God Knows the Plans He Has for Our Life

Beforehand Read Genesis 37

Memory Verse:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you hope and a future.”- Jeremiah 29:11

Story:

Act out the story with a student playing Joseph and any helpers as the brothers.

·         Ask

o   What the real Joseph might have been thinking/feeling?

·         Be sure to tell how Joseph had a dream and discuss how far away slavery is from his dream.

o   What do you want to be when you grow up? How far away would slavery be from your dream?

o   Joseph’s dream was to rule/reign over his family, but now he’s a slave, do you think his dream/vision ever happen?

Craft:

Option One-

·         Paint white shirts. Allow the kids to paint it how they imagine Joseph’s looked. Use this shirt as their “art” shirt for messy projects later on.

Option Two-

·         Pour Baking soda onto a baking sheet. Arrange it to look like a shirt. Combine vinegar and food coloring in Dixie cups or small containers. Using droppers, have the kids decorate the “shirt” with their volcanic mixtures.

Snack: Cupcakes or Cookies

            Decorate cupcakes or cookies before devouring the sugary goodness!

Memory Verse Games:

·         Act it out.

o   Brainstorm motions with the students to match their memory verse. When children learn movements they are less likely to “lose it” from their memory.

·         Post It Cover Up

o   For this activity write the memory verse on the front board of the classroom. Practice reading it once together and then use post-it notes to cover up one of the words. Then, practice reading the verse again followed by covering up a second word with post-it notes. Continue this pattern until the entire verse is covered and the children are saying the verse from memory. This is an interesting spin on traditional drilling of a verse by repetition. You could also reverse the game beginning with some words covered and have children guess the missing words.

·         Find, Assemble, and Read

o   Put each word from the verse onto separate sheets of paper. Hide them around and have the kids find the words. Once the kids have found the words, congregate at a meeting spot and assemble the sentence and read them.

·         Memory Verse Egg Hunt-

o   Hide each word of the memory verse in an Easter Egg and hide them all around the room. Have the kids find the eggs, and help to put the memory verse in the right order.

Time Killer Games:

·         Mother May I?

·         Simon Says