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A Walk on Water

Lesson Set

Summary of all material in this Rotation:

  • Bible Background
  • Art: Create watercolor pictures depicting the story.
  • Games: Play a quiz game using the game wheel and the game board.
  • Cooking/Science: Do a science experiment and make Baked Alaska (baked ice cream)

Note: This was a Rotation done during the summer, a time when we offer just 2 workshops a Sunday during 3-week Rotations. Students were gathered into two groups:

➢ Those going into 2nd grade through those going into 4th grade.
➢ Those going into 5th grade through those going into 7th grade.

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 14:22-33

Key Verse:

“Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” Matthew 14:27b (NIV)

Workshop Objectives — After completing this Rotation, participants will be able to:

  • Name that the story is found in the New Testament.
  • For 3rd grade and up: Locate the story in Matthew. Identify the four Gospels.
  • Re-tell the story in his/her own words.
  • Recognize “faith” as an action word – to trust in God, to be certain Jesus is with us always.
  • Discover that Jesus wants us to build our faith in him. Discuss ways to do this.
  • Explore the concept that life can give us difficult times; When we focus on God, our faith is strengthened.


Story Background - The setting for our story

The Sea of Galilee is actually a heart-shaped lake about 14 miles long and six miles across. It is located in the province of Galilee about 60 miles northeast of Jerusalem and 27 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. The river Jordan enters it at its northern end and passes out at its southern end. The water of the lake is quite deep, sweet, cool and transparent and the beach is very pebbly and sparkly. The sea is full of fish even still today, just as it was during Jesus’ time.

The Sea of Galilee is sometimes also called the Sea of Tiberias (named for the city on its shore), and the Lake of Gennesaret from the beautiful fertile plain located to the northwest. Jesus spent most of his public life in the environment of this sea. The surrounding region was then the most densely populated in all of Palestine. Nine very populous cities stood on the very shores of the lake. The Sea of Galilee was a very active center of life during this time.

Situated in a basin surrounded by a wall of mountains, the Sea of Galilee is particularly susceptible to frequent, sudden, violent storms. Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes and clashes with the hot, humid air lying over the lake. Indeed the lake was notorious for its storms; they literally came out of the blue with shattering and terrifying suddenness, often when the sky was perfectly clear.

The disciples face a challenge

Our story takes up just after Jesus has miraculously fed over 5000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus has dismissed the crowds and has sent the disciples to cross the lake by boat. He would presumably join them later. Jesus meanwhile, goes into the hills to pray alone.

It is not clear what time the disciples left for their trip but it is evident from the story that by the time night fell, they were far away from land. Soon they found themselves in trouble, facing a sudden strong storm with high winds and heavy waves. If this sounds familiar it is because it had happened before – see Matthew 8:23-27. But the last time they’d been caught in a boat tossed by a stormy sea, Jesus had been in the boat with them. This time, the disciples were alone, or so they thought, to fight against the raging waters.

In their need, Jesus appears – walking on water

“During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake” (Matthew 14:25).

In Bible times a night was divided into four watches, starting at 6 p.m. Each watch consisted of three hours, so the fourth watch would have been between 3 and 6 a.m. By this time the disciples surely had to be exhausted. No wonder they reacted in terror when Jesus approached, walking toward them on the water. They thought they were seeing a ghost! “It had not occurred to them that he could know their plight, walk on water to come to them or catch up to them in a storm! To their credit, however, the fear issue seems to be solved once they recognize that their teacher is with them. They knew him well enough to know that if he was there, he would bring them through their storm” (Keener).

Jesus responded to the disciples fear, telling them, “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27b) The “It is I” reminds us of the way that God identified himself to Moses out of the burning bush with: “I AM” (see Exodus 3:14). “Jesus, the I AM, came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need” (iLumina).

Peter’s walk on water

Peter’s response to Jesus shows Peter’s impulsive manner: “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28) Jesus answers simply, “Come.”

Was Peter testing Jesus’ power by asking him, Lord is it you? Or was Peter just trying to do as all good disciples did? (Devoted disciples wanted to emulate their masters.) Why didn’t the others test their prowess at water walking?

