Creation Day 4

Bible Truth: God created the sun, moon and stars.
Bible Story: God put the sun in the sky to light the day, and the moon and stars in the sky to light the night.
Bible Study: Genesis 1:14-19

teach

To begin this lesson, open your Bible to Genesis 1:1.  Have the children repeat the verse after you, along with simple actions.  Then, briefly review days one, two and three of Creation before you introduce day four.  A flannel graph board is a nice visual element for Creation lessons, because you can add the objects for each day, but simple posters or drawings for each day can do the trick just as well.  Here is a Creation bulletin board set that you could add on to each week as you teach each day.

picture book walk

I recommend visiting your local library, and checking out a collection of books with great pictures of the sun, moon, stars, solar system, etc.  Bring the books into class.  Select a few pictures to show during your lesson as you discuss how beautiful and awesome it is that God spoke, and all these things were created. Give the children time to explore the books on their own and discover more!

peek-in night box

My preschoolers always enjoy this "Peek-in Night Box."  It is simply a black box with pin holes and a moon shape cut out at one end, and a peep hole cut out on the other end.  Kids can look into the box, as though they are looking into a telescope to see the night sky.

mini planetarium

It's fun to make your own "mini planetarium" in the classroom.  We have a "Moon In My Room" moon that was purchased as a prop for one of our church dramas.  I hang the moon along with glow in the dark stars and planets.  Turn off the lights to admire the glow, and sing this version of Twinkle, Twinkle for a memorable lesson.

sing

• God Created - this week sing through verse four
• Twinkle, Twinkle - this is a slightly modified version of the classic tune

craft

day four activity sheet

This activity sheet gives you many decorating options.  Stickers, glitter, and cut out paper shapes can all be added in any way you choose.

sunny sun catchers

I realized a couple years ago that most of the crafts, and other activities I did for day four of creation, centered around the night sky.  So I like to make sure at least one of the crafts that we do during this week features the sun.  Here is a great sun catcher craft that can be massed produced on a busy Sunday morning service.  (It's important that my crafts meet that criteria if they are going to work in my classroom!)

You will need:

• yellow paper plates
• clear contact paper
• bright orange and yellow tissue paper or streamers
• this scripture print out
• an Exacto knife
• scissors
• hole punch
• yarn 
• glue sticks
• suction cup hooks (optional)

To prepare, cut out the centers of the paper plates with the Exacto knife, and cut out squares of contact paper just slightly bigger than the diameter of the opening on the paper plate.  Hole punch the tops of the plates, and cut small lengths of yarn.  You may also opt to attach the sticky side of the contact paper to the back of the paper plates before class.

In class, give the children strips of tissue paper or streamers.  Show them how to tear off pieces and press them onto the sticky side of the contact paper, on the front side of the paper plate, until all the contact paper is covered.  Glue the scripture print out to the front of the plate.    Thread yarn through the punched hole.  Show the children how to hang their suns in a window so that they will catch the light of the sun.

twinkle, twinkle number four

You will need:

• a printout of a large number four as a template
• black construction paper or card stock
• this print out of Twinkle, Twinkle
• a sponge
• scissors
• star stickers
• glitter glue
• glue sticks

To prepare, print out a large number to use as a template.  Trace it onto black construction paper or card stock.  Cut out a number for each student.  From a sponge, cut out a moon shape.  Print, and cut out the words for Twinkle, Twinkle that accompany this lesson.

In class, help the children glue the Twinkle, Twinkle words to their number fours so that they can sing this song with their parents at home.  Help them dip the moon-shaped sponge in glitter glue, and stamp it onto their number four.  Provide star stickers for them to decorate their number fours.