Walking on Water. (Matthew 14:22-33) WEEK 1 Boats. WEEK 2 Water

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1 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Big Picture Overview Visit for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to explore this Bible story with the kids you are leading. You will also find 6 Coloring Pages to use during Gather Time and a downloadable Family Page for this rotation s story filled with ideas for families to use to explore this story and live out their faith at home. WEEK 1 Boats Gather (10 minutes) CENTER TIME: Water Play: Kids experiment with water and color Bible story pictures. CIRCLE TIME: Kids welcome all their friends in song, and row and rock their boats. PRAYER TIME: Kids clap and chant a prayer. Activate Faith (25 minutes) GAME IN AND OUT: Kids jump in and out of a jump-rope boat. ART RECYCLED BOATS: Kids create boats from recycled materials. SNACK BAGEL BOATS: Kids float bagel boats on blueberry cream cheese. Open the Bible (10 minutes) WALKING ON WATER STORYTELLING: Kids hear today s story and take turns stepping out of the boat. Send (5 minutes) GOOD-BYE TIME: Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. PRAYER TIME: Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. WEEK 2 Water Gather (10 minutes) CENTER TIME: Water Play: Kids experiment with water and color Bible story pictures. CIRCLE TIME: Kids welcome all their friends in song and see if their hands can walk on water. PRAYER TIME: Kids clap and chant a prayer. Activate Faith (25 minutes) MUSIC FLOAT YOUR BOAT: Kids sing a song about today s story. ART ROLLING STRING WAVES: Kids paint waving water with rolling pins and string. SNACK WALKING GRAHAM BEARS: Kids walk graham cracker bears on blueberry yogurt. Open the Bible (10 minutes) WALK ON WATER STORYTELLING: Kids hear today s story and walk on different surfaces. Send (5 minutes) GOOD-BYE TIME: Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. PRAYER TIME: Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. Walking on Water 181

2 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Big Picture Overview Gather (10 minutes) WEEK 3 Wind Activate Faith (25 minutes) CENTER TIME: Water Play: Kids experiment with water and color Bible story pictures. CIRCLE TIME: Kids welcome all their friends in song and feel the wind in their face like Peter did. PRAYER TIME: Kids clap and chant a prayer. GAME SINKING AND TRUSTING: Kids sink their bodies down and rise back up. ART TISSUE PAPER WIND STORMS: Kids create storm pictures using glue and tissue paper. SNACK WHIPPING WAVES: Kids top crackers with jam and whipped cream. Open the Bible (10 minutes) WALK ON WATER STORYTELLING: Kids hear today s story and make a musical storm. Send (5 minutes) GOOD-BYE TIME: Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. PRAYER TIME: Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. WEEK 4 Sink or Float? Gather (10 minutes) CENTER TIME: Look, Touch, and Feel Trays: Kids touch textures and color Bible story pictures. CIRCLE TIME: Kids welcome all their friends in song, and experiment with sinking and floating objects and chart the results. PRAYER TIME: Kids clap and chant a prayer. Activate Faith (25 minutes) MUSIC GET OUT OF THE BOAT: Kids sing and get out of the boat. ART SINKING WATER PICTURES: Kids use colored water and sink it into coffee filters. SNACK FLOATING BANANAS: Kids cut up bananas and float them in vanilla pudding. Open the Bible (10 minutes) WALK ON WATER STORYTELLING: Kids hear today s story, then act it out without sound. Send (5 minutes) GOOD-BYE TIME: Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. PRAYER TIME: Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. 182 Preschool Leader Guides

3 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Big Picture Overview WEEK 5 Look and Touch Gather (10 minutes) CENTER TIME: Look, Touch, and Feel Trays: Kids touch textures and color Bible story pictures. CIRCLE TIME: Kids welcome all their friends in song and walk toward the leader while making eye contact. PRAYER TIME: Kids clap and chant a prayer. Activate Faith (25 minutes) GAME IN AND OUT: Kids jump in and out of a jump-rope boat. ART TOE (OR FINGER) PRINTS: Kids use toes or fingers to touch different paint textures. SNACK WALKING ON WATER SAUCE: Kids walk pretzel sticks over applesauce water. Open the Bible (10 minutes) WALK ON WATER STORYTELLING: Kids hear today s story and make a radio show. Send (5 minutes) GOOD-BYE TIME: Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. PRAYER TIME: Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. WEEK 6 Trust Gather (10 minutes) CENTER TIME: Look, Touch, and Feel Trays: Kids touch textures and color Bible story pictures. CIRCLE TIME: Kids welcome all their friends in song and walk toward a sound with their eyes closed. PRAYER TIME: Kids clap and chant a prayer. Activate Faith (25 minutes) MUSIC FLOAT YOUR BOAT: Kids sing a song about today s story. ART WATER PRINTS: Kids create paintings, make predictions, and make prints of their painted work. SNACK SAND AND SEA SNACK: Kids use dips to make a mountain, beach, and sea. Open the Bible (10 minutes) WALK ON WATER STORYTELLING: Kids act out today s story without sound. Send (5 minutes) GOOD-BYE TIME: Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. PRAYER TIME: Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. Walking on Water 183

