YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Name three other times God sent a special cloud to earth.

2. Tell why Jesus went up on the mountain with His disciples.

3. Name the three disciples Jesus took with Him.

4. Give the names of the two visitors who came from heaven.

5. Recite their memory verse.

Topics & Themes

Clouds
Disciples
Elijah
God’s Voice
James
Jesus, God the Son
Jesus, Listen To
John
Moses
Obedience
Peter
Transfiguration

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, pink construction paper, glue, scissors, pencils, marker, tape, songbook, CD/cassette tape, music player, cotton balls, push pins, attendance and memory verse charts, and stars

Preparation

Before the children arrive, make sure you have all of the supplies needed for your craft. Set them out in an orderly fashion. If the children have to wait while you search for glue or if you don’t have enough supplies for everyone, you will leave the door open for disruptive behavior.

Enlarge and photocopy on pink construction paper, both ear patterns. Cut strips of construction paper into 1 1/2 inch strips for the headband. You may need to tape two strips together in order that the band will fit around each child’s head. Write the Scripture reference (Matthew 17:5) on a blackboard or sheet of butcher’s paper for the children to copy.

The goal of the craft time goes beyond an artistic product. It is an active form of learning which completes the learning process. Take advantage of the time they are working on their craft to ask review questions, or to recite their memory verse.

Decorate your classroom by making “clouds” to hang from the ceiling out of white construction paper. Glue cotton balls to the cloud shapes to make them fluffy. Attach a piece of yarn to the cloud and hang it from the ceiling using a thumbtack or push pin.

How to Teach This Lesson

Give the students some background information about other appearances of clouds in the Scriptures. God sent a pillar of cloud to guide Moses and the children of Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:20-22). When the cloud moved, the people followed. When the cloud stood still, the people remained in their camp. Point out that it is always best to follow God’s leading instead of going off in our own direction.

When the children of Israel had completed building the Tabernacle, God sent a cloud to be a visible witness to His presence (Exodus 40:34-38). And when Solomon had completed the Temple in Jerusalem, the cloud was a symbol of God’s glory that filled the Temple (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).

As you tell the story, point out that in the New Testament, God sent a cloud to receive Jesus up into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). And, we are told that when He returns to this earth, He will come in a cloud (Matthew 24: 29-30). Some of these things may be difficult for primaries to fully understand, but they can begin by hearing the Word of God. Pieces of the puzzle will gradually come together.

The clouds that we see in the sky can be a reminder to us that God guides us, and that He is present with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to die for our sins, but Jesus also rose again, and was taken up into heaven in a cloud. There He sits at the right hand of the Father, making prayers of intercession for us. And finally, one day He will return with power and majesty.

It is important that the children understand that they can believe the words that Jesus spoke and the promises He made. It is so important that God said, “This is my Son . . . listen to Him.”

Review Questions

Who were the three disciples who went up the mountain with Jesus?

1. Why did Jesus go up on the mountain?

2. Who were the two surprise visitors? 

3. How did Jesus appear when He talked with the visitors?

4. Who spoke to them from the cloud?

5. What did Peter want to build on the mountain?

6. Why is it important that we listen to Jesus’ words?


Teacher-Directed Activity

Give each child a sheet of construction paper on which the ear patterns have been enlarged. Help them to cut out the ears and bend each tab back at the dotted line. Give each child a band and have them write the Scripture reference in the middle. Help them glue the tabs on the ears to the sides of the band. Then, tape the ends of the band together to fit around each child’s head.

REACH Activity

Special Materials Needed:
Gold glitter, white chalk, camera, saucepan, cookie sheet, ice, heat source

Note: The information from activity one will be used for activities two through five.

Activities:
1. Use an encyclopedia and/or other nonfiction book to find out more about clouds, the different kinds, and how they are made. What kinds of clouds signal a change in the weather? What kinds of clouds do you see before/during a thunderstorm? What kind of clouds look like blankets across the sky? Write the information you find in your Bible notebook.

2. Draw and label three different kinds of clouds in your Bible notebook. Which cloud formation is your favorite? Explain your answer in your Bible notebook.

3. Write a cloud poem in your Bible notebook. Use the letters of your first name to describe clouds. For example, B-illowy; L-ight; A-ctive; I-n the sky; R-ainy (Blair). Draw a picture that goes with your poem. Share with family and friends. 


4. Do a cloud experiment. Hint: Have a camera on hand to record the action. The background information from activity one will come in handy as you discuss the experiment. Students should record their thoughts and reactions to the experiment in their Bible notebook.

