What can
we celebrate
about God?
Interact Discovery Sheets
Devotions
Years 5-8
By Helen Pearson
© 2011 Interact Curriculum Press
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Cover photography © Galyna Andrushko | Dreamstime.com
Interact Curriculum Press
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New Zealand
www.interactcurriculum.com
Printed and bound by CM Digital, Albany, New Zealand
ISBN 978-1-927140-22-2
Contents
3
Introduction
4
Key Competencies, Habit of Character, Habit of Mind
5
Big Idea, Key Understanding, Focus Question
6
11
Relate Faithfulness Evaluation
Relate Getting My Brain Into Gear
Recall Looks Like, Sounds Like, Feels Like
Raise Questions Looking Forward
Raise Questions Questions
Research 1.0 What is faithfulness and why is it important?
12
Maslow’s Hieracrchy
13
God’s Faithfulness
14
People’s Faithfulness
15
Research
16
Bible Vocabulary
17
Asking Myself Questions As I Read
18
Reflecting As I Read
19
Reciprocal Reading
20
Covenants
21
Research
23
The Old & the New Covenant
24
Hebrews
25
Jesus is Faithful
26
Research
27
Discussion Cards
28
Faithfulness
29
Further Research
7
8
9
10
2.0
3.0
How does the story of the Bible, particularly in Genesis 12-50, show us that
God is faithful?
How did Jesus demonstrate God’s faithfulness?
4.0 How can I develop faithfulness?
A Jewish Celebration
1
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
What can we celebrate about God? This Interact Teacher Manual forms part of the theme,
God is faithful and wants us to be faithful. God wants us to know him and enjoy him, and
so during this investigation we are going to find out as much we can about what God is
like, record it in some way, and then present our ideas creatively in a celebration at the
conclusion of our work.
An important idea this term is that God is faithful. We know that whatever we learn
about what God is like, will never change. Recalling God’s faithfulness to our world,
to people in history and to us through celebrations like Christmas, Easter, communion,
birthdays, anniversaries and baptism, gives us plenty of reason to celebrate. Celebrating
commitments to faithfulness through ceremonies like weddings and wedding
anniversaries reminds us that faithfulness is important to people as well as to God.
God is the perfect expression of faithfulness. God’s faithfulness is demonstrated in all
areas of life because faithfulness stems from love. God began by creating the world
with perfect order and still sustains creation with unchanging laws that allow us to feel
safe, secure, confident, adventurous and curious. God is not faithful because of what he
does, but because of who he is. If God were not faithful, he would no longer be God. “He
cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).
Jesus expresses God’s faithful character. He is constantly obedient to the Father (Matthew
26:39). In spite of our unfaithfulness towards God, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection has
given people of faith a fresh start, and a new relationship with God.
God has created us in God’s image. We are most fully the people God wants us to be
when we are confident in God’s faithfulness, and when we are faithful to God and
others.
If you are new to Interact resources we invite you to turn to
Appendix --I to learn about the Interact Learning Path on which this
Teacher Manual is based, and to gain additional planning help.
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
3
K
C
M
key competencies | habit of character | habit of mind
the key competencies are:
Practise participating
and contributing
the habit of character focus is:
Reliability
the habit of mind focus is:
Applying past
knowledge to
new experiences
4
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
I
Planning
big Idea | Key understanding | focus question
the big idea is:
God is faithful
and wants us
to be faithful
U
the key understanding is:
God’s faithfulness is
worth celebrating
Q
the focus question is:
What can
we celebrate
about God?
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
5
Faithfulness Evaluation
Explain to the pupils that there are many tasks that currently need doing and that you will
need their help.
Ask each child to help you with a simple task during lunch break. It could be raking leaves,
weeding a garden, cleaning cars, cleaning windows, or doing a school project. Do not
explain that this will be evaluated or let them see the evaluation sheet until after the task is
completed.
Get a verbal agreement from each child to complete the task during the week and
ask them to give you a time by when they will have completed the task. Remind them, if
younger children, to overestimate the time it will take, so that they can be faithful to their
words. With older children, let them come to this realisation themselves, if they will.
Arrange to have popular older children (who will be faithful not to tell children that they are
being evaluated) invite each child to join in a game instead of completing the task.
Children who complete the task satisfactorily in all areas below should be rewarded for their
faithfulness with a small surprise. Children who do not complete the task well should be told
that they will be asked again to do work during their lunch break during the term. Reassess
and reward faithfulness when appropriate. Continue giving tasks until each child has been
faithful to his/her word and completed tasks to a high standard.
