Toddler Bible Lesson - Joseph's Family

Welcome to Bible Basics!  I'm glad you stopped by.  If you're wondering what we're up to in this ongoing series, check out this introductory post.  For a growing list of toddler and preschool Bible lessons you can take a look at the Bible Basics page.

We are in the final part of our little series about Joseph.  This week we will learn how Joseph was reunited with his family and how Israel moved his entire household from Canaan to Egypt.  Check out the first and second lessons if you haven't already!

JOSEPH IS REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY
Genesis46-47:12




Here is a simplified text of the entire story of Joseph.

Memory Verse
“You intended it for harm, but God intended it for good.”  -Genesis 50:20
 
Lesson Focus
God used Joseph to save his family.

Project
Israel Moves from Canaan to Egypt, Interactive Map

Materials
- Construction paper, 1 tan, 1 blue, 1 green, 1 white
- Pencil, Marker
- Glue
- Crayons
- Craft stick or paper fastener

Directions
1. Cut a semi-circle out of the top left side of the tan paper.  Glue this on top of the blue paper.
2. Cut a semi-circle or crescent out of the green paper.  Write “Canaan” on this piece.  Also cut a rectangle out of the green paper.  Write “Egypt” on this piece.  Glue both pieces onto the tan paper as shown in the picture below.
3. Cut a slit in the paper that extends from Canaan to Egypt.
4. On the white paper draw a picture of Joseph (it doesn’t have to be fantastic – stick figures will do!).  Also draw a picture of Israel and eleven of his sons.  Color the pictures then cut them out.
5. Glue the picture of Joseph onto the map.
6. Attach a paper fastener to the picture of Israel.  Alternatively you could glue a craft stick to the back.  If you are using a paper fastener, slide the back side into the slit you cut in step 3.  If you are using a craft stick, slip the picture up through the back.
7. Use the map to show how Israel moved from Canaan to Egypt.

How We Go Through the Lesson
1. Recite or sing memory verse.
2. Read Bible story.  We use the Beginner's Bible, but you can choose a children's story Bible or "grown-up" translation that suits you and your family.
3. Recite or sing memory verse.
4. Craft or project.  Depending on the day of the week this may be a project like the one above or it could be a coloring page or something completely different.
*Repeat the lesson almost every day.  This could mean doing it on weekdays or taking one day to work on the project, saying the memory verse together throughout the day, and reading the Bible story before bed each night.  It doesn't matter when or how, but the repetition is key for toddlers to retain the lessons presented to them.

Here are some more ideas and resources for today’s lesson:
Free Printable Coloring Page from Bible Printables

Another Coloring Page from Bible Printables



What creative ideas do you have to teach the story of Joseph being reunited to his family?

Rachel Xin Yang Chew

Labor started 6-6:30pm on Thursday Oct 24 2013, Rachel Xin Yang Chew was born 8:50pm!

We praise the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel who sent His Son Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost and reconcile man to God!  Thank You Jesus for giving us another child, whom we dedicate and give back to You Lord!  These children are Yours and we are stewards according to Your purpose and Will!  

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

We're glad You're here Rachel!  We love you! 

Toddler Bible Lesson - Joseph in Egypt

Welcome to Bible Basics!  I'm glad you stopped by.  If you're wondering what we're up to in this ongoing series, check out this introductory post.  For a growing list of toddler and preschool Bible lessons you can take a look at the Bible Basics page.

This week’s lesson will continue on from last time when we learned about Joseph’s dreams.  And next week we will conclude the three part series with Joseph’s reunion with his family.  I hope you and your toddler enjoy this week’s lesson!

  
JOSEPH IN EGYPT

Genesis 39-41
Here is a simplified text of the entire story of Joseph.

Memory Verse
“You intended it for harm, but God intended it for good.”  -Genesis 50:20
 
Lesson Focus
God was with Joseph and gave him favor.

Project
Pharaoh’s Dream Corn Craft

Materials
- Construction paper, 1 tan and 1 brown
- Scissors
- White glue
- Popcorn kernels

Directions
1. Cut the tan construction paper into the shape of an ear of corn.  Cut the brown construction paper into two corn husks (I just cut two half-ovals).
2. Glue the corn husks to the ear of corn.
3. Cover the ear of corn with white glue.  Attach as many popcorn kernels as will fit.  Set aside to dry.