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5 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Lesson At-A- Glance Chart Week 1 Lesson Focus: Boats Gather (10 minutes) Center Time Kids experiment with water and color Bible story pictures. Circle Time Kids welcome all their friends in song and row and rock their boats. Prayer Time Kids clap and chant a prayer. Coloring Page Walking on Water A Water table or dishpans, toy boats, small bowls, strainers, funnels, turkey basters, hand towels, beach towels, non-slip rugs, blank paper, markers or crayons, hand wipes (optional) Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Kids today s story and take turns stepping out of the boat. Spark Story Bible Large appliance box or several smaller boxes Activate Faith (25 minutes) GAME In and Out Kids jump in and out of a jump-rope boat. ART Recycled Boats Kids create boats from recycled materials. SNACK Bagel Boats Kids float bagel boats on blueberry cream cheese. Jump ropes Small cardboard boxes in assorted sizes, masking tape, glue sticks, plastic food containers, craft sticks, fabric scraps, markers, small supply baskets, old newspapers, recycling bin (optional) Mini bagels, blueberry cream cheese, table knives, plates, serving plate, napkins, cups, water, pitcher Walking on Water 185

6 Lesson At-A-Glance Chart Week 1 Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. Prayer Time Kids fill up their hand boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. Spark Story Bible Family Pages Toy boat Visit for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to explore this Bible story with the kids you are leading. You will also find 6 Coloring Pages to use during Gather Time and a downloadable Family Page for this rotation s story filled with ideas for families to use to explore this story and live out their faith at home. 186 Preschool Leader Guides

7 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Week 1 Gather (10 minutes) Center Time You may choose to set up one or both of these creative play centers where kids can play as they arrive in your classroom. Have Shepherds or adult helpers in each center to help kids with the activities. Kids can stay in one center or travel to more than one. Water Time Set Up: Fill the water table or dishpans half way with warm water. Place dishpans on a beach towel on top of a kid-sized table. Remove chairs from the table. For both water table and dishpan use, place non-slip rugs where kids will stand and play. Place water play props in the water and have hand towels nearby for drying wet hands. Ask kids to wash their hands before dipping into the water today. If you have no sink available, use hand wipes. Help kids roll up their sleeves before dipping in. Play along with the kids following their leads. At some point, introduce the day s focus. Have kids play with toy boats in the water. There is a boat in our story today. Coloring Center Provide copies of Coloring Page Walking on Water A, blank paper, and markers or crayons for each kid. Be sure to write their names on their drawings before they move to Circle Time. When all kids have arrived and have had time to participate in at least one center, say to the kids, It s time for Circle Time! Let s put our crayons and markers away, and wipe our hands dry. Give kids a few minutes to finish up and help them to clean up. Then prompt kids for the transition by singing Jesus Walked over the Water and walking to the circle. Coloring Page Walking on Water A Water table or dishpans (one per two kids) Toy boats Small bowls Strainers Funnels Turkey basters Hand towels Beach towels Non-slip rugs Hand wipes (optional) Blank paper Crayons or markers Sing this song to the tune of The Bear Went over the Mountain. Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, To get into the boat. Walking on Water 187

8 Circle Time Make sure you are sitting on the floor with your feet out in front of you. Kids mimic your motions. Our story for the next few weeks is about Jesus and his friends, the disciples. The disciples rowed the boat out into the lake. Pretend to row. Then the disciples fell asleep in the boat. Pretend to fall asleep. The boat rocked in the water. Rock from side to side still continuing to pretend to be sleep. The disciples woke up. Pretend to wake up. Let s pray and hear our story today! Prayer Time Clap as you chant this prayer. Each week make up another line or two to add to the prayer. Use the ASL sign for pray. Let s pray. Begin clapping. You may choose to pray this prayer as a call and response, or as a group prayer. If you experiment with call and response, let kids take turns being callers. Leader: Jesus, you walked on the water. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you helped Peter walk on the water. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you re with me when I m scared. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you help me do amazing things. Group: Help me know the water is fine! All: Amen! Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Set Up: Use a large appliance box or several smaller boxes to make boats for kids to sit in during the story. Check for and remove staples or other objects that might scrape kids. Bring out the box or boxes. We have a boat box today. Let s all climb in the boat. Help kids to climb into their boat, if necessary. Now, let s pretend Jesus is walking on the water toward your boat. Jesus says, Come on out the water is fine. Encourage kids to get out of the boat and pretend to walk on the water. Who is going to sink like Peter? Offer your hand to any sinking kids. Let s all get back in the boat. Climb back in the boat. Let s all cheer Hooray! Cheer together. Repeat the activity depending on time and interest. Spark Story Bibles Large appliance box or several smaller boxes Take out your Spark Story Bible and open to Walking on Water on pages Preschool Leader Guides

