1

Joseph Helps in Prison

Week 1 of 4

Reflect on the Word

Read Genesis 39. Take a moment to reflect on the following: Do preschoolers take • Have you ever been jealous of someone in your family? How BIBLE STORY did you treat them? on helper roles in the Joseph’s Prison Time •  Journal about a time in your life when you felt like you were classroom? Recognize Genesis 39 punished for doing the right thing. them for their helpful • What was your attitude when this happened? actions. BIBLE TRUTH Joseph trusted God long after most people would have given God helps us to help up. He simply trusts that God is with him, even as things grow worse rather than better. others. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and then told their K indergartners need This lesson will help father he had been killed by a wild beast. The brothers sold the encouragement preschoolers know that to keep helping even Joseph to a traveling merchant caravan. That caravan carried Joseph loved God, did when it is hard to do. goods and slaves from other parts of the world to richer areas. what God wanted him to After many miles of rough travel, Joseph’s captors sold him into do, and want to please slavery in Egypt. God in the things they do. Potiphar was the captain of Pharaoh’s guard; no doubt a wealthy and powThis lesson will help kindergarterful man. Despite all the possible dangers of slavery, it seems that Joseph ners begin to obey God and do prospered. He prospered because the Lord was with him. Potiphar recognized right even in difficult situations. the blessing on Joseph and placed him over everything he owned. At any moment, Joseph could have convinced himself that he was responVERSE-A-MONTH sible for working his way up in Potiphar’s house. When approached by Potiphar’s “We work together with God” wife, Joseph could have accepted her advances. When faced with a tough deci(1 Corinthians 3:9, nirv). sion, Joseph chose to act with integrity and accept the consequences. Joseph remained faithful to God, and depended on Him for everything. LESSON HELPS When Potiphar threw Joseph in jail because of his wife’s accusations, Joseph HELPING HAND continued to trust God to work. Joseph loved God, and wanted to please Him in Tips for teachers. everything he did. DIGGING DEEPER In hard times we are tempted to depend on our own prowess, intelligence, Important biblical and or problem-solving ability to answer our dilemma rather than wait for God and theological insights. depend on God. Joseph is an example of continual trust in God to be with us and work on our behalf.

Foundational words of the faith.

BASIC LESSON PLANNER 1. Choose preschool or kindergarten. Check the appropriate box. 2. Go step-by-step through each section of the lesson. A=3 steps. B=3 steps. C=3 steps. 3. If you would like additional lesson options, turn to pages 42 and 43. 4. Look at each activity to find needed supplies.

n

Attentetrios Get

Bible

Explora

tions

Con

ne cti o To Lif ns e

6

oP oK 1–Joseph’s Photos Bulletin Board oP oK 2–Say and Sign Bible Verse oP oK 3–Build the Prison

Resources, Items 4 and 5

oP oK 1–Bible Story Transition oP oK 2–Tell the Bible Story oP oK 3–Bible Story Review Questions

Resources, Item 5

oP oK oP oK oP oK

Resources, Item 7

Resources, Item 6; “Nu-Vu” Background Nos. 2, 5, and 12 Resources, Item 5

1–Preschool Connections Activity Sheets 1/1b & sticker Preschool Connections, Sheets 1/1b & sticker 1–Kindergarten Connections Activity Sheets 3/3b Kindergarten Connections, Sheets 3/3b 2–Prison Crackers 3–Connecting with God Through Prayer See

