Jonathan Shares With David • Lesson 6
Bible Point
Friends share with
each other.
Bible Verse
“A friend is always loyal” (Proverbs 17:17a).
Growing Closer to Jesus
Children will n learn that friends share,
n share affirmations of friendship,
n teach Pockets that sharing is more fun than being selfish, and
n experience sharing prayer needs with a friend.
Teacher Enrichment
Bible Basis
n Jonathan shares with David.
1 Samuel
18:1-4
Jonathan and David became friends on their first meeting.
They were very close in age. David’s heroism and modesty, his
manly bearing, and his piety kindled the flame of admiration
and ­affection in Jonathan. At the time, Jonathan didn’t know
that David had been anointed king after Saul. Tradition
and Saul’s relative success would have pointed to Jonathan
succeeding his father. However, when Jonathan learned that God had anointed
David, his feelings for David didn’t change. Jonathan preferred losing the throne
of Israel to losing David’s friendship.
So close did this friendship become that Jonathan, though heir apparent to
the throne of Israel, stripped himself of his own royal regalia and placed it on
David. In the East, to receive any part of the dress that had been worn by a
sovereign, or his eldest son and heir, was deemed the highest honor possible. In
fact, this could easily be seen as recognition of David’s divine election to be king.
The Old Testament contains no finer example of what it means to be a
friend.
Prayer
• Read Acts 4:32.
• How does the example of the early church’s attitude toward sharing everything
they owned apply to the teaching you do?
• Pray: Dear Lord God, help me to see all my gifts and talents as things to be
shared with all those you direct me toward. Help these little ones in my class to
move beyond clinging to their possessions and begin to share.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 83
Lesson 6
Before the Lesson
n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use. Refer to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies
columns to determine what you’ll need.
n Make photocopies of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children.
n Pray for the children who will be attending your class.
This Lesson at a Glance
What Children Will Do
Classroom Supplies
Welcome
Time
Welcome!—Receive name tags,
and be greeted by the teacher.
“Heart Name Tags” (p. 23),
markers, pins or tape
Let’s Get
Started
Option 1: What Will You
Share?—Make a mural of things
Butcher paper, tape, markers or
crayons
Option 2: Friendship
Bracelets—Create a pretty
Colored beads, muffin cups, yarn,
scissors, tape, small paper bag
Option 3: Friendly Home—
Home center items such as play
kitchen with play food, dishes,
utensils, table and chairs, baby
dolls, baby items
Pick Up Our Toys—Sing a song
as they pick up toys, and gather
for Bible Story Time.
CD player
Setting the Stage—Affirm
friendships and share treats.
Bag of small, individually
wrapped treats
Bible Song and Prayer
Time—Sing a song, bring out the
Bible, construction paper,
scissors, CD player, basket
or box
Hear and Tell the Bible
Story—Act out what Jonathan
Bible, CD player
Do the Bible Story—Have a
relay race to review how Jonathan
shared with David.
2 each: coats, belts, and hats
Direct children
to one or more
of the optional
activities until
everyone arrives.
they could share with friends.
bracelet to share with a friend.
Practice sharing while pretending
to be at home.
Bible Story
Time
Learning Lab Supplies
Bible, and pray together.
shared with David in 1 Samuel
18:1-4.
Closing
Pouch Poach—Play a game, and
teach Pockets that it’s fun to share
with friends.
Prayer Share—Pray for the
needs of a friend.
Friendship bracelets from
Option 2
*See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.
84 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6
Jonathan Shares With David
Welcome Time
Supplies: “Heart Name Tags” (p. 23), markers, pins or tape
• Bend down and make eye contact with children as they arrive.
• Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile.
• Thank each child for coming to class today.
• As children arrive, ask them about last week’s lesson or take-home page. Use questions
such as “How did you show forgiveness to someone last week?” and “How do you
think Joseph’s brothers felt when he forgave them?”
• Say: Today we’re going to learn that friends share with each other.
