T is for Teach it: ABC: Deuteronomy for Me: Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World
T is for Teach It
T is for teach it,
T is for talk it,
T is for tell it,
W is for walk it,
Teach, talk, tell,
walk! It's scriptural!
The goal of these twenty-six Deuteronomy ABC lessons is to encourage and to teach Bible words to kids in a variety of ways to prepare children for today, and for tomorrow. For just as God commanded Moses to teach "this song " in Deuteronomy 31-32 "these words" will never be forgotten out of their mouths. I can truly testify I had parents who did just that, and the scriptures they taught me as a child echo in my heart and mind even today. As teachers, parents, and grandparents we must resolve to redeem the time for as Scripture says the days are evil.
Little Kids: Ages 4-7
Hear It: Teach Them Carefully!
God told the Israelite parents just what to teach their children and just when and how to do it. To begin, kids were told to hear God's words and love him with their heart, soul, and might! God commanded parents to teach their children carefully, and diligently.
What were the parents and grandparents to teach? God's words! These words were found in the commandments, the statues, and the judgments. These were the words found in the book of the law.
When were these words to be taught to the children? They were to be taught when they sat in their house, when they were walking along, when they were lying down, and when they were getting up.
Where were they to put God's words? They were to write them down and tie them in little boxes on their arms. They were to write them down and put them in little boxes on their foreheads. They were even to put them in little boxes on the door posts of their houses. From Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Learn It: "These Words" from Deuteronomy 6:6,7
"And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children... talk of them... bind them... and write them."
Short Version: "These words... this day... shall be in thine heart... teach them diligently unto thy children."
There are seven spaces for seven special word parts in the "Teach It T" below. The words are: these words, this day, thine heart, teach them, talk of them, bind them, and write them. Write your verse on a white board and in a journal. Write it so these words are highlighted, framed, a different color, a different size, a different font, glittered, or popped-out. Hint: Each day rewrite it differently highlighting these word pairs. Discuss "these words." Talk about "this day" as today.
Teach It "T": An Egg Carton Teach It Tool
Prep It: 18 hole egg carton; scissors; tiny cutouts:/objects e.g.: rocks, rock pile cutouts, rain drop cutouts, and so on. Cut an egg carton "T" with three spaces across the top, and four spaces down the center.--seven spaces in all! What a perfect "Teach It T" to use with Bible Verses with its seven places for a tiny object or tiny cutout--one for each day of the week. As a child recites verse each day place a cutout or object in a space. When all seven are filled give a tiny prize such as a special privilege, special treat, or little gift. See end of lesson for photo examples!
Say It: "These My Words!"
Say what? These my words!
Lay up what? These my words!
Obey what? These my words!
Teach them!
Find what? These my words!
Bind what? These my words!
Mind what? These my words!
Teach them!
Write what? These my words!
Recite what? These my words!
Delight in what? These my words!
Teach them!
LEP
From Deut. 11:18-20
Note: Two "teach them" passages are found in Deuteronomy 6 and 11, while Moses' "teach it" song is found in Deuteronomy 31-32. Divide into two groups: one to ask the question, and others to shake their finger and echo: "These my words!" All join in on fourth line of each stanza.
Deuteronomy 11:18,19 "...Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul... teach them (to) your children...."
Teach It Moses! Moses' Deuteronomy Song
Did you know that God asked Moses to write a song? He said, "Write this song Moses! He said, "Teach it Moses. Teach it to the children of Israel!" He said, "Put it in their mouths." Why did God say that? Because God knew one day the people would turn away from him and go their own way. And when they did, the song they learned would come into their minds again.
This song was both happy and sad. The good parts told about the Lord and how he'd blessed his people. The bad parts told how the people would forget the Lord, and that one day the people would be punished for their sins.
In the beginning of the song Moses spoke some special words. He told them to give ear, and hear its words. He said his teaching was like rain coming down on the grass. He said the Lord was great. He said the Lord was like a Rock. He told them many other things too. You can read about the song in Deuteronomy 31 and 32.
Sing It: Write Ye This Song!
Tune: "Brother John"
Write ye this song, write ye this song,
and teach it, and teach it,
and put it in their mouths, and put it in their mouths,
you do it, you do it!
