3-5 Supplemental Curriculum:  Learning Centers

Unit 1: I Am a Unique Child of God  

 

Index

Learning Center #1: Title: “Jesus is My Shepherd” (John 10:11-15)

Learning Center #2: Title: “My Caregiver and Me”

Learning Center #3: Title: “Mirror Faces”

Learning Center #4: Title: “Marvelous Caregiver and Me”

Learning Center #5: Title: “Snowflakes are one of a Kind - Like Me!”

Learning Center #6: Title: “Measure Caregiver and Me!”

Learning Center #1: Title: “Jesus Knows My Name – My Name is Special! “

Learning Center #2: Title: “I Am Alive!—My Heartbeat!”*

Learning Center #3: Title: “Fingerprint Fun”-God Knows Me Best!

Learning Center #4: Title: “What’s in a Name?”

Learning Center #5: Title: “God Made Our Bodies Special!”

Learning Center #6: Title: “God Knows My Age!” (Psalm 139:14)

Learning Center #1: Title: “Jesus is My Shepherd” (John 10:11-15)

Topic 1: I Am God's Beloved Child

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 1, #1-2; SP Yr. 2, #36

Overall Topic Objective: Caregiver and child will learn that God loves and values each of them as precious children through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Center Objective(s):  

1.) The caregiver and child will be able to identify at least 2 ways Jesus explained how He loves them as a shepherd loves His sheep.

 Materials:

  •  4 Scenarios: On 4 pieces of  cardstock: simple drawings of 1)stick figure of Jesus, sheep, and wolf 2) Jesus, sheep, and food 3) Jesus, sheep, and shelter 4) Jesus, sheep, green pasture, blue stream

  • Pattern shape of sheep cut from heavy paper or cardboard approximately 10x16 cm

  • 1 sheet of  white paper per caregiver and child to trace sheep pattern 4 times

  • Safety scissors, pencil, glue, coloring utensils

  • 1 piece of larger foldable paper for background of scenarios (can be white or light color) approximately  30cm x 46 cm (Caregiver and child can practice folding into 4 sections)

 Directions:

  1.  Caregiver mixes up the scenario cards and places them face down.  Child chooses one card at a time to role-play the scenarios. Take turns playing Jesus and sheep as seen in the different scenarios.

  2. Discuss how to take care of sheep. What must a shepherd do? Why does Jesus care about His sheep?  (Read simple form of Psalm 23)

  3. Caregiver and child trace, cut and color 4 sheep from the white paper using the cardboard sheep pattern, pencil and scissors.

  4. Caregiver and child fold the larger background paper into 4 equal sections.

  5. Caregiver and child glue one sheep on each folded section of the larger paper.

  6. Caregiver and child draw and color together to fill in the remaining   scenes of each section with: 1) wolf 2) food 3) shelter 4) green pasture and 5) blue stream.

Learning Center #2: Title: “My Caregiver and Me”

Topic 1: I Am God's Beloved Child

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 1, #15-16; PH Yr. 2, #2

Overall Topic Objective: Caregiver and child will learn that God loves and values each of them as precious children through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Center Objective:  

1) Caregiver and child will be able to illustrate self-portraits of themselves as a reminder that each person is “one of a kind”, loved by God.

Materials:

  • Patterns required for center: Recycled cardboard approx. 15.5 cmx 26 cm. 2 pieces per caregiver and child. Provide 1 male adult outline, 1 female adult outline, one boy outline, one girl outline  (See patterns in Unit 1 Resource folder)*

  • 2 pieces of heavy paper upon which to trace the outlines of caregiver and child

  • Coloring utensils,  sewing scraps, colorful recycled paper from magazines

  • Safety scissors, glue, strong string or twine, hole punch or sharp object to poke hole in cardboard for the wall hanging

 Directions:

  1. With available patterns of adult figures and child figures, choose the pair that represents caregiver and child (Example: male adult pattern for caregiver and girl pattern for child).

  2. Trace the two patterns that represent the caregiver and child relationship on the heavy paper and cut out the figures.

