3s/4s
MARCH 27, 2016
KEY QUESTION: WHO IS MY GOOD FRIEND?
BIG IDEA: JESUS IS MY GOOD FRIEND.
BIBLE STORY: EASTER (LORD’S SUPPER, RESURRECTION)
MATTHEW 26:20-30; 28:1-7
MEMORY VERSE: "A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES." PROVERBS 17:17, NIRV
OVERVIEW
Centers
Large Group
Circle Time
Table Time
Play Time
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
KEY QUESTION: WHO IS MY GOOD FRIEND?· BIG IDEA: JESUS IS MY GOOD FRIEND.
FLOOR CENTER
EMPTY
During this activity, the children will fill an empty tub with plastic balls. Later they will learn about
Jesus and the empty tomb.
Supplies:
1. 2 plastic storage tubs
2. Plastic Ball-Pit-Balls (or small toy you have enough of - to fill one tub completely)
How-To:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Set the storage tub filled with balls on one side of the center.
Set the empty tub as far across from it as you can in the center area.
Have the children stand in a line behind the tub filled with balls.
Them have children move the balls from one tub to the other in a relay style game.
Option: You can have them freeze when you say “stop” and then start again when you say “go.”
Say This:
Before the Activity:
“Let’s move all these balls to that empty tub. You will take turns carrying as many as you can and
then the next person will go when you get back to the line. When we’re finished, we can all yell,
‘empty!’ ...Stand in a line behind all the balls and we’ll get started.”
After the Activity:
(Stand beside the empty tub.) “This tub used to be full, but now it’s empty. Today, we’re going to
hear about the first Easter, and something that was full, became empty. I can’t wait!”
MARCH 27, 2016
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
2
KEY QUESTION: WHO IS MY GOOD FRIEND?· BIG IDEA: JESUS IS MY GOOD FRIEND.
TOY CENTER
EGG HUNT
During this activity, the children will find eggs. Some of them will be full and some of them will be
empty. Today’s story is about Jesus and the empty tomb.
Supplies:
1. Plastic Eggs (12)
2. Large Pom-poms (6)
How-To:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fill six of the eggs with a large pom-pom. Leave the rest empty.
Hide the eggs in the toy area before the children arrive to your center.
Allow the children to search for the eggs.
Have them come back and sit, opening the eggs to see if they are full/empty.
Have children close their eyes while you hide the eggs again.
Say This:
Before the Activity:
“I have some eggs hidden over here in this part of the room. When we find them, we can sit down
and open them together!”
During the Activity:
“Let’s take turns opening them to find out what’s inside.” (Allow the children to open the eggs.)
After the Activity:
“Some of our eggs were empty and some of our eggs had something inside! On Easter we
celebrate that something was full and then became empty. It was an oh, so happy day!”
MARCH 27, 2016
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
KEY QUESTION: WHO IS MY GOOD FRIEND?· BIG IDEA: JESUS IS MY GOOD FRIEND.
TABLE CENTER
SORT THREE
The children will sort shapes into groups of three. Today we will hear about how Jesus went away for
three days and came back.
Supplies:
1. Twelve sets of three die-cuts (Ex: 3 circles, 3 hearts, 3 squares, etc.)
How-To:
1. Spread the die-cuts around on the table.
2. Encourage the children to sort the die-cuts by shape.
3. Count how many die-cuts are in each group.
Say This:
During the Activity:
“Can you sort these shapes? Let’s find shapes that match and put them in a stack together.”
After the Activity:
“Let’s count how many shapes we have in each stack One, two, three! One, two, three! One, two
three! All of our groups have three shapes! On the first Easter, our good friend Jesus went away
for three days, but then he came back three days later! It was an oh so happy day!”
MARCH 27, 2016
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
4
BIBLE STORY: EASTER(LORD’S SUPPER, RESURRECTION) - MATTHEW 26:20-30; 28:1-7
MEMORY VERSE: "A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES." PROVERBS 17:17, NIRV
CIRCLE TIME
What You Need:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Journal
Fun-shaped pen
Bible
Stickers or stamp
Say This:
Prompt the children to remember what they learned in The Playhouse! Celebrate when they remember!
