As we learned about the gospel, we had celebrated Easter in the months between the start of Acts and moving into the missionary journeys that Paul made. When we discuss all the King Jesus has done, always using our hands to put a pretend crown on our head- to remember He is our King. We talk about how sin separates us from God, and how Jesus is our Rescuer, who takes our sin on Himself, and is our sacrificial lamb.
In our regular preschool classes, we go through the entire Bible and look for Jesus in all of the Old and New testament. I have been writing my own curriculum using my ideas and using ideas from bloggers that have shared their lessons for use in a home, school, or church environment. One favorite blog that often has great printable visuals to bring the story alive is Faith Sprouts. I used many of her printables, songs, and ideas to build on and repeat in our study of Acts and in helping the littles learn to share the "Good News!"
I've created and laminated many of the printables that this blogger shares. During the pandemic, I delivered a laminated Jesus figure and the donkey to help families celebrate Palm Sunday and actively engage their children in Easter Week.
Older kids in Pre-K would have already learned about John the Baptist and defined the word: "Repent" which is a big message that Paul repeats in his journeys and trials- that we need to stop, turn from sin, and love Jesus.
The follow-up props to this lesson are found in Jesus loves the children and blesses them, and I have made up popsicle sticks that one side has a heart and one side has a stop sign, and we hold the figures of Jesus, as we stand up, talk about turning from our sin, and loving King Jesus!
Of course, we also learned about Acts 3, and since the very beginning of our Acts study, we have chosen to sing every week, the song about J-E-S-U-S Name that Ms. Susanna shared. It took us a few months before we used the letters of Jesus' name and clapped as we skipped letters marching around and sharing the name that brings the power to heal!
After we had read the gospel books, studied our Acts lessons, we also had to learn how to share the Good News, and we started with a few of Ms. Susanna's ideas here, and we held laminated foam globes from the dollar store, or a beach ball globe, or laminated small earth.
I can't take credit for any of the free printables or even the wording, but I can say that through well-done materials from bloggers like Ms. Susanna and authors that write books that are well done for our littles. I will build a series of lessons, pull together and repeat, repeat, repeat the truth of the Good News until our littles can share and repeat it back. I wish when I was little I had been taught the gospel message this clearly.
So after we have said "No!" to sin, and turned to King Jesus. We build on how King Jesus saved us.
Littles can share:
- Jesus died on the cross so that I can my sins are forgiven!
- Jesus rose from the grave, three days later, to show that He is God and to give us eternal life!
- Jesus is my King! (and we have a larger crown image.) And we learned in Acts 1- that He ascended to Heaven, to sit at God's side, and to prepare His Kingdom for those who believe in Him. (and we have a castle picture).
- Then we review that Jesus didn't leave us alone, He sent us the Holy Spirit (a Dove), as we learned in Acts 2. To be our helper, and be God with us.
We also read, review key verses.
Romans 3:23- For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!
Romans 5:8- But God demonstrates His love for us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.
Romans 10:9- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.
Romans 10:13- If anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.
Acts 16:31- Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and You will be saved.
I've been so encouraged at how even our two and three-year-olds have been able to interact in class, repeat concepts, and smile while we are having our class! I feel a little in withdrawal, as I haven't been doing a full lesson and story the past few weeks for summer. So after our family week away, I will choose a week and have a lesson or two to make sure the little retain the content!
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