EXAMPLES OF STREAM INVESTIGATIONS + MINI INVESTIGATIONS

Examples of STREAM Investigations and Mini Investigations

Efforts to implement STREAM learning experiences or projects support meaningful and engaging connections and applications. To inspire and encourage these efforts, here are some ways to inspire faith based activities, concepts, thinking and learning to compliment science investigation topics. See ideas below:

"Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man called a living creature, that was its name."

- GENESIS 2:19

Air Investigation

In the Old Testament "air" is used (with one exception) in the phrase "fowl" or "fowls (birds) of the air." The Hebrew word is usually rendered "heaven" or "heavens." According to ancient Hebrew cosmogony the sky was a solid dome (firmament) stretching over the earth as a covering. In the above phrase the air means the space between the earth and the firmament. In Job (41:16) "air" renders ruach, "breath," "wind," "spirit." The scales of the leviathan are so closely joined together that no air can penetrate. In the New Testament the phrase "birds (or fowls) of the air," occurs ten times.

Air is all around us, and invisible, which makes it an interesting and challenging science concept to preschoolers. Engaging activities about air helps teach young kids about all the things that air benefits. Air activities can be used alongside lessons about the environment, the changing seasons, music, movement and the story of Creation.

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Air

The Basic Environment for Life That God Creates for Mankind: Why did God create air?
Seeing the invisible. Help preschoolers understand that even though we can't see God, we can know He is near. Preschoolers can’t see air, but they can feel it-just like God's love. And just like we need air, we also need God! Create windsocks and take them outside so they can watch the windsock move in the air. Or introduce bubbles. Bubbles are a way to see how air moves and fills spaces in a visual way. Children can blow bubbles and watch them float through the air. Blowing bubbles uses air. Bubbles don’t exist unless someone blows them or the bubble wand is moved through the air. Have children experiment with how much air is needed to blow bubbles and how big of a bubble they can make, watching as the air fills the bubble. Bubbles are a gift from God because God gave us breath to create them!
Air was used used when God created Adam and Eve. Discuss how unique humans are. Everything else in creation was created through God’s speaking but humans were made differently from the breathe of life! (Genesis 2:7-9, 15-23)
A helium balloon can teach how being filled with the Holy Spirit impacts our life and empowers us!

Music & Singing

Music is a big part of faith and celebrations. It has connected Gods people throughout generations. Air helps make certain musical instruments make sounds, such as flutes, harmonicas, clarinets and kazoos. Provide children with a variety of wind instruments and have them experiment with making sounds using air during classroom celebrations, worship (liturgical) prayer or circle time.
Air allows us to speak and use our voice. God's favorite sound is the sound of our voices. Pray and rejoice as the maker of Heaven and Earth will hear you. He will stop everything and give you His full attention. How can the children us their voices to pray or sing to God?

Breathing

God created air and without air, we wouldn’t be alive. Breathing provides air to our lungs, which help us move and be active. Take children outdoors or to a cleared indoor area. Children can sit on the floor and place their hands on their stomachs, feeling their bodies moving while breathing air. They can also use a straw to move pieces of cotton around with their breath. Have preschoolers run around or do jumping jacks and see what happens with their breathing. Being physically active causes our bodies to require more air. Discover all the fun things that air allow us to do!
Prayer is like Breathing: Prayer can be a lot like breathing. Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we are to "pray without ceasing." We need to connect with God in prayer. It is essential to our spiritual health and survival! When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Breathing cleanses us! Do some breathing exercises with the class. Tell the children to take several long deep breaths. As they breathe in ask God to fill your life, to draw you closer to Him. As you breathe out, confess to God areas of your life in which you've been disobedient to Him and ask for His forgiveness.
Just as breathing can bring cleansing to our spiritual bodies, so can prayer to our spiritual bodies. Read 1 Thess. 5:17 and let your constant breathing remind you also to continually pray - talk to God. He is always with you! Check out some breathing exercises for children here.
Breath Prayer: Just as breathing is a bridge between the brain and the body, prayer is like a bridge between the soul and God. In many ways, prayer is like a spiritual breath: breath has a rhythm to it, a cadence of inhales and exhales. Prayer has a rhythm too, a cadence of inhaling God’s grace and exhaling our fears.
God created air and air allows us to live and breathe. Simple breathing exercises can help students transition from one space into another, from one activity into the next, especially when they need to focus their attention. Exercises that help students breathe more mindfully can also help them regulate their feelings. Deep or belly breathing can help kids deal with their stresses, frustrations, fears, and concerns. It can help to ground them and be more present in the moment. Learn about the S.T.A.R. Breathing Tool.
Use the act of breathing along with 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to teach the importance of prayer and staying in constant communication with God.

"Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.'"

- GENESIS 1:29

Food Investigation

Food is one of the best gifts that God has given to us. It fuels our bodies, brings people together around a table, nourishes us, and gives us happiness. Food has such a large impact in the Bible because food is a symbol of God’s provision for people. Food is a good gift, but its primary purpose is to point us back to our Creator in thankfulness. As Christians, we believe in loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. God’s precious gifts of real food and fitness intertwine and connect every aspect of our lives, and when we learn to truly value these gifts, they provide wonderful opportunities throughout each and every day for us to do the primary thing God wants us to do in life… Love Him Completely.

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Food

Gods word as Food: Ask the children what their favorite food are and record for the class to see. Read Jeremiah 15:16 that says, “When your words came, I ate them. They were my joy and heart’s delight.” We all love our favorite food because they really bring us great joy and fill our hearts with delight? Not like the Bible. The Bible can fill up your very soul with all of God’s tasty and delectable truth. So even though hamburgers and pizza get eaten up in about 5 minutes, but God’s Word lasts forever. That’s the best kind of food ever.
God designed you from the ground! Which means he designed you to eat the real, whole food that comes from that ground too! “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Gen 2:7 Introduce food and seeds that come from the Earth during sensory play. Fill a bin with seeds, grains and rice and have the children sort, scoop and play. Here are other sensory play ideas that involve food.

Eating & Cooking

Use a sweet and salty taste test to demonstrate how God can use difficult times in our life for a good purpose. Taste and see that God is good all the time! This Mary and Martha object lesson using SWEET & SALTY snacks teaches Jesus does not want us to compare each other, but realize He is our ultimate source of fulfillment.
Use snack time as a learning experience with 15 Delicious Snacks Tied to Bible Stories
15 Bible Object Lessons about Food: These lessons are great ways to teach children about the eternal truths of the Bible. Using a common object helps kids to remember the lesson. And, of course, using Bible object lessons about food lets you handle the teaching and the snacking part of your lesson with one convenient package.
Introducing Bible Foods in Class: See this article on how to introduce foods and authentic food experiences from the Bible to your lesson. Invite the children to use their 5 senses to try these foods and record their responses and questions after reading the corresponding Bible verse. Invite families to sign up to bring in a new food for the children to try each day. Reference this complete list of Bible foods with references here to introduce to the class. Also check out this article on 20 Mentioned Foods With Scriptures.
Meal Blessing Jar: Make a meal prayer jar for the classroom. Have the children write down their own blessings, glue them onto popsicles sticks and pull one out before each meal or snack. Involve families and send it home for each family to come up with a prayer and return to class.
Introduce cooking, baking and following a recipe with cooking instructions to illustrate how we can trust God's Word. See the activity here.
Kids love incredible edible Bible lessons! Use these five delicious ideas from Incredible Edible Bible Fun.
A yummy M&M'S candy object lesson pointing out three important things about Christians - we are marked as believers; we are different and not all the same; what really matters is what's on the inside of us - Jesus! Or use M&M or Skittles candy to help kids understand that although we all look different on the outside (even skin colors), we are each special to God and created to be filled with His sweet love.
Romans 8:28 comes to life using the ingredients in a cake to show how God causes all things to work together for our good. This gives kids a new perspective on tough (bad) times in our lives.