Hear & Say

Sing

Do

Solve

Read & Write

Joseph’s Photos Bulletin Board

55 min.1

Before class, Follow the directions on Items You’ll need 4 and 5 to prepare the bulletin board for the • Resources, Items 4 & 5 next four weeks. Make four copies of Item 5 for • Bulletin board, background each child. paper, and border In class, Gather children at the bulletin • Plasti-Tak or removable tape board. Take out the digital camera. • Stapler and staples Preschool option, Say, Let’s pretend we can • Real digital camera take a picture of the person in our Bible sto• Scissors ry. His name is Joseph. Get out your camera • Stiff card stock paper and and say, “CLICK!” Reveal the first picture on crayons or washable markers the picture strip. Say, This is Joseph. I wonder what Joseph is doing in prison. God was with Joseph and helped him to help others. I wonder how Joseph helped others. We will have to wait until our Bible story to find out! Kindergarten option, Allow the kindergartners to use the real digital camera to view each other. Say, Let’s pretend we can take a picture of the person in our Bible story. His name is Joseph. Get out your camera and say, “CLICK!” Reveal the first picture on the picture strip. Say, This is Joseph. Where is Joseph? What is he doing? To whom is he praying? What do you think he is saying to God? Let’s find out during our Bible story. Following the Bible story, the children will add their own Bible story art around the camera on the bulletin board. They will draw their pictures on the speech balloons from Item 5.

Say and Sign Bible Verse

55 min.1

on ttenti rs Gette

A

15 min. As children arrive, allow them to do activity centers as suggested in the unit pages. When you are ready to begin, do the three Attention Getters activities on this page before moving to Bible Explorations. Each Attention Getters activity can be used with preschoolers or kindergartners.

You’ll need

In class, Place the poster at the children’s eye level. • Resources, Item 7 Preschool option, Point to each sign. Say the word as • Plasti-Tak or other mounting you do the sign. Repeat each signed word, having children adhesive for the classroom wall do the sign and say the word. Say the verse four times, doing the signs. Then have volunteers help you say and sign the verse for the class. Say, God wants us to help others. Let’s find out how Joseph helped others in today’s Bible story. Kindergarten option, Follow the same steps as for preschoolers. Then, cover the poster or remove it from the wall. Have the group say and sign the verse with Young preschoolers you, without seeing the poster. Reveal the poster. Say, We can help other people may still engage in with God’s help. God wants us to help others. Let’s find out if Joseph helped parallel play and find large others in today’s Bible story. or extended group activities difficult. Preschoolers need constant supervision and 55 min.1 gentle reminders to share In class, Sit with children in a circle on the classroom floor. and to stay focused on the Preschool option, Say, The Bible tells us that God helps us to help other activity. people. We are going to practice helping each other. Say, I am going to give you some blocks. I would like you to work together to build Joseph’s prison. Divide the class into small groups and have the groups move a small You’ll need distance apart and give each group a pile of blocks to make a prison. Say, Let’s listen and see why Joseph was in prison and how he helped others. • Blocks or Legos Kindergarten option, Do this activity as for the preschool option. If the children can handle the pressure, have the groups race to build the prison first. Congratulate all groups equally. Say, Let’s find out why Joseph was in prison and how he was a helper. Go to page 10 for additional Attention Getters options.

Build the Prison

7

Preschool Bible Story Transition 55 min.1

Kindergarten Bible Story Transition 55 min.1

If You Like to Help Out Others

In class, Play a game with the cards. When you hold up God with us have children say the words and give themselves a hug. When you hold up the word told have the children cup their hands around their mouths. Give each child a speech balYou’ll need loon. Say, • Faith Word card After the God with us Bible story, • Kindergarten Sight you will get to Word card told draw a pic• Resources, Item 5 ture of what • Crayons happened to Joseph!

(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

30 min Transition children to the Bible story time, tell the Bible story, and ask the review questions. If needed, retell the Bible story to children for understanding. Then go to Connections to Life.

God with us: God with us means that God is everywhere we are, helping us, even though we do not see Him.

If you like to help out others just say, “Yes!” (YES!) If you like to help out others just say, “Yes!” (YES!) God likes when we help others, Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, If you like to help out others just say “Yes!” (YES!) Give each child a speech balloon to draw on after the Bible story.

