Lesson Overview for ADULTS
On the second day of creation, God made the firmament (sky) to divide the waters above from the waters below. This firmament, which God called Heaven, created a separation between the waters in the clouds and the waters on the earth. This was part of God’s orderly plan to prepare the earth for life. The passage shows God’s power over the elements and His careful design in creating our world with distinct spaces for sky and water.
On the second day, God split the waters apart, putting some above and some below, with the sky in between. The sky acts like a protective cover made of gases we can’t see, keeping us safe on Earth. Without this covering, the sun would burn us up during the day, and we’d freeze to death at night when it gets dark.
Even though we can’t see the air around us, it does exactly what God planned it to do. It keeps everything balanced so life can grow and survive on Earth.
Some people think the atmosphere back then was different from what we have now. They believe God might have put a thick layer of water vapor way up high around the whole planet. This water layer would have made Earth like a greenhouse, helping plants grow faster and protecting everything from the sun’s harmful rays. This extra protection might explain why people lived so long back then and why there was so much water when the great flood happened.
It’s hard to think only about air and water without talking about land, since God didn’t make land until day three. But when you really think about air and water, there’s actually a lot to consider: clouds, wind, how water turns into vapor, ice, and many other things that show how complex these basic elements really are.
MISSIONBIBLECLASS.ORG LESSON (CLICK HERE)
WELCOME SENSORY BINS 6:00-6:15 p.m.
Creation Playdoh Station & Coloring
Items Needed:
- Blue and White PlayDoh
- Creation Day 2 PlayDoh Mats
- Creation Day 2 Coloring Book
Set up PlayDoh stations with laminated activity mats and blue and white playdoh. Children work independently to build Day 2 of the Creation stories on their mats. Children who finish early can color their coloring sheet.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU MUSIC: 6:20-6:30 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
- Globe Beach Ball
- Music on TV
SONGS
Note: We will do these two songs for the entire Creation story. For the first one, we will throw the Globe Beach Ball as we sing it. For the second one, we will learn the motions.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU PRAYER: 6:30-6:40 p.m.
WHISPER A PRAYER SONG & FORM CIRCLE
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time.
BIBLE GAME, STORY, & CRAFT 6:40-7:10 p.m.
BIBLE GAME
Items Needed:
- Large blue sheet or parachute
- Blue scarves or ribbons
- Soft blue bean bags or foam blocks
Have all children hold the edges of the blue sheet, which represents the firmament that God made on day two.
Round 1 – Creating the Firmament:
- Start with everyone sitting in a circle holding the sheet on the ground
- Teacher says: “In the beginning, there were waters everywhere!”
- Children gently shake the sheet like waves
- Teacher calls out: “And God said, ‘Let there be a firmament!'”
- Everyone slowly lifts the sheet up high and holds it steady
- Teacher explains: “Now we have the firmament! Waters above, waters below!”
Round 2 – Waters Above and Below:
- Half the children hold the sheet up high (representing the firmament)
- Give blue scarves to the other half – some children crawl under the sheet waving scarves (waters below)
- Other children stand on safe platforms/chairs above the sheet waving scarves (waters above)
- Practice calling “Waters above!” and “Waters below!” as children move their scarves
- Switch roles so everyone experiences being above and below the firmament
Round 3 – Firmament Holds Strong:
- Place soft blue bean bags on top of the sheet (waters above)
- Children holding the sheet work together to keep the “waters above” from falling to the “waters below”
- Teacher explains how God’s firmament is strong and holds the separation just like they’re doing
- Try gentle movements while keeping the bean bags separated from the floor
Closing: Everyone sits in a circle with the sheet in the middle and recites: “God made the firmament to divide the waters from the waters!”
Bible Lesson (10:50-11:00 a.m.)
Items Needed
- Bible
- Spray Bottle with Water
Start by asking kids where to find the story in the Bible.
- What is the first book of the Bible? Genesis
- Which part of the Bible is Genesis in? Old Testament
Last week we learned about day one when God made light and darkness. Today we’re learning about day TWO. Let’s see what God did!”
Read Genesis 1:6-8 aloud. As you read about God separating the water from the sky, squeeze the spray bottle to make it “rain” on the kids!
God did something amazing on the second day of creation with all that water. He divided the water into parts so there would be water and air. After this there was sky, and there were clouds. The cold or warm wind could blow through the sky and move the clouds around. The wind could blow on the water and make waves and swells. Raindrops could fall out of the sky and into the water.
If you imagine looking out over the ocean and seeing a huge cloud shaped exactly like the numeral “2”, that will help you remember that God made the skies and water on day two of creation! God is truly amazing to think of all of these things! Every time we breathe in air . . . let’s think about God and His awesome power!
Read the verses again, but this time, act it out. Have the children stand in a group in the middle of the room. They are the water at the beginning of the story. When it comes to the part when God separated the water…walk between the children splitting them into two groups (water and sky).
The Bible tells us that the evening and the morning were the second day. God was working on His perfect plan to make our world ready for everything He would create next!”
- What did God create on the first day of creation?” (Day, Night or Light, Dark)
- “What did God create on the second day of creation?” (The sky . Firmanent to separate the water)
MEMORY VERSE:
Genesis 1:7 So God made the air to divide the water in two. Some of the water was above the air, and some of the water was below it
Craft: Sky Dough
Items Needed
- Flour
- Baby oil
- Baby Wipes
- Plastic Sandwich Zip bags (1 per child)
- Large T-Shirts (to wear over church clothes during activity)
Mix a ratio of 4 cups of flour to 1 cup of baby oil. Let the children help you measure and pour. Give them some wooden spoons and let them mix and squish the sky dough to make clouds! Before the end of class, have the kids divide the dough into sandwich bags to take home.
SNACK TIME & CENTERS: 7:10-7:25 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
Coloring Page
Crayons
Snack
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks.
A coloring sheet will be available for kids to color while they eat their snack.
DISMISSAL 7:25-7:30 p.m.
Prepare for dismissal.
- PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
- Cloud Spotter Activity Worksheet (Printed on Cardstock)
Scripture Reference
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” – Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV)