Manual for teachers on Old Testament lessons

Front matter

Class BSm^

Book ■ b "h

GoEyrightN".

PART I. Selections from Genesis, First Chapter

THIS lesson may be taught partly in story form, partly by questions. Let children shut their eyes and imagine no people, no animals, no grass, no light, — darkness everywhere. Little by little, all that we now have came upon the earth. Tell them this is the story of creation, the making of the world told by a man long, long ago.

God said first, Let there be light, and God saw the light that it was good, and He divided the light from the darkness. Lead children to feel the blessing of light. Show a plant healthy and beautiful because kept in the light. Show another which you have kept for a week in a dark closet, and so has lost strength and color. Suggest that children experiment in the same way, that they may see that light is essential to fife and that it is the source of color. A "growing" potato in a dark cellar, with its white sprouts reaching toward the light, is another good illustration of this ; for if it grew in the garden they would be green. A prismatic glass put in the sunshine will give an idea of the many colors in the light.

/Manual tor Ueacbers

Ask children what name God gave to the time during which it is Hght; and what He called the time of darkness. "And there was evening and there was morning, one day/' Let children think of the blessing of the night time for rest (a) for man, (b) for animals, (c) for plant life; illustrations of the need of change : Flowers which close at night ; flowers refreshed by dew; flowers scorched by too great heat of the sun; sensitive plants which open at night; showing the good of both darkness and' light.

Have lettered on the blackboard: "God saw the light that it was good: and there was evening and there was morning, one day." Have these words previously covered and when ready for them remove the covering.

At first there were great bodies of water, but no dry place in which things might grow, no place for man to live when the world should be ready for him. So God divided the waters. The sky and the space in which the wind blows and the birds fly, is called in the story the firmament, and God called the firmament heaven. The waters were down below, and the clouds which bring water to the earth were in the firmament above, "And there was evening and there was morning, a second day."

Then God said. Let the waters under the heaven be gathered unto one place, and let the dry land appear. And so the waters were separated. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called seas. Let children tell of bodies of water familiar to them. If they know of small ones only, ask of those first and go on to the larger. Have a picture of land and water on one side of the blackboard. Lead the children to think of the earth, the ''ground" as they would say. Consider a few of the things that make it what it is. Have on a tray earth, sand, rocks, beautiful minerals. All were not there at the beginning ; but different things have mixed together, making many kinds of earth. If there is time the children may, with a little direction, show in the sand tray hills, mountains and valleys.

Then read together the story from the textbook; the first three paragraphs and a half, to the words, "And God saw that it was good.". The teacher might read the harder part, the first paragraph, and the children join as far as they can. After hearing the story, told largely in the Bible words, they can read more than would be possible otherwise. The rhythmic element makes this reading attractive to the children.

After the books are closed, distribute pencils and papers, and let children draw whatever they wish that is told of in these verses. Leave them entirely free as to the drawing, and collect papers for teachers' observation afterwards.

Special aim : To deepen impression of the wonderful work of God, that reverence may be strengthened and interest awakened; that children may see — as did God — "that it was good."

PART II. For Another Sunday

The latter part of the fourth paragraph will form the first part of this story for today, beginning, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass," etc.

Examples of vegetable life: Specimens of beautiful grass, "herb yielding seed," and "fruit wherein is the seed thereof" will be a good beginnmg for this lesson. After the dry earth appeared, plants of many kinds began to grow on the earth. Have the children take their books and read as far as the passage: "And there was evening and there was morning, a third day." Let them examine grains, such as oats or wheat in the stalk; seeds familiar and unfamiliar in the fruits, seeing, for instance, by the covering of the seeds how God has protected each.

Lead the children to think why all plants have seed, thus showing the wonderful way in which they increased and still continue. Here is an opportunity for a beautiful suggestion in regard to reproduction. From a morning-glory vine, or a nasturtium, they may see how, when the flower goes away, a little bag of seed is left behind from which other vines may grow.

Ask about the uses of grass, flowers, vegetables, and fruit, for animals and man, suggesting to the children's thought the preparation of the world of

Manual tor XTeacbers beauty, and the provision made for "living creatures."

Remind them of the creation of Hght; tell them how the story speaks now of the different lights of the firmament. Let the children name the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. Then read to them the fifth paragraph.

Give cards on which are pictured the grass, etc., and the rays of sunlight shining down, or have blank cards and let the children paste on them a fern or wild flower. On either kind of card have the words lettered : *'And God saw that it was good."

Special aim : Naturally the same as for the last lesson, with the addition that the children may see, not only the wonderful works of God, but something of His wonderful plan, in the relationship of one thing to another and the consequent provision for all. In connection with this lesson, verses 7-9 of the 147th Psalm will be helpful, either for reading or memorizing. Ask the class to bring for use the next Sunday pictures of animals that live in the sea, fly in the air, or walk on the ground.

/Manual for XTeacbers