Book Focus: The Tiny Seed

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Bible Lesson Narration Activities Nature Study Crafts Book Focus: The Tiny Seed

description

For Children in K-2nd Grade. The unit uses Eric Carle's, The Tiny Seed, to illustrate biblical principles through activities and lessons. The unit also contains lessons in math, science, phonics, and language. Filled with crafts and activities your child will love!

Transcript of Book Focus: The Tiny Seed

Page 1: Book Focus:  The Tiny Seed

Bible Lesson

Narration Activities

Nature Study

Crafts

Book Focus: The Tiny Seed

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Little Apples School

Book Focus: The Tiny Seed

Beloved children’s books made into mini unit studies which include spiritual training

among academic lessons with a Charlotte Mason Flair.

Copyright©April 2011

Little Apples School

Created and Designed by: Richele McFarlin

All Rights Reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to the individual purchaser to reproduce the book in whole or in part for

personal (non-commerical)use or classroom use. School wide or system wide reproduction is NOT

permitted.

Photograph taken by Richele McFarlin maintain a Copyright© All Rights Reserved

Photographs by IStockphoto

Photographs may NOT be used outside of this study.

Clipart Public Domain

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Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………….4

Growing Hearts …………………………………………………….…………………….…………...5

Narration………………………………………………………………………………………………13

Nature Study………………………………………………………………………………………….16

Crafts

Seeds of Hope………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Friendship Flowers…………………………………………………………………………….……..10

Sharing Petals…………………………………………………………………………………….…..11

Narration Flip Cards…………………………………………………………………………………14

Paint a Terracotta Planter…………………………………………………………………………17

Seed Words…………………………………………………………………………………………..23

Printables

Parts of a Plant………………………………………………………………………………………20

Plant Growth Chart…………………………………………………………………………………21

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Introduction

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle is a delightful book chronicling the life cycle of a plant. Your children

will be entertained by the journey the tiny seed makes in order to arrive at its destination and

finally grow into a beautiful flower. The book is about determination, growth, transformation, as

well as teaches the four seasons, life cycle of a plant, and other lessons to inspire your child.

Upon a closer look we can learn the lessons taught in the Matthew 13:3-9 of the Parable of the

Sower.

How to Teach a Book Focus Unit Study

Book Focuses can easily be integrated into your homeschool schedule. The unit study is filled

with crafts, activities, Charlotte Mason flair and a bible study. You can pick and chose which

crafts suit your children or do all of them! The bible lessons are divided up into five lessons which

can be taught for a week or once a week for five weeks. It is recommended that bible lessons

are taught on a regular basis for the child to gleam the most from it. The purpose of a Book

Focus is to dig deeper into beloved children’s books to find spiritual and academic connections.

Growing Lilies is dedicated to growing faithful hearts for Jesus.

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Discipleship for Growing Hearts

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The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:3-9

3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured

them up:

5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up,

because they had no deepness of earth:

6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered

away.

7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold,

some thirtyfold.

9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Lessons to Correlate to The Tiny Seed

As the book begins it is autumn and the seeds are beginning to blow through the wind seeking a

place to be planted. We can relate the seeds as God’s Word being spread through the land

looking for open hearts for it to take root.

Lesson 1: Plant a Seed of Hope

Explain to your children that according to the Bible they are to spread the Word of God.

(Matthew 28:19) As they tell others about Jesus they are planting seeds. The seeds we plant are

of hope so others will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

Through the book we follow the seed which is smaller than the rest. You can explain that even a

tiny seed can grow into a mighty tree. (Matthew 13:30-32)

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Craft: Make Seeds of Hope

Supplies:

Brown Construction Paper

Seed Packet

Marker

Terracotta Pot

Directions:

1. Cut out a seed shape from the brown construction paper. You will want the seed large

enough to print verses or verse reference on but small enough to tuck into a seed

packet.

2. Print verses or verse references on each seed which relate to salvation. Verses to

consider are: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:13, Romans 10: 9,10,

Romans 3:20, John 1:2, John 3:16.