From the Bible & Parables

Jesus Feeds 5,000: Jesus did many miracles. In Matthew 14:13-21, He feeds more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The passage reminds us that Jesus cares about our physical and spiritual well-being and that nothing is impossible for Him. Find some additional learning, games and activities here and here and here to further explore one of Jesus's miracles.
The Last Supper: The Last Supper is an important event in the life of Jesus Christ where he shared a final meal with his disciples before his arrest. The bread and wine point to the body and blood of Christ to be sacrificed for our salvation on the cross. As believers, we remember this event in the Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion. Learn more about the Last Supper here and here. The Last Supper also teaches the children how food brings people together. Ask them when do they gather with others to share a meal? What do they eat?
Noah and the Ark: God took care of Noah and helped Noah by telling him to gather food for him and his family and all the animals. God took care of Noah and his family and gave them a plan for a home to keep them safe and food to eat while on the boat. Noah and his family were special to God – and we are special to God too! God is great for giving us good food to eat just like He did for Noah. Read Genesis 6:18 – 22. After reading ask the children some questions:
- Was Noah supposed to live in the ark?
- Was he supposed to take two of every kind of animal in the ark with him?
- Noah was to take care of God’s animals in the ark after he built it. Noah would have animals from all over the world in his house.
- What types of animals can you name? Cat, dog, tiger, cow, sheep, etc.
- Did God say that Noah should get food for Noah, his family and the animals before going into the ark?
- Did God provide Noah with good food to eat?

Fruit

The fruit of the Spirit is a gift God gives Christians to help them live lives that please him and show his love to those who don’t know God. As children learn about the fruit of the spirit, they will learn that God uses us as his instruments to show his love to others! Jesus was the ultimate expression of God’s love, and all the qualities of God that made Jesus who he was—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—become qualities in us the closer we grow in our relationships with Jesus. Here are some ideas you can use when helping kids discover the fruit of the Spirit.
Adam and Eve disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. Use this lesson and apple activities to teach the children that God made us and loves us even when we do
wrong. God gives us rules because he cares about us.
Gods Creation: God created fruits and veggies from the land. See a sample lesson here.
List as many Bible stories as you can recall that feature fruit. Read a selection of verses and ponder God’s use of this theme:
- Genesis 3:2-6
- Leviticus 19:23-25, 26:3-12
- Psalm 1:3, 128:1-4
- Isaiah 3:10-11, 27:6
- John 15:1-16
- Galatians 5:22
- Colossians 1:3-10
Consider the entire life-cycle of a tree. What takes place before any fruit develops? Consider how this relates to our spiritual formation.
How can you tell the difference between fruit that is good and sweet vs. fruit that is rotten or tasteless?
What causes good fruit to be sweet? List everything that helped that fruit to become as sweet as possible? Why do you think God made fruit colorful and sweet and fun to eat?
How are fruit and seeds connected? Ponder God’s use of exponential expansion throughout creation.
God’s physical illustrations often point to a spiritual parallel. Consider the fruit of the Spirit alongside physical fruit, what connections can you make? (Gal 5:22-23)
Leaves represent a “covering” in the Bible. How are leaves and fruit connected?
Forbidden Fruit: Create a “temptation in the garden of Eden” experience for your children by forbidding them from trying one type of fruit.
Testimony: Share your story about a time when you made a choice to follow Jesus through a long and difficult season that resulted in good and sweet fruit.
Use 2 apples to teach children how unkind words can hurt others. See activity here. This is a perfect time to introduce the Golden Rule. Read a story about the Golden Rule or read the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Ask the children to talk about how they like to be treated by their parents, their teachers and their friends. Ask them to give examples of things they like and do not like. Suggest that they practice doing those things with others. Ask the children what they would do if they saw someone fall down or get hurt. Discuss ways they can help and be kind to others. See more Golden Rule activities here.
Use an apple to teach a lesson on the Trinity - Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Ask church leadership if there is a patch of land that could become a vegetable garden, or donate a large pot for an entryway. Work as a group to dig, spread seeds, and cover with potting soil and water. Say, God told Adam and Eve to take care of the garden. We can still take care of God’s creation!
How does the mouth relate to fruit? Read and ponder:
- Proverbs 12:14, 13:2, 18:20-21
- Jeremiah 12:2
- Matthew 3:8

Water

Just like food we need water to survive and live. Plants, fruits and vegetables also need water to grow. Water is essential to all life.

Drinking Water Lesson: “Have you ever been really thirsty? I know you were complaining about being thirsty a few minutes ago, but have you ever been so thirsty that all you could think about was water? The Bible tells us about a time when God’s people were just that thirsty. God’s people had been slaves in Egypt and God led them out of Egypt by His mighty hand. He rescued them by showing His power to the people of Egypt and finally with the blood of lambs who died so that they might live. God led His people out of Egypt and into the wilderness and that’s where the complaining started. They were tired, hungry and thirsty.

In Exodus 17, we read that the people started complaining to Moses about being thirsty and wanting water. And, it wasn’t just a few people, it was thousands and thousands of God’s people. What was Moses going to do? Moses went to God and prayed and in Exodus 17:5-6 we read God’s response. (READ THE VERSES). Basically God told Moses that He would stand on the rock and then Moses was to hit the rock and water would come out. The Bible tells us that Moses did what God told him to do and God provided water for His people. God gave them what they needed at that moment. Water. The water to quench their thirst came from God Himself – but the rock on which God stood had to be struck.

Visit the New Testament, and we find a story about someone being thirsty in John 4. This time, Jesus was thirsty and He sat down next to a well to rest. A woman came to the well and Jesus asked her for a drink. Then, Jesus said (John 4:10), “if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” The woman was obviously confused. How would Jesus give her a drink? What is this living water. Jesus went on in verse 13 and said that the water He would give would keep her from being thirsty again. It was clear that Jesus wasn’t talking about water to drink. Jesus was talking about meeting a need greater than thirst.

After drinking water does that mean that you will never be thirsty again? No, you’ll be thirsty in a couple of hours again. We need water all of the time.
Jesus was talking about filling a need that was greater than thirst. He was talking about eternal life. He was talking about meeting the greatest need that any of us have ever had and ever will have – the need to be rescued from our sin and given life with Him.

But, how would this be possible? How would Jesus give eternal life? Remember back in Exodus 17 when God gave people water from the rock. Where was God standing? What was done to the rock? God stood on the rock. The rock was struck and God met the needs of His people. In order to give living water and eternal life to His people, Jesus would be struck and He would meet our greatest need.

It happened just like that. Jesus stood in our place and He was struck. He received the punishment that we deserve for our sin. He died on the cross in our place. And His death brought life to His people. Jesus is the living water that He was offering to the woman by the well. Jesus is the answer to our greatest need.

Next time you’re thirsty, think about this story about how God met the greatest need of His people through Jesus’ death on the cross.

"For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God."

- HEBREWS 3:4

Architecture Investigation

Architecture impacts how people interact with each other and with the world, just like the word of God.

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Architecture

While studying bridges and roads, tell the children that a road can lead us to many destinations and direction can be confusing. Jesus keeps the directions to Heaven & God the Father simple as He instructs in John 14:6 that He is the way (the road) to Eternal Life!
When talking and learning about tools that people use to build houses, bridges, etc., use this God's toolbox lesson to learn about the different spiritual gifts God gives and how He uses us each uniquely to build up His church.
Using planning and blueprints to build. Numbers 35 instructs the Levite tribe to set up towns scattered throughout the Promised Land using very specific instructions. Learn more here. Have the children learn more about town/building planning by giving them very simple instructions (draw a square the size of a cracker, draw a small circle inside the square, color the circle blue, etc.) while drawing/creating a blueprint. Or have them draw a blueprint of their home or a blueprint of the classroom or the church after a visit. Introduce concepts like scales and proportions. This is a great way to learn how to apply math in real life. Multiplications, divisions, areas, perimeter, imperial and metric systems-Architects use these concepts every day!
Incorporate these 10 Bible Verses about Architecture into you investigation
Building Your Life on the Solid Rock of Jesus (Matthew 7:24): See these activities to live a life on a firm foundation of faith will survive trials and tests.

