Soil - Earth
Aim
To help children begin to understand that God gives us strength and we can depend on him.
Bible Reading
For Leader's preparation - Luke 8:4-8
Preparation
You will need:
- A healthy plant with a good root system in a pot (Spider plant would do)
- Rubber gloves, its a dirty assembly!
- Glass container of good soil
- Bucket or washing up bowl
- Watering can with water
- Read through the parable in Luke 8:4-15, although verses 9-15 will not be used with the children.
- CD/tape of slow, low, melodic music. For example, the opening two minutes of Elgar's Cello Concerto.
- Sack (small hessian bag) of seeds (plus dustpan and brush for afterwards!)
Focus Table
- the potted plant
- watering can
- glass container of good soil
Introduction
Show the potted plant. Ask why is it upright / firm / growing / healthy? (Because it is in the soil)
Then empty the pot (holding the plant between fingers vertically) over the bucket so that the soil falls out.
Show the roots.
Explain that in the dark, under the soil something very important is growing too. Roots.
Roots are looking for water.
Roots are creeping in and out of the soil to hold on so the plant will be strong and secure and not flop about.
The plant needs the soil so it can first grow roots, and then grow the green parts above the soil.
Soil is dark, and cool, and necessary. It has water hidden in it.
Re-pot the plant carefully.
Pour a little water onto the soil in the glass container and see the soil soak it up.
Place back on focus table.
Story - The Sower and the Seed
Jesus told a story about the soil.
There was a field, and a path, and a farmer and a big sack of seeds... but no machines!
So the farmer sowed the seeds by throwing them this way and that (scatter seeds) as he walked backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards all over his field. At last he had finished. He went home for his supper and a big sleep in the darkness.
Some seeds were scared because they had fallen on the path that went through the field. They would be trodden on and the birds would eat them up.
Some seeds said 'ouch' and 'help', because they had fallen on a stony part of the field. There was not enough soil here, so they would not be able to get their little roots down into the ground to get water.
Some seeds were frightened because they had fallen into thorn bushes which would grow taller than them. They would not be able to get the sunlight and there would be no air to breath. Soon they would die.
Some seeds were delighted! They were relieved and thankful because they had fallen onto good soil. When the rain came they would be able to grow their roots into the soil and get water, their roots would be able to hold on. Then the seed could grow a stem and leaves, and later grow grain and become a field of wheat. The farmer would be very pleased.
(Note. Be prepared to stop the parable here leaving it unfinished with no explanation. The disciples did not understand the meaning of this parable and asked Jesus about it. I think it best not to explain it to KS1 children, except perhaps Y2 in the context of an RE lesson. (see Primary Vision/Year Two/Parables).
Thinking Time
Play the music while children close eyes. As it plays... Say
We are going to imagine a seed slowly growing a root which winds its way in and out of the dark soil. Then another root, then another, looking for water and making the seed firm in the ground.
Then the shoot grows - a stem, two leaves, four leaves, six leaves...
The roots go on growing, holding the plant firm and strong in the soil.
At last, it becomes a great big tree. Because of the soil.
Prayer
Dear God
Thank you for soil that holds secret food for plants.
Thank you that it can hold on to the roots
to make plants and trees stay in the ground
and grow properly.
Amen
Song Suggestions
The farmer comes to scatter the seed - Someone's
Singing Lord No.56 - A & C Black Ltd
God who made the earth - Come and Praise I No.10 - BBC
Publications
Deep in the darkness of the soil -
© Audrey Bomford
