Footprints in the Sand
SEE LESSON Plan below. Designed for children ages 3-5. Can be adjusted to use with children both younger and older. Enjoy making the lesson your own! And make sure to check out the Pinterest Board specifically designed for this lesson.
“Footprints In the Sand” Unit: Splash Into Summer
LESSON PURPOSE: God is always with us and will carry us when we need a lift.
MATERIALS: sand, craft materials, learning props
SONG IDEAS: God Loves Me, Hockey Pockey, He's Got the Whole World, My God is So Great
BOOKS: Footprints Poem, Ten Tiny Toes, Up On Daddy's Shoulders
AS CHILDREN ARRIVE: (Choose 1)
Play-dough prints: Lay out playdoh & toy animals or people. Make footprints in the playdoh!
Sand Play: Fill a sensory bin with sand. Add in seashells, a pail and shovel & castle molds
SCRIPTURE:
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8
WELCOME: SONG, PRAYER, TP Greeting
REVIEW & TRANSITION:
Last week we learned all about the Beach! At the beach, God gives us sunlight, air and water. It is fun to build sandcastles, splash and play. (We also learned about the importance of building our house on a rock, not sand.) Today we are going to learn about Footprints in the Sand!
ATTENTION GRABBER: (Choose 1)
Feet: Show children your feet. Have them show their feet. "How many toes do you have? What can you do with your feet? Can you wiggle your toes or point your toes? Isn't it so great God gave us feet?!"
Being Carried: Teachers take turns carrying children around the room in your arms, on your back or on your shoulders. "What did you like about being carried? Who sometimes carries you? Why might you need to be carried?"
SONG OR POEM:
- FEET- "Big feet, little feet. Dirty feet, clean feet. Oh how many different feet we meet."
- HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES & TOES- "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes. Head, shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes, Eyes and ears, And mouth and nose. Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes."
- MARCHING, MARCHING- "Marching, marching, marching, marching. Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! Running, running, running! Running, running, running! Now we stop. Now we stop."
VIDEOS: click on the link:
READ ALOUD: Up On Daddy's Shoulders, Ten Tiny Toes
INTRO: God gave us feet to walk, run and play all day! Sometimes in our life, we may get tired or get a boo boo and need to be carried by our Mommy or Daddy. And that is okay.
*TEACHING POINT: Footprints in the Sand- Mommy & Daddy carry us.
FOOTPRINTS FOR CHILDREN- "The Lord will always walk with you. Along life's blessed beach, His footprints there beside your own, Always within reach. Two sets of footprints, side by side, From dawn to setting sun, Yet there may come a day, my child, When you'll see only one. But do not think the Lord has left you - Nothing could be more wrong. It's just that he has picked you up To carry you along." Full Poem Here
DISCUSS POEM: "Have you ever been to a beach or played in sand? What happens when you run around in it? That's right, you live little footprints in the sand! Have you ever tried to run in your mommy or daddy's big giant footprints? Perhaps in the sand or mud? When you and daddy are playing in the sand- how many sets of footprints do you see? 2 pairs of footprints! What happens if you fall and get a boo boo and daddy picks you up and carries you the rest of the way? How many footprints will you see in the sand then? 1 pair of footprints. Yes, because daddy is carrying you- there is only 1 set of footprints in the sand."
We like to be brave and strong big boys and girls. We are all learning to do so many things on our own as we grow but sometimes- we need our Mommy & Daddy's help. Sometimes we need Mommy or Daddy (Grandparents, Aunties...) to hold us tight, cuddle, give us a kiss or carry us on their back. And that's okay. That's what parents are here for because they love you so much!
- GROUP ACTIVITIES: (choose 1)
Footprints: Lay out a path of giant paper footprints. Have children follow you around the path, following in the footprints or jumping from one to another.
Flip Flop Discussion: Pass around a flip flop- whoever is holding the flip flop, gets to share a time when they may need their Mommy or Daddy to hold them close.
*Optional Extension: Footprints in the Sand- God carries us.
- That's how it is with God, our Heavenly Parent. Sometimes in our lives God walks beside us and holds our hand. Other times, especially if we are feeling sad or upset, He may carry us. Sometimes we don't feel God around- but He is always there and He will carry us when we are down. That's when we see just 1 set of footprints in the sand.
GROUP ACTIVITY:
Carrying Dolls: "Oh no! My dollie has a boo boo and I need your help." Have children take turns carrying a dolly or stuffed animals across the room. "Thank you for your help! Remember that just like you carried the dolly, God will always carry you in His big, warm arms."
CONCLUSION:
God gave us feet to walk, jump, run, dance and do many wonderful things! We love to feel the sand squish between our toes or the grass tickling the bottom of our soles. We are learning to do so many things all by ourselves but sometimes it's okay to ask for help. Our Parents and God, our Heavenly Parent, is always here for us. And when our feet are too tired to walk- God will carry us.
TITHING & PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Parent, thank you for our feet! Thank you for our 10 tiny toes and a love that grows and grows! We know that you are always with us and carrying us when we need you. We love you. Amen. Aju!
CRAFTS: choose 1
Sand Footprint- Paint feet with glue. Stamp feet on to a paper making glue prints. Wipe off feet & have children sprinkle sand over their footprints to create sand prints!
Animal Footprints- Dip toy animals in to various paint colors. Have children stamp animal footprints on paper.
Sand Painting- Have children make shapes with drips of glue and sprinkle sand on, let dry. Or mix some paint with sand for sand painting.
Painting with Feet- Have children paint with their footprints on large butcher paper outside.
Printable- A nice keepsake of the Footprints Poem for children.
SNACK IDEAS:
Nutter Butter feet- Give children 2 nutter butters and 10 M&Ms. Have them make 2 feet! And then eat them. :)
Enjoy the lesson! Feel free to submit photos to lgavin@unification.org Love seeing lessons come to life and each community