Use this Preschool Sunday School Lesson: Thankful for our Bodies with young children.
1. Classy Bodies-*Say: Today, we’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving by celebrating a gift that God has given us every day-our bodies.
Have children work together to create a “class body.” Have each child contribute one part of his or her body by tracing an outline, then labeling, cutting out, and attaching it to the larger body. For example, one child traces his trunk and another child traces her elbow. Connect all the body parts until you’ve created an entire body.
2. Wonderfully Made-Read aloud Psalm 139:14. Have each child touch his or her part on the class body and tell at least one good use for this body part. For example, a child may say, “God has given me my hand to help others,” or “God gives me my ears to listen to my parents.”
3. Say It’s So-Place a long strip of masking tape on the floor. The tape must be long enough so each child can stand on it with some space for jumping. Stand at one end of the tape line and have children face you. Establish right side and left side with the children. Then tell them you’ll read some statements. If the answer for them is yes, they must jump to the right of the line. If the answer is no, they must jump to the left of the line.
Use these statements (add more if you’d like):* *We show thanks to God for our mouths when we smile. *We show thanks to God for our bodies when we eat junk food. *We show thanks to God for our hands when we hit someone. *We show thanks to God for our feet when we kick someone. *We show thanks to God for our minds when we read Bible stories. *We show thanks to God for our feet when we visit a lonely friend. *We show thanks to God for our mouths when we yell. *We show thanks to God for our bodies when we exercise. *We show thanks to God for our hands when we make a gift for someone. *We show thanks to God for our minds when we watch lots of television.
4. Snack-You’ll need: For every four children, you’ll need a one-quart jar with a tight-fitting lid, 1 3/4 cups milk, and one small package of vanilla instant pudding. You’ll also need small cups and spoons.
Directions: Put the milk and instant pudding in the jar and close it tightly. Have children pass the jar around the circle and shake it until it becomes pudding. This usually takes around three to five minutes. Encourage students to think about how they’re using their bodies to help each other. Serve the pudding in small cups.
5. Body Sculptures-Have children touch a part of their bodies for which they especially want to give thanks to God. Have them freeze in that position. Now have each child name one thing he or she will do for others with that body part. When finished, stand together, holding hands, and repeat the first part of Psalm 139:14 together at least four times. End with a big amen and a group hug.
Bobbie Bower is a children’s ministry consultant in Kansas.
TEACHER TIP You may have children with physical disabilities in your class. If you do, be sensitive to their feelings of not having perfect bodies. Help them focus on all the parts of their bodies-internally and externally-that work perfectly. Encourage them to thank God for these parts of their bodies. —