Assess the task as follows:
Name of Child
Task given
Child’s time estimate
POOR
GOOD
■
■
■
POOR
■
■
■
Faithfulness in keeping his/her word to
complete the task
GOOD
■
POOR
■
Faithfulness in keeping his/her word
regarding time taken
GOOD
■
POOR
■
Faithfulness in completing the task
to a good standard
GOOD
■
POOR
■
Attitude to task
GOOD
Verbal commitment
APPROPRIATE
Response to temptation to play
6
Name:
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INAPPROPRIATE
Relate
Getting My Brain Into Gear
This term we are reading the book of ______________________________________________________.
Before you begin, get your brain into gear by completing the spaces below:
What I Know I Know
about this book:
What I Think I Know
about this book:
What I Think or Hope I Will
Learn:
As you read, write down some things you learn in the space below:
What I Learnt
Name:
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Relate
7
Looks Like, Sounds Like, Feels Like
Sometimes our friends or teammates say they will do
something and then forget, or they change their minds.
Think of a time when you were promised something and then were let down.
• How did you feel? _______________________________________________________________________
• What did you think?_____________________________________________________________________
On the chart below, write what it might look like or sound like when someone is not being
faithful to their word, and how it feels to us when someone is unfaithful to their promises to us.
Un
fa
it
Unfaithful
ke
nds li
sou
nes
s
ess
l oo
ks
uln
hf
e
lik
U nf
like
aithful
s
l
e
n e ss f e
Why is faithfulness to our promises and commitments important?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
8
Name:
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Recall
Looking Forward
Topic: God’s Covenant with People
Before You Read
After You Read
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Disagree
1. A covenant is when two people
hope they will get on well together
2. God promised Noah that he
would always see rainbows after
the rain
Genesis 9:1-17
3. God promised Abraham that
he would bless the whole world
through his family
Genesis 12:1-3
4. Moses put blood all over the
people when they had promised to
obey God
Exodus 24
5. God promised David that the
rainbows would always come if he
obeyed God
2 Samuel 7:12-13
6. God told the people through the
prophet Jeremiah that there would
be a new covenant one day
Jeremiah 31:31-34
7. A symbol of Jesus’ new covenant
was blood
Luke 22:20
8. The Bible says that the first
covenant had worked well
Hebrews 8:7- Hebrews 9:22
Name:
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Raise Questions
9
?
Questions
?
Before reading a book of the Bible, think about what you already know by answering
as many of the questions below as you can. Complete the remaining answers, or add
your thoughts or corrections during your reading.
Book of the Bible:
?
What is the setting or time period that this was written?
?
Which ‘act‘ was it written in?
Who were the people this was written about and to, and what do we know about them and
how they lived?
?
What does this book teach me about what God is like?
?
?
?
?
?
How did this book prepare people for the coming of Jesus?
How does this book reveal Jesus to us?
How have things changed since Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit?
?
How does God want me to live today in my setting and time in history?
10
Name:
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Raise Questions
K
What can we celebrate about God?
key areas of investigation
We are investigating:
1.0
What is faithfulness and why is it
important?
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
11
Maslow’s Hierarchy
A psychologist called Abraham Maslow designed a diagram to
describe people’s needs. He said that our first, most pressing needs, are biological and
physiological. Our second needs are related to safety. Other needs become more
important to us when the first needs are met.
Self Actualisation
Personal Fulfillment
Self-Esteem
Status, Responsibility, Reputation
Belonging Needs
Friends, Family, Relationships
Safety
Protection, Security, Stability, Freedom
Biological & Physiological
Air, Food, Water, Shelter, Warmth
What needs on the list above have been met in your life? __________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What needs do you have that concern you?_______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
If so, how could you pray to God about them?_____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Abraham Maslow didn’t consider our need for God. Where on this chart would you put
‘Relationship with God’?___________________________________________________________________
Why?_____________________________________________________________________________________
Think critically about the diagram above, and discuss:
1.
What the Bible says about each group of needs
2.
What you agree with in this diagram and why
3.
