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Flickering Fireflies
(God's Animals)
by Sandra Harris

While teaching about fireflies, this lesson also teaches about friendship. This lesson's skit reveals what happened to Elmer Elephant after he strayed from the path in last week's lesson.

Characteristic: showing others God’s ways

Bible Verse: You are the light that gives light to the world. Matthew 5:14
And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put the light on a lampstand. Then the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do. Live so they will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

Concepts:

Firefly is the common name given to several kinds of beetles that glow like little sparks of fire in the dark. The light is a tiny fire started by chemicals in the firefly’s tail. It is used to communicate with other fireflies, sort of like Morse code. Another chemical puts the tiny fire out before it can do any damage. Lightning bug is another common name for fireflies.

In the U.S., fireflies are generally found east of the Rocky Mountains. They can also be found in other parts of the world, usually in warm, tropical regions. In some parts of the world, women have used fireflies as decorative items either pinned in their hair or pinned to their clothing. In some regions, people put many fireflies in a glass jar and use them for a lantern.

The Bible says that people who know Jesus are lights to other people. Christians can show others the way to God.

Center Activities

Art: Provide a variety of drawing materials, such as flourescent crayons and felt markers, glitter crayons, glitter glue, gold and silver markers, chalk, dark and light colored paper. Allow children to experiment and try to make bright, shining drawings.

Science: Bring a few simple, inexpensive flashlights to class. Take one apart and put it back together. Let the children try taking them apart and putting them back together.

Craft: Paper Fireflies

Use the graphic above as a reference to draw patterns for a firefly: body, 4 wings, tail, center spot on back and 2 antennae. Cut out pieces for each child. Show a completed firefly. Let children glue their pieces onto dark colored paper, assisting only when necessary. Have children glue gold glitter to the tail to make their fireflies “sparkle.”

Story Time: Fiona Firefly

Enrichment Ideas

1. Tell the story of how God sent Philip to teach a man about God. You can read about how Philip was a “light” to others in Acts 8.

2. Let children play with flashlights in a darkened room.

3. Create a special border for last week’s bulletin board (elephants): make small fireflies from aluminum foil and tape these around the light bulbs on a string of miniature Christmas tree lights. Hang the string of lights around the bulletin board.

4. Poems to share:
“Firefly” by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
“To a Firefly” by J. Morris Jones
“Fireflies” by Carol Ann Piggins

“Fireflies” author unknown
Fireflies flicker In the starless night,
Light my path With your yellow light,
Nature’s wonder, Nature’s prize,
Living fireworks Dot the skies.

“Five Little Fireflies” by Sandra Harris
Five little fireflies flickering by my door;
One light went out, then there were four.
Four little fireflies glimmering near a tree;
One light went out, then there were three.
Three little fireflies shining by my shoe;
One light went out, then there were two.
Two little fireflies sparkling like the sun;
One light went out, then there was one.
One little firefly glowing in the park,
Its light went out, then it was dark!

5. Light sparklers in a safe, outdoor area (if legal in your area). Supervise closely.

6. If you have access to an overhead projector, an opaque projector or a movie projector, set it up and let the kids experiment with projecting things on a wall.

7. Set a lamp a few feet from a wall. Show children how to make shadow puppets with their hands, then let them experiment.

8. Ask children how much light it would take to see in a dark room. In a darkened room, turn on a flashlight then turn off the main light. Ask children to tell what they can see. Now turn on a very small flashlight or light a candle, then turn off the flashlight. What can the children see now? Turn on the big flashlight again. What can they see? Any differences? Does a small bit of light make a big difference?

9. Click here for another firefly craft at Kinderart.com.

10. For an online version of the African folktale Anansi and Firefly, click here.