The Little Red Caboose - You Can Do It, Even Though You're Small!

Preschool Themes: Trains / You Can Do It, Even Though You're Small!

Bible Theme:  -Loaves and Fishes-

Introduction: Show the children some nice glossy pictures of various trains. Get a nice over-sized book on trains at the library, and choose pictures with color and variety. Show a caboose, a passenger train, a diesel engine, etc. Spend a few moments discussing the pictures with the children.

Story: The Little Red Caboose, by Marion Potter .

Explain that even though small, the caboose was very important.

Finger play: "The Train"

Say: "Here is the engine on the track (thumb)

Here is the coal car, just in back (pointer)

Here is the box car to carry freight (middle)

Here is the mail car. Don't be late. (ring)

Way back here at the end of the train (little)

Rides the caboose through the sun and the rain."

Song: "Choo Choo Train," by Gary Lapow, from "I Like Noodles" album.

Bible Verse Bracelets: (The children love these! Print out multiple rows of the Bible verse onto a sheet of colored computer paper. Cut between each verse so that you have lots of long strips, each with the verse printed on it. Give one to each of the children by wrapping it round a wrist and securing it with a piece of sticky tape.)

Matthew 19:14: "But Jesus said, 'Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.' "

Story: What's for Lunch? by Joanne Bader.

Discuss how, just as in the caboose story, the most insignificant character can have the most important role. Reiterate how Jesus pays attention to and values children.

Song: "Praise Him, Praise Him" from "Songs of Praise" album by Cedarmont Kids.

Finger play: "I Caught a Fish Alive"

Say: "1-2-3-4-5, once I caught a fish alive.

6-7-8-9-10, then I let him go again.

Why did I let him go?

Because he bit my finger so!

Which finger did he bite?

This little finger on the right!"

Art Activity: Shape Train Collage

Use basic geometric shapes to form a collage of a train engine. With three circles for wheels, a square and a rectangle for the body of the engine, two triangles for the front of the train and top of its smokestack, a small square for a window, smaller rectangles for the roof and other details, help the children organize the shapes into a train. Use various bright colors for the shapes, and paste them onto a black background sheet. Use a bit of white chalk to create a wisp of smoke coming out of the top. The effect is very nice.

Enrichment: Give children "Fish Baskets" as they leave. Fill paper trays or disposable bowls with snack fish and oyster crackers, or other type of snacks that resemble loaves and fishes.

Rainbows - Noah's Ark

                                                       

Introduction: Show children a prism. (I borrowed one from my local preschool!) If you do not have access to a prism, make your own with beveled glass or a glass of water. Explore and discuss the rainbows that are created.

Game: Color Song (Tune: "Muffin Man")

"If you're wearing RED today,

RED today, RED today,

if you're wearing RED today,

stand up and say 'Hooray!'" (continue substituting colors until all children have been able to participate)

Story: The First Rainbow, by Su Box

Action Song: "Rise and Shine" from "Action Bible Songs" album by Cedarmont Kids
  

Song: "Old Man Noah Had an Ark" (Tune: "Old MacDonald")

"Old man Noah had an ark, Ee-I-Ee-I-O!

And on this ark he had two frogs, Ee-I-Ee-I-O!

With a ribbit ribbit here, and a ribbit ribbit there,

here a ribbit, there a ribbit, everywhere a ribbit ribbit....

Old man Noah had an ark, Ee-I-Ee-I-O!"

(keep changing the animals...use trumpeting elephants, chattering monkeys, hissing snakes, snapping crocodiles, growling bears, roaring lions, jumping kangaroos, and yawning koalas!)

Prayer and Bible Verse Bracelets:

(Print out, on a brightly-colored sheet of paper, today's verse repeated down the page. Cut between each verse so that you have 10-15 strips, each with the verse printed on it. Ask the children to form a line, and using tape to stick the ends together, wrap a "Bible Verse Bracelet" round each little wrist. Some children do not want to wear it; in that case, hand it to them and tell them to use the verse as a bookmark. The children love these, and come to expect them at each session! The verses also find their way home to parents and siblings, and help to spread the news about the storytime topic.)

Genesis 9:13 "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."

Say a short prayer of thanks to God for what His rainbow means to us.

Story: What is the Sun? by Reeve Lindbergh (a second story can be used to fill a longer story hour.)

What Is the Sun?

Discuss how God created all things.

Rainbow fingerplay:

"One day the sun was shining bright (hold up right hand)

But clouds came along, & it was dark as night (move left hand over right hand as if clouds were covering the sun)

The rain began to sprinkle down (wiggle fingers of both hand while moving them downward)

Soon it was raining all over town.

But when the clouds had passed on by (move both hands to the right)

A beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky! (make an arc overhead)

Art: Rainbows

If the weather permits, and it is suitable for your group, take colored chalk outdoors and make giant rainbows on a sidewalk. If the weather doesn't agree, use damp colored chalk on nicely-colored paper to make lovely rainbows. Consider using a very long sheet of butcher paper (or a banquet-table-sized paper tablecloth) and make a giant paper rainbow.

