Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Rules Video

2 min Countdown

Countdown Video

Conductor Carl Act 1

The Big Do

Conductor Carl Act 2

5 min Countdown

Preschool Clean Up Song

Big Story Video

Big Point Video Short

Title Slide Steam Whistle

Conductor Carl Act 3

The Train Station is collecting presents to give to kids in need, but Engineer Kelly doesn't think her gift is big enough. Even a small gift can be a big blessing when God uses it.


Large Group

Countdown from 10

Rules


**Host**
(VFX: Title Slide) Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! Can you use your fingers to show me what small looks like? Can you use your arms to show me what big looks like? 

**Co-Host**
Is an elephant big or small? Elephants are very big. Let’s hold our arms beside our face so we can pretend to have an elephant’s trunk. Let’s try another one. Is a ladybug big or small? It’s small. Use your hands to pretend that you have tiny wings.

**Host**
Is a whale big or small? It’s very big. Let’s let a big breath out like whales do when they swim to the top of the ocean. Is a baby kitten big or small? It’s small. Can you say “meow” with a tiny voice? 

**Co-Host**
Today, we’re going to learn that gifts of all sizes can please God. I think we should start the day by making a loud, “Choo-choo!” 


Welcome

Worship

**Host**
Was Engineer Kelly’s present bigger or smaller than Conductor Carl’s present? It was smaller. Did Engineer Kelly think that her smaller present wasn’t as nice as Conductor Carl’s present? Yes, she did. 

**Co-Host**
Is that true? Let’s stand up and practice our Big Point from the Bible to find the answer. 


Practice the Big Point and have the kids return to their pockets. 

**Host**
I want to show you something. What is it? That’s right; it’s a birthday cake. When do you eat birthday cake? When it’s someone’s birthday, or course. 

**Co-Host**
What song do you sing at a birthday party? You sing “Happy Birthday.” Let’s pretend it’s someone’s birthday. What should wear on our heads? Yes! We can wear party hats. Pretend to put one on your head. Let’s sing. (Sing Happy Birthday) Pretend to blow your party horn!

**Host**
What do you give to the birthday boy or girl at a birthday party? Presents! Let’s pretend that I’m giving my friend a present. (Choose a child to help you) Here’s your present. (Give the child the small present) Can you open it?

Have the child open the present to reveal a gift inside. It could be a small toy or a piece of candy. 

**Co-Host**
What if I gave him/her this gift instead? (Turn the large gift bag upside down to show it’s empty) Here’s your present. Is there anything in the bag? No. It’s empty. Which was better: the larger one or the smaller one? Yes, the smaller gift was better because it had a gift inside. 

(Dismiss the volunteer.)

**Host**
Just because something is bigger doesn’t make it better. God likes it when we give our best, whether the gift is big or small. That’s why no gift is too small for God to use. Let’s see if Engineer Kelly discovers that this is true.



Engage 1

**Host**
What did Engineer Kelly ask Professor Beaker to do? She wanted him to make her gift larger. Did his laser work? No, it didn’t. 

**Co-Host**
Engineer Kelly needs to remember our Big Point. Let’s stand and say it again.


**Host**
I like the verse that Conductor Carl shared with us today. The Big Verse is 


**Host**
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIrV), “God loves a cheerful giver.” I have an idea for a game we can play together.


**Co-Host**
Cheerful means happy. What does your face look like when you’re happy? I like smiling; do you? I’m going to make silly faces and silly noises. Your job is to look at me and try not to laugh or smile. I wonder who can go the longest without laughing or smiling. Do you think you can do it?

(**Host** and the **Co-Host** will act as silly as possible to get the kids to laugh. Then have them turn and try to get their friends to laugh.)

**Host**
Isn’t it fun to laugh? God loves it when smile when we give. It doesn’t matter if the present is as tall as a mountain or a tiny as a mouse. What is most important is giving your best with a happy heart. Let’s stand and worship God with happy hearts.


Engage 2

Big Story Slides - tg-ps-l4-big-story-slide-1.jpg

Jr. Conductors, let’s ask God to help us have a happy heart when we give. He loves it when we are cheerful givers. Let’s use our Big Verse to help us. Repeat after me, “I will be a cheerful giver.” (Repeat) Great job! I will pray for all of us.

