Unfolding God’s Story for TeachersI always have wanted to write a book. Lots of book titles and characters have been jotted down on random pieces of paper that have ended up somewhere! The words to those chapters and books never may be written, but really something better and more wonderful than writing a book is happening as you are reading these words. It is happening to you, as well, if you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. We are part of God’s unfolding story! His story did not end when His beloved disciple John penned the last words of Revelation; the story is still unfolding. You and I are part of God’s Unfolding Story as He works in, through and for us today. Consider what He would want to write in His book today about you. Are you following His plan, His desire for your life? The only way to know for sure is by abiding in Him. To abide means “to remain or dwell.” That means spending time with the Master to know what His plan is for your life. Praying is part of abiding. Prayer is talking to God about everything in your life and getting His perspective and direction about how to respond. In our Bible story today, Hannah does just that, pouring out her heart in anguish before God. She desperately wanted a child and promised if God granted her request, she would give him back to God. The Bible says when she left, she was no longer

downcast. Hannah believed God heard her prayer. She waited, and God’s favor was upon her to conceive. Precious Samuel was born and became a mighty instrument in God’s Unfolding Story. To help a child understand that God hears our prayers, we must have experienced that reality in our own lives. Pour out your heart to Him as Hannah did. Wait with a joyful spirit. God will answer. His story continues.

Old Testament Unit 9: Samuel Lesson 1: God Answered Hannah’s Prayer

1. God created everything

2. People disobeyed God.

3. God chose a special people.

4. God sent Jesus to help us.

5. Jesus began the Church.

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

God’s Unfolding StoryBible Story:

God Answered Hannah’s Prayer (1 Sam. 1:1-20)

Bible Phrase: “God hears me when I pray” (Ps. 66:19). Bible Truth: God always

hears me when I pray.

Suggested Schedule:

ArrivalCenters – 25 minutes

Clean-up Time – 5 minutesBible Story Time – 15 minutes

Craft Time – 10 minutes Snack Time – 10 minutes

Game Time and Dismissal

Arrival• Greet children at eye level and express how happy

you are to see them.• Be sure each child has a name tag and the security

measures of your church are followed.• Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly

encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session.

• Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her center time.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Hour 1

Lesson Plan

OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Page 1

Center Time

Art CenterPlay with PlaydoughSupplies: • Enough playdough for three or

four children (see recipe below) • Cookie cutters, small rolling pins,

plastic scissors, craft sticksWhat to Do:Encourage children to work with their hands to roll, cut and mold playdough.Link to Bible Story: Use today’s Bible verse in your conversation as children work with playdough.

Playdough Recipe1 cup salt 2 cups flour 2 cups water

1 tablespoon cream of tartar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mix ingredients. Cook in a heavy pan over medium heat stirring constantly. Cook until

mixture forms a ball. Remove from pan and knead.

Block CenterBuild with BlocksSupplies:• Wooden blocks What to Do:Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Encourage preschoolers to work together to build and construct.Link to Bible Story:As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or briefly tell the Bible Story.

Home Living CenterRole Play Home Activities

Supplies:• Doll bed, small rocking chair, sink and

stove unit, small table and chairs, plastic dishes, child pots and pans

• Doll items such as blanket, clothes, bottles What to Do:

Arrange furniture in a corner of the room. Organize the dishes and other accessories. Children naturally are

drawn to this center. Encourage preschoolers to keep home living items in the center.

Link to Bible Story: As children play with the doll, comment

that Samuel’s mother loved and cared for Samuel.

Bible Learning CenterColor a Bible Story Picture

Supplies:• Copies of “God Answered

Hannah’s Prayer” Coloring Sheet (Reproducible)

• Crayons or washable markersWhat to Do:

Ask children to color the picture.Link to Bible Story:

As children work, briefly tell the Bible Story. Express that Hannah prayed

for a baby. God gave Hannah baby Samuel. Samuel learned to love

and serve God.

Puzzle Center Work Puzzles

Supplies:• Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for

children to work.What to Do:

Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage children to finish a puzzle

before leaving the center. Give guidance rather then doing the puzzle for the child.

Link to Bible Story:As children work, look for

opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or briefly

tell the Bible Story.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Page 2

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Page 3

Clean-up TimeEncourage

preschoolers to help at clean-up time.

Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as

placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash,

gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the

Bible Story Time area.

IntroductionTell children the Bible is one big story about God. Show the God’s Unfolding Story Cube and recite the elements of God’s Unfolding Story. (Refer to page 1.) Explain to children they will hear a story today from God chose a special people. (Point to that symbol on the cube.)

