jesus talks about living water • lesson 1 bible point we...

11Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4

Bible Point We worship God because he brings life.

Jesus Talks About Living Water • Lesson 1

Bible VerseBelieving in Jesus makes me a new person (adapted from 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Growing Closer to JesusChildren will n learn that Jesus brings life, n understand that the life Jesus gives lasts forever, n learn that if they believe in Jesus they can live in heaven forever, and n thank Jesus for giving us his living water.

Teacher Enrichment

Bible Basisn Jesus talks about living water.

The Samaritan woman’s initial reaction of shock when Jesus asked her for a drink at the well stemmed from bad feelings that had existed between Jews and Samaritans for more than 500 years. She may have been surprised, because proper Jewish men would not even address a Samaritan woman—and Samaritans returned the animosity directed toward them by the Jews.

Jesus piqued the woman’s curiosity when he offered water that would end all thirst—she didn’t understand he was talking in spiritual terms. When this stranger, Jesus, revealed to her

that he knew all about her questionable past, the woman discovered he was no ordinary man. Yet the fact he was a Jew was still a barrier for her trust. The woman tried to draw Jesus into a theological discussion over the appropriate place to worship, but he would not be drawn into such an argument. When Jesus revealed that he was the long-awaited Messiah, the woman must have finally believed in him—we are told that her testimony drew many others to believe. Jesus offered the Samaritan woman a new life—and she got it!

Prayer• Read John 6:35.• How well does Jesus quench your thirst and feed your hunger?• Pray: Lord, Thank you for the new life that I have in you. Help me share that new life with my preschoolers as I…

Before the Lessonn Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab

Supplies listed in the chart on the next page.n Make photocopies of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children.n Pray for the children in your class and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.

John 4:5-42

Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 412

This Lesson at a Glance

Lesson 1

What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies

Welcome Time

Welcome!—Receive name tags and be greeted by the teacher.

“Butterfly Name Tags” handout (p. 22), scissors, washable markers, safety pins or tape

Let’s Get Started

Option 1: Liquid Fun—Splash and play with water.

Towels, large bowls, water, mixing cups, water toys, paper towels

Direct children to one or more of the optional activities until

everyone arrives.

Option 2: All Is Well—Build wells and enjoy pulling a bucket up out of their well.

Building blocks, toy bucket, rope

Option 3: Fly Away—Decorate their butterfly name tags.

“Butterfly Name Tags” (p. 22), washable markers, yarn scraps, glitter, small torn pieces of tissue paper, glue sticks, safety scissors

Pick-Up Time—Sing a song as they pick up toys and gather for Bible Story Time.

CD player

Bible Story Time

Setting the Stage—Drink water together and talk about the value of water.

Small paper cups, pitcher of water

Bible Song and Prayer Time—Sing a song, bring out the Bible, and pray together.

Bible, CD player

Hear and Tell the Bible Story—Listen to the Bible story and explore the emotions of Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

Bible, scissors, craft sticks, glue

Do the Bible Story—Use their crafts to tell how Jesus is living water and brings life.

“Well” handout (p. 21), safety scissors, washable markers

Closing I’m Still Thirsty!—Help Whiskers understand that water can never completely satisfy us.

Empty paper cup

Fluid Prayers—Thank Jesus for bringing them life.

Pitcher of water

*See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.


Jesus Talks About Living Water

Welcome TimeSUPPLIES: “Butterfly Name Tags” handout (p. 22), washable markers, scissors, safety pins or tape• Bend down and make eye contact with children as they arrive.• Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile.• Thank each child for coming to class today.• Say: Today we’re going to learn that we worship God because he brings

life. • Before class, photocopy the butterfly name tags, and cut out one for each child. Give

each child a butterfly, help children write their names on their name tags, and pin or tape them on their clothing. You may want to photocopy the name tags onto card stock or heavyweight paper and then cover the name tags with clear adhesive plastic after your class. It will help them last throughout the quarter.

• Direct children to the Let’s Get Started activities you’ve set up.

