THE KINGDOMS  OF GOD

Introduction of the theme.

  Head a piece of paper ‘The Kingdoms of God’.  Divide the page into 4 boxes.  Head the 1st 'Mineral', the 2nd 'Vegetable', the 3rd 'Animal', and 4th 'Human'.  Find a picture to illustrate each, e.g. a ring for the mineral, a flower for the vegetable. Make one large poster size one for the whole class or smaller ones for each pupil.  Ask the children to put the correct picture in each box.  When correct they can be stuck on.
Explain that these are some of God's kingdoms that we are going to study.

 1.        THE MINERAL KINGDOM

Preparation.  Collect samples of rocks and minerals for a display table e.g. coal, jewelry, talcum power, salt.  Also books on geology and minerals.  Display nicely on a low table.  Beads and shirring elastic (enough to go round a wrist and tied)

Prayers.

 Song
'I Love to See the Fire' (from The Nursery Song and picture book. W. E. Barnard. Published by The Religious Education Press Ltd)

 News Time and Birthdays.

 Introduction.  Explain that God has made all things.  Certain things have the same qualities and we can group them together.  One group is called Minerals.  Children point to the right group on the above diagram.  Minerals are found in the ground   What are they like? Show the table display and discuss shapes, colours, hardness, temperature etc.  All these qualities are different but the minerals also have a quality in common; they cannot move and have no feelings. Can we make them move without touching them, or prick them with a pin?

 Story. 'Hidden Treasure' (Stories for Children. J. Mehrabi. Baha'i Publishing Trust)

 Hidden Word.            'Ye are My treasury  ....'  Type or write out this verse, one for each child.  Explain the meaning and let them stick it into their work books.

 Creative work.  Give each child a piece of elastic, with a bead tied to one end.  The children can thread beads on to make a bracelet. Tie the ends together securely.

 Music.  'Diamond Girl' by Seals and Crofts.  Or other music mentioning the mineral kingdom can be played during or after the creative activity.

 Closing prayer.

 Last modified: May 17, 2001

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