Ask children to tell you what they know about prayer. Explain that prayer is talking to God or Jesus. Prayers can be spoken out loud, or they can be thoughts in our minds. Our prayers may be words of praise, asking God for something we need or asking Him to forgive us for something we have

done wrong. Express that God always hears our prayers. Show the teaching picture. Tell the children that today’s Bible story is about a woman named Hannah, who prayed to God. Listen to hear her request and how God answered her prayer. Open your Bible to 1

Samuel 1:1-20.

Bible Story“God Answered Hannah’s Prayer” (1 Sam. 1:1-20)

A long time ago, a woman named Hannah was very sad. Hannah was sad because she and her husband did not have any children. One day, Hannah went to worship and pray. As she entered the tabernacle, Eli the priest saw her. He noticed how sad she looked.

Hannah may have gotten on her knees and bowed her head to pray. Hannah cried as she began talking to God. Hannah asked God to give her a son. She told God if He would give her a son, she would help him know and love God. Eli could not help but overhear Hannah praying and crying. He went over to Hannah to see what was wrong. She told Eli she was talking to God about why she was so sad. Eli told her God would answer her prayer. Not long after, Hannah had a baby boy. She and her husband named him Samuel. Hannah kept her promise and helped Samuel know and love God. Samuel grew up to be a man who loved and followed God.

Talk Time

1. Show the teaching picture “God Answered Hannah’s Prayer.” Ask, “Why was Hannah sad?” “What did Hannah pray for?” “How did God answer her prayer?”

2. Show children the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Express to children that God always hears their prayers.

3. To close Bible Story Time, invite children to join you in prayer time. Allow any interested preschooler to pray. Close the prayer time by thanking God for hearing us when we pray.

Bible Story Time

Supplies:• Bible

• Teaching Picture – “God Answered Hannah’s Prayer”

(Reproducible)• God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock)

Game Time/DismissalPlay Listen, Watch and DoSupplies:• Masking tape Place two parallel lines of masking tape on the floor about 6 feet apart. Ask children to stand behind one of the lines. Tell children they are going to play a game called, “Listen, Watch and Do.” You begin the game by demonstrating a movement that will get you from one line to the next, such as hopping. Ask children to do exactly what you have done. When children reach the other side, choose a child to teach another action. Ask children to copy the movement. Play the game several times. At the close of the game, ask children to sit on the two lines for dismissal. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church.

Snack TimeBe sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up.

Craft TimeCreate a Bible Verse Picture FrameSupplies:• Copies of Bible Verse Squares (Reproducible)• Wide craft sticks – four per child• White glue• Buttons or foam stick-on shapes• Tape and yarnWhat to Do:Cut apart Bible Verse Squares. Invite children to glue crafts sticks around the Bible Verse Square to form a frame. Children can add buttons or foam stick-on shapes to decorate. Attach yarn with tape on the back of the frame for hanging.Link to Bible Story: Talk to children about things for which we pray, such as a sick family member or pet, going on a trip or something we might need.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Page 4

Old Testament Unit 9: SamuelLesson 1: God Answered Hannah’s Prayer

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1

Resources and SuppliesStandard Art Supplies(Supplies that are generally in the room)

Washable markersCrayons

Child ScissorsPlaydough and accessories

Drawing paperEasel (optional)Glue/glue sticks

Tempera paint – four colorsTape/masking tape

Pencils/colored pencilsHole punch

Teacher scissorsStapler/staples

Permanent markersWater colorsPaint brushes

Yarn

Standard Equipment(Supplies that are generally in the room)

BibleSmall Beanbag for Bible Story Time

Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzlesSet of wooden blocksSmall cars and trucks

Doll bedDoll baby – soft plastic

Stove/sink unitPlay dishes/pots and pans

Small table and chairsSmall carpet for block area

Play food itemsStorage shelf for blocks

Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, Bible Learning Center

CD player/Children’s Worship CD’s

ReproduciblesColoring Sheet, “God Answered Hannah’s Prayer” – Class size amount

Bible Verse Squares – 1 copy for every 4 children Teaching Picture – “God Answered Hannah’s Prayer” – 1 copy per class

God’s Unfolding Story Cube – Cardstock - 1 copy per classParent Page – Class size amount

Additional Art MaterialsWide craft sticks – 4 per child

Variety of buttons or foam stick-on shapes

Hour 1

God hears me

when I pray.

Psalm 66:19

God hears me

when I pray.

Psalm 66:19

God hears me

when I pray.

Psalm 66:19

God hears me

when I pray.

Psalm 66:19

OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Craft TimeGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Bible Verse SquaresInstructions: Copy one per every four children.

Cut apart on dotted lines

God hears me when I pray. Psalm 66:19OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Center Time: Bible Story CenterGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Coloring Sheet“God Answered Hannah’s Prayer”

OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 2 Craft TimeGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Puzzle“God Answered Hannah’s Prayer”

Heath McPherson