This is a Preview of Teaching Children to Pray - Ages 2 & 3 Get a full version at www.rosekidz.com
Ages 2 & 3
An imprint of Rose Publishing, Inc. Carson, CA www.Rose-Publishing.com
Ages 2 & 3 Mary J. Davis
These pages may be copied. Permission is granted to the buyer of this book to photocopy student materials in this book for use with students in Sunday school or Bible teaching classes.
D ed icat ion A mother’s blessings are her children. A grandmother’s blessings are her grandchildren. A teacher’s blessings are the students whom she grows to love. God blesses His world by giving us precious children, who show us each day a Christlike love, trust and joy. This book is dedicated to the blessings God has given me: Lori, Jeff and Wendi – my children. Michael, Nathan, Jonathan, Shelbee, Caleb and Courtney – my precious grandchildren. Larry – my husband, who shares these blessings with me.
Teaching children
To
Pray: ages 2&3
©2014 by Mary J. Davis ISBN 10: 1-885358-23-7 ISBN 13: 978-1-885358-23-3 RoseKidz® reorder #R36611 RELIGION/Christian Ministry/Children RoseKidz® An imprint of Rose Publishing, Inc. 17909 Adria Maru Lane Carson, CA 90746 www.Rose-Publishing.com Cover Illustrator: Terry Julien Illustrator: Michael Talbot
Scriptures are from the Holy Bible: New International Version (North American Edition), copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Permission is granted to the buyer of this book to photocopy student materials for use with Sunday school or Bible teaching classes. All rights reserved. Except as noted above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of Rainbow Publishers. Printed in the United States of America
20 05.2016.PP
Contents Memory Verse Index ..................................................................................................................6 Materials to Gather ....................................................................................................................7 Preface ............................................................................................................................................9 Prayers for Care
Prayers of Praise
Birdseed Birds ................................................11
Angel Puppet ..................................................51
Care Card........................................................13
Blessed Binoculars ........................................53
Cookie Car ......................................................15
Child of God Crown ......................................55
God Cares for Me ..........................................17
Double Praise Picture ....................................57
Growing Up Chart ..........................................19
Filled with Joy ................................................59
“He Hears Me” Hanger ..................................21
God’s House ..................................................61
Helping Hands ................................................23 Jesus Calms the Storm ..................................25 Jonah’s Fish ....................................................27 Rocking Ark....................................................29 Trust Pillow ....................................................31 Widow’s Offering Windsock ..........................33
God’s Wonderful Creation ............................63 Jesus Calls the Children ................................65 Praise Streamers ............................................67 Praise the Name of Jesus ..............................69 Prayer Calendar..............................................71 Prayer Triangle ..............................................73 Seasons Praise Puppets ................................75
Prayers of Commitment
Prayers of Thanks
Follow the Right Path ....................................35
God Gave Me a Home....................................77
Food Is Good for Me ......................................37 God ‘N’ Me Hat ..............................................39
God’s Special Word ........................................79 Hannah’s Hanging Picture ............................81 Love Card ......................................................83
Helping Puzzle ..............................................41
Loving Our Pets..............................................85
Kindness Bee..................................................43
Rainbow Promise Prayer ..............................87
Listening Sheep..............................................45 Showing Love Book ......................................47 Solomon Story Scroll ....................................49
Table Tent of Thanks ....................................89 Textures of the Seasons ................................91 Thank-You Cross............................................93 Yummy Hand Prints ......................................95
memory Verse Index Genesis 1:14....................................Textures of the Seasons ......................................................91 Genesis 8:1 ..............................................Rocking Ark................................................................29 Genesis 9:6 ........................................Child of God Crown..........................................................55 Exodus 20:12 ..................................God Gave Me a Home ........................................................77 Deuteronomy 7:13....................................Love Card..................................................................83 Deuteronomy 11:7 ............................Blessed Binoculars ..........................................................53 1 Samuel 2:3 ................................Hannah’s Hanging Picture ....................................................81 1 Samuel 3:19 ....................................Growing Up Chart ..........................................................19 1 Kings 3:10 ......................................Solomon Story Scroll ........................................................49 Job 22:27 ..........................................