Leave Room for the Twist
Object Lesson ·
Early elementary ·
5 min
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Allegheny Wesleyan College
POWERED BY KIDOLOGY
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OBJECT LESSON · Ages 6–8 · 10-13 MIN · Jeremiah 18:1-6
Leave Room for the Twist
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BIG IDEA
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God shapes us over time, and our part is to stay soft and keep saying yes to him—not to stay so full of ourselves that there’s no room for him to work.
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SUPPLIES · 2 ITEMS
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Twisty balloons, one per child plus 2 extras |
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Bible (WEB) |
| HOW TO SHOW IT |
YOUR NOTES |
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SET UP
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Get the balloons ready
| DO |
Before children arrive, inflate one twisty balloon completely firm and tie it for the demonstration. Inflate one balloon for each child with about a 2-inch uninflated tail, then tie each one. Put one child balloon at each seat. Check for latex allergies before the session. Keep balloons away from mouths and faces, and pick up popped pieces immediately. |
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1
1-2 min |
Try the balloon with no room
| DO |
Hold up the rock-hard balloon, pointed away from faces. |
| SAY |
I want to make a balloon dog. This balloon is full all the way to the end. |
| SAY |
Make your prediction. Will it make a dog head, or will it pop? |
| DO |
Let children vote with hands. Accept both answers. |
| SAY |
A bang might happen. Keep your face back and your hands to yourself. |
| DO |
Try one careful twist near an end of the balloon. If it pops, collect the pieces. If it does not pop, stop after the attempt rather than forcing it. |
| DO |
Take one or two answers. If children are quiet, point to the balloon and ask what is missing from its end. |
| SAY |
There is no empty part left. Nothing has room to move. A twisty balloon needs a little empty space so it can change shape. |
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2
1-2 min |
Make one twist
| DO |
Have children stay at their seats and pick up their prepared balloon. Hold your balloon below your chin, with the knot end toward you and the empty tail away from you. |
| SAY |
Look at your empty tail. That space gives the air somewhere to go when we twist. |
| SAY |
Hold the knot. Pinch the balloon about three fingers from the knot. Twist it around three times. |
| DO |
Demonstrate one bubble as everyone copies. Keep moving rather than helping each child individually. If a balloon pops, quietly give that child an extra balloon if available; otherwise, let them copy the motion in the air. |
| SAY |
You made one twist. The empty tail made room for it. |
| DO |
Hold up your own balloon and quickly make two small ear bubbles after its first bubble, twisting the ears together to show a simple dog head. Do not ask children to copy these extra twists. |
| SAY |
This little dog head takes more than one twist. God shapes us patiently over time too. |
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3
2-3 min |
The potter and the clay
| DO |
Open the WEB Bible to Jeremiah 18:1-6 and read the passage aloud. Hold up the balloon dog after reading. |
| SAY |
Jeremiah watched a potter shape clay. When the pot was spoiled, the potter made it into another pot. God said he can shape his people like clay in a potter’s hands. |
| SAY |
God is the one doing the shaping. We keep saying yes to him, one change at a time. |
| SAY |
Think quietly of one moment tomorrow when you are usually stubborn. Maybe a brother or sister bothers you. Maybe someone asks you to do a chore. Maybe you need to say sorry first. Do not tell us your answer. |
| DO |
Pause briefly. Do not ask children to share what they chose. |
| SAY |
Tomorrow, when that moment comes, do one different thing. Say sorry first. Do the chore without arguing. Use a calm voice. Tell God, You can shape this spot in me. |
| SAY |
You do not obey to buy God’s love. God is patiently at work in you, and you can say yes to him. |
| SAY |
Take your balloon home. When you see its empty tail, remember: leave room for God to shape you. |
| DO |
Pray the closing prayer, then let children take their balloons. |
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THE PASSAGE · Jeremiah 18:1-6
God sends Jeremiah to watch a potter making a clay pot. When the pot is spoiled, the potter reshapes it. God says he can shape his people like clay in a potter’s hands.
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TALK ABOUT IT · PICK ONE OR TWO
YOUNGER
What did you predict would happen when I tried to twist the first balloon? What made you think that?
Why did the first balloon have trouble changing shape, but this one can change shape?
OLDER
What are some small moments when a person can choose to be soft and teachable instead of stubborn?
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BEFORE YOU TEACH IT
Please review and adapt all generated content before use.
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Allegheny Wesleyan College · OBJECT LESSON · Leave Room for the Twist
KIDOLOGY.ORG
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