Leader Guide
Teaching Time
- Story Card Page
- Stage Window Template
- Tri-fold Project Display Board (36"x48") or medium-sized box
- Card stock—two sheets
- Painter's tape or masking tape
- Scissors
- Eight craft sticks
- Glue or glue stick
- Optional: utility knife or craft knife
- Yardstick or ruler
- Table
- Marker
- Bible or Superbook Bible App
Make one copy of the Story Card Page on cardstock in color or black and white.
Make a copy of the Stage Window Template on cardstock and carefully cut it out.
Cut out the eight individual story cards.
On the back of each card, write a number (1–8) in the top right corner matching the card number on the front.
Place glue about halfway down one side of a craft stick. Place the back of one story card on the glued craft stick. Press the front of the card to attach the card to the stick firmly. Repeat this process for all seven remaining cards.
Use the Stage Window Template to mark a 4 x 10-inch rectangle on the middle front of the display board, about 2 inches from the top.
Carefully cut out and remove the cardboard using the knife and scissors. This is the “stage.”
Optional: Substitute a box instead of the display board. Cut out one side of the box. Then use the template to cut out the opposite side of the box as described above. Tape the box to the table for more stability.
Place the cardboard stage on the table.
Place the figure sticks in a row in numerical order on the table behind the stage.
What did Gizmo do so Gears could watch the Bible story while he was waiting for his package at the Post Office? Gizmo streamed it on Gears's phone.
Today, you are going to “stream” the Bible story over the phone like Gizmo did for Gears.
Point to the stage. Let’s pretend that this stage is a phone, and the window is the phone screen.
Point to the stick figures. On each card is a picture that represents someone or something important in the Bible story.
The teaching bullets below are written to tell the story with two child volunteers.
The children hold the designated stick figures in the stage window at the appropriate times.
The teacher will stand behind the stage with the children to narrate and assist.
Optional: The teacher may teach and move the craft stick figures without the children’s participation.
Choose two children to stand behind the stage with you. Gently tap the child on the shoulder and quietly instruct them which figure to insert or remove from the window. (Figure numbers and instructions are in parenthesis.)
Note: Figures should stay visible in the window until instructed to remove. Each figure will only be used once. After use, set each figure aside to avoid confusion.
Add interest to the story by varying voice and volume levels.
● (Enter Figure #1) A long time ago, there was a man named Abraham. When this Bible story took place, he was 99 years old! That is VERY old! Abraham loved, obeyed, and trusted God, so he was very wise.
● (Enter Figure #2) Abraham was married to a woman named Sarah. She was not as old as Abraham, but she had lived a long life too. Sarah was 89 years old. That is very old, too!
● (Exit Figure #2) Because God loved Abraham so much, He made a covenant with him. A covenant is a very big and important promise.
● (Exit Figure #1. Enter Figure #3) God promised Abraham that his wife Sarah would give birth to a son in one year!
● (Enter Figure #4) This was a very big surprise to Abraham at his old age!
● (Exit Figure #3. Enter Figure #5) God wasn’t done yet! He told Abraham that his family would have more children than the number of stars in the sky. Wow!
● (Exit Figure #4 and #5. Enter Figure #6) Sarah was in her tent listening. She couldn’t believe what she had heard!
● (Exit Figure #6. Enter Figure #7) Sarah thought it was impossible for her and Abraham to have a baby because they were so old! Instead of believing God’s promise, she laughed silently.
● God knows and hears everything! He even asked Abraham why Sarah laughed!
● (Enter Figure #8) God kept His promise, and exactly one year later, Sarah gave birth to a baby boy named Isaac.
● Remember, trusting and waiting on God is always wise because He always keeps His promises!
Optional: One child volunteer can manipulate all the stick figures for small classes.
If time permits, allow different pairs of children to perform the Bible story as you narrate.