Passage: Matthew 17:24-27 - Once when Jesus and his disciples were traveling in Capernaum, the temple tax collectors came up to Peter and tried to ask him a trick question, whether Jesus paid temple taxes or not. Peter said that he does, and went to Jesus to tell him what happened. While Jesus stated that it wasn’t right to make the children of God pay taxes to the temple, he told Peter to go and catch a fish and look inside its mouth. When Peter did this, he found two coins inside, just enough to pay for his and Jesus’ temple tax.
Big Idea: God meets our needs in surprising ways.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
-
Welcome Activity: — All Leaders
Have one leader greet the children with the iPad roster outside the classroom door. Check-in the children in your classroom as they arrive.
Have another leader invite the children in to sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Introduce yourselves, and use this time to get to know the names of the kids in your classroom.
Leader: “Good morning friends! It’s so nice to see you! We are glad you are here today! We are going to start by playing a game today.”
Warm Up Activity: Four Corners Game
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we’re starting something new. We’re gonna be talking about some of the miracles that Jesus did.
Does anyone know what a miracle is?
Has anyone ever seen a magic show where the magician pulls something out of a hat? What do they usually find inside their hat?
In today’s story, we learn about a time when Jesus made something appear - not out of a hat, but out of a fish’s mouth!
Let’s watch our video to find out more about the story…
Video Lesson — Select Mystery Miracles: Coins and fish from lesson plan playlist.
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What do you think about Jesus’ miracle of making coins appear from the mouth of a fish? Was that pretty cool?
Does anyone remember why Peter needed the money in the first place?
What do does that story make you think about what Jesus is like? (Jesus cares for our needs; sometimes he does it in funny and surprising ways)
Leader: Alright friends I think we should get up and move around a bit before our craft can everybody stand up?
Body Break Activity: — Freeze Dance
Select Freeze Dance video from Lesson Activity’s Playlist
After the song finishes head to the craft tables for the activity.
Activity: Beaded Craft
Kids will use beads and pipe cleaners provided to create bracelets.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Dismiss children manually with Roster iPad and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver. Check parents pick up stickers to see that they match with the code listed on the iPad.
-
Welcome Activity: — All Leaders
Have one leader greet the children with the iPad roster and Check-in the children as they arrive.
Have another leader invite the children in to have a seat. Introduce yourselves, and use this time to get to know the names of the kids in your classroom.
Warm Up Activity: Four Corners Game
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we’re starting something brand new. We’re gonna be talking about some of the miracles that Jesus did while he was on earth, and putting on our detective hats to try to find out what they mean and what we can learn from them.
Does anyone know what a miracle is?
Has anyone ever seen a magic show where the magician pulls something out of a hat? What do they usually find inside their hat?
In today’s story, we learn about a time when Jesus made something appear - not out of a hat, but out of a fish’s mouth!
Now, We are going to watch a video about today’s story. If you would like a fidget to help you focus our leaders will pass around a basket of fidgets to use. Can you give a thumbs up when you are ready?
Video Lesson — Select Mystery Miracles: Coins and Fish from lesson plan playlist.
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What do you guys think about the miracle of Jesus telling Peter to catch a fish and check it’s mouth to find coins?
Does anyone remember why Peter needed the coins in the first place?
What do you think that tells us about what Jesus is like? (he cares for our needs and provides for us, sometimes in funny and surprising ways)
Have you ever prayed to God for something you wanted or needed, and God answered your prayer in a funny way? What was that?
Have a leader collect the fidget’s before moving to the tables.
Craft Activity — Beaded Bracelets
Kids will use beads, pipe cleaners to create bracelets
Colouring Sheets will also be available
Dismissal: Dismiss children manually with Roster iPad and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver. Check parents pick up stickers to see that they match with the code listed on the iPad.
-
Welcome — All Leaders
Welcome the kids to class, ask how their week was.
Using the roster iPad manually check-in the kids who are in the classroom.
Use this time to get to know the names of the kids in your classroom.
A basket of fidget toys will be available, pass around fidgets to help kids focus during the lesson.
Warm Up Activity: Dice Get to Know You Game
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we’re going to be starting a brand new series. For the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at some of the parables or stories of Jesus and what we learn from them.
For this series we’ll be taking a look at some of his miracles, and thinking about it like detectives trying to solve a mystery… The mystery we’re trying to solve is not how Jesus did these miracles, but what the deeper meaning behind them is - because Jesus didn’t just teach through stories and lessons, but also through his actions and the miracles he performed.
Let’s watch our video to find out what today’s miracle is all about….
Video Lesson — Select Miracle Mysteries: Coins in Fish from Lesson Playlist.
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What do you guys think about Jesus’ miracle of making coins appear from the mouth of a fish?
Do you remember why they needed that money in the first place?
Do you think it was fair for the temple to be making people pay to go and worship God? Why do you think Jesus chose to pay for it anyway?
What’s something we can learn from this miracle about what God is like? (God cares for our needs and provides for us, sometimes in surprising ways)
Can you think of any surprising ways that God has answered your prayers?
Activity: Beaded Bracelets
Kids will make bracelets or keychains using beads, string and pipe cleaners.
Dismissal: Dismiss children using the iPad roster, check that pickup tags match the ones on the iPad.