Building

Use snack time as an opportunity to have the children make David and Solomon's temple out of graham crackers (much like a gingerbread house)
Build a house out of recycled materials like toilet paper rolls and boxes, etc. A great time to introduce concepts of recycling to the class as God commissioned us to steward the Earth’s resources. We were meant to tend and care for the Garden (Gen. 2:15). Creation is meant for our use, but not only for our use. Remembering that the air, water, land, plants, and animals are good (Gen. 1:4-31) reminds us that we are meant to sustain and preserve the environment. Our work can either preserve or destroy the clean air, water and land, the biodiversity, the ecosystems and biomes, and even the climate with which God has blessed his creation. Dominion is not the authority to work against God’s creation, but the ability to work for it.
Build with stones and rocks. Gather rocks outside and have the children stack them to make tombs, Dolmens and Megalithic Standing Stone structures. Read more here.
Build a fort or a tent (or a manger if during Christmas) to teach the children not only about building/constructing/engineering but about God keeping us safe. Have the children gather materials to make the tent/fort. This can be done inside or outside. From inside the fort use your flashlight to read Psalm 56:3.
- ASK—What is something you’re scared of?
- SHARE—Share something you were scared of when you were a child.
- ASK—What should we do when we’re scared? (Trust God.)
- ASK—Why can we trust God? (He’s faithful. He’ll never let you down. He’ll always keep His Word, etc.)
- Read Psalm 18:1-2 from your Bible.
- ASK—How is God like a fort (fortress, stronghold) for you? (In old days people went inside a fortress to be safe. Its walls protected them from harm. God is a shield for those who follow Him and like a fort, you are safe in Him.)
- ASK—Does this mean that bad things will never happen to someone who is living for Jesus? Why or why not? (Bad things still happen to good people, but there’s nothing so bad that God can’t turn it to your good.)
- If they want a further answer, explain that sometimes we do wrong things and these bad choices bring “bad” things into our lives. But sometimes we do everything right and someone else does something wrong and we get hurt because of it. Even so, there’s nothing your children will ever do that is so bad that God can’t forgive them and there’s nothing so bad that can happen to them that God can’t turn it around to their good if they love Him and are walking with Him. (See Romans 8:28 for a great promise.)
- PRAY—List prayer requests below and thank God that He will always take care of you.

Churches

Have the children go on a scavenger hunt at the church and look for certain details such as pillars, alter, domes, arches, etc. Have them look for different shapes, patterns and record them. After visiting and exploring different parts of the church. have the class build little churches from ice cream sticks and cellophane paper to help them learn the basic architecture of a church, See church architecture terms here.
In the dramatic play area have the children turn a doll house into a church. Prompt this by adding items such as crosses, items to make stained glass window, etc. to the center so they can learn what items they see in church to turn the dollhouse into a place or worship.
Stained glass windows are an important part of many types of churches. Study stained glass windows and have the children make their own.

From the Bible & Parables

Solomon Builds Temple and Prays (1 Kings 8:1-13): When the temple was complete Solomon praised God before His people reminding them of His promises. From the study of Solomon’s prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. See it here. Other questions to discuss with the children:
- What types of materials do people build with? David told Solomon that he had prepared gold and silver, bronze and iron, timber and stone for Solomon to use to build the temple. Solomon made a treaty with Hiram to get the best cedar logs from Lebanon.
- How many people does it take to build a temple? What jobs do the different workers have to build? The 30,000 men worked on a schedule. 10,000 men worked 10 months at a time, and then had 2 months at home. There were 70,000 to carry the loads and 80,000 to cut the stone in the quarry. There were 3,300 supervisors.
- How important is the foundation of a building? Solomon used large, expensive stones to lay the foundation of the temple.
- How long does it take to build temple? It took Solomon 7 years to build the temple and it took 13 years to build his house!
Children will enjoy building Solomon's temple with golden blocks...just like the inside of the temple was covered in gold. We know the temple took many years to build and was very elaborate with gold, cedar, bronze, and more. It was a temple for the Lord. It took a lot of time and devotion to make something nice for God for all He does. He doesn’t ask us to make Him a building today, but He wants us to build on our relationship with Him. And to build a relationship of love, trust, and mutual kindness and blessings. Just like the temple took many, many years to build – our relationship with God requires dedication and many years to build as well. It takes talking to God daily in prayer, studying His Word to know what He can do for us and wants us to do, it takes spending time with Christians to be encouraged and to mature. Let’s remember to dedicate our time and effort in pleasing God through a life of service, kindness and praise. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done with love.” Let’s show the love of God to Him and others by dedicating our time and life to Him.
Just like we live in houses, ask the children "Where does God live?" This is a great question! Use this bible lesson to discuss how Solomon builds the temple so God could dwell with the people of Israel and how the Holy Spirit now dwells with those who choose to follow Jesus.
The story of wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7: 24-27). See this idea to show the children that as Christians, we need to build our lives on Jesus Christ, so that when trouble comes we will be able to stand firm with faith in God. Just as building need strong and sturdy foundations. Here are some more learning activities to teach more about the Parable of Wise and Foolish Builders. See these ideas to further explore rocks and when we build our lives on Christ, the ultimate solid rock/foundation. Have the children build with different materials and on different foundations and compare and contrast their findings.
Use the story of the Tower of Babel to not only see how tall they can build their towers but to introduce the difference between healthy self-esteem and unhealthy pride.
Tell the Fall of Jericho parable to the children and discuss what makes walls stable and strong. In this story when the walls fell, they fell outward, not inward (Newtons Law). Early archeological diggings have confirmed this. Why is this significant? Because if the Israelites were trying to get in, they would push the walls in. God pushed the walls out. Further explore When and Why Do Buildings Fall Apart? Learn how to use this story to teach the children how to be obedient by following Gods word.
Building the Tabernacle: While building with blocks during this activity the children will demonstrate an understanding of giving (offering) by talking with their neighbors about what special gifts they could give to God.

"Fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!"

- SOMEONE ONCE SAID

Meteorology Investigation

People benefit from the work of meteorologists on a daily basis. Weather forecasts enable you to plan everything from what you'll wear to whether weekend activities should be indoors or outdoors. But when severe weather approaches, meteorologists serve what is perhaps their most important function in society. God is the ultimate meteorologist and Creator of all weather. God never gets the forecast wrong. He never over promises and then under delivers. No matter how much bad is in our lives, he never has to update his projection models. As the real Paul found out when he couldn’t get away from his own weaknesses, God’s grace is sufficient. The promise of 2 Corinthians 12:9 is simple: no matter how ugly the yard, there will always be enough snow to cover it, and when you walk through the snow and muddy it up, the promise from Lamentations reassures us that there will be more than enough snow to cover that, too.

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Weather

God controls the weather: To introduce the topic of God being in control of nature, read Psalm 104 and have the children draw what you read.
Weather in the Bible: Print out a set of Weather Icons for each student (or better yet have the children draw their own) and glue them to popsicle sticks. Then, read the Bible verses from the list on this matching sheet and have the students hold up the icon for each weather when they hear it mentioned or described. Alternatively, you can print on the matching sheet and just have them match, but its better to give the students a chance to move around instead of just completing worksheets. The point in most of these verses is that God used the weather to accomplish His purposes. Here are the answers for the worksheet/activity.
Just as a meteorologist tells us on TV, radio or other media what the upcoming weather will be have the children act as a TV reporter and share an important message or PSA about Gods forgiveness and healing. The act of forgiveness is freeing but God’s forgiveness is so complete that it is astounding! Our relationship with God begins with His willingness to forgive us. The children need to understand that God’s forgiveness covers their entire list of sins. They must know that God’s forgiveness is always available to them.
Weather Journaling: Having the children keep a weather journal is a great way to see God's work daily. The children will love observing, data collection, asking big questions, and looking for the answers. In this case, asking “What’s the weather today?" and "What did God create for us today?" God is making all of these things happen. He makes it rain, snow or the sun shine and we can trust His goodness throughout all of it. He is a powerful, amazing, yet loving and creative God. We can celebrate how He provides for and blesses us by giving us all the glorious and different weather we witness/experience outside everyday. Expand this concept by appointing a classroom meteorologist job and each day they will observe and communicate with the class what amazing creation is God going to share with us today.

