In the Beginning . . .

Growing into a Life of Faith

UNIT 1: LESSON 1:

Creation Station

God Made Everything: Days 13

Key Concept
God made everything.

KEY CONCEPT MOTIONS:

Every time you say the key concept during the lesson, use these motions: God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides].

Bible Summary
Genesis 12 God created everything in six days, including light and dark, the water and the sky, the land and plants, birds and fish, animals, and His most wonderful creation: people. On the seventh day, God rested.

Objectives
KNOW WHAT:

Supplies
(Labeled items below can be found in the Lesson 1 Visual folder on the Summer Quarter CD.) CD player Music for singing Sound Effects CD #1 (optional) The Beginners Bible White board Dry erase markers or dot paints (many colors) Butcher paper (if using dot paints) Beret and smock (or bright, artsy clothing) for Teacher and Helper (optional) Flashlight or lamp (optional) Picture cards: Apple (Lesson 1 LG 1) Duck (Lesson 1 LG 2) Girl brushing teeth (Lesson 1 LG 3) Girl playing basketball (Lesson 1 LG 4) Flower (Lesson 1 LG 5) Balloons (Lesson 1 LG 6) Creation matching cards (Lesson 1 SG 7a Lesson 1 SG 12b) (optional) For each child Key Concept sticker (Lesson 1 SG 13) Two-sided take-home coloring sheet (Lesson 1 SG 14 and Lesson 1 SG 15) Snack

Children will hear the whole Creation story. The focus will be on Days One, Two, and Three, when God made the light, sky, water, land, seas, and vegetation.
SO WHAT:

Children will learn that God made everything, including light, sky, water, land, seas, and vegetation.
NOW WHAT:

Bible Verse
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Children will participate in activities to identify places or ways that we need water. They will identify plants and food that grow from the ground or that we eat. They will celebrate these things God has made.

Spiritual Formation
Celebration

People Needed
Teacher, Helper

Summer Quarter

2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station Notes:

In Advance
Recruit a Helper to operate the music CDs and the sound effects CD. The Helper also has a number of lines. Make sure your Helper is comfortable with this. Determine which songs you will use and be prepared to lead the children in singing. Song suggestions: Upbeat song for transition from Activity Stations to the Creative Bible Teaching God Made Me (Reach Up High CD) Seven (Touch the Sky CD) God is Number One (Touch the Sky CD) Determine whether you will use the sound effects CD. If you prefer not to use the sound effects, or to use only a few of them, look at each sound effect listed in the lesson and determine if you will play the sound effect from the CD, encourage the kids to make the sound effect along with you, or omit the sound effect, and then modify the lesson accordingly. Gather the supplies listed and arrange your classroom as follows: Designate one area or corner of the room as your teaching area. Set up props that will be used during the lesson and consider covering them with a sheet or a large piece of fabric to keep them from curious kids during Activity Stations. Also consider placing a line of tape on the floor to help keep kids out of the teaching area. For the lessons in Unit 1, the teaching area is Creation Station. Find a large, standalone white board or use a smaller one you can place on an easel. Set it to the side of the teaching area. Decorate the space as an artists studio. Place art supplies of all kinds on a small table or desk and paint, finger paint, or draw a splashy, bright-colored backdrop on butcher paper to hang at the back of the teaching area. Consider having the kids help you with all or part of the backdrop during Activity Stations this first week of the unit. Hide the dry erase markers in or under something in the room. If using dot paints, cover the white board in butcher paper. Covered or not, prepare the white board by separating it into seven different sections with tape as shown on left.

Summer Quarter

2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station

Number each section with a dry erase marker: one through four on the top half and five through seven on the bottom half. If a white board is not readily available, you could use a blackboard and colored chalk, or a large easel pad and regular markers, instead. Optional activity: Print out the fronts and backs of the six Creation matching cards. Copy the cards front-to-back on yellow and orange paper and cut them apart. There are four cards to a page, but you will only use one of each card in yellow and one of each card in orange. Place the orange cards in a bag. This activity is optional, as time allows. Prepare the materials that will be given to each of the children. To prepare the stickers, print or copy the pages onto Avery label sheets #5294. Consider cutting the stickers apart for easier distribution. Print out the lesson and practice the teaching time.