Big Story

**Host**
Did Engineer Kelly’s present help? It sure did. She picked out exactly what someone wanted for the Toy Drive. 

**Co-Host**
It didn’t matter that it was small. Her gift was a blessing. I think she learned our Big Point. Let’s say it together. 



**Host**
The lady in the Big Story gave a small gift, but Jesus said that God was pleased with that gift because she gave her best.

**Co-Host**
Do you think that God is pleased with your gifts, Jr. Conductors, when you give your best? (Pause) He sure is! 

**Host**
Let’s think of what we could give to help other people. Can you put on your thinking caps? Let’s do that now. Pull it down tight. Scrunch your face up like you’re thinking really hard. What could you give? 

(Allow the kids to answer. If they struggle with coming up with ideas, give them some suggestions… bring money to give in the offering, bring a toy for the Toy Drive, share a snack with someone at school or home.)

**Co-Host**
I think those are great ideas. You could also talk with your family about what everyone could give during the holidays. Do you know what holiday is coming soon? That’s right, Christmas! Let’s sing a short Christmas song to get ready to give.

(Sing a simple Christmas song that the kids know such as Jingle Bells or Joy to the World.)

**Host**
Thanks again for visiting the Train Station. You were our big helpers today. Let’s say the Big Point one more time, 





Engage 3

1.	Let’s Practice our Big Point again. Hmm, did our Big Point say **No Gift Is Too Small** or No Gift Is Too Big?



2.   Look at these two presents. Which present is the biggest? **The red one** Who had a bigger present, Conductor Carl or Engineer Kelly? **Conductor Carl** What was in Conductor Carl’s Present? **Teddy Bear** What was in Engineer Kelly’s present? **Tiny Doll** Was Engineer Kelly’s present just as helpful as Conductor Carl’s present? **Yes**

3.	Let’s stand and pretend to carry a big, heavy bag of gold. Lift it up. Oh no, we’re wobbling to one side and wobbling to the other. Oh my, don’t drop it on your foot. Oops. Ow! Ow! You can sit down. What did the rich people give? **Big bags of gold** How many coins did the widow give? **Two** Who did Jesus say gave the most in the offering? **Widow** 

4.	What is the best gift someone has given to you? Those sound like nice gifts. Why did Jesus say that the widow’s two coins were a better gift than the bags of gold? **She gave her best**

5.	Let’s pretend to pick out presents for our Christmas list. Which presents would you pick? Can you think of something that you could give this Christmas to someone else?

6.	Let’s laugh with the biggest laugh we can make. What does our Big Verse say? 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIrV), “God loves a _______ giver.”
a.	Grumpy
b.	**Cheerful**





Big Review

Clean Up

Midweek / Classroom

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 Split

This segment suggests the song Happy And You Know It (By Listener Kids)


Hi, Jr. Conductors! I’m glad you are here at the Train Station with me. We’re having lots of fun discovering that God loves every kind of gift we give Him, as long as we’re happy when we give. Let’s sing the song, “Happy and You Know It!” Everyone, stand up!



Sing and dance to “Happy and You Know It.”



Good job! You can sit back down on your pockets. Let’s get our train started so we can see Conductor Carl and his friends! Can everyone give me a big “Choo-choo!” 

“Choo-choo!” Let’s stand up and worship with all our hearts to Jesus! 


Each gift box should be individually wrapped, and placed inside of each other from smallest to largest, like a set of Russian dolls. The Leader enters, carrying the gift boxes. 

I’ve got something very special here. What does it look like? (Pause) It’s a present! Who likes to open presents? Me, too! I need some help opening this present. I’m going to let one Jr. Conductor from each group come up and help me.



Have the helpers come on stage. Choose one kid to help you open the first present. After he/she opens it, have the kid sit back down with their group. 



Wow! There’s another present inside of this big present. It’s a little bit smaller than the big box. I need another person to help me open this next present. 

Choose another kid to help open this present, then instruct him/her to return to their seat. Repeat this process until there is just one present and one kid left.



