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Summer is a wonderful time to ‘mix it up’ a little in your children’s ministry. Kids are on break from school, and there is an air of fun and anticipation for new adventures. Why not capitalize on that excitement by combining some deep truths about God and the power of His creation with some fun activities that will help kids focus on our awesome Creator? Keep reading for ideas on appreciating God’s creation in your kid’s ministry.
The Evidence Of God That’s All Around Us
The evidence of God’s artistry is all around us. All you have to do is watch a beautiful sunset, see an eagle soaring in the sky, observe a field of sunflowers all in bloom; the list is endless because God’s beauty is everywhere. We want to teach our kids that God made everything in creation to teach us, and to talk to us about who God is!
In fact, David put it perfectly as he wrote in Psalm 19,
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19: 1-4a (NIV)
We encourage our kids to take the time to really observe nature and to appreciate how it all works together, and how the divine plan of God created all of it, including them! As you explore this time of appreciating God’s creation in your children’s ministry, don’t stop there. Encourage your families to participate with the kids. Give them challenges and activities to do at home together that will help them focus on the presence of God all around them.
Why Should We Focus On Appreciating God’s Creation
I just learned about this ancient spiritual discipline called Visio Divina. The words literally mean “Divine Seeing,” noticing, paying attention, and truly seeing God through His creation. As we are appreciating God’s creation, and the beauty and detail of nature, we can worship God and develop a heart of gratitude. This is a great discipline not only for the kids, but also for us, the teachers!
This can be done in a variety of ways, by sitting on a rock and focusing on the beauty of the waves rolling in on the ocean. We could be taking a stroll in the woods and stopping to listen to all the intricate sounds of nature speaking together to worship God in their own song of thanksgiving. Leaves rustling, squirrels chattering, wind blowing, you can almost imagine their words of worship to their Creator!
It’s important to remember that Visio Divina is not worshiping the creation, but instead, it is allowing us to be inspired by nature to focus our thoughts on the divine nature of who God is, our incredible Creator!
As you work with the children in your ministry and teach them how to begin appreciating God’s creation, have them ask themselves the following questions as they observe the work of His hands:
- What do you think and feel when you see this image?
- What does it make you think about how powerful God is?
- What can I thank God for?
Have a time of praise and prayer with the Lord, our Maker. Pause while observing and appreciating God’s creation, and focus on the glory of our Creator.
As you plan out your summer of ‘Creation Appreciation’, focus your students on the creation passages in Genesis 1-3. Have your students read aloud during class, memorizing scriptures and reading them at home with their family. The scripture inspires the students to connect with God as their own creator. Leave the passage of the creation of human beings [Genesis 2:5-25].
So who’s ready for some creative summer fun? Here’s a list of some activities that you can use this summer to give a fun twist on observing and appreciating God’s creation. All of these activities can be used with just a handful of students as well as a larger group. They are also able to be used for mixed age groups. What a great way to engage in a summer of Creation Appreciation!
Fun Activities For Appreciating God’s Creation
1. ‘I Spy’ God’s Creation Journal
Providing kids with a blank journal to write down their ‘I Spy’ moments in God’s creation. Explain how everyone in the class will be trying to observe special moments that God provides for us through His creation, moments that cause us to want to thank Him and appreciate His power and glory.
Children will be asked to note what they saw, where they saw it, and what it made them think about.
This activity is a great way for them to engage in the practice of appreciating God’s creation throughout the week and sharing it with their families as well.
Kids will be asked to share their entries (if they are comfortable doing so) at the beginning of each week’s class. Teachers should keep a journal too and share it with the kids. This is a great connection point with your students.
Follow each sharing session with a time of praise and prayer.
2. Paper Plate Creation Observation Challenge
You will need to make an ‘observation ring’ for every 2-3 students in your class. Take a plain white disposable paper plate and cut out the center, leaving the rim intact.
During class, team up the kids in pairs or 3’s, if you have a small class let each child do it individually. Give each team/student a piece of paper to write down their observations. Explain that they will be given 3 minutes to sit on the ground, place their ring down, and then observe every piece of creation within their ring. You could add an element of fun by giving each team a magnifying glass to be super observers!
Allow them 3 minutes in one spot, then have them move to a different spot, perhaps with different terrain (from a grassy area to a dirt-filled area, etc.). Then have time to share what everyone saw.
