LEAVES AND GRAPES: Give children a piece of construction paper and let them draw their hands on the paper for the leaves of the grape vine. Use small pieces of purple cotton balls for the grapes. Write, JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE AND WE ARE THE BRANCHES. Draw branches around the leaves and grapes.

BRANCHES TO BONFIRE: After the teacher has told the story and talked about the branches being broken off and withering, have children break many branches and build a small bon fire, if location is available. Roasting a marshmallow or a hot dog would add to the fun, while telling the story again.

VINE BRANCHES: Give each child a branch of a tree or a vine and make as long of a “vine” as possible. Tell children that we must be connected to the VINE if we are to bear any fruit. Let them learn and recite their Bible verse today, while in their VINE line or in a VINE circle.

VINE LINE: Each child can draw a big curvy line around their paper. Then they can copy the Bible verse on that curvy line. Copy the verse from the chalkboard that the teacher has written down. After the Bible verse is completed, let children put purple-ink fingerprints on the vine line.

CANDLE SINGING: Provide one candle for each boy and girl, or a flashlight, for them to sing THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE. After singing the song, children can draw a candle with a yellow flame and write BEARING FRUIT when I let my light SHINE! If time allows, children could cut out the candle and the flame and the candle holder and glue them onto another sheet of paper.

SING A SONG: His Banner Over Me is Love (Verse… HE is the vine and WE are the branches… stand straight and tall for the VINE and stretch out arms and legs in funny shapes for the branches).

GRAPES SNACK: After reciting the Bible verse together as a class, let children have grapes for a snack and a simple fruit dip for the grapes, if desired. Fruit dip can just be so simple that even the children can mix it up – cream cheese, brown sugar.

VINE GROWING: Give children crepe paper to twist into long “vine-looking” branches and string along the wall or on a long banner that is hung on the wall. Write today’s Bible verse and encourage children say the verse as they write it. OR, children can each write a word or phrase and HANG the words from the twisted crepe VINE.

Sheet Music (PDF)

Piano Accompaniment (MP3) Right click and save to your computer.

This song may be freely downloaded and reproduced for religious or educational use by churches, schools, home schoolers, and other non-profit organizations.