Monday, February 14, 2011

Activity (Series A4 - Lesson 2): Wind Sock Craft and Balloon Trivia

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Unit A4
Lesson 2: The Spirit Comes at Pentecost (Acts 2:1 - 21)

As part of this lesson the children will make a wind sock and/or play Balloon Trivia:
Wind Sock: For this project you will need yarn, construction paper - various colors including red and orange, markers, clear tape, hole punch and an empty toilet paper tube for each child. Each child should cut out four flame shapes using the red and orange paper. Have the children write words reminiscent of Pentecost on the flames, such as Holy Spirit, Wind, Breath, God. Punch a hole in the top of each flame and set aside. Take the toilet paper tube, punch a hole on one end and a second directly across from it. Thread a piece of yarn through the two holes and tie the ends together leaving enough extra so the wind sock can be hung. Punch four holes on the other end of the tube. Hang the flames from the four holes punched in the bottom of the tube, leave some length of yarn so the flames can blow around. Use extra construction paper, cut to fit, and wrap the toilet paper tube. Tape the paper on. Decorate the covered tube with markers.
Balloon Trivia - for the older kids: You will need several balloons blown up and a list of trivia questions. Depending on the size of the class the game could be played by teams of individually. The first person up is given a balloon they must keep in the air by blowing on it, no hands. Ask them a trivia question related to todays lesson, such as, "Which book in the Bible does the story of Pentecost appear in?" If they get it correct the next person in line takes over keeping the balloon in the air. If they are wrong another balloon is tossed up and they need to keep both in the air. Ask another question using the same rules. If a balloon hits the ground the child is out. Have many questions on hand. Repeat questions that are answered incorrectly to see if someone else can answer them.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Activity (Series A4 - Lesson 1): Witness Report

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Unit A4
Lesson 1: Witnesses for Jesus (Luke 24:36-53)

As part of this lesson the children will complete a "Witness Report:
The children will make a report as though they were with the disciples in Jerusalem. You will need pencils and generic witness form pre-printed so the children can fill in the report. Plain paper will work fine, but parchment looking or parchment patterned paper would be fun. Print the form with the title "Witness Report" at the top and questions such as: Witness Name, Date of Incident, Location of Incident, Time, Describe the Incident that took place, Name others present and their occupations. Have the children imagine as many details as possible, what was the area like, the weather that day, what did Jesus' look like? At the bottom of the form add a date and signature line.

Smaller children can draw pictures instead of writing details. Older children can give a really in-depth account of what they may have seen standing with the disciples the day Jesus revealed himself. Extra fun: Bring in a colored wax candle and improvise a stamp (like the cookie stamps that make pictures on cookies). Teachers can drip hot wax on the bottom of the report and press the stamp. Let it cool, now it looks like an old official document.