https://content.lessons.church/files/bundles/AaEHYiiDtXt/Program Videos.zip?dt=1649184974912

Program Videos

https://content.lessons.church/files/bundles/K2nOR1mX8RB/Slides and Printables.zip?dt=1663434040171

Slides and Printables

Conductor Carl Act 2

Conductor Carl Act 1

Big Story Video

Big Point Video Short

Conductor Carl Act 3

Mia ignores Conductor Carl and decides to watch a monster movie.

Guard Your Heart Week 2

Keep Out The Bad!

Join Conductor Carl and his friends as they lead your kids on an adventure through God’s word. These imaginative and engaging lessons will have your early childhood kids and volunteers loving every minute of their time at the Train Station. Included are lessons for Kindergarten-3s, 2-year-olds and a story for babies and toddlers. Lessons include videos, graphics, coloring sheets, and both large and small group lessons. The junior lessons tie directly with the corresponding elementary lesson.

Ark Kids Junior

An ongoing curriculum for Early Childhood

3min Countdown

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/2GELcCp0x9-/jr-3-minute-countdown.mp4?dt=1631928367659

Countdown Video

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/2ziMQiGLFAE/ccf-countdown-video.mp4?dt=1630777422249

1080p

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/6MLiGwTd4wA/gyh-jr-l2-engage-2-slide-a.jpg?dt=1661969416334

gyh-jr-l2-engage-2-slide-a.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/6MLiGwTd4wA/gyh-jr-l2-engage-2-slide-b.jpg?dt=1661969416348

gyh-jr-l2-engage-2-slide-b.jpg

Engage Slides

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/6MLiGwTd4wA/engage_slides.zip?dt=1661969393868

Preschool Clean Up Song

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/9ur1wCUIFdP/preschool-clean-up-song.mp4?dt=1630777756678

7 min countdown

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/dnUWSEHiZ5V/Dwayne - JR 7 Minute Countdown.mp4?dt=1663288794338

Rules Video

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/eGS32Yho9To/ccf-rules-video.mp4?dt=1630778071576

Lesson Plan

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/fCCro0afZ2-/lessons.zip?dt=1663430697839

Big Verse Slide

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/gAKCXSO5OeB/gyh-jr-l2-big-verse-slide.jpg?dt=1661969147027

Title Slide Steam Whistle

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/GMhFDhN9F0M/title-slide-steam-whistle-.mp4?dt=1630725126159

2min Countdown

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/HSDgV6a0-Dx/jr-2-minute-countdown.mp4?dt=1648677059976

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/kPKEstFNEA0/gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide.jpg?dt=1661969096589

gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/kPKEstFNEA0/gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide-2.jpeg?dt=1661969096592

gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide-2.jpeg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/kPKEstFNEA0/gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide-3.jpeg?dt=1661969096604

gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide-3.jpeg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/kPKEstFNEA0/gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide-4.jpeg?dt=1661969096594

gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide-4.jpeg

Big Story Slides

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/kPKEstFNEA0/big_story_slides.zip?dt=1661969049806

The Big Do

https://content.lessons.church/files/program/BVLAFRqSzX1/LHtdCIFuzEt/cc-big-do-slide.mp4?dt=1630726373409

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-a.jpg?dt=1661969847283

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-a.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-b.jpg?dt=1661969847281

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-b.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-c.jpg?dt=1661969847280

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-c.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-d.jpg?dt=1661969847285

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-d.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-e.jpg?dt=1661969847285

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-e.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-f.jpg?dt=1661969847287

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-f.jpg

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-g.jpg?dt=1661969847292

gyh-jr-l2-icebreaker-slide-g.jpg

Icebreaker Slides

https://content.lessons.church/files/lesson/0Wded210osZ/vhn63W0tbLh/ice_breaker_slides.zip?dt=1661969824084

Emphasizing the importance of children understanding and protecting the worth of their hearts is crucial, especially in today's world where they can easily encounter both beneficial and harmful influences. Ultimately, God seeks our hearts, and this series provides practical strategies and motivations for children to safeguard their hearts, reminding them to be mindful of their influences as these shape their actions and behaviors. As Proverbs wisely states, "Above everything else, guard you heart. It is where your life comes from."

Guard Your Heart

 “Above everything else, guard you heart. It is where your life comes from.”

Large Group

Countdown from 10

Engage 2 Prep: You will need a heart shaped bag or bag with a heart on it. in this bag are the following strips of paper.

