...Preschool Story Time Lesson Plans and Ideas with Christian Themes!
The following topics include a complete lesson plan. Choosing any topic below will take you to its corresponding content page.
CHRISTMAS
Happy Birthday Jesus
DON'T BE AFRAID
God Is Bigger Than Your Fears; Resist the Devil & He'll Flee
FEAR; HALLOWEEN
Finding Shelter in God (The Lost Sheep)
FEELINGS; EMOTIONS
God Loves Us No Matter What Mood We're In
GREEDINESS; SELFISHNESS
Finding Contentment
LOVE; A PARENT'S LOVE; VALENTINE'S DAY
God's Unconditional Love for His Children
OUR BODIES; DOCTORS
God Made All Our Parts
OUR BIG MOUTHS; FROGS; Watching What We Say
RAIN
God Made the Rain (Jesus Calms the Storm)
RAINBOWS
God Made Rainbows (Noah's Ark)
SEASONS; AUTUMN; FALL; LEAVES
Everything Has a Season (Ecc. 3:1)
TRAINS
You Can Do It, Even Though You're Small (Jesus Values Children)
WINTER; SNOW
The God Who Made Winter Makes Us White as Snow
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The following topics include scripture and song suggestions and a brief overview of the recommended picture book. Choosing a topic here will take you to its corresponding content page.
GROUCHINESS; MANNERS; TELLING TIME; INSECTS
The Golden Rule; Humility; Don't Think More Highly of Yourself Than You Ought
MAKING MISTAKES; TELLING THE TRUTH; FOOD; PRETZELS; MULTI-CULTURAL FOODS; OCCUPATIONS
Confession and Honesty, Redemption
MULTICULTURAL AWARENESS; WORLD EVENTS & HUMANITARIANISM
Love Your Neighbor; God Knows Where I Am
SCARY STORIES; AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOLKLORE; HALLOWEEN; BEING BRAVE
Obedience; Evil Can Come Like a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing; Spiritual Authority in Jesus
BIRTHDAYS; DIRECTIONAL WORDS; TREASURE HUNTS; PIRATES
Following Jesus; God's Gifts to Us; Our Greatest Treasure
BEING YOURSELF; JUNGLE ANIMALS; ENDANGERED SPECIES; DESCRIPTIVE WORDS; IDENTIFYING ONESELF Job's "Friends," Being what God Made You to Be, God's Diverse Creation
SELF-ESTEEM; INSECURITY; REPTILES; COLORS
Being What God Created You to Be
BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR; SETTLING DIFFERENCES; FOREST ANIMALS; SOLVING PROBLEMS
Loving Your Neighbor and Living Peacefully with One Another
Title: "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth
Author: Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: Philomel Books
Copyright: 2002
Word Density: Low
My Recommended Age-Appropriateness: Toddler to 10
Summary:
In this beautiful book, Carle once again presents a world of exotic animals, bent on philosophizing about the state of what IS. We enter the colorful world of the jungle sloth, who is asked over and over again by its jungle "friends" why it is so, "well, slothful." "Why are you so slow?" "Why are you so boring?" "Why are you so lazy?" The not-to-be-dismayed sloth considers each question with absolute sincerity, and finally comes to the conclusion that it is perfectly acceptable for a sloth to act like a sloth. Children will be encouraged to be themselves, and to trust in their Creator, as they think about the annoying and sometimes cruel questions their "friends" may ask them. "Why are you so short?" "Why do you have to wear glasses all the time?" "Why don't you like to play tag at recess?" Every child has his accusers, and every child needs to understand that it's o.k. to be just who they are. With a fascinating introduction by Jane Goodall on the lesser-known facts about South American jungle sloths, this book will be a helpful addition to any storytime highlighting endangered species, as well as any general lesson aimed at helping children understand their relationship to their world.
