Old Testament Unit 10: David Lesson 1: David Was a ......humbling job, but a good shepherd was caring, kind, and protective of his sheep. His task was to keep them fed, watered, and

God’s Unfolding StoryHour B

Suggested Schedule:

ArrivalCenters – 25 minutes

Clean-up Time – 5 minutesBible Story Time – 15 minutes

Craft Time – 10 minutes Snack Time – 10 minutes

Game Time/Dismissal

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT10 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 1

1. God created everything.

2. People disobeyed God.

3. God chose a special people.

4. God sent Jesus to help us.

5. Jesus began the Church.

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

Old Testament Unit 10: David Lesson 1: David Was a Shepherd Boy

Unfolding God’s Story for TeachersBecause of Saul’s unfaithfulness to God, the Lord sent Samuel on a mission to anoint a new king. God directed Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new king. Some of the first information we learn about David is revealed during this visit, in 1 Samuel 16:1-13. David had 7 older brothers. Some translations suggest that “youngest” also can mean “smallest.” Probably both were true. We do know there was a contrast between David’s size and the sizes of his brothers and Saul. They were tall, and David was not. Clearly, David’s stature was not all that important to God, but his heart was. We will look at this in greater detail in next week’s lesson. It’s important to note that David began his path to royalty as a shepherd. Throughout Biblical history, many great leaders rose from unimpressive circumstances. In fact, God often used those circumstances to develop their hearts and their character. Perhaps working with some of nature’s less intelligent creatures gave David some insights into human nature. Working with sheep was a humbling job, but a good shepherd was caring, kind, and protective of his sheep. His task was to keep them fed, watered, and safe. Sheep are not smart animals; they need a shepherd to guide them and keep them from harm. Significantly, they respond only to the voice of their shepherd and will not go with anyone else. Perhaps the long days and nights David spent caring for those that could not care for themselves gave him a sensitive heart. His time alone with God and nature afforded him opportunities to learn to play the harp and to compose songs. David became known as “the favorite singer of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1). Many of the Psalms are attributed to him. From his youth, David responded to God’s call on his heart. After Samuel anointed David as the next king, the Bible says “the Spirit of the LORD took control of David from that day forward” (1 Sam. 16:13). God empowered David both spiritually and physically. Though he may

have been small, David told Saul that he had killed lions and bears to protect the sheep (17:34-36). David’s days as a shepherd proved to be foundational in developing important abilities, skills, and talents that he later would use to serve Israel valiantly as king. Maybe you feel your circumstances are unimpressive, that you are too young or too old, or that you have little or no influence. Early on, David stayed home and helped his father; he did not leave to be a warrior. Yet God was teaching him! Consider what God is teaching you in your circumstances. Learn all you can, even in your own “uneventful” situation. When your heart connects to God’s heart, His power will be upon you as well.

Arrival• Greet children at eye level and express how happy

you are to see them.• Be sure each child has a name tag and the security

measures of your church are followed.• Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly

encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session.

• Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time.

Lesson Plan

Bible Story: David Was a

Shepherd Boy (1 Samuel 16:6-12; 17:12-15, 34-36)

Bible Phrase: “God will help me” (Isaiah 50:7).

Bible Truth: God will help me.

Center Time

OT10 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 2

Bible Learning Center: Circle Puzzle

Supplies: • Copies of Activity Page: Puzzle, “Bible Story

Circle Puzzle” (Reproducible)• Washable markers or crayons

• Construction paper, scissors, glueWhat to Do: Cut around the outside of the circle puzzles,

but allow the children to cut their own puzzle pieces. Invite the boys and girls to color their puzzles and cut them out on

the indicated lines. Each child can glue his or her puzzle onto a sheet of construction paper.

Link to the Bible Story: Express the following: “Today’s Bible story is about a young boy named David. David helped

care for his father’s sheep. Occasionally, David had to protect his sheep from wild animals. God gave

David strength and courage to protect for his sheep.”

Block Center: Build with Blocks

Supplies:

• Wooden blocks• Plastic farm and wild animals

What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a

corner of the room away from the traffic flow.

Link to the Bible Story: As children play with the blocks and animals, listen for opportunities to talk about the Bible story.

Say, “In our Bible story today a young man named David took care of his father’s

sheep. Sometimes he had to protect the sheep from the lions and bears. God

gave David courage he needed.”

Home Living Center: Role PlaySupplies:

• Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; pretend food items; doll, doll bed, and doll accessoriesWhat to Do: Home living items naturally encourage children to act out roles and activities they observe at home. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, listen for the opportunity to talk about the Bible story. Say,

“In our Bible story today a young man named David took care of his father’s sheep. This may not sound like an important job, but it was just the job God wanted him to have. It also was one through which God prepared David to be a good king.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Art Center: Finish the Picture

Supplies:

• Copies of Art Activity: “Finish the Picture” (Reproducible)

• Washable markers or crayons• Glue, cotton balls

What to Do: Children should be encouraged to connect the dots to finish the scene. Invite

children to color the picture and add cotton balls to their sheep.

Link to the Bible Story: As children work, read the Bible Phrase and say something

like this. “Our Bible story today is about David’s job of caring for his

father’s sheep. David had to protect his sheep from wild animals. God

helped David to be strong and brave.”

Puzzle Center: Work PuzzlesSupplies:

• Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for the children to work.What to Do: Encourage preschoolers to finish puzzles they begin. Affirm children as they work together to complete the puzzles. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story.


Clean-up Time

Introduction• Show the God’s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God’s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a chapter of God’s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of these main chapters in God’s Unfolding Story. Today’s story is from the third

chapter, God chose a special people.• Express the following in your own words. “Can you think of a time in which you needed to be brave? Perhaps you needed to go to the dentist or doctor; went to school for the first time or learned to ride a bike. Our Bible story today is about a young boy named David. There were times David had to be very brave. Listen to hear how God helped David.”

