Grades K2

DAY 4
BIBLE
THANK GOD!
PASSAGE
Genesis 8
LESSON FOCUS
Just like Noah, we can rely on God to help us thank Him in everything.
LIFELINE VERSE
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
ANIMAL PAL FUN PHRASE
Paws the Sea Otter reminds us we otter give thanks!

INTRODUCE IT! (large group)

1. WELCOME
Welcome the kids back for the fourth day of Ocean Commotion. Ask them to
tell you the dimensions of the ark using the motions we have learned (two
buses, three giraffes, one-and-a-half football fields).
2. Challenge the students to participate in the contest between Huddle Groups by
bringing mission money each day and a signed copy of the Take-Home Sheet
completely filled out. Lets talk about what it must have been like to be in that
ark.
3. Lets review what some of our animal friends have been teaching us.
What was it that Hydro the Whale told us? (We got a whale of a
problem.)
Next came Hammer the Shark. What did he tell us to do? (Nail
obedience.)
Then Piers the Puffin popped in to say: Trust the Lord and get on
board!
Today we are going to welcome Paws the Sea Otter. He says: We
otter give thanks. Why do you think he would say a thing like that?
Lets see if we can figure this one out.
4. ALL KINDERGARTEN CLASSES
Today is our Parade of Animals. Some of the kids may come dressed in
animal costumes. Others will want to color and wear an animal mask that will
be provided for each room. Please let them choose a mask and be ready when
your Kinder Coordinator tells you its time to go.

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PREVIEW what we are going to learn today.
Yesterday we watched as Noah and his family and all the animals boarded the ark.
Then who was it that shut the door? Why is it so important that we understand it
was God who shut the door? God is the only one who can offer salvation.
What did Noah have to do to receive this salvation? By faith he had to believe that
the ark would save him and so he got on board. He received the offer of help God
gave to him.
How is that like what happens when Jesus becomes our Savior?
Now let me ask you a very important question.
How long did Noah and his family have to stay in the ark?

TEACH IT! (Bible Lesson Room)

[The Bible lesson will be taught in a large room by grade. See schedule for time and
location. The information below is for use for general discussion, Huddle Groups, crafts
and review questions.]

LEADER BIBLE BACKGROUND

In the beginning, in Genesis 1:3, God spoke and the waters covering the earth
separated. The waters that went above the earth provided a kind of protective
canopy that encirled our globe. There was almost a greenhouse effect that allowed
everything to grow well and to grow large. The temperature stayed the same and
life was comfortable without the extremes of heat and cold. The canopy kept out
the ultra-violet rays of the sun, so people, animals and plants could grow bigger
and live longer.
The rains of the Flood came from this water canopy that burst and fell to earth. At
the same time, the waters that had been gathered inside the earth broke through
the surface and began flooding the ground. The Bible refers to these as the
fountains of the deep. There were earthquakes and volcanoes erupting
throughout the surface as the land plates began to shift back and forth from the
force of the water gushing out.
The force being unleashed during this time was powerful enough to break the
earths surface apart. The rushing water carried masses of mud and debris
throughout the globe. Every living thing on the earth that was not in the ark was
now dead and embedded in this mud and rock as the fossil record of life on earth
was laid down.
Noah and his family could not see what was happening below the surface of the
water. The ark would have rocked back and forth from all the turmoil, but because
it was so wide and long, it held steady on top of the water as the waves crashed
against it. It was because of its design and Designer!
Thunder and lightning were everywhere. The animals surely would have been
affected by this change in their environment. In all probability, they hunkered down
and got very quiet.
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 So how long do you think they stayed in the ark? Forty days and 40 nights? The ark
had been designed by God to be a vessel of salvation. It was going to have to last
much longer than 40 days and 40 nights.
In Genesis 7:218:14 the days of the arks voyage are recorded. Bible scholars
believe that Noah was on the ark for more than 370 days.
Noah sent out a raven and a dove to determine if the waters had receded
sufficiently. The raven never returned. A scavenger, it was probably feeding on
carcasses floating on the now still waters. The dove, a clean animal that wouldnt
go near a dead body, found no other place to rest and returned to the ark.
Seven days later, Noah sent out the dove again. When the dove returned with an
olive tree branch, Noah knew that it was almost time to leave the ark. God told
Noah when to leave the ark (Genesis 8:1415).
The first thing Noah did when he touched dry ground again was build an altar to
God thanking Him for His salvation and protection during the Flood. Life on this
planet would never be the same.

