Toddler Class Resources

These are some examples of songs, rhymes and simple games that children ~2-4 years will likely enjoy.  This is certainly not an exhaustive list.  Enjoy the Sunday morning time with these bright-eyed Toddlers!

Bible Songs

-         The B-I-B-L-E

-         God is so Good

-         Hallelu- Hallelu, Hallelujah

-         He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

-         Jesus Loves Me

-         This is the Day

-         This Little Light of Mine

Bible Songs with Flannel Graph Pieces

God in Heaven Made a Farm (To the tune of “Old Macdonald”)

God in heaven made a farm   Halle Halle lujah
and on his farm he made a duck   Halle Halle lujah
with a cluck cluck here and a cluck cluck there
here a cluck there a cluck everywhere a cluck cluck
God in heaven made a farm   Halle Halle lujah

so on and so on with different animals such as sheep, horse, pig

Bible is its Name (To the tune of the song "BINGO")

God gave us a special book
The Bible is its name Oh!
B- I- B- L- E, B- I- B- L- E, B- I- B- L- E
The Bible is its name Oh!

Classic Songs

-         The A-B-C Song

-         The Eensie Weensy Spider

-          Head and Shoulders (Variation 1)

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes (2x)

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes (2x)

Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,

Head and shoulders knees and toes

-         Head and Shoulders (Variation 2)

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes (3x)

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes (3x)

Clap your hands and praise Him!

-         Here we go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush

Many verse options, such as “This is the way we give High-5s.” Or “This is the way we brush our teeth.”

-         If you are Happy and You know it

                …Clap your hands

                …Stomp your feet

                …Shout Amen

                …Do All 3

-         London Bridge is Falling Down

-         Mmm Mmm Went the Little Green Frog

-         Old McDonald

-         Pop! Goes the Weasel

-         Ring Around the Rosy

-         Ring Around the Rosy (variation)

        Walking round the circle,

Holding hands with friends.

Happy, happy, we all fall down!

-         Row, Row, Row Your Boat

-         The Wheels on the Bus

Verses:

The people on the bus go up and down (3x)

The babies on the bus go “wha-wha-wha!”

The mommies on the bus go “Sh-sh-sh!”

The driver on the bus goes “Move on back!”

The horn on the bus goes “beep-beep-beep!”

The wipers on the bus go “swish-swish-swish!” (or, “back and forth”)

The engine of the bus goes “Vroom-vroom-vroom!”

-         Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

-          Twinkle, Twinkle Traffic Light (with flannel Graph Pieces)

(to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Twinkle, twinkle traffic light

‘Round the corner shining bright

Red means stop

Green means go

Yellow means very slow

Twinkle, twinkle traffic light

‘Round the corner shining bright

Bible Finger Plays and Rhymes

-         The Bible

The Holy Bible is God’s Book (form closed book with hands)

            Let’s open it and see (open hands)

            Where he tell us of His love

            He loves you, He love me (point to others, point to self)

-         God Loves You

One, two (hold up fingers)

This is true (hold hands together like a book)

God loves me (point to self)

God loves you (point to others)

-         God Made Me

God made the birds that fly above (wave arms)

The fish that swim beneath the sea (move hands as swimming)

The animals that crawl and run (move hands slowly and then faster)

And God made me!

-         God Made All of Me

I have hands that can clap, clap, clap

God made my two hands.

I have feet that can tap, tap, tap.

God made my two feet.

I have a body that can turn round and round.

God made all of me!

-         Who Loves You?  With owl finger puppet
Who? Who? Who loves you? 

Jesus, He’s the one.

Who? Who? Who cares for you?

Jesus, He's God's Son!

Finger Plays and Rhymes

-         The Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill (make birds with your fingers)

One named Jack and one named Jill

Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill. (fly each hand behind your back)

Come back, Jack; come back, Jill (bring your hands around)

        (Say it again using children’s names) 

-         Hickory, Dickory, Dock

Hickory, dickory, dock (rock body back and forth)

The mouse ran up the clock (creep your fingers up your arm)

The clock struck one (clap hands)

The mouse ran down (scamper your fingers down your arm)

Hickory, dickory, dock

-         Jack in the Box

Jack in the box, Jack in the box (crouch down)

Sitting so still

Won’t you come out? Won’t you come out?

Yes, I will! (jump up)

-         Little Bees

One little bee flew and flew.  He met a friend, and that made two.  

Two little bees, busy as could be. Along came another and that made three.

Three little bees, wanted one more.  Found one soon and that made four.

Four little bees, going to the hive. Spied their little brother, and that made five.

Five little bees working every hour. ‘Buzz away, bees, and find another flower!’

-         Where is Thumbkin?

Where is Thumbkin?  Where is Thumbkin?

Here I am, here I am (hold up each thumb)

How are you today, Sir?

Very well, I thank you.  (wiggle thumbs like they are talking to each other)

Run away, run away.