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:29b-30)

Of course, Jesus saved Peter. And gently chided him with, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When everyone had climbed back into the boat, the wind immediately died down. The disciples now worship Jesus and call him the Son of God. “When we recognize Jesus’ works, thereby learning more of his character, the appropriate response is to worship him. This will deepen our relationship of faith with the Lord we love” (Keener).

Trusting Jesus – what is our focus?

This story contains miracles, however, we won’t focus on the miracle. Rather the focus needs to be on focus! Where is our focus?  Faith for us means believing in Jesus even though we can’t see him. Perhaps Peter’s difficulty was that he took his eyes off of Jesus. The word used by Jesus to mean doubt “connotes vacillation, not skepticism” (Boring). Peter looked around him at what was happening – waves, wind, a nasty storm! It parallels how we tend to deal with life: we do fine, “as long as we keep our eyes off of ourselves and our own efforts. But the moment we take our eyes off of Christ and focus on the difficulties nipping at us we will begin to sink” (Patterson). Keeping our focus on God is relatively easy when all is going well. It is keeping our focus on God when things are rough (which inevitably happens) – that is the challenge.

Faith - an action word

How can we keep focused on God? By growing our faith? Our faith grows as we exercise it – in rough times or in good times. Faith should be considered a verb because faith requires action on our beliefs. Faith grows out of our relationship with God. “Our faith may be more infantile than Peter’s if we have never even tried to step out in obedience to Jesus’ commands or direction for our lives; many of us have less practice walking in faith than two-year-olds have walking physically” (Keener).

Encourage students to talk about ways our faith can grow – by being in community with other faithful people, by reading the Bible, by praying… Jesus wants us to build our faith in him!

Story questions

Was Peter’s problem sinking, a lack of faith?
Or was it faith that brought Peter out of the boat to start his walk on the water?
Is God leading you to get out of the boat?
What helps you to have faith?
What makes you sink?
When you start to sink do you tend to reach out to Jesus or try to make it on your own?


Resources:

  • Boring, M. Eugene. The New Interpreter’s Bible: Volume 8. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.
  • G.R.E.A.T. Adventure Dream Team at State Street United Methodist Church, Bristol, VA. “Background Information: Sea of Galilee– Jesus Calms the Storm.” 2000. (Galilee info)
  • iLumina Gold Premium. CD-ROM. “Life Application Commentary: Matthew.” Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2006.
  • Keener, Craig S. Matthew (IVP New Testament Commentary Series). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
  • Patterson, Bob E. Discovering Matthew. New York: Guidepost Books, 1985.

A set of workshops written by folks from:
First United Methodist Church
120 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Copyright 2008 First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI.  Permission to copy materials granted for non-commercial use provided credit is given and all cited references remain with this material.

Last edited by CreativeCarol
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A Walk on Water

Art Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Create watercolor paintings to help the children express the meaning of the story.

Note: This lesson has been improved after reviewer comments made during the 2013 Miracles Forum Renovation project.

Scripture Reference & Key Bible Verse & Objectives: 

Refer to first post in this lesson set.


Leader Preparation:

  • Read the scripture for this lesson.
  • Read and reflect on the overview material provided for this lesson.
  • Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

  • Easel; appropriate maker
  • Bibles; One Adventure Bible with tabs (Law, History, etc.)
  • For younger students: The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories
  • Watercolor paper, watercolor paint, palettes with compartmentalized paint wells, a variety of paint brushes, water containers (2 for every 2 students), cotton balls, hairdryer (optional), old shirts for smocks
  • Pencils: should be soft (4B or 6B would be best) and Erasers: white plastic/vinyl type - cut them in half and share (DO NOT use the erasers on the end of pencils)
  • Pictures of this scene from the Bible (see end of lessons for resources)
  • A picture of a Bible-times fishing boat

Before Start of Class:

  • If desired, create copies of the key verse for children to take home (optional).
  • Write on the easel the key Bible verse.
  • Distribute around the table, the pictures of the paintings.
  • Distribute Bibles. For 1st-3rd grade, have accessible The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories
  • Have watercolor supplies easily accessible.


