YEA Lesson Library
A Victory Song
About This Lesson
This lesson builds on the Israelites praising God by singing, dancing, and playing instruments; the student is encouraged to remember all the good things God has done and to praise God in song.
Scriptures
Exodus 15:1-21
1 Chronicles 16:23
Psalm 9:1-2
Psalm 13:6
Psalm 21:13
Psalm 33:1-3
Psalm 59:16-17
Psalm 150
Words to Know
BORED - tiresome and dull
PEPPY - full of energy
The Lesson
It was a rainy day. Carmen was bored. She had been playing with her dolls all morning. When she got tired of that, she colored in her new coloring book. But, now she wanted something else to do. Mom was busy in the kitchen. Daddy was at work. There
was nothing else to do but watch TV.
Carmen clicked through the channels. Something caught her attention. There on channel 10 were kids singing and having a good time. Carmen watched. The music was peppy. The kids were smiling, marching and doing hand motions. Carmen loved to sing. She even joined in on the songs she knew. Maybe this wouldn't be such a boring day after all.
One of the best things about going to church or Sabbath School are the songs that we sing. Some of the songs are happy and lively. You can join the fun by doing the hand motions. Some of the songs are slow and prayerful. We sing these songs to worship God. We praise Him for the great things He does. And, it makes God happy to hear His people sing to Him.
Moses and the Israelites had just crossed the Red Sea. God made a dry path right through the middle. The Israelites walked on that dry path. The Egyptians tried to follow. But, God made the water come back together and cover the Egyptians. They all drowned.
The Israelites stood on the shore of the Red Sea. They saw the great thing that God did for them. They knew that their God was powerful. He fought against their enemies. They knew they could trust in God.
The Israelite people were thankful and happy. How could they show God how glad they were to be safe? They made up a song to sing to Him. Moses led the people in singing about how God opened the Red Sea. They sang about how He made a dry path for them to cross. Maybe their song was like, "My God Is So Big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.” They were very happy.
Moses' sister, Miriam, and the women started to dance. They played music on their hand drums. They danced around praising God. They were thankful for the wonderful things He did. It was almost like being in Sabbath School!
Sometimes we forget how great God is. Sometimes we just think we are lucky. Or, we might even think that we made the good things happen to us. The Israelites didn't praise Moses for leading them out of Egypt. They didn't sing to Moses for the path across the Red Sea. They knew it was God who saved them from the Egyptians.
We are told in James 1:17, “My dear brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone fool you. Every good and perfect gift is from God.” We should never forget that God is the one who gives us good things. And we should remember to thank Him and praise Him.
We can thank and praise God in our prayers and songs. Sometimes those prayers and songs take place in church. But, we can thank and praise Him anywhere. The Israelites were standing on the shore of the Red Sea. Where could you thank and praise God?
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are great and wonderful. You give me good things, like my family, my home, and plenty of food to eat. You take care of me when I’m afraid and when I’m sick. Thank you for all the good things you do for me. Help me to remember that these good things come from you.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Exodus 15:2
Monday - 1 Chronicles 16:23
Tuesday - Psalm 9:1-2
Wednesday - Psalm 21:13
Thursday - Psalm 33:1-3
Friday - Psalm 59:16-17
Saturday - Psalm 150
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the children will be able to:
1. Tell that God is happy when we praise and thank Him.
2. State that every good thing comes from God.
3. Tell that music is one way we can praise God for who He is and what He does.
4. Give examples of when and where they can praise God with music.
Topics & Themes
Giving Thanks to God
God’s Gifts
God’s Omnipotence
Miriam
Praising God
Red Sea
Trusting God
Worship God
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, stickers, music player and CD or cassette, songbook, wood blocks, dowels, combs, waxed paper, small gift boxes, rubber bands, aluminum pie tins, yarn, jingle bells, crayons or markers
Preparation
Take advantage of kids’ natural enjoyment of music by helping them use music as a method of praising God for the good things He gives them. Direct the kids’ attention to things God gives them and ways He cares for them. Point out that they do not have to be in church to sing or give praises to God.
Unless you take the time to set up the lesson and help students focus on how the content applies to their lives, you'll lose their interest. They won't grasp the biblical facts if they don't see the relevance to their lives. Refer back to the Israelites singing praises to God. Direct your students' attention to reasons for praising God. Help them understand why we spend time singing songs in Sabbath School and in the worship service that praise God for who He is and what He does for us.
Prepare ahead of time: small, shallow gift boxes with several grooves cut in two opposite sides; pie tins - punch three pairs of holes around the edge of the tins; cut 1-inch thick wood into 4” x 4’ squares; cut 1/2” dowels into 8” lengths. Have enough supplies so that each child in class will be able to make an instrument. Depending on the number of students in your class, you may want to have some extra helpers for the instrument construction.
How to Teach This Lesson
Begin the lesson with the Activity. Have the children use their “instruments” as they march, dance, and sing praises to God.
God is Pleased - It makes God happy when His people sing praises to Him (Psalm 147:1). In the Old Testament, God’s people often sang praises after a victory (Judges 5:1-2; 2 Samuel 22:48-51; 2 Chronicles 20:17-22; Psalm 9:1-3). People also sang and praised God with musical instruments as a way of worshiping Him (I Chronicles 16:4-10; Psalm 33:1-3; Psalm 61:4-8). Singing can show that a person has God's Holy Spirit inspiring his life (Ephesians 5: 18-20).
