Nursery Lesson Plan 6: I Am Growing - 18 November 2012

Concept Area – Self

Theme: I am growing

Bible verse: Luke 2:52 Jesus grew tall

Bible Stories:

Jesus’ childhood stories (Luke 2:39-52)

Help the children to understand the concept that they are growing up every day just like Jesus. Jesus was a child like them and He grew up from a baby to be a man like their daddies. God wants us not only to grow up physically but also spiritually so that we can help and serve others in need just like Jesus in the Bible stories.

Resources and preparation: ·         Bible ·         Storyboard

Activity 0: Hand printing (this activity is from Lesson 52)

This was the activity on Lesson 52 (7^th Oct). However, a few children handprints were missing from the collage. Print the handprints for the children which are missing from the collage.

Resources and preparation: ·         Retrieve the old collage ·         Hand print colour paste ·         Old T-shirts for the children to clean their hands after the printing ·         Disposable aprons for the children ·         May need to bring the children to the toilet to wash their hands

Activity 1: “Build” a tree that growing up

Draw a huge tree trunk on a long and large paper. Ask the children to help to paint the tree trunk and later paste the real leaves onto the tree trunk. Encourage them after that to decorate the tree by drawing things that they are imagining like draw flowers, fruits, butterfly, birds, etc. on the tree or around the tree. While constructing the tree, create good conversation with the children about the concept of growing up using the tree and the objects they have drawn around the tree as example. Introduce to them the concept of spiritual growth like pray to God every day; be obedient at home and at school.

Resources and preparation: ·         A large long white paper ·         Colouring paste & colouring brush ·         Disposable aprons for the children ·         This activity will be done on the floor due to the large size of the paper.

Activity 2: Measure and mark the children height

Ask the children one by one lean against the wall and measure and mark their height on the wall. Label their names on the wall associate to their height markings so that they can remember their height marked on the wall. Explain to them that they will grow taller and the marking will change when they measure again next time.

Resources and preparation: ·         Measuring tape ·         Marker ·         Labelling tape for labelling their name

Activity 3: Making collages

Provide the children with the pictures from the Bible stories of Jesus’ childhood, ask them to cut the pictures and paste the pictures onto a collage. Ask them to reproduce the stories in sequence. While the children carrying out the activity, reinforce the bible stories with the children that they have just listened.

Resources and preparation: ·         A3 blank papers ·         Glue ·         Pictures from  the Bible stories of Jesus’ childhood

 
Activity 4: Bible and books station

(Permanent station - use this station for younger children or when any children show interest to read and listen to stories)

Put a Bible at the Bible Station. If any children are interesting in listening to Bible stories, tell the following Bible stories with helping others concept:

Resources and preparation: ·         Bible ·         books

  

Game: A Little Help from Your Friends

Give each child a tissue to place on his head. Instruct children to move around to the tune of music while keeping the tissue on their heads. If a tissue falls off, the child will freeze. Another child needs to help the frozen child by placing the tissue back on the frozen child's head, allowing the frozen child to re-join the game. This game helps raise awareness of others in need for preschool children.

Resources and preparation: ·         Audio player to play music ·         Tissue papers

  

Backup Activity 1: Colouring

Resources and preparation: ·         Colour pencils and crayons ·         Colouring sheets

  

Backup Activity 2: Play dough

Resources and preparation: ·         Play dough

 
Suggested Sequence Activities:

Welcome the children

1.   Activity 1

2.   Activity 2

3.   Group Time (Bible Story) + Snack + prayer

4.   Activity 3 (Activity 0)

 

5. Time to clean up

6.   Game

End of Lesson

Note: the sequence of the activities may vary depend on the children learning situation and their participation in the activities. Grab the teachable opportunity is more important than following the plan rigidly!

 

Song: Love the Lord Your God

Love the lord your god
 With all your heart and
 All your soul
 And all your mind
 And love all mankind
 As you love
 Yourself and...
 Love the lord your god
 With all your heart
 And all your
 Soul and mind
 And love all mankind

We've got christian
 Lives to live
 We've got jesus'
 Love to give
 We've got
 Nothing to hide
 Because in him we abide

Love the lord your god
 With all your heart
 And all your soul
 And all your mind
 And love all mankind
 As you love
 Yourself and...