Presentation

Opening – Welcome & Lesson Introduction: 

Greet your students warmly, welcoming them to the Art Workshop. Introduce yourself and any other adults. Ask for any prayer requests. Ask if anyone would like to lead the group in prayer. Be prepared to say a prayer yourself, working in prayer requests. Use the Lord’s Prayer as the ending. A suggestion: “Dear God, thank you for always being strong and for giving me strength. Help me to keep my eyes on you when I struggle, because you will always help me. (End with everyone joining in on the Lord’s Prayer.) Amen.”

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Do:  Refer to the pictures of Jesus and Peter walking on water.

Say: On the tables are pictures of art works that have been created over the years, depicting our Bible story. Study these pictures as you hear today’s story.

For those who have completed 4th grade (to start 5th grade this fall) and up:

Ask: Where in the Bible would we read about Jesus teaching his disciples? (in the NT)
What are the first four books of the New Testament? (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
What do we call those first four books? (the Gospels)

Say: The word Gospel means “good news.” Jesus teaches us good news about his love for us, and how he is always with us.

Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Matthew 14:22-33 in the Bible.

If this is the first week in the Rotation, read the scripture together. On the second week of the Rotation, ask the students if they can tell you the story. Have them check their Bibles for accuracy. Read portions as necessary.

 

For those who have finished 1st through 3rd grade (to be in 2nd - 4th grade this fall):

Refer to the Bibles distributed.

Say: For those of you who have just finished 1st or 2nd grade we don’t normally look at the Bible in class, but summer is a good time to do things differently.

Ask someone who just finished 1st or 2nd grade…
Ask: Where in the Bible would we read about Jesus, in the New Testament or the Old Testament? (in the NT)

Ask anyone…
What do we call the first four books of the New Testament? (the Gospels)
Does anyone know what the word “Gospel” means?

Say: The word Gospel means “good news”. These first four books of the New Testament tell the story of the good news about Jesus. Our story can be found in the gospel of Matthew.

Have the 3rd graders help show the 1st and 2nd graders about the quick way to find the New Testament – dividing the Bible in half gets them near Psalms. Dividing the back half in half again gets them near the Gospels in the New Testament. Then once they have found the story have them close the Bibles.

Read story #274 on page 312 of The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories.

For all students: Start the art project

Refer the students to the pictures on the tables. Lead the children in a discussion of the similarities and differences in the pictures.

Ask:

  • What elements or things do we find in every one of these pictures? (Jesus? Water? Boat?)
  • How does Peter look? (Happy, Sad, Scared)
  • How does the water look? (Wavy, dark, scary)
  • What is it about these pictures that you can relate to your life? (in a storm, stuck in the boat, walking just fine)  

Say: Today we have watercolors to work with. You will create a picture of this story - in any way you might like. You can decide which elements that we've talked about that you'd like to put into your picture.

Say:  [Note of the following info, give whatever their grade can handle.]  Perhaps you'd like to paint a picture of Peter or, perhaps you walking on the water with Jesus? Or perhaps you'd like to depict pictures of things that you might be tempted to focus on instead of focusing on Jesus.

Do: You may need to review the watercolor techniques. (See end of lesson for watercolor hints.) Help students decide what to paint in their picture.

Discussion (while the students are working)

Ask:

  • What happened to the disciples when it became evening? (boat began to be tossed about by big waves, or a storm came - accept any answer similar to this)


Do:  Explain that this boat was probably not very big. Show a picture if one is available. Explain that the “fourth watch of the night” (verse 25) was between 3 am and 6 am. Discuss the story by asking how they think the disciples felt when the waves began to hit the boat. (accept any answer, but guide them to the fact that it was dark and they were in the middle of a huge body of water, so fear would be the natural reaction of most people)

Ask:

  • How do you think they felt when they saw Jesus walking on water? (accept any answer)
  • How would you feel?
  • What did Jesus say to them when he saw they were afraid? (accept any answer that is similar to “It is I. Don’t be afraid.") 

Do: Refer to the Key Bible verse written on the easel.

Ask:  

  • How do you suppose learning this key verse by heart, might help you the next time you are afraid?
  • When did Peter begin to sink? (accept any answer similar to “when he saw the wind” or “he realized what was happening around him")
  • When are some times when you've been afraid?
  • When you start to "sink" do you tend to reach out to Jesus or try to make it on your own?
  • How do you suppose Peter felt when he began to sink, and Jesus seemed to scold him?

