Lesson 2: In the garden.
Passage: Genesis 2 - In this account of creation, God forms the first human, Adam (from “Adamah”, meaning Earth), out of the dust of the ground. God breathes life into Adam and places him in a garden paradise called Eden (“garden of delight”) where there are fruit trees and vegetation in abundance, as well as animals and a river running through it. God commands Adam to work and take care of the garden, instructs him that he is allowed to eat from any tree except for one, and then declares that it isn’t good for the human to be alone, and God so creates another human, this time a woman, out of Adam’s side to be a companion and equal partner in the role of caring for the earth.
Big Idea: Made for connection.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader
Read: When God Made You
Please pass the book along to the grades 1-3 class when you are finished reading it
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are talking more about the story of God’s creation in the Bible. Last Sunday we learned that God created the whole world and everything in the universe using only words! Today we’re going to learn a little more about the people God created.
Who is your favourite person in the world and who are you most thankful to God for? Why did you choose that person?
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
In our video today we learned that in the Creation story, God put the first humans in a special place. What was that place called?
What was the Garden of Eden like? What kind of things were in it?
When God made the first human, what was that human made of? And what did God do to bring that human to life?
If the Bible tells us that we are made of the earth and God’s own breath, what do you think that means about our relationship with the earth and God? (we are connected to the earth and to God)
After everything had been made and the first human was put in the garden, everything was great but… something was missing. What was it that was missing? What did God do to fix that problem? What do you think this teaches us? (we're not supposed to be alone; we need community)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the lesson we learned today about how made human beings out of the earth and placed them in the beautiful garden where they had everything they needed, including each other. Please help us remember that we are all connected to the earth, to each other, and to you. Please teach us to love and care for all that you made, including one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Tissue Paper Garden of Eden — Activity Leader
Kids will use glue sticks to attach pieces of tissue paper onto the picture to create a garden scene. There will be garden scene printouts available as well as printouts of Adam and Eve for them to add to the garden.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves .
Warm Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader
Read: When God Made You
Will need to wait for the Pre-K group to finish using the book before starting this activity.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today is week 2 of our new series on the story of Creation in the Bible. Last Sunday we learned that God created the whole world and everything in the universe using only words! Today we’re going to learn a little more about the people God created.
Who is your favourite person in the world and who are you most thankful to God for? Why did you choose that person?
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
In our video today we learned that in the Creation story, God put the first humans in a special place. What was that place called and what does that name mean?(the Garden of Eden, which means “Garden of Delight”)
What was the Garden of Eden like? What kind of things were in it?
When God made the first human, what was that human made of? What was the human named? What does his name mean? (God made the first human out of the earth and named him Adam, which means “from the earth” or “earthling”)
If the Bible tells us that we are made of the earth and that God breathed life into us, what do you think that means about our relationship with the earth and God? (we are connected to the earth and to God)
After everything had been made and the first human was put in the garden, everything was great but… something was missing. What was it that was missing? What did God do to fix that problem? What do you think this teaches us? (It isn't good for us to be alone, we are made for connection and community)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the lesson we learned today about how made human beings out of earth and Spirit, and placed them in the beautiful garden of Eden where they had everything they needed, including each other. Please help us remember that we are all connected, and teach us to love and care for all that you made, including one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Tissue paper Garden of Eden — Activity Leader
Kids will use glue sticks to attach pieces of tissue paper onto a blank page to create a garden scene. There will be print outs of Adam and Eve available for them to add to the scene.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Welcome the kids to class, introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: Playdough Pictionary — Activity Leader
Played the same way as normal Pictionary except that the kids will use playdough to create the objects. There will be a bowl of nouns for the kids to pull from.
This can be played on teams with one kid from each team coming forward. Both kids will look at the same slip of paper and try to form the object to see which team guesses the correct answer first.
For a less competitive option - do not play on teams, but have one kid at a time come forward to make their object and have the entire class guess what it is
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today is week 2 of our new series on the story of Creation. Do you remember what we learned from last week’s part of the story?
This week we’ll be learning about the next part of the story which is all about the Garden of Eden and the first humans that God made. Who would you say is the person you are most thankful for in your life? Why?
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
In our video today we learned that the story of Creation is meant to be read in a certain way… not as a textbook of scientific facts, but as what? (a story that teaches us big truths about God and ourselves)
In the Creation story, God put the first humans in a special place. What was that place called and what does its name mean?(the Garden of Eden, which means “Garden of Delight”)
What was the Garden of Eden like? And what do you think the Garden represents?
When God made the first human, what was that human made of and how were they given life? What was the human named? What does his name mean?
Even though we know from science that we’re not literally made of dirt… what big truth do you think the Bible is teaching us? (We are connected to the earth)
After God had created the earth and the first human, what was it that was still missing? What did God do to fix that problem? What do you think this teaches us? (We were made for connection and community)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the things we learned today from the story of Creation and about how you made us for connection, to the earth, one another, and you. Please help us to remember that we are never alone, but are all part of something bigger - the entire creation. Teach us to love, care for, honor, and respect all that you have made, including one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Tissue Paper Garden of Eden — Activity Leader
Kids will use glue sticks to attach pieces of tissue paper onto a blank page to create a garden scene. There will be print outs of Adam and Eve available for them to add to the scene.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
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What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?
What did God make the first human out of? How did God give the human life? What do you think it means that humans are made from the ground and given life by God’s breath? (we are connected to the earth because we are part of it, and connected to God by God’s Spirit or breath)
What was the name of the garden that God placed the human in? What was that garden like? What was the human’s job in the garden?
What was the one thing that God said was missing? What did God do about it? (it wasn’t good for the human to be alone, so God created another human to be their partner in caring for the earth)
What do you think of the idea that we are all connected, to the earth, each other, and to God? What do you think that means for how we should treat one another?
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What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?
What did God make the first human out of? How did God give that human life? What do you think it means for us to be created out of the earth and God’s breath? (we are connected to the earth because we are part of it, and we are connected to God through God’s Spirit or breath)
What was the name of the garden that God placed the human in? What was that garden like? What was the human’s job in the garden?
What was the one thing that God said was missing? What did God do about it? (it wasn’t good for the human to be alone, so God created another human to be their partner in caring for the earth)
What do you think of the idea that we are all connected, to the earth, to each other, and to God? What do you think that means for how we should live and treat one another?
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What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?
What was the first human made out of? And what did God do to bring the human to life? What do you think is the significance of those details?
What was the garden like that God placed the human in? What do you think that teaches us about what God is like?
What was the one thing that was missing in the garden and what did God do about it? What do you think is the significance of a partner being formed out of the human’s side?
What do you think about the idea that we are all connected to one another, to the earth, and to God? What does this means for how we should live in relation to the earth and each other?
