Use Dr. Seuss' whimsical books to set the stage for
introducing biblical wisdom to children
The whimsical world of Dr. Seuss has entertained and educated
children and adults for the last 64 years with stories that rhyme
and charismatic characters who delight their listening audience.
Underneath the silliness, Dr. Seuss' stories tend to shed light on
human nature and the world we live in. They can also be used to
relate the gospel and biblical wisdom in a colorful way.
So...when you find you're in the mood to run and play, when
rhyming sounds like just the plan for the day, take these lessons
that can't be beat, and let Dr. Seuss teach that the Bible is neat!
You can use all these lessons for a full week of summer camp. Or
use a lesson every now and then to reinforce a Sunday school lesson
that has the same theme.
Sharing Jesus
From The Book -- "Taste and see that the Lord
is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him" (Psalm
34:8).
Here's the Hook -- Kids will learn about
sharing Jesus with others and trying something different.
You'll need two plates of mashed potatoes -- one white and one
mixed with green food coloring.
Ask kids which plate of mashed potatoes they'd rather eat. Tell
them you're going to read Green Eggs and Ham, and you'll
need a volunteer during the story to take a bite of the white
mashed potatoes every time the man in the book says, "I do not like
them, Sam-I-am." Every time he says, "I like green eggs and ham!"
the volunteer will take a bite out of the green potatoes.
Read the book Green Eggs and Ham. After you've read the story,
ask, "Why do you think Sam wanted to share the green eggs and ham
with his friend? Why didn't his friend want to try them? Do you
think you'd want to try green eggs and ham? Why or why not? When
was the first time you heard about Jesus? Did you want to become
Jesus' friend right away? After you discovered that Jesus was good,
did you want to tell your friends? Why or why not?"
Say, "Today's verse is Psalm 34:8. It says 'Taste and see that
the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.' Many
of you have 'tasted' or tried out God's way. It may've been scary
at first, but once you tried it, you liked it! You may have friends
who don't know about Jesus and are scared to come to church. You
need to take Jesus to them just as Sam in this story took something
new to his friend!"
Eat That Food! -- You'll need celery sticks,
green apples, green jelly beans, peeled kiwi fruit, green M&M's
candy, poster board, and a brass brad.
Cut out a poster-board circle and draw five pie sections on the
circle. Write one of the above food items in each section. Draw and
cut out an arrow from a different piece of poster board, and attach
the arrow to the poster-board circle with a brass brad to help it
spin.
Have kids take turns spinning the wheel. Wheel-spinners must eat
whatever food comes up on the wheel. Play until each person has had
a turn.
Green Egg Cookies -- You'll need round sugar
cookies, white frosting, plastic spoons, and green jelly beans.
Say, "Our verse today says 'Taste and see that the Lord is
good...' Let's have some yummy cookies to remind us of God's
goodness."
Have kids frost the sugar cookies and put a green jelly bean
"egg yolk" on each one to remind them of how good God is!
Book It -- You'll need paper, pencils, and
crayons or markers. Have kids make books about helping a friend
"try" Jesus. Allow kids to work in groups; some will be better at
writing words while others would rather illustrate. The books
should be in a rhyming style, with lines such as, "I'll love Jesus
here or there; I'll love Jesus everywhere!" Have groups read their
books. Make enough photo-copies of each book so that each child has
a copy of all the books to take home.
Patience Is Better
From The Book -- "The end of a matter is better
than its beginning, and patience is better than pride"
(Ecclesiastes 7:8).
Here's the Hook -- Kids will learn the results
that come from being patient and keeping their promises.
You'll need plastic Easter eggs with chewy fruit snacks
inside.
Show children the plastic eggs. Say, "I have an egg that
contains a surprise inside for each of you. You'll need to be
patient and listen to our story first; then you'll get your
egg."
Read the book Horton Hatches the Egg. After you've read
the story, ask, "Why didn't Mayzie want to sit on her egg? Was it
easy for Horton to sit on the egg for so long? Why or why not? How
do you think Horton felt when the egg hatched and a flying elephant
came out? Can you think of a time you've been patient and faithful,
'One hundred per cent'?"
Read aloud Ecclesiastes 7:8. Then ask, "What does this verse say
about patience? Which character in the book had patience? Who kept
a promise? Who was rewarded in the end?"