“He Hears Me” Hanger........................................................21 Psalm 33:1 ........................................Double Praise Picture ........................................................57 Psalm 55:17 ..........................................Prayer Triangle..............................................................73 Psalm 113:2....................................Praise the Name of Jesus......................................................69 Psalm 122:1 ............................................God’s House................................................................61 Psalm 126:3 ............................................Filled with Joy ..............................................................59 Psalm 139:14 ....................................Yummy Hand Prints..........................................................95 Proverbs 20:11 ......................................Helping Puzzle..............................................................41 Daniel 2:20-21 ................................Seasons Praise Puppets ......................................................75 Jonah 2:1 ..................................................Jonah’s Fish ................................................................27 Matthew 4:19....................................Follow the Right Path ........................................................35 Matthew 19:14................................Jesus Calls the Children ......................................................65 Matthew 28:20..........................................Cookie Car ................................................................15 Mark 4:41..........................................Jesus Calms the Storm........................................................25 Mark 12:30 ............................................God ‘N’ Me Hat ............................................................39 Luke 2:14..................................................Angel Puppet ..............................................................51 Luke 6:12 ..............................................Prayer Calendar ............................................................71 Luke 12:7 ................................................Birdseed Birds ..............................................................11 Luke 21:3 ......................................Widow’s Offering Windsock....................................................33 John 3:16 ..............................................Thank-You Cross............................................................93 John 10:27..............................................Listening Sheep ............................................................45 Acts 17:24 ......................................God’s Wonderful Creation ....................................................63 1 Corinthians 3:16 ..........................Food Is Good for Me ........................................................37 1 Corinthians 13:4 ............................Showing Love Book..........................................................47 Galatians 5:13........................................Helping Hands..............................................................23 Ephesians 4:32......................................Loving Our Pets ............................................................85 2 Timothy 1:3 ....................................Table Tent of Thanks ........................................................89 2 Timothy 2:24........................................Kindness Bee ..............................................................43 Hebrews 2:13 ..........................................Trust Pillow ................................................................31 James 5:16 ..................................................Care Card..................................................................13 1 Peter 1:25 ........................................God’s Special Word ..........................................................79 1 Peter 5:7............................................God Cares for Me............................................................17 2 Peter 1:4 ......................................Rainbow Promise Prayer ......................................................87 Revelation 19:7 ....................................Praise Streamers ............................................................67
6
Materials to Gather S
ince these activities are especially designed for 2s & 3s, they require only a few simple materials to complete. Listed below are all of the items you will need to lead the activities as they are designed in this book. However, you may eliminate and add as you desire. Use the reproducible note to parents at the bottom of this page to obtain volunteer help in collecting materials. Check off each item as you receive it. You may wish to use a pair of adult scissors to pre-cut any crafts and avoid confusion with little ones who are not capable of using scissors yet. If you do allow them to cut, be sure to use children’s safety scissors. All activities calling for “tape” require the clear type of tape.
adhesive bandages aluminum foil or foil
gift wrap birdseed cereal circles construction paper, 12" x 18" bright colors and scraps construction paper, 8¹⁄₂" x 11" black cookies, sandwich-style cord, gold or silver cotton balls, white cotton swabs craft sticks
crayons crepe paper streamers fabric scraps, soft feathers felt scraps, brown foil stars and hearts glue hangers, wire hole punch leaves macaroni, dry marshmallows, miniature white paintbrushes, small paper, plain white paper, heavy white
paper plates safety scissors sand seeds stapler stickers, praying hands and happy face
straw, hay straws, plastic
drinking syrup, chocolate tape, clear tubes, toilet tissue tree bark wet cloth yarn
To Families and Friends of 2s & 3s
We are planning many special craft activities for your child. Some of these crafts include regular household items. We would like to ask your help in saving the items checked below for our activities.
adhesive bandages
cotton swabs
paper plates
aluminum foil or foil
fabric scraps, soft
straws, plastic
gift wrap
felt scraps, brown
birdseed
hangers, wire
cereal circles
macaroni, dry
cookies,
marshmallows,
sandwich-style
drinking
syrup, chocolate tubes, toilet tissue
miniature white
cotton balls, white Please bring the items on __________________________________________. Thank you for your help!
