Monday, July 29, 2013

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." Church craft and Sunday school lesson for children


Growing up I was raised in church and I am proud that my husband and I also have the priority of keeping our children in church. Going to church is not only an opportunity given to us, it is something that I believe is taught in the bible to be something that God wants of us. This is something that is about so much more tho than just going because we "should" it is about being surrounded by the people of God, about learning more from Sunday school teachers and the preacher and keeping studying and living or God at the front of our lives and not tucked away in the closet somewhere. Teaching our children this teaches them those things and also that things of God should always be first in our lives rather than the many things that can show up and take over our lives.

Hebrews 10:25

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

That one simple verse said it all for what we needed to talk about in class. 

Ask the kids why we come to church?
Here are some talking points, use these to encourage conversation of what each would mean in a "christian" aspect and how we should do these things.
 
-learn
-be together with other believers
-rejoice
-worship
-stay close to God

Also make sure to emphasize the  the "exhorting one another" part, exhorting has a definition of "strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something" this is important because one major part of being a good child of God is encouraging others, making them be better in their own lives by keeping your own faith and supporting theirs. This is such a blessing which comes from being in a close-knit church family, you can count on one another for encouragement in life trials, from medical problems and death or loss all the way to something as simple as having a bad day at work. Also, we can encourage one another to witness, pray, believe, worship, learn and so on. 


Now, craft time!

This turned into one of the classes favorite crafts, it was fun and something they could continue to play with after class too! This craft does take a little more time than the others I have shared for SS Class so plan accordingly.

What you need:
-2 sheets of brown card stock paper
-small piece of tissue paper (any color)
-contact paper cut into 2 even 1.5inch approx. rectangles
-markers
-yellow construction paper

Prep:
Since this would all take a while in the class and I have younger kids I decided to prep some ahead of time.
Fold the brown paper in half width ways and cut a slit in the fold on the bottom going up approx. 1 inch folding the piece that is now freed up on the front and the one on the inside as well (this will serve as the holder for the person). Now, cut the steeple by cutting in around an inch on both sides toward the top (about 2.5 inches down) and then cut to a point at top. Next you will need to cut the doors, this is a little tricky and can be omitted but I think it is a great touch to see the "people" thru the doors. In order to do them you will need to fold in half length ways and cut 2 even slits an inch or a little more apart, then cold width ways and cut the length of the doors between the 2 slits, ta-da! They should be able to open now. Now cut 6 even rectangles out of the brown card stock paper about an inch wide (to be the pews) and cut one small rectangle and a small square (to be the pulpit). Cut the contact paper into the 2 squares and tear off a piece of tissue paper. Now cut a person out of the yellow paper. Put all small pieces into a little snack ziplock to keep it together, do this for each child you plan to have in the class (always do an extra for visitors). 

In class:
Give each child the church template and the bag of small pieces. First, do the windows, tear tiny pieces of tissue to make the "stained glass" and place in the center of the contact paper leaving a little room on edges to stick then place evenly on each side of doors. Glue on the sides only of each flap on the bottom (one on the front and one on the inside too). Write (or let them if they can) "let us go" on the front and "into the house of the Lord" on the inside! Glue the pews into place and the pulpit. Color them black or a darker brown for contrast. Outline the doors and color door knobs, draw a cross on the top of the steeple. And show them the person (to represent themselves) outside the church by placing in the fold of the flap and then inside the church in that fold, opening doors so they can see thru the doors too!
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Shepherd lesson


Psalm 23
This has always been one of my favorite chapters in the bible so this was fun to do with my little class. Along with this lesson we did a little craft because with little ones that helps so much with driving in the lesson and point, it is fun and it is important too!

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 We started by talking about a shepherd and what a shepherd did, what a flock was and the relation of these two things to Christ (the shepherd) and the church (the flock). 
       -After talking and letting them participate to understand what you are trying to understand talk to the kids about how God can lead us. Prayer, bible study, going to church, giving us peace, blessings. 
       -"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:" Talk to them about how God, and goodness (blessings) will be with us always!

A short sentiment to talk to the children about listening to God in their own lives and learning to pray for his will and guidance in their trials and good times. 

Now for the craft, all you need is:
1 piece brown card stock (can use regular construction paper if needed)
1 piece green construction paper
1 piece blue construction paper
2 other colors construction paper
Markers


Cut out the staff, and little rectangles for each little part of the verse (we did not put the entire scripture on for the sake of saving space but we wanted to get the highlights) The green paper cut the top to look like grass and the blue cut to look like waves and make sure those get the corresponding parts of the scripture. 

Write the portions on the papers or let the children if they are able and let them glue the pieces together.


Monday, July 8, 2013

Fathers day Sunday school lesson. Tool box card craft.