Rainbows

Learn about God’s rainbow promise in the story of Noah’s Ark and other biblical narratives with this hands-on rainbow bible study for kids
Be a Rainbow in Someone Else’s Cloud – Encourage your preschooler to support and cheer up others using simple acts of kindness. Draw a cloud on a piece of white paper and then cut out strips of paper and invite your preschooler to color the paper in all colors of the rainbow. With help, write/draw ways that you can help someone special in your life. It can be as simple as putting away your toys, bringing your plate to the sink, or giving up an extra turn.
You know how a prism filters light in various colors that you see. God’s love is like that prism as well. John 8:12 (NASB) says, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’” Jesus is light—the true light that not only lights our pathways in life, but also warms us with love and life eternal. It is the light of Jesus that becomes a prism in our lives with His love and grace radiating through us for others to see. We are to show and reflect the Light of the world. The more we connect with His love and grace, the more His light will be reflected to others. People are drawn to light. People need to see the prism of His love and grace through your life as you let Jesus shine through you. Be the prism of God’s love to those around you. Prisms provide such a wonderful hands-on way for kids to explore light- especially rainbows! Not only is exploring prisms a fun physics activity, but it would fit into a geometry unit as well.

Rain & Storms

Engage in wonder as you explore God’s word and through the illustrations of His creation in the form of thunder.
How does rain illustrate God’s living story? Ponder all the different forms of water, learn about the water cycle, and then brainstorm other cycles God created. Using any objects you can think of that are found in nature, design a new creative “cycle” to add to God’s story. Click here to learn more.
This Bible object lesson uses an umbrella to demonstrate how our submission and obedience to God's will actually is for our own benefit. When we are willing to step under, He covers us with His love and protection!
Finding the Positive in Every Situation – Go to YouTube and listen to the story I Don’t Like Rain by Sarah Dillard. After reading, chat with your preschooler about how all the animals changed their opinions. At the beginning of the story, they did NOT like the rain, but it soon became fun for them. Why did they change their minds? Tell your preschooler that it’s important to always look for joy. When something feels disappointing or not what you expected, try to think of how you can turn it around into something fun and awesome. Invite your preschooler to think of how they would like to play in the rain!
Create art with raindrops: Use droppers and liquid watercolors to create really colorful and interesting art- such a fun activity for little hands and great fine motor practice too! Use colors from the rainbow. A rainbow is a forever reminder of commitment as seen through the most colorful and beautiful prism of God’s love. But did you realize that the very rainbow you see from the point of view of earth looking heavenward is also seen by God looking down from heaven through the spectrum of colors to see what he has created.
Many children may be scared during a storm. Take a look at these 9 Strong Prayers for Safety During Storms to share with your children and create a safe place in the classroom when children get anxious. Fill the safe space with photos of the students families. Remind the children of the story of Jesus Calms the Storm to teach kids that we can always have faith and never need to be afraid. Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25.
Have the children make rain sticks and then use these instruments during worship music. Whether it’s one song per week or a whole hour of music, the time we have with the kids is important and valuable. Music is one of the most powerful teaching tools we have, and the songs children learn in our ministries will stick with them for the rest of their lives. It doesn’t matter how often we get to serve kids, we can take each opportunity to fill them with Scripture, truth, and love. And we can do all that through music.
What Does Rain Symbolize in the Bible? Rain (or some form of it) appears over 100 times in the Bible. It holds special significance that is important to understand along our spiritual journey. Learn what exactly does rain mean and symbolize throughout Scripture?
Measure Gods blessings by making a rain gauge and have the children observe and record the daily findings. Rain is a sign of Gods blessings and brings life to all living things. Without rain, plants and vegetables will not grow. God’s promise in Isaiah was for us too, the descendants. He wants to rain down his blessings on us. His desire is for us to be refreshed and fruitful- as lush as meadow grass growing “by flowing streams." Just as rain brings needed nutrients, God’s blessings give us what we need to thrive. Not only that, but He wants us to feel absolutely drenched with His goodness. His desire for us is to be constantly refreshed, growing, fruitful, and healthy. God showers us with all his blessings- he never holds back or leaves out a few. His blessings are the fulfillment of all his promises! He showers us with his grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness every day. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23 ESV. He blesses us with a personal relationship with Himself. When we put our faith in Jesus, He rains down promises of forgiveness and eternal life. He promises to never, ever leave our side. He showers us with His Spirit to guide, comfort, and teach us His ways.
Rain gives life to all living things. Study rain with the children as you grow plants or vegetables in your classroom or garden. What happens to the plants when you don't water them? Why do they need water? What other things do you need to grow and thrive? God’s Word compares to rain/water because they both give us life. They are essential and nourishing. Without rain/water, we cannot survive. If we neglect our “intake” of His Word, we experience a “drought” of fresh insight, love, care, and grace. His Word infuses us with his strength and hope. We will struggle to live in his joy and comfort without his Word. Moses described the words God gave him: “Let my teaching fall like rain, and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2.

Water Cycle

While studying water and its properties. See this activity to have the children explore what happens when you mix oil, water and food coloring and tie it it to the scripture and the importance of repenting when we sin.
The Water Cycle In The Bible: If you are focusing on teaching the vocabulary for the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff) and demonstrate that each of these is discussed in the Bible. Use this worksheet and match the vocabulary words and Bible verses and glue them to the proper location in the picture. Do this as a class for younger students. Discuss the water cycle by asking and recording their answers: Why did God create water to go through the water cycle? Who needs water? How do they use it? (plants need water; animals and humans drink it) What does the water cycle do to the water? How does it benefit the water and us? (it purifies it - like distillation - and moves it to different locations; this gives us fresh water and brings water from oceans to inland). What else does the water cycle affect? How else does it change nature? (Runoff causes erosion and sedimentation which causes in geography like deltas at mouths of rivers and canyons exposing new minerals) What other questions can the children come up with to explore God's water cycle?
Water is God's Gift: Children will explore God’s gift of water (and how we might preserve and share it!) through Bible stories here.
Water and Dramatic Play: Water play is not only a refreshing and enjoyable activity for preschoolers during hot summer months but also a powerful tool for their overall development. Play with water inside or out anytime of the year to develop the children's sensory development, fine motor skills, math + science concepts, language and social skills. See these Bible-based water games to beat the heat while learning more about God.