Let’s Get StartedSet up one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After

you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity.Circulate among the activities to offer help as needed and direct children’s conversa-

tion toward the point of today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “What are some things that are alive?” or “How do you know when something is alive?”

n Option 1: Liquid FunSUPPLIES: towels, large bowls or buckets, water, mixing cups or scoops, water toys, paper towels

Spread several towels on a table or other work area. Fill several large bowls or buck-ets with water, and set them on the table. Place mixing cups or scoops and a variety of water toys on the table beside the containers of water. Encourage children to use the scoops to transfer water from one bucket to another.

Let children use the water toys to splash and play in the water. Have paper towels on hand to clean up any water that ends up on the floor. Encourage children to talk about the many ways that we use water. Explain that water is wet and it helps things grow. Just as we need water to live and grow, we need Jesus to live. God sent us Jesus, and

we worship God because he brings life.

n Option 2: All Is WellSUPPLIES: building blocks, small toy bucket, rope

Tie a rope to the handle of a bucket. Set out a pile of building blocks. Encourage children to use the blocks to build their own well. If the children don’t know what a well looks like, you can quickly build a small one as an example. When children are finished building, let them lower and raise the bucket into their well. Remind children that we need water to live on earth but God sent us Jesus so we can live forever. We worship God because he brings life.

It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over throughout the lesson will help children remember it and apply it to their lives.

If your classroom is carpeted, you may want to set the table on a plastic dropcloth to protect the carpet.

Be sure to supervise the children while they play with or are near the water.

You might photocopy and enlarge the well illustration on page 21 to use as an example of what a well looks like.


Lesson 1

n Option 3: Fly AwaySUPPLIES: “Butterfly Name Tags” (p. 22), washable markers, crayons, yarn scraps, glit-ter, small torn pieces of tissue paper, glue sticks, safety scissors

Set out washable markers, crayons, yarn scraps, glitter, small torn pieces of tissue paper, glue sticks, and children’s scissors. Let children color their butterfly name tags, and then encourage children to decorate their name tags with yarn scraps, glitter, and pieces of the tissue paper. Tell children that the butterfly is a sign of new life because it used to be a caterpillar. Remind children that we worship God because he brings life and makes us new, beautiful creations, too.

When everyone has arrived and you’re ready to move on to Bible Story Time, encourage the children to finish what they’re doing and get ready to clean up.

n Pick-Up TimeSUPPLIES: CD player

Lead children in singing “Come Along With Me” with the CD (track 2) to the tune of “Come and Go With Me.” Encourage chil-dren to sing along as they help clean up the room.

You’ll be singing this song each week to alert children to start picking up. At first, they may need a little encouragement. But after a few weeks, pick-ing up and singing along will become a familiar routine.

Come along with me and pick up all our things,Pick up all our things,Pick up all our things.Come along with me and pick up all our thingsSo our room will be clean.(Repeat 2x.)

Bible Story Timen Setting the StageSUPPLIES: small paper cups, pitcher of water

Tell the children that you’ll tap the rhythm sticks three times to get their attention. Explain that when you tap three times, the children are to stop what they’re doing and raise their hands. Practice this signal a few times. Encourage chil-dren to respond quickly so you’ll have time for all the fun activities you’ve planned.

Ask: • What did you make or do when you came to class today? (Played in water; built a well; decorated a butterfly.)

Say: Some of you played with water, some of you built a well, and some of you made reminders of the beautiful new life that Jesus gives us. All of you

track 2

If you choose to do Option 3, cover the name tags with plastic after the activity.

Remember to collect the tags each week at the end of the closing activities. Keep a basket or large envelope near the door so you have a central location for the children to leave their name tags each week at the end of class.

Preschoolers often have trouble making transitions between activities. You can help this by consistently using the same “signal” to the children when it’s time to move on to another activity. Whatever you choose, keep it simple, consistent, and fun.

Here’s an example of what you might say: “In a few minutes, it will be time to put our toys away. You have five more minutes to play. Then we’ll put our toys away and do some other fun things.”



were learning important things about today’s Bible story. Today we’ll hear how Jesus changed the life of a woman sitting at a well. But first, I think we all need a drink of water!

Ask one or two children to pass out the small paper cups. Then walk around and fill each child’s cup with water. Encourage children to drink all of the water in their cups.

