This continues our series learning about Jesus. This is week 8 in the fourth quarter of a year of Preschool Bible Study that I assist with on Wednesday evening.
What are the 2 parts of
the Bible? Old & New Testament We are learning about Jesus. Jesus is in the
New Testament. The first 4 books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John) are called the Gospels and tell us about His life here.
There was a man named
Zacchaeus that lived in Jericho. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and was rich.
Zacchaeus was a short man, and he really wanted to see Jesus! There were
so many people around Jesus! Zacchaeus tried and tried to see Jesus, but he wasn’t
tall enough!
Zacchaeus ran ahead of
all the people and climbed up a Sycamore tree. Zacchaeus knew Jesus would be
walking that way and now he could see Him! When Jesus walked by the tree where
Zacchaeus was, Jesus looked up and told Zacchaeus to hurry and come down from
the tree! Jesus told Zacchaeus “I am going to your house!”
Zacchaeus hurried down
from the tree so excited to see Jesus! Even though most people didn’t like tax
collectors, Jesus loved Zacchaeus. Jesus wanted to teach him about God. Jesus went
with Zacchaeus to his house. People were complaining because Jesus was going to
his house! Jesus loves everyone.
Zacchaeus told Jesus that
he was going to start living like Jesus wanted him to. Zacchaeus was a tax
collector and had been cheating people. Zacchaeus promised Jesus that he would
return their money. He would also give half of his money to the poor!
The kids loved these Zacchaeus finger puppets! Zacchaeus could 'climb' the tree while we sang the song. Click here to download.
(They are the same as the visuals but in black & white.) 
Zacchaeus is found in the book of Luke (19:1-19). Jesus was
traveling through Jericho. So many people wanted to see Jesus! People were
following Him everywhere He went! The sick wanted Jesus to do miracles to heal
them. Others wanted to hear what Jesus was teaching about God.
(Teacher's note: Hold this visual in front of your face, bringing it above and below your eyes. Pretend to be Zacchaeus and you are trying so hard to see Jesus, but everyone is taller, and you can't see Him! I kept peeking over the visual and it really got their attention.)
Jesus told Zacchaeus that
He was happy that Zacchaeus was going to change and start doing what was right.
Jesus loves everyone and wants us to do what is right.
We used this project to talk about what it would be like if Jesus came to their house. The wheel has different questions for them to answer and/or discuss. For this age group, since they can't read or write, it can just be used for discussion, or let them add stickers for the food. For instance, we let them add a smiley sticker for being happy to visit with Jesus. Click here to see more.
Click here to print the Pictures to Color.
Click here to download the updated visuals.
Click here to download the pictures to color.
Click here to download the pictures to color.
We studied Z is for Zacchaeus at home. There are preschool ideas & printables that can be used in Bible class also. We used the mini book in this post. Click here to see the post.
Click here to see the Zacchaeus lesson and more for early elementary ages.
Thank you for sharing this over at the Grace & Truth Link Up Party. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful adaptation of the lesson. One thing should have been covered - the fact that he was a Jew and a tax collector who actually hurt his people for ill-gotten gain.
ReplyDeleteSince this was written for preschool, specifically 3 year olds, the fact that Zacchaeus was a tax collector was said more than once. The main point, especially for preschoolers is that he wanted to see Jesus so much, he did whatever he had to and Jesus loved him and us enough to speak to him and spend time with him. After knowing Jesus, he changed his ways and repaid others for his wrongdoings. The last sentence is what I focused the lesson about for preschoolers: Jesus loves everyone and wants us to do what is right.
DeleteI am so happy I came upon this site. I will definitely use it in the future. GBU
ReplyDelete