God Made Me

Preschoolers love to play and learn about themselves. Let them use their wiggles to learn that God made them special.

There are many activities you can use to engage children in learning. Incorporate all of the senses into play to keep the child’s interest and help them to learn. Confucius said “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand”. Try some of these ideas and add your own to teach Genesis 1:27 “God created man”.

Throughout the activities use repetition and be excited. Use these phrases and fill in the blank with the body part you are talking about. ” God gave you___.”  “Where are your___.” ” What do you use your___ for?”

• God made my hands

Have a small pan of water and a cloth. Let them use their hands to wash a toy. When they are finished put a few ice cubes in the water. Talk about how God gave them hands to feel the warm and cold water.

• God made my feet

Allow children to take off their socks and shoes. Let them walk on different textures. Examples – a plastic bag, play dough, hard flooring, carpet, packing bubbles, leaves. Use your imagination. Join in on the fun. Children love it when you have fun with them. Talk about how God gave them feet to walk and run.

• God made my eyes

Let the children throw colored scarves or beanbags in the air. Call out a color and have them bring it to you. Cheer and clap as you tell them that God gave them eyes to see the colors.

• God made my mouth

Sing fun songs with actions. Between songs tell the children that God gives us a mouth so that we can sing and talk. When you are finished drink juice. Tell them we can thank God that we have mouths to drink and taste the yummy juice.

If You’re Happy And You Know It – author unknown

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

Repeat with:

Stomp your feet
Shout “Hooray”!
Do all three!

Head and Shoulders – author unknown

Head and shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes
Head and shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,

Head and shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes  God made them all!

• God made my ears

Go for a walk and listen for sounds or use a wooden spoon to bang on objects that are safe to hit. Talk about how some sounds are loud and others are quiet. Tell them God gave you ears to hear sounds.

• God made my nose

Have different foods, flowers, and perfumes for the children to smell. Add in a few things that don’t have a smell. Let them tell you what they can smell and what doesn’t smell. Ask them if they like to smell cookies baking. Explain that God gives us a nose to smell many things.

• God made me special

Puzzles and books are another good way to see and hear the ways God makes us special. He makes everyone different but exactly how he wants them.

For this activity I recommend using Create a Face from Lois Graham at Story Time Felts. It comes with multicultural facial parts and the children are able to use the felt pieces to see how God makes everyone different and special. The pieces are washable so you can also use it for the God made my hands water activity.

Give each child a felt nose and have them set it on something that they can smell. Continue using a variety of pieces.  Here are some examples of places they could pick: mouth – food or cd player, Eyes – toy, ears – vacuum. When they are finished let them choose a piece and put it on their felt face. They can make serious or funny faces. Explain that God loves them and made them just the way he wanted them.

• God made you!

Have fun! As you learn with the children remember that God made you special. There is no one exactly like you. God has plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” NIV. Teach others that God made them special!

Farm animals are a fun way for children to learn. The first animal sounds many children learn are from the farm. There are many farm animal activities that teach important concepts. Books, poems, songs, and activities can add fun to your day. Here are some easy and fun ways to learn with farm animals.

• Books:

Sit down in a cozy spot and read about the farm. There are many books about farm animals. Old McDonald Had a Farm by Kathi Ember, The Little Red Hen, and the Three Little Pigs are a few classics.

• Book activity- Give children a book that has a variety of farm animals in it. Ask animal questions and have them find the animal that matches the question. Try using sounds, colors, sizes, textures, and more as questions. Example: Find an animal that has soft feathers.

• Songs with activities:

Enjoy singing Old McDonald Had a Farm. As you sing act like the animal you are singing about. When you are finished have children pretend to be animals or use plastic play animals and line them up from smallest to largest.

After singing the Farmer in the Dell use plastic play animals, pictures, or drawings  for sequencing the animals in the song.

Practice numbers skills by singing about animals to the tune of Ten Little Indians. Insert an animal for the Indian and for the ending change it to ten little (animal) say (animal sound).

Ten Little…

One little, two little, three little ducks,                                                                                                                                                                    four little, five little, six little ducks,                                                                                                                                                                    seven little, eight little, nine little ducks,                                                                                                                                                             ten little ducks say quack.

• Poems:

This Little Pig- Traditional Nursery Rhyme

This little pig went to the market.
This little pig stayed home.
This little pig had roast beef.
This little pig had none.
This little pig cried “Wee, wee, wee, wee!”
All the way home.

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep- Traditional Nursery Ryhme

Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

Mary Had a Little Lamb- Traditional Nursery Rhyme

• Fun in the car or at a farm:

When riding in the car through the country or when visiting a  farm see who can find the largest and smallest farm animal. What animal is the most colorful?   Who can find the most  brown or pink animals?

• Feltboard fun:

There are many farm activities that you can do with a feltboard. You can make your own felt or purchase a ready to use to use set. Either option is a terrific way for children to learn and use their creativity. They are excellent for stories, ryhming, counting, sequencing, and much more.

• This is just a sample of what you can do with farm animals. Use your imagination. Most importantly have fun with your children!