March 28th & 29th

"A friend loves at all times"

Proverbs 17:17

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:
1. A friend uses kind words.
2. Kind words help our smile.

This weekend we told the story of Job's friends, found in the book of Job. We learned that Job's friends were not very nice. They didn't say kind words to eachother and when friends don't say kind things that is not the kind of friends we want to have. In class today we played some games to reinforce the lesson. First we played kind vs. unkind, the children sat in a circle and the teacher would say kind or unkind words. If the children heard kind words they gave us a thumbs up, if they heard unkind words then they gave us a thumbs down. Secondly, we played toss a smile, in this game the children sat in a big circle. The first child would have a big smile on their face while all the other children had sad faces. The first child would "toss" their happy face to another child and so on. It was such a wonderful thing to see those big, beautiful smiles on their faces.

Our craft this week was a kind face/unkind face puppet. The children drew their own kind and unkind faces on paper plates. We then glued on wiggly eyes and then stapled the faces to eachother. Then we put the faces on a stick so the children could act out the kind and unkind faces. The children had a wonderful time with all of the craft supplies and creating the pupped. This week talk to your child about why friends should say kind words to eachother. give them examples of how it makes you feel when someone says something kind to you. Then tell them how you feel when someone says something unkind. Make it a priority to say something kind to eachother all day, can you make it? Have a blessed week!

March 21st & 22nd

"A friend loves at all times"

Proverbs 17:17

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:
1. Friends sometimes need help.
2. I can look for ways to help my friends.

This weekend we told the story of the good Samaritan, found in Luke 10. We learned that the good Samaritan stopped to help the man that was hurt. We discussed how being a good friend means that we look for ways we can help our friends. We played some fun games to reinforce the lesson. First we played bandage a buddy, the children all got some toilet paper and we used the toilet paper to create bandages.We all took turns helping our friend by bandaging their owies. Secondly, we played how can I help a friend, in this game we all sat in a big circle and we talked about the many ways that we can each help a friend. Each time the teacher said something that is helpful to a friend the children all jumped up on their feet. And they stayed sitting if the teacher said something that wasn't helpful. Whew, they sure got some exercise today!

Our craft this week was a First Aid Kit. The children colored their own first aid kit and then we folded it in half and glued the edges together. Then we put some first aid supplies like bandaids and wet wipes inside. This week as you talk to your child about why friends should help eachother, think about the times that you have gone out of your way to help someone. Tell your child what you did and what it meant for you to be able to help that person. Children learn more from our actions than our words, you never know what might stick in their minds. Have a blessed week!

March 14th & 15th

"A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:

1. Jonathan and David were sticky friends.
2. Sticky friends love eachother.

This weekend we told the story of Jonathon and David, found in 1Samuel 18 - 20. We learned that Jonathan and David were sticky friends, they played together, loved eachother, and even protected eachother. They stuck together through it all. We talked about this in class today and played some games to reinforce the lesson. First we played friend relay, the children linked arms with a friend, and then they ran across the room to a chair and back with their arms still linked. Secondly, we played shoot the arrow, in this game, each child would take a pool noodle and shoot the noodle to the bean bag in front of them. All the children took turns shooting the arrow, just like Jonathan and David would do.

Our craft this week was a Jonathan/David puppet. The children colored their own Jonathan and David characters. We then cut them out and placed each character on the side of a popsicle stick. Now Jonathan and David were "stuck" together! The children had a wonderful time with all of the craft supplies and creating the stuck together Jonathan and David. This week as you talk to your child about why friends should stick together. Do you have a special friend that you have stuck together with through the years? What have you done for him/her? Talk with your child how to be a sticky friend using your own friends as examples! Have a blessed week!

March 7th & 8th

"We love because God loved us first" 1John 4:19

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:

1. I can love others like Jesus.
2. I can love those who are unkind because Jesus loves them too.

This weekend we told the story of Jesus teaching us how to love others who are unkind, found in Matthew 5:43 - 45. This is such a difficult lesson to teach because it is hard to be loving to someone who is unkind. Jesus taught us that we need to love others, even if they are unkind. When we show our love for these people everyone can see God's love shining through! We talked about this in class today and played some games to reinforce the lesson. First we played thumbs up/thumbs down, the children all sat in a circle and the classrom teacher would describe a loving or unkind action. The children would respond with a thumbs up if it was loving and a thumbs down if it was unkind. Secondly, we played musical hugs, in this game, the classroom teacher would play music and the children would dance around. As soon as the music stopped, the children would find a friend to hug. Then the teacher would play the music some more, but thist ime the children had to find someone different to hug. They all had a wonderful time and it was so wonderful to see everyone loving and hugging eachother in class.

Our craft this week was a paper plate sun mask. The children took a paper plate with the center removed and added rays of sunshine with yellow and orange construction paper. Then we added a popsicle stick to the sun to make a mask. Again, reinforcing that when we are kind to others we are letting God's love shine through us. This week as you talk to your child about what you can do to show love to those who are unkind. Perhaps you can talk to your child about a situation you have encountered this week that was unkind, but you still showed love to them. Next week is a new lesson, I can be a friend. We're looking forward to it, I hope you are!! Have a blessed week!

February 28th & March 1st

"We love because God loved us first" 1John 4:19

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:

1. I can love how God made me.

2. God made me unique and special because He loves me so much.

This weekend we told the story of Jesus and the children, found in Matthew 19:13-14; Mark 10:13-16. Jesus loved the children so much because He made them, and He made them each very special. We talked about this in class today and played some games to reinforce the lesson. First we played I spy, the children all sat in a circle and the classrom teacher would say "I spy someone with a red shirt", the child with the red shirt would stand up and then it was their turn to spy! After all the children had a chance to spy we talked about all the things that make each of us unique. Secondly, we played I am special because... in this game, the classroom teacher would roll a ball to a child sitting in the circle. Whomever received the ball got to stand up and tell them something that makes them special. Each child is truly a special gift from the Lord and we wanted to make sure they know just how special they are!

Our craft this week was a God Made Me Special medal. The children colored in their own medals or they decorated them with glitter, it was so much fun to watch them decorate their special medals. The children had a wonderful time with all of the craft supplies. This week as you talk to your child about why God made each of us special, remind them that being different is a gift from God. Perhaps you can take some time this week in your car to talk about what makes each family member special. What unique gifts were given to you by God? Have a blessed week!