From the Bible & Parables

While studying storms reflect on the story of Jonah and the Whale to teach children about God's mercy and obedience, consequence and forgiveness.
Jesus Calms the Storm: Read Mark 4:35-41. These verses give us great assurance that God is in control over all things. Expand on this lesson by clicking here to act out the Bible verse and other activities that teach the children that Jesus has authority over all things, we can take our worries to Jesus and that He cares deeply for us.
Weather treasure hunt through the Bible: What stories have weather elements which play a part in them? From the Ten Plagues to Job to storms on the Sea of Galilee, weather is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible. After you have found all of the stories, examine what the Bible tells us about the weather situation and how it compares to what normally occurs when that happens. You may want to throw in some lessons about expected weather changing depending on the location around the world (rainfall amounts, etc.) In each instance, does God appear to be using natural weather events to teach faith lessons or does he create a weather miracle to make something happen? Either way, note that God uses things He created like weather to teach us lessons and to cause things to happen He wants to happen.
Tie the Bible to current weather conditions: As you look outside and have the children record and observe the weather in their weather journals tie the weather for the day to a specific story in the Bible to read and discuss. Here are some examples:
- Heavy Rain-Noah and the flood
- Sunny-Joshua and the sun standing still
- Dew-Gideon asks for a sign
- Thunder Storm-Jesus stills the storm
- Flooding-The wise and foolish builders

Wind

How does the wind give glory to Jesus and illustrate God’s living story? We can’t see the wind directly but we know it’s there. Brainstorm other things in nature that can’t be seen but have an impact on us. Have the children design something new and invisible to add to creation and give it a superpower. Click here to learn more.
Prayer Kites: While studying wind, have the children make kites and then write prayers all over it and discuss how the Holy Spirit moves in ways we can’t always see. On a windy day take the kite out watch it sail. You can even make this a family event and have the children create kites at home and add prayers to it with their families. Host a family engagement event at your school and invite families to share and fly their prayer kites together outside.

Seasons

Seasons Change but God Never Changes (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11) : Check out this Bible lesson for children teaching them about the changing seasons of life and the unchanging character of God.
This is a resource guide for various Bible lessons, activities, games, and crafts that will highlight Spring but also our Creator who gives us this glory season to enjoy.

Snow & Ice

God's ability to take a speck of dust and create a snowflake makes a wonderful object lesson using the science of snow to give a Bible lesson on forgiveness!

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

- GENESIS 1:22

Bones Investigation

Gods Masterpiece-the Human Body: Our bodies were created in the image of God. They are a gift from Heavenly Father to allow us to experience mortality and continue to become more like Him. This knowledge can change the way we treat our bodies and how we feel about Heavenly Father and ourselves. When we treat our bodies as sacred temples created by God, we obtain physical, emotional, and spiritual blessings.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (PSALM 139:14).

We live in an amazing world. The greatest of all creations is man himself, the marvelous machine—precise and efficient. The human body has a dynamic framework of bone and cartilage called the skeleton. The human skeleton is flexible, with hinges and joints that were made to move. But to cut down harmful frictions, such moving parts must be lubricated. Man-made machines are lubricated only by outside sources. But the body lubricates itself by manufacturing a jelly-like substance in the right amount at every place it is needed. Yes, the body is a wonder machine, despite the defects from genetic copying errors (mutations) that have accumulated since the Fall of man brought on the Curse (Genesis 3).

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Bodies & Bones

When we sin, it affects us right down to our bones. As the psalmist lamented: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled” (Psalm 6:2). The psalmist gave some remarkable prophesies about what Jesus would have to suffer on the cross to pay for our sins—a suffering that went to His very bones (Psalm 22:17). His bones would not be broken (Psalm 34:20), but—even more agonizing—all his bones would be pulled out of joint (Psalm 22:14).
Check out tons of skeletal and muscular system activities to add to your investigation on bones.

From the Bible & Parables

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Lesson: The Valley of Dry Bones: Use this activity to learn about Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones coming to life to teach children about hope, including our ultimate hope, in God. Or learn how Christ is the true giver of life here!

Healthy Bodies

Teaching our children that every part of their bodies, not just the mind, but also their feelings, their arms, legs, face, skin, bones, stomach and everything else is important to God, then they and we will have a true appreciation for God’s creation in human beings, and in each other. See it here.
Skeleton Yoga for kids is a great way to introduce them to yoga and get them moving! This activity is playful and fun to get kids into yoga poses using their imaginations. It helps develop gross motor skills, Balance, coordination, and focus while they are having fun! Skeleton Yoga is also a great way to teach kids about the skeletal system and how the bones in our bodies work together. Learn about it here.
When we use our bodies to do God’s work we respect the creation God gave us. Here are a few tips to teach children about honor and glorifying God.
Treat your body like a temple: Show a picture of your family. Teach that God created our bodies and that they are special. Teach the children what is good and what is bad for our bodies. Close your eyes and picture a temple. What color is it? How big is it? Does it have any windows? Are there spires? How many? All the temples are different. Even though each temple looks different, all are beautiful and are built for the same purpose. They are places where special ordinances take place that are needed for us to return to Heavenly Father. You are like the temple. You are different from everyone else, but you too are a house for the Spirit of God—the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul said: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17). Your body is a temple for your spirit. Just as you treat temples with respect, you should treat your body with respect. You can do this by obeying the Word of Wisdom (see D&C 89), by dressing modestly, and by keeping your body clean. You should also keep your heart and mind clean by reading, listening to, and watching only “things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father” (see My Gospel Standards).When you are clean in mind and body, you can receive great blessings.
Create a scavenger hunt for the children to take home and do with their families at their house. Write a list of items we can use to take care of and respect our bodies, such as fruits and vegetables, exercise equipment, modest clothing, sunscreen, toothpaste, soap, water bottles, vitamins, and first aid materials. Give everyone five minutes to find as many items on the list as they can. Then meet together to share what you found and talk about the importance of caring for our bodies. Invite the children to think about and share how they will respect and honor their bodies. Make a list and post it in a place where your family will see it often.

Creation

Creation: After God had finished creating the beautiful world, something was missing. He wanted someone to share His love with, someone to give this beautiful World to as a gift. God created people! Skins, bones, organs and all. See activities to learn more about the creation of Adam and Eve here. Just as God made people have the children make people from playdoh. Can they stand on their own? Then introduce sticks (as bones) and ask the children if the people stand better now with bones in their bodies? Why do toy think God made people with bones?
This Christian object lesson using a mirror teaches how we are not only created in God's image, but our lives should also reflect His image each and every day. A mirror can also be used to teach an interactive, but simple, Bible lesson on forgiveness that great for little ones!
God created us and we are all different and special. Check out this lesson on how to celebrate Gods best creation...YOU!!
Just as God created us have the children create their own self portraits. God made me!
Preschoolers are learning about themselves and their bodies. Fingerprints are a wonderful way for them to understand that no one is exactly like them and that God made them special and unique. Have the children create artwork using their fingerprints.
Understanding that we are made special by God to resemble and exemplify his pure character we will then have a greater understanding of the vessel He gave us, our bodies. Teaching our children to love the body they have, love the mind they were given, not out of arrogance or self exaltation but out or respect for the creator that gave it will pay dividends upon dividends to their understanding of human worth. Here are some fun and easy ways to introduce and foster the idea of taking care of our bodies to kids.
The Breath of Life: The Bible says that, “God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and then man became a living being.” The man was not alive until God breathed into him the breath of life. To illustrate this part of the Genesis story to the children put a round mirror into the freezer. Then I took one out and let the children heir breath onto the mirror to be able to see his breath. We talked about how God breathed life into the first human being and how He also gives us the blessing of breathing everyday.
Creation of Woman: “And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate for him. …But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18-20 “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:21-24
This is such a beautiful part of the Genesis story – it is the story of the first marriage on earth. God gave Adam a special kind of anesthesia (put him to sleep) and then performed the first surgery. He took one of Adam’s ribs and with that he formed a woman – Eve. To give a hands-on illustration of this part of the story, present the class with a model of a skeleton, a child life-sized floor skeleton puzzle, and three-part cards with a focus on the ribs. discuss about the skeleton and how a skeleton is a part of each of our bodies. I pointed to the ribs on the cards and then we touched our ribs on our own bodies as well.
Man Formed in the Image of God: The Bible says that God “formed” man into His own image. That means that we must look something like Him and that He looks something like us. To help the children understand what it meant for God to form a human being, use flesh toned play dough to form our own human replicas. I presented three different skin tones to the class to teach that God loves all the colors of human beings.
God Formed Man from the Dust of the Ground: The Bible says that God formed man of the dust of the ground. To help the children to understand this part of the Genesis story, I placed an outline a human body in the bottom of a box of play table filled with white sand. I wanted to create a hands-on activity to show how God formed man from the dust of the ground. Have the children use their fingers, brushes or other tools to move the sand to reveal the body . God must have drawn an outline of Adam in the dust before forming him into a three dimensional being. God took pride in His work and joy at each special feature that was unique to Adam, just like an artist painting a portrait.