Sunday School Lesson:
Our heavenly father and our earthly father, Along with a great toolbox card for the kids to give dad as well!

Teaching children about their father can be really fun, same with their mom, they love talking about there parents in the young age groups. 

1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
- God is our "heavenly" father. You can talk to the kids about what this means, He is our creator, he cares for us, protects us and loves us. 

Ephesians 6:4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
-We aren't to pester others, but, to lend a hand to them. Our fathers help us, as they should. 
-FOR BOYS: Learn habits that will help you grow into a Godly father one day to your own kids.
-FOR GIRLS: Learn what are good things, qualities to look for in boys for one day when you look to find your husband.


How is your dad a christian father?
(Let the kids talk, take time to let each of them tell something lovable about their dad)

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.


CRAFT TIME:
What you need per card- 1 sheet red card stock paper, 1 sheet yellow card stock paper, yellow or black pipe cleaner, marker or pen, scissors, hole punch.

Fold the red card stock in 3's needing one 1.5inch panel and 2 equal panels. (see below) hole punch he top of the card and put thru the pipe cleaner. With the yellow cut out a small piece for the latch area and then cut out a screw driver, wrench, hammer. On the tools I wrote the scriptures we used in the lesson, or you could write qualities they tell you of there dads. HAVE FUN!


Saturday, July 6, 2013

Wedding Cake


Country-rustic wedding cake. Must start by saying my mom is beyond talented with cake decorating and I am so glad she is and has taught me so much. Also, my sister in law Kayla is enjoying learning more from her now too so together, the 3 of us (Momma, Kayla and myself) made my cousins wedding cake. Below are several pictures showing the detail and everything about the cake. If I must say so myself, I believe this one turned out pretty well and the bride was happy too!

Friday, July 5, 2013

Folding Car track. Quiet toy for toddler church bag.

Folding Car track for kids.Such an easy little toy to take along in the kids church bag or on a car ride. Great quiet toy and it takes up very little space meaning its good to add in for an extra toy. 
All you need is 1 or 2 sheets of card stock (depending on how big you want the track in one color and 1 in blue, a white crayon, glue and contact paper. 
In the extra color, if you are using 1 sheet cut in 4's (half and then half) and if using 2 sheets cut each in half. Then cut an oval out of the blue and cut the center out of that. Draw white lines down the center of the oval and line up on other paper and cut where page ends (see photo below) then glue each piece in place. Now, measuring the contact paper long enough for the entire track then place the pieces in the correct order on the sticky side with even cracks between pages (about a 1/4 inch or a little more) and then cover with another piece of contact paper. Cut evenly around all the edges and then fold within the spaces between the pages. It will fold very easily!
And, grab a small car, it is complete!


Dry erase re-usable tracing number book. Quiet toddler toy.

Teaching toddlers to write can (and is) tricky. Especially when you want to teach them specifics and they just want to draw. If your child is anything like mine, tracing is a great, FUN way to work with them but this also makes you go thru lots of paper so I made something so we could avoid that. 

So simple and yet it becomes a teaching tool and hours of fun for your child. All you need is card stock paper, contact paper, markers, hole punch, scissors and either pipe cleaners or the key rings you pull apart.

For the paper, either cut into 4's (half and then half again) or you can fold and then tear them (which is what I did because it is easier for me to get it straight). Write with the markers a title page (you can see mine below), and write the numbers, one per page, with lines for tracing. After all numbers are written down cut a large piece of contact paper and another the same size. Laying all of the papers down on sticky side and then covering with the other sheet of contact paper. Press down well to get out all air bubbles and then using the scissors cut around the edge of each card and hole punch two holes in center of top or one in top left corner and put ring or pipe cleaners thru. Add a dry erase marker and voila! The kid love it. We keep it in our daughters church bag and she gets so excited when she sees it, and at 2.5 she is doing great learning to trace her numbers. We also have an ABC one I am working on and will share with you soon.

Note: they do make washable dry erase markers, I highly suggest these for the younger toddlers because even when they are good at writing on paper they forget and that way you can make clean up easier.


Crochet Backyardigans Pablo Hair bow

My Daughter LOVES The Backyardigans, so, this is my latest experiment for her. Learning to crochet is a continuous thing, always picking up something new or figuring out a new design. Wanted to make her each of the backyardigans as a hair clip for her since she loves to where all different hair bows and she is so proud of them. Though I haven't completed the other ones yet, this is the first of them, Pablo.

There is not a pattern to this but I made an oval (belly), a round (head), 2 lines or rows (arms), 2 small ovals (legs), 2 small balls of white (eyes), bowtie, and small yellow ball (nose). Weaving in all loose ends to one another creating the body and design, and working in yellow for the belly. Then I took a hair clip (which I keep on hand for these things) and hot glued it to it. When she woke up that morning she was so excited, and yes she still loves it!