9 Read the story out loud and point to the corresponding pictures. Look for Squiggles the caterpillar in each picture. Ask kids what they think Squiggles is feeling or doing. Encourage them to make a face or move like Squiggles. Ask the following questions, allowing time for kids to answer: Who was in the boat? (the disciples) How do you feel when someone invites you to do something new or different? Activate Faith (25 minutes) game: In and Out Set Up: Take a jump rope and use it to form a circle on the floor. This is my boat. I m going to jump in it. Jump into the circle. Now I m going to jump out of it. Jump out of the circle. Let s all try it. Give groups of two or three kids a jump rope to make a boat. Have fun jumping in and out of the boat. Extend the game. Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water. Jump out of your boat and start walking around the boat. Peter took his eyes off Jesus. Close your eyes. Peter began to sink. Sink down to your knees. Jesus pulled Peter up. Stand up. Peter jumped back in the boat. Jump back into the circle. Kids can repeat your actions. Jump ropes, one per 2 to 3 kids art: Recycled Boats Set Up: Cover the table with newspaper. Sort materials into separate supply baskets to make the activity easier for kids to understand. Place the baskets on top of the table. Gather kids at the table. Make sure there is a Shepherd for each table if using more than one table. Hold up the recycling bin and take out a cardboard box. Today, let s make boats out of stuff I found in the recycling bin. What does my boat need? Pause. I know! I m going to make a sail for my boat. While I work on my boat, why don t you get started on your boats? Everyone needs a box to begin. Help kids find a box to begin their work. Work alongside the kids. Notice what kids are doing while you work and make appropriate comments. I notice some of you are using markers to decorate your boats. You can make your boats bright and colorful. Help kids put their names on their boats. Small cardboard boxes in assorted sizes, one per kid Masking tape Glue sticks Plastic food containers Craft sticks Fabric scraps Markers Small supply baskets Old newspapers Recycling bin (optional) Walking on Water 189

10 snack: Bagel Boats Before serving any food, always check with caregivers for kid who have food allergies. Provide an alternative if necessary. Set Up: Open up the blueberry cream cheese and set a few table knives nearby. Halve the bagels and place halves on a serving plate in the middle of the table. Assist kids in setting the table with a cup, napkin, and small plate at each place. Show kids how to make a bagel boat. Today our snack is a bagel boat. A boat was in our story today. Hold up a bagel half upside down. Here s our boat. Now, I m going to spread some blueberry cream cheese on the bottom of the boat. The cream cheese is the water. Hold up your bagel boat upside down with cream cheese on the underside. My bagel boat is floating on the water. Jesus floated on the water today in our story. Pause. Then pass the serving tray around. Everyone take one boat. Pass the cream cheese. Assist kids who need a bit of help in spreading it. Pour water, eat, and enjoy! Mini bagels, plain, multigrain, or blueberry Blueberry cream cheese, 2 per table Table knives Plates Serving plate Napkins Cups Water Pitcher Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Show kids the pictures from Walking on Water in the Spark Story Bible on pages Ask kids about today s focus. What do you think was so important about boats in our story today? Pause for kids to share their thoughts. Then hold a toy boat in your hands and remember one thing about your time together today. Today I remember we did (insert one memory). Pass the boat to the next kid or helper so they can remember one thing about the day. Kids continue to pass the toy boat around and remember one thing about their Spark time today until every one who wants to participate has had a turn. Spark Story Bible Toy boat Let s sing our good-bye song. Sing the good-bye song to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, Eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus, When we keep our eyes on Jesus, We do amazing things. [Name] keeps her/his eyes on Jesus, Eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus, [Name] keeps her/his eyes on Jesus, And does amazing things! Name every person. If you have enough time, add something wonderful each kid did during Spark time today. 190 Preschool Leader Guides

11 Prayer Time Make the ASL sign for pray. It s prayer time. Cup your hands to make a boat. Let s make our hands into a boat. Show kids how to bring their slightly bent palms together to make a boat. This is our blessing boat. Let s fill up our boats with today s blessings. I feel blessed to spend time with my friends at church. I wonder what you feel blessed about today. Ask each kid to add a blessing to the boats. If a kid does not want to share, say, I am thankful for [Name] today. Continue around the group until everyone who wants to contributes a blessing. As you go around the group, pretend your boat is getting heavier and heavier. It s time to blow our blessings to God. Bring your boat up to your face and gently blow upward. When finished say a big Amen! Family Pages If your group hasn t received this rotation s Family Page, send one home with each kid. Walking on Water 191

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13 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Lesson At-A- Glance Chart Week 2 Lesson Focus: Water Gather (10 minutes) Center Time Kids experiment with water and color Bible story pictures. Circle Time Kids welcome all their friends in song and see if their hands can walk on water. Prayer Time Kids clap and chant a prayer. Coloring Page Walking on Water B Water table or dishpans, toy boats, small bowls, strainers, funnels, turkey basters, hand towels, beach towels, non-slip rugs, blank paper, markers or crayons, hand wipes (optional) Dishpans or water table, hand wipes, hand towels from Center Time Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Kids hear today s story and walk on different surfaces. Spark Story Bible Nubby carpet rug or square, rubber mat, wooden balance beam, aluminum foil Activate Faith (25 minutes) MUSIC Float your Boat Kids sing a song about today s story. ART Rolling String Waves Kids paint waving water with paper towel rolls and string. SNACK Walking Graham Bears Kids walk graham cracker bears on blueberry yogurt. Blue and white washable tempera paint, liquid soap, rolling pins, thick string or yarn, masking tape, shallow paint pans, large white construction paper, paint shirts, old newspapers, markers or crayons, hand wipes Blueberry yogurt, graham cracker bears, bowls, napkins, spoons, serving spoons, cracker serving bowl, cups, water pitcher Walking on Water 193

14 Lesson At-A-Glance Chart Week 2 Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. Prayer Time Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. Spark Story Bible Family Pages Toy boat Visit for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to explore this Bible story with the kids you are leading. You will also find 6 Coloring Pages to use during Gather Time and a downloadable Family Page for this rotation s story filled with ideas for families to use to explore this story and live out their faith at home. 194 Preschool Leader Guides