• Hand out the heart name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help them attach
the name tags to their clothing. Have extra heart name tags on hand for children who
weren’t in class last week or to replace any name tags that have been damaged.
• Direct children to the Let’s Get Started activities you’ve set up.
Research shows that children
remember about 90 percent of
what they do but less than 10
percent of what they hear. The 5and 6-year-olds in your class learn
best by doing, smelling, tasting,
feeling, hearing, and seeing.
With active learning, the teacher
becomes a guide, pointing the way
for learners to discover Bible truths
through hands-on experiences.
Let’s Get Started
Set up one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After
you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity.
Circulate among the children to offer help as needed and to direct their
conversation toward today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “How do you feel when a
friend shares with you?” or “What are some things you’ve shared with your friends?”
n Option 1: What Will You Share?
Supplies: butcher paper, tape, markers or crayons
Before class, tape a long sheet of butcher paper on a wall at
the children’s eye level. Have children draw pictures of things they
would be willing to share with a friend. Show them how to use
the friendship stamp and ink pad to add the friendship symbol to
their pictures.
Tell them that today they will be learning about some boys who wanted to be
friends. Remind them that friends share with each other. Return the friendship stamp
and the ink pad to the Learning Lab.
If you don’t choose Option 2, you’ll
need to make a friendship bracelet
for each child before class to use in
the Closing activity.
n Option 2: Friendship Bracelets
Supplies: colored beads, muffin cups, yarn, scissors, tape, small paper bag
Before class, place small craft beads in muffin cups. Cut yarn into 8-inch lengths,
and wrap a piece of tape around one end of each piece for easier threading. Show
children how to string colored beads onto the yarn to make bracelets. Be sure children
make enough bracelets for each child in the class to have one. Place the completed
bracelets in a small paper bag, and set the bag aside until the Closing. Tell children that
friends share with each other and that later in the lesson they’ll have a chance to share
their friendship bracelets.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 85
Lesson 6
n Option 3: Friendly Home
As children interact during the
Let’s Get Started activities, affirm
them when you see them sharing.
Say, “God is helping Mary learn
how to be a good friend. I like the
way she’s sharing the beads,” or
“Thank you for sharing the food so
we can all have fun playing house.”
Supplies: home center items such as play kitchen with play food, dishes, utensils,
table and chairs, baby dolls, baby items
Set up a home center for the children where they can play. Encourage them to share
all the home center items. Talk with them about what things they share with members
of their families. Remind them that members of their families are friends also, and
friends share with each other.
When everyone has arrived and you’re ready to move on to Bible Story Time,
encourage the children to finish what they’re doing and get ready to clean up.
n Pick Up Our Toys
Supplies: CD player
Lead children in singing “Pick Up Our Toys” (track 2) with the
CD to the tune of “Skip to My Lou.” Encourage children to sing
along as they help clean up the room.
You’ll be using this song each week to alert children to start
­picking up.
If you want to include the names of all the children in the class, sing the song
without the CD, and repeat the naming section. If you choose to use the CD, vary the
names you use each week.
track 2
Friendship is important to 5- and
6-year-olds. They often measure
the success of their day by how
many friends they played with and
whether they had a good time
together. Learning to share and
becoming sensitive to the needs of
others are values children
must develop as their
friendships grow and mature.
Jonathan’s acts of selfless giving
and sharing are fine examples
for children to learn from. Use
this lesson to teach children
that sharing is one way to build
friendships and show God’s love.
There’s [name] picking up toys.
There’s [name] picking up toys.
There’s [name] picking up toys,
Putting them all away.
We will pick up our toys.
We will pick up our toys.
We will pick up our toys
And put them all away.
(Repeat.)
Bible Story Time
n Setting the Stage
See p e 5.
ag
Supplies: bag of small, individually wrapped treats
Tell the children you’ll clap a little rhythm to get their attention. Explain that when
you clap, the children are to stop what they’re doing, copy the rhythm you clapped,
and focus on you. Plan to do a couple of clapping rhythms each time so the children
will have to listen carefully in order to copy what you clapped. Practice this signal a
few times. Encourage children to respond quickly so you’ll have time for all the fun
activities you’ve planned.
