A to Z Bible Story Lesson- Letter O

O- Offering


Objectives: The children will be able to
- retell the story The Widow’s Mite
- discuss what different things we can give to the church as an offering
- discuss what the money that is given to church is used for



Review:
Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson


Vocabulary Words:

Offering Word Wall- Word wall templates are large flash card printables that you can hang on the wall to aid children when they are learning or using new vocabulary words. (Ask the children what the person is doing in the first picture. Have you seen people doing this during Mass? Discuss. Ask the children what the second picture is. Tell them we are supposed to help others and we can do that by giving. Ask them what other things we can give those who need help (clothes, blankets, water, shelter, medicine, etc.).



Plan:


Circle Time:

Read story: “The Widow’s Mite” from your own story book.


Then ask questions from below.

How much did the widow give? All she had.

How many coins did she give? 2

How much was it worth? Less than a penny.

Why did Jesus especially appreciate the Widow’s gift of coins? Jesus liked the way the widow gave all she had from the heart. He saw her great faith in God and the church’s work. Jesus appreciated how she gave what she had without grumbling or showing off.

What can people give to the church instead of money? People can make large or small sacrifices of time. People can do community service which is helping others at church and out in the community.

Does this story mean a small gift is always better than a large gift? Give what you can to help others and the church. It doesn’t matter who much or how little, but give from the heart.

What things do we (or our parents) give to the church? Things: money, time, food for the poor, coats and clothes for people who need them, etc.

What is the money given to the church used for? Missionaries, charities, running the church, church maintenance, food for the poor, etc.



Songs and/or Finger Plays:

Introduce songs and/or finger plays: When we give to the church how should be act? Should we grumble? Show off to others that we gave? Should we boast about how much we gave?

Playful Songs and Bible Stories for Preschoolers by Group Publishing- Jesus Loves A Cheerful Giver (song) and Little Coins For Jesus (finger play), page 124



Activities:

Introduce activity: Who gave all she had? The widow

sermons4kids.com- The Widow’s Mite object lesson

sermons4kids.com- Giving Our All object lesson

missionarlilngton.org- A Giving Attitude (scroll down to Preschool Lesson)

missionarlington.org- An Attitude of Giving (scroll down to Preschool Lesson)




Crafts:

Introduce craft: When we give to the church should we grumble or show off? How should we behave when we give to the church?

mssscrafts.com- Offering Craft

sundayschoolcrafts.com- Offering Can

catholicicing.blogspot.com- Craft a Church Tithing Bank for Kids

librarylds.org- Never Forget One-Tenth for Tithing
Cut out elephant bank to help you remember to put some of your earnings inside for tithing.



Have the students make envelopes and put play money inside for a simple craft to emphasize tithing.



Games:

Introduce game: How much did the widow give? All she had.

Coin Toss- See who can toss the coin into a bowl. Share how the woman gave all she had to the church.




Tithing: A simple game to help reinforce tithing to young children.


Introduction: Tithing is our contribution to the support of the Church which some people call an offering. The Church uses that money to help pay for the Church expenses and contributions for the community and around the world.

Directions: Give each player 5 tokens (play money, poker chips, milk caps, etc.) to represent their tithing (money that they have put aside to give to the Church). Put one small basket on the table to put the donations in. Place your marker on any space on the game board. Each player in turn rolls the die and moves their marker along the board. They may go forward or backwards or follow any branch of the board they wish, as long as they only go one direction within a turn. This means that you can go forward or backward, but only forward or only backward in a single turn. When a player lands on a space that has a basket on it, they pick up a Game Card and read it out loud (if they cannot read it, someone else can read it for them). Then they put their donation (1 token) into the basket and their turn is over. The first player to donate all their tithing money wins.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: How many coins did she give? 2

Cheese Gelt Coins

Get a round cracker and spread peanut butter on it. Cover with another cracker and you have edible money.


Letter O Snacks-

Oatmeal, Oatmeal Cookies, Olives, Omelets, Orange, Orange Sherbet, Orange Jell-O, Orange Juice, etc.



Coloring/Puzzles:

Prayers while students are doing worksheets and/or coloring.

raindrop.org- A Widow Gives All She Had (coloring)

sermons4kids.com- The Widow’s Mite (coloring)

sermons4kids.com- The Widow’s Offering (coloring)


lambsong.co.nz- “Two Tiny Coins For God” by Jill Kemp (booklet for the children to color)

Cover

Booklet


dltk-teach.com- What begins with O? (mini book)

first-school.ws- Offering (handwriting)

mathworksheetwizard.com- Kindergarten Money Worksheets (make your own and print out)

moneyinstructor.com- Teaching Kindergarten Money Worksheets
Here are some recommended printable money worksheets and interactive lessons that are appropriate for teaching money to kindergarten and preschool. Many of these worksheets are customizable to the particular needs of your student or child, and may be used in school or at home.

enchantedlearning.com- Money and Coin Activities

donnayoung.org- Coin Counting Worksheets

education.com- Monster Money! Counting Coins (free worksheet)