3. Gently open the seed packet leaving the read seeds intact. Place your seeds of hope

inside the packet and close.

4. Place the seed packet in the terracotta pot. You may decorate the pot, add a card,

tissue paper, etc to make it pretty.

5. Give to someone you have a burden to see come to Jesus

Lesson 2: Seeds Which Do Not Take Root

As we follow the Tiny Seed in the story we see how other seeds do not survive the journey

because they were not planted on the proper soil. A seed which does not take root cannot

bring fruit or bloom.

Ask your child what a seed needs to grow. Answers include: soil, water, and sun.

Ask your child what would happen if a seed landed on rocks, the ocean or on the sun. The child

should answer by saying the seed would not grow.

Explain to your child that when a seed of God’s Word falls on those unwilling to hear or unwilling

to grow in Christ it results in a seed which does not grow to glorify the Lord.

Verses 4-7, from the Parable of the Sower, correlate to what the seeds in The Tiny Seed faced.

Explain the different ways a spiritual seed may not take root:

A seed trampled hard on the ground cannot take root. Those who hear the word

but refuse to listen and humble themselves will allow it to be taken from them. A seed which falls on rocky ground has no soil for deep roots. Those who receive

the word joyfully yet do not allow their hearts and lives to be transformed so they

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do not grow in the Word. A seed which withers away are like those who do not

grow in the Lord will wither away. A seed which is choked by the thorns refers to those who do not give up the past

and still love the world. In doing so, worldliness chokes out the Word and will not

bear fruit.

Activity: Compare the Parable with the explanation by Jesus

Compare the verses in Matthew 13:4-8 with Matthew 13:19-22. Go line by line to find the

explanation of the parable. See the above explanations for a seed not growing spiritually to

guide you. Verse for the Parable and the Parable explained are provided in the King James

Version for easy reference.

Once you finished comparing the scripture with scripture go to The Tiny Seed and point out the

bird eating a seed, the sun burning up a seed, a seed being trampled and a seed being

dropped on rocky ground.

The Parable Explained

Matthew 13:18-23

18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the

wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received

seed by the way side.

20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and

anon with joy receiveth it;

21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution

ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this

world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and

understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty,

some thirty.

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Lesson 3: A Seed which Blooms

Read Matthew 13:23 and Matthew 13:8,9.

Show your child how these verses explain what is required for a seed to grow into a plant which

bears fruit. Ask your child again what a seed needs to grow. Your child should remember it

needs soil, water, and sun. Explain that a soil rich in nutrients will produce good fruit.

Now explain how like a seed needs to be cared for and given the proper soil a Christian needs

that same to grow in Christ.

What is the proper preparation for a soul to receive and grow?

But he that received seed into the good ground: A heart prepared by the Holy Spirit.

he that heareth the word: One who listens to the Word with an open heart and a desire

to learn more about Christ and humility to confess his need for a savior.

And understandeth it: One who understands he is in need of a savior and understands

the meaning of sin and that his sins must be forgiven.

Activity: Sing Read Your Bible

Remember to make this song active to reinforce the lyrics for your children.

Read Your Bible

First Verse

If you read your Bible and pray every day you will: grow, grow, grow

But if you neglect your Bible and forget to pray you will: shrink, shrink, shrink

So we will read our Bible and pray every day so we grow, grow, grow.

Second Verse

Read your Bible and pray every day

Pray every day, Pray every day.

Read your bible and pray every day

and you'll grow, grow, grow!

Third Verse

Don't read your Bible and forget to pray.

Forget to pray. Forget to pray.

Don't read your Bible and forget to pray.

And you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!

The Motions

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First Verse: Begin the song scrunched down and once you sing “grow, grow, grow” stand up

straighter and straighter. When you sing “shrink, shrink, shrink” you do exactly that, you shrink

back down.

Second Verse: Hold your hands as if you are holding a book when you sing “Read your Bible”.

Hold your hands in a praying position when you sing “pray every day”. Remember to “grow,

grow, grow” by standing as straight as you can even on your tippy toes.