"He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves retain green, and is not anxious in the year of the drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

- JEREMIAH 7:18

Tree Investigation

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. Genesis 1:11.

Trees make life possible, Just like God. They provide shade, beauty and numerous other gifts. Trees need water as much as they need light. Every seed has potential for life and potential for growth, but it is not until water is added that life and growth begin to take place! The first Psalm is a description of what Godly women and men look like. They are like “trees planted by rivers of water” and they “meditate” on God’s law day and night—i.e., they are thinking about what Bible reveals about God’s will and plan for our lives. In order to do this, we need to study the Word of God—His Bible. The deeper our “roots” go in the Bible, the more we’re able to withstand the trials, troubles, and other droughts that come our way. Healthy, mature trees have roots that travel in all directions seeking water and nutrients.

Other than God and people, the Bible mentions trees more than any other living thing. There is a tree on the first page of Genesis, in the first psalm, on the first page of the New Testament, and on the last page of Revelation. Every significant theological event in the Bible is marked by a tree. Whether it is the Fall, the Flood, or the overthrow of Pharaoh, every major event in the Bible has a tree, branch, fruit, seed, or some part of a tree marking the spot.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). The wisdom of the Bible is a tree of life (Proverbs 3:18).
We are told to be “like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season” (Psalm 1:3, nrsv).

Every major character and every major theological event in the Bible has an associated tree. The only exception to this pattern is Joseph, and in Joseph’s case the Bible pays him a high compliment: Joseph is a tree (Genesis 49:22). In fact, Jeremiah urges all believers to be like a tree (17:7–8). So does Psalms 1. The only physical description of Jesus in the Bible occurs in Isaiah. “Want to recognize the Messiah when he arrives?” Isaiah asks. “Look for the man who resembles a little tree growing out of barren ground” (53:2, paraphrase mine).

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Trees

Where do you see trees in God’s story. Why do you think they play such a prominent role? Brainstorm a list of benefits from trees. Trees are often personified in stories. Why do you think God designed them to have almost human like qualities? Stamp your fingerprint and pretend it’s tree rings, making up an event for each ring (or year) of the tree’s life. Design your own tree to add to “God’s story.” The only rule is that everything has to come from nature.
The purpose and meaning of trees: God has given us trees to use and appreciate, enriching our lives. Read it here.
Autumn Trees: Autumn is a great time to teach children about God’s amazing creation. When the trees begin turning colors we really get a chance to see how creative and beautiful God's creation truly is. Ask the children to try to find 2 leaves that are the exact same. After realizing that they cant. Tell them that God made us like leaves of a tree. We are all different and no 2 people are the same.
What good would an apple tree be if it never produced any apples? Likewise, our lives should produce meaningful fruit. It’s easy to look like a fruit tree, but Jesus said that we’d be known by the fruit we produce (Matt 7:16-20). We should not only produce outward fruit—but inward. What is inner fruit? It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our mind and soul to make us into the image of Christ. Paul the Apostle described the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” (Gal 5:22-23). In fact, Jesus chose you for the very purpose of bearing fruit (John 15:16).
How do trees give glory to Jesus and illustrate God’s living story?
- How many of your basic needs are provided for by a tree?
- Why do you think a tree is commonly used as a symbol of life in so many cultures and religions?
- What are some of the most special objects in the Bible that were made out of wood?
- Do you think God created different varieties of trees for specific purposes in His story?
- The ocean symbolizes death in the Bible. In fact, there will not be a sea in the new creation. Do you think God purposefully made wood to float on water? Why?
- The Bible often personifies trees in Scripture. Why do you think so?
- Trees are different than other seed bearing plants. How are they different?
- Ponder the principle of exponential growth as you consider the life cycle of a tree and its fruit.
- Why do you think man was removed from the garden so that they could not eat from the “tree of life”?
- Testimony: Share your story about a time when you experienced God prune an area of your life in order to see it flourish.
Love Is a Fruit of the Spirit: Lesson (Valentine’s Day) about receiving and sharing God’s love, kids will experience a Bible devotional that helps them go deeper in understanding God’s love—and how they can pass it on. See it here.
Ask each family to take a photo of a tree they have in their yard and send it in with their child. As a group compare the trees. Are any of them the same? What are the similarities and differences in the trees? Ask the children to each share something about the tree. It could be information about the tree or a memory they have related to the tree. A great family engagement activity. Or take a picture of a tree on the playground and study the changes year round as the seasons come and go. This is a great way to see how beautiful God's Creation is with the changing seasons.
Read the “The Giving Tree” to help the children understand multiple lessons like “loving someone unconditionally without expecting anything in return” and “joy of being with your loved ones”. In the story, the bond between the boy and the tree is like that of a child and a parent and most importantly us and God.
Christmas Trees: This lesson plan will help you unpack the symbolism of the Christmas tree customs with your students. They will be able to see their trees in a new way and even be able to teach their parents about what Christmas trees are meant to remind us of during Advent and the season of Christmas. Also great to add when studying different types of tress (evergreen vs. deciduous)
Do you think trees are beautiful? You’re in good company. God loves trees, too. By highlighting every sentence containing a tree in the first three chapters of Genesis, you can get a pretty good sense of what God thinks about trees. Nearly a third of the sentences contain a tree. Have the children come up with and record their own statements about trees. What they know, what they want to learn and wonder about trees.
Genesis 2:9 declares that trees are “pleasing to the eye.” This aesthetic standard does not waver throughout the Bible. Whether God is instructing his people on how to make candlesticks (Exodus 25:31–40), decorate the corbels of the temple (1 Kings 6), or hem the high priest’s robe (Exodus 28:34), the standard of beauty is a tree (and its fruits). If we were to examine the most comfortable seat in a home today, odds are that it faces a television. In heaven, God’s throne faces a tree (Revelation 22:2–3). Have the children discuss and record what makes trees beautiful to them.

Photosynthesis & Phototropism

Study the ways plants grow. In phototropism a plant bends or grows directionally in response to light. Shoots usually move towards the light; roots usually move away from it. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12). A tree naturally seeks light. We can follow their example and seek the Light of the world.
Explore the lessons trees can teach us about turning towards Jesus’ light, planting ‘roots’ in the Bible, and our call to Christian community in this hands-on these nature-based activities for kids.

Seeds & Gardening

It’s like when a seed grows up into a plant. That plant makes more seeds for other plants to grow out of. When you learn about God, it’s like you’re growing up to be a big plant for God and you can give your seeds, what you know about God, to other people so that they can learn and grow too.
Plant a Bible Garden: Plants, fruits and vegetables are referenced in both the Old and New Testaments. Grow a biblical garden and learn the references and meanings behind the blooms. By creating a Bible Garden and growing the plants mentioned in God’s Word, we help draw that connection even closer. There are more than 125 plants, herbs and trees referenced in Scripture.
On the third day God created plants… Anyone who has ever spent time tilling the soil, nurturing seeds and watching them bloom recognizes there is a very spiritual side to gardening—a deep communion with God that happens when we help nature flourish. Talk to the class about nurture, as well as nature, and how they both play a role in the growth of a plant, as well as in the growth of us. We talked about how we can play a role in the growth of plants and trees, as well as in the growth of those around us. Plant seeds, observe seeds from different trees, and we then journal the seed cycle.
Spiritual Gardening: A Growing in Christ Lesson for Kids: As you plant trees, consider their benefits and count your blessings from God. As you witness trees grow, year after year, as new life appears each spring, consider the hope we have in Jesus Christ. This hope gives us peace in the present and great expectation for the future, as we look forward to the eternal tree of life. Read it here.