 Say: Sometimes life can be very hard. Jesus wants us to have faith in him. When we focus on him, we strengthen our faith. Faith is like a muscle; it gets stronger when you use it a lot.

Ask:

  • What does the Bible say that Jesus did to save Peter? (he reached out his hand and caught him) 

Say: God and Jesus are always with us to help us. We only need to ask them for help when we are having a difficult time. When we trust God and know that God will always be there with us, it is called “faith.” Faith is something we do. It is focusing on God and knowing that God loves us and wants to be with us.

Ask:

  • What are ways that we can strengthen our faith? (You may wish to make notes on the easel: We can pray, learn Bible verses so that we can remember them later when we need them, act like Jesus would want us to act, worship God in church, we can tell God our feelings when we are having a hard time.)


Clean up! Involve everyone in cleaning up so that you will have time to share together in the closing. You may want to have a prearranged signal for clean up and tell them at the beginning of the art project what that will be – perhaps a 5-min warning and then the final clean up notice.

Closing:

1. Encourage them to have faith in Jesus; review the ways they can do this.

2. Say the key Bible verse together. Refer to the verse written the easel in the room, or on slips of paper that each child can take home.

3. Close the class with a prayer of your own, or use the following: “God, you are always ready to help us when we need you. Help us to know that you are always with us and love us very much. Amen.


Watercolor Techniques

➢ If a light pencil sketch was done, avoid too much erasing. It damages the paper. Use the white plastic erasers, not the ones at the end of a pencil.

➢ Use two different water containers, keeping them for separate uses – one to wash brushes (this water will get “muddy") and one to only be used to wet clean brushes.

➢ If using dried watercolors, wet them by dripping clean water from a brush into a “pad” of color.  Use the brush to mix the water with the color.  Use a palette to mix colors.

➢ If using tubes of watercolors use them in the following manner:  The paint can be used directly from the tube (which results in the densest color). However if large areas are covered in this manner it tends to dry to a dull, leathery appearance. Thus use of the paint in this manner should be discouraged.  Dilute one part tube paint with 2 to 3 parts water to produce the most saturated color; and with still more water to produce delicate tints of color.  The lightest color is obtained by using paint heavily diluted with water, or applied to the paper and then blotted away with a paper towel.

➢ Hints for painting:

  • Start with lighter colors; then move on to darker colors.
  • Work from background to foreground, adding details as you go.
  • Avoid going back and brushing over an area.
  • Encourage using a “light hand” with the brush – the color is supposed to be transparent.
  • A “color wash” is useful for covering large areas with color.  Color washing is a “wet-on-wet” technique: you use a wet brush on wet paper. Take a “wash brush” (it’s wide and flat) and paint clean water evenly across the area to be painted. The paper should be wet but not too wet. No puddles allowed! Using your wash brush and a chosen color, paint horizontally across the paper. Paint another band of color next to it. The colors bleed and blend together where they join, this makes it interesting.
  • Create clouds by first using a wash of color, then remove paint by touching the desired area with a cotton ball. This removes the color to expose the white paper.
  • For more control, such as in painting foreground details, paint with a wet brush onto dry paper – use a hairdryer set on low to dry the paper.
  • Never mix paint in the paint wells of a palette. Mix colors by picking up the desired quantity of dissolved paint from the pre-wetted paint well, using a moist, clean brush, then applying the paint onto the flat mixing area of the palette. Then the brush is rinsed before picking up any other paint. Once all paints are on the mixing area, they are mixed and/or applied to the painting.  If necessary, demonstrate this for students.

➢ Cleaning up tube paints: the excess paint remaining in the palette paint wells can be allowed to dry out and used again next week.


Resources:

Carol notes:  To the right is an image that wasn't available when we used these lessons. See more Hero of the Bible Posters at https://realherostudios.com/co...le-posters-amp-cards.

 


 

A lesson written by Lynne Pauer and Carol Hulbert from: First United Methodist Church
Ann Arbor, MI 


Copyright 2008, 2013 First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI. Permission to copy materials granted for non-commercial use provided credit is given and all cited references remain with this material.