Moses and Israelites Praised God - Ask: What made the Israelites so happy that they praised God? God brought them out of Egyptian slavery. He took them through the Red Sea on a dry path. He saved them from their enemies, the Egyptians. What three ways did the Israelites praise God for al lHe had done? They sang, played instruments and danced to praise God.
Every Good Gift Is From God - You may forget that God is the one who gives you your family to take care of you. He helps your daddy be able to work and provide a home for you to live in. God made the trees that were used to build your house. God makes the food grow that your mommy cooks and you eat. God made the sun that gives light and helps things grow. He sends rain to fill the rivers and lakes. There are lots of things for which to praise God.
Can You Praise God With Music? - The Israelites sang praises to God on the shores of the Red Sea. David sang and played on his harp while he watched his sheep in the pasture. Ask: When can children braise God with music? Any time and any place - at home, in church, in Sabbath School, while playing, when they are happy and even in prayer.
Review Questions
Questions are a part of the body of the lesson.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Allow each child to choose supplies to make their own musical instruments.
Comb and waxed paper: Fold the waxed paper in half and place over the teeth of the comb. Children put their lips against the paper and hum the tune of the song.
Box and rubber bands: Stretch the rubber bands over the box so that they fit into the grooves, making a "harp" to be strummed.
Tambourines can be made by tying bells onto yarn, threading it through the holes in the pie tins and tying the yarn.
Children can decorate their blocks of wood with crayons or permanent markers and hitting the block of wood with a dowel.
Have the children play their instruments, march or dance around the room while singing.
REACH Activity
Materials Needed: tempera paint, paint brushes, clay, package of colorful construction paper, string, glue, tape, Kids Classics Collection songbook and/or CDs, Bible, YEA book, Bible notebook, black permanent marker, watercolor paints, 11 x 17 drawing paper, pencils, markers, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, ruler, index cards, CEM Hymnal, Bible dictionary, concordance, access to encyclopedia or the Internet, Bible encyclopedia, Bible map or Bible atlas, dictionary, heavy card stock, plastic containers, paper plates, bells, yarn, sandbox, tiny people figures, horses, hose
1. In your Bible notebook, list 5 things God has done for you and how He has rescued you.
2. Using your list from #1, write a victory song of your own.
3. Draw a music note or your favorite musical instrument on heavy card stock, cut it out, and write the memory verse on it. Put a magnet strip on the back. Hang on refrigerator. Practice until the verse is memorized.
4. Make a list of your favorite hymns of praise. Ask your family to plan to sing them Friday night as the Sabbath begins. Pick a favorite from your list. Explain why it is one of your favorites to your family or Sabbath School class.
5. Find the words to your favorite song. Draw a picture to go with the words. Share it with family or Sabbath School class.
6. What does the word “praise” mean? Use a Bible dictionary to find the meaning. Write the meaning in your Bible notebook.
7. Use a Bible concordance and your Bible to find the words “praise,” “song,” and “worship.” In your Bible notebook write down at least two Scriptures for each word. Share with family or Sabbath School class.
8. Choose the tune from a familiar children’s song, for example “London Bridge is Falling Down,” and write a song about God helping the Israelites cross the Red Sea. Teach the song to someone.
9. Make drums and tambourines to accompany your song. Use large plastic containers with or without lids for the drums, or any other object of choice. Make the tambourines by stapling together two paper plates. Punch holes all around the outside of the plates. Thread bells through the holes, and knot. Have fun with the music and song!
10. As a family or Sabbath School class take a survey of friends and ask them to name their favorite song or hymn. Share the results when the survey is completed.
11. Write an acrostic poem for A-L-L-E-L-U-I-A, telling what you are thankful to God for.
NOTE: Acrostic poem: Each letter of a word begins a line of the poem; i.e. in a P-R-O-M-I-S-E acrostic poem, “P” starts the first line, “R” starts the second line, “O” the third, etc.
12. Do a sword drill with the Daily Devotionals for this week. Write in your Bible notebook the one verse that is your favorite when you are finished.
NOTE: Sword drill: 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.
13. In the sandbox, reenact the story of God’s deliverance from Egypt, Pharaoh’s army chasing the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea, the Red Sea parting, the Israelites crossing safely, and Pharaoh’s army drowning as the water rushes back in (use the hose to depict this part).
13. Sing: “He Keeps Me Singing”on page 38 of the CEM Hymnal; “Hallelu, Hallelu” on page 77 of Kids Classics Collection.
Culminating or On-going Activities
1. Create a newspaper or newsletter with headlines from each of the YEA lessons, or write your own. Each reporter should have their own story to write. Use pictures with each story. Make copies for each family member or Sabbath School student.
2. Design one mural for these ten lessons. Additions are made after each lesson.. Hang the mural when completed. Invite others to your Exodus mural.
3. Ask students to create a game from the YEA lessons on the plagues. Provide simple materials and supplies. Students share and teach the games to each other. Store games in ziplock bags or small boxes.
4. Set up the classroom as a news station. Create call letters for your news station, for example BNN - Bible News Network or BNS - Bible News Station. Invite family and friends to hear the newscast of what happened during these ten YEA lessons. Divide the newscast into several parts: headline news, eyewitness/man on the street segment, weather report, sports, and the strange and unusual. Have someone videotape the newscast for the class to watch at a later date.
5. Write a thank you note to your Sabbath School teacher and/or your parents, telling them which lesson you liked best in On The Move and why.
Song
"My God Is So Big" is on page 14 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in prayer thanking God for who He is and what He does for you. Ask each child to name something that God does for them, or something about God for which they can be thankful.
Printable Pages