7
Preface P
rayer is our lifeline to God. Without prayer, we falter in our walk with Him and give in to worries, fears and even temptations. The time to begin building a powerful prayer life is in early childhood, for children who learn the power of prayer early will have a special relationship with their Lord. The activities in this book will help students build that strong prayer life. These projects offer a variety of activities to keep students interested while adding to the building blocks of their faith and prayer lives. The projects have been designed with flexibility to serve as independent lessons or as add-ons to your curriculum. They can also be used in Christian schools or at home as family devotional projects. To make selection of the appropriate activity easier, the projects are grouped in four sections: Prayers for Care, Prayers of Commitment, Prayers of Praise and Prayers of Thanks — allowing the teacher or parent to emphasize topics of prayer. Also, on page 6 you will find a memory verse index to help you choose an activity that applies to a particular verse your class may be studying. Within each activity description, you are provided with everything you need to teach a prayer lesson: memory verse, prayer thought (or theme), suggested prayer, materials list, before-class preparation and step-by-step instructions. Each project includes reproducible patterns or illustrations, as well as a related lesson idea with Scripture reference. All activities have been especially designed to meet the abilities and interests of 2s & 3s while also offering a teacher-friendly concept that makes lessons a breeze to prepare and teach – making class time less hectic and more rewarding for both you and the children. Since all of these activities are about prayer, it is important both for the adult to lead in prayer and for the children to be encouraged to pray in class. Soon, your children will look forward to prayer time as they work on these exciting activities. What a wonderful foundation to begin and build upon with your students!
9
Birdseed Birds Prayer Thought God doesn’t want me to worry or be afraid.
Memory Verse Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ~ Luke 12:7
What You Need
page 12, duplicated
crayons
glue
birdseed
Before Class Prayer
God, You take care of the little birds, so I know You take care of me. Amen.
No preparation is required.
What to Do 1. Have the children color their birds. Talk about the memory verse and how God remembers even the little sparrow. Say, Birds are so small. But God says in His Word that He knows all little birds and He takes care of them. He promises to take care of us in the same way.
Bible Lesson
Jesus taught us not to worry. Luke 12:4-7, 22-32
2. Help the children spread some glue on the birds and sprinkle on some birdseed. 3. Say, God does not want us to be afraid of anything. He will take care of us. 4. Say the prayer thought and memory verse with the children, then close with prayer.
Prayers for Care
11
12 Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7
Care Card Prayer Thought I can pray for someone who is sick.
Memory Verse Pray for each other. ~ James 5:16
What You Need
page 14, duplicated
adhesive bandages
crayons
Before Class Prayer
God, help me to remember to pray to You when I know someone is sick. Amen.
Fold the pattern in half with the hands on the inside. Unwrap bandages if your class is mostly two-year-olds.
What to Do 1. While the students color the cards, discuss how they can pray and ask God to take care of someone who is sick or hurt.
Bible Lesson
Jesus’ Miracles Luke 8:40-56
2. Help them write their names on the cards and read the words to them. 3. Have each child stick an adhesive bandage on one of the hands. If time allows, the children may color the insides and outsides, also. 4. Encourage them to give their get-well cards to people who are sick or hurt. Remind them to pray for the people, also. 5. Review the prayer thought and close with prayer.
Prayers for Care
Note: Young children may talk about someone who has been sick in the past, but is now well. Time is a confusing concept for 2s and 3s. If anyone wants to give a card to someone who is not sick at this time, turn the child’s thoughts to, “How wonderful that God made you well.”
13
14
Cookie Car Prayer Thought God is with me when I travel.
Memory Verse I am with you always. ~ Matthew 28:20
What You Need
Prayer
God, You are always with me, even when I travel far away from home. Thank You for taking care of me. Amen.
page 16, duplicated to card stock
sandwich-type cookies
crayons
glue
Before Class You will need at least two cookies per child. Bring extra for snacking.
What to Do 1. Have each child color the picture of the family traveling.
Bible Lesson
Jesus promises to be with us always. Matthew 28:16-30
Prayers for Care
2. As they work, ask the children to tell about trips their families have taken. Stress how God took care of their families as they traveled. Say, God was with you all the time. God is with us always, no matter where we are. 3. Help each child glue a cookie to each of the two wheels of his or her car. Provide extra cookies for snacking. 4. Say, When you show your picture to your family, tell them how God takes care of us even when we travel far away. Remember to thank God for taking care of your family. 5. Repeat the prayer thought with the children, then close with prayer.