Love the lord your god
 With all your heart
 And all your
 Soul and mind
 And love all mankind

We've got christian
 Lives to live
 We've got jesus'
 Love to give
 We've got
 Nothing to hide
 Because in him we abide

Love the lord your god
 With all your heart
 And all your soul
 And all your mind
 And love all mankind

Video Demonstration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9poP_8iRhQo

References:
http://www.lyricstime.com/worship-love-the-lord-lyrics.html

Nursery Duty Roster: 1 Oct 2012 - 31 Jan 2013

Leader's name for the week appeared first:

October 20127th VK, Rochelle and Ashley Lesson 52
14th Rochelle, Simon and Sarma Lesson 1
21st Simon, Jannie and Timothy Lesson 2
28th Jannie, Allan and Stephan Lesson 3

November 2012
4th Allan, VK and Ashley Lesson 4
11th Elaine, Ying and Sarma Lesson 5
18th VK, Jannie and Timothy Lesson 6
25th Jannie, Allan and Stephan Lesson 7

December 2012
2nd Allan, Rochelle and Ashley Lesson 8
9th Rochelle, Simon and Sarma Lesson 9
16th Simon, VK and Timothy Lesson 10
23rd VK, Allan and Stephan Lesson 11
30th Nursery closed for holidays

January 2013
6th Allan, Jannie and Ashley Lesson 12
13th Elaine, Ying and Sarma Lesson 13
20th Jannie, Simon and Timothy Lesson 14
27th Simon, Rochelle and Stephan Lesson 15

Nursery Minutes of Meeting - 20 October 2012

Meeting Notes for Saturday 20 October 2012

Present: Rochelle, Simon, Allan, Jannie, Wi Min, VK, Juliana, Martin, Sarma, Chen Ying and Elaine

1. The Nursery/Preschool Vision Statement

The Nursery/Preschool Vision Statement was summarized into one sentence following inputs from everyone:

“To support parents in guiding their children with developing a personal relationship with God so that the children will come to know Christ.”

which is in line with the FIBC’s Family Ministry Vision Statement:

To encourage and equip families to be disciple-making disciples – living out the “Great Commandment (Matt 22:36-40)” and the “Great Commission (Matt. 28:16 – 20).”

2. The 3 Nursery/Preschool Mission Statements (Goals)

The 3 Nursery/Preschool Mission Statements (Goals) according to UP, In and Out principles were developed:

 

a. God made me and loves me so much and I want to love God (Upward focus)
b. I am of great worth to God and what I do matter to God (moral heart: right and wrong) (Inward focus)
c. All people are precious to God and I can help others around me (Outward focus)
which are in line with FIBC’s Kids Ministries Goals:

a. I can trust God no matter what (Upward focus)
b. I need to make the wise choice (Inward focus)
c. I need to treat others how I want to be treated (Outward focus)
 

3. UP, In and Out principles Diagrams

The UP, In and Out principles illustrated in the following diagrams by Rochelle and Juliana:
 

It means that the children knowing their identity in God (Up) which gives them their self-worth (In) would enable them to go out and serve others (Out).

VK mentioned that the easiest to teach is IN, since children are naturally self-centred, and the most difficult to teach are the OUT (to think of others) and the UP. We should not forget the UP and OUT and focus on the IN. We should remember to strike a balance and not only emphasize or concentrate on just one dimension when teaching the children.

4. Targets

The targets we expect our children to achieve when they leave the Nursery/Preschool were developed:
 

Upward Targets:
• God created us and that He is still here listening to us and we can talk to Him.
• Praying to God is talking to God.
• God is in their family.
• To respect God

Strategies:
• Pray fervently for the children we teach and parents we serve.
• Consciously incorporating these targets when planning our lesson plans
• Work alongside and support parents as role models
• Highlighting other people in the church as role models
• Help the children to experience God’s love as a family.

