ESTHER / PURIM

BIBLE REFERENCE: THE BOOK OF ESTHER / PSALM 146:8,9

Purim Puppets by Rite Lite

 

OPTIONAL PRE-CLASS INVITATION:

 

PRAISE GOD IN THE GATES (BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASSROOM DOOR):

  • Today’s story is about a very brave Queen named Esther.  She made the RIGHT choice and her people were saved!
  • Let’s declare together: JESUS SAVED HIS PEOPLE. Teach ASL for JESUS… SAVED… his PEOPLE.

WORKTABLE: worksheet / step-by-step lesson

SONGS AT CIRCLE:

 

BIBLE STORY FORMAT: You can read the story from ESTHER AND THE VERY BRAVE PLAN or re-tell it from the main points outline.

BIBLE MAIN POINTS / STORYTELLING WITH FINGER PUPPETS:

  • A long time ago, in the land of Persia, there lived a King. His name was Xerxes.
  • King Xerxes was lonely. He needed a Queen, so he sent His helpers throughout the land in search of a beautiful young woman. Of all the maidens who came before the King, Xerxes chose a Jewish girl named Esther to be the Queen.
  • So Esther left her family home where she lived with her Cousin, Mordecai, she married the King, and went to live at the Palace. Mordecai was happy for Esther. He sat at the gates of the palace to watch for her.
  • One day, Mordecai overheard 2 guards make a wicked plan to kill the King. Quickly, Mordecai sent a message to Queen Esther: WARN THE KING!! Esther did warn the King. The 2 wicked guards were captured. Their wicked plan was turned upside down! Mordecai and Esther helped save the King!
  • King Xerxes ruled over a great big kingdom. He needed a helper to watch over all his land, so he chose Haman as his most important helper. “Haman, you will be my special helper. You can ride on one of my special horses.” Haman was very proud of himself. He rode on the King’s horse, and as he rode by, he said to all the people, “Bow down to me! I am very important!”
  • When he rode by Mordecai, Mordecai did not bow down. Mordecai said, “I will only bow down to GOD.”
  • This made Haman VERY angry. He went back to the Palace and told the King a lie. He told the King that Mordecai and his family were disobeying the King’s rules and they should be punished!
  • The King believed Haman and told Haman he could punish them. Haman made a wicked plan to destroy Mordecai and his entire family. Who else belonged to Mordecai’s family? ESTHER!
  • When Mordecai heard about Haman’s wicked plan, he quickly sent ANOTHER message to Queen Esther: HELP! HELP! ASK THE KING TO HELP US!
  • Esther was afraid. She could not go to see the King without an invitation. Mordecai’s family fasted (did not eat) and prayed for 3 days. Then Esther went to see the King. Would He send her away? Or would he extend his scepter and hear her plea?
  • The King EXTENDED his scepter to Esther. He listened to her plea. He sent his guards to capture Haman. Haman’s wicked plans were turned upside down! The King gave an order that saved Esther and her family!

 

RESPONSE TO STORY:

 

 

TRUTH OR LIE CHALLENGE: pdf

PRAYER: pdf

FREE PLAY IN CENTERS:

Release the children one at a time, with their play cards, to choose a center.

  • DRESS-UP: Prince and Princess Garments / Crowns
  • DRY TABLE: Colored Rice and Weigh Scales / Balance
  • TRAIN TABLE: Foam Blocks (Build-a-Palace)

  • KITCHEN: Standard Foods / Specialty Food:
  • PLAY DOUGH: Assorted Playdough Colors / Shapes

 

  • EASEL DRAWING:  Charcoal drawings (sackcloth and ASHES theme)

  • EASEL PAINTING: Purim Characters 11×17 pdf
  • OPTIONAL CRAFT: Purim Popsicle Stick Puppets. (mini characters pdf for printing on cardstock)

CLEAN-UP OF CENTERS (IN PREPARATION FOR DISMISSAL):

Students must tidy up the centers where they were playing when the timer rang. Teachers/Helpers oversee this activity.  Students learn to sort and return items to their proper place.  In so doing, they are learning to take care of the classroom.  It also helps them be prepared for dismissal.  Once the centers are tidy, students move to the BOOK NOOK and quietly look at books.

FEATURED GAME:

  • If parents have not arrived after 5 minutes of quiet reading, lead the children in a game (such as Bean Bag Toss, Duck Duck Goose, Doggie Doggie Who Has My Bone, I Spy, etc). Featured game for the month of March: MARBLES.
DISMISSAL:

Assign an adult to greet parents/guardians.

Call students ONE AT A TIME when families arrive.  Prompt the remaining student to call out, “GOODBYE (student’s name).”

Families ckeck mailboxes.  Today’s TAKE HOME:  Today’s worksheet / STUDENT GIFT / Optional Craft / Easel Art Work / Booklet pdf

 

 

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

ESTHER AND THE VERY BRAVE PLAN by Tim Thornborough

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

10 Purim Activities To Try With (or Without) Kids