Free Snowy Lesson!

Okay . . . I live in Michigan and we are supposed to get some snow today . . . we typically have no shortage of snow. I've never been a big "fan" of the cold, white stuff, but since winter is upon us, I'm posting a free short object lesson you could use with the children in your ministry!

Whiter Than Snow!
Supplies -

• Bibles
• Ivory Soap - one bar - MUST be Ivory Soap
• Microwave
• Paper towels
• Coffee filters - one per child
• washable markers - dark colors
• Water
• small paper cups - one per child
• Safety scissors

Greet children and ask them to sit in sharing circles - knee to knee.

Say/Ask - Winter is upon us and depending on where we live, we can get a lot of snow. What can you tell me about snow? (Allow children to respond - it is cold, white, each snowflake is different, etc)

Say - When snow begins to fall it can be quite beautiful as a few inches covers everything like a coat of frosting! But when there is a lot of snow it can become something very different. Let's do an experiment to help us think about this. 

Gather children around your microwave, place the unwrapped bar of Ivory soap in the microwave on a couple sheets of paper towel and set the microwave on hight for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. Allow children to watch as the bar expands - it is very fun to watch! After the 90 seconds, take the soap out and set to the side.

Say - Our soap became something significantly bigger than the bar of soap it started out as. Snow can be the same way. A few flakes can turn into several feet of snow! God's faithful love and grace are like the snow.

Say - In the Bible book of Psalms David talks about God's faithful love and snow. Let's read Psalm 51:1-10 to see what he said. "God, show me your favor in keeping with your faithful love. Because your love is so tender and kind, wipe out my lawless acts. Wash away all of the evil things I've done. Make me pure from my sin. I know the lawless acts I've committed. I can't forget my sin. You are the one I've really sinned against. I've done what is evil in your sight. So you are right when you sentence me.  You are fair when you judge me. I know I've been a sinner ever since I was born. I've been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me. I know that you want truth to be in my heart. You teach me wisdom deep down inside me. Make me pure by sprinkling me with hyssop plant. Then I will be clean. Wash me. Then I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear you say, 'Your sins are forgiven.' That will bring me joy and gladness. Let the body you have broken be glad. Take away all of my sins. Wipe away all of the evil things I've done. God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you."

Say - David knew he was a sinner. He knew when he did something wrong he was really sinning against God. He said he knew he deserved to be judged by God; but he also knew he could ask for God's faithful love! He admitted his sin and asked God to wash him so he would be whiter than snow! David said when he was forgiven he would have joy and gladness knowing God took away his sins! David wanted a pure heart and a spirit that was faithful to God! We can know God will show this same faithful love to us when we ask Him to forgive us, too!

Say - We are going to make a craft to help us remember God's faithful love which forgives us and washes us whiter than snow. (Give each child a coffee filter and show them how to fold it in half, fold it in half again and two more times. Then give them scissors and allow them to cut on the folds - they will be making snowflakes)

Say - Take these dark markers and color in the middle of your snowflake. When we sin it is like a dark "blot" on our lives. (Tell children to fold their snowflakes in half once again and the put the point of the middle in a cup with a little water in the bottom - be sure the point of their snowflake they just colored is in the water)

Say - We can't do anything to take our sin away, but if we ask God for forgiveness He is faithful to show His great love and wash us whiter than snow. We all sin. We all need God's forgiveness. Let's take a minute to talk with God like David did. I'm going to pray these verses, when I pause if you'd like to silently make them your prayer to God, feel free to do so. "Dear God, please show me Your faithful love!" (Pause so children may silently repeat prayer) "Because Your love is so tender and kind, wipe out my lawless acts. Wash away all of the evil things I've done." (Pause so children may silently repeat prayer) "You are the one I've really sinned against. I've done what is evil in Your sight." (Pause so children may silently repeat prayer) "I know that You want truth to be in my heart. You teach me wisdom deep down inside me." (Pause so children may silently repeat prayer) "Please forgive me. Then I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear you say, 'Your sins are forgiven.'" (Pause so children may silently repeat prayer) "Your forgiveness will bring me joy and gladness. God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you." (Pause so children may silently repeat prayer)

Say/Ask - Carefully remove your snowflake from the cup of water and set it on paper towel. What do you see? (The dark area they colored, should be gone)

Say - Just as the water "washed" away the dark "blot" on your snowflake, God's faithful love washes away our sin when we ask Him for forgiveness! He makes us pure and clean and this forgiveness brings us joy and gladness! Take your snowflake home and put it where you will see it. When you do - and when you see snow - remember God's faithful love will make your life whiter than snow when you ask Him for forgiveness!

Try this object lesson with the children in your ministry!