How We Go Through the Lesson
1. Recite or sing memory verse.
2. Read Bible story.  We use the Beginner's Bible, but you can choose a children's story Bible or "grown-up" translation that suits you and your family.
3. Recite or sing memory verse.
4. Craft or project.  Depending on the day of the week this may be a project like the one above or it could be a coloring page or something completely different.
*Repeat the lesson almost every day.  This could mean doing it on weekdays or taking one day to work on the project, saying the memory verse together throughout the day, and reading the Bible story before bed each night.  It doesn't matter when or how, but the repetition is key for toddlers to retain the lessons presented to them.

Here are some more ideas and resources for today’s lesson:
Joseph in Egypt from Auntie's Bible Lessons
Free Printable Coloring Page from Bible Printables
Pharaoh's Dreams Printable from Our Country Road


What fun and simple Bible crafts do you enjoy doing with your toddler?

Our Story, Part 10 (Final)

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9

Our last day in New York was a whirlwind.  Claude had to drive to Connecticut to have a hitch installed on our van and pick up the trailer.  Then he finished his last half-day of work, said good-bye to his co-workers, and headed over to our apartment building to pack up.

Back on the home front, I was finishing some last minute packing and trying to keep the kids from bouncing off the walls.  My neighbor was a lifesaver when she stopped by to help occupy the kids as I finished up.  And did I already mention that we had a 3-month-old?  That meant stopping every couple of hours to nurse him!

Our goal was to pack up, have a quick pizza dinner with a few friends, and get 3-4 hours of driving in that night.  Yeah...we were overly optimistic.  In the end, it took Claude a lot longer to pack the trailer than we had anticipated.  But we got it done...once we had some help from a friend to jam the last mattress in and latch the door.

Our little going away party consisted of some good friends and our last taste of New York style pizza.  :)

As we said our goodbyes and drove our little caravan down the street we had called home for the last six years I felt a strange sense of relief.  Yes, I was a little sad, but I think the few tears that I shed that night were out of stress.  Stress from the day of finishing up packing our life into a 5'x9' trailer.  Stress from three crazy weeks of packing and planning.  Stress from a total of seven very challenging years and many huge life changes in a short amount of time.  And relief, knowing that God was bringing out into green pastures - a chance to rest and settle into life with our growing family.

That night we only got 1 1/2 hours down the road.  It took us 3-4 hours because we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic...at 10pm.  Gotta love the NY metropolitan area!  And the second day wasn't much better.  We were tired, got a late start, and had several bouts of motion sickness to contend with.  Needless to say, by the third day we were ready get some serious driving in!

We finally hit our stride on day three and the rest was pretty smooth.  We found what worked to keep the kids occupied (and it wasn't the movies on the iPad that we thought would be so useful!).  We worked out a system of driving two hours and stopping for one to go potty and nurse the baby.  It was slow going, but at least we could get several driving sessions in each day.

When we arrived at our friends' house on October 30, 2012 we were ecstatic!

After a week of working hard to set up house, we enjoyed our last evening with my parents and got ready to jump into everyday life in Texas.

I'm still amazed at how God orchestrated every detail of our move.  Our rental house is just the right size for us and in a great location.  My parents were able to help us for our first week so that by the time they left and Claude had his first day of work, our house was fully furnished and nearly every box was unpacked.

The boys' and girls' rooms in our Houston house.  I wish they were this clean right now!  :)

Among these bookshelves, my parents helped us put together three beds, two additional shelves, and helped us stock and organize our kitchen, toys, and probably many other things I can't remember.  We would still be living out of boxes if it weren't for their help!

We found a church right away and were warmly welcomed from the beginning.  The kids and I started going to the park once a week to meet other homeschool families.  And even though we had our usual daily ups and downs, we could breathe.  A little less than a year later and I'm still in awe!

Then, just a few months after arriving we were thrilled to announce that our family would be growing again!  The Little 5 would be joining the Crew at the end of October, 2013 - exactly one year after our arrival in Houston.  Of course, we're still awaiting her exact arrival date...but what a great way to celebrate a year of rest and abundant provision from The Lord!