Teachers Prep
READ GENESIS 12. As we begin this unit on Creation, remember that the familiarity of a well-known Bible story can cripple us from seeing how incredibly powerful and awesome God really is! Its easy to buy into the proverb good things take timeand for us, they do. Think of how long it took to build the Great Wall of China or to find the cure for smallpox, how long it takes to learn to play the piano or to raise kids who love Jesus. These things all take time. Now: consider how God created everythingthe expansive heavens, the earth and all of its beauty, all the complexities of the plant and animal kingdom, and Adam and Eve in His own imageall in just six days! When you ponder this, it is almost more than the mind can handle. God created everything perfectly in only six days. Wow! Good things may take time for us, but not for God. He is powerful beyond description. Lets stand in awe and worship our Creator.

Activity Stations
(20 MINUTES)

Choose which Activity Stations you will use from the list included in the Activity Stations folder.

Creative Bible Teaching

(15 MINUTES)

[Play upbeat music as children transition to the teaching area. Encourage kids to clap their hands along with you. Clap in a variety of styles like overhead, on your knees, on your belly, etc.]
TEACHER:

Hello, boys and girls! My name is ______________, and Im so excited to see you today. Today we are going to learn all about creation here at Creation Station! The word creation means to make something, like when your mom makes chocolate chip cookies. Creation Station is a fun place where we can come and make all kinds of neat things, like paintings
3 Summer Quarter 2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station

and drawings. We also come to Creation Station to play games and sing songs. Lets all stand up and sing a song to God right now.
MUSIC

Song Suggestion: God Made Me [Invite kids to sit down on the count of three.]
TEACHER:

At Creation Station, the very best thing we get to do is hear a great story from the Bible! Today, we are going to hear the story of creation! We are going to learn that God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]! Say that with me. Ready? God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]. And God did it all in seven days. Lets count [count on fingers]: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven days! The Bible tells us all about it. [Pick up Bible and open it to the front.] Its right at the very beginning! But you know what? Instead of just reading the story, today Im going to draw [or paint] the story! I just need to find my markers. Lets see, where did I put those markers [or paints]? Oh, I think I put them in here. [Look into or under something in the room.]
[SFX 3: Old-fashioned car horn.]

TEACHER:

Oh my, thats not them! Hey, Im sure I put them over here [Look in a second place.]
[SFX 4: Duck quacking.]

TEACHER:

[Laugh.] Thats not what I was looking for. That was a duck! Wait, I think I know where I put the markers! [Look in a third place and pull out the markers.] Finally! Here they are. Now I need to pull out my Creation Station drawing board. [Pull white board to the center of the teaching area, or, if you have a smaller board, set it on an easel in the center of the teaching area.] There, that should just about do it. Lets learn all the things that God made in seven days. Click on your listening ears, friends. Click! Click! [Tug on each earlobe.] Now lets put on our special eyes. Shookum! Shookum! [Hold hands to eyes, one at a time, shaping glasses.] * * * * * * *

In the beginning, there was nothing on the earth. [Tape piece of black paper across the left half of Section 1.] The earth was empty and very, very dark. But, God had a plan! On Day One [hold up one finger] . . . friends, can you hold up one finger? On Day One, God said, Let there be light. [If using a flashlight or lamp, switch it on.]

Summer Quarter

2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station

And there was light! God called the light day [point to white part of Section 1], and He called the darkness night [point to black part of Section 1]. After God made the light, He said [pause and give a thumbs up], It is good. What did God say? God said [thumbs up], It is good. On Day One, God made [point to Section 1] the bright light and dark night. * * * * * * *

On Day Two [hold up two fingers] . . . friends, hold up two fingers. On Day Two, God made the beautiful blue sky. [Draw blue sky at the top of Section 2.] And He made the water that comes from the sky, like the clouds and the rain. [Draw clouds and rain drops on Section 2.] And God made the water thats in the big, big ocean and the smaller seas and lakes. [Draw blue ocean at the bottom of Section 2.] When God saw the beautiful blue sky that He made, He said [pause and give a thumbs up], It is good. On Day Two, God made [point to Section 2] the sky of blue and water, too. * * * * * * *

