The months that I actually take time to prepare my heart for our upcoming WOW Word are always the richest. Not only do my children grow in their knowledge and love for Jesus, but when I am still and come to the Lord first to learn and then to teach, I can more clearly discern the guiding of the Holy Spirit.
So, before we dive into activities around Noah and his faithfulness, I am spending time dwelling on these questions:
1. What is FAITH?
2. How has the Lord showed His unwavering faithfulness in my life?
3. What does it mean to be a faithful friend today?
With a hot cup of coffee in hand, spend a morning listening to Mr. Marc’s recording of “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and notice what words stand out to you most.
As you re-read the story of Noah and the flood (Genesis 6-8), make a note of the details you want to include that may be left out of the condensed version found in many children’s bibles.
Finally, read the classic Faith chapter…Hebrews 11 and be encouraged by the great cloud of witnesses that surround us!
Be sure and put these books on hold at the library:
Twitch and the Invisible Wind is our top pick to help children answer the question, What is faith? By comparing faith (which we can’t see) to the wind (which we also can’t see) kids begin to realize that although we haven’t seen God, evidence of His faithfulness is everywhere!
The second aspect of faith we will look at this month is God’s faithfulness to us, His children! The vivid illustrations in Noah’s Ark by Jerry Pickney provide additional details and insight into God’s plan for Noah and are sure to spark children’s curiosity about this story.
Lastly, we will focus on how we can be a faithful friend to others. Bat’s Big Game, by Margaret Read MacDonald will grab the attention of any sports player! During a game between the Animals and the Birds, Bat wants to play on the winning team. What happens when Bat’s team is losing? Will he be a loyal team player?
Remember, asking questions while reading stories to your preschooler provides easy practice on those emergent literacy skills which are foundational for future reading!
My Favorite Questions:
- What letters do you see in the title? (alphabet knowledge)
- Where do I start reading? (print organization)
- Wait! What’s happening here? (receptive/expressive language)
- Show kids a 3 letter word in the book and ask for a rhyming word. (phonological awareness)
- What character are you most like in this story? (self reflection)
*Emergent Literacy skills are defined by Laura Justice here. I’ve loved her since grad school but recently heard her speak at an SLP professional development conference!
Finally, print these verses for your children, and you will be set for a month of faithfulness!
Mr. Marc was our next door neighbor and often played songs on his guitar as the boys ran around in the backyard. As part of the Speer Family, he grew up singing gospel music and continues using his gifts to record hymns for CB&J today! These hymns are a timeless way to remind children about the character of Jesus, and we are grateful to be able to share these with you.