From: Deut. 31:19
Wear It: Write "This Song" Necklace
Prep It: Cut apart a towel tube, or two toilet tubes into seven one-inch wide rings. Cut a 24" rick rack piece/yarn. Print these word strips: "Write--this song...--teach it...--put it-- in their-- mouths." Deut. 31:19
Make It: Cut strips apart. Glue words to seven tubes. String onto rick rack or yarn.
Wear It: Wear as necklace. Untie the necklace and put the pieces in order in the "Teach-It T" or put them on a table or floor. See photo at end of lesson.
Fringe It: Snack Placemat/Poster
Say It: Deut. 32:2 "My doctrine (teaching) shall drop like rain,... as the showers upon the earth."
Prep It: green and blue paper, scissors, copy of verse, and pretzel sticks.
Make It: Let kids use scissors to fringe around green paper. Glue verse and copy to it. Cut rain drop strips. Glue randomly to mat. Serve a raindrop snack on it, or simply hang it up. See photo example at bottom.
Older Kids: Ages 8-12
Moses
Moses: teacher, pray-er, sayer
of these words: "Give ear, hear!"
Moses: speech maker, writer, reciter
of these words: "Let my teaching
fall like rain again and again."
Moses: prophet, preparer, declarer of
these words: "Proclaim the name of
the LORD; ascribe ye greatness
unto our God."
LEP
From Deuteronomy 32: 1-3
Read It Aloud: "Write This Song, Moses!"
Moses was a teacher, a speech writer, a pray-er, and a prophet. And he was the leader of God's people from Egypt across the Red Sea and into the wilderness.
Just before Moses died, God instructed him to write a song. He was to write the words God told him down. He was to tell the people to give ear and to hear. He was to prophesy and warn them of what would happen in the future, for he knew that once he died the people would depart from the Lord.
Choose parts of the story to read aloud together.: Deut. 31:16-30 and 32:1-47. Whenever possible have the children read certain verses or passages. At times all read certain verses together. See to it each child has their own Bible!
Read It Aloud a Lot: Parents Practice This!
I had parents who practiced reading the Bible aloud. Nearly every night after dinner we read the Word aloud together each reading a verse in turn. Later, after I was in bed I could hear my dad reading just to my mom. What a comforting sound that was. Surely like Moses taught, its words came down as the soft rain into my ears--God's words washing over my heart and our home. What dividends it paid!
Zero in on It! The Give Ear Verse-The Rain Verse-The Publish it Verse-The Rock Verse
Helps kids memorize Deut. 32;1-4,and for each part do the listed activities.
Teach It, Write It, Say It, Recite It, Display It, Obey It!
Deuteronomy 32:1 The Give Ear Verse
"Give ear... and I will speak; and hear... the words of my mouth." Have kids copy the verse in their journal. Give them a small paper plate, paper, scissors, and glue to make themselves especially enlarging the ears. Or let them use various tools to carefully draw themselves making the ears just a bit larger. Display it on the fridge or elsewhere.
Deuteronomy 32:2 The Rain Verse
"My doctrine (teaching) shall drop as the rain,... as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." Print the entire verse on the board: pick out the three rain refrain parts " as the rain,... as the small rain, and as the showers upon the grass:...." What other form of moisture did Moses mention? (the dew) What will be like the rain? (Moses' doctrine or teaching). What was another way to say teaching or doctrine? (my speech) Recite the verse! Journal it, and illustrate it.
Post It: The Rain on the Grass Poster
Prep It: blue background paper, grass image strips, different shades of green paper, blue paper, scissors, glue, and verse strips.
Make It: Print the grass strips. Find the image here:grass pictures for preschoolers to color - Bing images Trace onto green paper; cut out. From blue paper cut out rain lines. Print verse. Assemble the grass strips on the page alternating the colors; may even have a white strip for contrast. Glue so they overlap. After glue on the rain strips and verse cutout. Hang the poster up. See photo at end.
A Teach It "T" Verse: The Raindrop Verse
Cut seven "raindrops" from facial tissue cardboard or other paper. Print verse parts as : My, doctrine, shall ,drop, as, the, rain.... " Deut. 32:2 If you wish to do other parts use seven parts in each section.
Arrange the drops in the T spaces beginning with the across spaces and then the down spaces. Store "drop cutouts" in zipped bag. See sample below.
