Jacob Loves Rachel

We recently had a lesson about Jacob meeting Rachel and falling in love with her. The end of the lesson is the hardest to teach....you know where Laban tricks Jacob and gives him Leah. Trying to explain why Jacob has more than one wife is a difficult thing....so, I just tell the KIDDOS this, "I do not know why GOD allowed Jacob to have two wives...but, I do know that WE are NOT supposed to have more than one husband/wife under the new covenant."   This has seem to work every time I teach lessons where multiple wives are present.  

However, the TRICKERY of Laban gives me the opportunity to teach on being deceitful and how things we do tend to show back up in our life.  Pointing out Jacob tricked his father and now he was the one that was tricked.   

We talked about how GOD was taking care of Jacob as he RAN away from Esau.  We talked about the PROMISES GOD made to Jacob...and how JESUS would come through Jacob and his family.  

I thought this would be a GREAT memory verse to go with this lesson. We pointed out how we want to be treated is HOW we are to treat others. Such a GREAT lesson for KIDDOS to learn!!  GREAT application for the KIDDOS.  

To help the KIDDOS remember the LESSON, I love to have a song to go along with the story.  I am amazed at how much the KIDDOS remember after singing a song that goes with the lesson.  Singing is a wonderful teaching tool!!!

The KIDDOS made WELLS for their TAKE HOME project.  I explained that this was NOT the type of well that JACOB and RACHEL met at...but, they had fun making these.  

These "wells" are made from milk cartons, bulletin board boarders (rock and checkered), craft sticks,  a small pail and paper raindrop questions.

Our REVIEW GAME was simple.  The KIDDOS would DRAW a "PAIL OF WATER" out of the WELL and then Answer the question that was written on the back of the pail of water.  

The water is a REUSED table cloth covering a basket.  I made the paper mached rocks years ago.  It is amazing HOW many BIBLE stories involve ROCKS!!!  I have used these as altars, as a well, as the ROCKS collected out of the Jordan...so many uses.  

The following week was our REVIEW week.  That is the week when the KIDDOS make a project that goes in their EXPLORER JOURNAL.     Each KIDDO made a ROCK WELL and added BLUE tissue paper for the water.    THEY loved it!!!  

Hopefully, I will be able to post more often, now that school is officially over for summer break!!    

Blessings,

Ronda

Elijah Challenges The Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel

This week we have a "NEW" Bible Lesson.  Please remember, that each of my lessons last 2 weeks.  The first week, I spend introducing the lesson, facts, places, etc.  The next week we do a very detailed review...this gives me an opportunity to see if the KIDDOS missed something or if I forgot to share something the KIDDOS needed to know.  I LOVE teaching this way.  It has proven to be very beneficial to me and the KIDDOS.  

 This is the card we will add to our "GOD'S AWESOME PLAN FOR MAN" wall.  This is my TIMELINE...it helps me show the KIDDOS when in Bible History the events took place....With the focus on the COMING of JESUS!!

We will have a new WORD for our WORD WALL.  Since we do not live in the time of animal sacrifices...I want to make sure the KIDDOS understand what an ALTAR is/was.

For visuals, I decided to use the same Elijah that I used last week...I just printed and laminated a KING Ahab and a few of the Prophets of Baal.  I also printed, laminated and constructed two altars.  I made sure the altars looked different...and Elijah's has 12 stones! 

Our Memory Verse for this weeks comes directly from the Lesson Text.  1 Kings 18:39.  We will be singing this to the Tune:  "The Bear Went Over the Mountain." 

I have added Mount Carmel to our Map... We will be referring to Elijah's travels....After all, he has been to the Brook Cherith, Sidon and is now coming back to Israel to  "meet up" with Ahab. 

 The KIDDOS will be decorating a ROCK as their "TAKE HOME" activity.  I have already coded the rocks with the words, "The Lord Is God!"  The KIDDOS will use Sharpie Paint Pens to decorate their ROCK.  They will add whatever decorations to the ROCK that they want...I will give them a few suggestions:  HEARTS, FLOWERS, RAINBOWS, HAPPY FACES, ETC.  But, ultimately it will be their choice. 

By the way, these ROCKS came from the Pacific Ocean.  My family and I took a vacation to Ocean Side, California in 2011.  I collected a bunch of rocks...(my father-in-law was convinced I was crazy.)  I knew I would use some of those MANY rocks for Bible Class Projects.  (So, even when on vacation---THINK ABOUT BIBLE CLASSES, LESSONS, STORIES, ETC.)

Since the KIDDOS will be allowed to use MARKERS---they are going to be BEYOND excited.  However, because these are PERMANENT Markers, I will quickly establish the RULES.  #1 RULE:  Do Not Color On Anything, But The Rock!!"  :-)

 For our REVIEW GAME, we will be building an ALTAR.  The KIDDOS will answer a question from the lesson.  Then they will have the opportunity to set a stone in place.  We are building Elijah's Altar---so, take notice, I have 12 Stones.  (I paper mached  these ROCKS a LOOONG time ago.  I have used them in teaching so many different Bible Stories...if you have time and opportunity, I would suggest you make some ROCKS.)  

Next Week the KIDDOS will be making Elijah's Altar to add to their "EXPLORER JOURNAL."  They will glue on a STONE for EACH TRIBE.  This will be a great time to REVIEW the sons of Jacob....  They will also add the FLAMES.  I just cut the FIRE area out of the paper...and we are gluing on SPARKLY paper in RED or YELLOW to the Back.  (Since, my KIDDOS are small and DO NOT WRITE WELL----I have already written the names of each TRIBE on the STONES.  If I was teaching this to older KIDDOS, I would let them WRITE the names of the TRIBES on the STONES.   

I will say, there is a LOT of ROCKS in this story...LOL  But, KIDDOS really seem to LOVE ROCKS!  

Blessings,

Ronda