Third Verse: On “shrink shrink shrink” you shrink!

You can sing this fast for more fun and repeat the verses as you like.

Lesson 4: Friendship

In our story, The Tiny Seed, there is a part where a seed blooms into a flower and little boy picks it

to give it to a friend. The action is one of love and friendship. If we are to model Christ we need

to model love and friendship.

Ask your children what qualities they look for in a friend. Discuss how you can be a good friend

and instances where you showed your friendship even in times of adversity.

Craft: Friendship Flowers

Supplies:

A friend loveth at all times, and a

brother is born for adversity.

-Proverbs 17:17

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Construction paper in multiple colors.

Green pipe cleaners

Buttons

Scissors

Glue and/or hot glue

Tissue paper and ribbon (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut your construction paper into various size petals. The different sizes will allow for

different types of flowers or layering petals for a special look.

2. Cut out several circles for the middle of the flower.

3. Arrange your petals around the middle circle and glue together.

4. Carefully poke a hole in the center of the flower for the piper cleaner to attach through

to give the appearance of a stem.

5. Glue a pretty button in the center of the flower for an added touch. If your button holes

are large enough you can thread the pipe cleaner through to attach.

6. You may arrange your flowers in a bouquet and wrap loosely in tissue paper and tie a

bow around for an added touch.

Give these flowers to a friend or someone who needs to be reminded that he or she has a friend

in Jesus.

Lesson 5: A Tiny Seed Grows into the Biggest Flower

In our story, The Tiny Seed, the smallest seed grew into the largest flower. The flower grew so big

and beautiful that the birds, bees and butterflies were drawn to it. As the seasons go by the and

the wind blows the petals on the flower fly away and the seed pod finally opens and seeds are

dispersed in the air to find hearty ground to plant and grow.

Such is the life of one who seeks the Lord. We grow and bloom and as the seasons go on we

mature and give of ourselves in service to Christ. We then begin to plant seeds of our own as we

share the Word to reproduce disciples. We need to be diligent to pray, listen, and walk close to

the Lord for guidance, wisdom and the ability to bring others into the kingdom.

As parents, we need to remember that tiny seeds have the ability to grow into the biggest

blooms for Christ. We need to nurture and product our seedlings until they are ready to stand on

their own. Until then it is our job to disciple them so they can serve a mighty God.

Craft: Sharing Petals

Supplies:

Construction paper (mix of colors)

Scissors

Glue stick

Marker

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Directions:

1. Cut out of construction paper a circle to be the center of a flower and petals to go

around the flower. You can determine the number of petals.

2. On the petals you will want to write down names of people you and your children want

to see come to the saving knowledge of Christ and/or areas of our lives we need to grow

in to serve the Lord. For instance, you can write down having a more loving attitude

toward a sibling or cleaning your room without complaining.

3. Paste the circle to another piece of construction paper.

4. Paste just the edge of each petal to the piece of construction paper.

5. Each time you witness or pray about a person or focus on being a better sibling or clean

your room without complaining, have your child tear off the petal and give it to you.

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Narration

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What is Narration?

A narration is a short summary of an assigned reading given orally by the student. Narrations

serve two purposes. One, it helps the teacher determine the level of reading comprehension of

the student. Two, it helps reading comprehension on the part of the student. The length of a

narration is usually two to three thoughtful sentences.

Narration does not have to be done the same way every day. Below are a few creative ideas

to engage your child in the narration process.

Narration Activities

Retell the story to a parent, sibling, or even the family pet.

Draw a favorite scene from the book.

Explain to a parent or sibling a spiritual truth learned from the reading the story.

Act out a skit based on the story.

Make a scene from modeling clay from the story.

Narration Helps

If your child is having trouble retelling the story it is acceptable to ask a few questions to help

guide her.

How did the story begin?

What happened next?

What did you think of that?

Who is the story about?

What did you learn from the story?

What happened at the end of story?

Craft: Narration Flip Cards

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Supplies

colored index cards

hole puncher (unless you find index cards with the holes already punched in)

black marker

rings (the kind you use to make key rings), yarn, or even twist ties

imagination!

