3 Year Olds & Pre-K

March 20, 2016

what you’ll be teaching this week Basic Truth

Memory Verse

Jesus wants to be my friend forever

“Come, and follow me,’ Jesus said.” Matthew 4:19, NIV

Key Question Who can I follow?

Bible Story

Bottom Line

Palm Sunday Matthew 21:1-16

I can follow Jesus

Here’s how today should work Welcome & Greet ........................................................................................... 5 Minutes § § § §

Greet each family at the door Check the tag to make sure they are in the correct room Ask the parents if there are any special instructions for their child Direct the child one of the play centers

Make It Fun ................................................................................................ 10 minutes An activity to engage the kids attention and introduce the story

Make It True .............................................................................................. 20 minutes A time for the kids to worship and hear the true story from the Bible

Make It Stick................................................................................................ 5 Minutes Activities that review and reinforce the Bible story

Make It Real ................................................................................................ 5 Minutes An activity that applies the Bible story to the kids life

Dismiss ...................................................................................................... 5 minutes § Hand out the ParentCUE to each parent as they pick up § Check each child’s security tag § Encourage parents to use the Parent CUE to reinforce this month’s Bottom Line at home

Thank you for serving today! You made an impact on every family by leading their kids today! ©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

VISTA|KIDS [ 1 ]

3 Year olds & Pre-K

Make It Fun

March 20, 2016

“Magnifying leaves”

This is an activity that uses observation skills to examine palm leaves as we introduce today’s Bible story.

What You Need: 4-5 real palm leaves and 3-4 magnifying glasses

What You Do: Set out the leaves and magnifying glasses in the center of the tables. Let the children take turns holding the magnifying glass and looking closely at the leaves. Talk about what they see.

What You Say: § Before the activity: (Hold up one of the magnifying glasses.) “Do you know what this is? (Pause.) It’s called a magnifying glass. When I hold it up to an object like this palm leaf, it lets me to look at it up close. And when I do, I see things I might not have noticed before. Pretty cool, huh? (Pause.) Let’s all take turns looking closely at our palm leaves. Raise your hands and tell me what you see.” § During the activity: (Assist kids in looking at the palm leaves. Help them identify different features that they can see.) § At the end of the activity: “That was so fun, wasn’t it? (Pause.) You did a great job looking closely at your palm leaves. In our Bible story today, there are a lot of palm leaves! I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

VISTA|KIDS [ 2 ]

3 Year olds & Pre-K

Make It STICK

March 20, 2016

“Donkey Pin”

This is an activity that uses fine motor skills to create a key point to the Bible story.

What You Need: Wooden clothespins (two per child), “Donkey” and “Small Leaf” Activity Pages, hole punch, and ¼-inch ribbon

What You Do: Cut out both the donkeys and the leaves. You will need one leaf and one donkey per child. Use the hole punch to punch a hole into the small black circle on the end of each leaf. Cut the ribbon into eight-inch sections. Feed a section of ribbon into the hole in each leaf. Leave the ends loose. Give each child a donkey and two clothespins. Instruct the kids to color their donkey. Help the child attach the closed part of the pins to the bottom of the donkey, about an inch apart. When both of the pins are in place, the donkey should stand up. Take the leaf with the ribbon on it and tie it around the donkey's neck loosely but tight enough to secure it.

What You Say: § Before the activity: “Jesus rode a donkey in front of all the people while they were waving palm leaves. Today we are going to make a donkey like the one that Jesus rode.” § During the activity: (Give each child a donkey and two clothespins.) First you need to give the donkey his legs. You are going to color your donkey and then snap the clothespins on the donkey like this. (Demonstrate.) Great job! Now we can stand the donkey up. Awesome! Here is a palm leaf that we can let our donkeys wear as a necklace. (Tie the ribbon around the donkey’s neck.) Perfect! § At the end of the activity: “Jesus wanted all of the people to follow Him, and He wanted to be their friend forever, just like He wants us to do! He wants to be our friend forever! Who can you follow? I can follow Jesus!”