THE CROSSROADS (large group)

Through Noah and the ark, God had made a way of escape. The ark proved to be
their salvation.
The ark is a beautiful picture that also represents the salvation we know in Jesus.
God planned the ark as a way of escape for Noah and his family. God also planned
to send Jesus to make a way of escape from the punishment for our sins.
All Noah and his family had to do was believe that the ark would save them and
then get on board. All we have to do is believe that what the Bible teaches us
about Jesus dying on the Cross for our sins is true. We have to make a decision
just like Noah. Get on board and trust God or die.
God is looking for those who can demonstrate Noahs faith and obedience. Are you
one of those people? Do you love God enough to give your life to Christ? Do you
love God enough to obey His command to come and follow Him? If you do, then its
time to stand up and become part of Gods forever family.
Share the ABCs of Salvation and then close in prayer. Be alert to any student who
may want to speak with you about this decision.

APPLY IT! (Huddle Group)

A. EXPERIMENT: Fossil Finds

[This demonstration should be done in each Huddle Group.
Supplies: A variety of sea shells, small plastic animals, petroleum jelly, small
paper plates, baggies, modeling clay (all will be provided)
Instructions:
Make the following statements about how fossils are made.

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 Usually when a plant or animal dies, it doesnt last long enough to turn into
a fossil. Scavengers come and eat the remains or maybe the sun or
bacteria destroy it.
During the Flood, plants and animals died and were buried under layers of
mud. Their remains left impressions in the layers of rocks and mud that in
time have been discovered.
The Flood provided just the right conditions for fossils to form.
Let me show you what I mean.
Then using the clay you have been given, make impressions of different items.
Be sure to put petroleum jelly on the items so they will not stick to the clay.
Demonstrate how the shell or animal could be buried under layers of mud and
rock as the flood waters swirled around the land. The plants and animals were
buried under the mud. Over a short period of time, they became fossils.
Animal fossils have been found with food still in their stomachs as if they were
overtaken by some sudden kind of force. Fossils of fish have been found on the
tops of high mountains far away from the ocean where they lived.
This kind of evidence tells us that something catastrophic happened to our
world at one time to create these amazing fossils.
Such an amazing demonstration of power should bring us to our knees. We stand
in awe of the God who made the world but now has found it necessary to change
it forever. The ark represented salvation and deliverance to Noah and his family
just as Jesus represents the same thing for each person who places their faith and
trust in Him.

B. BEING THANKFUL
SAY: When we think about the Flood and what really happened, we need to
remember that God will not tolerate forever our disobedience of His Word. Noah
and his family had commited themselves to loving and standing for God no matter
the cost. Noah understood how good God had been to him and he wanted to thank
Him in a most respectful way. Use these questions to start a discussion about being
a thanks giver.
If I went around the circle and asked you what you do the mostgrumble or
complain, what would you say?
If you had only one chance to thank God for something, what would it be?
Lets go around the circle, and I want you to tell me something you are
thankful for.
If Jesus is your Savior, how many times have you thanked God for that?
ASK the students: On a scale of 110, with 10 being the highest, rank yourself on
being a grateful
person. How often do you thank God? How often do you thank your mom and dad?
Your teachers?
Noah was a thankful person. We all need to follow his example and be better
thanks givers!
Gods Word tells us to give Him thanks about every single thing that happens to us.

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 BIBLE MEMORY ACTIVITY (Huddle Group)

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1
Thessalonians 5:18
Go over the meaning of the verse. Have the students repeat it several times with you
and then use the motions where appropriate.
Use these motions to teach the verse.
In everything Spread your arms out in front of you to be all inclusive.
Give thanks Fold hands and bow head.
For this is the will of God Hold your right palm up and then sweep your
arm from left to right in a half-circle motion.
In Christ Jesus Touch the inside of both palms with index finger to
represent Christ Jesus.
For you. Point out with both hands .
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Open hands as if you are holding an open Bible.
Have the students say the verse three or four times together. Then have them say
it to the person on their right, then to the person on their left and then to the
Huddle Group Leader.
Pass a beach ball around the Huddle Group. Every time someone touches the ball,
he or she must say the verse aloud.

WRAP UP & GOODBYE (Huddle Group)

Give
each student a Take-Home Sheet for Day 4. As time allows, work through some of
the activities. Challenge the students to complete all the activities.
Send home any special announcements placed in your room for Thursday.
Here are some review questions to use:
1. Where did the water come from to flood the earth?
2. Was the whole world flooded? How do we know?
3. How many days went by before Noah and his family and the animals left
the ark?

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 4. How did Noah know it was safe to come out of the ark?
5. What was the first thing Noah did when he left the ark?

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