Learn It: The Proclaim It Verse
"Because I will publish (proclaim) the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God." Deut. 32:3
This was why Moses was writing the song to publish, proclaim, and announce how great was their God. Have kids write this verse in bold, bright letters in their journal. Draw a frame around "publish" or "proclaim." In our Bible there are certain things about God that we call attributes. One attribute is that God is good. Another is that God is great. Still another is God is just. Do you know others? Recite emphasizing a different word or phrase each time. e.g. "Let's repeat our verse emphasizing 'publish' loudly."
Learn It: The "He is the Rock Verse"
"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deuteronomy 32:4
Print the verse as above showing its six parts leaving a space between each part. Ask: Who is the Rock? Why is "Rock" capitalized? What is perfect? (his work) Journal it. Use separate color for the punctuation mark, and the last word in each section. Read it three times. Emphasize the last word. e.g. "He is the Rock." Then... emphasize the punctuation mark. e.g. "He is the Rock." (period) his work is perfect: (colon) and so on. Next... spell the final words. e.g. "He is the "R-o-c-k." View a sample!
Define It: Look up the Definitions
Words: just, judge, iniquity, righteous
Match It: Find the matching word.
1. God is the _ _ _ _.
2. God is a _ _ _ _ _.
3. God is without _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
4. God is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
5. God can not _ _ _.
6. God is _ _ _ _.
Answer: a. just b. judge c. iniquity d. Rock e. lie f. righteous
1.d 2.b 3.c 4.f 5.e. 6.a.
Explore It: Find More Rock References
There are other rock references in Moses' song. Find them, read them, and answer these questions.
* Verse 15: they "lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation." Did they or didn't they pay attention to God?
* Verse 18: "Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten the God that formed thee?" Did they remember the Lord?
* Verse 31: "For their rock is not as our Rock,..." Why does one rock begin with a lower case "r" while the other starts with an upper case "R?" What kind of rock did the other nations worship?
* Verse 37-38: "And he (the Lord) shall say, Where are their gods, the rock in whom they trusted?... let them rise up and help you, and be your protection." Could the other gods or "rocks" the people began to worship protect them? Why not?
Play It: He Is the Rock Verse Game
Prep It: six rock images 'n smaller rock cutouts, paper, printed strips, crayons, scissors, glue, seven rocks: Print six rock images, or have kids tear six rock shapes from equal sized paper. Print verse. Glue onto rocks shapes. Give each child a "Teach It T" egg carton. Find rock image here: rock images - Bing images
Play It: Ask kids questions on the verse from the above ideas. Let kids fill in their "T" with rock cutouts or actual small rocks. First one to fill "T" wins. Let that person then become the next "teacher" to ask questions. If anyone fails to become "the teacher" give them a turn; help the younger ones. After have some "T" snacks from a snack stick whether cheese, pretzels, cereal, celery, and so on. See photo.
Reminder! Choose any activities in either section that help your child/children the most!
Teachers, Parents, Grandparents, YOU:
Examine It:! Parental ABC Book Looks
It seems like almost every day there's a new word or two to learn. Therefore, we as teachers, parents, and grandparents must determine to be knowledgeable about what these words mean, and compare each one to Scripture!
Lighthouse Trails author Mary Danielsen has an informative booklet titled: S Is for Social Justice. Filled with nearly sixty words from "Aa for Activism to W for Woke Christianity" it will enable you become aware of current vocabulary. Mary writes, "...keeping up with the jargon of mass movements can help equip our discernment..." enabling us to explain these terms to our kids and to our families. Read it here: BOOKLET - S is for Social Justice The Language of Today’s Cultural “Revolution” (lighthousetrails.com) Share it with others too!
A second book: An ABC of Equality (C. Ewing), written for the youngest children , is a book all parents should definitely preview. While this seems like a book for tots, it's more than that--it's a primer for adults to expose us to language being used everywhere. Hear it read here:
Look It Up! Lay Up, Wise Up, Train Up, Bring Up, Rise Up!
There are some powerful "up" verses to help us as we teach our children each day. Here are some:
Proverbs 7:1: "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee." Prov.9:14: "Wise men lay up knowledge:..." Ephesians 6:4 "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (training) and admonition of the Lord." Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Deut. 11:19 ""...teach...your children ...when thou risest up."
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