  3. Decorate the two figures to “look” like the caregiver and the child with the available materials.

  4. Punch a hole in the top of each figure and thread a piece of yarn (approximately 30cm) through the holes.

  5. Tie knots to hold the strips in place.

  6. Hang the “one of a kind” caregiver and child on the wall or from the ceiling for display.

* PDF outline patterns for caregiver and child (male, female) Original by author, and 2nd template Website: www.atozteacherstuff.com

Learning Center #3: Title: “Mirror Faces”

Topic 1: I Am God’s Beloved Child 

Link to GRC: PH Yr. 1, #18; PH Yr. 2, #1

Overall Topic Objective: Caregiver and child will learn that God loves and values each of them as precious children through Jesus Christ. our Lord.

Learning Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to analyze and observe the characteristics of light and reflection.

2 )The caregiver and child will be able to observe and discuss God’s design in creating each person as “one of a kind”.

Materials:

  •  2 small rectangular mirrors (approx... 8cm x 13cm) taped together short side to short side to form a hinge (See illustration in Unit 1 Resource folder)* If not available, use two hand held mirrors and hold them together to reflect many images when placed on the paper.

  • White paper  (approx. 21cm x 28 cm) or white index cards (8 cm x 13 cm)

  • Coloring utensils (markers work best)

  • Flat surface to prop up taped, hinged mirrors taped   

      Directions:

  1.  Caregiver and child sit facing each other at a small table and look at each other’s face and then they look in the hinged mirrors, one at a time.

  2. Caregiver and child talk about the facial features they see in the mirror and what they see when they look at each other face to face.  Talk about eye color, hair color, ears, nose and mouth.  How are their features the same?  How are they different?  What facial feature do they like the best about themselves, about the other?  How did God make them the same or different?

  3. Caregiver and child use the coloring utensils to draw their own faces on the white paper.

  4. Take turns placing the hinged mirror on the center of the face drawings so that the image reflected in the mirror is showing. (You will see more eyes and noses, etc.).

  5. Talk about how the mirror reflects and shows the faces.

  6. Extend the learning and talk about how our faces also show God’s love for us and for others through our loving eyes, what we say with our mouths, and how we listen to each other with our ears, etc. 

  7. For more fun, take turns drawing different designs on extra paper, or on the back of the portraits, experiment with the mirror placed upon these designs in the same manner as above. 

Learning Center #4: Title: “Marvelous Caregiver and Me”

Topic 1: I Am God’s Beloved Child

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 1, #3; PH Yr. 1, #19 

Overall Topic Objective: Caregiver and child will learn that God loves and values each of them as precious children through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to compare and contrast the likenesses and differences in how God created each of them uniquely special.

2) The caregiver and child will be able to determine at least 3 ways people are alike and different. 

Materials:

  • Large Heavy paper for tracing hands and feet of caregiver and child

  • Pencil

  • Long piece of string or yarn, from which to make a “clothesline” of personal physical features: hands, feet, eyes

  • Safety scissors, hole punch or pencil  to poke holes for the “clothesline”, or clear tape can be used to tape the feet, hands, and eyes

  • Clean rag cloths or old towels available to wipe feet and hands before tracing and cutting

Directions:

  1. Wipe off feet and hands before starting the activity with clean cloth.

  2. Caregiver and child take turns tracing each other’s feet and then hands.

  3. With remainder of paper, draw two sets of eyes, one per caregiver and child.

  4. Cut out all feet, hands, and eyes.

  5. Caregiver and child color their own eyes with their personal color.

  6. Using long piece of yarn or string, alternate stringing the caregiver and child’s feet, hands and eyes along the string in clothesline fashion.

  7. Talk about how the hands, feet, and eyes are the same and how they are different from each other while placing the cut-outs on the yarn together.

  8. After finishing, caregiver and child share their “clothesline” with another caregiver and child and compare and contrast the likenesses and differences. 

Learning Center #5: Title: “Snowflakes are one of a Kind - Like Me!”

Topic 1: I Am God’s Beloved Child

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 1, #3; SE Yr. 2, #2; PH Yr. 2, #1, 6

Overall Topic Objective: Caregiver and child will learn that God loves and values each of them as precious children through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to list at least 2 examples of how God creates many things in His Kingdom that are “one of a kind”. 

2) The caregiver and child will be able to design at least 2 unique “snowflakes” to reinforce theme.

