Day 1: Salt and Light
*There are 6 activities for this day’s lesson. Feel free to choose one or two of the activities OR spread them out across several days.
- Materials:
- Bible (I like the NirV)
- Children’s Bible (I’m using the Say & Pray Bible for this lesson)
- For lesson: Handful of salt, Lamp, Large bowl (that can fit over the top of the lamp), flashlight
- Activity #1: Medium plastic bin, 4-5 cups of salt to fill bottom of bin (or as much as you’d like), measuring spoons, cups, toy cars, small plastic animals, small people, flashlight
- Activity #2: Medium plastic bin or tray, salt to create a thin layer on bin/tray, 5-6 medium sized rocks
- Activity #3: Paper, watercolor paints, salt shaker with a little bit of salt
- Activity #5: 3-5 bowls, glowstick or battery-operated tea light candle
- Activity #6: 2flashlights, colored cellophane, rubberband
Day 1: Lesson
- Open Bible to Matthew 5:13-16. Ask if child wants to touch God’s Word. Touch gently. Then, read:
- You are the salt of the earth. (Hold up handful of salt.) If salt loses its saltiness, then it is no longer good for anything.
- You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can’t be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. (Place bowl over top of lamp.) No! Instead, they put it on its stand. (Place light on shelf or table.) Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Children’s Bible Reading: Open Say & Pray Bible.
- Shine flashlight on Jesus. Read story.
- Find different people with the flashlight. Find animals with the flashlight. See that Jesus and the people are all on a mountain!
- Read verse and prayer.
- Today Jesus is teaching us to be salt and light to the world.
Activity #1: Salt Sensory Bin – Salt and Light
- Prep: Put 6-10 cups of salt in plastic bin. Add your choice of tools and toys. Can lay down a towel on the floor to help contain the mess. If desired, play in a room that you can darken a bit so the flashlight shows up better.
- Sing while playing with objects in the salt (Tune: This Little Light of Mine)
You are the salt of the earth. Do not lose your flavor. You add flavor to life – that others may see your good deeds And praise Your Father in heaven!
- Sing while shining the flashlight (Tune: This Little Light of Mine)
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men – that they may see your good deeds And praise Your Father in heaven!
Activity #2: Salt and Rock Sensory Tray – Salt
- Prep: Fill bin/tray with a thin layer of salt and add rocks.
- Let child be creative with the salt and rocks.
- Sing You Are the Salt of the Earth (Activity #1)
Activity #3: Salt Watercolor Painting – Salt
- Paint with watercolor paints all over paper. (If you’d like, do a scene with a sky where the salt will make a stars or snowy appearance.)
- Let the paper dry until it is just damp, not super wet.
- Sprinkle salt wherever desired on the page. (I control the amount of salt Katelyn uses by only having a small amount in the shaker.)
- Let the page dry COMPLETELY. This step is important.
- Once the page is completely dry, shake or very gently brush off the salt. Be careful not to scratch your painting with the salt!
- Observe the cool effect the salt had on the painting!
Activity #4: Sing This Little Light of Mine with motions – Light
One finger up moving in a circular motion This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Cup hand over finger “light” Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Blow on finger “light” Don’t let Satan blow it out. I’m gonna let it shine. Don’t let Satan blow it out. I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Activity #5: Glowstick/Candle Peek-a-boo – Light
- Prep: Place bowls turned upside down in a line. Hide glowstick or battery candle underneath one of the bowls.
- Have the child peek to find the glowstick/candle and the place it on top of the overturned bowl so the light isn’t hidden. Jesus wants us to shine His light so others can see Him!
- Sing (Tune: I’m a Little Teapot) Can you find the glowstick/candle hiding still? Don’t hide the light, no! Place it on a hill! Yay! You found the glowstick/candle hiding still! Now let’s place it on the hill!
- Added challenge: Let your child see where you hide the glowstick/candle, but then rearrange the bowls to see if they can remember where the glowstick/candle is hiding.
Activity #6: Flashlight Path – Light
- Prep: Cut colored cellophane into squares that can be easily wrapped around the beam end of the flashlight.
- Darken the room and turn on the flashlight. Move it around the room in different patterns. Talk quietly about where the beam is going – high, low, forward, backward, on the chair, under the table, etc.
- Hand the flashlight to the child to let them experiment with moving the light where they want it to go.
- Move 2 flashlights and beams together in a dance.
- Wrap colored cellophane around the end of the flashlight. Experiment with different colors and guess what color will show on the wall.
- Sing This Little Light of Mine (Activity #3) or You Are the Light of the World (Activity #1).
Closing: John 17:17, Your Word is truth. Jesus wants us to shine His light so others can see Him!