•
•
•
•
•
Jesus invited his friends to a meal. At the meal, Jesus told them he was going (away).
His friends were sad but Jesus made them a promise that he would be (back)!
Jesus went away, for three (days).
Jesus came back just like he said! It was an oh so happy (day)!
The day Jesus came back was the very first (Easter).
Practice the Verse:
“Let’s practice our Bible verse. Are you ready? (Let children respond.) Okay, let’s say it all together.
‘A friend (point to a friend next to you) loves (hug yourself) at all times,” (stretch your arms out to each
side with your palms facing up) Proverbs 17:17. (Open your hands like a book.)”
“Does anyone want to say the verse on their own?” (Encourage anyone who wants to try saying the
verse. Help them as needed. Give them a sticker for participating.)
Make a List:
“Jesus’ friends were sad that he was going away but he came back just like he promised. Easter is an
oh so happy day. What are some ways that you can celebrate that Jesus came back this Easter with
your friends and family?”
(Write down the children’s names and what they say in your journal. Remember to print the words so they
can recognize their names and letters. Mention their list when you pray together. Ex. Sing, Dance, Eat with
friends and family, etc.)
Pray:
“Dear Jesus, thank you so much that you love each child here. Thanks you for coming back in three
days just like you promised! We love you! Amen.”
MARCH 27, 2016
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
5
KEY QUESTION: WHO IS MY GOOD FRIEND?· BIG IDEA: JESUS IS MY GOOD FRIEND.
TABLE TIME
MY GOOD FRIEND JESUS
Supplies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
“My Good Friend Jesus” activity page, copied onto white cardstock, one per child
Green tissue paper, cut into squares
Brightly colored cupcake liners, three per child
Large pom-poms, three per child
Glue sticks
Elmer’s glue, 2-3 bottles
Crayons
How-To:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Give each child an activity page.
Show them how to glue the green tissue paper on the hill using a glue stick.
Help them glue one cupcake liner to the top of each stem using a glue stick.
Help them glue one pom-pom inside each cupcake liner using Elmer’s glue.
Encourage them to decorate the activity page with the crayons.
Say This:
Before the Activity:
[Key Question] Who is my good friend? [Big Idea] Jesus is my good friend! That’s right! We are
going to make a picture to remind you that Jesus is your good friend and he is alive!”
During the Activity:
“Let’s use our glue sticks to fill our hill with green tissue paper (demonstrate). Now let’s glue a
cupcake liner on top of each stem to make it look like a flower (demonstrate). I will put a dot of glue
inside your flowers, for your pom-pom. You can finish decorating your picture with crayons.”
After the Activity:
“Our pictures say, ‘Jesus is alive today!’ I’m so happy that Jesus is alive. Easter is an oh so happy
day!”
MARCH 27, 2016
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
6
KEY QUESTION: WHO IS MY GOOD FRIEND?· BIG IDEA: JESUS IS MY GOOD FRIEND.
PLAY TIME
EASTER TOSS
Supplies:
1. Parachute
2. Plastic Easter eggs- more the merrier
How-To:
1. Have the children sit around the edges of the parachute.
2. Place the eggs on the parachute.
3. Have them stand and lift the parachute up by the edges.
4. Then have them shout “Jesus is alive!” as you wave the parachute up and down.
5. Continue playing doing variations on what you say (Ex. “A friend loves at all times,” and “Jesus is
my good friend!,” etc.)
Say This:
Before the Activity:
“I’m so glad that Jesus is our friend and that he came back! Let’s have some fun with this parachute
while we remember some of the things we heard about today.”
During the Activity:
“Everyone grab an edge of the parachute. Don’t let the eggs fall off! Now, let’s stand up, wave it in
the air and shout ‘Jesus is alive!’ Great job! Let’s sit down. This time we are going to shout ‘It’s an oh
so happy day!’ (Continue playing alternating what you say.)
After the Activity:
“That was so much fun! I am so glad that [Big Idea] Jesus is my good friend!”
MARCH 27, 2016
3-4 YEAR OLDS - MARCH WEEK 4
7