15 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Week 2 Gather (10 minutes) Center Time You may choose to set up one or both of these creative play centers where kids can play as they arrive in your classroom. Have helpers in each center to help kids with the activities. Kids can stay in one center or travel to more than one. Water Time Set Up: Fill the water table or dishpans half way with warm water. Place dishpans on a beach towel on top of a kid-sized table. Remove chairs from the table. For both water table and dishpan use, place non-slip rugs where kids will stand and play. Place water play props in the water and have hand towels nearby for drying wet hands. Ask kids to wash their hands before dipping into the water today. If you have no sink available, use hand wipes. Help kids roll up their sleeves before dipping in. Play along with the kids following their leads. At some point, introduce the day s focus. Walk your fingers over the water. Jesus walked on the water with his feet. What do you think of that? See how kids respond. Coloring Center Provide copies of Coloring Page Walking on Water B, blank paper, and markers or crayons for each kid. Be sure to write their names on their drawings before they move to Circle Time. When all kids have arrived and have had time to participate in at least one center, say to the kids, It s time for Circle Time! Let s put our crayons and markers away, and wipe our hands dry. Give kids a few minutes to finish up and help them to clean up. Then prompt kids for the transition by singing Jesus Walked over the Water and walking to the circle. Coloring Page Walking on Water B Water table or dishpans (one per two kids) Toy boats Small bowls Strainers Funnels Turkey basters Hand towels Beach towels Non-slip rugs Hand wipes (optional) Blank paper Crayons or markers Sing this song to the tune of The Bear Went Over the Mountain. Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, To get into the boat. Walking on Water 195

16 Circle Time Welcome, friends! Let s sing our welcome song. Sing the welcome song to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Lead kids in clapping along. Welcome, welcome friends, Welcome friends today. Jesus loves you and me, In every single way. Dishpans or water table Hand wipes Hand towels Today let s welcome [Name], [Name], and [Name]. Sing the welcome song again, and then welcome three more kids. Remember to include yourself and other helpers, too! End by repeating the welcome song. You will need the dishpans or water table from Center Time. Clear out the toys before this Circle Time activity. After the welcome song, have an adult help to dry kids hands while you talk about today s activity. Our story is called Walking on Water. We can t walk on water. But Jesus did! And he helped Peter to walk on water, too! Let s pretend our fingers can walk on water. Let s go back to the water play area and walk our hands on the water. Walk over to the water play area and gently walk your fingers over the water. If you have a large group, have kids wait and take turns to walk their fingers on the water. When everyone has had a turn, say, Jesus walked on the water. Peter walked on the water with Jesus help. We walked our fingers on the water. Now let s walk on our feet back to Circle Time and pray. Prayer Time Clap as you chant this prayer. Each week make up another line or two to add to the prayer. Use the ASL sign for pray. Let s pray. Begin clapping. You may choose to pray this prayer as a call and response, or as a group prayer. If you experiment with call and response, let kids take turns being callers. Leader: Jesus, you walked on the water. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you helped Peter walk on the water. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you re with me when I m scared. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you help me do amazing things. Group: Help me know the water is fine! All: Amen! 196 Preschool Leader Guides

17 Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Set Up: In the middle of the Storytelling area, lay out the carpet, mat, and wooden balance beam in a row so that kids can easily move from one surface to another. The last surface should be a large piece of unrolled tin foil. Make sure kids are gathered and seated on the floor. Take off your shoes and socks. I m going for a walk without my shoes and socks on. Walk over each surface in turn as kids watch. Who would like to take a walk today? Everyone will get a turn in a minute. Invite a volunteer to take his or her shoes and socks off and walk across the surfaces, pausing briefly on each surface before moving on. Can you wiggle your toes on the rug? (Yes!) Tell me about how your toes and feet feel on the rug. Pause for kid s response. Ask the volunteer to move on to the next surface. Continue asking the kid to wiggle his/her toes on the surface and ask how the kid s feet feel on the different surfaces. Now it s time for everyone to take off their shoes and socks. When you are barefoot, you may take your walk and wiggle your toes. Give kids a few minutes to explore the different surfaces with their feet. After a few minutes, call the group back together. Tell me which surface your toes liked the best. Pause for kids responses. In our story today, the disciple Peter got his feet wet walking on top of the water with Jesus. I wonder how Peter s feet felt walking on the water. Pause for pondering. Spark Story Bible Nubby carpet square or rug Rubber mat Low wooden balance beam Aluminum foil Take out your Spark Story Bible and open to Walking on Water on pages Read the story out loud and point to the corresponding pictures. Look for Squiggles the caterpillar in each picture. Ask kids what they think Squiggles is feeling or doing. Encourage them to make a face or move like Squiggles. Ask the following questions, allowing time for kids to answer: Who walked on water in today s story? (Jesus, Peter) How do you think Peter felt when he began to sink? Walking on Water 197