Sit with the children in a circle on the floor. Have individually wrapped treats
beside you.
Ask: • Who can tell about a time they shared something special with a
friend? (My friend and I shared a picnic; we shared our toys; I shared my bike with
my friend.)
86 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6
Jonathan Shares With David
• How did sharing with your friend make you feel? (Happy; generous;
­embarrassed.)
• Why do you think God wants us to learn about sharing with our friends?
(It shows we care for them; it shows God’s love; it’s a nice thing to do.)
Say: Today we’re going to learn that friends share with each other. We’ll
hear a story later about two very special friends who shared. Right now, let’s
share the treats I have brought in. Hand each child two of the treats. Keep one
treat for yourself, and share the other treat with the person s­ itting to your
right. Say something nice to that person, such as “I like the way you shared
toys with me this morning” or “You have a friendly smile.” Begin with the child
sitting to your right, and have children continue around the circle, making sure each
child has a turn.
After everyone has shared a treat and an affirmation, say: It’s fun to have good
friends. God wants us to share his love with our friends because he shares
his love with us.
Say: One way God shared his love with us was by
sending Jesus to us. Jesus was God’s only Son, and God
loved him very much. But God knew we needed Jesus,
so even though Jesus was his precious Son, God shared
Jesus with us. Wow! God shared his very best with us.
He must really love us!
Ask: • Why was sending Jesus such a great way for
God to share his love with us? (Jesus loves us so much;
Jesus was his Son, and it was special to share his Son with us.)
• How can you share the love that God shared with us through
Jesus? (I can share with my friends; I can tell other kids about Jesus.)
Say: Now let’s eat our treats and get ready to hear a story about
two very special friends who shared God’s love.
Don’t be alarmed if your classroom
seems a little noisier with active
learning. Educators will tell
you that children process new
information best by interacting
with one another. Having quiet
and controlled students doesn’t
necessarily mean that your class is
a success. A better clue might be
seeing happy, involved children
discovering Bible truths with all
their senses.
n Bible Song and Prayer Time
Supplies: Bible, construction paper, basket or box, scissors, CD player
Before class, make surprise cards for this activity by
track 3
cutting construction paper into 2x6-inch slips. Prepare
a surprise card for each child plus extras for visitors.
Fold the slips in half, and then stamp the friendship
stamp inside one of the surprise cards. Bookmark
1 Samuel 18:1-4 in the Bible you’ll be using.
Have children sit in a circle. Say: Now it’s time to choose a Bible person to
bring me the Bible marked with today’s Bible story. As we sing our Bible
song, I’ll pass out the surprise cards. Don’t look inside your surprise card
until the song is over.
Lead children in singing “Read God’s Book” (track 3) with the CD to the tune of
“The Muffin Man.” As you sing, pass out the folded surprise cards.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 87
Lesson 6
If the ink pad is dry, moisten it with
three to five drops of water.
To understand the physical
development of your 5- and 6-yearolds, remember that they
• are developing fine-motor skills;
• can use scissors and can color
within the lines; and
• are developing hand-eye
coordination and can copy
patterns, handle paste and glue,
and tie shoes.
Now it’s time to read God’s book,
Read God’s book, read God’s book.
Now it’s time to read God’s book.
Let’s hear a Bible story.
(Repeat 3x.)
After the song, say: You may look inside your surprise cards. The person who
has two friends stamped inside his or her card will be our Bible-bringing
person for today.
Identify the Bible-bringing person. Ask the Bible person to bring you the Bible.
Help the Bible person open the Bible to the marked place, and show children where
your story comes from. Then have the Bible person sit down. Choose other children to
be the surprise card collector, the Bible-replacer (to put the Bible away when you are
done), and helpers with various other little jobs you might have around your room.