Say, "It's not easy to be patient like Horton, but the outcome
can be wonderful when we're patient."
Balloon Relay -- You'll need 32 balloons, two
large boxes, and two sets of the Bible verse written out and cut
apart word by word. Divide balloons into two sets of 16. For each
set, stuff a word from the verse into each balloon. Inflate
balloons and place each set in separate boxes at the far end of
your room.
Form two teams. On "go," the first person on each team runs to
the balloons, picks up one, and sits on it until it pops. The
runner takes the word from the balloon and runs back to tag the
next person in line. Continue play until all the balloons have been
popped. Each team puts the words from the verse in order and reads
the verse together as a team.
Egg-stra Surprise -- You'll need the plastic
eggs from the opening activity.
Say, "You've done a great job being patient today. Remember the
plastic eggs I showed you earlier? They contain your snack for
today."
Give an egg to each child, and have the children eat their
snacks.
Hatching Eggs -- You'll need one package of
Quaker Oatmeal Dinosaur Eggs cereal per child.
Before kids leave, let them know you have a special surprise for
them. Give each child a package of oatmeal. Tell kids that this
oatmeal is special because it has egg pieces in it. Tell them that
their parents will need to help them hatch their eggs by adding hot
water to their cereal in a bowl. Have them report on their
discoveries the following week.
Unity In Christ
From The Book -- "There is neither Jew nor
Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
Here's the Hook -- Kids will learn that
although they each have unique qualities, they're all one in
Christ.
You'll need peanut butter, tablespoons, powdered sugar, oatmeal,
chocolate chips, and resealable sandwich bags.
Give each child a resealable sandwich bag. Have kids each add to
their bags one spoonful of peanut butter, four spoonfuls of
powdered sugar, two spoonfuls of oatmeal, and one spoonful of
chocolate chips. Show kids how to seal their bags securely. Tell
them not to mix the ingredients in their bags.
Say, "Wow! We put all kinds of yummy things into these bags! I
think these will make a wonderful snack."
Ask, "How many of you would enjoy eating the ingredients in
these bags by themselves?"
Say, "Although some of these ingredients aren't very tasty
alone, when we mix them all together, we create yummy cookies."
Say, "We're going to read a story about some creatures who were
unkind to those who looked different from them. As I read the
story, mix the ingredients in your bag."
Read the story The Sneetches. After you've read the
story, ask, "Why do you think the Star-Belly Sneetches were mean to
the Plain Bellies? How would it feel to be a Star Belly? a Plain
Belly? Why did the Fix-it-Up Chappie come and try to change the
Sneetches? What happened when the Sneetches decided it didn't
matter who had stars on their bellies?"
Read aloud Galatians 3:28. Then ask, "How is this story like or
unlike this Bible verse?"
Say, "I named a bunch of differences -- Jew or Greek, slave or
free, male or female -- but the verse says that we're all the same
when we're Christians. I'm glad the Sneetches learned that they can
be different and still be one, aren't you?"
Star Tag -- You'll need double-sided tape and
star shapes for half your group. Form two teams. Place stars on the
bellies of the Star-Belly teammates. Have the Plain Bellies try to
tag the Star Bellies. When Star Bellies are tagged, they must give
their stars to their taggers. After five minutes, have Star Bellies
get rid of their stars by sticking them to Plain Bellies'
stomachs.
After the game, ask, "Do you remember everyone who was on your
team at the beginning of the game? Why or why not? What was easy or
difficult about this game?
As Christians, how can we show love to other Christians who may
go to a different church or live in a different country?"
Crazy Cookie Bags -- As children eat the
ingredients in their cookie bags, have children share one unique
quality about themselves.
Shining Stars -- You'll need one cut-out star
shape per child, glue, and an instant-print camera.
Take a photo of each child in your class. Have children glue
their pictures to their stars. Then have children write their names
above their pictures and something unique about themselves below.
Make a banner that says "We're All One in Christ Jesus" and place
it at the top of a bulletin board. Place your classroom of "stars"
below the banner so everyone can see them sparkle.
("Crazy Cookie Bags" excerpted from "Show Me!" Devotions for
Leaders to Teach Kids by Susan L. Lingo, Group
Publishing.)
