Moses in the Bullrushes (Exodus 2)

Large play scene for Moses in Bullrushes. 

(This term for the younger groups, under 7's I'm attempting to use both large dolls for the stories which is something I made for Holiday Club and worked very well, as well as using Godly Play (People of God) and small scale wooden models in sand). For this session all play resources were available at all times alongside craft materials.

The story was told first (this is not always the format of a session it depends upon the dynamics of the grouping) After the story, and a short time of wondering (which actually occurred naturally during the story as well) and then a snack (of jelly babies on biscuits and milk bottles)

After the story play options were pointed out and what craft materials were available and a few ideas about what they may make without direction e.g. "what do you think you could make?" 

 A basket for baby Moses (the first one created with much concentration - pipe cleaners were requested in addition to what was available)

Another basket for baby Moses

 A basket with Moses inside

A different take on Moses transport a boat instead of a basket (again much concentration)

The children agreed that more clay was defiantly needed.

Sock babies, really enthusiastically received by the girls. Was rather prescriptive craft and needed support but prompted lots of play afterwards. The older group 7+ got very creative with their sock Moses!

Not from this session but a previous Moses session - Milk bottle tops with Moses drawn on and floating - the children enjoyed playing with this.

Ideas Sheet for Exodus 2

Paul Shipwrecked

This week following on from a mini series of sessions for the relating to the life of Paul starting a month ago at the last Children's Church. I don't believe I have posted that session due to camera issues.

Play

 The pallet boat/ shipwreck formed the main focus of the room, and later allowed us to tell the story through drama including the children. During the play session, the children decorated the wood pallet with pens and played with the scene. The main writing on the pallet read "The good ship sinker and peace maker"

Shipwrecked Scene using the wonderful tuff stop/ builders tray containing sand, blue fabric and playmobil shipwreck (added wooden people also)

Play with wooden harbour set that I have used for many water story and is great for linking bible stories to modern situations/ experiences.

Sensory

Water and boats (small people were added)

 Alongside the boats blueish jelly with snakes and sea creatures in it. (Snakes relating to the snake that bit Paul on the island of Malta)

Craft:

 Tights???? 

For more snakes of course

 Playdough to make snakes (and whatever else but once one person starts the others follow) And I do believe we had some rather beautiful snakes this week.

 The play dough invitations to play are always so very popular that I am trying to put a play dough activity every session.

 Wooden boats, although these were not fully able to be undertaken by the children they were popular and children enjoyed decorating them. Because they were able to float they provided great opportunity to follow up story at home. (I will see if I can find some pictures of completed boats)

Food: (always a food activity- always popular)

Biscuits, with icing with brown sugar for sand, flapjack ship, cocktail stick with tape for sail and of course a jelly baby for Paul

We did not have a game this session, we were going to have snakes and ladders but unfortunately were unable to find one :(

Paul Heals... craft

We looked at the healings of Paul, as a craft response for the 6-11 year olds we made pipe cleaner dolls that moved to remind us that the people in the story were able to move/ jump for joy.

Guidelines for making: http://alljoinin.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/making-dolls-aka-bible-dolls.html

CD Fish

I just found these and thought actually of all "perscriptive" crafts (which are not my preference to  do with children but some certainly love them so I do) CD fish are one of my favourite! And there are a log fish stories in the Bible! 

Easter Play

On Easter day in church these resources were available for the youngest children to play with. In the afternoon I returned to church to collect items to play our way through the story.

These cubes accompanied the resources, pictorially telling key parts of story and identifying emotions to relate to each part of the story

The triumphant entry, again "Hosanna" was immediately shouted! (note how the gates/ arch are held up :)

The last supper (the cube has another use) 

At this meal there was also chocolate cake!! (perhaps chocolate on brain since we had easter egg interludes)

Praying in the garden - the friends are actually sleeping!

 The saddest of days! 

 Still a sad day,  Jesus buried 

 A very happy day Jesus is alive!!

Palm Sunday/ triumphant entry!

I'll let the picture speak for self, simplicity to tell and simple but wonderful story.  My 22 month old niece picked up each person some time after hearing story saying "Hosanna" "Hosanna"

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Continuing with our Bible Super heroes, this week we had three superheroes; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 

We introduced the session with a clip from Bolt the movie, the clip when Bolt rescues Penny from the fire, introducing Bolt using super bark (or something like that) power to rescue his friend and God using an angel to rescue his friends.

Unfortunately I don't have photos of all the activities of the groups, but a few to get an idea. 

Each group had props to tell the story that were similar to this.

The three to four year olds had the following play experiences to support the story:

 Red and Yellow sensory items to talk about the colours of fire.

 Gold and silver sensory materials to support talking about a golden statue.

 They also had yellow and red play dough that was presented with wooden people, to talk about people in the fire.

The four - six year olds also had play dough as above, and a fire station complete with wooden fire blocks.

The oldest group (rising 7-11) discussed the super powers of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, which we decided were

• Bravery
• Trusting God
• Faith
• Standing up for God

We discussed whether we had ever had to stand up for God, and how we had done this or challenges with this. We had a great and very mature discussion about this. 

Crafts:

Paper plate fiery furnaces. This was an option for the under sixes and for the three and four year olds it was their only "craft" option but the play responses remained (which was the case for the four - six year olds)

 Fiery furnace stained glass window (with sticky backed plastic)

 

Fiery furnace bottles, this was a really popular craft activity with the eldest group (rising 7 - 11) and they were really enthusiastic about it. The word stickers were found on their request to relate to the super hero powers we had discussed when reviewing the story.

There was also the option of drawing/ writing words about the story on a red bauble.

We finished with the two oldest groups playing with a parachute

• Mushroom- but we were in the fiery furnace
• Fruit salad with the words "Fire" "Gold" "King" and for fruit salad the words "Trust God" (children's idea)