Ask: • Why do we drink water? (Because we’re thirsty; because we need water to live.)

• Do you think you’ll ever be thirsty again after drinking the water I gave you? Why or why not? (Yes, because we need water every day.)

Say: Water tastes really good, and it helps us when we’re thirsty. We need water to live. But no matter how many times we drink water, we’ll always be thirsty again. In our Bible story, we’ll find out that Jesus said he could give a woman a kind of water that would keep her from ever being thirsty again! Let’s find out what Jesus meant.

n Bible Song and Prayer TimeSUPPLIES: Bible, CD player

Say: Each week when we come to our circle for our Bible story, I’ll choose someone to be the Bible person. The Bible person will bring me the Bible marked with our Bible story for that week. Before I choose today’s Bible person, let’s learn our Bible song. As we sing our Bible song, we’ll pass around our special Bible. The person who’s holding the Bible when the music stops will be our Bible person today.

Lead them in singing “I’m So Glad for the Bible” with the CD (track 3) to the tune of “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.” As you sing, pass around the special Bible.

I’m so glad for the Bible.Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’.I’m so glad for God’s book today.I’m so glad for the Bible.Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’—Keep me learnin’ all about his way.

Let me hear ’bout God’s love—Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’.Let me hear ’bout God’s love for me.Let me hear ’bout God’s love—Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’.Let’s shine the light for all to see.

(Repeat first verse.)

When the music stops, invite the child who’s holding the Bible to bring it to you. Stamp the child’s hand with the cross and crown stamp, and thank him or her for bring-ing you the Bible. Then stamp the other children’s hands. As they come up to you to get their hands stamped, take time to show them the Bible and explain to them that the Bible is God’s Word for them.

tracks 3, 4

If the ink pad is dry, moisten it with three to five drops of water.


Lesson 1

Say: I’m thankful for [name of child who brought the Bible], and I’m thankful for everyone in our class today. Let’s thank God together for all our friends in this class.

Lead children in singing “I’m So Glad We’re Together” with the CD (track 4) to the tune of “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.”

I’m so glad we’re together.Keep us prayin’, prayin’, prayin’.I’m so glad we’re all here today.I’m so glad we’re together.Keep us prayin’, prayin’, prayin’—Prayin’ for each other every day.

Lead children in folding their hands and bowing their heads as you continue to sing.

Thank you, Lord, for each one.Keep me thankful, thankful, thankful.Thank you for everyone who’s here.Thank you, Lord, for each one.Keep me thankful, thankful, thankful—Thankful for our friends both far and near.

n Hear and Tell the Bible StorySUPPLIES: Bible, scissors, craft sticks, glue

You will need the “Emotion Faces” from the Learning Lab. Cut out each face and glue it to a craft stick so you can hold it up like a sign.

Have children gather around you. Open your Bible to John 4, and show the passage to the children.

Say: Our Bible story comes from the book of John in the Bible. As I tell you the Bible story, listen for the different feelings that I say. When you hear me say a feeling, I want you to act it out. I’ll give you a hint each time by holding up a face that shows that feeling. Show children the different faces, and help them guess what emotion each face is showing.

One day Jesus was walking from Judea to Galilee, but it was a very long way and Jesus started to feel very tired. Hold up the tired face, and encourage children to act as if they’re very tired. Jesus decided to stop at a well and rest. Let’s all sit down and rest. Encourage children to sit or lie down. Ahhh! That feels much bet-ter. Jesus felt happy. Hold up the happy face, and encourage children to smile and act happy. After Jesus sat at the well for a little while, a woman from Samaria came to the well to get water. Jesus was happy to see the woman. Hold up the happy face, and encourage children to smile and act happy. Jesus asked the woman if she would get him a drink of water from the well. The woman was surprised that Jesus talked to her. Hold up the surprised face, and encourage children to clap their hands over their mouths and act very surprised. Usually Jewish people like Jesus didn’t talk to people from Samaria and that made her sad. Hold up the sad face, and encourage children to frown and rub pretend tears from their eyes.

