Children's Ministry and Education

National Author’s Day

November 3, 2012 in Books, Educational, Featured with 2 Comments

National Author’s Day was November 1 but we celebrated on Friday, November 2. We were unable to schedule an actual author of a children’s book to visit the students in preschool.

Well, I am a children’s book author, but definitely did not want to feature myself on this day. See my published books here and here.?

So, for National Author’s Day, we got creative. We rented a bear costume and had a very nice volunteer (Bob Cunningham) dress up in the costume. We set up a theatre and the students saw a story from a children’s book acted out in a play.

Our narrator (Judi from Falenconsulting@gmail.com) read the Goldilocks and the Three Bears book as our costumed bear and a 4 year old student acting as Goldilocks acted out the parts of the story.

The student audience enjoyed seeing this familiar story acted out visually. This activity brought the story to life for the preschool students. We emphasized the adventures students (and all of us) can have when we read books.

Exploring the Sense of Touch

November 1, 2012 in Educational, Featured with 2 Comments

In Science class with Mrs. Judi (falenconsulting@gmail.com), the preschool students learned about and explored the sense of touch and the importance of thumbs.

First, the students put their hands inside a sock to feel different items and guess what they were. There was a fork, a screw, and a rubber band in one sock. They were able to feel the different textures.?

Then, in another sock, they felt different temperatures. In one sock there was a foot warmer to feel hot. In another sock there was a bag of ice to feel cold.

Another student put one mitten on one hand and attempted to pick up a quarter from the floor. Another student put one glove on one hand and attempted to pick up the quarter from the floor. It was much easier to pick up the quarter using the glove rather than the mitten.

Then Mrs. Judi taped the thumb on the gloved hand down so the student only had use of the four fingers and the palm of her hand. She attempted to pick items up with only her fingers and palm. She attempted to turn the door knob, too. It was much more difficult to grip things without the use of the thumb.

Finally, the students tried to take a bite of an apple hanging on a string but they were not allowed to use their hands to hold the apple. They were instructed to put their hands behind their backs and bite the apple. Of course, the string moved and they were unable to take a bite. However, there was one very smart problem-solver who figured out how to use his shoulder and his chin to hold the string in order to get the apple to his mouth. He was almost able to take a bite.

The students talked about the importance of having thumbs on each hand. They talked about animals that do not have thumbs and are unable to pick things up or grip things like humans.

Kids Feeding with Reading

October 27, 2012 in Educational, Featured, Ministry with 6 Comments

During the month of October the preschool students were challenged to read books (or have someone read books to them for younger students). They were participating in a program seen on Joyce’s blog Childhood Beckons.

During the first week of October the students solicited sponsors to donate a canned food or non-perishable food item for every book they read during the month.

Then, for two weeks, the students read and read and read. They were gaining new adventures and strengthening their language and vocabulary skills with each book they read.

Then during the final week of October, the students collected the canned foods from their sponsors. We plan to donate these foods to local organizations to help with individuals and families in need of healthy foods to eat.

This picture of canned foods is only a small portion of the ?collected cans and non-perishable food items. Thank you so much for your generosity and for your reading adventures.

Sunrise in a Bag science experiment

October 25, 2012 in Educational, Featured with 0 Comments

Preschool students can have a great time learning about solids, liquids, and gasses with this experiment.

Pour a small amount of clear water (liquid) into a plastic bag.?

Squirt a few drops of red dye into the water in the bag. This red dye is found at swimming pool stores.

Dump a spoonful of DampRid into the bag to mix with the red liquid. Seal the bag and allow the students to feel the outside of the bag. The red liquid turns pinkish in color and, amazingly, the bag feels warm.?

Next scoop a spoonful of baking soda into the bag. Seal the bag. ?Watch the gas as it bubbles and fizzes inside the bag. Amazingly, the contents are now turning an off-white beige color. Allow the students to feel the outside of the bag again as it now feels cool.

Science lessons by Judi at Falenconsulting@gmail.com

Church Baptism pool

October 21, 2012 in Featured, Ministry with 0 Comments

This is a very creative baptism pool. It is located in the lobby (or mall area as it is called in this particular church) and runs as a fountain most of the time.

When a baptism service is scheduled, the fountain is turned off. The minister and the baptism candidate step down into the pool. The worship service room is located on the other side of the wall where the big rock wall is. They have a camera pointed at the minister and the baptism candidate in the pool that is projected onto the large screens in the worship room.

This location of the baptism allows for family and friends to view the baptism up close right next to the fountain pool. The entire church family can view the baptism from the worship room via the big screens. The location of this baptism pool allows for many people in the church to experience baptism. The children from children’s worship can view the baptism as well and then return to their children’s worship room after the baptism.

Painting the fence

October 16, 2012 in Educational, Featured with 8 Comments

Here is a fun outdoor activity for preschool students. Fill paint cups about 1/2 full of water. Give the students a water cup and a paint brush. Have them paint the fence on the playground with water.

This is a different fun activity for them to do on the playground. It is something different to do other than the usual of climbing on the equipment or throwing and kicking balls. Many preschool students love art. Painting the fence with water fulfills this love of art without making a mess of the playground equipment.