My Wonder Studio

My Wonder Studio is rich with resources that families can use with their children during times of uncertainties in our world. Below are tag links to help you get started in finding activities to do with your children and articles on applicable topics. Not all of the articles under the tags listed will be beneficial for you, but we hope this list can give you a starting point in searching for materials that could be useful to you and your children during difficult and uncertain times.

In loving support,

My Wonder Studio staff

Articles to boost faith during trying times:

0–5:

• comfort
• courage
• faith
• god’s care and protection
• god’s love and care
• healing
• health and sickness
• miracles
• peace

Level 1:

• adversity
• courage
• death and afterlife
• faith
• god’s care and protection
• god’s love and care
• healing
• health and sickness
• miracles
• miracles in the bible

Level 2:

• adversity
• courage
• faith
• god’s care and protection
• god’s love and care
• god’s power
• god’s promises
• healing
• health and sickness
• heaven

Parents & Teachers:

• adversity
• courage
• god’s love and care
• god’s power
• god’s care and protection
• healing
• health and sickness
• heaven
• miracles
• problem solving

Articles to encourage being a help to others when they are facing difficult times:

0–5:

• compassion
• empathy
• generosity
• giving
• initiative
• kindness and courtesy

Level 1:

• compassion
• generosity
• kindness and courtesy
• the life of friends
• tolerance

Level 2:

• compassion
• generosity
• giving
• kindness and courtesy
• service

Parents & Teachers:

• compassion
• generosity
• giving
• kindness and courtesy
• service

Activities and coloring pages: Though the following links are not specific to difficult or uncertain times, they are listed here as a resource to use when there is a need for activities to keep your child's mind busy and focused positively.

Activities:

• 0–5
• Level 1
• Level 2

Coloring pages:

• 0–5
• Level 1
• Level 2

Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 30- to 45-minute lesson plan to fill out the class “Cities of the Bible: The City of Dothan,” that covers the lesson objective, “Learn the major stories of the Old Testament.” (Christian Life and Faith: Bible Knowledge: General Bible Knowledge-1d)

Read “Cities of the Bible: The City of Dothan.”

REVIEW PARAGRAPH 1:
Read Genesis 37:13–17.

Locate the city of Dothan on a map of Old Testament Israel.

REVIEW PARAGRAPH 2:
Read Genesis 37:3–11.

Discuss together what the causes might have been for Joseph’s brothers being jealous of him.

Discuss together what Joseph could have done differently concerning the dreams he had.

Explore what steps the brothers might have taken to overcome their understandable jealousy in this difficult situation:

• They could have ignored Joseph when he began to boast.
• They might have talked with their father directly about why they felt jealous, telling him how they felt he loved the youngest sons more than them.
• They might have also told their father how they were hurt by Joseph boasting.
• It’s possible they took these steps but their father wasn’t able to stop Joseph from bragging. If so, the brothers could have focused more on being thankful for good things in their personal lives and not as much on these difficult issues. Though this would not have solved the problem, it would have made it easier to bear.

Read Genesis 37:12–36.

Point out how originally the brothers had not planned to sell Joseph, and how the oldest brother, Reuben, protected Joseph by having him put in the pit instead of being killed as the others were planning to do.

Discuss how due to the brothers not having dealt with their jealousy of Joseph, they now acted out on it. Explain why it’s important to talk about negative experiences or conflicts with a parent, counselor, or teacher who can help to work out a solution or even just to express a conflict with a responsible individual who can help one navigate difficult situations and emotions. By talking with someone responsible, it allows one to get input on possible steps to take to rectify the situation or look for ways to deal with hurt or misunderstanding.

REVIEW PARAGRAPH 3:

Read 2 Kings 6:8–23 or “Elisha’s Secret Army.”

Recall together the following points from the story:

• three miraculous occurrences,
• one act of mercy,
• the conclusion.

Talk about God’s mighty power that is available for us to call on for help, and how even if we don’t see specifics that show us it is God’s intervention, we know that He’s at work giving us the assistance we need, just as He was there for Elisha and the people of Dothan.

Talk about the power of the mercy shown to the members of the Syrian army.

REVIEW PARAGRAPH 4:

View a picture of Tell Dothan in recent times, found here. (You can follow this link to other pictures of Tell Dothan.)