 - Blue Strips:
     - Fear
     - Anger
     - Bad Choices
     - Sadness

 - White Strips:
     - Joy
     - Peace
     - Love
     - Good Choices


Suggested Music selections for this lesson include:
 - Optional soft instrumental music for Big Story

Leader

Rules

Welcome

**Host** and **Co-Host** enter, dressed as engineers. 

**Host**
Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! 


The **Co-Host** pretends to sneeze. He/She should go over the top with his/her movements to build up anticipation for the sneeze. The **Co-Host** finally lets out a small sneeze “on” the **Host**.



**Co-Host**
You are welcome.

**Host**
Welcome? For what? You sneezed on me. 

**Co-Host**
That’s what you are welcome for, silly. I gave you my germs.

**Host**
Jr. Conductors, are germs a good gift? No, we want to keep other people’s germs away from us, so we don’t get sick.

**Co-Host**
How can we do that?

**Host**
Let’s show our friend how we use our elbows to cover our sneezes. Cover your nose and say, “Achoo!” 


(Pretend to sneeze.)

**Co-Host**
That does seem better. I’m sorry for sharing my germs with you.

**Host**
I forgive you. Today we’re learning why it’s important to keep bad things away from us, so be sure to listen closely. If you’re ready for some fun, let out a big, “Choo-choo!” 

Hosts

Worship

Engage 1

**Co-Host**
Jr. Conductors, do you think that Mia should watch the scary movie?

**Host**
I don’t think so. We don’t want her to have bad dreams. I think she needs to learn the Big Point. Let’s practice it again. 


**Host**
**Keep Out The Bad!**

**Co-Host**
We want to keep bad things out of our invisible heart. That’s the part inside each 
one of us where we connect to God, make choices, and think. 

**Host**
If we let bad things in our heart, it can hurt it. It’s better to choose good things from God.

**Co-Host**
Do any of you like to eat ice cream for dessert? What is your favorite flavor? (Allow for answers) That sounds delicious. Let’s make an ice cream sundae right now. 



**Host**
We’ll choose a Jr. Conductor to help us. What is the most important part of an ice cream sundae? Yes, the ice cream. Pretend to scoop out the ice cream.


Help the volunteer scoop ice cream into the dish.

**Co-Host**
How many scoops of ice cream do you have, Jr. Conductors? Next, comes the fun part, toppings. Let’s add some toppings to the sundae. I like adding cookies to mine.

**Host**
That would be good. What if we added something like dirt instead of cookies? Let’s sprinkle dirt on your ice cream. 


**Co-Host**
Do you know what else is good? Gummy worms. 

**Host**
But instead of gummy worms, let’s add a handful of slimy worms.


**Co-Host**
Let’s squirt whipped cream on top. (Help the child add whipped cream) Does this look like an ice cream sundae that you would like to eat?

**Host**
Does it look gross? Yes, it’s not good. When we add things to our hearts like scary movies, hurtful words, inappropriate video games, or angry thoughts, those things don’t make our hearts better. They make our hearts worse.

**Co-Host**
God wants us to have healthy hearts, so we need to keep all the things God 
doesn’t love out of our hearts. Let’s see if Mia will make the wise choice to not watch the movie.



Engage 2

**Co-Host**
Oh no, I can’t believe that Mia watched the movie. Now she can’t sleep! Have you ever watched something that made you so scared you didn’t want to close your eyes? Let’s open our eyes as wide as we can.

**Host**
The good news is that we don’t have to let bad things into our hearts. We can guard our hearts by following the Big Point. Let’s practice singing the Big Point again, 


**Host**
**Keep Out The Bad!**

**Co-Host**
Engineer Kelly shared a helpful verse from the Bible with Mia.  



**Co-Host**
Proverbs 4:23 (NIrV) says, “Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do comes from it.”


**Host**
That means that our words, thoughts, and actions come from what’s in our hearts. Let’s see what comes out of our hearts if we don’t follow the Big Point and let stuff inside of us like untrue things about God, disobeying our parents, angry thoughts, or hurtful ideas.


If you can’t find a heart-shaped bag, then you can simply color a heart or add a heart cutout to a simple paper bag. Place both colored slips of paper into the bag. Pull out the strips of blue and read what is written on them. Have the kids acts out each emotion or action.

