New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1 ...

God’s Unfolding StoryHour B

Suggested Schedule:

ArrivalCenters – 25 minutes

Clean-up Time – 5 minutes

Bible Story Time – 15 minutes

Craft Time – 10 minutes

Snack Time – 10 minutes

Game Time/Dismissal

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B

1. God created everything.

2. People disobeyed God.

3. God chose a special people.

4. God sent Jesus to help us.

5. Jesus began the Church.

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

Unfolding God’s Story for TeachersThis may be one of the favorite Bible stories for children. If you had the privilege of hearing Bible stories as a child, you may recall the following phrase from a sweet song often sung with this story, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.” Most children can identify with the small statue of Zacchaeus and his need to see above the crowd. Children also are impressed that Zacchaeus chose to scale a big tree to see Jesus given their own love to hide in the lush branches. It is a joy to watch children as you tell this story and see them smile and laugh when you get to the part where Zacchaeus climbs the tree. Teachers often will become very animated as they say the words of Jesus, “Zacchaeus, come down; for I’m coming to your house today!” While we want children to enjoy the Bible story, we also want them to come away with the truth of the story as they can understand it. The truth is Jesus loved Zacchaeus just as he was: wee, selfish and lost. However, Jesus did not want him to stay that way, at least not selfish and lost. Preschoolers need to know Jesus loves them for who they are. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in the city of Jericho. Jericho was a rich community in terms of landscape and economy. Zacchaeus had taken advantage of his position and gained great wealth through dishonest means. He probably was a very lonely man who realized his wealth really had left him very empty. He heard Jesus was coming to town and that Jesus had eaten with sinners and tax collectors. Zacchaeus’ need to see Jesus went beyond curiosity; he was desperate for love. Zacchaeus chose to hide in a tree away from the crowds that might not welcome him. He wanted to see Jesus and perhaps hear a word from Him. Zacchaeus got more than a word. He got a visit from the Teacher. Although we are not given specifics of the visit, Zacchaeus

found in Jesus what was missing in his life. His conversion is seen in his words, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much!” Children are not the only ones who identify with Zacchaeus. At a deeper level, all of us must recognize the things of this world will not fill the emptiness in our lives. As Zacchaeus did, we must seek Jesus not just to hear Him, but meet Him, sit down with Him and have a relationship with Him. Once we have met Him, confessed our sinfulness and entrusted our lives to Him, we walk forward new and different than before.

New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1: Zacchaeus Met Jesus

Arrival• Greet children at eye level and express how happy

you are to see them.• Be sure each child has a name tag and the security

measures of your church are followed.• Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly

encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session.

• Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time.

Lesson Plan

Bible Story: Zacchaeus Met

Jesus (Luke 19:1-10)Bible Phrase: “Jesus

said, ‘I love you’” (John 15:9).Bible Truth:

Jesus loves me.

Center TimeBlock CenterBuild with BlocksSupplies:

• Wooden blocks• Small cars and trucksWhat to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or tell a part of the Bible story.

NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B

Art CenterMake a Bible Story Mural

Supplies:• Long sheet of white butcher paper

• Copy of “Bible Story Characters” • Washable markers, crayons, glue

What to Do: Draw a road through the middle of the paper. Sketch the trunks of several trees along the road.

Print today’s Bible Phrase at the top of the paper. Cut out the Bible Story Characters. Invite children to finish the trees

by adding branches and leaves. Identify the characters of Jesus, Zacchaeus and people who wanted to see Jesus. Suggest that some

children color the characters and others glue them on the scene. Children can draw additional people, flowers, birds, sun and

other features on the mural. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, express that in our

Bible story today, a man named Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus; so he climbed up into a tree. Comment

that Jesus stopped at the tree Zacchaeus was in and said, “Zacchaeus, come down from that

tree because I am coming to your house today.”

Puzzle CenterWork Puzzles

Supplies:

• Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for

children to work.What to Do: Encourage children to finish

a puzzle before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than doing the puzzle for

the child.Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the

Bible Phrase or briefly tell the Bible story.

Bible Learning CenterMake a PuzzleSupplies:

• Copies of Activity Page “Bible Story Puzzle” (Reproducible)

• Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus Met Jesus” (Reproducible)

• Child scissors, glue, construction paperWhat to Do: Show children the teaching picture and express that they will make a puzzle like our Bible Story Picture. Show children the Activity Page and express that the picture looks a little mixed up. Their job is to cut apart the squares and glue them together to make the picture resemble the Bible Story Picture. Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase on the picture. Share part of the Bible story by adding,

“Zacchaeus was not a kind man, but he wanted to see Jesus. Because he was small, he decided to climb a tree and wait for Jesus. Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to know He loved him. In our story today, you will hear what happened to Zacchaeus after he met Jesus.”

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Home Living CenterRole Play

Supplies:

• Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes,

child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as baby doll, doll bed, doll

bag, blanket, clothes, bottles and diapers. What to Do: Home living items will encourage

children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning and caring for the baby.

Link to the Bible Story: As children play, thank them for being kind and sharing

with one another. Express that our Bible Phrase today is “Jesus said, ‘I love

you.’” Comment that we are showing love when we share and take turns

with the home living items.


Clean-up TimeEncourage

preschoolers to help at clean-up time.

Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as

placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash,

gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the

Bible Story Time area.

Introduction• Show the God’s Unfolding Story Cube. Point to each symbol and tell God’s Unfolding Story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage children to say the story with you. • Comment to boys and girls today’s story is from the segment God sent Jesus to help us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.)• Express the following: “Is it easy to love people who are not nice or do unkind things? Today in our Bible story, we will hear how Jesus showed love to someone no one else liked.”