Get Outside

Designate a favorite tree in a park, playground or on a nature walk that will become special to your classroom. Bury some “treasure” there (or a time capsule) and make a point of visiting it regularly for important conversations.
Go on a nature walk and take time to notice trees as you read God’s Word and as you explore God’s world. There is something special about them. Trees frame God’s redemptive plan. How do they frame your life? Some refer to the forest as the cathedral of God’s creation. So when you need to pray, when thoughts are dominated by hurt and anxiety, go for a walk. Stroll among the silent sentinels that declare God’s faithfulness, the towering trees that point to the heavens in worship.
Strangely enough, Scripture continuously portrays trees as things that communicate. They clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12), shout for joy (1 Chronicles 16:33), and even argue (Judges 9:7–15). What makes this pattern especially odd is that creatures that obviously do communicate — such as fish or birds – are virtually mute in the Bible. Over the thousands of years people have been reading the Bible, this has been passed off as mere poetry. But in the last two decades, tree scientists have discovered something fascinating about trees: They really do communicate. They count, share resources, and talk with each other using a system dubbed the “Wood Wide Web.” Learn more about this in part two. While the children are outside have the children explore with their 5 senses. Check out this article on how to connect with trees through all five senses.
- SIGHT: What do they see? Colors? Sizes? Leaves? Bark? Animals? Bring magnifying glasses and binoculars to further explore.
- TASTE: Try fruits or maple syrup that grow/come from trees.
- SCENT: Search for evergreen trees (Douglas firs, cedars, hemlocks, spruce) Have the children rub the needles between their fingers to release the scent.
- TOUCH: How do the leaves, bark, roots feel? Even bring playdough to press the playdough into the bark of trees or onto leaves to make impressions.
- SOUND: How do the leaves sound form the wind? Animals living in the tree?
Prayer Walk: Take the children on prayer walk. Lead kids around the neighborhood that surrounds your church. Gauge the length of your walk according to your kids’ attention span. Ask them to look at the things and people they might see and ask them to pray for them. When you return to your room, ask:
- What kinds of feelings did you experience during our prayer walk?
- What did you learn from praying this way?
- How did our prayer walk change the way you look at people and nature/animals?
- Close by praying: Lord, thank you for the privilege of praying for people. Thank you for loving each person—friend or stranger—we prayed for today. Help us keep seeing people through your eyes. In Jesus’ name, amen.

From the Bible & Parables

The story of three trees teaches God's plans are bigger and better than our dreams! This wonderful folktale tells of three trees who dream of what they want to become. Their dreams and hopes don't come to pass as they expect though; that's when God shines through disappointments!
Well-Watered Trees: Lesson from Psalm 1; Jeremiah 17:5-10. What does it mean to bear spiritual fruit? Scripture is full of plant images, often connecting our Christian lives with principles of agriculture. Many Biblical references describe trees, encouraging us to be “well-planted” in the Lord and “watered” by His grace. Here look at Psalms and the prophet Jeremiah to relate our faith health to arboreal themes.
Parable of the Mustard Seed: Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a little mustard seed. When this little seed is planted it grows into a huge plant, many times the size of the little seed. God grows the smallest beginnings into big things. Continue to serve him in even the smallest ways humbly. See activities here.
A seed is such a beautiful picture of salvation! Several of Jesus’ parables talk about the planting of seeds. By itself, a seed appears to be dead, and for all basic purposes in and of itself, it is. There is no life, no growth, until….
Parable of a Sower and Seeds: Teach the children this parable to have a kind heart that understands and accepts God’s teachings. See activities here.
Legend of Three Trees: This lesson is a great read for Easter or anytime. Children will smile and adults will sigh with wonder at the end. Walk through the life of Jesus and see that God's plans are bigger and better than any dream!

Parts of a Tree

Explore and study tree rings and even make your own tree cookies so the they can be added to the block area. Human lives are short. Not so for trees. There are trees alive today that were alive in the time of Moses. God put the notion of living on a vast time scale in our hearts (Eccl 3:11). How many times do we make decisions based upon short-term gain? What would the world look like if the first thing we thought about were our roles as stewards, responsible for the coming generations? According to the book of Revelation, trees have a place in heaven as well. Revelation 22 describes the tree of life, saying, “the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Trees remind us that life is much bigger than our present moment. Their deep roots and sprawling branches call us to look to heaven and eternity.
While learning the parts of a tree, identify the tree as a whole, as well as each individual part of the tree, the roots, the trunk, the bark, the leaves. And in doing discover how unique and different each tree is, and how they tell stories of their pasts in their growth. It reminded us how we are all left with marks, scars, and evidence of what God has done in our lives, too. And how special and important that is.

Animal Homes

Extend the tree investigation to a study of habitat was important to add mindfulness that we are not the only ones that enjoy trees and forests. I pulled out our favorite living books that gave us a fuller picture of life within a log, a tree, and the forest. Creating food chains, playing games, building dioramas, and pulling out our nature journals to make notes of tracks and evidence of life to look for when we head out to explore, all add to our unit study.

Tree of Life

Read and ponder each of these verses about the Tree of Life:
- Genesis 2:9
- Genesis 3:22-24
- Proverbs 3:13-18
- Revelation 22
The Tree of Life: This resource is great to explore the mention of trees in the Bible.
In Genesis 2, God makes two things with his own hands. First, he forms Adam and blows the breath of life into his nostrils (verse 7). Then, before Adam can exhale, God pivots and plants a garden (verse 8). It is here, under the trees, that God lovingly places Adam, giving him the job of “dress[ing] and keep[ing]” them (verse 15, KJV). The trees have their only divinely established tasks to accomplish. God charges them with keeping humans alive (Gen. 1:29), giving them a place to live (Gen. 2:8), and providing food to sustain them (verse 16). Ask the children what do trees do for us and our planet? How do they help us and animals?
In Genesis, God equips Adam and Eve with specific instructions about the limits of their work. In the midst of the Garden of Eden God plants two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9). The latter tree is off limits. God tells Adam, "You may freely eat of every tree in the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall die" (Gen. 2:16-17). Theologians have speculated at length about why God would put a tree in the Garden of Eden that he didn’t want the inhabitants to use. Various hypotheses are found in the general commentaries, and we need not settle on an answer here. For our purposes, it is enough to observe that not everything that can be done should be done. Human imagination and skill can work with the resources of God’s creation in ways inimical to God’s intents, purposes and commands. If we want to work with God, rather than against him, we must choose to observe the limits God sets, rather than realizing everything possible in creation. All good work respects God’s limits. There are limits to the earth’s capacity for resource extraction, pollution, habitat modification, and the use of plants and animals for food, clothing and other purposes. In practice it may be hard to know exactly where the line is. Nonetheless, the art of living as God’s image-bearers requires learning to discern where blessings are to be found in observing the limits set by God and evident in creation.[4] A great way to teach the children about recycling, sustainability and taking care of the Earth, Gods ultimate Creation!

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

- ROMANS 8:28

Robot Investigation

A robot is a machine programmed to carry out tasks and replicate human actions. The word “robot” is taken from the Czech word “robota” which roughly translates to “forced labor” or “drudgery.” These machines are created to serve various purposes and to perform many different functions.

If people were more like machines…God could have made us like machines, but He didn't. Machines do what they’re supposed to do without thinking about doing anything different or considering why they do whatever they do. Sure, they eventually break down because they’re mechanical devices. But they don’t make bad choices that damage themselves or hurt other machines. But God made us human and not a machine. Wouldn’t life be less complicated if we were prevented from making harmful choices? Maybe so. But what would that accomplish? Instead of creating machines or robots, God created people. And He gave us free will—the ability to think, reason and make our own choices. He gives us commands and instructions that show us how He wants us to live, but He allows us to decide whether we will obey. He created us with free will for a simple reason: To fulfill His purpose of creating an eternal, spiritual family, He wants His children to choose to be like Him.