More Information: Fill a three-quart saucepan with water. Bring it to a boil. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, place ice cubes on a cookie sheet. When the water is boiling, hold the cookie sheet (with ice on top) over the steam. Ask the child(ren) to tell you what they see. Tell them you’ve speeded up the process, but this is how clouds are formed. Water evaporates into the air, and it forms clouds (steam). At the point when the atmosphere can no longer support the water vapor, the water condenses and we get precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.).

5. Make a cloud mobile to practice the memory verse. Trace and cut out eight cloud shapes. Write each word of the memory verse on a cloud. On the last cloud write the Scripture. Practice until the verse is memorized.

More information: Cut out the shapes desired for reinforcing the lesson (i.e., cloud shapes). Use heavy cardstock for the shapes. Using a single hole punch, punch a hole in the center of the top of the shape. Thread different lengths of yarn, string, or fishing line through the different shapes. This will allow the shapes to dangle at different levels. (When writing the words from a memory verse on the clouds, put the first words on the clouds which dangle at a higher level.) Tie the tops of the strings onto a hanger. Spread them out along the hanger so the hanger is balanced. To display the mobile, the hook on the top of the hanger can be twisted perpendicular to the rest of the hanger in order to hang the finished mobile over a curtain rod.

6. Take a piece of blue construction paper and white chalk outside.(Take something to support your paper—like a big book.) Find a place to sit where you have a good view of the sky. Draw a picture of the clouds you see. Using what you learned about clouds, label what kind of clouds these are. Do this for three days. Then think about how the clouds have changed over the past three days. Clouds may change, but God always remains the same.

7. Take a survey of family and friends. Ask everyone to vote for their favorite cloud. Tally or count the results and share them with everyone that participated.

8. What kind of clouds do you think might have been around the top of the high mountain where Jesus, Peter, James, and John were? Write your answer in your Bible notebook. Share with family and friends.

9. The disciples saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus on the mountain. Who were Moses and Elijah? Use a Bible, concordance, and encyclopedia to find out more about them. Write five facts about each man in your Bible notebook. Share with family and friends.

10. Divide a piece of drawing paper in half. On one side, draw the cloud leading the children of Israel through the wilderness. On the other side, draw the bright cloud on the mountain top when Jesus’ face was changed to shine like the sun. This is called the transfiguration. Write your memory verse across the bottom of the page.

11. Jesus’ face began to shine like the sun. How would you have felt if you were on the mountain and saw Him? Describe your feelings in your Bible notebook. Share with family and friends.

12. What do you think the three disciples told the other disciples about seeing Jesus’ face shining like the sun and hearing God’s voice coming from the cloud? Role play the conversation that might have taken place. (See Matthew 17:1-13.)

13. What does a “Tabernacle” look like? Use a Bible, concordance, and encyclopedia to find out more. Write the information in your Bible notebook.

14. God wants you to listen and obey Jesus. Use a Bible and concordance to find a story about Jesus. Read the story with family or friends. Write a paragraph about the story and what you learned in your Bible notebook.

15. Sing: “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” on page 197 of the CEM Hymnal. When we really listen to Jesus Christ, we are willing to go wherever He asks us to go and to do whatever He asks us to do.

16. Sing: “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam” on page 21 of Kids Classics Collection.

17. Add this week’s hidden treasure to the treasure chest. (Suggested treasure: This week’s memory verse!) Then add gold glitter to continue decorating the treasure chest.

18. Sing: “Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain” on page 50 of Kids Classics Collection. In your Bible notebook, write how the words of this song relate to the YEA lesson. Once we realize who Jesus is, we turn from sin and doubting and look to Him, trusting Him for everything.

19. Do a sword drill with this week’s Daily Devotionals.

More Information: Use the Daily Devotional Scriptures to have a sword drill. Read the Scripture reference to the child. Then start the timer. When the child has found the verse, stop the timer. Read the verse and talk about how it relates to the lesson. Challenge the child to see how quickly he/she can find each of the verses in the Bible.

20. Write an acrostic poem using the word T-R-A-N-S-F-I-G-U-R-A-T-I-O-N. Write what you have learned from this YEA lesson in your poem.

Song

“Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain” is on page 50 of Kids Classics Collection.

Closing Prayer

Lead the children in prayer, or ask one of the older children to pray, thanking God for making clouds that remind us to hear and obey Jesus’ words.