Anything you think you might question and why
Read Philippians 3:8, Matthew 16:24-25 and John 10:10 and write a few sentences about
what you have read.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
12
Name:
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Research
God’s Faithfulness
Read a selection of the following verses about God’s faithfulness. Identify the main
ideas in each verse, and any verses that seem to have similar ideas. Write synonyms,
metaphors and any ideas you find in them about faithfulness. Make your own statement
about God’s faithfulness that summarises what you have learnt from these verses, and add
to it or modify it during the term.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalms 117:2, 119:90
Galatians 5:22
Hebrews 10:23
Psalms 25:10, 33:4
Isaiah 55:10-11
1 Thessalonians 5:24 Hebrews 13:8
Psalms 36:5, 86:15
Malachi 3:6
2 Thessalonians 3:3
1 John 1:9
Psalms 89:37, 111:7-8 1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13
2 Timothy 2:13
Revelation 19:11
Verse
Main Idea
Synonyms, metaphors and ideas about faithfulness:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
My first statement about God’s faithfulness:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Name:
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Research
13
People’s Faithfulness
Read a selection of the following verses about people’s faithfulness. Identify the main
ideas in each verse, and any verses that seem to have similar ideas. Write synonyms,
metaphors and any ideas you find in them about faithfulness. Make your own statement about
people’s faithfulness that summarises what you have learnt from these verses, and add to it or
modify it during the term.
1 Samuel 26:23
Luke 12:42
Verse
Psalm 31:23
Romans 12:12
Proverbs 2:8, 3:3
1 Corinthians 4:2
Matthew 5:33, 25:21
Revelation 2:10
Main Idea
Synonyms, metaphors and ideas about faithfulness:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
My first statement about people’s faithfulness:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
14
Name:
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Research
K
What can we celebrate about God?
key areas of investigation
We are investigating:
2.0
How does the story of the Bible,
particularly in Genesis 12-50, show us
that God is faithful?
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
15
Bible Vocabulary
While reading the Bible, write down words or phrases that belong in each of the
categories below.
The book of the Bible I am reading is: _____________________________________________________
Bible Vocabulary
Unknown
I have never
seen this word
or phrase
16
Familiar
I have seen this
word or phrase and
I need to think abut
what it means
Recognised
I automatically
know what this word
or phrase means
Name:
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In-depth
I have extensive
knowledge about
this word or phrase
Research
Asking Myself Questions As I Read
?
??
As you read Genesis 12-50, write questions in each of the four categories below.
Invite a friend to answer your questions.
Right There - literal questions
?
Who ____________________________________________________________________________________?
When ___________________________________________________________________________________?
?
Where __________________________________________________________________________________?
Think and Search – interpretive questions
What is the difference between __________________________________________________________?
What does the story tell us about _________________________________________________________?
On My Own – evaluative questions
?
?
?
What do you think about ________________________________________________________________?
What do you think might happen after ___________________________________________________?
How do you imagine or describe _________________________________________________________?
Author and You – thinking beyond questions
What is the message? ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________
How does it affect you today?___________________________
?
_______________________________________________________
Why do you think ______________________________________
________________________________________________________?
Name:
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Research
17
Reflecting As I Read
They are many different ways in which you can reflect on what you are
learning as you read, such as:
r Forming a mental picture of the scene
r Thinking about what you already know that relates to what you are reading
r Creating your own questions as you read
While I was reading in Genesis 12-50,
how much did I use these Think-Aloud strategies?
All the
time
Quite
often
Not
much
Some
Very
little
Forming a mental picture
Connecting what I read to
what I already know
Creating new questions
18
Name:
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Research
Reciprocal Reading
AIM:
To read through a book of the Bible for understanding and meaning as a group
PROCEDURE:
1. Gather various Bible translations, children’s Bibles, a study Bible, a dictionary, and an atlas
2. Select one group member to act as the teacher. This person’s role is to:
(a)
TELL the group how many verses to read.
“We will start reading at verse __________ and finish at verse____________.”
At this point everyone will read the passage, either together or on their own.
(b)
HELP CLARIFY the meaning of any difficult words or phrases.
“Does anyone have any words they would like to clarify? Let’s look
them up in the dictionary.”
“What questions could you ask a younger child to see whether they
have understood the story?”
“We need to think of questions that can be answered by reading
the text.”
“Now we will try to answer our own questions together.”
(c)
SUMMARISE what the group has just read, giving the main idea, and then
inviting other group members to add to the comment.
“These verses told me that….”
“Does anyone want to add to that?”
“From what we know of God being our source, do any of these verses
confirm what you have learnt from the book of Joshua?”
“Do any verses add any new information?”
“Does what you have read raise any questions?”
(d)
PREDICT what the next part of the passage will be about.
“I predict that the next part will be about…”
(e)
CHOOSE the leader for the next passage.This leader will then follow steps (a) to (e)
3. In conclusion, summarise the book in any of the following ways:
Powerpoint/slideshow, drama, blog, pictures or symbols, website, timeline, written summary,
song, dance, collaborative piece of artwork
Name:
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Research
19
Covenants
Covenants are very important. God wants us to be faithful to the covenants we make.