18 Activate Faith (25 minutes) music: Float your Boat Here s a song about our story. Listen while I sing the song. Sing the song once through and then ask kids to join you. Now let s add some hand motions. Sing the song again and add the hand motions. Repeat the song. Sing this song to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat Float, float, float your boat (cup your hands together to make a boat) On a windy day. (swoosh arms horizontally) Look who s walking on the water, (shield eyes with hand) Am I still asleep? (rub your eyes to suggest sleepiness) Float, float, float your feet (float hands in the air with down-turned palms) Peter did just that. (repeat motions) Then his fear took over him, (look scared) Sinking, he went flat. (sink hands down to the ground) art: Rolling String Waves Set Up: Cover kid-sized tables with old newspaper. Pour paint into shallow paint pans and add a drop of liquid soap to lessen any potential paint stains. Rolling pins should fit in the paint pans. Have a pan of each color for every two kids. Place paint pans on the tables. Tape a long piece of string to the end of each rolling pin. Place a piece of construction paper and a rolling pin in front of every chair. Gather kids at the table. Hold up a rolling pin and show kids how to wind their string around the rolling pin. A helper can tape the string s end to the other end of the pin. Hold up your rolling pin. This rolling pin is going to make water waves on my paper. Watch what I do. Roll the rolling pin in the blue paint. Then roll it over a piece of white construction paper. Hold up your work. I just made some waves. Jesus walked on water while the waves lapped at his feet. Let s see if you can make some waves to remind you of our story! Assist kids if necessary. Some kids will just keep rolling. Have extra paper on hand for more wave work. Help kids write their names on their papers. Tell kids that their painting may take time to dry, but reassure them that they may take it home next week. Blue and white washable tempera paint Liquid soap Rolling pins Thick string or yarn Masking tape Shallow paint pans, 1 per color and 2 per table Large white construction paper Paint shirts, 1 per kid Old newspapers Markers or crayons 198 Preschool Leader Guides

19 snack: Walking Graham Bears Before serving any food, always check with caregivers for kid who have food allergies. Provide an alternative if necessary. Set Up: Gather kids at the snack table. Assign tasks so that kids are setting the table with adult help. Each place setting includes a bowl, spoon, napkin, and cup. Other kids can pour the crackers into a serving bowl, put a serving spoon into the yogurt, and fill up the water pitcher. When everything is ready, ask kids to sit down at the table. Welcome to snack time! Today, our snack reminds us of our story about Jesus walking on water. Serve yourself a bowl of yogurt and a handful of graham cracker bears. My teddy bears are going to walk on the yogurt like Peter walked on the water. Have fun with this activity! Walk a teddy bear on the yogurt. Let s pray and then serve our Walking on Water snack. I wonder who would like to offer a prayer today. Pause for a volunteer. If you have more than one volunteer, have more than one prayer. Then pass today s snack around the table family style. Pour drinks and make table conversation about today s story and other activities. Be prepared for drowning teddy bears. Blueberry yogurt Graham cracker bears Bowls Napkins Spoons Serving spoons Serving bowl Cups Water pitcher Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Show kids the pictures from Walking on Water in the Spark Story Bible on pages Ask kids about today s focus. I wonder what was so important about water in our story today. Pause for kids to share their thoughts. Then hold a toy boat in your hands and remember one thing about your time together today. Today I remember we did (insert one memory). Pass the boat to the next kid or helper so they can remember one thing about the day. Kids continue to pass the toy boat around and remember one thing about their Spark time today until every one who wants to participate has had a turn. Spark Story Bible Toy boat Let s sing our good-bye song. Sing the good-bye song to the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, Eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus, When we keep our eyes on Jesus, We do amazing things. [Name] keeps her/his eyes on Jesus, Eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus, [Name] keeps her/his eyes on Jesus, And does amazing things! Name every person. If you have enough time, add something wonderful each kid did during Spark time today. Walking on Water 199

20 Prayer Time Make the ASL sign for pray. It s prayer time. Cup your hands to make a boat. Let s make our hands into a boat. Show kids how to bring their slightly bent palms together to make a boat. This is our blessing boat. Let s fill up our boats with today s blessings. I feel blessed to spend time with my friends at church. I wonder what you feel blessed about today. Ask each kid to add a blessing to the boats. If a kid does not want to share, say, I am thankful for [Name] today. Continue around the group until everyone who wants to contributes a blessing. As you go around the group, pretend your boat is getting heavier and heavier. It s time to blow our blessings to God. Bring your boat up to your face and gently blow upward. When finished say a big Amen! Family Pages If your group hasn t received this rotation s Family Page, send one home with each kid. 200 Preschool Leader Guides

21 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Lesson At-A- Glance Chart Week 3 Lesson Focus: Wind Gather (10 minutes) Center Time Kids experiment with water and color Bible story pictures. Circle Time Kids welcome all their friends in song and feel the wind in their face like Peter did. Prayer Time Kids clap and chant a prayer. Coloring Page Walking on Water C Water table or dishpans, toy boats, small bowls, strainers, funnels, turkey basters, hand towels, beach towels, non-slip rugs, blank paper, markers or crayons, hand wipes (optional) Handheld paper fans Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Kids hear today s story and make a musical storm. Spark Story Bible Cymbals, rainsticks, scarves, sandpaper blocks, basket Activate Faith (25 minutes) GAME Sinking and Trusting Kids sink their bodies down and rise back up. ART Tissue Paper Wind Storms Kids create storm pictures using glue and tissue paper. SNACK Whipping Waves Kids top crackers with jam and whipped cream. Blue tissue paper, white tissue paper, brown construction paper scraps, large light colored construction paper or thin cardboard pieces, glue, glue cups, paintbrushes, markers Heavy whipping cream, small bowl, mixing bowl, manual egg beater, blueberry jam, shortbread cookies, spoon, spreading knives, plates, napkins, cups, water pitchers Walking on Water 201