You’ll need • Resources, Item 5 • Crayons

Tell the Bible Story

520 min.1

JOSEPH’S PRISON TIME – (Place Bkgd. No. 12 on the metal board.) Joseph was Jacob’s son. (Add fig. 1.) Jacob was Isaac’s son. Abraham was Jacob’s grandfather. “You are my special son,” Jacob told Joseph every day. Jacob loved Joseph so much more than his 10 big brothers. “It’s not fair!” the big brothers said. “We have to get rid of Joseph.” And that is exactly what they did. (Remove the background and figure.) They sold Joseph. They You’ll need told Jacob he was dead. “No, no, no,” cried Jacob. • Resources, Item 6 (Add Bkgd. No. 2) God with us. God was still with Joseph. Joseph was taken far, far away to a different land. • “Nu-Vu” Background Kindergartners ONLY! Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar. (Add figs. 2 and 3. Remove fig. 3.) Nos. 2, 5, and 12 Photocopy onto Work, work, work. Joseph trusted God. Joseph worked hard. God was pleased with Jo• Metal board colored paper and cut seph. God was with Joseph. God helped Joseph to work hard and make right choices. • Magnetic tape (Add fig. 3.) “This new slave is a good, strong worker,” thought Potiphar. “You out the Faith Word work hard,” he told Joseph. “You will take care of my things. I see that everything and scissors card for God with you do is a great success.” (Remove fig. 3.) us from page 88 and Joseph did work hard. He cared for everything. He cared for Potiphar’s sheep and his goats, his money the kindergarten sight word, and his rings. Joseph worked so hard that Potiphar even let him live in his home! told, from page 90. Invite God with us. Yes, God was still with Joseph. “I am not alone in this strange land,” thought Joseph. “God is with me. God is helping me in all that I do.” two kindergartners to hold (Remove the figure. Add figs. 4 and 5.) “Joseph is bad,” Potiphar’s wife lied. “Now what?” wondered these word cards during the Joseph. God was with Joseph even in the bad, scary times. Bible story. When God with “Get out!” roared Potiphar. “To prison!” (Remove background and figures. Add Bkgd. No. 5. Add fig. 6.) us is said in the story, the Joseph sat in his cell “What now?” he thought. Joseph prayed. Joseph trusted God. “God is with me even here,” he thought. child holds up the word card God with us. God did help Joseph in that dark prison place. (Add fig. 7.) and the kindergartners repeat, “You are a good prisoner,” the prison guard told Joseph. “I can trust you. You will take care of things God with us. Each time you for me right here in this prison.” (Remove fig. 6. Add fig. 8 facing fig. 7.) read the sight word, stop and “I can do that,” Joseph said. “It is true. I trust God to help me know just what to do.” have the children read it with God with us. God helped Joseph in that prison place. Joseph had great success there. He took care of everything. “It’s not the best place to be,” Joseph thought one day. “But God is with me, so I’ll be OK.” you.

Bible Story Review Questions Go to page 10 for an optional Bible story activity.

8

Ask Preschoolers, 1. Who was in prison? 2. What did Joseph do while he was in prison? 3. Who was with Joseph in prison?

Ask Kindergartners, 1. Whom did Joseph help in prison? 2. What did God want Joseph to do while he was in prison? 3. What did God do for Joseph because he chose to obey him?

Preschool Connections

55 min.1

Before class, Separate the activity sheet and punch out the Joseph sticker from the center insert. In class, Give the children Sheet 1. Let the children color the prison. Ask, Who helped in prison? Show the children how to trace their hands in the space provided. Say, God wants us to help others. Can you think of ways you can help others? Have the children turn over the sheet. Have the children draw wavy lines connecting the matching words. Even if the children canYou’ll need not read, they • Connections, Sheets should be 1/1b & sticker able to notice • Crayons similarities between the matching symbols.