 A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

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  • Bible Heros poster - Peter
Last edited by Luanne Payne

A Walk on Water

Games Workshop 

Summary of Lesson Activity:Kids on a room-sized game board

 

Play a quiz game using the game wheel and the room-sized game board (painted in a Candy Land style)

 

Note: This lesson has been improved after reviewer comments made during the 2013 Miracles Forum Renovation project!

 

 

Scripture Reference & Key Bible Verse & Objectives:

 

Refer to first post in this lesson set.

 


 

Leader Preparation:

  • Read the scripture for this lesson.
  • Read and reflect on the overview material provided for this lesson.
  • Gather the following materials

Supplies List:

  • Life-sized game board – canvas tarp with painted spaces (4 colors)
  • Game wheel (with corresponding 4 colors)
  • Game questions (see at: http://www.kirkofkildaire.org/...terAntiochArcade.htm ) and add the questions at the bottom of the lesson
  • Bibles
  • For younger students: Read With Me Bible
  • Pocket chart with 10 blank cards; marking pen


Before Start of Class:

  • Place game wheel in a location where it won’t distract the students during storytelling or perhaps, cover it with a blanket.
  • Using the blank cards for the pocket chart, write one word of the key Bible verse on each card. (Include the Bible reference). Load the cards into the pocket chart.
  • Distribute Bibles in a circle on the rug.



Presentation

 

Opening - Welcome and Lesson Introduction:

 

Greet your students warmly, welcoming them to the Games Workshop. Introduce yourself and any other adults.

Say: Let’s start with prayer.
Ask for any prayer requests. Ask if anyone would like to lead the group in prayer. Use the Lord’s Prayer as the ending. A suggestion: Dear God: We are thankful to be here all together ready to play a game that will teach us about your love for us. Help us to hear your message for each of us today. (End with the Lord’s Prayer) Amen.

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

 

Say: We are going to be playing a game today that will see how well we know our Bible story. Let’s review our story before we play our game.

 

For those who have finished 1st through 3rd grade (to be in 2nd - 4th grade this fall):


Refer to the Bibles distributed.


Say: For those of you who have just finished 1st or 2nd grade we don’t normally look at the Bible in class, but since we are all mixed up together with 3rd graders, we are going to use the Bibles!


Ask someone who just finished 1st or 2nd grade…
Ask: Where in the Bible would we read about Jesus, in the New Testament or the Old Testament? (in the NT)


Ask everyone…
What do we call the first four books of the New Testament? (the Gospels)
Does anyone know what the word “Gospel” means?


Say: The word Gospel means “good news”. These first four books of the New Testament tell the story of the good news about Jesus. Our story can be found in the gospel of Matthew. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament.

Have the 3rd graders help show the younger students the quick way to find the New Testament – dividing the Bible in half gets them near Psalms. Dividing the back half in half again gets them near the Gospels in the New Testament. Have them find Matthew. Then once they have found the story have them close the Bibles.

 

Read them the story on pages 318 - 323 in the Read With Me Bible.

 

For those who have completed 4th grade (to start 5th grade this fall) and up:

 

Ask:

  • Where in the Bible would we read about Jesus teaching his disciples? (in the NT)
  • What are the first four books of the New Testament? (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
  • What do we call those first four books? (the Gospels)

Say: The word Gospel means “good news.” Jesus teaches us good news about his love for us, and how he is always with us. Let’s read a story about a time when Jesus was there for his disciples.

 

Make sure that everyone has access to a Bible. Have everyone find Matthew 14:22-33.

(If needed remind them of the quick way to find the NT. Refer to the younger reading notes.)

 

If this is the first week in the Rotation, read the scripture together. On the second week of the Rotation, ask the students if they can tell you the story. Have them check their Bibles for accuracy. Read portions as necessary.

 

For all students: Play the Game/Discuss as you play

 

Explain that students will work in teams to move across the game board – squeezing onto spaces as needed. The object of the game is not to be first to reach the end, but for all teams to reach the end, or to get as far as time permits, and to have fun doing it.

