New What’s in the Bible? and Mothers’ Day Giveaway

Volume 11 Spreading The Good News! will send your family on a journey through the book of Acts – starting with Pentecost, following Jesus’ disciples as they spread the Good News through the world, and watching the conversion and ministry of Saul.

Win a KitchenAid Mixer or Lisa Leonard Jewelry for Mother’s Day!

  • The Mother’s Day Giveaway begins on April 29 and the winner will be selected on May 6.
  • All entries will receive a free download the Mother’s Day Fun Pack featuring a “Mad About Mom” mad-lib and coloring page greeting card printables!
  • You can enter to win one of these great prizes here (but not until April 29!).

 

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, my family and ministry benefit. Thank you! Please read my full disclosure here.

Esther and Purim unit study

The other day I posted about Purim.

Purim Unit Study

Then God laid on my heart that I need to add something to that.

So here it is.

Inward vs. Outward Beauty addendum to the Purim Unit study

Enjoy!

What’s in the Bible? review and giveaway

We’re so excited to review What’s in the Bible Volume 10 – Jesus is the Good News!

Think Monty Python meets Sesame Street.

Snarky puppets preach The Bible. I love it.

Check out the trailer here:

The Gospel is presented powerfully through these hilarious puppets and Phil Visher. They dialogue about the life of Jesus. The puppets ask questions and Phil Visher clarifies. These conversations help explain the Gospel to someone who’s never hear it while also engaging and enlightening believers on the facts and details.

My kids are entertained. They learn about the Bible and Jesus – along with Latin and history too! And I was moved to tears by some of the songs and portrayals of Biblical events. Amazing work.

We are absolutely LOVING these coloring pages about the life of Jesus!

What's in the Bible? Coloring PagesColoring What's in the Bible?

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

Check out this clip of Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Brought chills! I love that hymn.

I know my kids hope to see the rest of the What’s in the Bible? collection in their Easter baskets…

Click the coupon…there are other great deals on the website too!

And we’re doubly excited to giveaway 2 What’s in the Bible? DVDs!

Enter to win both Volumes 1 and 10!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this DVD from What’s in the Bible? in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Purim Unit Study

I am pleased to offer my first unit study on the holiday celebrating Esther and Purim.

Click to download my Purim Unit Study!

Also, click to download this Purim verse page.

Purim Unit Study

Download a FREE Queen Vashti eLesson from Grapevine Studies!

Check out my Pinterest board on Purim.

God Looks at the Heart

I’m teaching our Wednesday night class at church on the Resurrection. I have students ages 2.5 to 12 and it’s a challenge to keep them all engaged.

We’re using Grapevine Studies as our core Bible lesson. Here’s my board for the second page of the lesson. Jesus explains about being a servant leader, accuses Judas, and talks about Communion.

Passover

I’m loving these new Traceables for the little kids. My son, Alex, is a huge fan!

Traceables

Get yours now! 50% sale this week only!

The second part of the lesson was a Mardi Gras story. I focused on how God looks at our hearts and we shouldn’t fear. Judas and the Jewish leaders feared Jesus like the mice in our story feared truth.

We listened to track 12 of Songs for Saplings.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7b

 

Then the students made masks with feathers, sequins, and tissue paper.

making maskshelpingmasks

masks

our ferocious masks

Mardi Gras masks

How are you preparing your heart for Lent?

Love Even Your Enemies

Our Wednesday family nights at church are a success.

My husband is the self-proclaimed “culinary minister.” We’ve set theme dinners to encourage fellowship and we’ve had some exciting foods the last three weeks!

Here’s the menu we set for the next couple months.

  • Baked Potato Bar
  • Taco Bar
  • Soul Food
  • SOUPer Bowl
  • Pasta Buffet
  • Pancake Breakfast (for Mardi Gras)
  • Hot dogs and Hamburgers
  • Sandwiches and Salads

So, last night was soul food night, and I’ll tell ya – that was some of the best greens, mac and cheese, and coconut cake I’ve had in years! We made a pork loin with gluten-free gravy and another gal brought some fried chicken. There were biscuits, cornbread muffins, baked beans, salad, cole slaw, and banana pudding. It felt like home.

I teach the children, ages 3-10, after dinner while adults are attending various Bible study classes. It’s a challenge to engage all those different age groups in one lesson.

Last night, I taught the kids about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King

I focused on Agape.

We only talked about a brief history background. I could have rambled on for hours about Gandhi and the history of the South from before the Civil War, but these are young kids.

I really just wanted the kids to understand that Dr. King was influenced and stood by the teachings of Jesus. He preached to love others, including your enemy.

And I don’t think Dr. King saw the white man as his enemy. No, I think Dr. King’s enemy was the idea that people could be treated differently because of the color of one’s skin.

I needed the kids to understand that Dr. King focused on changing the world non–violently. Whereas he was criticized for taking too long and being so righteous by even other black leaders, Dr. King remained non-violent, preaching the love of Jesus for everyone, while exerting that racial equality was of paramount importance.

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ~Luke 6: 27-31

And Dr. King was martyred for his beliefs.

I used this egg visual to help the kids understand and appreciate racial diversity. I think even the little ones understood that it doesn’t matter what color your shell or skin is, but what’s in a man’s heart. It was beautiful.

I thank God that these children really don’t know what it was like living in the South during Dr. King’s time. They cannot fathom that kind of hate.

Ah, the innocence of children.

