Zacchaeus for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Today we are joining with My Mundane and Miraculous Life's Jesus-Storybook Bible Blog Hop. If you're wanting to start teaching your child about the Bible and Jesus' life more intentionally this blog hop is a fantastic place to start. Just click the words in blue and you'll be taken to a list of over 40 interactive activities beginning with the story of creation and finishing with John's 'dream of heaven'.

Since our Creation Story series the girls and I have been working our way through the Bible one story at a time, jumping to the Christmas and Easter stories when valid, and it just so happened when we signed up for this series that we were coming up to learning about Zacchaeus or as it's listed in the Jesus Storybook Bible on page 264, "The man who didn't have any friends (none)".
 
Introducing the story 
To introduce the girls to the story at bedtime I read "The man who didn't have any friends (none)" from the Jesus Storybook Bible and then I sang the Zacchaeus song.

Sensory Bin/Small World
Once the girls were asleep I pulled out our cloud dough tub (if you've ever wondered how long cloud dough lasts I made this batch up two Christmas' ago and it's still fantastic!). I placed a sheet out on the floor to collect any cloud dough that may fly out while the girls were playing with it (cloud dough is very messy and the only way I can get it out of our carpet is by sweeping before vaccuuming). Next I went in search of some toys to be a crowd, Jesus, Zacchaeus and ofcourse a sycamore tree. I didn't find a sycamore tree but used a simple lego tree instead. 

I left the toys set up as you see in the picture overnight. When the girls awoke the next morning they didn't even wake Numnut and I but went straight to playing with the tub. 

As I came out I asked if they'd like me to read the story, which I did, and then Bubbles' requested I teach her the Zacchaeus song.

The girls discovered I'd left out our nature box and used the items in there to extend their play-doesn't the tree Bubble's made look so much better than the duplo tree I used?

I was so amazed at how this activity held their interest, we played before breakfast, after breakfast, after our walk and then after quiet time and just before bed-so pretty much everytime they were given the opportunity!

Squiggles mainly explored the tub with her senses feeling the dough in her hands and with her feet, scooping it into containers and ever so carefully tipping it out of the tub. 

Bubbles on the other hand used it as a small world, acting out the story over and over again and making birthday cakes for Jesus and Zacchaeus to enjoy.

 The simple act of teaching the girls the song that goes along with this story has been fantastic. 

When Bubbles was trying to tell Numnut the story she used the song several times to remind herself of the sequence of events and even though the song doesn't mention that "People didn't like Zacchaeus because he stole their money" (Quote from Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Loyd-Jones p264) simply singing the song still seemed to help her remember these things. 

(In fact as I write this, four days after I first placed our cloud dough tub out, Bubbles and Squiggles are sitting on the floor and Bubbles is acting out the story with the toys for Squiggles by singing the song).

We are so thrilled to bring you a Jesus Storybook Bible Giveaway sponsored by Zonderkidz. We love using the Jesus Storybook Bible in our home and know you will love it, too. One winner will receive the Collector’s Edition of the Jesus Storybook Bible valued at $44.99, complete with a beautiful copy of the book, an audio version of the stories, and a DVD collection with animated versions of the stories. This collection would be the perfect Easter gift for any child. Be sure to follow The Jesus Storybook Bible Facebook Page for more information, and stay tuned for the rest of the Jesus Storybook Bible Hands On Activity Series.
The giveaway is open to the US only and ends at 12:00 am CST on April 1, 2015. Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. If you have trouble seeing the entry form on a mobile device switch to the classic version or click here to enter.
- See more at: http://www.simplelifemessylife.com/giveaway-win-a-jesus-storybook-bible-collectors-edition-package/#sthash.w97IlYfB.dpuf

Giveaway
Don't have a Jesus Storybook Bible? I'm so excited to share a giveaway with you generously sponsored by Zonderkidz.  One lucky winner will receive the Collector’s Edition of the Jesus Storybook Bible valued at $44.99! This package includes  a beautiful copy of the book, the audio rendition of every story (extremely well done!), and a DVD collection with animated versions of the stories. What a great gift to give a child for Easter! Be sure to follow The Jesus Storybook Bible Facebook Page for more information, and stay tuned for the rest of the Jesus Storybook Bible Hands On Activity Series.

Unfortunately the giveaway is open to the US only and ends at 12:00 am CST on April 1, 2015. Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. If you have trouble seeing the entry form on a mobile device switch to the classic version or click here to enter.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Please always supervise your infant/child at play.  Please stay within arms reach and never leave infants/children unattended.  You know you're infant/child best, use your own judgement-considering your infant/child's temperament, habits, behaviour and development before you play with a new play medium.

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