Then Jesus said something very strange. Jesus said that the woman should ask him for a drink of water! The woman was very surprised. Hold up

Before telling the story, you may want to practice the different emotional responses with your children. Give them a chance to act out the emotions so they are ready for the story.



the surprised face, and encourage children to clap their hands over their mouths and act very surprised. After all, Jesus didn’t even have a bucket. How was he going to get water out of the well?

Jesus told the woman that the water he could give her was very special. You see, the water from the well was just like any water—if you drank it, you’d be happy for a little while but soon you’d be thirsty again.

But Jesus wasn’t talking about the actual water. He was talking about getting to know him. While water from a well gives life to plants and animals, Jesus brings life to those who know him. We worship God because he brings life.

Jesus said he would love the woman and give her life forever if she believed in him. This would make her happy. Hold up the happy face. Would this make you happy? Encourage children to smile and act very happy. Jesus said if the woman drinks the water he gives her, the woman will never be thirsty again. Jesus brings life forever and ever to those who know him!

The woman was excited to hear that she could live forever. Hold up the excited face, and encourage children to jump up and down and act excited. Jesus told the woman that he had come to give this life to everyone who believes in him. That means that anyone who believes in Jesus will someday live forever in heaven with him!

The woman believed Jesus, and she was so excited that she ran to town to tell everyone she could find. Hold up the excited face, and encourage children to jump up and down and act excited. The people in town came to see Jesus. When they listened to him talk, they also believed in Jesus. Everyone was so happy to hear about God’s gift of Jesus. We worship God because he brings life. Hold up the happy face, and encourage children to smile and act very happy.

Ask: • What did Jesus say he could give the woman at the well? (He told her he could bring her life that lasts forever.)

• How did the woman feel when she heard what Jesus said? (She was sur-prised; she was happy.)

• How does it make you feel to know that God sent Jesus to give you life that lasts forever? (Happy; excited; surprised.)

Say: The woman at the well learned something special from Jesus. She learned that believing in Jesus made her a new person. Believing in Jesus makes us new, too. This makes us so happy! Encourage the children to say the adapted Bible verse with you: Believing in Jesus makes me a new person!

You’ll use the “Emotion Faces” again in Lesson 6. Keep them on the crafts sticks and return them to your Learning Lab.

n Do the Bible StorySUPPLIES: “Well” handout (p. 21), children’s safety scissors, washable markers or crayons.

Before class, make one copy of the “Well” handout for each child. Distribute the handouts, and encourage children to cut out the well and bucket using the child-safe scissors. If your class has mostly younger children, you may want to cut out the items before class in order to save time.

Set out a variety of crayons or washable markers, and encourage the children to draw on the bucket something that reminds them of Jesus. If children need help, suggest a cross, manger, fish, happy face, or a picture of Jesus.

Draw a simple outline of a face, and make one copy of the outline for each child. After you tell the story about the woman at the well, ask the children to decorate the faces to show how they would feel if they talked to Jesus at the well. Would they be excited? happy? surprised?

If you have mostly younger children, you may want to provide the cross and crown stamp or stickers picturing Jesus.


Lesson 1

Allow children time to decorate their buckets and wells. When they’re finished, encourage them to “draw” the bucket from the well by putting the bucket behind the well and then pulling it up. Tell children they can take home their crafts, and use them to retell the Bible story to their families.

Ask: • Why is Jesus’ water special? (Because Jesus brings life; because it was a gift.)

• How does Jesus bring life? (He gives us life in heaven forever.)Say: God sent Jesus to us because he loves us. It’s so wonderful to know

that when we believe in Jesus we will live forever in heaven! We worship God because he brings life.

Closingn I’m Still Thirsty!SUPPLIES: empty paper cup

Gather the children in a circle on the floor. Bring out Whiskers, and follow the script below. When you finish the script, put Whiskers away.

(Whiskers jogs in, and then stops and looks at the children. He’s panting.)

Teacher: Hi, Whiskers! Have you been running?

Whiskers: (Panting) Yes, I was playing a game with my friends. Whew! I’m so tired and thirsty! Do any of you have some water?

(Hand Whiskers an empty paper cup.)

Teacher: Here you go, Whiskers. Maybe that will make you feel better.

