God Made Me and I’m Special
Objective: The children will be able to
- identify who made them
- name reason(s) why they are special
Review: Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson.
Vocabulary Words:
Pick the words that you want to use:
dltk-bible.com- Word Wall Words for the Story of Creation
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. Use these cards and ask the children, “What did God make?”. Me Card- Add this card to introduce each child.
Plan:
Circle Time:
Read story: God Made Me by Helen Haidle- Children have fun as they read along and sing a song with God Made Me. This new book helps children ages 2 to 5 discover the wonderful body God created for them. The rhyming verses point children to hands, feet, eyes, ears and more to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". Parents, teachers and children can enjoy reading or singing this book aloud together. The creative format is fun and helps young children learn and remember. The entire text and tune is printed in the form of sheet music at the end of the book.
Or pick another book or activity below:
Ask the children if they know the song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Tell them that they are going to learn new words to the song that will help them remember how God created the world. You may wish to write the words to this song on a piece of poster board or have the children listen as you sing it through once. You can also use pictures and/or hand gestures or you can use the God Made Word Wall to help the students sing the song. The words are as follows:
God made the earth and God made the sky,
God made the fish and the birds that fly,
Animals, flowers, trees so tall,
God made everything great and small.
God made all that I can see.
God made you, and God made me.
I am Special by Charlotte Lisi- This charming tale transports young children to the fictional feline world of Pumpkintown, a wonderful place where every individual is unique, accepted by the other cats, and told by the town's wise Mayor Sonny that they are very special. Through the "tails" of its many endearing characters, this delightful story teaches preschool and young school-aged children that they too are special and should also accept others, even if they are different.
God Made You Special! by Eric Metaxas- As each vegetable introduces himself or herself, they remark about how God makes every individual unique from anyone else.
God Made You Special by Jennifer Holder- Just as no two snowflakes are alike and no two thumbprints are the same, God made each person unique and special.
You Are Very Special by Su Box- The simple book shares an important message to youngsters -- they are created unique and special, and loved by God, their friends, and family.
-- Builds a healthy self-concept
-- Features a childproof mylar mirror for kids to see themselves as special
-- Instills an appreciation for individuality
God Made You Sense-Ational by Deborah Saathoff- All of these activity books teach basic educational material in the context of a Christian environment. Perforated pages make reproducing activity sheets easy and painless. Sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste -- learn all about these God-given senses, what they are and how to use them in this interactive book. Includes a full-color "senses" poster.
Songs and/or Finger Plays:
Introduce songs and/or finger plays: Who made you?
Wee Sing Bible Songs- God Made Me
canteach.ca- I am Special (song)
dltk-bible.com- I am Special song and finger play
perpetualpreschool.com- God Made Me Songs
littleblots.com- God Made Me Bible Song (scroll down to this)
If You’re Special and You Know It (song)- (sung to the tune of "If You're Happy...")
As you sing this song, have children think of actions to use for each verse.
If you're special and you know it (fill in action).
If you're special and you know it__________________ .
If you're special and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you're special and you know it___________________!
Activities:
Introduce activity: Who made you special?
perpetualpreschool.com- God Made Me Special Activity
Tell the children that you have one of the most important people in the world inside your special box. Have the children take turns guessing who it is. Then allow them one at a time to look inside the box. (Inside the box you put a large mirror, so when the children look inside they see themselves.) After they have all had a turn looking inside the box, ask them the question again. Explain to them that they each are one of the most important people in the world because they are unique/different and that their is no one else in the world just like them. That is what makes them very special.
This is What I Like
Need- 2 pieces of paper with 1 happy face drawn on one and 1 sad face on the other. Tape the two sheets of paper to opposite walls in your classroom.
Directions- Show the children the two faces you have taped to the walls. Tell the children that when you say each item on your list, they need to walk to the happy face if they like it or walk to the sad face if they do not like it.
Say the following one at a time: Birthday Parties, Lightening, Snowball Fights, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Taking out the garbage, baseball, books, Barbie dolls, rainy days, hamsters, cleaning your room, playing outside.
Gather the children back into the circle and say: Not everyone likes the same thing. Ask: Why doesn’t everyone like the same thing? Say: God made each of us special. None of us are like anyone else. We all have different things we like and do not like.
