YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

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

1. Tell what happened right before the Israelites were attacked in the wilderness.

2. Tell who Moses picked to lead his men into battle.

3. Explain how Aaron and Hur helped Moses.

4. State what happened when Moses held the rod in the air?

5. Discuss why Moses needed helpers?

6. Say who is always there to help you?

Topics & Themes

Aaron
Battle
Helping Others
Hur
Jethro
Joshua
Moses
Problems

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, stickers, music player and CD or cassette, songbook, gloves, pie tins, sponges, poster paint, dishwashing detergent, basin of water and soap, towels, butcher's paper, newspapers, pencils, paint shirts or smocks

Preparation

"Object lessons are a valuable way to present spiritual truths to children. Like the parables in the Bible, they make use of tangible objects to illustrate and reinforce Christian truths in a meaningful way. They are also a good way to hold children’s attention” (Easy-To-Use Object Lessons, by Sheryl Bruinsma).

Before you come to class, cover the table or floor with newspapers. Lay a section of butcher's paper (see lesson 4) on top of the newspapers. Place a thin sponge in the bottom of several pie tins. Coat each sponge with a different color of poster paint, to which a few drops of dishwashing detergent has been added. Have a basin of soapy water and towels available for clean up.

How to Teach This Lesson

Begin class with the object lesson of a glove to show that, as useful as the glove may be, it can do nothing by itself. It must have the aid and cooperation of a hand in order to be effective. In life, we need each other to accomplish many tasks. Sometimes that help is in the form of physical strength to accomplish a task. Other times it is the encouragement of another that gives us strength to do what we are called upon to do.

Show the children the following gloves: ladies white (lace) glove, garden glove, heavy work glove (dirty), wool winter glove. Describe the different gloves and their uses. Lay the gloves on the table. Speak to the gloves. Say: Garden glove, I want you to go into my flower garden and pull weeds today. Wait a few seconds.) Maybe it didn't hear me. (Again) I said I want you to pull my weeds! (Nothing) Ask: Boys and girls, why isn't this glove doing what I told it to do? (Allow the children to come up with their own answers.)

By itself, a glove can do nothing. It needs a hand. The ladies glove is pretty, but it can't hold anything without a hand inside. (Demonstrate.) It looks like someone has used this work glove before. But it can't do any work without a hand inside. And the wool glove does no good unless you put it on your hand! There are times when everyone needs a hand to get the job done!

The Attack - God had just performed a miracle: He gave the Israelites water from a rock. Just after this miracle, some wild Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Maybe they were watching from the hills. Maybe they saw the Israelites resting by the water. These people wanted a fight. Ask: Is it a good thing to pick a fight with someone? Maybe you know some kids at school who are bullies- they just like to fight. That is not good. But the Israelites had to defend themselves. They had to protect themselves. They were not soldiers, but Moses told Joshua to choose the best men to go fight their enemies.

Helping Hands - Moses, his brother, Aaron, and a man named Hue went up on a high hill to watch the battle. Moses lifted his arms with a rod in it high into the air. As long as heeled his hands up, the Israelites were winning. But when he put his arms by his sides, Israel would start losing the battle. Ask: Why do you think Moses put his arms down? (They got tired.) Ask: What happened then? Aaron and Hur decided to help Moses. They sat Moses on a big rock. Then, each one held up one of his arms. Ask: What do you think happened in the battle?

Too Many Problems - Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw all that Moses did for the Israelites. Ask: Can you think of some things that Moses had to do? There were just too many things for one man to do. Jethro told Moses to choose some wise men to help him with all the things he had to do. The requirement for the men? They had to love God.

Who Helps You? - Ask: Are there some things that you cannot do by yourself? Who helps you? You cannot drive a car, so Mom or Daddy drives you to school or to soccer practice. When your homework is hard, who helps you? If you had to rake the yard, who would help you?

God Is Our Helper - He keeps us safe. He listens to and answers our prayers. He helps us when we are sick. He encourages us when we are afraid. He makes us strong. (Read Philippians 4:13.)

Help One Another - Read Galatians 6: 1-10. Explain some ways that children can help each other: Tell others about Jesus; share their possessions with those less fortunate; help Mom and Daddy around the house; take a card or a gift to someone who is sick, etc.

Review Questions

1. What happened right before the Israelites were attacked in the wilderness?

2. Who did Moses pick to lead his men into battle?

3. Where was Moses while they were fighting?

4. How did Aaron and Hur help Moses?

5 What happened when Moses' held the rod in his hand in the air?

6. Why did Moses' father-in-law think Moses needed helpers?

7. Who is always there to help you?

Teacher-Directed Activity

Give each child an old shirt or paint smock to protect their clothing. Have each child in your class put paint on the palm side of their hand by pressing it on the paint-coated sponge. (Be sure to coat their fingers, too.) Press their hand onto the sheet of butcher's paper. Wash off their hands. Then have the child write their name beside their hand print, and something they will do to help someone else this week. Add this section to the timeline as a reminder of how Moses raised his hands with the rod in it to help win the battle.

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, felt, foam letters, broom, mop handle, parchment paper. cardboard box, brown butcher paper

1. Do a sword drill with the Daily Devotionals for this week. Write 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.

2. Sing: “He Hideth My Soul” on page 128 of the CEM Hymnal; “His Banner Over Me Is Love” on page 36 of Kids Classics Collection.

3. Make a banner from an 11 x 17 sheet of paper which has been cut in half the long way. Write the memory verse on the banner. Tape over your bed.

4. Using felt (color of your choice), make a banner. Use foam letters to write your memory verse on the banner. Hang your banner. Practice the verse until memorized.

5. Make a card of encouragement to send to someone. Write this week’s memory verse on it.

6. In your Bible notebook write about a time someone helped you with a very hard job. Write about a time you helped someone with a very big job. Share it with family or Sabbath School class.

7. Play charades: act out helping someone in a special way. Have family and friends guess how someone is being helped.

8. Divide a piece of white paper in half. On one side draw Moses when the people were complaining and grumbling. On the other side draw a picture of Moses when they were happy. Share it with family or Sabbath School class.

9. The Israelites were in battle with the Amalekites. Who were they? Why did they attack the Israelites? Use a Bible encyclopedia to find out more about them. Write the information in your Bible notebook.

10. How long can you hold a rod or staff in your hands and above your head? Try it and in your Bible notebook write down what happened. (Use a broom or mop stick or other item to replace the rod and staff).

11. Read Exodus 17:8-15. When the battle was over, Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is my Banner.” Use a dictionary to see what the word “banner” means in this usage.

12. Draw Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms while Joshua is leading the fighting against the Amalekites.

13. What would Aaron tell his sister Miriam about what happened with Moses at the top of the hill? Role play a conversation he might have had with her after the battle.

14. Read and discuss Exodus 17:14 as a family or class. Use parchment paper to make a scroll. Use colored pens or pencils to write “That is something to be remembered” on the scroll. Use the scroll to review this YEA lesson. Store the scroll in an empty paper towel roll.

15. Cover a cardboard box with brown butcher paper to resemble an altar. Make a banner from butcher paper to fit in front of the altar. On the banner write “The Lord is My Banner.” Use the altar and banner to review this YEA lesson.

16. Practice reciting the plagues of Egypt. 


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

"Standin' In The Need Of Prayer" is on page 53 of Kids Classics Collection.

Closing Prayer

Lead the children in prayer, thanking God for always being there to help when we need Him. Ask Him to help the children to help one another.