Jesus Feeds the 5000

Rotation.org Writing Team

Storytelling & Toast Workshop

Summary of Activities

Students will engage in a Bible story re-telling & movement exercise, then make and eat two types of "Jesus Toast" to illustrate the key points of the story.

Scripture for the Lesson

John 6:1-15 (NIV)

Key/Memory Verses: The first memory verse describes the miracle in two sentences. The second describes the message of the miracle. The third comes from a verse Jesus spoke after the story.

"Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God, and distributed it to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, and they all had as much as they wanted." (John 6:11 NIV)

"Seeing this miracle that Jesus had performed, the people there said, “Surely this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!” (John 6:14 NIV)

"I am the Bread of Life." (John 6:35 NIV)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives and important insights into the story's content and meaning.

Preparation and Materials

• Read the Bible Background and scripture.
• Print and make photocopies of the Jesus Toast Template PDF attached to this lesson and cut to a size that will fit on the bread.
• Print the attached story and action word PDF files and post for all to see.
• You will need access to an oven broiler or toaster oven.
• Rolling pins.
• Several large baking sheets and enough aluminum foil to cover them.
• Permanent marker to write student’s name on the aluminum foil.
• Assortment of plastic utensils (you will use their blunt end to make the word indentations in the bread).
• 1/8” wooden skewers for poking the dots through the Jesus paper face template into the bread.
• Plain white bread, enough for two or three slices per student. Plus, additional gluten-free bread for those who need it. 
• Various colors of colored sugar. Either purchase colored decorating sugar or make your own using the following tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMcOsycRpCw.
• Honey to drizzle on the toast after baking (optional).
• Baking markers - option if you have younger students, you pre-write their word choices (pattern) for pressing.
  
• Have your camera or cellphone ready to take photos of the kids making and eating their toast.

Lesson Plan

Open

Welcome your students and explain what they'll be doing and learning in today's lesson.

Bible Storytelling with Movement

Led by the teacher, students will engage in an interactive reading of the Bible story using the attached script, and perform actions for marked keywords in the story to enhance both students’ understanding and memory of the story. Our version of the story below is closely based on John 6:1-15 but retold in a more kid-friendly, story-like manner.

1. Print and distribute the attached copy of the actions for the story. Alternately, you can write the action words and the action(s) on the board or put them on a screen using PowerPoint so the students can easily see and keep their hands free.
   
   Ideally, both the script and action words/actions are posted for all to see. The teacher should “practice” the actions. You could also have a shepherd read the story while the teacher leads the actions.
   
   
2. Get ready for the story re-telling by asking students to move into a circle so everyone can see each other. REHEARSE the actions with the students until they are comfortable performing them.
   
   
3. Begin reading the story slowly -- briefly pausing after each action word to give kids time to perform the actions. 
   
   
4. After reading the story the first time with the actions, perform it a couple more times before moving to the kitchen to prepare the bread. See if they can do the actions without your prompting. Invite a student or two to read or lead the actions. The more playful you make it, the more they will remember it and want to do it again.
   
   

The following are the same as found on the printable PDFs.

Word Actions to Perform: 

Jesus: touch each palm with the middle finger of the other hand

Crowd: (Whisper loudly) “WHISPER, WHISPER…RUMBLE, RUMBLE”

Disciples: high five someone

Miracle: say “WOW” while slapping your forehead

Hungry: groan and rub tummy

Food or Bread: pretend to eat and make chewing noises and say "yummy"

Small boy: "aaaawww"

Loaves and fish: Place 2 fingers from one hand into your 5 fingers of your other hand and waggle both hands like a fish.

Thanks: slap your hands together and raise them up high in prayer

The Story

One day, the disciples were sitting with Jesus on a hillside by the Sea of Galilee, when they saw a huge crowd of people coming towards them.  

The crowd had heard Jesus teach and seen him heal many people and had come to learn and see more.

"What are we going to do?!" said one of the disciples. "It is late and we don't have enough food to feed this crowd." But Jesus answered the disciples, “feed the crowd yourself.”  

The disciples were shocked! It would take a miracle to feed such a huge, hungry crowd. The disciples told Jesus that they would have to work a long time to pay for enough food for this large crowd!

Just then one of the disciples found a small boy who had 5 loaves and 2 fish.  The disciples thought it would be impossible to feed the crowd on the 5 loaves and 2 fish. 

Jesus said, “Tell everyone to sit down.” So the crowd of 5000 sat down on the grassy hillside. Once everyone was seated Jesus lifted the bread and fish and gave thanks to God for them. 

Then Jesus told the disciples to start handing out the bread and fish to the crowd. And a miracle happened, there was more than enough food for everyone, including the boy!

The disciples and the crowd were amazed when everyone had enough food. And when they collected the leftovers, the baskets were full!

When the crowd saw Jesus do this miracle, they said, “this is the One we have been waiting for!” and they tried to crown Jesus as their king right there and then. 

By performing this powerful miracle, Jesus had shown the crowd and his disciples his true identity as the Savior sent by God. 

Their stomachs were full of food that day, but their hearts were also full of the knowledge that Jesus had given them more than just bread and fish. Jesus had shared who he really was.

Jesus had revealed that He was the Bread of Life come down from heaven to feed our deepest hunger -- our hunger to know God is with us, has come to save us (not condemn us), and is here to comfort us, nourish our faith, and help us love one another. And for that kind of bread, we give thanks!

Bible Study Questions 

1. The word "miracle" literally means "a sign." What is a sign? Can you name some signs?
   
   
2. What sign (or message) was Jesus trying to give the people that day when he fed them?  (Look carefully at verse 14 for the answer! Jesus' miracles are almost always intended to reveal his identity to others).
   
   
3. If you had been there that day munching on the bread and watching Jesus...
   a.  How would you be feeling after you saw the miracle?
   b.  What would you say to someone in the crowd who asked you to explain what Jesus had just shown everyone?
   c.  How might your life be different now that you had seen the miracle?
   
   Teaching Note: You will go a bit deeper during Toast Time.
   
   

Jesus Toast Time!

• Move to the kitchen or space where you are preparing the “Jesus Toast.”
• Have everyone wash their hands as they prepare to work.
• Have the keywords and copies of the Jesus image ready to go.
• Distribute the foil and bread.
• Describe the process, then begin. Ideally, each student will make two pieces of toast, one with a keyword or phrase, and another with the image of Jesus. 
  
  

Steps for Preparing the Bread Prior to Toasting:

1. Give students a piece of aluminum foil approximately 12" x 12" (big enough to hold two slices of bread).
2. Have the student or a helper write the student’s name on the corner of the aluminum foil.
3. Give each student their first piece of white bread.
4. Have students use a rolling pin to flatten the bread. 
5. Once flattened, carefully place the bread onto the piece of foil.
   
   Trick: To have more writing space, either use larger slices of white bread, or place two slices side-by-side then press the edges together (slightly wetting them to make them stick), then roll them.
   
   
6. On their first piece of "Word" bread...   Have students pick words to "press" into the bread using the blunt end of a utensil. In effect, they are grooving the letters into the bread they have flattened—making a channel to receive the lightly sprinkle colored sugar into the letter grooves. Brush off any excess.
   
   Tip: Use the blunt end of the utensil to "press" the bread, not cut it. If the students cut their grooves too deeply through the bread dough and expose the foil, the melted sugar will stick to it and the toast will be difficult to remove from the foil.  
   
   Tip: For younger students, use "baking markers" to first write the words on the bread, then press the letters into the bread. If they can't spell, have them dictate a message to you.
   
   

    

   Suggested phrases to press in the first slice of bread:

   Jesus Feeds Me  |  Bread Of Life |  Miracle |  Jesus is the Sign
   Jesus is the One  |  Jesus my Bread | Here to Save
   I AM the ONE  | Bread of Heaven

   You may also press symbols for Jesus, such as a cross or a fish.