SEE THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Robots

Discuss with the children on how robots can be used to solve real-world problems, What does God and the Bible teach us about hardship and suffering? See it here. God has used suffering to teach us to seek him, to do hard things, learn to endure, and grow in character along the way (Romans 5:3–4). Through prayer Jesus sees our tears and answers our prayers. Jesus is the greatest gift, and that the pain that others experience now is only temporary when they have the hope of eternity. As the psalmist said in Psalm 56:3–4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
Input vs output. Robots are commanded to preform a specific task. Just as God commands us (10 Commandments). See this resource to explain God’s Law to even the youngest kids. Extend this lesson by playing a game of Simon Says. When God says something, you should do it. The point of the game is that the leader says what to do and you follow it. If you don’t, you lose. It works this way in the game of life, too. How is following God like playing Simon Says? Why is obeying right away important? What can happen if we don’t? Why is obeying all the way different than obeying only part of the way? Read 1 Peter 1:14-15. What are the “old” ways we can fall back into? What does it mean to be holy as God is holy?

Robots vs. Humans

Unlike robots, humans have feelings and show compassion. Have the children create robot faces that show different emotions (happy, sad, angry, worried, etc.) Have the children talk about what each emotion looks like and what it feels like. What emotions do we like to feel? What emotions feel big and difficult? How can we manage those big emotions? Then, use these robot faces to have the Robot Feelings Doctor (new classroom job) to place an emotional face on the classroom (robot (above) each day and then have the children discuss that emotion.
How are humans and robots different? Instead of robots, God made us partners in his work. A robot is something you command to do things that has no control over its own ability or freedom. A partner is someone who shares a goal with you. Together partners take action towards their shared objective. See some activities here to learn about Gods work.

Magnets & Electricity

Many robotic systems use magnets. It’s a great way to demonstrate important bible verses like Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all time,” and 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” The goal is to help kids learn one of two things that to be a true friend, we must show love. The second goal could be that God is love, is made of love and that all people everywhere will be attracted to God’s love. Learn how to use magnets like love here.
Introduce simple circuits and allow children to see how electricity operates something and causes a chain reaction. Use this concept of chain reactions to play with Dominos. Have students help to line them up in a long row, and field for predictions of what might happen if one were to fall over. Then invite a child to start the chain reaction and watch the dominoes topple in a row. Explain how when we accept Christ and share His love, that can start a reaction with others catching on and spreading the Good News. See this kindness activity here.
Dive deeper into electricity and how robots uses electricity to preform tasks. Christmas lights can be used to teach about Jesus coming as the light of the world and use the color of the lights to expand this Christmas object lesson and remind them of what Christmas is really about. Also, see these lessons on lights and that God is the source of all light and by plugging our lives into Him, we will therefore shine too!

Churches: Machines & Technology

What machines and technology or parts of a robots do churches use? How do they help the church, the church staff and the people?
Discover different types of technology and learn how cell phone can teach lessons on staying connected to our Source (Jesus) and also about salvation and prayer! Also, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us the Bible is our guide for life. Use fun activities in this object lesson using a GPS!
How do the parts of a church work together (like a robot) to function? Like a robot, the church is made up of several different parts. However, for the church to work, all these different parts must work together. In other words, a healthy church is one where all the parts (members of the church) work together using their unique spiritual gifts to minister to one another. Paul tells us, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). As we know, the church is not a building. The church is the people of God.
Go on a scavenger hunt in your church. Look for robot parts like gears, hydraulics, wires, pulleys, metal, circuits, sensors, screws, bolts, batteries, motors, etc. Have the children use their 5 senses, ask questions and record observations in their Field Guide.

Building Robots

Have the children work together to create and build a classroom robot out of recyclable materials or use outdated technology (DVDs, VHS, floppy disk, typewriter, old phones, etc.). Have the children take apart and manipulate items to build the robot. Teach them the importance of reusing and upcycling things for new uses. We can care for God's Creation by recycling and taking care of the Earth. Children that learn about caring for God's Creation will ultimately grow up to defend it. Learn how God recycles here. Discover more lesson ideas on how to use the Creation Bible story to teach and explore ways to help care for God’s creation here.
Use the classroom robot (above) as a prayer box. Have children, staff, families, congregation and even the community write prayer intentions and insert them into a slot where the robots heart would be. Use the prayers during prayer time in the classroom during morning prayer, circle time, before snacks/meals, before nap or at the end of the day. This is a great way to introduce the children to the power of prayer in a thoughtful and encouraging way. They will also learn to strengthen their relationship and conversation with God and learn how to help to serve and support others in their day to day life.
Preschoolers can interact with robotic hardware such as nuts, bolts, screws, washers, springs, gears, etc. Allow children to examine, engage, and freely explore these items. Use robotic materials to create seasonal ornaments, (Christmas, Easter, etc.) rosaries, or crosses. This sensory experience helps the children with fine motor skills as well as sorting, comparing, classifying and counting while fostering creativity and critical thinking/problem solving. It also serves as a wonderful sensory experience as they explore the hardware with their 5 senses including touch and noticing how the parts sound and feel.
Kindness Robot: Use the parts of a robot or build a robot as a kindness counter. Appoint a child as the kindness counter as a classroom job. The kindness counter will look for kindness and when it is found they will either place robot parts (gears, nuts, washers, bolts, screws, sensors, batteries, etc.) in a jar for the classroom to see or they can use the materials to build their own kindness robot. Promote kindness in the classroom! The more kindness...the more complete and/or bigger the robot will be!
Honesty Robot: Use the same concept above but count acts of honesty and use the robot as an honesty bank. Have the children add to the bank when they are being honest and take away from it when they are dishonest. When they fill up their bank allow them to do something special. Read and discuss this verse: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ” Luke 16:10. Remind the children that even if they lie and don’t get caught, God knows everything they do, both good and bad. He is watching them all the time.
Go on a walk outside with the children and have them gather items from nature. Bring the items back to the classroom and have the children create robots using leaves, sticks, acorns, etc. Items from nature remind us that we can see God in all of nature. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 (NIV). Explaining God through nature to kids is a great way to demonstrate who God is. In fact, nature is one of the best tools you can use to explain God to a child because it’s so tangible. Who else could make all these wonderful things that we can see and touch? Only our creative God! Kids can see realize through their senses that nature holds more than they could ever know in a lifetime, it teaches them that God is limitless and yet detailed; expressive, caring, and real. Learning about God through nature means they can observe first hand that God not only cares for each and every creature but that He also cares for them. Study the story of Creation here and learn other ways children can connect with God through nature here.
While building and constructing robots introduce the story of Noah's Ark. Ask the children, What if I gave you a set of instructions and told you I wanted you to build a boat that was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Do you think you could do it? You would probably say, "No way! That is bigger than a football field! I can't build a boat that big!" Well, that is exactly what happened to a man named Noah. One day God looked down on the world that he had created and he saw how unkind the people had become. It broke his heart to see the way people were acting. But God saw that Noah was different. God saw that Noah was a good man, so he decided that he would spare Noah and his family. God told Noah about his plan to send a great flood to destroy everything on the earth. He told Noah to build a big boat called an ark and to fill it with animals -- two of every kind. Noah obeyed God. He built the boat and then he put two of every kind of animal into it. It rained for forty days and nights until finally, the rain stopped. It took many days for the flood waters to go down. When it finally did, Noah, his family, and all of the animals left the ark. Noah thanked God for keeping them safe. God had a plan for Noah's life. Because he was faithful and obeyed God, Noah and his entire family were saved. God has a plan for your life too. God has told us about his plan for us in the Bible. Listen to what he said, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Sometimes it seems that there are challenges are too big for us. But when we remember to put our trust in God, anything is possible!