  

Prayers

Before food/snack

-         ABCs Prayer

A-B-C-D-E-F-G

Thank you for this food for me.

Amen!

-         God is Great

God is great

God is good

Let us thank Him for this food.

Amen!

Morning

-         Good Morning God

Good Morning God

This is Your day

I am Your child

Show me Your way

Amen

Anytime

-         God in Heaven

God in Heaven, hear my prayer

Keep me in Your loving care

Be my guide in all I do

Bless all those who love me, too.

            Amen

Quick Games and Activities

-          The Hokey Pokey (say, “this foot, other foot” vs. “left, right.”)

-         Follow the Leader

-         Red Light Green Light (red/green colors-on-a-stick included in the binder)

-         Play music, dance, then freeze

-         “Everybody Do this”

Stand in a circle

Say:  “Everybody do this, do this, do this

           Everybody do this…  just like me!”

Children take turns introducing a new movement (clap hands, stomp feet, wiggle, etc.)

-         Ring Around the Rosy (for variety end with “We all jump up!” “We all turn around” “We all clap our hands”)

-         London Bridge

Toddler Class Outline

Hi Toddler class parents and teachers,

Since there are a number of people who lead the toddler class, we (the curriculum planning team) wanted to out together a simple outline for leading the class.  We realize the kids are not old enough to be super interactive (yet), but establishing a rhythm will keep the kids feeling comfortable in the environment.  Keeping the rhythm the same is beneficial since we change teachers and content each week.

Here's a basic outline of a typical class (all times are approximate):

8:45-- Make sure the front (big) room is set up with the carpet in the middle, toys to the side-- Ozzy should be setting it up this way.  Grab the Bible story for the week from the box in the kiosk-- Joey will be sending out the story number in the reminder email (see the previous post for the number/story listing).  Bring over any craft supplies, snacks, play dough, wet wipes, gate, music, playdough, etc you might need.

9:00-- Make sure either you or the Preschool teacher brings the rope over to the Taproot Lobby

9:25-- Meet the toddler kids in the Taproot Lobby.  Make sure all parents sign in and check with all kids if anyone needs to use the bathroom with their parents before heading over.  Most kids are not yet toilet trained so confirm the location of diaper bags.  Also, note any food allergies.

9:30-- Walk the kids over to the office on the rope.  Make sure someone grabs the sign in sheet.

9:35-- Gather in the front (big) room on the carpet.  If a child is having a hard time saying good bye to their parent, it can be helpful to pick them up and have them sit on your lap on the carpet (as is age appropriate).

-- Sing a welcome song including teachers names (ex. Sung to the tune of "Hello Ladies"-- Hello Judah, Hello Zachary, Hello Elsie, I'm so glad you're here....)

-- Sing 2-3 songs with motions or clapping (Reba is putting together a binder of song ideas, but for example: If you're happy and you know it, Twinkle Twinkle, He's got the whole world in his hands, Jesus loves me).  Don't feel bad if no one sings or someone is crying, just keep trying to engage them as best you can.  If singing is not your thing, try a game of ring around the rosie, or eye spy, or something else interactive.

9:45-- Read the bible story on the carpet.  Ask if they see the characters on the pages.  It seems over their head or silly, feel free to paraphrase.  If they are really wiggly that day, try going to the table and distributing the snack first.

9:50-- Snack time at the table (guide kids towards the most stable chairs).  Pray a prayer of thanksgiving first, if you are able.  There should be goldfish in the kiosk.  I think most of the kids are ok with gluten on a limited basis, but if that changes, check their diaper bag for a different snack.  While they are snacking, try asking them questions about themselves-- they probably won't answer, but that's ok :)

9:55-- Craft or similar table based activity.  There are not high expectations here, just some crayons, paper and a plan is enough.  If you can tie it to the story or theme, great!  For example, on palm sunday, we just took green crayons and drew palm branches all over the paper.  They can't do scissors or glue on their own yet, but you can if you want to help.  Don't worry about making something to take home.  If you can't find a good craft related to the story, no worries, just google toddler crafts and pick whatever sounds fun.

10:00-- Open play time for the last 15 minutes.  Feel free to just let the kids play with trains, toys, play-dough, etc.  There is a stereo in the nursery and kids CDs in the kiosk if you'd like to use that.

10:15-- Pick up time.  You can put up the door gate so that no one escapes and little fingers don't get slammed with the door opening/shutting.  Make sure parents are singing the kids out.  Be sure to let parents know if their kid had a diaper change, and also if they did something really cute or helpful, that's always great to share!

That's all.  Thank so much for being willing to invest in these kids!

Laura

Toddler Class Stories Numbered

Preschool: remembering the rescue and Thanksgiving

This Sunday, we will look back on the Exodus-- the great rescue-- and look forward to the great rescuer who is coming!

We'll do some Thanksgiving games and arts and crafts too. Happy Thanksgiving!

