Branches On The Tree Group
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "Branches on the Tree"

scripture Reading: John 15:1-8

LEAF/BRANCH RELAY: Divide the children into teams and give each team leader a stick and a rock to play a relay back and forth of pushing the pebble rock with the stick. If the stick breaks, the children will continue to play with a broken stick but may have to crawl to push the pebble with the stick. Let all the children have an opportunity of playing the game and see which team completes the game first.

TREE BUILDING RACE: Children can divide into teams and takes turns running to their own team's poster board TREE... Each child will run to the team tree and tape a cut out leaf on the tree, run back to the team and then next player will do the same. Take a picture of each team next to their newly formed tree and hang the picture in the classroom at the next class time for children to enjoy and remember today's lesson.

VINE LINE: Give children crepe paper to crumple and to tie or tape long streamers together and children will make as long of a line as possible without breaking the VINE LINE. Children can walk and recite today's Bible verse together. If teacher desires, the children can take turns at different parts/section of the Bible verse to make it more fun and a little more challenging.

TREE BRANCHES: Let the class work together are cutting out leaves and writing their names on each leaf and then glueing onto a large cut out tree. Display this tree for a few weeks for children to be reminded of today's lesson.

LEAF BIBLE VERSE: Provide each child with a large piece of construction paper to trace and cut out a leaf. Decorate with markers and glitter and write today's Bible verse on the leaf and add a magnet to the back of the leaf for children to place on their home refrigerator.

TREE PLANTING: If the class has an area where a very small tree could be planted - let children take turn digging up a hole and add water and other fertilizers as desired and plant a "class tree" while discussing today's lesson. Children will enjoy watching the tree grow throughout the year. Take a picture of the children near the NEW tree and other pictures of the children and their growing tree in the months ahead. Children can make sure to water their tree and recite today's Bible verse each time they plant the tree.

GRAPE VINE PAINTING: The teacher can use long butcher paper and hang on a long wall. Children can draw a long marker line the entire length of the wall/paper. Then the children can use purple (grape) ink pad and make small finger prints of purple ink all along the grape vine. The children can take turns writing words from today's Bible verse along the grape vine.

SHARE A SNACK: The children can be given grapes to snack on, as well as crackers and cheese, if desired, or a fruit dip for the grapes of cream cheese, dap of vanilla, some powdered sugar.

Song:  "I Am the Vine"

Words and Music (pdf)

Accompaniment Track MP3