22 Lesson At-A-Glance Chart Week 3 Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. Prayer Time Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. Spark Story Bible Family Pages Toy boat Visit for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to explore this Bible story with the kids you are leading. You will also find 6 Coloring Pages to use during Gather Time and a downloadable Family Page for this rotation s story filled with ideas for families to use to explore this story and live out their faith at home. 202 Preschool Leader Guides

23 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Week 3 Gather (10 minutes) Center Time You may choose to set up one or both of these creative play centers where kids can play as they arrive in your classroom. Have helpers in each center to help kids with the activities. Kids can stay in one center or travel to more than one. Water Time Set Up: Fill the water table or dishpans mid way with warm water. Place dishpans on a beach towel on top of a kid-sized table. Remove chairs from the table. For both water table and dishpan use, place non-slip rugs where kids will stand and play. Place water play props in the water and have hand towels nearby for drying wet hands. Ask kids to wash their hands before dipping into the water today. If you have no sink available, use hand wipes. Help kids roll up their sleeves before dipping in. Play along with the kids following their leads. At some point, introduce the day s focus. Encourage kids to try blowing the water. There is wind in our story today. Coloring Center Provide copies of Coloring Page Walking on Water C, blank paper, and markers or crayons for each kid. Be sure to write their names on their drawings before they move to Circle Time. When all kids have arrived and have had time to participate in at least one center, say to the kids, It s time for Circle Time! Let s put our crayons and markers away, and wipe our hands dry. Give kids a few minutes to finish up and help them to clean up. Then prompt kids for the transition by singing Jesus Walked over the Water and walking to the circle. Coloring Page Walking on Water C Water table or dishpans (one per two kids) Toy boats Small bowls Strainers Funnels Turkey basters Hand towels Beach towels Non-slip rugs Hand wipes (optional) Blank paper Crayons or markers Sing this song to the tune of The Bear Went Over the Mountain. Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, To get into the boat. Walking on Water 203

24 Circle Time Welcome, friends! Let s sing our welcome song. Sing the welcome song to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Lead kids in clapping along. Welcome, welcome friends, Welcome friends today. Jesus loves you and me, In every single way. Handheld paper fans, one per kid Today let s welcome [Name], [Name], and [Name]. Sing the welcome song again, and then welcome three more kids. Remember to include yourself and other helpers, too! End by repeating the welcome song. Use your hand to fan your face. Let s all use our hands to fan our faces. What do you feel? (air, wind, etc.) Our hands create wind. In our story today, the disciples feel a strong wind. Peter feels the wind while he is walking on the water. When Peter gets back into the boat, the wind stops blowing. Pass out the fans. I m giving everyone a fan. Let s be the wind in the story today. Keep making wind. Let s pretend Peter is walking on the water. He feels the wind. Peter gets scared. Jesus helps. Pause. Now Peter is getting back in the boat. It s time for the wind to stop. Stop fanning. Repeat the activity if you have time and kids are still interested. Prayer Time Clap as you chant this prayer. Each week make up another line or two to add to the prayer. Use the ASL sign for pray. Let s pray. Begin clapping. You may choose to pray this prayer as a call and response, or as a group prayer. If you experiment with call and response, let kids take turns being callers. Leader: Jesus, you walked on the water. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you helped Peter walk on the water. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you re with me when I m scared. Group: Help me know the water is fine. Leader: Jesus, you help me do amazing things. Group: Help me know the water is fine! All: Amen! 204 Preschool Leader Guides

25 Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Set Up: Place all supplies in the basket. Place the basket near you in the Storytelling area. What was the weather like in our story today? (windy, foggy, stormy) The weather was foggy and windy in our story. I wonder if today we could make some foggy and windy weather. Pause for dramatic effect. I have some props to help us. Bring out the basket. I have some scarves. Hold up a scarf. How can the scarves help us today? Pause for gueses. The scarves can help us with the wind. Hold up a rainstick. How can the rainstick help us with our story weather today? Our rainstick can be rain and the sound of water waves. Spark Story Bible Cymbals Rainsticks Scarves Sandpaper blocks Basket Continue discussing the different props and then pass out a prop to each kid. Allow time to experiment with props. Let s make the foggy weather in today s story. The disciples saw Jesus walking on water in the fog. Help kids choose what instruments could be fog, such as a slow, quiet rainstick or sandpaper block. Great fog! Now let s make the windy weather. Peter walked on the water in the wind. Allow kids to stand up, wave their scarves, and clash their cymbals. After a few minutes of wind, ask kids to be quiet. Great wind! Now as Peter and Jesus get into the boat, the wind dies down and is quiet. Let s be quiet. End by asking the kids to quietly put their props back into the basket. Take out your Spark Story Bible and open to Walking on Water on pages Read the story out loud and point to the corresponding pictures. Look for Squiggles the caterpillar in each picture. Ask kids what they think Squiggles is feeling or doing. Encourage them to make a face or move like Squiggles. Ask the following questions, allowing time for kids to answer: When did the wind stop in our story? (when Jesus held Peter s hand and they got into the boat) What do you like or dislike about a windy day? Walking on Water 205

