Our KDI of the week is observing- Children observe the materials and processes in their environment. We will be taking a close look at rocks and their properties. Experimenting with different kinds of rocks and learning about how they are made and what they're made of.
Table Activities- This week's table activities include examining rocks with magnifying glasses, making designs with rocks and pebbles, stacking rocks, playing with and observing rocks in water, matching rocks with landmarks and pictures, weighing rocks, and playing with pop rocks and shaving cream.
Small Group Activities- This week we will make an egg carton container to begin our own rock collections, break a geode, add Rr is for rock to our journal and paint a rock.
Large Group Activities- Our plan for large group is to begin our rock collection, play hopscotch, dance to some "rock" music and carry rocks. Sometimes we get to large group, sometimes we don't:)
Books of the Week- Our books this week are "Roxaboxen" by Alice McLerran, "Rhoda's Rock Hunt" by Molly Beth Griffin and "These Rocks Count" by Alison Ashley Formento.
Bible Story- This week our Bible story sees the completion of Joseph's story. Last week we heard about Joseph being sold into slavery by his own brothers. This week we see how God used it all for good, to save the lives of many people. Joseph is sold as a slave to a man named Potiphar who was a captain in the palace guard to the Pharaoh. Joseph works hard and distinguishes himself as a very good worker and Potiphar puts him in charge of his entire household. Potiphar's wife however behaves badly and when Joseph refuses to join her, she lies and Joseph is thrown into prison.
Joseph again is the model prisoner. He helps out the guards and also gains a reputation as someone who can tell the meaning of dreams. He gives God all credit for giving him this ability. While he is imprisoned, two of Pharoah's servants are also imprisoned, his baker and his wine taster. They both have dreams. The baker dreams he is carrying three baskets of bread and while he carries them on his head, birds come and eat the bread. The wine taster dreams that he squeezes some grapes into a cup, gives it to Pharaoh and Pharaoh drinks it. Joseph tells the wine taster he will be given his job back. He tells the baker that in three days he will be put to death. Both dream meanings come true. Joseph asks the wine taster to tell Pharaoh that he is in jail unjustly.
The wine taster forgets until Pharaoh himself has some disturbing dreams that wake the entire palace. Joseph is brought out of prison to tell Pharaoh not only what his dreams mean, but Pharaoh asks Joseph to tell him what he dreamed too. Joseph prays and God gives him the dreams and their meaning. Pharaoh dreamed that there were 7 fat cows on the bank of the Nile River and 7 skinny cows came up out of the water and ate the 7 fat cows but did not get any fatter. Then he dreamed that 7 fat heads of grain were eaten by 7 skinny heads of grain, but they didn't get fatter either. Joseph told Pharaoh that the dreams meant that there would be 7 years of plenty, lots of food, lots of rain. Following that there would be 7 years of severe famine. No rain, no food. He suggested that Pharaoh find someone who would be willing to store up the extra food during the times of plenty and distribute it during the times of famine. Pharaoh thought Joseph would be perfect for the job, so he made him second in command of the whole country! Imagine, you wake up a prisoner in jail, you go to bed, second in command!
Meanwhile, Joseph's family was also caught in the famine when it happened and they decided to come to Egypt to purchase food. While they were standing in line, Joseph saw them and recognized them as his brothers. He set out to test them. They purchased food, but had to leave one brother behind to prove they weren't spies. He also insisted they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them when they returned. He then placed all their money back in their sacks of grain and sent them home. The brothers had to do some strong convincing to have Jacob let Benjamin come with them. Joseph revealed himself this time. The brothers were scared he would seek revenge for all they had done to him. But he told them that God had used what they had intended to harm him for good. Many people were saved because of where Joseph had been.
Joseph was reunited with his father and his whole family came to live in Egypt in a special section called Goshen that Pharaoh set aside just for them.
What a story!! Joseph kept the faith and God used him to do great things! God uses us too through good times and bad to share his Word. Imagine the testimony to God when you are confident of his love and care even when things are going bad. Let the world see your light that shines in the darkness- no darkness can overcome it!
Busy transportation week-