©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

VISTA|KIDS [ 3 ]

3 Year olds & Pre-K

Make It STICK

March 20, 2016

“Coat and leaf march”

This is an activity that uses repetition and fun movements to teach the Memory Verse.

What You Need: “Leaf” and “Coat” Activity Pages, painter’s tape, and laminate

What You Do: Copy the “Leaf” Activity Page onto cardstock. Then copy the “Coat” Activity Page onto cardstock. (You are creating a path for your class to jump on, so be sure copy one coat and one leaf per child in your class to have ample room for them to do the activity.) Cut out each leaf and coat on the dotted lines. Tape the leaves and coats in an alternating pattern about one foot apart, as a pathway around your play area. Be sure they are securely taped to prevent slips and falls. Have the children line up in a single file line at the beginning on the pathway. Say the verse with them as a class. Instruct them to say the verse together as they jump from leaf to coat.

What You Say: § Before the activity: “Do you remember our Memory Verse for this month? (Pause.) Great! Let's say it together! ‘“Come, and follow me,” Jesus said,’ Matthew 4:19. Awesome!” § During the activity: “I have a cool path of coats and palm leaves on our floor. Let's jump from leaf to coat while we practice our Memory Verse. Are you ready? (Do activity.) Great job! Let's do it again!” (Do activity several more times.) § At the end of the activity: “Nice work! Our Bible verse tells us that Jesus wants us to follow Him. Who can you follow? (Pause.) I can follow Jesus!”

©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

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3 Year olds & Pre-K

March 20, 2016

Make It Real Make It Real is designed to help preschoolers understand how the Bottom Line applies to them. They’ll discuss real-life experiences and share prayer requests.

What You Need: Paperclip “Memory Verse Card” in your Bible at Matthew 4:19 Journal and a fun-shaped pen

What You Say: LEADER: “God sent Jesus to do something very special. He sent Jesus to show the world how much He loves them. That’s why people followed Jesus and praised Him in our story today. They knew Jesus was very, very special, so they followed Him and told Him! Hosanna! Hosanna! Yay, Jesus! “You can follow Jesus and praise Him too, just like the people in our story. Who can you follow?” CHILDREN and LEADER: “I can follow Jesus!” LEADER: “Yes! Jesus loves you and wants you to follow Him. That’s why He tells us in our memory verse, ‘Come, and follow me.’ Let’s say that together with the motions.” CHILDREN and LEADER: “‘“Come (motion toward yourself with hand), and follow me” (march), Jesus said’ (put hands to mouth like yelling), Matthew 4:19.” (Open your hands like a book.) (Repeat the verse a few times together.) LEADER: “Jesus is so special! He’s the bestest friend ever! Let’s make a list of things that make Jesus SO super special and then use our list when we pray. When I say your name, I want you to tell me one thing you think is special about Jesus. (Give each child the opportunity to share. Remember to print the words they say so the children can recognize their names and the letters.) “Aww, I love this list! I can’t wait to use it to tell God how special Jesus is when we pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?

©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

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3 Year olds & Pre-K

March 20, 2016

(Give each child that wants to pray the opportunity to do so.) “Now I’ll pray.” “Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our friend forever. Jesus is SO special and we want to praise Him today! (Name of child) thinks Jesus is special because (read journal). (Name of child) thinks Jesus is special because (read journal). (Say this with each child.) And I want to praise Jesus because He is (say what you think). We love You very much, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

DISMISSAL Set any take-home creations where you or parents can get them easily. Greet parents at the door and tell them that this month preschoolers are learning that I can follow Jesus! Encourage parents to repeat the Bottom Line at home and help their child understand that I can follow Jesus! Hand out this month’s Parent CUE to each parent as they pick up. Be sure to check each child’s security tag. Encourage parents to use the activities found in Parent CUE to reinforce this month’s Bottom Line: I can follow Jesus!

©2014 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

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