Next week Reba will begin teaching for the Advent season and I'll be done for a while. I hope your kids have enjoyed the Exodus!

Laura

Preschool: Jericho

Lesson plan for the coming sunday, the last lesson in the Exodus!  We'll do a wrap up Exodus lesson/Thanksgiving celebration next week before moving into Advent.

Jericho

Welcome to Worship

-We are in a special place because God is here
-This is our special place to be with God, we can talk to God, we can listen to God, we can hear stories of God

Teach them: The Lord Be With You (and Also With You)

Special guest!

Jen Geelhood will bring her trombone!  Questions:

-How does the horn make noise?

-What are different types of sounds it can make (smooth, jumpy, sad, happy?)

-How soft can the horn be?

-How loud can the horn be?

-Can it bring down a wall?

-Can 100 horns bring down a wall?

-Can 1000 horns bring down a wall?

Songs of Praise

-I’ve got peace like a river, love like an ocean, joy like a fountain

-Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho,

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came a tumbling down.

-Come into his presence singing alleluia

Jericho (green cloth, jenga pieces, Hebrew people/Jericho people)

-The Hebrew people had arrived.  God had brought them to the promised land. The home of Joseph and his brothers. The home of the Hebrew people.  It was called Canaan.

-The people living in Canaan did not want the Hebrew people to come back.  They were used to having the land all to themselves. 

-The city, Jericho, guarded the land.  It was a fortress: huge and tall, it had a big wall and many guards to protect it. 

-The Hebrew people knew they needed to pass by Jericho to live in Canaan, so what would they do?  They couldn’t get past Jericho on their own, it was much to strong.

-But God had a rescue plan. He told Joshua to get his army to march around Jericho’s walls, but not to fight.  Just march, waiting for God to tell them what to do next.

-After 7 days, God told the Hebrew people march, shout and blow trumpets as loud as they could, and God brought the walls of the city to the ground.

-The Hebrew people trusted God and he brought them into the promised land without a fight.

I wonder questions (trying to get at the rescue)

-I wonder how the people felt when Joshua told them to get ready to walk around Jericho?

-I wonder how it felt when they walked for 7 days and nothing happened?

-I wonder how they felt when they saw the walls start to come down?

-I wonder what the people will do now that they are in the promised land?

Thanksgiving Feast

We have our time of thanksgiving; I wonder what you are thankful for today?

Read the Jesus storybook bible

Response time: Everyone can pick a way to tell the story

-Re-tell the story
-Art/craft: Trumpet toilet papers rolls & streamers

-Arts/craft: Coloring/playdough

-Tactile: Legos to build the walls

-Games: Jenga

Preschool: The Promised Land

Lesson plan for tomorrow...

The Promised Land

Welcome to Worship

-We are in a special place because God is here
-This is our special place to be with God, we can talk to God, we can listen to God, we can hear stories of God

Teach them: The Lord Be With You (and Also With You)

Songs of Praise

-Halle lu, halle lu (praise ye the lord)

-I’ve got peace like a river, love like an ocean, joy like a fountain

-People get ready, there’s a train to Jordan

Don’t need no baggage, you just get on board,

All you need is faith, to hear the diesels humming

Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

-Come into his presence singing alleluia

The Promised Land

-This is the desert, it is dry—there is no water, no food, God had to provide for his people

-So many important things happened to the Hebrew people, God’s people, in the desert

-God gave them Moses, and a cloud by day and fire by night, to lead them through the desert

-He gave them water and manna

-God gave the 10 best ways to live

-When Moses died, God gave them a new leader, Joshua

                                                  

-The Hebrew people were still the desert and soon they would be home, the promised land, but the people were afraid:

-“We cannot go into the promised land, the people are giants, we are like grasshoppers, they will kill us”, so they had to wander some more

-After many years, they came back to the Jordan River

-They were so close, they could see the promised land, they could see the huge city of Jericho

-One day, God said to Joshua “don’t be afraid, lead the people into the promised land. Be strong, have courage. I will be with you wherever you go.”

-So Joshua told the people, “God will lead the way”, and He did.

-He rolled back the water of the Jordan River… and the people passed through on dry land.

-When they were all through, God said, take 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan River

-Joshua said to the people, when your children as you what these stones mean, you will say, the people of God passed through on dry land into the promised land.  For God dried up the Jordan just like he did the Red Sea, so that everyone may know God’s power.

I wonder questions (trying to get at the rescue)

-I wonder how the people felt when Joshua told them to get ready to go into the promised land?

-I wonder how it felt when God led them through the water into the promised land?

-I wonder what the people will do now that they are in the promised land

Thanksgiving Feast

We have our time of thanksgiving; I wonder what you are thankful for today?

Read the bible story

Response time: Everyone can pick a way to tell the story

-Re-tell the story
-Art/craft: paint stones (everyone)

-Arts/craft: Coloring

-Tactile: playdough

-Imagination: train set (people get ready)