-
Welcome:
Greet the children, check-in the children on the tablet as soon as they arrive in the classroom.
Introduce yourself, get to know the kids’ names.
If a child is not interested in the activities, allow them to move to free play.
Activity: Choose a picture book from the shelf and read it to the kids (whoever is interested).
Body Break Activity: Sing/Dance
Select a Freeze Dance video from the Lesson Plan Activities playlist on YouTube
Activity: Fish Craft
Leader cuts out strips of paper (see example provided) and kids decorate them as fish.
Dismissal: As they leave, check-out children manually on the tablet and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver. Check parents’ pick-up stickers to see that they match with the code listed on the tablet.
-
Welcome:
Greet the children, check-in the children on the tablet as soon as they arrive in the classroom. Invite them to sit on the carpet.
Introduce yourself, get to know the kids’ names.
Warm Up Activity: Four Corners
Leader stands in the middle of the room, closes their eyes, and counts down from 10. Kids walk to a corner of their choice. Leader points at a corner, and whoever is in that corner gets to join the leader in the middle and help them count. If the leader points at an empty corner, everyone in the middle goes back into the game. Continue however many rounds you like!
Preliminary Discussion:
Today we’re starting something brand new. We’re gonna be talking about some of the miracles that Jesus did while he was on earth, and putting on our detective hats to try to find out what they mean and what we can learn from them.
Does anyone know what a miracle is?
Has anyone ever seen a magic show where the magician pulls something out of a hat? What do they usually find inside their hat?
In today’s story, we learn about a time when Jesus made something appear - not out of a hat, but out of a fish’s mouth!
Now, We are going to watch a video about today’s story. If you would like a fidget to help you focus our leaders will pass around a basket of fidgets to use. Can you give a thumbs up when you are ready?
Video Lesson — Select Mystery Miracles: Coins and Fish from lesson plan playlist.
Follow Up Discussion:
What do you guys think about the miracle of Jesus telling Peter to catch a fish and check it’s mouth to find coins?
Does anyone remember why Peter needed the coins in the first place?
What do you think that tells us about what Jesus is like? (he cares for our needs and provides for us, sometimes in funny and surprising ways)
Have you ever prayed to God for something you wanted or needed, and God answered your prayer in a funny way? What was that?
Have a leader collect the fidget’s before moving to the tables.
Have a leader explain the craft using an example and demonstrate how it works.
Craft Activity — Paper Fish
See example provided. Use colourful paper provided to cut out strips of paper and decorate them as fish. Might be helpful to have a leader do the cutting and the kids just decorate.
Dismissal: As they leave, check-out children manually on the tablet and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver. Check parents’ pick-up stickers to see that they match with the code listed on the tablet.
-
Welcome:
Welcome the kids to class, ask how their week was.
Use the tablet to manually check-in the kids who are in the classroom.
Use this time to get to know the kids’ names.
A basket of fidget toys will be available, pass around fidgets to help kids focus during the lesson.
Warm Up Activity: Dice Get-To-Know-You Game
Preliminary Discussion:
Today we’re going to be starting a brand new series. For the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at some of the parables or stories of Jesus and what we learn from them.
For this series we’ll be taking a look at some of his miracles, and thinking about it like detectives trying to solve a mystery… The mystery we’re trying to solve is not how Jesus did these miracles, but what the deeper meaning behind them is - because Jesus didn’t just teach through stories and lessons, but also through his actions and the miracles he performed.
Let’s watch our video to find out what today’s miracle is all about….
Video Lesson — Select Mystery Miracles: Coins and Fish from lesson plan playlist.
Follow Up Discussion:
What do you guys think about Jesus’ miracle of making coins appear from the mouth of a fish?
Do you remember why they needed that money in the first place?
Do you think it was fair for the temple to be making people pay to go and worship God? Why do you think Jesus chose to pay for it anyway?
What’s something we can learn from this miracle about what God is like? (God cares for our needs and provides for us, sometimes in surprising ways)
Can you think of any surprising ways that God has answered your prayers?
Activity: Paper Fish
Use colourful paper provided to cut out strips of paper and decorate them to make fish. (See example provided).
Dismissal: As they leave, check-out children manually on the tablet and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver. Check parents’ pick-up stickers to see that they match with the code listed on the tablet.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
-
What was the story you learned about in class today?
What do you think about Jesus’ miracle of making coins appear from the mouth of a fish?
Why did he need the coins in the first place?
Do you think that was a funny way for Jesus to take care of what the disciples needed? What do you think that teaches us about how God takes care of us?
Do you think God can sometimes answer our prayers in funny or surprising ways? Like what?
-
What was the story you learned about in class today?
What do you think about Jesus’ miracle of making coins appear from the mouth of a fish?
Why did him and his disciples need that money in the first place?
Why do you think Jesus decided to do it that way? What do you think his disciples learned from that? (that God always meets their needs, sometimes in surprising ways)
Has God ever answered your prayers in a surprising way? What was it?
-
What was the story you learned about in class today?
What did you think about Jesus’ miracle of making coins appear from the mouth of a fish?
Why did him and Peter need that money in the first place?
Do you think it was fair for the temple to charge them money to worship in the temple? Why or why not?
Why do you think Jesus decided to find a way to pay for it anyway?
What do you think the disciples learned about God from this experience?