Teamwork Time
From The Book -- The story of the Tower of
Babel from Genesis 11:1-9.
Here's the Hook -- Kids will learn that they
need to work together for the right reasons.
You'll need a real turtle or a picture of a turtle, a small
plastic turtle, and nine small wooden blocks. Note: Live turtles
carry salmonella. Have kids wash hands thoroughly after handling
the turtle.
Show the real turtle or picture of the turtle to kids and ask,
"Where does a turtle belong? What would happen if a turtle didn't
want to be in the water and thought he should be more than a
turtle?"
Read the book Yertle the Turtle. As you tell the story,
create a block tower by placing three more blocks under the plastic
turtle every time Yertle's tower gets higher. Knock down the block
tower when Yertle falls into the water.
After you've read the story, ask, "Why did Yertle build a high
tower? What did Yertle think of himself? How did Yertle feel after
he fell in the water?"
Say, "In Genesis, there's a story about people who thought they
could build a tower to heaven."
Read aloud Genesis 11:1-9. Then ask, "Why did the people want to
build a tower? How were the people in the Bible like or unlike
Yertle?"
Say, "The good thing in our Bible story is that the people
worked together. But they worked together for the wrong
reasons."
Ask, "What are right reasons to work together? What are ways we
can work together?"
Tumble Towers -- You'll need various stackable
items found in your classroom or church such as books, erasers, or
plastic tubs.
Form groups of six. Have each group work together to build a
structure that only touches the ground in four places (like the
four legs of a turtle). The structure should be about 5 feet high,
using only supplies found in your classroom. Designate items that
are off limits for safety reasons, and encourage kids to work
together.
After they're finished, ask, "How are your towers like or unlike
the ones we read about today? Why does God like it when we work
together?"
Sticky Towers -- You'll need six round crackers
per child, plastic knives, paper plates, plastic bowls, marshmallow
cream, and one green jelly bean per child.
For each group of four, fill a bowl with marshmallow cream. Give
each child a plate, a plastic knife, and six crackers. Have kids
build towers on their plates using the crackers and marshmallow
cream. When kids are finished constructing their cracker towers,
have them place their green jelly beans on top to remind them of
Yertle; then they can eat their towers.
Toothpick Towers -- You'll need toothpicks,
marshmallows, a bowl, and green food coloring.
Before class, color one marshmallow green per child by dipping
marshmallows into a bowl of green food coloring. Give each child a
green marshmallow. Set out toothpicks and plain marshmallows to
share.
Say, "You're going to build a tower out of toothpicks and
marshmallows to take home to eat. The green marshmallow represents
Yertle; place it on top of your tower. You'll have to share
toothpicks and marshmallows to build your tower."
("Tumble Towers" adapted from Forget-Me-Not Bible Story
Activities by Christine Yount, Group Publishing.)
God Protects Us
From The Book -- "I will lie down and sleep in
peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm
4:8).
Here's the Hook -- Kids will learn that God
protects them when they're scared.
You'll need a television, VCR, and the VeggieTales video
Where's God When I'm S-scared?
Cue the video at 9:30. Play the video to 11:07. Then say, "Today
we're going to hear a silly story about being afraid. In the video,
Junior learned that "God is bigger than the boogeyman." Let's see
if God is bigger than what scares the character in our story."
Read the story What Was I Scared Of? After you've read
the story, ask, "What would you do if you saw a pair of pale green
pants floating in the air? What are some things you're afraid of?
What helps you when you're afraid?"
Say, "In the Bible, a man named David wrote about being afraid
at night."
Read aloud Psalm 4:8.
Say, "David wrote that he could sleep through the night because
he knew God would keep him safe. God is always with us, even when
we're afraid."
Surrounded by a Big God -- You'll need a nylon
parachute, four adults, and a large area to do this activity.
Have kids and adults circle around the parachute and grab edges
of it to hold for the activity. Position the adults at 12, 3, 6,
and 9 o'clock on the parachute. Tell kids to move the parachute up
and down; then have them let go while the adults continue moving
the parachute up and down.
Have kids run under the parachute. Then have the adults bring
the parachute edges to the ground, creating a bubble over the
kids.