Bible StoryZacchaeus Met Jesus (Luke 19:1-10)There was a rich man named Zacchaeus who was a tax collector. Tax collectors got money from the people to give to the king. Some tax collectors were dishonest and took more money than they should from the people. They would keep the extra money for themselves. Zacchaeus was not an honest tax collector. He probably did not have very many friends because of way he treated people. One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was in town. He was curious about Jesus and wanted to see Him. Crowds of people already had gathered as Jesus walked down the street. Zacchaeus was not very tall, so he could not see above the people’s heads. He decided to run ahead and climb up into a tree so he could watch as Jesus passed. Zacchaeus found a nice large sycamore tree, climbed up the tree and waited for Jesus to come down the street. Zacchaeus watched as Jesus got closer. Suddenly, Jesus stopped right under the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting! Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because I am coming to your house today.” Many people around said, “Why would He go to the home of someone who is dishonest and unkind?” However, Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to know how much He loved him.

Zacchaeus quickly came down out of the tree and took Jesus to his home. Zacchaeus saw the love and kindness Jesus showed to him that day. He was sorry that he had taken more money from the people than he should have taken. Zacchaeus told Jesus, “I will give back to the people more money than I took.” That day Zacchaeus chose to be a follower of Jesus.

Talk Time1. Show the teaching picture for today’s Bible

story. Ask the following: “Was Zacchaeus a kind and honest tax collector? What did Zacchaeus do to see Jesus? Where did Jesus tell Zacchaeus He was going? What happened after Zacchaeus visited with Jesus?

2. Comment that even though Zacchaeus was unkind and dishonest, Jesus showed love to him, and Zacchaeus changed from being a dishonest person to a kind and caring person. Read the Bible Phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Express to children that Jesus always loves us no matter how good or bad our behavior may be. Continue saying that just as Jesus loved Zacchaeus although he was dishonest, Jesus loves us and wants us to love Him.

3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer thanking God that He always loves us.

Bible Story Time

Supplies:• Bible

• Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus Met Jesus” (Reproducible)

• God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock)

Snack TimeBe sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up.


Craft TimeMake Finger PuppetsSupplies: • Copies of “Finger Puppets” (Reproducible)• Crayons or washable markers, scissors, tape or staplerWhat to Do: Cut apart the “Finger Puppets” and give each child a Jesus figure and a tree to color. After coloring, assist children in folding and stapling or taping each puppet where indicated. Show children how to put the puppets on their fingers.Link to Bible Story: Invite children to use their “Finger Puppets” to review the Bible story.

Game Time/DismissalLook at It!Supplies:

• No supplies neededWhat to Do: Ask children to stand in a circle. Say something such as, “Listen and do what I say as quickly as you can.” Direct children to look at various objects and people in the room such as: “Look at the ceiling. Look at the light switch. Look out the window. Look at Coleman. Look at the floor. Look at the block center. Look at Kelby.” Invite preschoolers to call out some objects and people to look at. At the close of the game, remind boys and girls that Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus and was probably surprised when Jesus looked up and saw him. Comment that Zacchaeus realized Jesus loved and cared for him. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church.

New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love

Lesson 1: Zacchaeus Met Jesus


Resources and SuppliesStandard Art Supplies

(Supplies that are generally in the room)

Washable markersCrayons

Child scissorsPlaydough and accessories

Drawing paperEasel (optional)Glue/glue sticks

Tempera paint, 4 colorsTape/masking tape

Pencils/colored pencilsHole punch

Teacher scissorsStapler/staples

Permanent markersWatercolorsPaintbrushes

Yarn

Standard Equipment

(Equipment that is generally in the room)

Small beanbag for Bible Story TimeAssorted wooden/cardboard puzzles

Set of wooden blocksSmall cars and trucks

Doll bedBaby doll (soft plastic)

Stove/sink unitPlay dishes/pots and pans

Small table and chairsSmall carpet for block area

Play food itemsStorage shelf for blocks

Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center

CD player/Children’s Worship CDs

Reproducibles(Included with the lesson plan downloads)

“Bible Story Characters” (1 copy per child)Activity Page “Bible Story Puzzle” (1 copy per child)

“Finger Puppets” (1 copy per child) Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus Met Jesus” (1 copy per class)God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock, 1 copy per class)

Parent Page (1 copy per child)

Additional Art and Bible Learning Center Materials

Long sheet of white butcher paper Construction Paper

Hour B

Additional Craft Time Materials

8-inch paper plates (1 per child)Large wiggly eyes (2 per child)

Variety of construction paper (3 or 4 sheets)Crafts sticks (1 per child)

Bible Story Characters

NT

06 Le

sson 1

B C

ente

r Tim

e: A

rt Cente

rG

od

’s Unfo

ldin

g S

tory fo

r Old

er P

resch

oo

lers, C

op

yrigh

t © 2

013

- Sun

dayS

cho

olZ

one

.com

Bib

le S

tory

Chara

cters

Instru

ctions:C

op

y 1 sh

eet. Te

ach

er cu

ts out th

e B

ible

Sto

ry C

hara

cters to

use

with

the m

ura

l activity in

the a

rt cente

r.

NT06 Lesson 1 B Center Time: Bible Learing CenterGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Bible Story PuzzleZacchaeus Met Jesus

“Jesus said,

Heath McPherson

‘I love you’” (John 15:9).

Finger Puppets

NT06 Lesson 1 B Craft TimeGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Finger PuppetsInstructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Teacher cuts out puppets. Child colors and folds puppets. Tape or staple on the side. Slip over fingers.

FOLD FOLD

STA

PLE

STA

PLE

God’s Unfolding Story CubeInstructions: Cut out on dotted lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or tape to form a cube.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com

New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1 ...

Documents

Transcript of New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1 ...