A to Z Bible Story Lesson- Letter G

G- The Good Shepherd


Objectives: The children will be able to
- retell the story of The Good Shepherd
- identify who is the Good Shepherd
- explain what to do if they lost something
- identify who they are supposed to follow and do what he says
- discuss when kids their age might do to get “lost” and not follow Jesus



Review:
Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words:

The activity below is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.

Good Shepherd Word Wall- Word wall templates are large flash card printables that you can hang on the wall to aid children when they are learning or using new vocabulary words.



Plan:


Circle Time:

Introduction to story: Here are questions to open with. Since they might all want to answer at the same time, use the sheep Beanie Baby (or any other toy sheep) to pass around. The child holding the sheep is the only one who can share while holding it. Ask one question – if they answer yes, they can explain further. If they answer no, they then pass it to the next child until a yes answer and explanation.

Have you ever lost something?

Was it something valuable to you or something not worth much?

How hard did you look for it?

Did that depend on how valuable it was to you?

Did you ever find it?

If so, what did you do when you found it? If not, what did you do?

Have you ever been lost? What did it feel like? Did you find your way back, or did someone find you? How did you feel when you were found?

Have you ever helped someone look for something they lost?

Have you ever just stumbled upon something someone else lost?

Was it expensive or not worth much?

What did you do with the item you found?



Read story "The Good Shepherd" from your own story book. Then ask questions from below.

If a shepherd has lost one of his sheep, what should he do? He goes and looks for the lost sheep.

Who is the Good Shepherd? Jesus



Songs and/or Finger Plays:

Introduce songs and/or finger plays: Who is the Good Shepherd?

The Big Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions for Children's Faith Formation by Beth Branigan McNamara- Good Shepherd Finger Play (page 134)

kiddiddles.com- The Good Shepherd (song)



Activities:

Introduce activities: If a shepherd has lost one of his sheep, what should he do? He goes and looks for the lost sheep.

missionarlington.org- The Good Shepherd (scroll down to Preschool Lesson)

daniellesplace.com- The Good Shepherd lesson with activities



Crafts:

Introduce craft: If a shepherd has lost one of his sheep, what should he do?

first-school.ws- Handprint Lamb or Sheep Craft
This is a very easy craft that the youngest child can help with and makes a beautiful keepsake. Template included.

activityvillage.co.uk- Sheep Collage

sweetgrace.typepad.com- BaaBaa Black, Pink, and Blue Sheep? An easy yarn craft (scroll down to the white one with ears)




Games:

Introduce game: What does a shepherd do? What happens if one lamb is missing?

What Lamb Is Missing?

Need: Nothing

Directions: Students sit in a group on the floor. One student is “It” and must turn around and hide their eyes. Another student is picked by the teacher and they go outside of the room. “It” then must guess what lamb is missing. Whoever was the lost lamb is now “It”.


vtaide.com- Teaching Kids about the Good Shepherd (5 games posted)



Herding Sheep Game

Need: Balloons and a staff

Pick one student and have them stand beside you in front of the class. Place an empty box on its side at the opposite end of the room.

Say: Let's practice being shepherds. First we need some sheep. Let's pretend these are sheep. (Put 1 balloon on the floor in front of the student). Here is your shepherd's staff (hand student a staff). Take your staff and herd your sheep into the pen (the empty box turned on its side). Hold your staff pointing down so no one gets poked, and be careful you don't hurt your sheep. Guide it gently – don’t push it from behind, but stand in front of it and coax it along. (Encourage student as they guide their sheep.)

Say: This is not a race, we just want each person to have a turn. When you get your sheep in the pen, pick it up and walk back to me and give me the staff and the sheep.

When each student has had a turn, ask the following questions:

Was it easy to make your sheep go where you wanted them to go?
• Do you think it's easy for shepherds to get sheep to go where the shepherds want them to go? Why or why not?
• It's hard to make balloons go where we want them to go, and it's even harder to take care of sheep because they sometimes run away or get lost.
• Do you remember our story from today?
• Who did it say is our shepherd? (The Lord, Jesus)
• Who are the sheep? (us)

Say: Jesus is our Good Shepherd, so when we follow him, we won't ever get lost.
• What are some things that kids your age might do to get “lost” and not follow Jesus? (not go to CCD or Mass, be unkind to family/friends, disobey parents, etc.)
• Why was the shepherd happy when he found the sheep? Why might he have been angry? Which is the more human reaction?

Say: We are all like sheep. There are so many things in the world that can ‘eat us up' if we get lost and if we don't have a good shepherd watching over us. Jesus is our good shepherd, so we will follow him.
• Do you think that Jesus is happy when we choose to follow him? Why or why not?



The Lost Sheep Hide and Seek- A great activity game to go with the Bible story. (Super Bible Game Book by Linda Standke, page 146 for game piece and page 146 for directions).

loyolapress.com- The Lost Sheep Game

web.archive.org- Sheep Cards (to play Memory)



These games are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.









Good Shepherd: Sheep Memory Game- Print out 2 copies of the game cards and have the students match the sheep.















The Good Shepherd File Folder Game: The objective of the game is to find the most lost sheep. Place the sheep cards face up on the game board on the big sheep. Set an egg timer for a specified time. Place your markers on "START”. Roll the die and move that many spaces. If you land on a sheep that says “FOUND”, take 1 sheep card from the pile. If you land on a sheep that says “LOST”, return 1 sheep card to the pile. Players must collect as many lost sheep as they can as they move around the board. Note that the board is set up so you can move around it many times. The game is over when the egg timer goes off. Whoever has the most lost sheep, wins.










Snacks:

Introduce snack: What is Jesus sometimes called? The Good Shepherd

nsumckids.info- Good Shepherd Snacks (scroll down for these)

doodlekins.blogspot.com- Easy Easter Lamb Donut Hole Treat

hungryhappenings.com- Rice Krispies Treat Lamb Pops

instagram.com- Popcorn Sheep

showerofrosesblog.com- Shepherd’s Crook Breadsticks


Letter G Snacks-

Grapes, Green Beans, Grape Juice, Graham Crackers, Granola Bars, Grape Jell-O, Green Jell-O, Grape Nuts, Gummy Bears, Graham Cracker Bears, Ginger Ale, Gum, etc.



Coloring/Puzzles/Worksheets:

Prayers while students are doing coloring and/or puzzles.

sermons4kids.com- I am the good shepherd (coloring)

dltk-teach.com- What begins with G? (mini book)

The activity below is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.

G is for Good Shepherd- handwriting & coloring sheet

kidzone.ws.- Hidden Letter Worksheet Letter G

The Good Shepherd (dot-to-dot)- Bible Story Puzzle ‘n’ Learn! PK-K, page 110.

sermons4kids.com- The Good Shepherd (dot to dot)

The Lost Sheep (dot-to-dot)- Dot-to-Dot Bible Pictures: PK-K by Linda Standke, page22.

The Lost Sheep (dot-to-dot) page 109, The Good Shepherd (maze) page 110- Bible Story Puzzle ‘n’ Learn! PK-K

education.com- Tracing Numbers & Counting: 3
On this worksheet, kids trace the number 3 several times, then write their own. After tracing and writing the number, they count the number of sheep they see in the picture (three), and record the information in a graph.