We Choose Virtues New Website

I’m excited about We Choose Virtues launching a new website that looks awesome!

For the month of January, they have 20% off a Family Kit!

Use Code {FAMILY20}

WCV FAMILY KIT

We love using the We Choose Virtues Homeschool Kit.

See our review of We Choose Virtues.

Here’s an Instagram of Katie being reminded about the virtue Self-Control. She wasn’t happy about it!

We Choose Virtues

Grapevine Studies in a Classroom

I love using Grapevine Studies in our home as part of our homeschool curriculum and personal Bible study.

Grapevine StudiesI was recently asked to lead the children’s program during our new Wednesday family nights at church. I immediately thought that I could incorporate stick figuring through the Bible! I contacted Dianna and received her blessing. I do love her!

 

 

For our first lesson, I chose to teach on the Three Kings, or Magi. Epiphany had just been last Sunday and I thought this would be a fun topic. The adults “de-greened” the church (took down all the holiday decorations) while I kept the kids occupied.

I began with a story about the “other” wise man that follows a lost fourth Magi through the crucifixion of Christ. It is so beautifully written and illustrated and I got all choked up in front of the kids!

I showed the kids pictures of the gifts the Magi brought baby Jesus. I brought some frankincense essential oil to let the kids apply to their wrists. They thought that was the coolest thing ever.

I divided the white board in the classroom into 4 quadrants and taught the lesson from the Bible and Grapevine Studies text. The kids weren’t sure about it all at first.

stick figure Magi lesson

I had the kids at two tables. I taught students ranging from age 3 to 10. The three older girls were “helpers.”

One table ended up being almost all girls. I had one helper at this table. Katie and Tori knew what to do!

gs2

 

The three older girls were primarily in my classroom as “helpers.” They sheepishly asked me for pages to do while I taught the lesson. I think that is the perfect testimony to how great Grapevine Studies are! The big kids wanted in on the fun too!

older kid stick figuring

The other table got the boys and two helpers.

Those boys really enjoyed drawing their stick figures. I know this was a new concept for them. That’s my Bubba there with his new Traceable page too!

Grapevine Studies

Katie modeled what to do with her Traceable page. She loves this new concept! It helps her focus.

traceable

I gave the boys different pages according to their ages and abilities. One Traceable and one regular page.

GS

For this lesson, the Traceable page only has two scenes whereas the older kids had four scenes on their pages.
I handed out some take home Bible verse pages about the Wise Men.After the lesson, we did this really fun 3 Kings paper chain craft. I prepped it all by tracing them out and all the cutting. The kids just colored them. It saved time and was still fun. Most didn’t even finish and had to take them home to complete them.

I’m pretty excited about using Grapevine Studies to teach the Bible to these kids every Wednesday night! I can’t wait to gather materials for my weekly themes.

Back to work

We worked on a nursery rhyme unit with our Tapestry of Grace studies this week. We practiced rhyming and picking out the main character in the poems. These notebooking pages come with the TOG lower grammar printable pack. I have a Mother Goose book that my uncle gave me when I was 3 and the girls loved seeing his inscription on the title page to me.

TOG history and litTOG nursery rhymes

We started some new copywork to go along with our Hero Tales Bible study. The girls love the missionary stories so far. We read the story each morning and the girls recite our character trait and verse. They copy the message and they draw something meaningful from the story. They love the drawing element.

copyworkcopywork

We’re on lesson 21 of All About Reading, Level 2. They’re coming right along. Almost fluent readers! Tori likes the hands on stuff more than Kate. And she needs the lessons more. Kate is almost bored, but it’s good review.

AAR2

Kate is putting story cards in chronological order.

AAR2

Our January poem. I made this on Publisher. Kate already has it memorized. She recited it for me today! She remembers it from last year. I guess I should find a new one, but I love this one. I plan to make a Montessori poetry basket to go with our snow unit this month. Stay tuned!

January poem

Mama’s favorite: Katie reading the Tacky the Penguin books while she waits on Tori and Mama to transition to the next thing.

reading girl

Linking up at Trivium Tuesday.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my site, it benefits our family. Thank you.

Not Too Late for ADVENTure!

I’m so proud of myself for using an Xacto knife and I didn’t sever any body parts!

I was on the fence whether or not I really wanted to go through with the whole ornament making process. It’s crafty and, well, I’m not.

Then the Holy Spirit nudged me and I realize that it’s not about me at all.

It’s about showing Him as a wee babe to my wee babes.

IMG_5743

They were delighted to cram three crafts into one day! They were giddy excited and I knew I did the right thing. At least there was no glitter involved!

Candle “stained glass” ornament: Jesus is the Light.

candle ornamentcandle ornament

Crown ornament: Jesus is King.

crown paintingpainting the crown

We painted the crowns blue and waited

and waited

and waited

for that paint to dry

And then the gluing of pretty jewels on the crown!

crown ornament

Zechariah was silenced because he doubted. They loved that bubble wrap for the mouth! And look at the cool colored googly eyes I found!

Zechariah ornamentZechariah ornament

Bell angel to announce His coming. I had to break out the hot glue for this one. The girls were so happy about this sparkly white on white wrapping paper. They want all their presents in this paper. I just found that funny.

angel ornament

Want to do your own Truth in the Tinsel Advent study and make fun crafty ornaments with your kiddos? It’s not too late to get started! There’s even a Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page with everyone showing their kids’ ornaments!

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Printable ornaments for only $3.99!

Click on the picture!

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