Ways We Are Special
Materials: a box or bag containing one item to represent each of the following ways we are special: our family (a family photo), the way we look (mirror, comb, etc.), special talents we have (sports equipment, tools, etc.), and nice things we do for others (a greeting card, letter).
Begin by telling the group that everyone is special in lots of different ways. Take one of the items out of the bag and talk about how it represents one of the ways you (personally) are special, e.g. using a mirror - "I have blue eyes, wear glasses, and have freckles." Go around the circle and ask each child to name something special about himself related to the item from the bag. Select other items from the bag and repeat the activity. Encourage the children to think about many different ways we are all special.
Application: Everyone is special in some way. How are the people in your family special? How are your friends special?
daniellesplace.com- God Made Me (lots of activities, crafts, games listed here)
Crafts:
Introduce craft: Are our fingerprints all the same or different?
One of a Kind
Materials: washable stamp pad and ink, white index cards, magnifying glasses.
Show the children how to make a fingerprint using the stamp pad. Explain that their fingerprint is one of a kind. No one has a fingerprint exactly like theirs. Let each child make some prints. Look at them under the magnifying glass. Compare them with each other's prints. Some may be similar but none are identical. Emphasize that fingerprints are one of the ways that each of us is special.
Application: Your fingerprints are special, they are one of a kind. Can you think of anything else you have that no one else has?
perpetualpreschool.com- God Made Me Finger Print Picture
Use 4 craft sticks or Popsicle sticks as a frame. The children can decorate them as they like. Cut one piece of paper for each child to fit into the Popsicle frame. On each piece, write, or have children write, "God loves me - I am special to him." Or “I am Thumbody Special” and have their name written below. Then have the children use (washable) stamp pads to make their fingerprints or thumbprints on the background. They can get as creative as they want, using other decorations or not. Hot glue a string or piece of yarn on the back to hang. You can also put sticky magnet on the back to make it into a magnet.
daniellesplace.com- God Made Me (lots of crafts listed here)
Games:
Introduce game: Who is special?
I See Someone- Gather children in a circle. The teacher stands in the center to start the game. Begin by saying, "I see someone with brown shoes." Anyone who thinks the teacher is talking about her may say, "You see me." If she is right, she goes to the center and says, "I see someone..." If no one guesses right, give another hint. If a child doesn't wish to be in the center, casually pick someone else to take his place. The teacher can help by whispering hints to the child in the center, if needed. You can set a time limit on this game for however long you like.
That’s Me!- Ask the children to listen for words or phrases that describe or identify something about them. When they hear something that describes them, they should stand up and shout "That's Me!" Use the list below or examples of your own.
• has brown eyes • is the oldest child
• has one sister • was born in the summer
• likes pizza • owns a cat
• owns a dog • likes to skate
• has blue eyes • takes piano lessons • likes to read • lives in the country
• rides a school bus • has more than one brother
After everyone has had an opportunity to shout "That's Me!" at least once, conclude the activity by telling them that everyone is special in lots of different ways. Have the group give one big round of applause for all the ways they are special.
daniellesplace.com- God Made Me (lots of games listed here)
Snacks:
Introduce snack: Who is special?
perpetualpreschool.com- Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Use a body shaped cookie cutter and make sandwiches. Put peanut butter and jelly inside the two shapes. Then add eyes, nose, mouth using choc. chips, gum drops, food coloring, etc.
Gingerbread Me Cookies
(You'll need baked and iced gingerbread-people cookies, colored coconut and small candies such as red hots, sprinkles, chocolate chips and raisins. You'll also need milk, paper cups and napkins.)
Have children use the coconut and candies to decorate the gingerbread people to look like themselves. After children finish decorating, pass out paper cups of milk and enjoy the snack. As they're eating "themselves," have each one of them tell how they're special.
Coloring/Puzzles:
Prayers while students are doing worksheets and/or coloring.
first-school.ws- My Name is Special (handwriting practice)
Handwriting Worksheet Makers- (to make a personal handwriting tracer page of the child’s name)
christianpreschoolprintables.com- God Made Me mini book (scroll down to this)
enchantedlearning.com- A Book About Me
Make a book about yourself.
alphabet-soup.net- I am Special Book
dltk-kids.com- All About Me Boy and girl mini books.