Lay out the game board(s). Have everyone take off his/her shoes.
Ask the Shepherd to help you divide the class into teams of 2 or 3 players each.
[Preferably in 2’s but 3 is ok if needed].


Have the team with the person whose birthday is closest to today’s date go first.
One member of the team spins the wheel. While the wheel is spinning (because this saves time), ask the question of the team. [You decide whether the kids need the multiple choices given.]

All the people on a team should confer/work on an answer. Checking Bibles is OK! Remind the children that only the team in play should be talking.


If the team answers correctly they get to move to the color that was spun.
Note: it is OK to start groups of kids from different ends of the game board.

Take time for discussion during the questions per what you learned in the Overview Materials! Allow 6 minutes for Closing. 


Closing:

 

Have the students repeat the key verse with you.

Ask: How can learning this verse, so that it comes to you right off the top of your head, so that you have it memorized… help you in a time of trouble? (allow a few replies)

Say: Memorizing verses can help when we are having trouble. Not memorizing it like you would learn facts for a test; this is a different sort of learning. We say we are, “keeping God’s word in our heart.” 

 

Do: Share a time when this occurred in your life.

 

Say:  There will come a time when you are experiencing a difficulty, and then from your heart come these words: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Play a game to help the students learn the key Bible verse. Refer to the pocket chart. Ask students to repeat the key verse. Then ask a student to remove a card from the verse. Have everyone repeat the key verse filling in the missing words. Continue until all the words are removed.

 


In case you finish early…


Collect the cards from the wall chart. Randomly hand them out. Ask students to line up according to the correct order. Time them and have them see if they can be faster if they do it again.

 

 

Additional Game Questions:

 

  • What is something that frightens you? [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • What is something that you are worried about? [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • Referring back to how the last question was just answered, what do you suppose Jesus would say to  <child's name>   about that worry (or that fear)?
  • Act out how you would have reacted if you had seen Jesus walking on water.
  • How would you describe Peter's attempt to walk on water? (Totally crazy, he had real faith, he wasn't thinking, or something else?)
  • What is something that you've been afraid to do but you'd like to try it (i.e. an area where you'd like to try stepping out of the boat)?  [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • What would it take for you to be able to "step out of your boat"?  [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • What do you suppose is holding you back from stepping out of your boat? [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • Describe a time when you've started to "sink" -- did you try to save yourself or did you reach out for Jesus' hand? What happened?
  • Faith is an action word. Describe something that you've done recently to build your faith. [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • Name a way we can build our faith in Jesus.  [Ask this one multiple times.]
  • Name a way we can keep our focus on Jesus.  [Ask this one multiple times.] 


Resources


 

A lesson written by Carol Hulbert from:
First United Methodist Church
120 S. State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Copyright 2008, 2013 First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI. Permission to copy materials granted for non-commercial use provided credit is given and all cited references remain with this material.

 

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

 

Last edited by Rotation.org Lesson Forma-teer

A Walk on Water

Cooking Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Make Baked Alaska (baked ice cream).

Note: This lesson has been improved after reviewer comments made during the 2013 Miracles Forum Renovation project!

Scripture Reference & Key Bible Verse & Objectives:

Refer to the first post in this lesson set.


Leader Preparation:

  • Read the scripture for this lesson.
  • Read and reflect on the overview material provided for this lesson.
  • Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

  • 10.75-ounce frozen pound cake
  • 1-quart ice cream (in a kid-friendly flavor & in a rectangular container) – cut in half
  • An alternate snack for those with allergies
  • Two oranges
  • Cookie sheet
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Table knives & spoons & a fork
  • A large bowl
  • Knife to cut Baked Alaska and a Spatula to serve
  • Napkins, Small plates, or bowls
  • Mixer, beaters, and mixer bowl
  • Bibles; For younger students: The Beginner’s Bible
  • Just Whites™ Powder (For classes with egg allergies)
  • Vanilla
  • Cream of Tarter
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Kitchen timer

Before Start of Class:

  • Try a yoga balancing technique suggested in the lesson. [For pictures refer to http://yoga.about.com/od/yogap...alances-Sequence.htm.]
  • Write the key Bible verse on the easel.
  • Wash one metal table and set up the mixer on this table.
  • Measure out the Just Whites™ powder – ¼ cup into the bowl of the mixer.
  • Measure ¾ cup water and leave it next to the mixer. Arrange other items needed by the mixer.
  • Fill the large bowl with water.
  • Arrange items needed in Social Hall on a small cart: napkins, plates or bowls, spoons, a serving spatula, and a knife for cutting Baked Alaska.
  • Distribute Bibles around the tables.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.


