Bible Teaching and Play
Bible Story: Hannah Prays for a Baby
Scripture: I Samuel 1
Pour soapy water and food coloring in a shallow bowl. Gather a drinking straw and the Heart printable.
"I have something very exciting to show you. What do think will happen when I blow air into this liquid." (Begin to blow bubbles. Stop when the bubbles are a few inches high.) "Wow! What happened?" (bubbles were created) "See how the bubbles are rising upward and piling on top of each other. They are rising higher and higher! That's what our prayers do. When we pray and talk to God, our prayers rise up to heaven to God. (Blow again to create more bubbles.) God captures our prayers in His heart. (Place the heart printable upside down on top of the bubbles. The bubbles will pop leaving a colorful design on the paper. Show the child.) God remembers our prayers and He promises to answer each one of them in His time and in His way. Today we are going to read a story about a mommy who prayed and asked God to give her a son. Let's turn in our Bibles to I Samuel 1 and read about Hannah."
Allow the child to make her own bubble heart after finishing the story. Instruct the child to blow and not suck on the straw.
Cover your children, grandchildren, or students in prayer with this 31-day calendar of powerful Bible verses. Each day focuses on themes like wisdom, courage, love, and godly character, praying for spiritual guidance and strength for the next generation.
Academic Teaching and Play
Letter Formation Chants
Introduce the letters Ii using the tactile letters and decorate the Letter Ii Poster to add to the "Letter of the Week" book.
Create large shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, or rectangles using Tinkertoys or blocks on the ground. Arrange the Tinkertoys or blocks to outline each shape, making them big enough to serve as fun targets for a tossing game. Once the shapes are set up, gather several bean bags for the next part of the activity.
Call out the name of one of the shapes, and have your child try to toss a bean bag into that specific shape. For example, if you call out "square," your child will aim to throw the bean bag into the square. You can increase the challenge by encouraging them to stand farther away or use underhand and overhand throws.
Place flashcards or index cards with the numbers 0-6 in a bag or basket. Have your child pull out a card, say the number aloud, and then perform an action that many times. For example, they could frog jump three times, spin around twice, or run to the kitchen four times.
Using tactile letters, have your child trace over each of the letters in her name with her dominate index finger. Say the Letter Formation Chant as you trace each letter.
Nurture a thankful heart in your children or students ages 3-12 with our 50-page Thanksgiving Activity Workbook! This updated workbook includes engaging activities tailored for both preschool and elementary-aged children, along with easy-to-follow scripts that ensure fun and meaningful experiences. Celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving while creating lasting memories together!
Pre-Reading Learning
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown is a heartwarming story about a little bunny who imagines running away, only to be reassured by his mother’s unwavering love. No matter how far or where he goes, his mother promises to always find him and bring him back. This classic tale beautifully illustrates the bond between parent and child.
Connection
In the illustration of the mother bunny rocking the baby bunny, point out the picture of the cow jumping over the moon. Review "Hey Diddle, Diddle" from Week 7.
Print the rabbits on the Runaway Bunnies worksheet onto cardstock. Cut them out (let your child try rough cutting if they're ready). Glue cotton balls onto the bunnies’ tails and attach them to large craft sticks or a ruler. Use the bunnies to play hide and seek, explaining to your child that just like the bunny in the story, we can never run away from God or His love.
Tune: Twelve Little Indians
January, February, March, and April (put up one finger per month)
May, June, July, and August
September, October, November, December (close fist on "November" and "December")
These are the months of the year (clap, clap, clap, clap)
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Developmental Learning and Play
Fill a muffin tin with paper muffin wrapper. Write a number between 0-6 on each wrapper. Have the child fill each cup with the correct number of small items: chocolate chips, buttons, coins, etc. Make sure that your child picks up the small items with their thumb and index finger and doesn't slide the item to the edge of the table. For fun, time the activity.
Attach ribbons or streamers to the end of a ruler, stick, or dowel rod to create a fun and engaging movement tool. Encourage your child to hold the stick and swirl the ribbons from side to side, up and down, and in circular motions. Guide them to switch hands frequently to work on both sides of the body.
Challenge your child to mimic specific patterns or create their own dance moves, incorporating different speeds or directions. You can also play music to make it even more fun and rhythmic. This activity not only enhances hand-eye coordination but also strengthens arm muscles and improves body control. It's a wonderful way to combine physical movement with imaginative play!
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