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AntiochianOrthodoxArchdioceseDepartmentofChristianEducation

2020CreativeFestivalsLessonPlan:Preschool/Kindergarten

Theme:“ForGoddidnotsendHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld,butthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved.”(John3:17)Goal:Tohelpthestudentsunderstandthethemewellenoughtoexpressitinart,photography,poetry,andcreativewriting.LessonObjectives:Thestudentswillbeableto:

•TellthestoryofAdamandEveintheirownwords.•StatethatJesusisGod’sSonandMaryisHismother.•CompareMary’sobediencetoGodwithAdamandEve’sdisobedience.•IdentifyJesusandAdamandEveintheResurrectionicon.

Time:40MinutesMaterials:

•Children’sBibleStoryBook(OnethatincludesbriefstoriesofAdamandEve’ssinandexpulsionfromtheGardenofEden,andthestoryoftheAnnunciation.“Children’sBibleReader”isanOrthodoxChristianBiblestorybookthatisrecommended.)

•IconoftheNativity(Attached.)•IconoftheResurrection(Attached.)•IconoftheResurrectionColoringPage(Attached.Printoneforeachchild.)•Crayons

OpeningPrayer:“LordJesusChristourGod,havemercyonusandsaveus.”Introduction:“Todaywe’regoingtotalkaboutourCreativeFestivaltheme.‘GoddidnotsendHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld,butthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved.’ThisBibleversecomesfromtheBookofJohnintheNewTestament.St.JohnwasafollowerofJesus.HewasoneofthefourGospelwriters.WeheartheGospelduringDivineLiturgy.WhoreadstheGospelduringDivineLiturgy?”(Thepriestordeacon.)“Matthew,Mark,Luke,andJohnwerethefourGospelwriters.”

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TheStoryofAdamandEve:“Whocreatedtheworld?”(God.)“WhowerethefirstpeopleGodcreated?”(AdamandEve.)“WheredidAdamandEvelive?”(TheGardenofEden.)ReadthestoryofAdamandEvefromachildren’sBibleStoryBook.Thenaskthefollowingquestions:“WhatdidGodtellAdamandEvenottodo?”(Nottoeatthefruitfromaspecialtree.)“WhatdidAdamandEvedo?DidtheylistentoGod?”(No,theydisobeyedGodandatethefruitfromthatspecialtree.)“Whotoldthemtogoaheadandeatthefruit?”(Thedevil,intheformofasnake.)“Didtheyhavetolistentothedevilanddowhathetoldthemtodo?”(No.)“Whoshouldtheyhavelistenedto?”(God.)“WhathappenedaftertheydisobeyedGod?DidtheystayintheGardenofEden?”(No.GodsentthemoutoftheGardenofEden.)“GodgaveAdamandEvesomethingcalled‘freewill’whichmeanstheyhadthechoicetodogoodorbadthings.Wehavefreewill,too.Weshouldalwaysstopandthinkaboutwhatwe’redoingandifit’ssomethingGodwantsustodoornot.”“Godcreatedtheworldtobeperfect,andforallpeopletolivewithHimforever,butbecauseAdamandEvedisobeyedGod,sinanddeathenteredintotheworldanditwouldneverbethesameagain.ButGodhadaplan.HesentHisonlybegottenSonintotheworldtosaveit.”God’sPlan:“WhoisJesus?”(God’sson.)“WhoisJesus’mother?”(MaryortheTheotokos.)“Marywasaveryholywoman.GodwantedMarytobethemotherofHisSon.Oneday,anangelappearedtoMary.”ReadthestoryoftheAnnunciationfromachildren’sBibleStoryBook.Thenaskthefollowingquestions:“WhatdidtheangeltellMary?”(ThatGodwantedhertobethemotherofJesus.)Tellthechildrenthatthename,Jesus,means“Godsaves.”“DidMaryhavetobethemotherofJesus?(No.)ExplainthatMaryhadfreewill,justlikeAdamandEvedid.ButMarysaid,“Yes”toGod.ShechosetodowhatGodwantedhertodo.ShowthechildrenaniconoftheNativity.Pointoutthevariousfiguresintheicon(Mary,babyJesus,angels,shepherds,etc.)“God’splanforoursalvationbeganonthedayJesuswasborn.WhatisthenameoftheholidaywhenwecelebratethebirthofJesus?”(Christmas.)

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JesusShowsUstheWaytoGod:“Jesusgrewupandshowedpeoplehowtheyshouldlive.HetaughtpeopletoobeyGod,topray,tobesorryfortheirsins,toforgive,andtoloveeachother.ManypeoplebecamefollowersofJesus.ButnoteveryonebelievedthatJesuswasreallytheSonofGod.Jesuswasarrestedandputtodeath.HowdidJesusdie?”(Onthecross.)“WhathappenedafterJesusdiedonthecross?”(Afterthreedays,Jesusrosefromthedead.)Jesus’Resurrection:ShowthechildrentheiconoftheResurrection.“Whoisinthemiddleoftheicon?”(Jesus.)“DoyouknowwhoJesusispullingup?”(AdamandEve.)“ThestoryofAdamandEvehasahappyending!JesussavedAdamandEveandallotherpeoplefromsinanddeaththroughHisowndeath.ThesoulsofallthepeoplewhohaddiedbeforeJesuswasbornwereinHades.Jesusfreedthesoulsofthegoodpeoplewhowerethere.”(PointoutthegatesofHadesbeneathJesus’feet[oftenintheshapeoftheCross]thathavebeensmashedwideopen,alongwiththelocksandkeys.)“Jesusgaveusthegiftofeternallife.WewillallhavetheopportunitytoliveinheavenwithHimsomeday.”“DoyourememberthehymnwesingatPascha?Let’strytosingittogether.”(SingthePaschalHymntogetherthreetimes.) ChristisRisenfromthedead, Tramplingdowndeathbydeath, Anduponthoseinthetombsbestowinglife!HavethechildrencolortheiconoftheResurrectioncoloringpage.ClosingPrayer:“ThankyouLord,forsendingyourSontous,thatthroughHim,wemightbesaved.”

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