On Day Three [hold up three fingers] . . . friends, hold up three fingers. On Day Three, God made the land. [Draw land on the bottom of Section 3.] God made all the plants, flowers, and trees that grow on the land. God made all kinds of different trees. He made trees that give us food, like apple trees. [Draw an apple tree in Section 3.] He even made Christmas trees. [Draw evergreen tree in Section 3.] He made all kinds of different plants that grow from the ground. And He made beautiful flowers. He made blue flowers. [Draw a blue flower in Section 3.] And red flowers. [Draw a red flower in Section 3.] And yellow flowers. [Draw a yellow flower in Section 3.] God made all kinds of flowers in all kinds of colors! When God saw the land with all the plants, trees, and flowers, He said [pause and give a thumbs up], It is good. What did God say? [Kids respond.] On Day Three, God made [point to Section 3] the land, plants, flowers, and trees. * * * * * * *

On Day Four [hold up four fingers] . . . friends, hold up four fingers. On Day Four, God made a big light called the sun. [Draw a yellow sun in Section 4.] He made a smaller light called the moon. [Draw a smaller moon in Section 4.] And He made even smaller lights called the stars. [Draw several small stars in Section 4.] When God saw the sun, the moon, and the stars, He said [pause and give a thumbs up], It is good. What did God say? [Kids respond.] On Day Four, God made [point to Section 4] the sun so bright, and the moon and stars at night. * * * * * * *

On Day Five [hold up five fingers] . . . friends, hold up five fingers. On Day Five, God filled the water in the ocean with lots of fish. He made big fish and small fish. [Draw a big fish and a smaller fish in the lower half of Section 5.] He made everything that lives in the water.

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2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station

God also made lots of birds to fly up in the sky. He made big birds and small birds. [Draw a big bird and a smaller bird in the upper half of Section 5.] When God saw the fish and the birds, He said [pause and give a thumbs up], It is good. What did God say? [Kids respond.] On Day Five, God made [point to Section 5] the fish big and small, and the birds one and all. * * * * * * *

On Day Six [hold up six fingers] . . . friends, hold up six fingers. On Day Six, God made all the animals that live on the land. He made animals like rabbits. [Draw a rabbit in Section 6.] He made animals like snakes. [Draw a snake in Section 6.] He made all kinds of different animals! But on Day Six, God made something else. He made something very, very special. He made people! He made a man and a woman. [Draw two stick figures in Section 6.] He made people! When God saw the animals and the people, He said [pause and give a thumbs up], It is very good. What did God say? [Kids respond.] On Day Six, God made [point to Section 6] the animals on land, and a woman and man. * * * * * * *

On Day Seven [hold up seven fingers] . . . friends, hold up seven fingers. On Day Seven, God stopped making things, and He rested. On Day Seven, God took a rest! Friends, lets take a rest. Lets stretch those arms way up high. [Stretch.] Lets sit back and rest and look at everything God made. [Lean back and hum for about ten seconds.] Okay, lets look at all the wonderful things God made. [Point to the white board.] Friends, God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]! Say that with me. God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]. Lets say that together in our loud voices. God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]. Now, lets try that in our quiet voices. God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]. Today we learned that God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]. Lets sing a song to help us remember all the things God made!
MUSIC

Song suggestion: Seven [Invite kids to sit down on count of three.]

Summer Quarter

2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station

Life Application Activity

(10 MINUTES) TEACHER:

Lets go back over the seven days to see if we can remember all the things God made. [Point to each section as you mention it. Hold up the appropriate number of fingers, and encourage the kids to do it with you.]
TEACHER AND HELPER:

Lesson 1 LG 1

On Day One, God made the bright light and the dark night. On Day Two, God made the sky [reach up high] of blue and ocean [make waves with your hands], too. On Day Three, God made the land, plants, flowers, and trees [pretend to grow like a tree]. On Day Four, God made the sun [make a sun with your hands] so bright and the moon and stars [twinkle fingers] at night. On Day Five, God made the fish [pretend to swim] big and small, and the birds [flap arms like birds], one and all. On Day Six, God made the animals on land and a woman and man. On Day Seven, God took a rest!
TEACHER:

Lets play a game. We can learn more about the things God made on Days One [point to it], Two [point to it], and Three [point to it]! All of you can help me. We are going to look at two pictures. I want you to find the picture that shows something that grows on a tree.
Lesson 1 LG 2

[Display apple and duck pictures (LG 1 and LG 2).] Friends, does a duck grow on a tree? [No.] Does an apple grow on a tree? [Yes.] Good job! Apples grow on trees. Lets pretend to eat an apple right now [Model taking a big bite and make crunching sounds.] Great job! Lets try another one. On Day Two, God made the water. We can use water in lots of different ways. We are going to look at two pictures. I want you to find the picture that shows how we can use water. Lets take a look. [Display pictures of girl brushing teeth and girl playing basketball (LG 3 and LG 4).] Friends, what do you see? [Allow kids to respond.] Which girl is using water? If you think the girl brushing her teeth is using water, pretend to brush your teeth. [Model brushing your teeth for the kids.] Great job! Lets do another one. On Day Three, God made beautiful flowers in all kinds of colors that grow on the land. Look at the pictures and tell me which thing grows on the land. [Display flower and balloons pictures (LG 5 and LG 6)]. Does a balloon grow on the land? [No!] Do flowers grow on the land? [Yes.] Youre right! Lets pretend to smell the flower. [Model sniffing a flower for the kids.] Good work. Wow! God [point up] made everything [reach arms forward and move them out to the sides]. Lets all stand up and sing to God!
MUSIC

Lesson 1 LG 3

Song suggestion: God is Number One

Lesson 1 LG 4

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UNIT 1:

Creation Station

[Invite kids to sit down in a circle and play the following matching game if time allows. If not, go directly to the prayer and snack time.]
TEACHER:

We are going to play a matching game now. These are our special cards. [Place the yellow cards face up in the center of the circle and show the bag with the orange cards.] You will each get a turn to take one card out of the bag and match it with one of the yellow cards on the floor. Then we will read the card and do what it says. [Allow each child to choose and match one of the following cards:]
CHILD TAKING A BATH

Say, What do you see in this picture? When we take a bath, we use water. Who made the water? [God.] Lets pretend to take a bath. [Pretend to wash your head, behind your ears, and your arms and legs.]
Lesson 1 SG 7a CHILD BRUSHING TEETH

Say, What do you see in this picture? When we brush our teeth, we use water. Who made the water? [God.] Lets pretend to brush our teeth. [Pretend to put toothpaste on a brush and brush your teeth.]
CHILD DRINKING WATER

Say, What do you see in this picture? When we are thirsty, we can drink water. Who made the water? [God.] Lets pretend to drink water. [Pretend to hold a cup, pour in the water, and drink it.]
Lesson 1 SG 8a APPLE TREE

Say, What do you see in this picture? Who made the apple trees? [God.] Lets count the apples in the tree. [Count the apples.]
GIRL WATERING FLOWERS

Say, What do you see in this picture? Who made the flowers? [God.] Lets pretend to smell the flowers. [Pretend to hold a flower and sniff it.]
WATERMELON VINE

SAY, What do you see in this picture? Who made watermelons? [God.] Lets count the watermelons in the picture. [Count the watermelons.]
Lesson 1 SG 9a

[Continue until every child has had a turn.]

TEACHER:

God made everything! We can thank God for all the things He made! Lets pray and thank God for everything He made, right now. [Do Open them, close them. Children will say the finger play with you and repeat each line of the prayer after you.] Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.] Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.] Give a little clap. [Clap hands.] Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.] Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.] Fold them in your lap. [Fold hands in lap.]

Lesson 1 SG 10a

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2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1

UNIT 1:

Creation Station

Dear God, Thank You for making everything! Thank You for our snack. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go

de everyth ma in
g!
The Beginning (Genesis 1)

Snack and Coloring Activity

(15 MINUTES)

This is the time for you and the children to build community. A great way to let the kids know you care about them as individuals is to ask them questions about themselves.
Lesson 1 SG 13

God made everything.

GIVE each child a snack to eat. GIVE each child a Key Concept sticker to put on their shirt while they are eating their snack. GIVE each child a coloring sheet to color while they are waiting to be picked up. ASK each child a question or two: Do you have any pets? What is your favorite fruit?

Lesson 1 SG 14

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2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1