This is a great way of making kids slow down and really observe beyond the first glance. To watch and see what’s really happening in every small spot of nature. As you discuss your observations with each other, help kids to focus on the incredible plan of God, how nature works together, and how each part has its purpose in God’s plan, just like we do!
3. Ocean Bottle Craft
For each student, you will need an empty/clean and sanitized water bottle (16 oz.) and light blue food coloring to dye the water. You will need a variety of ‘add-ins’ to make your own oceanscape, i.e., small shells, pebbles, sand, plastic fish tank greenery cut into small pieces, and fish (we used small stickers on plastic). You will also need some sort of strong adhesive to put on the bottle cap and some strong waterproof tape to seal the cap as well.
Have the kids fill their bottles with water, about 3/4’s full so that there is room to move water around in a wave-like motion. Add 1 drop of food coloring, you want it to be just slightly colored. If you use too much you will not be able to see the add-ins.
As you allow the kids to make their own oceanscape, use the time to engage in discussion about how incredible God’s creation of the ocean is. How it works together, how He controls the flow of it with tides (Jeremiah 5:22, Ecc.1:6-7).
Have the children talk about the power of the ocean and the damage waves can do in a storm. Think about how God created that and how He is so much more powerful than that! Ask if they are ever afraid of storms. This can be a lead-in to teach about how God is our protector, He is in control of all things and He loves us dearly.
These activities are connection points to discuss how kids feel about God and who He is.
When they are putting their bottles together, wipe the rims with a paper towel to ensure they are dry. Place some drops of strong adhesive on the rim and screw on the cap. Again, dry the cap with a towel, then tape the entire cap to the bottle with strong tape (this is to ensure that there are no leaks).
4. Creating Art With God’s Creation
This is a fun opportunity to bring your class outside to find the elements of your artwork. Discuss how nature and creation are a work of God’s hands, His artwork to us. Now you are going to give them a chance to make their own artwork with God’s creation.
You will be making leaf print collages. Give each child a piece of white construction paper and a package of crayons. A clipboard can also be helpful as a solid surface to color on.
Show the kids how to take a leaf or flower, put it under their paper, and rub a crayon over the top of the leaf or object. The shape of the object will come through the top of the paper. Have the kids move around the area and try different rubbings, i.e., tree bark, blacktop, small pebbles placed in a shape, etc. Use different colors of crayons for each object and fill your paper with many shapes.
After you are done, come inside and let the children show off their artwork and sign it. What about writing a creation verse in black on the page? Discuss the textures of the different objects and the beauty of the pieces that they found. Have a time of thanksgiving.
What about stringing a piece of yarn across your room and hanging up their artwork with clothespins on the line for everyone to appreciate?
5. Nature Scavenger Hunt (Printable Sheets Included)
Make a list of items that your kids (whether individually, as teams, or in pairs) have to find. Give them their lists and a bag to put their items in and send them off.
After they return, hand out the Bible verse sheets (included below) and have the kids match the items that they found to the verses on the sheet. Have each child choose an item to hold and observe, then share their observation about that item with the class. Ask some thought-provoking questions:
- What do you think God was thinking about when He created this item?
- How does this item make you appreciate God’s creation?
- How could you use this item to share God’s love with someone?
- Why do you think God chose this color for this item?
- What has this summer study shown you about God?
Noticing God In His Creation
Summer is a great time to spend observing and appreciating God’s creation. This is an opportunity to introduce your kids to a habit of slowing down and noticing the incredible ways that God’s handiwork points us to Him and His love for us! These activities also give us the opportunity to connect with our students about their feelings toward God and any questions they may have about how the world works within His creation.
God’s hand is so evident in the world all around us. God’s deep love for us is evident in the care and artfulness of His creation for us to enjoy. God desires for us to enjoy His creation and He loves it when creation moves us to worship Him in thankfulness and praise.
All of these activities are easy to do, require simple items to gather, and are fun, interactive ways to teach a lesson. They are perfect for truly appreciating God’s creation. Have a great summer, and let us know what the kids in your small church observe in nature as they participate in some of these activities!
Read More:
Turn Summer Camp Into 6 Weeks Of Sunday School – Small Church Ministry
Water Games For Summer Fun – Small Church Ministry
Sunday School Ideas: A Creative Concept For Summer – Small Church Ministry
