Springtime

Bible Story

Song of Songs 2:11-12 (NLT)

‘Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come.’

Genesis 1:9-13

The Play-Along Bible, Bob Hartman, 'Land Ho’, p7

God’s Big Promises Bible Story Book, Carl Laferton, ‘In the Beginning’ pp16-20

The Lion Easy Read Bible, Christina Goodings, ‘In the Beginning’, pp6-11

We read in the story of creation how God made flowers, plants and trees. 

Talk about the changing seasons and how we can see signs of spring around us. I wonder what you have seen that shows spring is here, eg not as dark for as long, buds on trees, warmer weather, spring showers.

Different flowers grow at different times of year – snow drops, crocuses, tulips and daffodils are just some of the flowers we see in the spring. Have you seen any of these?

I wonder what you like to do in the springtime.

Craft Ideas

• Make or paint springtime flowers – daffodils are easy to do using egg cartons or cake cases for the middle.
• Or choose an idea from www.pinterest.co.uk/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/crafts-for-spring/

Song Suggestions

• Theme Song

(Tune: ‘London Bridge is falling down’).

Thank you, God, for flowers that grow,

Flowers that grow, flowers that grow,

Thank you, God, for flowers that grow,

In the springtime.

Other songs

• ‘Creator God’, Nick and Becky Drake: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM4IVZuljEI
• ‘All things bright and beautiful’ youtu.be/rGgVfcp61UY?list=RDrGgVfcp61UY
• ‘Mary, Mary, quite contrary’ youtu.be/61vDyFc7bsI
• ‘I like the sunshine’, Dance Fit Tots 3 vimeo.com/1050058176/723b0bd562?share=copy

Prayer

Thank you, God, for all the signs of spring we can see around us – daffodils and crocuses flowering, leaves and buds on the trees, lighter nights and mornings. We are so looking forward to spring.

Thank you that you are always with us through the changing seasons and that they remind us of your love and care for us and the world you created.

Amen.

Sensory Play

• Place some spring flowers in a tuff tray and allow the children to play with them. They could put them in vases or pull them apart and learn about the different parts of a flower.
• Fill a tuff tray with soil and add a farm set with tractors. Talk about how farmers will be planting seeds at this time of year.
• Make grass heads or sow some cress seeds 

Bible Story

Song of Songs 2:11-12 (NLT)

‘Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come.’

Luke 15:1-7

The Play-Along Bible, Bob Hartman, ‘Runaway Sheep’, p76

God’s Big Promises Bible Story Book, Carl Laferton, ‘The Good Shepherd’ pp305-308

The Big Bible Story Book, Maggie Barfield, ‘The Lost Sheep’, p187

Talk about how sheep are mentioned lots of times in the Bible and tell the story of the Lost Sheep and how the Good Shepherd celebrates when he finds it.

Talk about how spring is a time of new life and a time when lots of baby animals are born.

Do you know what a baby sheep is called? I wonder if you have seen any lambs. I wonder if you have seen any other baby animals born in spring – rabbits, chicks, piglets.

Craft Ideas

• Make baby animal masks using paper plates.
• Or choose an idea from www.pinterest.co.uk/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/crafts-for-spring/

Song Suggestions

• Theme Song

(Tune: ‘Here we go round the mulberry bush’)

This is the way the bunny hops, bunny hops, bunny hops,
This is the way the bunny hops
On a springtime morning.

This is the way the little chick walks …

This is the way the little lamb runs …
 

• ‘Creator God’, Nick & Becky Drake: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM4IVZuljEI
• ‘All things bright and beautiful’ youtu.be/rGgVfcp61UY?list=RDrGgVfcp61UY
• ‘I like the sunshine’, Dance Fit Tots 3 vimeo.com/1050058176/723b0bd562?share=copy
• ‘Old McDonald had a farm’

Prayer

Action Prayer

Create some simple actions for each of the baby animals mentioned:

Thank you, God, for all the baby animals that are born in spring.

Thank you for the soft fur of the rabbits, their long ears and their fluffy tails.

Thank you for the little chicks that cheep and chirp.

Thank you for the lambs that run through the fields.

Thank you for springtime.

Amen.

Sensory Play

• Break up some Shredded Wheat cereal (beware of allergies) to look like straw and hide some animal toys in it. Talk about the baby animals born at this time of year.
• Have a selection of baby animal soft toys to play with.
• Make birds’ nest pictures using straw and feathers.

Bible Story

Genesis 6:9 to 8:22 

The Play-Along Bible, Bob Hartman, ‘Safe from the storm’, p18

God’s Big Promises Bible Story Book, Carl Laferton, ‘Noah Builds an Ark, pp33-38

The Big Bible Story Book, Maggie Barfield, ‘Noah and the big flood’, p23

There is usually lots of rain in springtime! Talk about why we need it to rain and about the fun we can have playing in the rain.

Tell the story of Noah and how it rained for 40 days and nights but that God has promised never to flood the whole world again.

I wonder what it was like to live on Noah’s big boat. I wonder what it was like when it just kept raining. Do you like going out in the rain?

Craft Ideas

• Make umbrellas: www.pinterest.co.uk/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/water-themed-crafts/
• Or choose an idea from www.pinterest.co.uk/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/crafts-for-spring/

Song Suggestions

• Theme Song

(Tune: ‘Frére Jacques’)

April showers, April showers
Drip, drip, drop, drip, drip, drop.
Rain on my umbrella,
Rain on my umbrella,
Never stop – drip, drip, drop!

April showers, April showers,

Drip, drip, drop, drip, drip, drop.

Splashing in the puddles,

Splashing in the puddles,

Never stop – drip, drip, drop!

Other songs

• ‘Creator God’, Nick and Becky Drake: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM4IVZuljEI
• ‘All things bright and beautiful’: youtu.be/rGgVfcp61UY?list=RDrGgVfcp61UY
• ‘I like the sunshine’, Dance Fit Tots 3: vimeo.com/1050058176/723b0bd562?share=copy
• ‘It’s raining, it’s pouring’

Prayer

Thank you, God, for springtime.

Thank you for April showers that help to make the plants and flowers grow and make sure that there is enough water to drink.

Thank you that we can have lots of fun splashing in puddles.

Amen.

Sensory Play

• Have water trays to play with and make sure there are lots of jugs and pots for pouring.
• Arrange the week beforehand for people to bring wellies and have a ‘splashing in puddles’ activity.