Oh my! This is a teeny tiny present. I wonder if this one will have another present inside of it. Let’s find out. 



Let the kid open the final present, with the gift inside. The kid can sit back down and keep their gift.



You got a surprise! This present was the smallest, but it was the only one with a gift. The size of the gift doesn’t matter, just what is inside of it. I think we will keep learning more with Conductor Carl and his friends. Everyone turn on your listening ears and let’s see if you can find out the Big Point!



Icebreaker

Was Engineer Kelly disappointed with her present? (Pause) Yes, she didn’t like that it was smaller than Conductor Carl’s. Is a small gift less special than a big gift? (Pause) No! Engineer Kelly needs to learn today’s Big Point. Let’s stand up and sing it together, 

**No Gift Is Too Small!**

The size of a present isn’t what makes it special; what’s important is the stuff on the inside! God likes it when we give our best gift, whether it is big or small. God is amazing, and He can use our small gift to make something really big! Everyone, show me with your hands what teeny-tiny looks like. Now make it bigger and bigger and bigger! (Pretend to get so big you almost fall down) Whoa! That is what God can do with the gifts we give to Him. 

Jr. Conductors, have you ever played with snow before? (Pause) Does snow look like this? (Show the snow powder) No, this is really small to be snow. Even though it doesn’t look like snow now, your small group leader has a special way to turn this little bit of powder into big snow! Everyone, pay close attention to your small group leader, and maybe they will let you feel the snow!  


Put the insta-snow powder into the bucket and show the kids how small it is before you add the water. Then add the water and stir it around and show how it gets bigger. Let the kids feel the snow in the bucket. 

Raise your hand if you got to feel the pretend snow. The snow powder was really little, but when you added water to it, it got bigger! God does that with the gifts we give Him. That shows us our Big Point is true. Let’s sing it together, 

**No Gift Is Too Small!** Now it’s time to watch and see if Engineer Kelly can learn this truth.


Did Professor Beaker’s laser make Engineer Kelly’s present bigger? No, it didn’t. Has Engineer Kelly learned our Big Point yet? Not yet. Let’s practice it again so you can help her, 

The Big Verse today is 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIrV), “God loves a cheerful giver.” When we give cheerfully, it means we give with a happy heart. Let me show you how this works. 

I have invited a small group leader and a Jr. Conductor come up on stage to help me. (Bring up two volunteers, one leader and one kid) I’m going to give a gift to the small group leader, but I’m giving it with an angry heart. 

Give the gift to the leader like you are mad: throw it at him/her, stomp, etc. It would be great if the gift broke on the ground. 

Did that make (Leader’s name) feel like I wanted to give him/her my gift? No. Now I’m going to give a gift with a happy heart. 

Give the gift to the Jr. Conductor with a smile, carefully handing it to them. 

Was that better? Yes! Everyone tell our helpers, “Thank you!” (Dismiss the volunteers)

Now it’s your turn to practice giving with a happy heart! In your small group, you will make a card to give to someone you love. Everyone, turn to your small group and work hard on your card. 


Pass out the activity sheets, crayons, and stickers. Help the kids with coloring or stickers as needed.  



Let me see everyone’s cards! Great work! When you give your card, be sure to give it with a smile! Now, let’s listen to a true story from the Bible about a lady who followed the Big Point! 


Everyone close your eyes and think of the person you will give your card to. (Pause) Now ask God to help you give with a happy heart. (Pause) Great job! I know God is going to help you. I will pray for all of us. (Pray)




Did Engineer Kelly’s gift help someone? Yes, it did! Someone wanted that exact toy at the Toy Drive! I’m thankful she learned our Big Point and gave her present, even though it was small. Let’s practice our Big Point again, 

Conductor Carl gave us a fun Big Do this week! Give something to someone, no matter how small the gift is. When you give your card, you’ll be completing the Big Do! Be sure to have a grown up at your house sign your Big Do card and bring it back so you can get a special prize.
 
Our Big Point will help us this week. Let’s say it one more time together, 



Thanks & Giving Week 4

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Large Group Instructions

Large Group Instructions