Creation Unit (Fun Review!)

I think it's sometimes good to see how much Isaac retained from some of the lessons we've done in the past with a review.  We just did a couple of different ones for our Creation Unit and they were both really quick and fun!

This first one is my favorite and Isaac loved it!  I had everything I needed on hand and it took me about 10 minutes to get together.  It was well worth it! 

I found a container (empty wipes container) to hold small objects.  You could just as easily use a doubled up grocery bag (so they couldn't see through it), a coffee can, a pillowcase or anything that they can reach into.

I filled the tub with some objects that would represent various days of creation.  Here are some of the ones I used, plus a list of some more I thought could be fun: 

(Day 1) Light-Flashlight

(Day 2) Cloud-Cottonball, Marshmallows

(Day 3) Land, Plants, Trees-Leaf, Stick, Flower, Rock, Small container of dirt

(Day 4) Sun-Yellow Ball or anything Yellow and Round

             Moon- Yellow Ball or Gray Ball (maybe made out of clay or playdough)

             Stars-Star Stickers, Glow in the dark stars

(Day 5) Fish- Fish Bath Toy, Goldfish Cracker or Fish Food

             Bird - Feather

(Day 6) Animals- Plastic or Stuffed Animal 

            People- Mirror or Toy Person

(Day 7) Resting - Toy throne or chair 

I then made up a number for each day of creation on a half sheet of paper.  (If you're not OCD like me, you could even just handwrite the numbers on a sheet of paper and save yourself a couple minutes!  :)

Isaac drew an object out of the tub and then placed the item on the correct day of creation.  (I said what the item represented as he drew it out so that he wouldn't be confused.  Like when he pulled out the yellow ball I said, "Oh look!  It's the sun!")

He had so much fun putting the objects on the correct days and I was so surprised with how much he remembered!  We played again the next day and he completed it without any mistakes.  It was such a fun and easy way to review the details of all that God made.  It was definitely simple enough for him to understand, but I think this activity could work with older kids as well.  In fact, I'm thinking of doing something similar to this with my 3rd-6th grade Awana kids.   

Our finished activity.  Note that there's nothing for Day 7, but I was okay with that since God didn't create anything that day.  I thought a throne or a chair would be fun to use to show that God rested, but I really don't think it's necessary.  (And to read  why I don't like the idea of using a toy bed or a pillow, click here.)

The other fun thing we did was a spontaneous activity one day outside with sidewalk chalk.  As we were drawing, I decided to see what Isaac could remember about God's creation.  I began drawing the things he made in a box and then asking him what day God made it.  Then we would label that box and I'd do another one.  It was so simple and didn't require any planning but Isaac enjoyed it so much that the next time we went outside to draw with sidewalk chalk, he asked if we could draw the days of creation again.  :)

I just have to make a special note about something fascinating I learned when I took a class on Genesis in college.  Notice how I drew Day 1 next to Day 4, Day 2 next to Day 5, and Day 3 next to Day 6?  There is a pattern there.  God "filled" what he created on the left hand side with the things on the right side.  (He filled the light and dark with the sun, moon and stars, the sky and water with birds and fish, the land with animals and people).  Isn't that cool?  Not only is he creative, but he is such a God of order as well!  He does nothing randomly... even the way he creates.  Kind of funny when you think of it in comparison to the supposed Big Bang that just randomly happened by chance and resulted in the world today. 

Here's God resting... NOT sleeping.  ;)

He's pretty stinkin' adorable, isn't he?

And this is what it looked like just moments after we finished our review!  :)

I would love to hear any ideas you have for reviewing with your little ones!

Check out the activities from the other Days of Creation Unit:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7