Lesson 4: Crossing the sea.
Passage: Exodus 12:31-42; 13:17-14:31 - After the tenth plague that God sent on Egypt, Pharaoh finally agreed to let the people go. So the Israelites made preparations and started on their journey. However, after the Israelites had left Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent an army of Egyptians to chase after the Israelites and bring them back. When the Israelites were camped next to the Red Sea, they saw the Egyptian army approaching and were terrified, but Moses told them not to be afraid and to trust God to deliver them. So God told Moses to stretch his hand out over the sea, and God sent a strong wind to blow the waters, causing it to split in two and a path of dry ground to form down the middle. The Israelites were able to cross over on dry ground to the other side, but when the Egyptians tried to follow, God caused the water to come back down, preventing them from getting across.
Big Idea: Trusting God in tough times.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome Activity: (10 minutes) — 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.
Activity: — Red Sea Sensory Bin
Prepare a sensory bin containing: little people toys, toy farm animals, toy fish, blue and clear water beads, blocks, etc.
Have volunteers reach into the tub and take out an item and share what it is to the group.
Leader: “Good morning kids, we are so glad you are here today! Today we have a few items in this bin that have to do with today’s bible story. Would someone like to reach in and pull one out?”
Go through each of the items and wonder out loud how it might be connected to today’s story.
Leader: “Let’s read today’s story and find out. Can you find a seat so you can see the pictures? Can you give me a thumbs up when you are ready?”(Read ‘God Rescues his people’ from the Tiny Truths bible pages 48-53)
Leader: “Good Listening friends! Now we have a video about today’s story.”
Play Moses crosses the red sea Video from Lesson Playlist.
Follow Up Discussion Questions
What do you think of this story?
How do you think the Israelites felt when they saw the Egyptians chasing after them and they were trapped in front of the Red Sea? How did God end up helping them?
Has there ever been a time when you felt scared and had ask someone for help? What happened?
Do you think we can always trust God when we’re scared? Why?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how you rescued the Israelites when the Egyptians were chasing after them and they were stuck in front of the Red Sea. Thank you that you are strong enough to save us, and that you always hear us when we ask you for help. Please help us to trust you when we’re feeling scared, and to know that you are watching out for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Leader: Alright friends I think we should get up and do a little dancing before our craft can everybody stand up?
Body Break Activity: — Action Song Play video ‘Brave’ from Worship Songs Playlist
Sing and follow the actions from the video
After the body break activity move to the tables for craft time.
Craft Activity: Crossing the Red Sea craft
Children will create a folded craft of Moses and the Red Sea.
If a child is not interested in the craft, allow them to move into free play.
Dismissal: Dismiss children manually with Roster iPad and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — All Leaders
Welcome the children to the front of the classroom.
Manually Check-in each child using the iPad Roster. Introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: I’m Going on a Picnic Game
The leader says they are going on a picnic and they are bringing a certain item.
Then the kids will take turns asking if they can bring an item on the picnic until they figure out what the theme is.
Preliminary Discussion -
Leader: Today we are going to learn about another story related to Moses and the Israelites.
What do you guys remember about the story of Moses?
Let’s watch the video of Moses’ story. And then afterwards, we’ll watch our own Commons Kids video to see if we can answer some trivia questions…”
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Play Saddleback Kids ‘Moses and the red sea’ Video
Then Play Exodus Trivia: Episode 4 video from the lesson playlist.
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can anyone remember what Pharaoh did after the Israelites left Egypt?
How do you think the Israelites must have felt when they realized that the Egyptians were chasing after them and they were stuck in front of the Red Sea?
How did God end up rescuing them?
Has there ever been a time when you were scared and you had to trust God to help you? What happened?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how you rescued the Israelites from a bad situation when the Egyptians were chasing after them and they were stuck in front of the Red Sea. Thank you that nothing is impossible for you, and that you always hear us when we pray to you and ask you for help. Please help us to learn to trust you even when we’re feeling scared, and to know that you are watching out for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Crossing the Sea Craft
Kids will draw a picture of their family on white paper, which they will then cut out and glue them along the middle of a large piece of kraft paper shared by the class.
They can then decorate either side of the paper to look like water/sea life using various materials (chalk, crayons, markers, stickers).
Dismissal: Use the iPad Roster to dismiss children making sure each child leaves with their care-givers.
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Welcome — All Leaders
Welcome the kids to class, ask how their week was and one interesting thing that happened.
Manually check-in all the children using the iPad roster
Warm Up Activity: — Silent Line-Up Game
The students will line up silently based on a variety of categories.
They will need to use symbols or gestures to communicate instead of talking.
Examples include: birthday month (January at one end, December at the other), first name alphabetically, number of siblings, or any other category you choose.
Continue for as many rounds as the group stays engaged.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader: Have a volunteer read today’s bible story. Exodus 14: 10-29
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Play Saddleback Kids ‘Moses and the Red Sea video’
‘Then play Commons Kids video ‘Exodus Trivia Episode 4’
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can you image what the Israelites must have been thinking when they saw the Egyptian army coming for them and they were stuck in front of the Red Sea with nowhere to go?
Have you ever been in a situation or problem that you thought there was no way out of? What happened then?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how you rescued the Israelites from the Egyptian army by allowing them to cross over the Red Sea. Thank you that from this story we can learn that you are always with us, and that no situation is too big for you to handle. Please help us to trust you even when we’re feeling scared or hopeless. Thank you that there is always hope because you are with us through every situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Crossing the Sea Craft
Kids will draw a picture of their family on white paper, which they will then cut out and glue them along the middle of a large piece of kraft paper shared by the class.
They can then decorate either side of the paper to look like water/sea life using various materials (chalk, crayons, markers, stickers).
Dismissal: Using the iPad roster manually dismiss the students to their care-givers.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What did Pharaoh do after the Israelites left Egypt?
How do you think the Israelites felt when they saw the army chasing them?
How did God end up saving them in the end? Do you think that was pretty amazing how God split the sea for them to cross over?
Have you ever had a big problem that you needed help with? Who do you think you can ask for help with your problems?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What did Pharaoh do after the Israelites left Egypt?
How do you think the Israelites felt when they saw the army chasing them?
How did God end up saving them in the end? What did you think about that part of the story? How does it make you feel about God?
Have you ever had a big problem that you needed help with? Do you think it’s easy or hard to trust God with our big problems?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
Why do you think Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the Israelites free?
How do you think the Israelites must have felt when they realized there was an army chasing them and they were trapped in front of the sea?
How did God end up saving them in the end? What did you think about that part of the story? How does it affect the way you think of God?
Do you think that there are situations that are hopeless or do you think there’s always hope no matter the circumstances? Why do you think that?
