Children's Ministry: Kids Sunday School Resource- Life-like Baby Moses and actual basket learning activity

Print or print and copy activity page. Print the page on a black and white printer or color printer, but do not copy on black and white copier as it may become "muddy".

Please make the basket yourself before class to show and use in the discussion. Also precut another set of the activity so you can identify the specially named parts for the children. You can also determine the time to allow for this lesson aid.

TEACHER:

Identify the pieces for the children and use these identification words throughout the project.
Hold up each piece as you identify it.
- the base with spokes (like a bibycle wheel)
- the weavers -long strips: tell them to see one weaver has one star on it and the other weaver has 2 stars on it.(if they call them flowers, instead of stars, that's ok)
- The baby Moses (the white "wings" are a foldover blanket which can be cut off if you are using the kleenex option.)

CHILDREN:

1. Only cut out the base with the spokes and the weaver with one star
(you will cut out the rest later) This is important.

TEACHER While the children cut:
When Moses was a baby, many people made their own baskets. They made them out of grass and reeds like the baby Moses was hiding in!
What do you think they used their baskets for?
Keeping bread, keeping grapes or olives they picked (and affirm any other likey correct or probable ideas the children have.)
Do you have any baskets in your house? (Let them answer)
What does -or could- your family keep in a basket? (Let them answer)
or AFFIRM if anyone has given this answer already: Does anyone have a basket for their dog to sleep in?
for ideas: How big a basket would you need for a dog to sleep in? (welcome ideas and answers)
How big a basket would you need for a real baby to sleep in? (Let them answer)
Would a regular basket float? (welcome ideas and answers)
Probably not because it has a lot of holes in it. (Show your sample)
What happens when you put something with holes in it into the water?(welcome ideas and answers)
It sinks!
Baby Moses' mother didn't want the basket to sink, so how did she/could she fix the basket?
They used a sticky, gooey tarry stuff called "pitch" to cover up all the holes in the basket so it would float like a boat!
And to be sure to keep the baby safe, baby Moses's sister was sent to babysit and watch the basket while it was in the water. Moses' mother did all she could to protect her baby because she loved Moses.
Today you are making a real basket for baby Moses! -- but we won't use "pitch" and it won't float.

CHILDREN:
2. Fold ALL the spokes on the dotted lines and set it on the table with the ends of the spokes up.
Press well for a good fold.(don't worry about the dotted lines under the "U" spaces)
3. unfold - flatten - all the spokes with 2 stars. (You will need the fold's creases already done for use later when it wouldn't be so easy to fold and it makes the whole thing easier to do.)
- You should have 4 spokes sticking up in the air)
4.Put a dot of glue on every spoke with 1 star - covering only the star with your glue.
5. Get the weaver with 1 star.
6. Turn the weaver until you have the 1 star on your left (or show them with a weaver sample)
and hold it on edge on the table. (not laying down) SEE PICTURE ABOVE.

Completed row 1 with re-flatted spokes

7.Keeping the star on your left, lay the weaver star over one spoke's star (anyone you want) be sure to hold the weaver's edge on the table - not in the air or bent. (Not at an angle)
8. With you left hand, Pinch or hold the weaver and spoke together where the glue is.
(Let it set just a moment)
9. Still holding the spoke and weaver with your left hand, use you other hand to pick up the loose end of the weaver and lift it just a little bit so you can get it over the spoke that you have flattened on the table (the next ONE on the right) and drag it right over where you see the crease from the fold.
10. Don't let go of the end of the weaver, keep going and gently pull the weaver in front of the next single star.Let it go now. Don't pull too tight. Teacher: observe that the children are not pulling too tightly or too loosely. )See picture "completed row 1 with flattened spokes")
11. Move your left hand to hold this next glued spoke and weaver. Hold or pinch these two pieces together.
12. REPEAT STEPS 9 thru 11 until you get to where you started.

13. Put glue on the beginning weaver star and bring the end you have worked all around the basket over the beginning star. (it needs to overlap where it began. If the weaver appears to be "Too short" help the student pull it apart and re-set it on each spoke a little tighter. The opposite is true if there is too much leftover when you reach the beginning. - It is exactly the right length)
You are done with row 1.

14. Cut out the weaver with 2 stars and baby Moses. (This will give what you just glued a minute to dry or setup.)

15. Lift up the spokes that are laying down on the table back up so you can see the stars on them.
16. Put a dot of glue on each spoke over the 2 stars.
17. Turn the weaver so the 2 stars are on your left. (Just like you did in step 6)
18. This weaver goes on top of the first row. Lift the weaver and match any spoke with 2 stars with the 2 stars on the weaver.
(Be sure the loose end is not up at an angle or down on the table.)
19. With your left hand, hold together the spoke and weaver you just glued together.
20. With your right hand, bend the next spoke (to the right) down towards you - or outward of the basket..
21. Put he weaver behind this spoke- just in the open space created by bending the spoke.
22. Bend the spoke back up (It should now be in front of the weaver). Move your hand to hold this unglued spoke and weaver together.
23. With your right hand, bring the weaver in front of the next spoke (to the right) with 2 stars on it.(It should have glue on it)
24. Move your left hand to hold that spot where the spoke and the weaver were just glued.
25. Repeat steps 20-24 until you are back to where you started.

26. Put glue on the beginning weaver stars and bring the end you have worked all around the basket over the beginning spoke.

You are done with the basket - unless you want to glue the spoke that were bent over.

TEACHER while the children are weaving the second (top) row.
The Pahroah's daughter showed a lot of love. She didn't have to keep the baby Moses, she kept him because she wanted him and cared that he was safe.
Sometimes babies can be a lot of work to take care of.
What does a baby need? (Affirm the answers you get )
Just changing diapers, milk, (Food/feeding), washing the baby, putting the baby to sleep and loving a baby are a lot of work!
Do you know who the Pharoah's daughter got to help take care of Moses?
Moses' mother! But the Pharoah's daughter didn't know she was Moses' mother. So with God's help, Moses got to be with his mother AND live in a great palace.

CHILDREN: GET READY FOR MOSES
1.OPTION: Scrunch up a kleenex and put it in the bottom of the basket to make a soft bed for Moses. (you can cut off the blanket "Wings" if you are using a kleenex as bedding and a blanket)
2. IF you do not use kleenex - Fold the ends of the white paper blanket over the baby.
3. Put Moses in the basket feet first.(so his head is up over the basket edge. (He is slightly larger than the basket so he does not fall into the bottom of the basket.)