Grades 1–6: God Hears People — Session 1: King David Thanked God (January 5)

Grades 1-3

Introductory Activity – I Am Thankful

Materials: whiteboard, marker

Gather the kids and ask: “What are you thankful for?” Write the kids answers on the whiteboard. As each child answers, ask her why she is thankful for that answer, and suggest she say something like, “Thank You, God, for ________.” When each child has answered, say they will hear a story about King David being thankful. 

Live It Out

Game – Verse Review

Materials: beanbags

Form the kids into pairs and instruct them to face each other one foot apart. Give each pair one beanbag. Write the Weekly Verse on a whiteboard and practice saying it together as a group. Tell the children to toss the beanbag back and forth, each saying a word of the verse when he tosses the beanbag. After a few minutes, tell the kids to change partners and say the verse again.

Craft – Thankful Chain

Materials: construction paper, markers, staplers with staples

Cut 2-by-6-inch strips of paper from multiple pieces of construction paper of various colors. Place the strips on a table with markers and staplers. Tell the children to write things they are thankful to God on slips of paper. When they finish writing, they can use staplers to make a chain. Tell the kids to take the chains home as a reminder that God hears people thank Him. 

Grades 4-6

Introductory Activity – Praise of Thanks

Materials: paper, pencils

Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct them to write a poem that praises God. Allow several volunteers the opportunity to share their poems with the entire class. Write the Life Point on the board and say it together. 

Live It Out

Game – Gratitude Toss

Materials: ball, chairs, music player

Form a circle with your chairs and instruct everyone to sit down. Hand a ball to one of the kids. Tell the kids they will toss the ball around the circle while you play worship music. Inform them that whoever is holding the ball when you stop the music must tell the group one reason they have to thank God. Do this for many rounds so that multiple children can share. Say the Life Point together.

Craft – T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U.

Materials: construction paper, markers

Give each child a piece of construction paper and a marker. Direct the children to write THANK YOU vertically down the left side of the paper. Instruct them to write one thing they can thank God for that starts with each letter of THANK YOU. Tell them to write the Life Point across the bottom of their page. Allow volunteers to share what they wrote on their page.