Enjoy the ideas collated here, which were ones I had initially whipped up a couple years ago for a friend who offered to sub - last minute - for an under 5 class at our then co-op, and, which, I have since adapted for another friend in need lesson ideas.
Feel free to pick and chose ideas to borrow as your own family, co-op, or class would enjoy!
Feel free to pick and chose ideas to borrow as your own family, co-op, or class would enjoy!
Greeting
Welcome all the children. Talk about what season it is and what we often see as decorations during this season. Comment on how awesome it is that God makes so many beautiful fall colors for us. Then, segue into an icon of all - pumpkins.
Hide and Guess Pumpkin Game - Matthew 5:15
For a fun ice breaker, adapt the traditional game, Doggy, Doggy, Where's Your Bone to Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Where Did You Go.
Give the children a small toy pumpkin. Have them secretly pass it behind their backs while you turn your back and say, "Pumpkin, pumpkin, where did you go? Hmmm... Let me see. I think I know!" Then, point to a child who you think has the pumpkin. Have the child pull his hands out from behind his back and show you them. If you guessed right and the child has the pumpkin, that child becomes the guesser and you join the passers. If the child does not have the pumpkin, take two more guesses.
Then, play another round. Play for 10 minutes or so, or until the children seem to be tiring of the game.
Then, talk briefly about how we were hiding our pumpkin, but there is one thing we should never hide. Does anyone know what it is? Our faith!
In Matthew 5:15, it says, "Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house."
Unpack this verse in simple terms with the children.
The Wonder Pumpkin - Pass God's Love and Light Along
Then, talk about how we are to pass our faith (our light, our love) around. As quickly as we receive love from others, we should pass it along! How could we do this?
Chat with children about times when they have felt loved and times when they have shared it. Offer examples of how they can shine with Christ's light.
Ask if they can think of a seasonal decoration that shines with literal light: Jack-o-Lanterns! Then, for fun, play a game a bit like the Wonder Ball, but with a stuffed or small, real Jack-o-Lantern.
To play, sit in a circle and pass the pumpkin singing the following song. Whoever holds the pumpkin lasts sits in the middle of the circle for one round before rejoining the game.
The wonder pumpkin, goes round and round. To pass it quickly, you are bound. Don't be one, to hold it light. Passing it along, is what it right. P-A-S-S - PASS!
Story - The Pumpkin Patch Parable
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| Source: Amazon |
Song - Shine With God's Light
To reinforce the idea of shining with God's lift, sing the following song (created by Martianne Stanger) the tune of I'm a Little Teapot.
I'm a little pumpkin plump and round. (Put arms out in round curves.) I once grew upon the ground. (Bend low as if on the ground.) Farmer sliced me open and cleaned me right. (Mike slicing and cleaning a pumpkin.) Now I shine with love and light. (Put hand on heart on "love" and then out in jazz hands by a smiling face on light".)
After singing, chat with children about how they - as themselves, not as pumpkins - might shine with God's love and light.
Pin the Face on the Pumpkin - See God's Face in Others; Be God's Face for Others
Chat about how we are called to see the face of God in others and, in turn, to let them see the face of God in us.
Then, for fun, play Pin the Face on the Pumpkin, much like Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
To play, hang a large picture of a pumpkin on the wall. Blindfold children and give them cut outs in the shapes of pumpkin eyes and mouth. Have them try to put these on the pumpkin.
Guided Drawing
Give children paper and coloring pencils, crayons, or markers and have them complete a simple guided drawing of a pumpkin or Jack-o-Lantern.
If you don't know how to do this, check out this pumpkin directed drawing, this how to draw a pumpkin, or this drawing a pumpkin image.
Of course, reiterate the ideas from The Pumpkin Patch Parable to keep the faith-based thread going.
Additional Games (Choose One or All of Them)
As fun fillers or movement breaks, using a real or stuffed pumpkin, play Over and Under - maybe even relay race style.Play Pumpkin Says (like Simon Says) using a stuffed or real pumpkin and a character voice as the "Simon".
Play Hide-n-Seek Pumpkin by having all the children close their eyes while you hide a pumpkin and, then, having children look to find it.
Play Hot and Cold with a small pumpkin figurine, a stuffed pumpkin, a gourd, or a pumpkin.
We'd love to hear how any or all of these go with your children and would also love to hear your pumpkin-themed ideas! Please do come back to share.
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