The ideas below may help you teach your preschoolers about the 12 disciples. Feel free to use these ideas to supplement your current curriculum or to make your own lesson.
Story Suggestions
- Matthew 4:18-22
- Matthew 9:9-13
- Matthew 10
Game Ideas
Fishers of Men Fishing Game
Directions: Make 12 paper fish with the name of a disciple on each one. Put a paper clip on each nose of the fish. Get some large sticks, string and magnets to make up fishing rods. Put the fish in a large box (you can decorate to look like the sea) and allow the children to take turns fishing for a disciple. Once they pull the fish out, tell them the name of disciple they found, and any interesting fact you may know about that particular disciple (ex., Judas, he betrayed Jesus).
Disciple Concentration
Directions: Divide children into pairs to work together. Give each pair of children 2 sets of the disciple printouts (below). Copy the printouts on cardstock and laminate for durability. Have the children play concentration together, where they have to match two of the same disciples to make a pair.
Snacks
A great snack for this lesson idea would be:
Fish Snack:
Ingredients:
- Goldfish crackers
- Graham crackers
- Blue icing (white icing mixed with blue food coloring)
Directions: Spread blue icing on top of a graham cracker. Place two or three goldfish on the icing for fish swimming in the ocean
Another idea for a snack could be to just have Goldfish with some blue punch (Hi-C).
Art Center Ideas
Paper Plate Fish Craft
Materials:
- Paper plate
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Wiggly eyes
Directions:
- Cut a triangle piece out of the paper plate to center of the paper plate.
- Glue the smooth point of the triangle shape to the back of the paper plate to be the fish tail.
- Let the children decorate their fish with crayons.
- Glue on one or two wiggly eyes.
Play-Doh Ocean Scene
Materials:
- Play-Doh (various colors)
- Paper plates
Directions: Let children create their own version of fish from Play-Doh. Show them how to make water and sand from Play-Doh, as well. Work on paper plates to keep their scene in a controlled amount of space. Makes clean-up easier, too!
Suggested Prayer (or use your own)
Thank you, God, for make me what I am, What I may be...Tall or short, dark or fair, I shall know you're always there. ~ Author Unknown
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