Materials:

  • 3-6 strips of white sturdy paper (2cm x 30cm), glue, thread or ribbon

  • If in a region which does not receive any snow, provide pictures of snowfall scenes from magazines if possible

Directions:

  1. Caregiver and child fold each strip of paper in half, then in half again.

  2. Unfold the strip: it will be creased in fourths.

  3. Overlap the two end sections of the strip so that a triangle is formed.  Glue in place.

  4. Glue 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 triangles together to create a unique triangular “snowflake.”

  5. List all the things in nature that are “one of a kind”.  Have a contest between caregiver and child to determine who can think of the most!  If possible, extend the activity by walking outside to search for items in nature that are “one of a kind”.

  6. (Adaptation:  Glue the snowflake shapes, once completed, on wax paper or other thin tissue paper to make “sun catcher” shapes instead.)  Hang in sunny place. 

Learning Center #6: Title: “Measure Caregiver and Me!”

Topic 1: I am God’s Beloved Child

Link to GRC: PH Yr. 1, 7-9

Overall Topic Objective: Caregiver and child will learn that God loves and values each of them as precious children through Jesus Christ. our Lord. 

Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to measure at least 3 objects using at least 3 standards of measure. (hand, foot, and forearm

2) The caregiver and child will be able to predict which measurements will be less than or more than each other.

3) The caregiver and child will be able to determine at least 2 reasons why measurements in everyday life are important.

Materials:

  • 2-3 items to measure (Examples: table, chair, book, basket, stick, etc.)

  • Chalkboard and chalk or pencil and paper to write measurements discovered (optional: make 2 charts  ahead of time to record the findings of the measurements if literacy is in place- if literacy challenged, provide “counters” such as small beans, stones, or bottle caps to place on the chart for the lengths they discover.  Another option: pencil tallies.)

  • Pictures of hand, foot and arm (optional)

  • Cards with words written: “more “, “less”, “larger”, “smaller”, “longer”, “shorter” or pictures depicting these comparison words

Directions:

    1. Caregiver and child first measure their own bodies.  Each takes turns helping the other count how many “arm lengths”, “foot lengths”, or “hand lengths” each of them measures. (Example: child is 3 arm lengths tall, caregiver is 6 arm lengths tall)

    2. Caregiver and child decide which body part they want to use first to measure the items at the center. Each takes turns helping the other count how many “arm lengths”, “foot lengths”, or “hand lengths” each item measures. (Example: stick is 5 arm lengths for caregiver and 10 for child)

    3. Caregiver and child write the number of arm lengths on a chart.  Make 2 charts, one for caregiver and one for child’s measurements.

    4. Talk about which items were larger or smaller, whose measurements were more or less using comparing words in full sentences. Example:  Caregiver’s measurement of the table is more than or larger than child’s.  If possible, provide words: More, less, bigger, larger, smaller, longer, and shorter on notecards.

    5. Caregiver and child talk about why  measuring is important for:

      • Sewing or jobs

      • Building structures

      • Marketing and cooking 

Learning Center #1: Title: “Jesus Knows My Name – My Name is Special! “

Topic 2: What Makes Me Special?

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 1, #4; SE Yr. 2, #1; SP Yr. 2, #36

Overall Topic Objective: The caregiver and child will identify that God created each person in His image, unique and wonderfully made. 

Center Objectives:

1) Caregiver and child will be able to read and identify the letters in their names.

2) Caregiver and child will be able to practice the use of fine-motor skills.

3) Caregiver and child will be able to identify at least 1 other name for Jesus in the Bible.

Materials:

  • Hole punch , pencil

  • Pieces of stiff paper or recycled cardboard, 2pc. Per caregiver and child (approx. 7cm x 13cm)

  • Yarn or ribbon for lacing cut to approx.½ meter length taped on one end with any tape to provide a point that can be laced easily

Directions:

  1. With pencil, caregiver and child write or copy (for those literacy challenged) the letters of their names on the two pieces of cardboard. Make sure the letters fill the space provided.

  2. Punch holes several cm. apart on the lines of the letters of each name.  Take turns.

  3. Prepare the yarn/ribbon by wrapping a small piece of tape on one end to ease lacing.

  4. Lace the yarn through the holes in a “backstitch” fashion to create the name.

  5. Tie a knot at the end of the name and tape the loose end to the back of the cardboard. If desired, use another piece of yarn to display the name.