Additional material:

• “How God Blessed Joseph”

Note to parent or teacher: Here is a 30- to 40-minute lesson plan that highlights the learning objective: “Learn of the Bible characters who displayed great courage in the face of fear or seemingly insurmountable odds.” (Character Building: Values and Virtues: Courage-1b)

Study the following Bible stories about God’s miraculous protection:

• Miracles in the Bible: The Sun Moves Backward Ten Degrees
• Miracles in the Bible: Paul’s Healing from a Viper Bite
• Miracles in the Bible: The Parting of the Red Sea

Read “A Strategy Like None Other.”

Talk about times when God intervened with His protection in the children’s lives. Include asking the children if they know of any such times in their lives when what looked like a disappointing setback was God’s way of protecting them. For example, a flat tire that delays a planned trip by thirty minutes meant your parents heard a warning about a blizzard you would have been caught in if you had been on the road.

Read “Psalm 91.” You can also listen to the audio of Psalm 91.

Choose a promise to memorize from “Crazily Cool Card Set: Fear Not,” “Crazily Cool Card Set: Overcoming Difficulties,” or “Crazily Cool Card Set: An Active Force Field.” Print and color the card of your choice.

Pray one of the “Pray a Way: Courage” prayers.

Assemble and display one or more of the 3D pictures of the above stories of “Miracles in the Bible.”

Additional reading:

• “With God’s Help”

Note to parent or teacher: Here is a 30- to 40-minute lesson plan that highlights the lesson objectives: “Learn of God's power to protect and comfort when you're feeling fearful; recognize that God is stronger than one’s fears; read and memorize scripture upon which these principles are based.” (Character Building: Values and Virtues: Courage-1a)

Read “The Protective Tower.”

Talk about ways you and your child have experienced God’s protection.

Read “Follow Jesus Today.” Talk with your child about how Jesus is leading him/her along a good path, and that Jesus is in front of him/her and will help your child overcome any difficulties that might be faced.

Listen to “A Strong Tower.”

Read the bottom half of page 4 of “Focus on the Light,” to encourage your child about how God has assigned a guardian angel to help watch over and care for each person.

Read “A Strategy Like None Other.”

Listen to “Victory Praise Chant.”

Talk about how the use of praise can help your child gain courage and overcome fear.

Read “Psalm 23”and talk with your child about the application of the verses. The following are some things you might want to bring out. If your child is worried or fearful about something in his/her life, there are many good promises in this psalm that can help strengthen one’s faith.

Verse 1: When the psalm says “I shall not want,” this refers to how God is good to us and will provide whatever we need.

Verse 2: King David, who wrote the psalm, had been a shepherd of sheep when he was younger. Shepherds appreciate green pastures for feeding their sheep, and still waters for their sheep to drink from. So the psalm uses these symbols to explain God’s faithful and loving care of us, His sheep.

Verse 3: “Restore” here means to give someone renewed strength. When we read the Bible, God’s Word gives us the strength of faith in God’s love and care, which makes us happy. The second half of the verse tells us how God always leads us to do good and righteous things.

Verse 4: Even when we lose a loved one, God comforts us with the knowledge that we will meet again in His heavenly kingdom.

Verse 5: God takes good care of us at all times, even if we’re around some person who doesn’t like us. “Anointing with oil” was a symbol of God’s power in Bible days. This verse tells us how God anoints us with His power and strength to face every challenge in our lives. God also fills our lives with abundant love; He pours so much love into our lives that it can spill over from us on to others.

Verse 6: God sends good things our way all throughout our lives, and He shows us His loving mercy. We have the wonderful encouragement of knowing that because we have Jesus in our lives, we will live with Him forever and always be able to experience His goodness and mercy.

Listen to “Audio: Psalm 23.” To help the children memorize this chapter, you could possibly have this play in the background during other activities throughout the day.

Read “A World with No Courage.”

Read “Bright Pebbles: Power, Power, Power!” Remember to do the “action” on the last page.

Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for ways you and your child see God’s various gifts mentioned in the articles above at work in your lives, such as His protection, strength, goodness, love, care, mercy, and power. End the prayer by asking for God’s help in specific ways that your child needs strengthened.

Additional reading:

• “Two Soldiers Conquer Thousands.”