Elementary Curriculum

January 17, 2021 | Unit 3, Session 3

Quick Links: Printable Lesson Plan | Younger Kids Activity Page | Older Kids Activity Page

Hey, parents!

We wanted to offer a few directions as you navigate leading your grade-schooler through today’s lesson and activities. Below you will find our Bible passage for the day, a lesson plan for the day, and several other tips that can help you and your child as you study and worship this morning.

Here are the materials you will need for our lesson today:

  • Coloring Supplies

1. Read the Bible Passage | Genesis 32-33

2. Ask the Big Picture Question:

Does God keep His promises?

3. Watch the Bible Story

4. Review the Key Verse

Genesis 28:15, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

5. Answer the Big Picture Question

God always keeps His promises because He is faithful.

6. Interact with the “Questions from kids” Video

7. Pray together

8. Do one or both of the Activities

Activity #1: Thumb Wrestling

Directions 

Show your kids how to thumb wrestle. While facing one another, each competitor should hold her thumb straight up and grasp her opponent’s fingertips with her own fingertips. After a brief countdown each player will try to hold down the opponent’s thumb with her own thumb. 

Encourage your family members to play three thumb wrestling matches. The first person in each pair to win two matches moves on to play a winner from another pair. Continue matches until one person wins overall.

Say 

Thumb wrestling is fun, and quite a bit safer than real wrestling. Today we will learn about a time Jacob wrestled with a mysterious stranger. Jacob demanded that the stranger bless him. Who do you think the stranger could have been?

Activity #2: Hop Circles

Directions 

Instruct your kids to stand in a circle. Explain that they will begin hopping on one foot when you say “go.” Help your kids count seconds as they hop. See who can hop the longest.

Say 

Hopping can be difficult. Our bodies struggle to balance on one leg. Today we will hear about a time Jacob’s hip got hurt, leaving him with an injury that lasted the rest of his life. He could stand on both his legs, but when he walked, he limped because one leg could not hold his full weight. How do you think he injured his leg? We’ll learn more soon.

EXTRA TIPS

  • If your grade-schooler is in First or Second Grade, start the morning working on the coloring sheet and activity page.

  • As time permits, do one activity before the Bible Story Video and one activity afterward, to help reinforce the message.

  • If your grade-schooler is in Third, Fourth, or Fifth Grade, download and print the Older Kid Journal Page for them to work on at the end of the lesson