  6. Talk about the importance of child’s name; who named them, if they were named for family members, etc.

  7. Talk about the different names of Jesus in the Bible. (Son of God, Good Shepherd, Son of Man, Savior, etc.) 

Learning Center #2: Title: “I Am Alive!—My Heartbeat!”*

Topic 2:  What Makes Me Special?

Link to GRC: PH Yr. 1, #36; SP Yr. 1, #1-4

Overall Topic Objective: The caregiver and child will identify that God created each person in His image, unique and wonderfully made.

Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to identify how the heart beats through discovering the pulse.

2) The caregiver and child will be able to tabulate, compare and contrast their pulse rates.

3) The caregiver and child will be able to draw conclusions about the value of a healthy heart for exercise and living well.

Materials:

  • If available, a watch or clock with a second hand

  • If no time device available, a third person to assist by steadily keeping a beat through clapping or using a stick on a hard surface to count

  • Jump rope (optional)

  • Paper and pencil to tally results

Directions:

  1. Caregiver and child learn how to find their pulse by laying two fingers on the left side of the throat (good practice for left and right!)  until they feel the heart’s pulse.  Count out loud the beats in 15 seconds on a clock. (or after 15 beats by the assisting third person)
  2. After 15 seconds, multiply by 4 to get the number of beats per minute. (or add 4 times if addition is easier- assistance might be needed)
  3. Practice together discovering how slow or fast is the heart’s pulse by taking turns doing the following activities:
    • Jumping up and down or jump roping (if available)
    • Jogging in place
    • Lying still on a safe flat surface
  4. Keep exercising and record heart’s pulse after 5 minutes. If possible, rest and try to go longer!
  5. At end of time, walk around slowly and take heart’s pulse again.
  6. Caregiver and child talk about why it is important to exercise to live well.

* Adapted from:Frank, Marjorie. 202 Science Investigations.  Nashville, TN: Incentive Publications, Inc., 1990, p.18 

Learning Center #3: Title: “Fingerprint Fun”-God Knows Me Best!

Topic 2: What Makes Me Special?

Link to GRC: PH Yr. 1, #3; SE Yr. 1, #1-4

Overall Topic Objective: The caregiver and child will identify that God created each person in His image, unique and wonderfully made. 

Center Objectives:  

1) The caregiver and child will be able to identify that each person’s fingerprint is “one of a kind”.

2) The caregiver and child will be able to discuss at least 2 ways God has made each of them special, even their fingerprints.

 Materials: 

  • Washable markers in different colors or Homemade ink pad ( Optional: See Users Guide or website link at bottom of this page)*

  • Newsprint or newspaper

  • Scrap papers of various sizes or plain white paper

  • Soap, water, and clean rag/towel for clean up

 Directions: 

  1. Caregiver and child wash hands before doing activity with soap and water.

  2. Take turns dipping your index finger into the ink and “printing” it on the pieces of scrap paper or white paper for practice.

  3. Caregiver and child compare and contrast size and look of their fingerprints.

  4. Now, print fingerprints again on a clean sheet of paper. Use different colors if available for experimentation.

  5. With the fingerprints as the beginning of a picture, draw pictures around each fingerprint creating butterflies, people, bugs, animals etc.  Caregiver and child create one picture together. Color the pictures created.

  6. If time remains, caregiver and child compare their fingerprint pictures with another caregiver and child pair.

  7. Display pictures!

* How to make and Inkpad without Ink:  http://www.ehow.com/how_8171548_can-make-fingerprints-ink-pad.html#ixzz2bmW3HgYi 

Learning Center #4: Title: “What’s in a Name?”

Topic 2: What Makes Me Special?

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 1, #2

Overall Topic Objective: The caregiver and child will identify that God created each person in His image, unique and wonderfully made.

Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to practice holding a writing utensil correctly.

2) Caregiver and child will be able to strengthen fine motor muscles.

The caregiver and child will be able to recall and practice telling their full names for social introductions.

Materials: 

  • Lid of recycled cardboard box placed on an covered surface in case of spillage

  • Sand or salt, enough to put in the lid

  • Pouring utensil such as cup or small pitcher

  • Blunt stick, plastic straw, or handle of spoon if fingers are not preferred

 Directions: 

  1. Caregiver and child talk about the child’s name.  Caregiver tells the child one thing that makes them special.  Where did their name come from?  What does it mean?

  2. Caregiver and child take turns pouring sand or salt into the lid of the box using the pouring utensil provided. Spread it into a thin layer.