Say: [Name] was our special Bible person today. Each week, we’ll have only
one special Bible person, but each one of you is a special part of our class!
Today we’re all learning that friends share with each other.
Let’s say a special prayer now and ask God to show us how to be good
friends who care and share. I’ll pass around this basket. When the basket
comes to you, put your surprise card in it and say, “God, please help me be a
caring, sharing friend.”
Pass around the basket or box. When you’ve collected everyone’s surprise card, set
the basket aside, and pick up the Bible. Lead children in this prayer: God, thank you
for the Bible and for all the stories in it. Teach us today that friends share
with each other. In Jesus’ name, amen.
n Hear and Tell the Bible Story
Supplies: Bible, CD player
This Bible story
is featured in
the new My First
Hands-On Bible™.
Order several
now for your
ministry at
group.com.
Bring out the Bible Big Book: David
and
Prince Jonathan and the crown. Have
track 9
children gather around you in a circle on the
floor. Ask a volunteer to model the crown.
Ask: • Who might wear a crown like
this? (A queen; a king.)
Say: Yes, kings and queens wear crowns like this. So do their children.
Ask: • Can anyone tell us what the children of a king and queen are
called? (Princes and princesses.)
Say: Let’s pass the crown around our circle. If you’d like to, you can try it
on and introduce yourself as a prince or princess. For example, if your name
is Katie, you’d say, “Hello, I’m Princess Katie.” Let children try on the crown and
introduce themselves. Then set the crown aside.
Hold up the Bible Big Book so children can see the cover. Say: Our story today is
about a prince and his very good friend. Their names are David and Prince
Jonathan. Because they were best friends, Prince Jonathan wanted to share
with David. You can help me tell our Bible story. Put up one finger each time
the story mentions something that Prince Jonathan shared with his friend
David. Listen carefully!
88 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6
Jonathan Shares With David
Open the Bible Big Book to page 1. Fold back the book so that page 1 is the only
page the children see. Point to the characters as you read:
Hi! My name is Prince Jonathan, and this is my best friend, David. David
is a great soldier who killed the giant Goliath. David, I know the Lord is with
you. Please take my sword (pause for children to put one finger up), my armor
(pause for children to put up a second finger), and my bow (pause for children to put
up a third finger) as a sign of our friendship.
David replied: Thank you, Jonathan. You’re very kind to make me your
friend. After all, you’re a king’s son who lives in a palace. I’ve spent most of
my life out in the hills tending sheep.
Close the Bible Big Book and say: Now find a partner. Using your whole body,
pretend to be the first thing Jonathan shared with David. Since this may be
a new idea for the children, you may need to show them how to pretend they are
swords by standing tall and stretching their arms over their heads to form points.
Now pretend to be the next thing Jonathan shared. Again you may need to
encourage the children or give suggestions like holding their arms in big circles to be
shields, or placing their hands over their heads to be helmets. And now work with
your partner to be the last thing Jonathan gave David. One child will need to
stand straight and tall and the other child will need to curve a bit and stand next to the
first child to make a shape like a bow.
Ask: • What were the things Jonathan shared with David? (The armor; the
bow; the sword.)
• Why do you think Jonathan shared these with David? (David was his best
friend; he liked David and wanted him to have nice things, too.)
• How do you think David felt when Jonathan was so friendly and shared
his things? (He felt good; he felt special; he wanted to share with Jonathan, too.)
Hold up the Bible and say: Let’s see what the Bible says about friends.
Open the Bible to Proverbs 17:17, and read it aloud to the children:
“A friend is
always loyal.” Have the children say the verse several times with you. Then ask:
• What does it mean to be loyal? (I’m not sure; being like a king.)
Say: Loyal is a big word. It is an important word. It is a word that tells how
true, good friends should treat each other. One thing we are learning today
is that friends share with each other. Sharing with each other is part of
being a loyal friend.
Ask: • What else do good friends do? (Play with each other; give each other
presents.)