Bible StoryDavid Was a Shepherd Boy (1 Samuel 16:6-12; 17:12-15, 34-36)Long ago, during the days of King Saul and the prophet Samuel, there lived a young boy named David. David lived in Bethlehem with his father, Jesse, and his seven older brothers. Three of his brothers were soldiers in Saul’s army. David, however, stayed home and helped his father. One of David’s jobs was to care for the sheep. Men who did this were called shepherds. A shepherd moved his sheep from place to place so the animals always would have green grass and fresh water. On nights when the flock was far from the shepherd’s home, the shepherd would sleep on the hillside to watch over it. Probably there were many nights when David looked at the stars and the moon and thought about the beautiful world God had made. He may

have learned to play his harp on the hill, and he probably wrote many songs as he watched the sheep. A shepherd also protected the sheep from wild animals. When a lion carried off one of David’s sheep, David ran after it! God gave him strength to rescue it. Another day David ran after a bear! Again God helped David. If the lion or bear fought back, David struck it and killed it. David loved God, and God helped David to be strong and brave.

Talk Time1. Show the teaching picture for today’s Bible

story. Review by using these or similar questions. “How did David help his father? What instrument did David learn to play? How did God help David to be brave?”

2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, “God will help me” (Isaiah 50:7). Explain to children we probably won’t be fighting bears or lions but whenever we need to be brave and have courage we can ask God to help us.

3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Say a prayer thanking God that He is always with us and can help us in our time of need.

4. Direct children to Craft Time.

Bible Story Time

Supplies: • Bible• Teaching Picture “David

Was A Shepherd Boy” (Reproducible)

• God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock)

Encourage preschoolers to

help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for

preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the

basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks,

etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area.

Snack TimeBe sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up.


Craft Time: Pop-up CardSupplies: • Copies of “David Was a Shepherd Boy Pop-up Card” (Reproducible, 1 copy for every child)• Crayons or markersWhat to Do: Cut out the Pop-up cards. Invite children to color their cards. Assist in folding the cards for the children or have them pre-folded. Fold the card in half along the horizontal fold line so that the bottom two word boxes are behind the top two boxes. To make the pop-up piece, fold the piece forward along the center line, then fold the card in half. The story words should appear on the front of the card. Open up the card and the scene pops out! Turn the card over for the rest of the story. Link to the Bible Story: Read the pop-up card to the children as they color. Invite children to use their cards to tell the Bible story to friends and family members. Remind children that God gave David the strength and courage to fight the lions and bears.

Game Time / Dismissal: “Sheep, Sheep, Bear”

What to Do: Invite children to join you in the game time area and sit in a circle. This game is a version of “Duck, Duck, Goose.” Choose a child to be “It.” The child walks around the outside of the circle and taps each child on the shoulder and says, “Sheep.” Then after one time around the circle the child continues to touch each child and say, “Sheep,” but at some point chooses to touch a child and say, “Bear.” Bear then stands up and chases the child around the circle back to where the chase began. The “Bear,” becomes the new “It.” After the game remind children how David had to protect the sheep from the lions and the bears. Emphasize that God helped David to be brave and strong. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church.

Old Testament Unit 10: David Lesson 1: David Was a Shepherd Boy

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT10 Lesson 1 Hour B

Resources and SuppliesStandard Art Supplies

(Supplies that are generally in the room)

Washable markersCrayons

Child scissorsPlaydough and accessories

Drawing paperEasel (optional)Glue/glue sticks

Tempera paint, 4 colorsTape/masking tape

Pencils/colored pencilsHole punch

Teacher scissorsStapler/staples

Permanent markersWatercolorsPaintbrushes

Yarn

Standard Equipment

(Equipment that is generally in the room)

BibleSmall beanbag for Bible Story Time

Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzlesSet of wooden blocksSmall cars and trucks

Doll bedBaby doll (soft plastic)

Stove/sink unitPlay dishes/pots and pans

Small table and chairsSmall carpet for block area

Play food itemsStorage shelf for blocks

Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center

CD player/Children’s Worship CDs

Hour B

Reproducibles(Included with the lesson plan downloads)

“Finish the Picture” – (1 copy per child)Activity Page: Puzzle, “Bible Story Circle Puzzle” (1 copy per child)

“Bible Story Pop-up Card” (1 copy for every child)Teaching Picture: “David Was a Shepherd Boy” (1 copy per class)

God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock—1 copy per class)Parent Page (1 copy per child)

Coloring Page, “David Was a Shepherd Boy”

Additional Art Materials Cotton balls

Additional Bible Learning MaterialsConstruction paper – (1 per child)

Additional Block MaterialsPlastic farm and wild animals

Activity Page: Puzzle, “Bible Story Circle Puzzle”Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Cut around the outside of the puzzle. Invite the child to color the picture and cut along the dashed lines to make a puzzle. Glue the puzzle back together on construction paper. OT10 Lesson 1 Hour B Bible Learning Center

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Bible Story Circle Puzzle

OT10 Lesson 1 Hour B Art CenterGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Finish the Picture

Art: “Finish the Picture”Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Connect the dots to finish the picture. Color the picture and add cotton balls to the sheep.

God helped David protect

his sheep.

David cared for his father’s sheep.

OT10 Lesson 1 Hour B Craft TimeGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Craft “David Was a Shepherd Pop-up Card”Instructions: One copy for every child. Cut and prefold pop-up cards according to the directions in the Teaching Pages. Color the pictures inside the card.

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Documents

Old Testament Unit 10: David Lesson 1: David Was a ......humbling job, but a good shepherd was caring, kind, and protective of his sheep. His task was to keep them fed, watered, and