15
16 I am with you always. ~ Matthew 28:20
God Cares for Me Prayer Thought God has given special people to take care of me.
Memory Verse He cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7
What You Need
page 18, duplicated
adhesive bandages
craft sticks
crayons
glue
Before Class Prayer
God, thank You for sending people to care for me. Amen.
Unwrap the bandages if your class is mostly two-year-olds.
What to Do 1. As each student colors the illustration on page 18, talk about how doctors help take care of us. Say, What is the doctor doing to the child? What does your doctor do to help take care of you? Can you find other things that doctors use to help take care of us? Find and circle some.
Bible Lesson
The Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37
2. Help the students find the items (tongue depressors and ear monitor in doctor’s pockets; adhesive bandage on girl’s leg; thermometer in girl’s mouth; stethoscope on girl’s chest; scale; charts) and circle them. 3. Have them repeat the memory verse with you several times. 4. When all of the children are finished coloring, help them fold the sides of the pages to meet at the center.
Prayers for Care
5. Help the students glue craft sticks (used here as tongue depressors) on one side of the folded pages and stick adhesive bandages on the other sides. 6. Remind the students to thank God for people who take care of them. Review the prayer thought and close with prayer.
17
18
Growing Up Chart Prayer Thought I am growing big and strong to serve God.
Memory Verse The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up. ~ 1 Samuel 3:19
What You Need
page 20, duplicated
crayons
scissors
tape
Before Class Prayer
Dear Lord, I am glad You are with me as I grow up. I want to grow to serve You. Amen.
Cut out the charts and tape one together (end to end) for each child.
What to Do 1. Give each child a growing up chart.
Bible Lesson
Samuel grows up. 1 Samuel 3
Prayers for Care
2. While they color the pictures, remind them that God was with Samuel as he grew. Ask, Can you think of some ways that God is helping these children grow? God helps you grow, too. Discuss times when God helps the children grow, such as giving them good food, providing good parents, making them well and listening when they pray. 3. After the children finish coloring, hold up their charts to a wall and mark each child’s height on his or her chart. 4. Say, Hang your chart on a wall or door at home. Ask Mom or Dad to measure you to see how much you are growing. Remember to thank God for being with you as you grow up. 5. Say the prayer thought with the children, then close with prayer.
19
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up. ~ 1 Samuel 3:19
Parent: Please tape the chart 30 inches from the floor.
20
“He Hears Me� Hanger Prayer Thought God hears me when I pray.
Memory Verse Pray to him, and he will hear you.
~ Job 22:27
What You Need
page 22, duplicated
crayons
scissors
praying hands stickers
Before Class Prayer
Dear God, thank You that You care to listen to me. Amen.
Cut out a doorknob hanger for each child. Slice the hanger at the dashed line and cut out the hole so it is ready to hang.
What to Do 1. Stress to the children how wonderful it is to have a God who listens to us and even longs for us to talk to Him. Say, Did you know that God loves for you to talk to Him? He is always happy to hear from you.
Bible Lesson
The Parable of the Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5-8
2. When they are finished coloring the hangers, help the students to add praying hands stickers. 3. Remind the students to put their hangers on their bedroom doors at home. 4. Repeat the memory verse together and lead the children in prayer before closing.
Prayers for Care
21
22
Helping Hands Prayer Thought I will use my hands to help others.
Memory Verse Serve one another in love.
~ Galatians 5:13
What You Need
page 24, duplicated
crayons
Before Class Prayer
God, I will try to help my parents, my family and my friends each day. Amen.
No preparation is required.
What to Do 1. Encourage the students to tell you how the children are being helpers in the illustrations on page 24. Ask, Can you tell how each child is being a helper?
Bible Lesson
The Parable of the Servant’s Role Luke 17:7-10
Prayers for Care
2. Have them color the pictures of children helping. 3. Have them trace the dashed lines and color the child’s hand. Ask, As you color the hand, can you think of some ways that you can be a helper? 4. Repeat the memory verse and prayer thought several times as the children work. 5. As the children finish, pray with them that they will be helpers.
23