Prison Crackers

55 min.1

Kindergarten Connections 55 min.1 In class, Give children Sheet 1. Read the sheet to the children. Have children trace the words. Say, God is everywhere we are, helping us, even though You’ll need we do • Connections, Sheet 3/3b not see Him. We • Crayons • Pencils call that God with us. Think of a time when God helped you. Then draw a picture of it or write about it in the blank space on your activity sheet. Have children turn the sheet over. Help the children complete the puzzle. Encourage them to help someone at home You’ll need this week. • Pretzel sticks • Peanut butter, cream cheese, or vanilla frosting • Graham cracker squares • Plastic knives

Before class, Check for food allergies. In class, Give each child a small paper plate and a graham cracker square. Put a small amount of peanut butter, cream cheese, or frosting onto a plastic knife and let child spread onto the cracker. Lay the pretzel sticks across the cracker to look like prison bars. Preschool option, As the children make their snack say, Joseph helped the people in the prison. Joseph loved God and did what God wanted him to do. It makes God smile when we do the things He wants us to do. Kindergarten option, Let kindergartners try to make a 3-D prison using two graham crackers, pretzel sticks, and peanut butter. Use the peanut butter (or other spread) like glue and stand up the pretzel sticks in the peanut butter. Spread thick peanut butter on the second graham cracker and place it on top of the pretzel sticks like a roof. As the children make their cracker prison, say, Joseph helped the people in the prison. Joseph loved God and did what God wanted him to do. Do you think it was easy for Joseph to obey God when he was in prison?

Connecting with God Through Prayer

55 min.1

Con

ne

cti o To Lif ns e

15-20 min Connect this lesson to life for children. Do one activity sheet, one additional activity, and end with a time of prayer.

60-65 min.1 60-65 min. is your total lesson time. Add or take away activities to adjust your class time. Peanut allergies can be life-threatening. Make a habit of keeping records of children’s food allergies and other emergency medical information.

You’ll need

• Take-home items for each child (including Celebrate, Parent Connections for Unit 2, a copy of the Kindergarten Sight Word and Faith Word, Faith Word card, Parent Note, and Verse-a-Month Club miniposter from Preschool [Sheets 5 and 6] or Kindergarten Connections [Sheets 1 and 2] for Unit 1)

In class, Note children’s requests and praises. Write them on the flip chart or in a journal. Refer to these during each week’s prayer time. Go to page 11 for additional Pray, Thank You, God, for helping Joseph. You were with Joseph as he Connections to Life options. helped others in prison. We believe that You are with us too. Help us to help others even when it is not easy. Bless children as they leave, Thank You, God, for [Child’s name]. You’ll need Kindergarten Enrichment, Allow children to say sen• Flip chart and marker tence prayers for their friends before you close in prayer. or journal and pen

9

Happy Helper Sandwich (P or K)

At t e n t i o n

Before class, Gather the supplies You’ll need needed for this snack. • Small plates • Plastic knives In class, Say, I need help • Peanut butter or soy butter making our snack. Would you • Sliced bananas (circles) like to help? Get out ingre• Raisins dients for the Happy Helper • Bread (1 slice per child) Sandwich. Give children a slice • M & M’s candy/Skittles candy of bread on a plate. Help children to spread peanut butter (or other spread) on the slice of bread. Give children banana slices and encourage them to make a face on their bread using the banana circles for eyes. Give them a raisin for the nose and M & M’s for the mouth. When the face is completed ask, How does your face look? How do you feel when you know that God is with us? God wants us to help others. God helps us to help others. We might feel happy when we help others. We can be happy helpers with God’s help.

1 esson s ption

Ge

L O tte

rs

Joseph Story Book: Part 1 (P or K) Before class, Use construction paper to make covers for the books. Write the title, “God Helps Joseph Help Others” on one piece of construction paper. Put the 4 sheets of white paper between the two • Construction Paper sheets of construction paper and punch three holes on one side. Use (2 per child) brads to keep the papers together. This is the story book. Make sure to • 8 1/2” X 11” (21.25 x 27.5 cm.) plain white paper have one book made per child in the classroom. In class, Turn to the first piece of white paper in the book. Help (4 sheets per child) children write, “Joseph helps in prison” on the paper. Have the children • Crayons or markers draw a picture of what they think this story may be about. Have chil• Permanent marker dren describe their picture to you. You can write their exact words on • Pencils • Hole punch the picture. Allow children to write their names on the books. Collect • Yarn or brads books from children to continue working on the next week. Continue this storybook for the four lessons of this unit. Say, Let’s see if you are right by listening to our Bible story.