• How can you be a good friend to someone in this class? (We can share our
toys; we can give food to poor people.)
Say: Prince Jonathan shared his armor, his sword, and his bow with David
because they were best friends. Jonathan was a loyal friend to David. Prince
Jonathan knew that friends share with each other. Let’s sing a song about
what we learned about being a loyal friend.
Lead the children in singing “A Friend Loves at All Times” (track 9) to the tune of
“The Farmer in the Dell.”
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 89
Lesson 6
A friend loves at all times.
A friend loves at all times.
God helps you love your friends.
A friend loves at all times.
(Repeat 2x.)
Say: Now let’s have fun with a sharing game. Return the Bible Big Book and
the crown to the Learning Lab.
n Do the Bible Story
Supplies: 2 coats, 2 belts, 2 hats
Say: Let’s have a “wear and share” relay to see how quickly you can share
with your friends. Let’s remember how Jonathan shared with David and was
a loyal friend to him. It’ll help remind us that friends share with each other.
Have children form two lines at one end of the room. At the opposite end of the
room, place two sets of clothes. Each set should include at least a belt, a coat, and a
hat. Say: When I say “go,” the first person from each line will run forward,
put on all the items, come back to the line, take off the items, and give them
to the next person in line. That person will run to the opposite end of the
room, put on the items, run back to the line, take the items off, and touch the
third player. That person will rush to put them on. Let’s see how quickly you
can get all the way through the line!
When everyone has had a turn to wear and share, gather the children in a circle and
say: That was a fun relay, and you were all good at sharing! We can have fun
when we remember that friends share with each other.
Closing
n Pouch Poach
Supplies: none
Bring out Pockets the Kangaroo and the glow ball. Go
through the following script. After you finish the script,
put Pockets away and out of sight.
90 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6
Jonathan Shares With David
Pockets: G’day, mates! That means, “Hello, friends!”
Teacher:Hello, Pockets. We were just getting ready to play a game. Would you
like to share in our game?
Pockets: (Nodding enthusiastically) Yes! I’d like that!
Teacher:I’ll roll the ball to someone, and then I’ll call out a name. If you have
the ball, roll it to the person whose name I call out. (Roll the ball to a child. Call out
children’s names one at a time, and have children roll the ball to each child you name.
Don’t include Pockets yet.)
Pockets: (Impatiently) When is it my turn? When do I get a turn?
Teacher:We take turns and share the ball, Pockets. It’ll be your turn soon. (Now call out your
name. After you get the ball, have Pockets grab it and shove the ball into her pouch. Then
have Pockets cover her pouch so you can’t get the ball.)
Pockets: (Triumphantly) Yes! I didn’t think I’d ever get the ball! But I sure have it now!
Teacher:Pockets, won’t you share the ball with us? Please pass the ball to me so we can keep
playing with our friends.
Pockets: (Shaking her head) Nope. I don’t want to share. I like this ball, and I want to keep it.
Teacher:But Pockets, if you keep the ball, you’ll spoil our game. (Turn to the children.)
Children, tell Pockets our Bible verse. Let’s say it together. “A friend is always loyal.”
Now, maybe you can help teach Pockets what friends do when they are loyal. (Lead the
class in saying the Bible Point: Friends share with each other.)
Are you Pockets’ friends? (Pause for children’s response.)
Pockets:I want to have fun with all my friends. I guess keeping the ball is selfish and not much
fun. Hey, friends, do you want to share in some fun? (Pause for answers. Then help
Pockets take the ball from her pouch and roll it to a child.) When friends are loyal, they
share!
(Have children roll the ball around the circle a few more times.)
Teacher:Thanks for sharing, Pockets. You showed us you’re a loyal friend. Pockets
has to go now. Let’s say goodbye.
Pockets:Thanks for sharing the fun, mates! I’ll remember that
friends share with
each other. Goodbye. (Pockets waves.)
Permission to photocopy this script from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Pre-K & K granted for local church use.
Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 91
Lesson 6
n Prayer Share
If you did not choose to do
Option 2, make enough friendship
bracelets before class so every
child can have one to take home.
Follow the directions in Option 2
to make the bracelets.
Supplies: friendship bracelets from Option 2
Say: Friends share with each other. One way we can care for our friends
is to pray with them. Find a partner, and share things you’d like each other
to pray about.
Pair children up, and allow a few seconds for partners to share their prayer requests.
Then say: Now let’s fold our hands and pray.
Pray: Dear God, we pray for our friends and for all the things they asked
us to pray for. Thank you for letting us share your love with our friends. In
Jesus’ name, amen.
Pull out the small paper bag containing the friendship bracelets that the children
made in Option 2. As children leave, say: When you reach into this bag and
choose a friendship bracelet to wear home, tell me who you can show
friendship to this week by sharing something with him or her. Use this
bracelet to help you remember to share with that person because friends
share with each other.
Growing closer to Jesus extends
beyond the classroom.
Photocopy the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end
of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your
children. Encourage parents to use the handout to plan
meaningful family activities to reinforce this week’s topic.
92 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6
Jonathan Shares With David
For Extra Time
If you have a long class time or want to add additional
elements to your lesson, try one of the following activities.
n Lively Learning: Calling All Friends
Have children stand with you in a circle to play this lively game. Hold a bag of
shiny streamers and say: It’s nice to know that whenever we need our friends,
all we have to do is call their names, and they’ll be there. That’s being
loyal! In this game, I’ll toss the bag of shiny streamers high in the air and
call out the name of someone in our circle of friends. That person must
run in and try to catch the bag before it hits the floor. If someone catches the bag, that person
may toss it and call out a name. If the bag touches the floor, I’ll toss it again and call out another
name.
Play the game until everyone has had a chance to catch the bag and call out a friend’s name. Encourage
children to call on friends who have not had turns. Remind them that friends share with each other.
n Make to Take: Special Armor
Give each child a paper grocery sack and a pair of children’s scissors. Help
children cut holes in the sacks for their heads and arms to slip through.
Give children glitter, glue, aluminum foil, and silver or bronze markers to
decorate their paper sacks to look like armor. They can also cut slits to make fringe
on the bottom of the armor. Tell them to use their armor to remember how Jonathan
shared with David.
n Treat to Eat: Bracelets to Eat
Set out colored circle cereal and 6-inch lengths of string. Have the children create
friendship bracelets by stringing the cereal onto the string and then tying the ends of the string
so that the bracelet can slip over a child’s wrist. Encourage each child to think of someone in
their neighborhood that they could share the bracelet with when they get home.
See p e 5.
ag
n Story Picture: Jonathan Shares With David
Give each child a photocopy of the “Today I Learned…” handout. Set out construction paper, pieces of
­aluminum foil, glue, and tape. Have children glue small pieces of construction paper to Jonathan’s belt and tape
aluminum foil bits to his sword and armor. As they work, ask children to talk about things they like to share
with their friends.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 93
Lesson 6
Today your child learned that friends share with each other. Children
learned how Jonathan shared with David. They learned that sharing is a
way to show love.
Verse to Learn
“A friend is always loyal” (Proverbs 17:17a).
Ask Me…
l How did Jonathan show he was a loyal friend to David?
l How do you feel when your friends share with you?
l What kinds of things can you share with your family?
Friends share
with each othe
r.
Family Fun
l Embark on a family shopping expedition to the grocery store.
Buy a variety of canned goods to share with a neighborhood
food pantry.
l Share some family fun in the kitchen. Bake two or three kinds
of cookies, arrange them on plates, and share them with your
neighbors.
l Plan to share outdoor family chores, such as planting bulbs.
Ask your child to choose the bulbs and suggest where to
plant them.
Jonathan Shares With David (1 Samuel 18:1-4)
94
Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Pre-K & K, granted for local church use.
Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com