  3. Hold writing stick (or other straight object provided) in correct manner. (two fingers on top, thumb underneath in pincer grasp)

  4. Review the letters in the child’s first name. Practice writing one letter at a time. Younger children can make circular motions (scribbling their names) while older children can write one or more letters.  If needed, provide a written model of the letters needed for the activity (such as the laced name plate in previous topic).

  5. Caregiver and child can take turns practicing his/her name in the box.

  6. Invite caregiver and child to practice their entire names out loud. Find another caregiver and child and introduce yourselves to each other. Take turns greeting each other in a culturally appropriate manner.   

Learning Center #5: Title: “God Made Our Bodies Special!”

Topic 2: What Makes Me Special?

Link to GRC: SE Yr. 2, #1; PH Yr. 1, #6, 7, 19

Overall Topic Objective: The caregiver and child will identify that God created each person in His image, unique and wonderfully made.

Center Objectives:

1) The caregiver and child will be able to practice large motor muscles through jumping and stretching.

2) The caregiver and child will be able to identify the letters in their names from random order.

Materials: 

  • Large area in corner of room, or outdoors located on a flat surface created similar to a hopscotch board

  • Set of letters on cards (or plastic letters, if available) of the alphabet of country’s context from which to create names. If letters are needed more than once, write cards with extra letters

  •  Small Plastic lids from containers upon which to tape letters of caregiver’s and child’s name

  • Bean bag or other soft item to throw on the “hopscotch” board for game play (A sock stuffed with beans or sand, etc. works well-tie off the sock tightly)

  • Cards with “actions” created with stick figures doing the action

    Suggested “actions”: walk, run, jump, hop on one foot, stand still

 Directions: 

  1. Invite the caregiver and child to spread out the letters of their alphabet in front of them.

    If needed, use the name placard to identify how to spell their names and to identify the letters.

  2. Taking turns, child chooses one letter in his/her name and then the caregiver chooses one letter in his/her name. Continue until it is agreed between the caregiver and child how to spell each of their names.

  3. Place the letters of the child’s name, one letter on each lid.

  4. Mix up the letters. Place the lids in the squares of the playing surface, one lid in each square, in random order.

  5. Child tosses the beanbag type object onto one of the squares. She then chooses an “action card” from the pile of “actions” and does that action to the first letter of her name. For example, the child chooses the action, “jump”. She then finds the first letter of her name on the hopscotch board (Example: B) and she jumps to the letter. She then picks another “action card” and does that action to the next letter, etc.

  6. Then it is the caregiver’s turn to play the game.  The caregiver and child help each other with the actions and letter names until finished.  Celebrate with praise for each other’s actions.  

Learning Center #6: Title: “God Knows My Age!” (Psalm 139:14)

Topic 2: What Makes Me Special?

Link to GRC: PH Yr. 1, #42; PH Yr. 2, #1, 33

Overall Topic Objective: The caregiver and child will identify that God created each person in His image, unique and wonderfully made. 

Center Objectives:

1) Caregiver and child will be able to list at least 2 reasons age and healthy growth is important to God!

2) Caregiver and child will be able practice fine motor skills through birthday crown making and following directions.

3) Caregiver and child will explain the concept of age.

Materials:

  • Colored paper scraps (if buttons, bottle caps or other lightweight materials are available, provide these to glue on the crown to represent the child’s age)

  • Safety scissors, paper, glue, and stapler

  • Coloring utensils

  • Copy of Psalm 139:14 in simple words for literate caregivers

Directions:

  1. Talk about the child’s birth and his/her age, and that God knew exactly when he/she would be born.

  2. Once age is determined (3, 4, or 5!), invite child to choose scraps of paper to match his/her age.

  3. Cut out a long piece of paper that will fit around the child’s head.

  4. Cut out and color shapes from the scraps of paper that represent child’s age.

  5. Glue the scraps on the “birthday crown”.

  6. Color or make designs around the remainder of the crown. Ask the child the following questions:

    What do you like about being age_____?  What can you do now, that you couldn’t do last year?  Show me! (Jump, march, etc.) What is one way God has helped you to grow bigger and stronger than when you were a baby? (gave me food and family, etc.)

  7. Share with each other the Bible verse from Psalm 139:14 and thank God for your birthday