You’ll need

Repeat with Me Joseph’s Prison Time Bible Story - Genesis 39 o Bib l e Expl

ra

10

Joseph’s father loved him so much it made his brothers angry. (Angry, angry, angry.) They gave him away to some people who took Joseph far away from his home. They took him to Egypt and sold him as a slave. Potiphar took Joseph home and made him work. (Work, work, work.) Joseph was sad to be away from home. He didn’t want to be in Egypt. He didn’t want to be Potiphar’s slave. Joseph prayed to God. He asked God to help him do the right thing. This pleased God. Joseph worked really hard and did his very, very best. (Best, best, best.) This made God happy. He blessed Joseph. Potiphar was also happy with Joseph’s work. (Work, work, work.) He put Joseph in charge of everything. He even let Joseph live in his home. (Home, home, home.) God was taking care of Joseph. Then one day someone told Potiphar Joseph did something bad. (Bad, bad, bad.) It was a lie! Potiphar had Joseph put into prison.

1 esson s ption

L O tio

ns

Joseph prayed again and asked God for help. (Help, help, help.) God told Joseph to trust and obey Him. Joseph chose to help others inside the prison. He worked hard at the jobs he was given to do. Soon the jailer noticed Joseph’s hard work. (Work, work, work.) He told Joseph, “I need someone smart and hard-working to help me. Will you help?” (Help, help, help.) So Joseph asked God what to do. God told him to help the jailer—so Joseph obeyed. He worked really hard. Soon the prison was working well. The prisoners had jobs—the food was good. (Good, good, good.) The jailer was pleased. God blessed Joseph for doing a good job. Joseph knew God was with him right there in his cell. Thank You, God! (Thank, thank, thank You!)

Helping Hand Search (K)

t io

Lessonon1s pti O

ns to Life

Before class, Print a handprint outline on a sheet of paper. Print the word, “Help” on the handprint. Photocopy the handprints. Punch a hole in the wrist of each handprint. Cut the yarn for the children. Hide the handprints in various parts of the room. You will need to hide at least one handprint for each child. In class, Have children look for the hidden helping hands. Sit with the children. Help them color and cut out the handprints. Ask, What does the word on the handprint say? (Help) Have each child tell you one way he or she can help at home. Help the children thread the yarn through the handprint wrist. Tie these helping hand reminders to the children’s wrists for take home. Say, The Bible tells us that we can help other people with God’s help. We work together with God. God is with us and will help us to help others. It pleases God when we help others. Remember to help your family this week. When you help others you are working with God. You’ll need Say a prayer with the children asking God to help them help their • 8 1/2” X 11” (21.25 x 27.5 family this week. cm.) plain white paper • Permanent marker, handprint pattern, photocopier • Yarn (12” or 30 cm., one Before class, Make or purchase a ribbon or streamer for each child. A length of yarn per child) streamer can be about 24-30 inches (60-75 cm.) in length. • Crayons or washable markers In class, Ask the children, How do you think Joseph felt when he • Safety scissors was taken away from his home? How do you think he felt when he was put in prison? To whom did Joseph talk when he was afraid and sad? Who can we talk to when we are afraid or sad? God is with us like he was with Joseph. You’ll need He can help us if we are afraid or sad. Let’s praise God for being with us any• Ribbons or streamers time and anywhere. • CD player and praise Give the children ribbons or streamers. Have them stand. Lead the children music CD in moving the streamers to the praise music. Follow this activity with the action poem, doing the motions with the ribbons or streamers.

e n n o C

c

When I Am Afraid Song (P)

When I Am Afraid When I am afraid (Pointing to yourself) I will trust God (Slow circular motion bring your arms up) I will trust God (Slow circular motion bring your arms up) I will trust God (Slow circular motion bring your arms up) When I am afraid (Pointing to yourself) I will trust God (Slow circular motion bring your arms up) I can trust Him every day! (Clap hands high three times)

11