Inward Targets:
• They (the children) are special because God loves them.
• Their identity comes from God, which give them their self-worth and thus they should be self-confidence and brave not conform to the standards of the world.
• To Know right and wrong according to Godly principles.
• To develop a moral heart that is inward driven to make wise decisions that are guided by God’s moral principles.
• To be like Jesus who is our role model.

Strategies:
• Pray fervently for the children we teach and parents we serve.
• Using puppets for role play to give the children opportunities to express themselves.
• Giving opportunities for the children to perform and increase their self-confidence during normal class time and special projects or FIBC combined worship.
• Be sensitive to grabbing teachable moments during conversation with the children and take advantage of them to teach that they are special and to teach right and wrong.

Outward Targets:
• All people created by God and are special and we should appreciate one another’s differences.
• All people are and important to God and we should consider the wishes of others (to move from “self-centredness” to “other-centred”).
• To treat others the way they want to be treated.
• To be kind and help others.
 

Strategies:
• Pray fervently for the children we teach and parents we serve.
• Be a good role model to the children in helping others.
• Incorporate stories about what Jesus did to help others (Jesus as a role model).
• Providing opportunities for the children to serve one another when planning our lesson plans
• Work alongside and support parents as role models
• Highlighting other people in the church as role models

 

 5. Eight different kinds of smarts

VK shared with us the 8 different kinds of smarts exhibited by different children – Word smart, number smart, picture smart, body smart, music smart, nature smart, people smart and self smart.
 

6. Preschool Lesson Plans

Working in two teams, we practiced to develop preschool lesson plans that incorporate different learning style – Show me, Tell me and Let me try and learning levels – Discovering, understanding, re-stating, interpreting and translating.

VK reminded us that we are sowing seeds – we may not see the fruit now, but we have to trust that the children are learning.
 

7. Three Special Projects

Three Special Projects were discussed:
 

Nativity Project:
We would write a little nativity scene (Rochelle would be happy to do this) and one adult will be the narrator and another will help the children get to the stage or steps when their part comes up. We will dress the children as Mary, Joseph, Lamb, Angel, inn keeper, shepherds etc. This should last approximately 5 to 10 minutes. We will have to start practicing with the children soon and help will be needed from all to make costumes.

Christmas Shoebox Project:
Children give presents (giving away a present they receive or making something together) and put them into a shoe-box to send to the less unfortunate children who have no means of getting a Christmas present. Through this activity, we will teach the children the the best gift that God gave us - Jesus.

Palm Sunday/Easter project:
The sunday school children will be the narator, while the one of the nursery children will sit on the donkey (adult dressed up as donkey), and the other nursey children will wave using the palm leaves.Juliana agreed to look into compiling 10 Christian children songs that we could all use during singing time in class. This could be made into a CD.

8. Puppets (see attached doc. for pictures)

We discussed about getting hand puppets of Biblical characters and multi-cultural characters. They are quite expensive. We could decide whether we should get them. If we choose to get them, Elaine would be happy to coordinate and make the buying. If we choose to buy them, there will be custom duties, VAT and service fee for buying outside of the EU.

Here are some Biblical puppets and multi-cultural children puppets from Amazon US:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dtoys-and-games&field-keywords=biblical+hand+puppets
 
Here are some biblical puppets from The Puppet Store:
http://www.thepuppetstore.com/Biblical_s/62.htm

Here are some community Helpers puppets from Lakeshore. At the moment, they are offering 20% off:

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CsearchResults~~p%7C2534374302222474~~.jsp

9. Next quarterly meeting

Next quarterly meeting will be on Saturday 26th January 2013. Allan and Jannie have kindly agreed to host it. Elaine will draft the agenda and send out to the rest.

 

We thank Rochelle and Simon very much for their hospitality for making this meeting such a cozy fellowship, and VK for training us in this meeting. We also want to give a warm welcome Juliana and Martin to the FIBC Nursery/Preschool.

Blessings,

Elaine