DLTK's Sunday School Lessons
Jacob's Ladder
by
Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. Visit the Jacob's Ladder Bible lesson plan for further ideas to supplement this.
Introduction:
This next lesson is about Jacob's ladder. As Jacob is travelling away from home (running from his brother Esau) he receives a message from God through a dream. Maybe Jacob was worried and uncertain about his future and God knew he needed a message. God assured Jacob that he will watch over him and provide for him and his generations to come. In return Jacob vows to follow God and give Him back a portion of what he receives.
The message:
Preschool thru Grade 1: God can speak to us in many ways.
Grades 2 and 3: God can use our dreams to give us a message.
I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level. For the younger children, the message is simple: God can speak to us in many ways. For the older children, we expand on this message and say: God can use our dreams to give us a message.
Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson. Send the Jacob's Ladder Take Home Sheet home with the children to encourage parents to reiterate the message during the week. It includes a poster at the bottom that the children can color and hang on their wall or refrigerator.
Preview of the lesson:
Some people like to do craft time first and story time second and some like to switch it around. I like the first option, myself.
Always consider offering the Angel Coloring Pages for children who aren't interested in participating in the group activity (or if you get done the group activities very quickly and need something to fill in the spare time). Everyone has a need for "alone time" once in awhile. Also, sending home the mini book or coloring pages with the Take Home sheet provides parents with much needed help in reinforcing the lessons. You can make a nice little booklet each week with the Take Home Sheet on top -- I promise that most parents will appreciate the effort!
Description |
Time Allotted |
Supplies |
| Welcome! Receive name tags. Have the children use crayons, markers, yarn, feathers and whatever other materials (such as sparkle glue) that you have available to personalize their name tag. Sing the Learning our Names song |
10 to 15 minutes | Stone name tags, scissors (or adults can precut), crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape. |
Craft time! Preschool thru Grade 1: Make the Jacob's Ladder Recipe. This is a fun way to help the children to remember the story. Make one ahead of time so the children can see it and discuss the story or ask questions while making it.
Grade 2 and 3: Make the Jacob's Ladder Collage Craft. Children can use as many pieces in the collage as the want or the can skip some pieces and use there own drawings for parts of the collage in they prefer. They also may want to draw a background or a dream bubble around their collage with some of the words spoken between God and Jacob. |
15 to 30 minutes depending on your adult/child ratio |
Preschool thru Grade 1:
Jacob's Ladder recipe
Wax paper, small stick pretzels, small marshmallows, marshmallow cream. Grade 2 and 3: Jacob's Ladder Collage template printer, paper, scissors, glue, something to color with. |
Bible Story Time: Preschool thru Grade 1: Read The Story of Jacob's Ladder (or read from your own store bought children's bible). Grades 2 and 3: It's tough to know when it's the right time to start readings from the Bible, but if the children have been read a children's version of the story in the past, I believe this is a good age to introduce the King James (or your preferred) bible reading. |
10 minutes | The Coloring Pages can be distributed to the children so they are able to color at home, or during the story. |
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Closing: Preschool thru Grade 1: depending on the time remaining ask the children if God ever speaks to them? When they feel bad about something they've done wrong could that be God speaking to them? What are ways God can speak to them? If they're not sure they can ask a parent or a Sunday School teacher about it. Grade 2 and 3: depending on the time remaining ask the children if God has spoken to them. It doesn't have to be as dramatic as Jacob's dream but God is reaching out to us and wanting us to listen to his prompting. Ask the students to focus on hearing God this week and come back next week ready to share what God has done through them.
Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together" |
5 to 15 minutes | Brainstorm Board (chalkboard, whiteboard, poster board,...)
Words to: Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together"
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