After the activity ask, "What was it like to be surrounded by
the parachute? Did you feel safe inside the parachute? Explain. How
is God like a parachute when we're afraid?"
Say, "When we're afraid, God is like a parachute, surrounding us
with his love and protection. We don't need to feel afraid because
God is always with us."
Sleepin' in Graham Comfort -- You'll need
graham crackers, frosting, food coloring, cake decorating tubes
with various tips (one for every four to five kids), plastic
knives, several small bowls, mixing spoons, and paper plates.
Say, "We're going to decorate graham crackers with frosting and
make them look like kids in sleeping bags. The only rule in
decorating the crackers is that you have to put a smile on your
cracker kid's face to show that he or she can 'Lie down and sleep
in peace,' for God alone holds you in safety."
Have kids frost their crackers, making smiling faces with the
decorating tubes. When kids are finished say, "Before we eat our
snacks, let's thank God that we can have smiles on our faces at
night knowing that God will hold us in safety."
Glowing Helpers -- You'll need black
construction paper, glow-in-the-dark crayons, and glow-in-the-dark
face paint.
Give each child a sheet of black construction paper. Have kids
write Psalm 4:8 on their sheets of paper with the glow-in-the-dark
crayons. When kids are finished, draw a cross on each child's cheek
with glow-in-the-dark face paint. Turn off the lights to see how
everyone glows. Tell kids to hang the verse in their bedrooms to
remind them that God helps them when they're afraid.
("Sleepin' in Graham Comfort" adapted from FoodFun:
Devotions for Children's Ministry by Dennis and Lana
McLaughlin, Group Publishing.)
The Earth Is The Lord's
From The Book -- "The earth is the Lord's, and
everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm
24:1).
Here's the Hook -- Kids will learn to care for
God's earth.
You'll need newspapers, tape, and scissors.
Give each child a whole newspaper section. Demonstrate how to
unfold it and open it up wide, with an equal number of pages on
each side. Starting at one side, roll up the newspaper into a long
tube and use a small piece of tape to hold the roll together. Cut
strips approximately 5 inches long and ½ inch wide around one end
of the tube. Gently twist and pull out the middle strips to make
the tube taller and fuller.
Say, "You've just made a Truffula Tree. The cool thing is that
you recycled newspaper to create your tree rather than using new
materials. Some of you may not know what a Truffula Tree is, so
listen as I read the story of the Lorax and the Truffula
Trees."
Read the story The Lorax. After you've read the story, ask, "Why
did the Lorax have to speak for the trees? Did people really need
the Thneeds? What happens to animals when trees are chopped down in
a forest? What does pollution do to the environment? What are some
ways we can take care of God's creation?"
Say, "The Bible says, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything
in it.' "
Ask, "If you'd created a cool art project and someone came along
and wanted to ruin it, how would you feel? Do you suppose that's
the same way God feels about his creation? Why or why not?"
Say, "People will continue to pollute unless we help care for
God's creation."
Recycle Races -- You'll need newspaper, scrap
paper, trash bags with handles, and a paper-recycle bin.
Form pairs. Throw newspaper and paper scraps all over the floor.
Place the recycle bin at one end of the room. Have each pair do a
"wheelbarrow" race to the other end of the room with the trash bag.
The person walking on his or her hands picks up as much paper as
possible and puts it in the recycle bin. Let kids know that when we
recycle, everyone wins!
Sweet Earth -- You'll need one tortilla for
each child, cream cheese, plastic knives, blue decorating sugar,
green decorating sugar, tape, and a picture of the earth. Tape the
picture of the earth so it can be seen by everyone. Tell kids to
spread cream cheese over their entire tortillas. Have kids sprinkle
blue and green decorating sugar over their tortillas so they look
like the earth.
Trash Walk -- You'll need trash bags.
Say, "We've made a snack for later, so let's spend some time
caring for God's creation by picking up trash around the church.
Get into groups of four and take one trash bag for your group."
If you have enough adults, you can form more groups to cover
more territory. Otherwise, stick together, and make sure groups
take their bags to the trash container when they're finished. When
you return to your room, have kids wash up. Then eat your snack
together, and thank God for his creation.
Courtney Wilson is a children's and family pastor in
Vancouver, Washington. Please keep in mind that phone numbers,
addresses, and prices are subject to change.