Blue Strips:
 - Fear
 - Anger
 - Bad Choices
 - Sadness


**Co-Host**
Those aren’t things that God wants for us. He wants us to do what is right. Let’s see what comes out of our hearts if we put good things inside of us, like God’s Word, songs about God, obeying our parents, and prayer.


Read the white strips from the heart.

White Strips:
 - Joy
 - Peace
 - Love
 - Good Choices

**Host**
Those are much better things. I’m glad that we can keep out the bad so that our hearts don’t get full of things that would hurt us.

**Co-Host**
When we have good inside of our invisible hearts, then we can help lots of people with the good things that come out of our hearts. Before we head to the Big Story Station, let’s stand and sing a song to God. 


Big Story

Big Story Slides - gyh-jr-l2-big-story-slide.jpg

Let’s take a moment 
to talk to Jesus. Everyone, close your eyes and bow your heads. You can pray and talk to Jesus every day. You can do it at home, at church, anywhere. Today let’s tell Jesus that we will guard our hearts. Repeat after me, “I will guard my heart.” (Repeat this 2x) Now I’ll pray for us all. Dear God, we ask that You would help us guard our hearts so that we can keep the things that would hurt us far away. Thank you that You’re always ready to help us. Amen.


Engage 3

**Co-Host**
I’m so glad that Mia finally fell asleep. God really does help us, even when we make mistakes.

**Host**
That’s because God loves us. He loves us so much that He doesn’t want things in our hearts that would hurt us. He wants to keep us safe. Let’s choose to follow our Big Point and...


**Host**
**Keep Out The Bad!**


**Co-Host**
In our Big Story, we learned that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, did not follow the Big Point. He chose to live near the city where lots of people made wrong choices, but Abraham stayed far away. He followed God.

**Host**
You can tell your family about what you learned today when we do the Big Do this week. Conductor Carl gave us a fun idea. 

**Host**
Use a trash can or a bucket as your goal and let your mommy or daddy try to toss a ball into the goal. See how many times you can block the ball from going into the goal.


**Co-Host**
Let’s try that now. I’m going to ask one of our engineers (Adult volunteer) to hold 
this hula hoop as our goal. I’m going to toss these beach balls into the goal, but these Jr. Conductors are going to try to stop them from going in.


You can use any type of ball in this game. You can also use a bucket or trash can as the goal. Toss the ball softly to give the kids a better shot at blocking the ball.


**Co-Host**
That was so much fun!

**Host**
It sure was. Keeping bad things out of our invisible heart is always a wise choice. Let’s say our Big Point once more, 


Big Review

**Host**
 - Did our Big Point say Keep Out The Good or **Keep Out The Bad?**

 - Have you ever been to a petting zoo? What kind of animals did you see? (Have the kids respond and make the animal sounds) In our Big Story we learned about two people who had lots of animals. Abraham and his nephew, ______. **Lot** 

 - What do you need to plant a flower? (Allow for answers) Yes, you need seeds and dirt and water. Pretend to plant a flower in the dirt. If I planted a flower seed, would it grow into an apple tree? No, it would grow a flower because you get out what you put into the ground. What does our Big Verse say? Proverbs 4:23 (NIrV), “Above everything else, guard your heart. ______ you do comes from it.”
     - **Everything**
     - Nothing

 - Would it be a good choice or a bad choice to call someone a mean name? Bad choice. Would it be a good choice or bad choice to disobey your mommy? Bad choice. The city that Lot moved next to in the Big Story was a place where people made what kind of choices? **Bad choices** Did it hurt Lot’s family to live near that city? **Yes**


 - What’s your favorite kind of snack to eat when you watch a movie? 
(Allow for answers) Let’s pretend to eat popcorn. What flavor is yours? Does yours have butter on it? Does it have worms on it? Yuck! Did Mia watch a movie that helped her heart or hurt it? **Hurt it** Did the Bible help Mia fall asleep and not be scared after watching the movie? **Yes**

 - Let’s pretend to toss a ball to our friend. Toss your pretend ball to another friend. What did Conductor Carl tell us to do in the Big Do? **Toss a ball into a trash can goal and see how many times we could block the ball from going in**




Clean Up

Midweek / Classroom

Small Group Split

Begin by splitting the kids into the desired number of small groups. Small Group Leaders take a few moments to welcome your group. 


Small Group Leaders

Engage 2 Prep: You may want to put the dirt in the cups ahead of time.


 Leader enters dressed as a Train Conductor.

Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! It is a great day to hear true things about God! Can everyone put your hands close together? Now spread your arms wide, so your hands are far apart! Good job, you can put your hands down. There are some things in the world that we need to keep far away from. Conductor Carl and his friends are discovering that today. Let’s go play with them now. Everyone, say, “Choo-choo!” 
 

Icebreaker

Jr. Conductors, give me a thumbs up if you love to eat pizza! There are so many yummy foods in the world that are good to eat. But who wants to eat pizza made out of dirt and boogers? Ew, not me! That would be yucky! Let’s look at some pictures, and you tell me if you think they are good to eat or bad. If it’s a good thing, give me a thumbs up, but if it’s bad, give me a thumbs down.  


Go through the following slides, asking the kids to vote whether they think each is good or bad. 


There are lots of good things out there, but also some bad things. We have to be careful which one we get. Let’s find out what Conductor Carl and his friends are up to today. Everyone, turn on your listening ears! 
 

I hope Mia makes the wise choice not to watch the movie. I don’t want her to have any bad dreams. I think the Big Point will help her. Let’s practice it together, 


We want to keep bad things out of our invisible hearts. That’s the part inside 
each one of us where we connect to God, make choices, and think. If we let bad things in our heart, they can hurt it. That’s why we are careful not to let anything bad inside of us. In your small group, you get to play a game and toss a ball back and forth to each other. But there will be a hula hoop in the middle, and you don’t want the ball to land in there. Be sure to keep the ball out of that circle! 


Have the kids sit in a circle and place the hula hoop in the middle. Then have the kids toss the ball back and forth across the circle, encouraging them to not let it land in the middle.  
   

Small Group Leader

I hope everyone kept the ball out of the middle of your group! Just like you were careful to do that, it’s a wise choice to be careful about what you let in your heart. Let’s find out what choice Mia makes about whether or not she will watch that scary movie.


I’m so sad Mia watched the scary movie. Now she can’t sleep! 

Engineer Kelly helped Mia by sharing a verse from the Bible.  Proverbs 4:23 (NIrV) says, “Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do comes from it.” What we say, think, and do come from what’s in our hearts.

It’s like a seed. Let’s look at this picture of a seed. 

Engage Slides - gyh-jr-l2-engage-2-slide-a.jpg

This is an apple seed. When a farmer plants an apple seed in the dirt, will he grow an orange tree or an apple tree? That’s right; an apple tree! 

Engage Slides - gyh-jr-l2-engage-2-slide-b.jpg

Our hearts work the same. When we put bad things into our hearts, then bad 
things will come out in what we say, think, and do. But if we are careful to keep bad things out and only put good things in, then we will say, think, and do good things! That is why our Big Point is so important. Let’s practice it together, 

**Keep Out The Bad!** In your small group you get to plant seeds of your own to help you remember our Big Point! 


Help the kids plant their own grass seeds in a cup to take home and watch grow. It might help to fill the cups with potting soil (about ¾ full) prior to small groups. Help the kids sprinkle 1 tablespoon of grass seeds on top of the soil and then add another thin layer of soil on top of that. Then have the kids use a spray bottle to water the seeds in the cup. 


Jr. Conductors, be sure to take your plant home and tell your mommy and daddy all about the Big Point! Let’s listen to a story about two guys in the Bible. I wonder if they followed the Big Point. Listen closely to find out!  


God gave us friends at church to help us make wise choices. Everyone, look at the person sitting next to you. Now I want you to pray for them using today’s Big Verse. Repeat after me, “Dear God, please help my friend to guard their heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” That was very kind for you to pray for your friend! Now I will pray for all of you. (Pray)


Closing

I’m so glad that Mia finally fell asleep. God really does help us, even when we make mistakes. God loves us so much and always wants to help us guard our hearts. 


You can tell your family the Big Point while you do the Big Do this week. Using a trash can or a bucket as your goal, let your mommy or daddy try to toss a ball into the goal. See how many times you can block the ball from going into the goal. Let’s say our Big Point one last time, 

Guard Your Heart Week 2: Keep Out The Bad!

Large Group

Large Group Instructions

Countdown from 10

Rules

Welcome

Engage 1

Engage 2

Big Story

Engage 3

Big Review

Clean Up

Large Group Instructions

Countdown from 10

Rules

Welcome

Engage 1

Engage 2

Big Story

Engage 3

Big Review

Clean Up

About Ark Kids Junior