Whiskers: Thanks! (Pretends to take a drink.) That does make me feel better. But I’m still thirsty!

Teacher: Well, this water can never make you totally happy. No matter how much of it you drink, you’ll always get thirsty again. Friends, can you tell Whiskers about our Bible story?

(Lead children in telling Whiskers about the woman at the well and the living water that Jesus promised.)

Teacher: See, Whiskers? Only Jesus can give us life that lasts forever. And God sent Jesus to us. We worship God because he brings life.

Whiskers: I’m so glad that Jesus brings life forever! Thank you for telling me about the Bible story. I’m going to go home now and drink some more water.

Teacher: That sounds good. Friends, let’s say goodbye to Whiskers!

Permission to photocopy this script from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Preschool, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave,, Loveland, CO 80538. HandsOnBible.com



n Fluid PrayersSUPPLIES: pitcher of water

Have children stand and form a circle in the center of the classroom. Place a pitcher of water in the center of the circle. Say: We all need water to live, but when we believe in Jesus, we can live forever. We worship God because he brings life. Let’s join together and pray and thank God for sending Jesus to bring us life.

Lead children in this action prayer.Pray: Thank you, God, for loving us (cross hands over heart)And for sending Jesus so we can live in heaven forever! (Stretch hands

out wide.)In Jesus’ name, amen.

Say: When he was with the Samaritan woman, Jesus told her that he could give her water that would last forever. He was telling her she could live forever if she believed in Jesus. When we believe in Jesus, we can live in heaven forever with him, too.

Ask: How does it make you feel to know that you can live in heaven forever? (Happy; excited; surprised.)

Say: We worship God because he brings life.

Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom.Photocopy the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with the children. Encourage parents to use the handout to plan meaningful family activities to reinforce this week’s topic.


Lesson 1

n Lively Learning: Alive!Bring in several small houseplants. Talk about how plants need water in order to live. Encourage children to

carefully water the plants. As children water the plants, remind them that God sent Jesus to us and that we worship God because he brings life.

n Make to Take: Bottled UpBring in an empty water bottle for each child. Be sure to peel off any labels on the water bottles. Give each

child a water bottle. Set out stickers, paper, yarn, glitter, glue sticks, and other decorating supplies. Encourage children to decorate their water bottles. Tell children they can take home their water bottles as reminders that

we worship God because he brings life.

n Treat to Eat: Salty SnacksGive children a salty treat such as pretzel twists, crackers, or potato chips. Let children

eat their snacks for a few minutes before you offer them water. As children drink their water, remind them that Jesus is the living water. We worship God because he brings life.

n Story Picture: Living WaterGive each child a copy of the “Today I Learned…” handout. Shred some green construction paper before

class. Set out the paper and glue sticks, and let children rub glue over the bottom of the picture to add grass to it. Remind children that Jesus is our living water and that we worship God because he brings life.

For Extra Time If you have a long class time or want to add additional elements to your lesson, try one of the following activities.

21Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Preschool, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. HandsOnBible.com

Well

22 Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Preschool, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. HandsOnBible.com

he brings life.

We worship God because

Ask me:

Butterfly Name TagsPhotocopy and cut out the name tags.

23Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Preschool, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. HandsOnBible.com

Lesson 1Today your child learned that WE WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE HE BRINGS LIFE. Children heard how Jesus told the Samaritan woman about the living water he could provide.

They talked about how Jesus brings life and how those who believe in him will live forever in heaven.

Believing in Jesus makes me a new person (adapted from 2 Corinthians 5:17).

n How does Jesus bring life?

n How can our family get the life that Jesus brings?

n Have a family meeting. Talk about all the things that need water. If you have house plants or a garden, do the watering together and talk about how water brings life. Let this conversation lead into a discussion of how believing in Jesus gives us life forever.

n Go for a walk or play a running game together. Afterward, enjoy a nice glass of cold water. Talk about how Jesus gives us a special kind of water that lasts forever.

he brings life.

We worship God because

Help me learn this:

Ask me:

Family Fun

Living Water (John 4:5-32)

jesus talks about living water • lesson 1 bible point we...

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