YEA Lesson Library
Cut the Grain
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that the count to Pentecost started on the Wave Sheaf Day, the day after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Scriptures
Exodus 34:21-22
Leviticus 23:10-11
Leviticus 23:15-21
Leviticus 23:20
Numbers 28:26
Acts 2:1-3
Words to Know
GRAIN - seeds that are often ground to make flour for bread
HARVEST - when crops of fruits, vegetables, and grain are gathered to eat
BUNDLE - many stalks of grain tied together
The Lesson
Today's story is about the Feast of Pentecost. Do you know what Pentecost means? It means count 50. Can you count all the way to 50? God told His people to count to 50 so they would know when to celebrate Pentecost. But what were they to count? They were to count 50 days. But when did they start counting these 50 days? They started counting 50 days from the Sabbath day during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Then what happened?
After the sun had set on the Sabbath day when they started counting, the priests and the people went out into a field of grain. They picked a stalks of grain and tied them into a bundle with string. Why did they do this? Because Pentecost is a harvest festival. Harvest means fruits, vegetables, or grain are ripe and ready to pick. God said people couldn't eat the grain until they presented this bundle to Him. We should always thank God for the food He gives us, before we eat it.
After the priests and people tied this bundle of grain, one of them asked these questions and the people answered "Yes!"
"Is the sun down?" The people shouted, "Yes!"
"This sheaf?" The people shouted, “Yes!"
"With this sickle?" The people said, "Yes!"
"Shall I reap?" (Reap means to cut it.) The people shouted, "Yes!"
That night, the priests took the grain off of the stalks and cooked it in a pan over a fire. Early the next morning it was given to God in the Temple. Then 50 days later they celebrated Pentecost like God wanted them to.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Leviticus 23:20
Monday - Acts 2:1
Tuesday - Acts 2:2
Wednesday - Acts 2:3
Thursday - Exodus 34:21-22
Friday - Leviticus 23:10-11
Saturday - Numbers 28:26
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, children will be able to:
1. State that we celebrate Pentecost 50 days after the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
2. Tell that when the people started counting 50 they cut a bundle of grain and offered it to God.
3. Explain that we should thank God for our food before we start eating.
4. Tell that Pentecost is a harvest festival.
Topics & Themes
Gratitude
Harvest
Holy Days, Pentecost
Pentecost
Wave Sheaf
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, music player, CD or cassette tape, songbook, stalks of grain, string, large knife, frying pan, popcorn, popcorn popper, grass or dried plants, ribbon, small paper bowls, wet wipes
Preparation
The Christian Holy day lessons aren't intended to teach every nuance of the meaning of the festival. They are designed to lay a foundation and build on it as the 17 lessons on all the holy days are taught in this YEA curriculum.
For greater understanding and retention, it's important to teach the lesson using the simplest words, with visuals and demonstrations. Little understood ceremonies, such as the wave sheaf offering used in the lesson, can be made fun and gain meaning with student participation.
Before class, find some stalks of grain to be used as a demonstration in class. Also find stalks of grass or small dried plants for the children's Activity. Write the memory verse on a ribbon for each child's “stalk."
Review Questions
1. What does Pentecost mean?
2. When did the people start counting 50?
3. What did the people and the priests do when they went out into the field?
4. What kind of festival is Pentecost?
5. What should we do before we eat?
REACH Activity
Letter: C (Note: Hard C sound /k/)
Words: count, cook, cut, cap, cat, crack, cup, could, carefully
Sentence: THEY CAREFULLY COUNTED 50 DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD CUT THE GRAIN.
Song
“Praise Him, Praise Him” is on page 76 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Have the children form a circle and join hands. Lead in prayer thanking God for the fruits, vegetables, and grain He gives us to eat. Also thank Him for the Feast of Pentecost and what it means to us.
Printable Pages