26 Activate Faith (25 minutes) game: Sinking and Trusting Gather kids in an open space. Tell kids to watch what you do. Tell them they will do the same things soon. Walk in a circle standing up. Then sink down a bit into a crouch and try to walk. Then sink down some more and walk on your knees (if possible). Finally either sit down and scoot on your bottom or scoot on your tummy. Then reverse the entire movement until you are walking again. Now introduce the game. Peter walked on the water. Peter began to sink. Jesus helped Peter. Peter walked on the water again. In this game, we are going to practice sinking and floating. Once we are good at it, we will see how fast and how slow we can sink and float. Let s try it. Lead kids by walking in a circle. Call out the different movements walk, crouch, knees, scoot, knees, crouch, walk as you move. If your group really catches on fast, just call out Let s sink or Let s float. Have fun sinking and floating fast, slow, and all mixed up. art: Tissue Paper Wind Storms Set Up: This tactile activity is designed to make sound! There are no scissors in this activity on purpose. The act of tearing paper creates some wind. Place a piece of construction paper or cardboard in front of every chair. Pour glue into glue cups and add two brushes to each cup. Cut or tear tissue paper into smaller pieces for easier handling. Gather kids at the art table. Sit down with the kids and talk about today s work. Who remembers the wind from our Walking on Water story? The wind blew when Peter walked on the water. Let s make a wind picture using the supplies in front of us. Let me show you how. Crumple up some white tissue paper and make some clouds on your paper by gluing the tissue paper on the top portion of the paper. Look! I made some clouds. Touch the clouds. My clouds make a noise like the wind. Do the same for water using the blue tissue paper and gluing the tissue paper on the bottom portion of the paper. Look! I made some water. My water makes a noise like the waves. Let s all make some wind pictures. Continue working on your picture alongside the kids. Assist kids in their work as necessary. The goal of this activity is to make a wind picture. Kids can add other elements of today s story such as making a boat out of brown construction paper and using markers to add people, Squiggles, and the sun. Blue tissue paper White tissue paper Brown construction paper scraps Large light colored construction paper or thin cardboard pieces Glue Glue cups Paintbrushes Markers 206 Preschool Leader Guides

27 snack: Whipping Waves Before serving any food, always check with caregivers for kid who have food allergies. Provide an alternative if necessary. Set Up: Refrigerate the mixing bowl and manual egg beater to whip the cream faster. Wash your hands and sanitize the snack table. Place today s supplies on the table. Pour crackers into a serving bowl. Open the jam and put a spoon in the jar. Ask kids to set up today s table with small plates, napkins, cups, and table knives. Send two kids to fill the water pitcher. We ve talked about the wind in today s story. What do we need to make wind? Do we need water for wind? (no) Do we need rain for wind? (no) For a big hint, wave your hand to move some air. Do we need air for wind? (yes) We do need air for wind. Today we have a snack that needs air. Take out the mixing bowl, manual egg beater, and heavy cream. From the cream carton pour just a little into a small bowl and the rest into the larger mixing bowl. Watch what happens when I use the egg beater in the cream. Begin beating the cream in the large bowl. Tell me what is happening in the bowl. Kids may notice the bubbles. The egg beater twirls around and puts air or wind into the cream. The air creates air bubbles. Let s take turns beating the cream and watching what happens. Help kids take a turn at beating the cream. When everyone has had a turn, ask another adult to take a turn and beat the cream until it is thick and fluffy. Compare the whipped cream to the liquid cream in the small bowl. The cream in the small bowl is what the cream looked like before it was whipped with air. How are the two creams different? (One is more like milk. The other one is more fluffy.) Air makes wind and wind whipped our cream today! Heavy whipping cream Mixing bowl Small bowl Manual egg beater Blueberry jam Round snack crackers Spoon Spreading knives Plates Napkins Cups Water pitchers Ask everyone to sit. Here s our snack today. Take a cookie and spread it with blueberry jam. Then add a dollop of whipped cream on the top. Hold up the snack. Here s our whipping wave snack today. Pass today s snack ingredients around the table. Munch away and talk about air, wind, and today s story. Walking on Water 207

28 Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Show kids the pictures from Walking on Water in the Spark Story Bible on pages Ask kids about today s focus. I wonder what was so important about wind in our story today. Pause for kids to share their thoughts. Then hold a toy boat in your hands and remember one thing about your time together today. Today I remember we did (insert one memory). Pass the boat to the next kid or helper so they can remember one thing about the day. Kids continue to pass the toy boat around and remember one thing about their Spark time today until every one who wants to participate has had a turn. Spark Story Bible Toy boat Let s sing our good-bye song. Sing the good-bye song to the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, Eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus, When we keep our eyes on Jesus, We do amazing things. [Name] keeps her/his eyes on Jesus, Eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus, [Name] keeps her/his eyes on Jesus, And does amazing things! Name every person. If you have enough time, add something wonderful each kid did during Spark time today. Prayer Time Make the ASL sign for pray. It s prayer time. Cup your hands to make a boat. Let s make our hands into a boat. Show kids how to bring their slightly bent palms together to make a boat. This is our blessing boat. Let s fill up our boats with today s blessings. I feel blessed to spend time with my friends at church. I wonder what you feel blessed about today. Ask each kid to add a blessing to the boats. If a kid does not want to share, say, I am thankful for [Name] today. Continue around the group until everyone who wants to contributes a blessing. As you go around the group, pretend your boat is getting heavier and heavier. It s time to blow our blessings to God. Bring your boat up to your face and gently blow upward. When finished say a big Amen! Family Pages If your group hasn t received this rotation s Family Page, send one home with each kid. 208 Preschool Leader Guides

