Day 5- Birds & Fish

LESSON PURPOSE: Discover that birds and fish were created by God.

EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK:      Heart for Creation                                                                                            

SONG IDEAS:  

  • Creation Song by Saddleback Kids (emphasis on Day 5)

  • Sailing With Our Father                                                                                                   

PICTURE BOOKS:   

SCRIPTURE: 

“And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.” -Genesis 1:20-23

“The singing of birds and the harmony of animals and nature all inspire the feeling that they are involved with the entire universe, echoing its heartbeat.” -Sun Myung Moon

AS CHILDREN ARRIVE: Choose 1:   

  • Fishing Sensory Bin: You will need a large clear bin, water, a small fishing net, and toy fish. Allow children to catch the fish with the fishing net.

  • Starfish Craft: You will need colored paper cut into the shape of a star, colorful buttons, and glue. Print out the star templates on colored paper and cut them out. Children can glue the buttons onto the star template.

  • Outdoor Observation Station: You will need a window, drawing paper, pencils, and crayons. Encourage children to draw what they see outside.

INTRODUCE the Lesson (Engage)

WELCOME: SONG, PRAYER, TP Greeting

REVIEW & TRANSITION:

We’ve learned about the first 4 days of Creation. Let’s review what we already know. On Day 1 of Creation, God created night and day. On Day 2 of Creation, God created water and sky. On Day 3 of Creation, God created land, plants, and trees. On Day 4 of Creation, God created the sun, moon and stars. The world God created is so amazing, and it doesn’t stop there!!

ATTENTION GRABBER:

I’m going to take you on an adventure. First, we are going to go underwater! (play this soundclip) Close your eyes and pretend we’re swimming in the ocean. You can breathe normally because you have an air tank with you. What are some things you can find in the ocean? What kinds of animals live in the ocean?

Now I’m going to take you into the air! Close your eyes and pretend we have beautiful soft wings. Let’s kick off the ground and fly high up in the sky. (play this soundclip) Feel the cool air hitting your face and brushing your hair back. What are some things you can find in the sky? What do you see when you look below you? How do you feel?

Find a nice open field where you can land your feet back on the ground. Take a moment to touch the grass and smell the fresh air. You can open your eyes now.

INTRO: On Day 5 of Creation, God made birds and fish!

ACTIVITY: choose 1 or more: 

TEACH the Lesson (Explain/Explore)

*TEACHING POINT 1: GOD MADE FISH

INTERACTIVE LESSON: Use this Powerpoint

Every part of Creation was made in a certain order. By Day 5 of Creation, God had made water, air, soil, plants, and fruit. The earth was ready to support living things, so God started with animals that live in the ocean.

When you think of the ocean, what kind of animals come to mind? (Allow for responses.) God did not just create one or two kinds of fish. Scientists have counted more than 30,000 types of fish all over the world! That’s how many God created!

Each animal that lives in the ocean is unique because God created it. Some are orange, like the clownfish. Some are large, like the whale. Some are teeny tiny, like krill. Most sea animals can swim, but some can only crawl, like the crab.

*For this section, you will need writing paper (this or this) and several non-fiction books on specific types of ocean animals. (Crab, whale, shark, jellyfish, octopus, sea turtle, etc.) You can find them at your local library. Make sure the books are appropriate for your age group.

(Pair up the children and hand one book to each pair.) Read your book together with your partner and find one new or interesting fact about that animal. (Allow children to share their findings and collect the books.)

DISCUSSION:

  • What animals live in the ocean?

  • Why are those animals so special/unique?

  • What would have happened if God made fish before He made water?

*TEACHING POINT 2: GOD MADE BIRDS

INTERACTIVE LESSON:

The ocean animals weren’t the only living things God created on Day 5. He also made birds to fill the skies. The birds had beautiful places to fly and wonderful trees in which they could build their nests. There were plenty of plants with seeds and fruits that the birds could eat.

Can you guess how many kinds of birds there are in the world? Scientists have counted 10,000 types of birds. That’s not as much as how many fish there are, but 10,000 is still a lot! And God made each one unique, too.

Some birds are big, like the eagle. Some are red, like the cardinal. Some are colorful, like the macaw. All birds have feathers and wings, but did you know that some can’t fly? Penguins and ostriches can’t fly. God made each bird unique.

*For this section, you will need writing paper (this or this) and several non-fiction books on specific types of birds. (Eagle, owl, penguin, hummingbird, woodpecker, flamingo, etc.) You can find them at your local library. Make sure the books are appropriate for your age group.

(Pair up the children and hand one book to each pair.) Read your book together with your partner and find one new or interesting fact about that bird. (Allow children to share their findings and collect the books.)

DISCUSSION:

  • Why did God create birds?

  • Do you think birds would survive if there was no air?

APPLY the Lesson Evaluate

ACTIVITIES: Choose 1:

  • Dancing Rice Experiment: You will need a glass jar or cup, baking soda, white vinegar, uncooked rice, water, and blue food coloring.

CRAFTS:

  • Bird Kite: You will need letter-sized paper, a stapler, a hole puncher, and construction paper. Watch video link for instructions.

  • Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder: You will need popsicle sticks, glue, scissors, yarn and bird seeds. Lay 4 popsicle sticks in the shape of a square. Glue the ends. Continue to stack popsicle sticks in a square shape gluing as you go until you have a box about 1 inch deep. Allow to dry. Tie the yarn in the corners. Gather all 4 pieces of yarn together so the box hangs evenly. Tie it, hang it, and fill it with bird seeds!

SNACK IDEA:

  • Cheerios

  • Nuts

  • Goldfish snacks

CONCLUDE the Lesson 

CONCLUSION:

On Day 5 of Creation, God made the first living things… fish and birds! As we learned, there are so many kinds of fish and birds in our world today, and each one is unique because God made it.

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Parent, thank you for the fish in the sea and the birds in the skies. They are unique and wonderful living things that breathe life because of You. There is so much beauty in this world because Your love radiates from everything You created. Amen. Aju.             

Leena Vincenz-Gavin