Storytime, Week 5 (Feb. 4, 2024)
The Vine and the Branches
Bible Passage: John 15:1-18
Big Idea: Staying Connected to Jesus
Preschool-Kindergarten
Welcome — Activity Leader — 2 minutes
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.
Warm-Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Read: Be a Tree
Discuss what kind of things plants need to grow and how God is like the roots of a tree
Intro & Bible Story— Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Today we’re going to be having another storytime with Nana Alex and she’s going to be telling us something about plants and fruits. Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
What kind of hobby was Nana Alex doing at the beginning of the video?
What were some of the cool things she said about plants?
What are some kinds of fruits that grow on trees? Can a branch make fruits by itself if it’s not connected to the rest of the tree? Why / why not?
Why do you think Jesus said that he is like the vine and we are like the branches? (the vine gives life to the branches and helps it produce fruits, just like Jesus gives us life and helps good things to grow out of our life)
What are some ways that we can stay connected to Jesus? (ie. praying, reading Bible stories, follow Jesus’ ways…)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how plants need lots of things to grow and produce fruits - like water and sunlight and staying connected to its roots. We also know that Jesus is like the root or vine of a plant, and he wants us to stay connected to him that he can cause good things grow out of our lives. Things like love and goodness and joyfulness and peace. Help us to stay connected to you every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Collaborative Painting — Activity Leader — 7 minutes
Each table will have a large piece of paper with a vine drawn onto it. Kids will use different kinds of fruit and paint to create stamps on the vine.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Free Play — Both — 7 minutes
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 1-3
Welcome —Both— 3 minutes
Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves .
Warm Up Activity: Giant Knot — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Get into groups of less than 12 kids and each ground stands in a circle
Players take one hand and grab the hand of anyone else in the group except the people standing directly beside them. They then do the same thing with their other hand, but also cannot grab the hand of the same person they already paired with.
The challenge is to get untangled without letting go of each other’s hands. Emphasize that getting untangled requires communication and cooperation.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today we’re going to be having another storytime with Nana Alex and she’s going to be telling us a story about plants and fruits. Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Does anyone here have plants at home? What are some things that you need to give a plant for it to grow healthy and strong?
Some plants even produce fruits. What are some kinds of fruits that grow from trees or plants? Can a branch produce fruits all on it’s own if it’s not attached to the rest of the tree? Why/why not?
Why do you think Jesus compared himself to a vine and us to branches?
What are some good “fruits” that can grow out of our lives when we stay connected to Jesus? (The Bible says that the fruits of the Spirit are things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
What are some ways that we can stay connected to Jesus? (ie. praying everyday, talking to Jesus whenever you feel happy/sad/angry/lonely, reading about Jesus in the Bible, worshipping God through music or art, following Jesus’ ways and teachings…)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how just as a branch needs to stay connected to the vine in order to grow and produce good fruits, so we also need to stay connected to Jesus so that he can cause good fruits to grow out of our lives — fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, goodness, and peace. Please help us to find ways to stay connected to you every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Collaborative Painting — Activity Leader — 10 mins
Each table will have a large piece of paper with a vine drawn onto it. Kids will use different kinds of fruit and paint to create stamps on the vine.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 4-6
Welcome and Warm-Up — Activity Leader— 5 minutes
Welcome the kids to class, introduce yourselves.
Game: Giant Knot
Get into groups of less than 12 kids and each ground stands in a circle
Players take one hand and grab the hand of anyone else in the group except the people standing directly beside them. They then do the same thing with their other hand, but also cannot grab the hand of the same person they already paired with.
The challenge is to get untangled without letting go of each other’s hands. Emphasize that getting untangled requires communication and cooperation.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today we’re going to be having another storytime with Nana Alex and she’s going to be telling us a story about plants and fruits. Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — 4 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Does anyone here have plants at home? What are some things that you need to give a plant for it to grow healthy and strong?
Some plants even produce fruits. What are some kinds of fruits that grow from trees or plants? Can a branch produce fruits all on it’s own if it’s not attached to the rest of the tree? Why/why not?
Why do you think Jesus compared himself to a vine and us to branches?
What are some good “fruits” that can grow out of our lives when we stay connected to Jesus? (The Bible says that the fruits of the Spirit are things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
What are some ways that we can stay connected to Jesus? (ie. praying everyday, talking to Jesus whenever you feel happy/sad/angry/lonely, reading about Jesus in the Bible, worshipping God through music or art, following Jesus’ ways and teachings…)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how just as a branch needs to stay connected to the vine in order to grow and produce good fruits, so we also need to stay connected to Jesus so that he can cause good fruits to grow out of our lives — fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, goodness, and peace. Please help us to find ways to stay connected to you every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Collaborative Painting — Activity Leader — 10 minutes
Each table will have a large piece of paper with a vine drawn onto it. Kids will use different kinds of fruit and paint to create stamps on the vine.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
