has concluded. However, before leaving the pew, be sure to put the hymnal back in its holder and pick up used tissues, bulletins, or other items; otherwise, someone else has to attend to them.



Going to church is indeed a social time, a time to gather with other members of the faith community to sing, worship, and give thanks. It's also time to visit with friends and neighbors, catch up on news, share a cup of coffee and even funny anecdotes. However, when the church service begins, it's prudent to remember that we are merely guests in the House of God where reverence and respect should be the standard of good behavior instead of merely optional.



Crafts:

Introduce craft: Where do we come to worship on Sunday?

Make a church- Lesson 1: The Church Is God’s House (Children Discover the Mass by Mary Doerfler Dall, page 8).

The Catholic Toolbox- Church Building Crafts



Games:

Introduce game: What do you do during Mass?

Parts of the Mass- Group game that the students have to work together to put the words in the correct places on the outline sheets, using the missalettes as a guide. The book includes answers, outline sheet, and key word cards to play several variations of the game. (Faith Facts for Young Catholics: Drills, Games & Activities for Middle School Students by Sawyer Kieran, page 24, 25, 68, 69, and 70).


The Parts of the Mass- Game 1 & Game 2. (100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Ellen Rossini, page 57 and 58.)

Game 1: Using cards that are provided from page 58, the teacher reads a clue from one of the cards and the students who are in teams will try to identify which part of the Mass that the teacher is describing.

Game 2: Follow the same directions, but use a missalette. Silent Activity: Shuffle one set of the cards made for Game I and have the students sort the cards into proper order.


The games below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Liturgical Objects Used in Mass- Several games posted

The Holy Mass Game (scroll down to Games)- Directions and questions.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words Game (scroll down to Games)- A fun review game about actions during Mass.



Introduce game: How are we supposed to behave in church?




What ever happened to good manners in church?- Find out if you know how to behave in church. Roll the die and move that many spaces. Follow the directions on the space you land on. If the space has a Roll Play activity on it, perform it to the best of your ability. If needed, the teacher will help you understand what to do and coach you how to do it correctly. If the space has a picture of person reacting to bad behavior that they had just seen in church, draw a Game Card and read it out loud (if the student cannot read, the teacher or someone can read it for them). Answer the question to the best of your ability (the teacher can coach the student if necessary).





Snacks:

Introduce snack: Where do we come together to worship the Lord?

blog.thecelebrationshoppe.com- Easter Cross Krispies

dltk-holidays.com- Hot Cross Buns



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

web.archive.org- Church worksheets (look under each grade level under “church”)

dltk-bible.com- Mind Your Manners (black and white version to color and circle)

dltk-bible.com- Church and Respect Puzzles (anagrams, crosswords, cryptogram, maze, word-mining sheets, word searches, etc.)

Preparing to Receive Holy Communion- Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentences. (100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Ellen Rossini, page 20).

Receiving Holy Communion: A Practice Session- To prepare to receive First Holy Communion. (100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Ellen Rossini, page 21 and 22).

Prayers in the Holy Liturgy- In this exercise, there are three columns. On the left is a phrase from one of the prayers in the Mass. In the center, you care to write the name of the prayer or specific part of the Mass from which the phrase comes. You may refer to a missalette to find the phrase. Ten on the right, identify the prayer form of which the given phrase is an example. (100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Ellen Rossini, page 72).

*Have the students write 10 things they should not do in church.

*Have the students write what they should do when they enter the church until they sit down.


The activities below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.


The Church is God’s House (for younger students)- Ask your child the following questions about the lesson today and have them circle the answer.

Behavior In Mass- Draw a smile face next to the good things to do during Holy Mass. Draw a sad face next to the things not to do during Holy Mass.

Mass Etiquette Worksheet- Write True or False in the spaces provided.