Directions:

1. Take out five cards for each of the five different colors.

2. Using your hole puncher, punch two holes near either corner at the short side or the long

sides depending on your preference, on each card.

3. Organize your five different colors into separate groups to represent a week out of the

month. For instance, pink is for the first week, green for the second...you get the idea.

4. Using your sharpie, mark all of one color "narration set A" and then on each individual

write the days of the week. Continue this for all four weeks so you will end with five cards

of the same color marked: "Narration Set A", "Narration Set B", "Narration Set C", and

"Narration Set D". On each of those sets the cards will each be marked with a day of the

school week.

5. Take your first week or "Narration Set A" and write on each card for each day a different

narration activity. Then go to the second week and do the same. Never repeat a

narration activity in the same week...but you can repeat it in subsequent weeks.

6. Organize your cards by sets and days and then connect all the cards using a ring, yarn,

or even twist ties.

Now you have Narration Flip Cards with a nice rotation of ideas to keep your children interested.

You can organize your rotation to your liking. You can have all Mondays the same and so forth

or have every day different.

If you find the idea of having sets a bit crazy then provide a jar or empty tissue box where your

child can randomly pick a narration activity.

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Nature Study

Photograph ©Richele McFarlin 2011. All Rights Reserved.

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Nature Study: Planting a Seed

It is time for little hands to get dirty. Children love to plant seeds and watch

something they planted grow. Planting is a wonderful way for children to

see firsthand how doing something properly and how caring for something

can lead to beautiful results.

You can start off with small terracotta planters and a few packets of seeds.

Gather up the gardening tools and potting soil and have a fun afternoon

of planting. Once you are finished you can place the planters on a window sill where you get

the most sunlight.

Remember to label your seeds so you know how to care for your plant or flower.

Do not forget to water! Children love to water but sometimes they water too much. Teach them

that moderation will keep their plants healthy.

Craft: Paint a Terracotta Planter

Supplies:

Terracotta planter in any size

Paint brushes

Acrylic Paints

Newspaper, tarp, plastic table cover (something to protect the surface you will be

working on)

Stencils, if desired

Small section of cardboard (to be used as a paint palette)

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Directions:

1. Prepare your painting area by covering it with newspaper, tarp, or a plastic table cover.

2. Prepare your children by having them wear aprons or play clothes.

3. If you do not have a paint palette you can simply use a small section of cardboard from

a box or a paper plate. Squeeze a small amount of paint in each color you select on a

palette for each child.

4. Create! Allow your children to paint at will or offer help with stencils.

5. Allow several hours to dry completely before using as a planter.

Parts of a Plant

A plant has several basic parts:

Flower

Stem

Roots

Leaves

On the coloring page on the next sheet label the parts of the plant and color the picture. Next,

have your child identify these parts on a real flower or plant.

Function of Parts

Stem: brings water to the rest of the plant.

Roots: absorbs water and holds the plant in the ground

Leaves: makes food for the plant by using the sun and air

Flower: makes the seeds and fruit of the plant

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Plant Growth Chart

Week__________

Day 1 Day 2

Day 3 Day 4

Day 5 Day 6

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Fun with Seeds

Purchase several different packets of seeds. Try to get a few vegetables, herbs, fruits, and

flowers. Open the seeds and explore the differences and similarities of the seeds. Cut out

pictures from the seed packets and tape or glue them to a piece of construction paper along

with a sample of the seed underneath the correlating picture.

Craft: Seed Words

Supplies:

Various seeds

Glue

Construction paper

Marker, pen or pencil

Directions:

1. Write a word or letter on your construction paper.

2. With the glue trace the word or letter.

3. Sprinkle the seeds to completely cover the word or letter.

4. Gently shake off excess seeds to reveal your word or letter made out of seeds

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Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that

Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven;

how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

--Luke 12:27-28

Little Apples School is dedicated to growing faithful hearts for Jesus.

Visit Richele at Under the Golden Apple Tree