Center Time in God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers

Each God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers lesson will suggest small group Center Time activities that are easy to follow and developmentally appropriate. After a child arrives, help each one make a choice as to where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. Children are encouraged to rotate through the different Centers, but rotation is not necessary. Approximately 15-20 minutes should be allotted for Center Time each week.

Center Time allows children to play in constructive and imaginative ways and helps them practice important relational skills such as sharing. It also engages them in various motor skills while they are having fun. Center Time provides a relaxed opportunity for leaders to have informal conversations with each child and informally introduce the Bible story.

Suggested Center Time activities are provided for a Block Center, Home Living Center, Puzzle Center, Art Center, and Bible Learning Center. Suggested activities for Block, Home Living, and Puzzle Centers do not change from week to week and assume the needed items (below) are provided. Activities for the Art Center and Bible Learning Center are different each week and in each plan (Hour A and Hour B). Conversation with the kids during Center Time is encouraged in order to link each activity to the Bible truth, Memory Phrase, and/or the Bible story.

Block Center Needed Items and Instructions

• Wooden blocks
• A carpet for the center if possible
• The Block Center is best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow.
• Encourage preschoolers to work together to build.

Home Living Center Needed Items and Instructions

• Doll(s) and clothes
• Doll bed and blanket(s)
• Bottles
• Small rocking chair
• Sink unit
• Stove unit
• Small table and chairs
• Plastic dishes
• Child pots and pans
• Arrange items and furniture in a corner of the room.
• Organize the dishes and other accessories.
• Children are naturally drawn to this Center.
• Encourage children to role play different family roles and to practice good behavior.

Puzzle Center Needed Items and Instructions

• A variety of durable, non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles
• Encourage children to finish a puzzle before rotating to a different center if possible.
• Give guidance rather than doing the puzzle for the child.

Bible Learning Center Needed Items and Instructions

• Needed supplies and instructions for each week’s Bible Learning Center are identified in that week’s lesson plan.
• Any needed reproducibles are provided in the lesson plan.
• Suggested activities for each week’s Bible Learning Center are different for Hour A and Hour B.

Art Center Needed Items and Instructions

• Needed supplies and instructions for each week’s Art Center are identified in that week’s lesson plan.
• Any needed reproducibles are provided in the lesson plan.
• Suggested activities for each week’s Art Center are different for Hour A and Hour B.

Other helpful articles about God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers (2020) can also be found on the site.