Rotation.org Writing Team
Adam & Eve
Cooking Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activity
Make "super sour temptation candy" to illustrate (and taste) the nature of temptation. At first, temptation often looks appealing and may seem "sweet," but disobedience to God usually leaves a sour "taste."
God knows what is best for us. What we often think is good for us, is not good. Disobeying God's rules for life leave a sour taste in our mouth. They upset us and God. But God calls us, goes with us into a difficult world, and promises to help us resist temptation.
Scripture
Passage: Genesis 2:4 through Genesis 3:24
Key/Memory Verse: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24 (NRSV)
Objectives for the Rotation
See Bible Background.
Preparation
- Read Bible Background and scripture.
- Test "sour gummy" recipe and instructions the day before by preparing a tray of "sour gummies." Bring to church as your backup tray if needed.
Materials List
- Bibles
- Chalkboard or Whiteboard or Newsprint (marker for your choice)
- Ingredients from the Recipe (see below)
- 3 envelopes unflavoured gelatin
- 2 packages Jell-O, any flavor
- 1/2 package Kool-Aid, any flavor (sour apple or lemon woud be best)
- Bowl of sugar to dip finished gummies in
- Mixing bowls and spoons
- Plastic wrap to line the pan
- Plastic knives to cut finished candy
- 2 qt pot for cooking the gummies
- Pan for cooling the gummies
- Pam spray for pan
- Pot holder
- Baggies and 3x5 cards to make "go home" candy bags with slogans.
Lesson Plan
Opening
Welcome your students and then introduce today's story by doing the following . . .
Write the word "Temptation" on the board and ask them to define it. Write their comments. Tell them that today's lesson is about temptation, and they will be making "temptation gummies" as a reminder of the lesson.
You now need to make the sour gummies!
They will take about 10 minutes to make, and 20 minutes to cool.
[Refer to the recipe shown at the end of the lesson.]
Dig
...while the gummies are cooling in the refrigerator...
Brainstorm things people are tempted by using real-life temptation scenarios. Ask them "what's the temptation?"
-You find $10 on the floor at home
-You're taking a test and can see someone else's test answers.
-You forgot your homework and a friend hands you theirs to copy...
-You see your sibling doing something wrong and you are tempted to...
-A friend says something really nasty to your face and you are tempted to...
-You wanted to sleep in this morning instead of coming to church...
-(Add your own)
Say: When we talk about temptation in the Church, we are usually talking about being tempted to disobey God.
Take turns reading through the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis 2:4 - 3:24.
Ask: What were Adam and Eve tempted by? (the promise that they would be like God if they ate from the fruit)
Ask: What was God's response to them giving in to temptation and eating the fruit? (God called them by name. It is God calling them to confess, because already he knows where they are and what they have done)
Ask: Do you think God knew they would be tempted to eat the fruit?
Say: The problem with temptation is that it can be a very strong feeling. Another problem with temptation is that it often at first feels satisfying! (This is an important point to make.)
When we are tempted to keep money that isn't ours, we feel richer.
When we are tempted to cheat on a test, we feel like we might do better.
When we are tempted to say bad words to someone, it can momentarily make us feel good.
When we are tempted to ignore worshiping God, we feel like we have more rest or fun time.
But often, the things which tempt us taste sweet at first, but then turn sour. Certainly the fruit that Adam and Eve ate turned sour when they realized they had disobeyed God. They felt ashamed.
When we are tempted to do wrong, we need to remember that God knows what is right.
God knows what is truly sweet, and what is sour for us.
Reflect
Remove the pans of gummy candy from the refrigerator. Lift the candy out of the pans using the plastic wrap and flip it over onto a clean cutting surface. Peel off the plastic wrap and cut the candy into sections, one for each student.
Let students cut shapes that remind them of the story of Adam and Eve -- fruits, snake, tree.
As they cut, let them taste-test their candy!
Now have them roll their gummies in sugar. Ask them why we are doing that, and the answer from your discussion should be clear. The things we are tempted by often seem sweet!
Have everyone eat one of their candies as you reinforce the main point: God knows what is best for us. Disobeying God's rules for life leave a sour taste in our mouth. But like Adam and Eve, even though our sins are sour, God goes with us, loves us, forgives us, helps us resist temptation.
Finally, have them place their remaining candies in a baggie and have them write some "slogans" on a 3x5 card to be placed in the bag as a reminder. Possible slogans: "Obeying God never leaves a sour taste in your mouth." "Sin puckers your soul. Always tell the truth." "Lying sours life and relationships."
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS
Adaptations - Younger Children: Read from a storybook Bible. Do not let the children stir the hot candy. Rather, you might have the gummy candy pre-made and let them spend more time cutting the finished candy into shapes.
Adaptations - Older Children: You could let them make their own blends of Koolaid® and Jello®, plus a little citric acid powder. Be careful not to overuse the citric powder as it is an acid.
SUPER SOUR GUMMY RECIPE
3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
2 packages Jell-O, any flavor
1 cup water
1/2 package Kool-Aid, any flavor (sour apple or lemon would be best)
Bowl of granulated sugar to roll finished candies in to give the sour candy an initial sweet flavor.
Optional: Add 1 tsp of powdered citric acid (a food additive found in many pharmacies) for extra "sourness." You might also use sour apple Jello or Lemonade Kool-Aid.
Instructions:
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with plastic wrap. Spray lightly with cooking spray, or spray candy molds. Set aside.
- Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
- Bring water to boil overheat then add dry ingredients.
- Stir carefully, slowly and thoroughly until all the dry ingredients have dissolved.
- Pour the candy slowly and carefully into the prepared pan, or spoon into the molds.
- Place the candy in the refrigerator to set. (Approximately 20 minutes). To speed up cooling, place the pan on top of ice, being careful it doesn't tip.
- Once set, lift the gummy candy out of the pan using the plastic wrap.
- Carefully flip the candy onto a cutting surface and remove the wrap (slowly).
- Candy can now be cut into fruits, snakes, etc, using a sharp knife.
- After cutting into shapes, roll candy in granulated sugar. You may need to slightly wet the candy to get the sugar to stick. (The sugar coating illustrated the nature of things we are tempted by.) The sugar coating will also help the candy not stick within the baggies.
Options:
Make two different pans using two different flavors of Koolaid. Consider adding extra Koolaid or extra citric acid to make a "really pucker-y batch!"
Notes:
You want your gummy candy to taste very very tart to drive home the point of the lesson. It should make them pucker. Concentrated Koolaid and concentrated Jello not only have sugar, they have concentrated amounts of citric acid to provide the tartness. It is the concentration of flavors and citric acid which give sour gummies their sour flavor.
Some people, especially older ones, have a higher tolerance for "sour," so you may want to provide a bit of extra powdered citric acid to let the kids get it to the level of 'sour' they will find instructive!
Do not add more water than the recipe calls for or your candy solution will not set. Place the candy pan in a large bowl of ice while in the refrigerator to speed setting.
Written by: Neil MacQueen
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Printed from https://www.rotation.org