Write down a covenant in each category and why it is important.
20
A Covenant in the Bible:
What it means and why it is important:
A Covenant in my country:
What it means and why it is important:
A Covenant in my family:
What it means and why it is important:
Name:
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Research
K
What can we celebrate about God?
key areas of investigation
We are investigating:
3.0
How did Jesus demonstrate God’s
faithfulness?
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
21
The Old & the New Covenant
Read the following verses to help you complete the table below:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Romans 8:1;
1 Corinthians 6:19
Under the old covenant
The law was on stone tablets
The temple in which God lived
was a large building
Blood was sacrificed for sin
People will be taught to
know God
People’s sin will be
remembered by God
The law showed God’s people
how to love God and others,
and set them apart as a nation
Ezekiel 36:25-27
Romans 10:1-4
1 Timothy 1:8
Matthew 5:17
Romans 13:8-10
Hebrews 8:8-13
Under the new covenant
The law is _____________________________________
The temple is _________________________________
_______________________________________________
People know God
People’s sin ___________________________________
The law is fulfilled by Jesus’ death and by
the law of love
Write in your own words a paragraph about how and why Jesus’ life on earth changed the
history of the world.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
22
Name:
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Research
Hebrews
Read the verses from Hebrews and complete the sentences.
Hebrews 3:7-14
God wants people to be faithful. Instead of being faithful, the children of Israel ______________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Hebrews 8:8-13
God saw the people’s unfaithfulness and promised to make a new _________________________.
Instead of having laws on tablets of stone, the laws would be _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________.
Instead of having their sins remembered, their sins would be________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________.
Hebrews 2:17
Jesus, God’s Son, became a human so that he could be a faithful __________________________.
Hebrews 3:1-4
Jesus was faithful to ______________________________________________________________________.
Hebrews 10:23
God is _______________________________________________________________ to keep his promises.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is ____________________________________________________________________________.
Hebrews 7:25
Jesus is faithful _____________________________________________________________________ for us.
Name:
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Research
23
Jesus is Faithful
Jesus is faithful. Read the Scriptures and colour-match them
with bubbles to show how He is faithful.
Jesus was faithful to:
... THE
PURPOSE
JOHN
17:2
MATTHEW
5:18
...THE
PLAN SO
THAT THE
SCRIPTURES
WOULD BE
FULFILLED
... HIS
WORK
... THE
WORD
... HIS
PEOPLE
... HIS
FATHER
... HIS
DISCIPLES
... THE END
OF HIS
MISSION
JOHN
19 : 30
JOHN
19 : 28
MATTHEW
JOHN
4:34
JOHN
24
28 :20
MATTHEW
26: 39
5:30
Name:
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Research
K
What can we celebrate about God?
key areas of investigation
We are investigating:
4.0
How can I develop faithfulness?
© 2011 Interact Curriculum
25
Discussion Cards
Appoint a group leader and reporter for each discussion card. Make
sure people change roles each time. For each situation discuss what
you might be tempted to do and what might be some right responses.
You tell your friend that you will
help them carry home several
large books they need for
homework. While you’re waiting for
your friend to come out of class,
You’re tired and you don’t
feel like doing your afterschool chores.
another friend’s mum stops and
offers you a ride home in their car.
In the morning your mum tells you
You hear somebody saying mean
things about someone in your
family.
to come home straight after school
to help with the chores. After school
your friend invites you to their house
to quickly see their new game on
your way home.
26
You’re inside watching T.V. on the
You tell a friend in your class that
weekend and your mum asks you
you will help them with a project
to go outside and watch your
after school, then another friend
little brothers who are playing.
invites you out to play after school.
You see some older kids
A friend says he will play with
teasing your little sister and she
you at lunch time and then he
is almost ready to cry.
doesn’t come.
Name:
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Research
Faithfulness
Think about the jobs and responsibilities that the people listed
below have. Now think about what would happen if these people
were not faithful in their jobs.
PERSON
JOBS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE
PERSON IS NOT FAITHFUL
MOTHER
FATHER
TEACHER
DOCTOR
ME (draw)
Name:
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Research
27
A Jewish Celebration
A celebration that is important to the Jewish people is
It is called this because
It is to remind them of
They celebrate it by
The people involved are
HERE IS A PICTURE OF PART OF THEIR CELEBRATION. IT SHOWS ...
What we could learn from this celebration is
28
Name:
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Further Research