    

7. On their second piece of "Jesus" bread...  After rolling the bread flat, place the printed image of Jesus over the top of the bread, then carefully poke holes around the black lines of the image using a skewer so that the skewer presses a hole into the bread. Do not press all the way to the foil.
   
   Before removing the Jesus image template, lightly sprinkle colored sugar across the holes in the paper so that a few crystals drop through the paper into the holes in the bread to make the holes easier to see in the next step. This is how the great masters transferred their drawings onto wet plaster to make frescos. You have now transferred the image "fresco style" into the bread.
   
   
   
   
8. Use the blunt end of a utensil to "connect the holes" of the Jesus image on the bread to complete the transfer of the image into the bread. Use the utensil to press a continuous groove for the colored sugar to fill in the next step. Do not cut through the bread.
   
   
9. Lightly sprinkle colored sugar into the grooves of your Jesus image. Brush off any excess.
   
   
10. Toast until golden brown. During toasting, the sugar will melt to complete the lines.
    
     Toasting may only take two or three minutes depending on your oven and how many slices you have to toast. Invite students to be patient and keep watch. 
    
     If you have many slices to toast and not enough oven space, toast the Word Bread first, then have a helper toast the Jesus Image Bread while the teacher conducts the following "Word Toast" exercise and questions.

Toast Discussion

Sharing and Tasting the Word Toast

1. Invite students to take the toast they made with the words on them, one by one have each announce what they wrote then take a bite.
   
   
2. Ask each student WHY they chose that word-phrase and what they think it means. Add to their comments after they have spoken.
   
   As students munch their toast, start the following Bible study...
   
   

Jesus Toast Bible Study

Prior to reading John 6:33-35 aloud, explain that "these words come about 20 verses AFTER the story of the Feeding of the 5000. The disciples are asking Jesus about the miracle of the bread and what they can do to believe in him. Listen to Jesus' answer:

(John 6:33-35) Jesus said, "The bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” the disciples asked, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Invite everyone to pick up their "Jesus" bread and hold it near their mouths (don't eat it yet) as you ask these questions:

Ask: According to what we just read, what does Jesus want to "be like" for us?  (our bread)

Say: Jesus wants to be our food! He wants to give our faith energy. He wants us to trust him to keep us alive. He wants us to feast on his words and taste the yummy goodness of his stories. He wants to be our daily bread, not just our Sunday bread.

Ask: Where have you heard the phrase,"daily bread"  before?  Who is our daily bread? What are we asking when we ask God to give us our daily bread? "Give us this day our DAILY JESUS."  

Close by reciting the Lord's Prayer while you munch on your Jesus Toast.

Adaptations, Tips, and Notes

Our initial inspiration for this lesson was the photo of the "toast mosaic" (right) by an unknown artist. Up close, the story looks like a bunch of bread (and fish), but when you stand back and see what Jesus is saying with the miracle of the bread (and fish) -- you begin to see the sign (miracle) that Jesus shared with the crowd, the message of who he is and what he's here to do. 

Honey & Sugar Options:

As an option, you may drizzle a little honey on either slice of toast. While drizzling tell students that Psalms 119:103 says that God’s Word is sweeter than honey.

Let student add some cinnamon to the colored sugar to make cinnamon sugar bread. It will help cut the sweetness.

Adaptations For Younger Students:

When the students pick their words, have a helper use a "baking marker" (edible ink) to draw the letters onto the bread. Then have the students press into the bread and sprinkle the sugar.

Tape the Jesus image over the top of the slice of bread (taping to the aluminum foil) to keep it in place while they poke the holes. Remove the tape along with the image prior to baking.

For those with more class time: 

Finish by making slices of "Jesus Toast" to share with others at church.

Take photos of the kids eating their Jesus toast and suggest captions they can write on a piece of paper and hold in front of them for the photo.

Template Tip:   

Print the Jesus Image on a full sheet of paper and wrap the bread inside it. This will hold the template in place as student poke the holes.

Written by Donna Grabert and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2019, Rotation.org Inc.