CHRISTIAN THEMES:
1. Job and his "friends."
2. Being what God made you to be.
3. God's diverse creation.
PRESCHOOL THEMES:
1. Being yourself.
2. Identifying personal characteristics.
3. Jungle animals.
4. Endangered animals.
5. Descriptive words.
Scripture Connections:
1. Galations 1:15 "But God had special plans for me and set me apart for his work even before I was born." (NCV)
2. Job 32:3 "Also against [Job's] three friends was [Elihu's] anger kindled, because they had found no answer [were unable to show his
real error], and yet they had declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions]." (Amplified Version)
3. 1 Corinthians 15:39 "You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of
beauty and brightness. And we're only looking at pre-resurrection "seeds"—who can imagine what the resurrection "plants" will be like!" (Message)
1. "God Made You Special" from the Veggie Tales CD of the same name.
2. "God of Wonders" from Veggie Tales Worship Songs CD.
Title: Walter the Baker
Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 1995, 1972
Word Density: Medium
My Recommended Age-Appropriateness: Preschool to 12
CHRISTIAN THEMES:
1. Confession and honesty.
2. Redemption.
PRESCHOOL THEMES:
1. Making mistakes.
2. Telling the truth, even when it's hard.
3. Pretzels.
4. Occupations and community workers.
5. Multicultural units.
SUMMARY: Walter the Baker tells the tale, in Eric Carle's own imaginative way, of the origin of the humble...pretzel. More like a fairy tale than his "Very" series, (The Very Grouchy Lady Bug, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle, etc.,) this story is wordier and can be used for an older audience. And what fun! Walter, the "Very Gifted Baker," pleases the Duke and Duchess every morning with his fantastic sweet rolls. But one day, an accident causes him to make a grave mistake, and Walter substitutes water for the milk in the recipe. He hopes no one will find out, but the sophisticated palates of his rulers detect the problem straightaway. The Duke wants to banish Walter forever, but then decides to offer him a chance for redemption. Walter is challenged to invent a roll through which the "rising sun can shine three times." But to make things trickier, he added, "it must be made from one piece of dough, and...it must taste good." Walter fears he is good as lost, until another accident saves the day. With lively and colorful collage illustrations, Carle's sense of humor shines through. I especially liked the pages where Walter is shown struggling to invent the new roll, and bits of dough show up in strange places, even on the poor, intrusive cat. Very fun even on a totally superficial level, Walter the Baker can be used to draw out deeper levels of meaning. Use it in storytime lessons teaching about mistakes, honesty, and redemption. Another Eric Carle classic!
SCRIPTURE CONNECTIONS:
1. 1 John 1:9 "But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away." (CEV)
2. Psalm 34:22 "The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him." (NIV)
SONG CONNECTIONS:
1.
"My Reedemer Lives" from the Hillsong Kids CD "Tell the World"
2.
"Second Chances" from the Veggie Tales soundtrack from "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie" CD
ENRICHMENT: Take your group to a local bakery to watch how pretzels or other baked goods are made. Bring some warm pretzels back for your children to enjoy.
Title: The Owl and the Woodpecker
Author/Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith
Publisher: Star Bright Books
Copyright: 2006, 1971
Word Density: Medium
My Recommended Age-Appropriateness: 4 to 12
CHRISTIAN THEMES:
1. Loving your neighbor.
2. Living peacefully with one another.
PRESCHOOL THEMES:
1. Settling differences.
2. Being a good neighbor.
3. Solving problems.
4. Forest animals.
5. Nighttime and daytime animals.
SUMMARY: In this classic fable about a group of forest animals who have property disputes, readers learn about how to be a good neighbor. With beautiful colors and lively textures, Wildsmith portrays the all-too-realistic argument between nocturnal Owl, who recently moved into the tree Follow the Saviour song sample The Best Book to Read song sample The Greatest Treasure song sample Luke, Chapter 9, Verse 23 song samplenext door, and Woodpecker. Owl can't sleep and becomes infuriated with Woodpecker's daytime noise. Woodpecker, however, maintains that it's his right to peck on his own tree anytime and as loudly as he wants. The dispute grows more and more heated, eventually causing a siding of opinions among all the forest's residents. The tiny mouse sees Woodpecker's point of view, insisting that "Owl is always bossing...us around." The larger animals tend to see Owl's perspective, encouraging Woodpecker to compromise and "stop pecking" so they can all get some peace. Finally the residents gather round to encourage the troubled Owl to do something to fix the situation. He, however, feels the problem is entirely Woodpecker's fault, and insists on Woodpecker moving house. Their neighbors get so fed up with it all that they actually try to push down Owl's tree. Of course, this doesn't work, but coincidentally, two beavers begin to take a liking to Owl's tree. When a big storm comes along and threatens to blow down Owl's tree one day while he's fast asleep, Woodpecker sees the danger and, disregarding all their earlier disputes, rushes in to waken Owl one last time with his frantic pecking. Owl is so grateful to Woodpecker for rescuing him, that all is forgiven, and a suitable arrangement is made so that everyone lives peacefully together. Altogether an excellent way of demonstrating how to be, and not to be, a good friend and neighbor.
SCRIPTURE CONNECTIONS:
1. 2 Corinthians 13:11 "...Try to get along and live peacefully with each other." (CEV)
2. Proverbs 11:25 "...those who help others will themselves be helped." (CEV)
3. Romans 15:2 "We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord." (NLT)
4. Romans 15:5 "God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ." (CEV)
SONG CONNECTIONS:
1.
"Up All Night" (a song about nocturnal animals) by Zach Burba from "Cool Creatures" CD & MMMKids.
2. "Love Your Neighbor" from the Veggie Tales Veggie Tunes CD.
3. "This is My Commandment" from the Cedarmont Kids Platinum Collection.
Craft Idea: Let the children create paper plate owls. Give each child two paper plates, one large and one small. Staple the smaller one above the larger one to simulate the owl's head. Provide plenty of brown craft feathers (available in most arts and crafts supply stores) and let the children use glue to cover their owls in feathers. Finally, glue two plastic googly eyes (also available at craft stores) on the "face." Hang your lovely, silly owls around the room and enjoy!
Title: The Secret Birthday Message
Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright: 1986
Word Density: Low
Age-Appropriateness: Toddler to 8
Summary:
I get really, really excited about ANY of Eric Carle's books. But I get especially happy when I find a new one (or in this case, old one.) First published in West Germany in 1971, The Secret Birthday Message is a little gem. With characteristically wonderful artwork, Carle presents a simple idea. A boy named Tim discovers a mysterious coded message in his room on his birthday-eve. In it are specific instructions for where to find his birthday present. Full of symbols, shapes, and directional words like "in," "behind," and "through," Carle uses specially-cut pages that lead the reader on a literal treasure hunt through the book. And of course, in classic Carle fashion, there's a suprise at the end of the search. A thoroughly lovely and educational presentation by my favorite author, artist, philosopher, and universal grandpa, Eric Carle.
Preschool themes:
1. Secret messages/Pirates.
2. Birthdays.
3. Shapes.
4. Directional words.
Christian themes:
1. Follow the Savior.
2. Jesus' Birthday.
3. The Greatest Treasure is Peace With God.
4. God's message for us.
Scripture connections:
1. Matthew 6:19-21: "Don't store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is." (New Century Version)
2. John 8:12: "Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.'" (New Century Version)
3. Acts 10:36: "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." (NIV)
4. Ephesians 4:6: "[There is] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (NIV)
Song suggestions:
1.
"Follow the Saviour" by Colin Buchanan from "Follow the Saviour" CD.
2.
"The Greatest Treasure" by Colin Buchanan, from his "Practise Being Godly" CD.
3.
"The Best Book to Read is the Bible" from Colin Buchanan's "Follow the Saviour" CD.
4. Song,
"Luke, Chapter 9 Verse 23," from Colin Buchanan's "Practise Being Godly" CD.
·Enrichment: Provide a "secret message" for the children to decode. Place a bag of treats in a hidden area. Draw a map using symbols and pictures, and show it to the children. Help them decipher the map and find the treats.
