Annie's "Another Halloween Lesson Plan" Page (original) (raw)

Annie's "Another Halloween Lesson Plan" Page
~Pumpkin Story - A Lesson Idea from Betty~ Espa�ol

Dear Annie, Several years ago. (Don't make me say how long.) I attended a teacher training class in San Francisco for people who had Good News Club in the area. Our director, Sharon Flack shared this story with us and I have used it for many years. Each year our family would carve a pumpkin and tell the story again. SOOOOOOOOOooo here it is. My goal is to put another idea in the kid's minds instead of things being scary or evil. I can't keep my kids from seeing the Halloween symbols out there unless I blind fold them. I have taught my kids at church lessons on the pumpkin, the spiders, God's wonderful creatures the bats and how God wants to use our bones to share with others.

Betty's Pumpkin Story:

Supplies needed: One large pumpkin with a smiley face cut out. When you cut out the features save them because during the story you are going to put them back into the pumpkin. You will also need to save some of the slime and seeds from the inside. A flashlight or candle will also be needed.

I have a pumpkin here on table. You see pumpkins with faces during this time of year. When you see a pumpkin I hope that you will remember what I am going to share with you today.

How is this pumpkin like you? Accept answers.

2 eyes 1 nose a smile

I know another way this pumpkin is like you.

Could I have the Burke Bay volunteer come here. Have them put there hand into the bowl inside filled with seeds and pulp. How does that feel? What words would you use to describe it? (yucky)

Do you think that’s like you? It says in the Bible that we are all sinners and that sounds pretty yucky to me.

This pumpkin does have yucky stuff inside. This pumpkin is also like you in that it can’t get the yucky stuff out – someone has to come along and do it for them. I can’t get rid of my sins on my own. But God has told us in his work that if we will confess our sins he will take them away and make us clean. (I John 1:9)

When we ask Jesus to come into our lives and take our sins away he does it and in the Bible it says that Jesus is the Light of the world so when he comes to live in our lives- light comes into our lives. (NOW light the candle or turn on the flashlight.)

I want to tell you about a little boy named Albert. He went to church one day and someone told him about the Lord Jesus wanting to come into his life and take away his sins. Albert thought that was wonderful thing so he asked Jesus to do it. He wanted to share this good news with others so he wanted them to see Jesus in how he acted and what he did. But some days were hard – One day Albert got up late and his mother tried to hurry him along so he wouldn’t be late to school. Albert grumbled and complained and talked back to her. He sinned. (Fill in one of the eyes – or let one of the BB helpers do it.)

On the bus his friend had saved a seat for him but he just glared at him and sat somewhere else. His friend looked hurt. Albert sinned. (fill in another eye.)

At school they had a spelling test and Albert couldn’t remember what the last word was so he looked on a friend’s paper. Albert sinned. (fill in the nose)

After school he went outside to play and he hit his little brother. Albert sinned again. (Put one part of the mouth in.)

His mother called him in and asked him what had happened and he said that he didn’t know. She looked at him and asked him if he had hit his little brother and Albert said NO. Albert lied and that is a sin. (fill in another part of the mouth)

Later his mother asked him to come and set the table. But Albert pretended that he hadn’t heard her and she had to call him 3 times before he finally went. Albert sinned. (fill in the last part.)

When Albert sinned did Jesus leave ( check the light inside. Remember that if you have a candle you cannot leave the lid on or the candle will go out as you put the pieces in (no oxygen))– No . Jesus will never leave us but the people around him can’t see Jesus because Albert has been doing so many wrong things.

Albert needs to ask Jesus to forgive him for the sins he has committed that day and then go to each one of those people and ask their forgiveness.

So then I take the kids back through the sins and have them go to their friends, parents and teacher and tell what they did and ask them to forgive them. As I do each of those things I take out the piece (ex eye, nose and mouth) so that by the end of the story the pieces are out and you can see the pumpkin face smiling again with the candle.

Remember then how the pumpkin is like you and make sure that you let Jesus shine forth to everyone you meet.

If you have any questions please contact: Betty
Thank you Betty for sharing this with all of us!!!

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