                                                                             

God Made the Rain - Jesus Calms the Storm

God Made the Rain / Jesus Calms the Storm

Introduction: Show the children a rain stick. If you do not have a rain stick, you may be able to borrow one from a local preschool or elementary school. Talk about how rain sounds, and how it makes the children feel.

  Story: The Storm, by Kathy Henderson. (Play a natural sounds recording of storms to help set the mood for the story. Recordings of storms and other natural sounds are easy to find in discount stores.) After the story, talk briefly with the children about storms, and their experiences with storms.

Song: (Tune: "Frere Jacques") -Leave the "Storms" recording playing in the background-

"I hear thunder, I hear thunder

Don't you too? Don't you too?

Pitter Patter raindrops

Pitter Patter raindrops

I'm wet through...So are you!"

(optional second verse:

"I see blue skies, I see blue skies

Way up high, way up high

Hurry up sunshine, hurry up sunshine

I'll soon dry, I'll soon dry!")

Make a Storm:

Sit in a circle, and choose some children to clap,

some to snap,

others to rub their hands together,

some to stomp their feet,

some to slap their legs,

and the leader will use a sheet of poster board or other similar material to simulate rumbling thunder.

Combine the sounds, one at a time, until the group simulates the effect of a thunderstorm coming nearer, booming overhead, then retreating.

  
Story: Jesus Calms the Storm, by Jean Thor Cook. Discuss the story briefly with the children.

Bible Verse Bracelets:

(Print out, on a brightly-colored sheet of paper, today's verse repeated down the page. Cut between each verse so that you have 10-15 strips, each with the verse printed on it. Ask the children to form a line, and using tape to stick the ends together, wrap a "Bible Verse Bracelet" round each little wrist. Some children do not want to wear it; in that case, hand it to them and tell them to use the verse as a bookmark. The children love these, and come to expect them at each session! The verses also find their way home to parents and siblings, and help to spread the news about the storytime topic.)

Matthew 8:27 "So the men marveled, saying, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'"

Song: "Peter, James, and John in a Sailboat," from "Bible Songs" recording by Cedarmont Kids

Prayer: "Dear Jesus, thank You that You are so strong that even the wind and the sea obey You! Thank You that, even though sometimes we are afraid or in trouble, You are with us to calm us and take care of us. Amen."

Art: Make Rain sticks:

Use paper towel tubes and fill partially with plastic mesh (the kind you might use as a gutter guard, sold at home improvement stores.) Pour in rice and small dried beans (such as lentils.) Seal the ends with tape and decorate as you wish. You have rain sticks!

Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love

A Preschool Lesson About Love - for Valentine's Day or Any Old Day

This storytime lesson plan provides a platform for discussing God the Father's unconditional love for us. By showing an imperfect example of the love an earthly father has for his son, teachers and parents can help bring some illumination to the perfect example of love: God's love for His children. Joosse's book, Papa, Do You Love Me?, set in the plains of Serengeti, will tie in to multicultural units and African themes as well.

Introduction: Bring in some photos of children and parents from other cultures. You might show the Maasai, as highlighted in this lesson's storytime book, as well as Native Americans, Chinese, Peruvians, Indians, or Australian Aboriginals. Talk with the children about the similarities and differences these sets of children and parents may have compared to American children. What about European children and their parents? What kinds of things might they do together? How is that the same and different from the experiences of the children in your group?

  Story: Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Joosse and Barbara Lavallee. Discuss how much the father in the story loves his son. What happened when the boy asked his father whether he would still love him if he did something awful? What was the father's response? What do the children think our Heavenly Father would do if we do something bad? Do we do bad things everyday? (Usually!) Do the children think God stops loving us when we mess up? Explain that God loves us even more than any earthly father. And that's a lot!

Music: Bring out some rhythm instruments for the children to experiment with. Explain that these are the types of instruments the boy in the story will have heard and probably played. Tap out a rhythm as you sing "Jesus Loves Me" with the children.

Bible Verse Bracelets:

(Print out, on a brightly-colored sheet of paper, today's verse repeated down the page. Cut between each verse until you have enough Bible verse strips for all the children in your group. Ask the children to form a line, and using tape to stick the ends together, wrap a "Bible Verse Bracelet" round each little wrist. Some children do not want to wear it; in that case, hand it to them and tell them to use the verse as a bookmark. The children love these, and come to expect them at each session! The verses also find their way home to parents and siblings, and help to spread the news about that day's storytime.)

Romans 8:38-39 "Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (New Century Version)

  Story: Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram. Emphasize that just like the little hare, we can never outdo God's love for us!

Song: "You Can Tell the Lord That You Love Him" by Colin Buchanan from his "Follow the Saviour" enhanced CD. You can view more information about Colin Buchanan (a fantastic singer and songwriter in Australia with a real heart for sharing God's word with children) and hear samples of his music at www.word.com.au and entering "colin buchanan" in the search box. I use his music in many of my lessons and highly recommend it.

Art: Maasai Hearts. Give each child a large heart shape cut out of sturdy paper or card. Provide the colors of the Maasai for them to decorate their hearts, to remind them of the love of the father for his son in the opening story. Use fabric scraps, beads, buttons, bits of shredded tissue paper, strips of construction paper, paints, and anything else you may have on hand. Let the children give these extra-special African hearts to someone they love.