My First Look – January

This month we are teaching our preschoolers to “Love God with all your heart,” (Matthew 22:37, NIrV). What an important truth to tuck into those tiny hearts. We are to love God with our “everything.” And who better to show us how to do that than Jesus? By sharing how Jesus loved God while here on earth, we show preschoolers how we too can love God with all our hearts. Our preschoolers will hear how Jesus taught us to love God and love others. They will learn how Jesus prayed to God and how He prayed for others. Jesus is our greatest teacher, and we can love God like Jesus did.

excerpt -
By Kathy Hill. © 2009 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.

252 Basics – January

Step It Up

Less is more. We’re fond of saying that around here. And much of the time, we’re more effective living by it. But sometimes MORE is more. Want a voluminous vocabulary? Read more. Want to nail the lines for your part in a sketch? Rehearse more. Want to master the “Cha Cha Slide” (like for January’s large group, grades 4-5)? Practice more. You get the drift. And just like you need to lift more if you want bigger biceps, you need to do some things moreif you want to know God better, like:

252 Basics – December

Virtue: Compassion—caring enough to do something about someone else’s need.

Memory Verse: “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” John 3:16, NIrV

Week 1 ~

Bible Story: The Angel (Gabriel appears to Mary) • Luke 1:26-38

Bottom Line: God saw our greatest need. Whose needs do you see?

Week 2 ~Bible Story: The Baby (Jesus is born) • Luke 2:1-7

Bottom Line: God gave us the greatest gift. What will you give?

Week 3 ~

Bible Story: The Shepherds (Shepherds visit Jesus) • Luke 2:8-20

Bottom Line: God gave us great news. Who will you tell?

Week 4 ~

Family Day – (Nursery only)

 

252 Basics – December

Shake This Planet

What kid can resist it? A fist-sized glass orb filled with water and white particles, enclosing a miniature scene of a favorite vacation spot, Mickey Mouse®, or Christmas. Some play music, some stick to your fridge, others are inflatable yard decorations, but whatever their size or shape, snow globes are fascinating. Maybe it’s the appeal of an enclosed world protected from outside danger, or maybe it’s the power to really shake things up.

Praise God chain

Check out the chain that the kids made yesterday!  (I’ll post a picture later.)

Each slip of paper contained something that they thank God for.  It was so great to watch the kids get excited about thanking God for things.  At first we wondered if they would just be goofy answers, but they weren’t.  There were things like “Thank you God for making me good at dance.” or “God, thanks for my Mom and Dad.”  ”Thanks for a house” – they get it….yes!  God has given us all so much, and it’s not all about the $Benjamins$ after all.

Ask your kids what they wrote or make your own in your house.  It’s not just important to be thankful and thanksgiving, but every day.  Come up with one thing a day to praise God for and make a chain counting “up” to Christmas.

My First Look – November

Check out www.myfirstlook.com and click on Vision 1 for the current month’s vision video.

In November we’re talking even more about how God made us!  ~ God made good things & YOU are a good thing!!

The kids have been continuing their creation mural, so peek in the room and ask your kids to show you what they’re doing and learning!

 

252 BASICS VIRTUE VIDEO

Check out the virtue video at 252basics.com every month and click on Virtue123 to hear more on the month’s virtue!

252 Basics – November

Here’s a note from Melanie – the editor of our curriculum for our 1st-5th graders -

Net Work

“It had taken fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard the news and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies totally lost their nerve. They knew that God was behind this work” (Nehemiah 6:15, THE MESSAGE).

Doing the undoable takes more than me.

My First Look – October

Basic Truth: God Made Me

Key Question: Who made everything?

Bottom Line: God made everything

Memory Verse: “You made the world and everything in it.” Psalms 89:11, NCV

In October and November the kids are learning about the 7 days of creation and how God made everything.  Point out the light or point out the animals the week they talk about animals.  Take advantage of the awesome fall colors and weather and talk about how God made everything!

252 Basics – October

Virtue: Individuality—discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

Memory Verse: “How you made me is amazing and wonderful.” Psalm 139:14, NIrV