Presentation

Opening – Welcome & Lesson Introduction:

Gather everyone standing in a circle in the center of the Social Hall. Greet your students warmly, welcoming them to the Cooking Workshop. Introduce yourself and any other adults.

Say: Today we are going to be doing some cooking and a little bit of movement with our bodies. First, let’s start with prayer.

Ask for any prayer requests. Ask if anyone would like to lead the group in prayer. Be prepared to say a prayer yourself, working in prayer requests. Use the Lord’s Prayer as the ending. A suggestion: “Faithful God, We are thankful to be here today. We are thankful for the chance to share with each other and in the process, to build our faith in you. Help us to remember, especially when we face troubles, to keep our focus on you. (End with everyone joining in on the Lord’s Prayer.) Amen.”

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Balance Focus Activity

Say: Now for a bit of movement…

Have everyone step back 2 steps.
Have everyone pick up one foot and try to hold their balance without wobbling or falling. [It is ok if someone can’t do this, including the workshop leader!]

Then suggest a yoga pose such as the Eagle or the Tree Pose (shown at right). Yoga Tree pose

Say: Be thinking about what is helping you to keep your balance.

Ask:

  • What are your ideas about what helped you to keep your balance? (accept a few replies)

Say: There are two things that help when we try to balance. One is if we keep our abdominal muscles tight (show where these are), and the other thing is focus. It can really make a difference in your ability to balance when you concentrate or focus on an object. Try it again.

After everyone has tried to balance have everyone sit down around the table.

Say:  So focus was important. Let’s hear a Bible story about someone who lost their focus.

Bible Story

For those who have completed 1st through 3rd grade:

Refer to the Bibles distributed.

Say: For those of you who have just finished 1st or 2nd grade we don’t normally look at the Bible in class, but summer is a good time to try something different.

Ask someone who just completed 1st or 2nd grade… Where in the Bible would we read a story about Jesus, in the New Testament or the Old Testament? (in the New Testament)
Ask anyone…
  • What do we call the first four books of the New Testament? (the Gospels)
  • Does anyone know what the word “Gospel” means?

Say: The word Gospel means “good news.” Jesus teaches us good news about his love for us, and how he is always with us. Our story can be found in the gospel of Matthew.

Have the 3rd graders help show the 1st and 2nd graders about the quick way to find the New Testament... dividing the Bible in half gets them near Psalms. Dividing the back half in half again gets them near the Gospels in the New Testament. Then once they have found the story have them close the Bibles.

Read to them the story on pages 380 – 385 in The Beginner’s Bible.
For those who have completed 4th grade and up:

  • Ask: Where in the Bible would we read about Jesus? (in the New Testament)
  • What are the first four books of the New Testament? (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
  • What do we call those first four books? (the Gospels)

Say: The word Gospel means “good news.” Jesus teaches us good news about his love for us, and how he is always with us.

Have everyone find Matthew 14:22-33 in the Bible.

Since these students visit in a later week of the Rotation, ask them if they can tell you the story. Have them check their Bibles for accuracy. Read portions as necessary.


For all students: Discussion
Ask:

  • Who lost focus in this story? (Peter)
  • What was Peter focusing on when he started his walk on water?

(Possible answers: whether he could do it. Point this out if the kids don’t say it: whom was he walking towards? His focus was on Jesus.)

Ask:

  • When did Peter begin to sink? (when he began to notice the storm around him)

[If necessary review page 384 of The Beginner’s Bible or have someone read Matthew 14:30].

Say: Peter began to sink when he took his focus off of Jesus.

Ask: Everyone put on their thinking caps...their "remember-when" caps. Have you ever been stuck in one of the storms that life brings, because we can all have bad times? And during that time was your focus on Jesus? [Don’t require a response if none is given.]