29 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Lesson At-A- Glance Chart Week 4 Lesson Focus: Sink or Float? Gather (10 minutes) Center Time Kids touch textures and color Bible story pictures. Circle Time Kids welcome all their friends in song and experiment with sinking and floating objects and chart the results. Prayer Time Kids clap and chant a prayer. Coloring Page Walking on Water D Coloring Pages Walking on Water A and C Trays; a fabric piece each of felt, velvet, burlap, silk, and wool; magnifying glasses; blank paper; markers or crayons Chart paper or whiteboard, tape, markers or dry erase markers, dishpan, towel, sinking objects such as rocks and coins, floating objects such as rubber balls and toy boats Open the Bible (10 minutes) Walking on Water Storytelling Kids hear today s story and act out the story without sound. Spark Story Bible Bible time costume pieces, scarves, large cardboard box Activate Faith (25 minutes) MUSIC Get Out of the Boat Kids sing and get out of the boat. ART Sinking Water Pictures Kids use colored water and sink it into coffee filters. SNACK Floating Bananas Kids cut up bananas and float them in vanilla pudding. Large coffee filters, food coloring, eye droppers, cups, water pitcher, old newspapers, construction paper, wax paper, masking tape Pre-made vanilla pudding, bananas, spoons, table knives, bowls, cutting boards, serving spoons, clean-up sponge, cups, water pitcher Walking on Water 209

30 Lesson At-A-Glance Chart Week 4 Send (5 minutes) Good-bye Time Kids use a boat to remember and sing a good-bye song. Prayer Time Kids fill up their palm boats with blessings and blow the blessings into the world. Spark Story Bible Family Pages Toy boat Visit for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to explore this Bible story with the kids you are leading. You will also find 6 Coloring Pages to use during Gather Time and a downloadable Family Page for this rotation s story filled with ideas for families to use to explore this story and live out their faith at home. 210 Preschool Leader Guides

31 PRESCHOOL LEADER GUIDE Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Week 4 Gather (10 minutes) Center Time You may choose to set up one or both of these creative play centers where kids can play as they arrive in your classroom. Have helpers in each center to help kids with the activities. Kids can stay in one center or travel to more than one. Look, Touch, and Feel Trays Set Up: Place trays on a carpeted floor or on a kid-sized table. On each tray place two to three different textures and two magnifying glasses. Explore the different textures along with the kids. Ask kids to describe what they feel and compare one fabric texture to another. Tie today s story into the activity. Peter felt something under his feet when he walked on the water to Jesus. Ask kids some questions depending on the weekly focus statement. I wonder how it feels to float on your feet. I wonder what it feels like to walk on a wet wooden boat. I wonder what it feels like to be so scared that you can t even trust the person who wants to help you. Pause for kids thoughts. Coloring Page Walking on Water D Three trays A fabric piece each of felt, velvet, burlap, silk, and wool Magnifying glasses, two per tray Blank paper Markers or crayons Coloring Center Provide copies of Coloring Page Walking on Water D, blank paper, and markers or crayons for each kid. Be sure to write their names on their drawings before they move to Circle Time. When all kids have arrived and have had time to participate in at least one center, say to the kids, It s time for Circle Time! Let s put our crayons and markers away. Let s put our trays back in order. Give kids a few minutes to finish up and help them to clean up. Then prompt kids for the transition by singing Jesus Walked over the Water and walking to the circle. Sing this song to the tune of The Bear Went over the Mountain. Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, Jesus walked over the water, To get into the boat. Walking on Water 211

32 Circle Time Welcome, friends! Let s sing our welcome song. Sing the welcome song to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Lead kids in clapping along. Welcome, welcome friends, Welcome friends today. Jesus loves you and me, In every single way. Today let s welcome [Name], [Name], and [Name]. Sing the welcome song again, and then welcome three more kids. Remember to include yourself and other helpers, too! End by repeating the welcome song. Set Up: Fill the dishpan a little over half full with water. Place it on a towel on the floor. Place the sinking and floating objects nearby. Cut out the figure of Jesus from Coloring Page A and the figure of Peter from Coloring Page C. With a marker, make two columns on the chart paper or white board. Tape Jesus to the left column and Peter to the right column. Coloring Pages Walking on Water A and C Chart paper or whiteboard Tape Markers or dry erase markers Dishpan Towel Sinking objects such as rocks and coins Floating objects such as rubber balls and toy boats Gather around the dishpan. We will hear our story, Walking on Water, again today. Jesus and Peter float on top of the water. Then Peter begins to sink. Today let s experiment with items that either sink like Peter. Point to Peter. or float like Jesus. Point to Jesus. Pick up a rock and drop it in the dishpan. Did this object sink or float? (sink) The rock sank. I m going to draw a picture of a rock in the Peter column because the rock sank. Ask kids to take turns dropping objects into the dishpan. After each item, decide what column the item belongs in. It s okay to try an item more than once. Kids this age will not always understand that a sinking object will always sink. Does anyone remember how Peter stopped sinking in our story? (Jesus grabbed Peter s hand.) Jesus helped Peter stop sinking. Prayer Time Clap as you chant this prayer. Each week make up another line or two to add to the prayer. Use the ASL sign for pray. Let s pray. Begin clapping. You may choose to pray this prayer as a call and response, or as a group prayer. If you experiment with call and response, let kids take turns being callers. 212 Preschool Leader Guides