During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
I will guide you and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you with love.
Psalm 32:8
In this verse, we are promised that God will guide us and teach us. He will give us good advice because He loves us. We are not alone when we face problems and difficulties! God will give us good advice and direction when we ask Him!
Think of a problem or difficulty you have faced. Perhaps you have a broken relationship with someone. Perhaps you see something wrong and do not know how to report it. When you are faced with a difficult problem, start by praying for guidance and wisdom. Pray for God to direct you to the right perspective of the problem and possible solutions. Once you ask for guidance, work through the problem-solving process. When you see the problem clearly, you can figure out what information you need to solve it. God is so loving and so good that He helps you through your problems!
Encourage children to share the problem-solving steps they learned with their families.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
As the children enter, welcome them and ask them to form groups of about 10 people. Try to divide the children into mostly equal groups.
I have a problem for each group to solve. Each group needs to form a line in order from shortest to tallest. This means the shortest child will be the first in line and the tallest child will be last in line. You do not have much time to solve this problem. When I count to 3, you will begin. Work together, and please do not push one another. When I say, “Stop!” you will stand still. Are you ready? 1, 2, 3, begin!
When you see a group getting close to solving the problem, say, “Stop!” Then, talk to the children about how they solved the problem. How did they think about the problem? How did they work together? Did they solve the problem?
Everyone started this activity with a clear idea of what the problem was. Then you took several different steps to help you solve the problem. Today, we will talk more about problem-solving steps.
Let’s all sit in a big circle. Today we are learning about solving problems. To solve problems, you need more than just your own understanding to figure it out. You need to pray every step of the way. Today you will learn steps to help you solve problems. You learned the first 3 steps in last lesson.
Thank you, volunteers! You can sit down in the circle. Listen to a true story from the Bible about Jesus and His disciples. As I read, listen for the steps you learned about today. When you hear a step, raise your hands high and show which step it is with 1, 2, 3, or 4 fingers.
A large crowd of people had gathered to listen to Jesus teach. In fact, those people had been listening to Jesus for 3 days! They had no food left to eat. Jesus told His disciples that the people could not be sent home without eating first. Listen to what happened next:
Read this verse directly from your Bible.
His disciples answered him. “There is nothing here,” they said. “Where can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
Mark 8:4
The people were hungry and there was not enough food.
Answers may include: How many people are there? Does anyone have any food? How far would someone have to go to find food? Does anyone have money to buy food?
The disciples talked about this, but they were not gathering information (children hold up 3 fingers). They also were not thinking of possible solutions (children hold up 4 fingers). They only saw the problem and relied on their own understanding.
Jesus asked them how many loaves they had. They answered that they had 7 loaves and a few fish. The problem still seemed impossible to the disciples! Let’s see what Jesus did.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke them and gave them to his disciples. They passed the pieces of bread around to the people. The disciples also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for them too. He told the disciples to pass them around. The people ate and were satisfied. After that, the disciples picked up seven baskets of leftover pieces. About 4,000 people were there. After Jesus sent them away, he got into a boat with his disciples.
Mark 8:6–10
Jesus asked His disciples questions. This helped Him gather information. When you gather information about a problem, it is important to ask questions. Jesus thanked God. That is an example of how you can turn to God when you have problems too! Finally, Jesus tried the solution of handing out food to the people. Everyone had more than enough food!
In this true story, Jesus fed many people through a miracle. God does not do a miracle for every problem, but He will always be with you to help you with your problems!
The true story from the Bible is a good example of the importance of following the steps to solving problems. It is also a good example of why asking God to help you understand the problem is the first step. Jesus, who is God, understood what the problem was and how to solve it perfectly.
Let’s review the 4 problem-solving steps we have learned so far:
Each of these steps is important, but remember that asking God to help you is the most important step.
Let’s use what you learned today to solve a problem. In a moment, some of you will create a maze while the other children will find a way through it. In a maze, there are different paths, but only 1 will guide you out of it.
Let’s begin by praying for understanding. Heavenly Father, help us to understand our problems. Please lead and guide us by Your Holy Spirit, not only through this maze but through the difficult problems we face in life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
As you go through the maze, you may notice that there are places where a path ends and you cannot get through to the other side. Gathering information about where you cannot go will help you to solve the problem and find a way out of the maze.
Choose 16 children to stand up. This will be Group 1. The seated children will be Group 2. Give the instructions below to Group 2.
While I prepare the maze with the other group, discuss this question with your group.
Allow this group of children to discuss the question while you set up the other group of children. If they finish their discussion, ask them to continue talking about ways to solve problems until the maze is ready.
Optional: If you have fewer than 18 children in your class, you may use rocks or desks to make the maze. you need at least 2 children to walk through the maze.
While Group 2 discusses the question, use the instructions below to guide Group 1 to form a maze:
Make 4 rows of 4 children, as shown in the diagram below. The circles represent students.
Now, have the children hold hands as shown in the diagram below. The lines represent the children holding hands. Tell the students in Group 1 that they will stand in this formation until the activity is over.
Look at the triangle in the diagram. This is where the students of Group 2 will begin the maze. Give the following instructions to Group 2.
Those of you who are sitting, please turn around so that you can see the other group. These children who are standing created a maze. You will walk through the maze to the opening on the other side. You will start at this end by person 1 (refer to the picture). Your goal is to search the maze for a way out that is different than the way you entered it.
There are 4 rules while you are in the maze.
Guide the children of Group 2 to the opening in the maze marked with a triangle. Have the children walk through the maze until all of them have found the way out (located between the numbers 16 and 6 on the diagram).
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, give each child a crayon and allow 3 minutes for them to find a way through the maze.
You all did a great job! Come and stand with me in a circle. Today you learned 4 steps to help you solve problems. The memory verse today reminds us to ask God to help us understand a problem before we try to solve it.
Show the Memory Verse poster, if you are using it.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
End class by saying this blessing, based on Mark 8:18, over the children.
Blessing: May you have eyes to see that your heavenly Father wants to help you solve your problems. May you have ears to hear what Jesus is speaking to you in the midst of your problems. May the Holy Spirit guide you to the best solutions.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