Do: Share a hard time when you suddenly realized you needed to focus on Jesus.

Ask:

  • What did Jesus do when Peter called out for help? (Jesus saved Peter)
  • What did Jesus say? (accept something similar to: why were you scared)

Say: Jesus said, “What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?”
Ask:  What is faith? (accept a few responses)

Say: When we trust God and know that God will always be there with us, it is called “faith.” Faith is believing in Jesus and God; when we focus on God, our faith is stronger.
Say: Now we are going to prepare a special treat that will show us the importance of faith. First, everyone needs to head for the kitchen and wash their hands.

In the Kitchen:
Wash your hands first and then have everyone wash their hands. Offer aprons if kids want to wear one. As the kids wash their hands, start making the meringue.

Say: Our first step is to make what is called “meringue.” It has to sit for a couple of minutes so I am going to start.

Add the water to the powdered egg whites. Break up the mixture slightly with a fork. Don’t worry if it doesn’t all mix together. Let stand for at least 2 minutes.

Ask:

  • Have you ever eaten baked ice cream?
  • What do you suppose baked ice cream will look like?
  • What do you suppose it will taste like?

Ask about allergies to milk and eggs. Tell those with dairy allergies that an alternate snack is available.

Start the mixer. Beat on medium speed until the Just Whites™ have dissolved and the mixture is frothy. Stop and have a child add 1 tsp vanilla and another child add ¼ tsp cream of tartar.
Increase speed to high and beat.

Pick children to gradually spoon in portions of the powdered sugar (a total of ½ cup).
Beat until very stiff peaks form.

Remove cake and ice cream slices from the freezer. Place the cake on the cookie sheet. Add the ice cream slice on top of the cake slice. Mound meringue over ice cream/cake slice. Pick other children (who haven’t done a task yet) to help spread the meringue. (Use table knives.) Make sure to completely cover the crack between the cookie sheet and cake to seal the ice cream/cake. [Notes about this process: it needs to happen fairly quickly so choose older kids to help or do it all yourself and say that this part is a demonstration. You may not need all of the meringue.]

Have the children stay away from the hot oven, but they can watch an adult verify that the oven is very hot. Then an adult should put the ice cream/cake in the oven. Set a timer for 5 minutes. (It may be done sooner).

Do:  While waiting for the Baked Alaska to cook, show the bowl of water and an orange.

Say:  While we wait, I’d like to do a science experiment.

Ask:  Do you think that this orange will float in this bowl of water? (probably not)

Do:  Show them that it does float!

Ask:  What about a peeled orange, would it still float?

Do:  Remove the peel from one of the oranges. Place the orange in the water. It sinks!

Say:  This orange is like Peter in our Bible story. The peel is like Peter’s faith. When he had his faith (the peel) he was protected and could walk on water. When he lost his faith – the peel – he sank. Today we’re learning lots of lessons about faith!

Ask:  We can say, "I am going to have faith!" But what are ways to grow our faith?

(Possible answers: pray to God, read the Bible, learn Bible verses so that we can remember them later when we need them, act like Jesus would want us to act, worship God with other people in the church, etc.)

If there is more time have children help clean up. [Dirty dishes can go over by the dishwasher but you could have the kids wash the metal table.]

Back to the Social Hall – Eating, with more discussion:
At this point use the lesson at http://www.kirkofkildaire.org/...rBreadOfLifeCafe.htm
under the portion called “Suggested Discussion.”

Closing:
Say: Unfortunately, in our lives we do not have something we can see, like meringue or an orange peel, to cover ourselves. We can cover ourselves with faith in Jesus, and that is MORE powerful than the meringue, even though it is invisible.

Do:  Form the Eagle or the Tree Yoga pose.

Say: It helps us to balance when we focus on an object. To have strong faith, focus on God and Jesus!


Resources:



A lesson written by Carol Hulbert from: First United Methodist Church,
Ann Arbor, MI
Copyright 2008, 2013, 2021 First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI. Permission to copy materials granted for non-commercial use provided credit is given and all cited references remain with this material.

If you have found these workshops useful it would make my day if you let me know about it (and/or please make a contribution to rotation.org - see here for details. Thanks!

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