IT'S TIME GAME: Have children gather in a circle and one child will be "IT" (or the teacher to begin the game) and will say IT IS TIME to clap our hands, IT IS TIME to stomp our feet, IT IS TIME to sing a song, etc. Give all the children an opportunity to take a turn. Teacher will let the children know that our lesson today is about TIME.

BE READY GAME: This can be run like a relay race! The children can get into teams and the teacher or leader will say BE READY. When the teacher/leader shouts a command, that first team player will run to the finish line and do "that command" (ideas as in above game, etc) and run back to their team. Continue to play and to discuss how IMPORTANT it is to BE READY!

CELEBRATION CLOCK: Let children draw and decorate a big poster board CLOCK to either take home or to hang in the classroom (teacher can have a big round circle drawn ahead of time - use a big dinner plate or something similar). The words on the clock can say BE READY WHEN JESUS COMES... or IT IS TIME TO GET READY FOR JESUS' COMING, etc. The "hands" of the clock can be drawn and/or attached with a brad. (If desired and time allows, children can write the "ways" that we can be ready for Jesus - either directly ON the clock or on the poster below the clock).

ADVENT CALENDAR TREE:  Children can make an advent calendar with green felt for a Christmas tree and the days of the month for children to remove each day! (Colored little round sticker dots can be used for the days of the month - if children are able, they can write the days of the month on each sticker themselves, or else the teacher can do that part).

"BE READY" BAGS:  Each child can decorate a small lunch bag with a clock, BE READY WHEN JESUS COMES and Matthew 24:36,44, etc. Teacher can have slips of paper hidden around the designated area for children to collect and put into their bags. The slips of paper will say ideas of how we should be ready as mentioned in our story, such as loving others, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, helping the poor, praying, reading out Bible, etc. For extra FUN for the children, the teacher can have some little candies or small mini gifts for children to add to their bags, to take home. When children return, they can sit in a circle and read some of the idea slips in their paper and discuss each one.

I'M READY for WHAT?

Option 1: Children can pantomime something that they are doing to prepare for Jesus' coming - ideas listed in the BE READY BAG game above.

Option 2: As an idea for younger children, the teacher could give all the children an idea to "pretend they are doing" and enjoy watching them have fun pretending! Discussion about being ready for Jesus to come back!

Song:  "What If It Were Today?" by Leila Naylor Morris

Lead Sheet (PDF) - Verse Only

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

This song is in the public domain and may be downloaded and reproduced for religious or educational use by churches, schools, home schoolers, and other non-profit organizations.  Due to the very high range of the refrain, I only used the verse of this hymn.  If you wish to use it all, it is found any many hymnals.