ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

JESUS' BIRTH THROUGH THE EYES OF ISAIAH

COOKING WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7a
Key/Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6b

PURPOSE

Students will identify their own names and other names they are known by. They will learn some of the names of Jesus and discuss what those names tell us about Jesus. Children will make sugar cookie dough and shape it into letters of their names, and/or shapes that show something about what their names mean.

PREPARATION

See Bible Background

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Markers or pens
  
• Newsprint or paper
  

Equipment for cookie making

• Baking timer
  
• Cookie sheets
  
• Heavy mixer, if available (this is heavy dough)
  
• Large bowls
  
• Measuring cups and spoons
  
• Oven
  

Ingredients for cookie recipe

(Note: This recipe was chosen and slightly edited because it is easy to manipulate -- not too sticky or too crumbly.)

• 2 cups white sugar
  
• 1 cup shortening (NOT butter or margarine)
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 cup buttermilk
  
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
  

Advance Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. For younger children, pre-measure ingredients. To make the recipe with older children, mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another, then combine. Cookie sheets need to be greased. Cookies should bake 8-10 minutes.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Have the ingredients for the cookies set out on a table. Ask the kids to identify each ingredient by name. Why is it important for each item to have it's own name? If you asked them to hand you the "white powdery stuff", would they know what to give you?

Measure and mix, asking each child to identify his or her item, and what it does for the cookie dough (i.e., eggs make it stick together, sugar makes it sweet ...). If you miss any of the ingredients will you have a problem? Why?

This dough is good to mix by hand -- make sure hands are clean!

Give each child a small portion of the dough. Invite them to create the first initial of their name, or if they know the meaning of their name, maybe a symbol that represents their name. It is important that these creations be FLAT, no more than 1 /4" thick, or they will cook unevenly and burn.

Dig - Main Content

While the cookies are baking, discuss:
[LIST]

What names are you known by?

What other names -- i.e., brother, sister, son, daughter, goalie, pitcher?

What about nicknames?

What do all these names tell others about you?
[\LIST]
Distribute Bibles and read the Scripture passages aloud or ask the children to do so. Make a list of the names Jesus was known by. Go through the list of names one by one and ask volunteers to suggest what this name tells us about Jesus. What other names do we know Jesus by? (i.e., Lord, Teacher, Savior) When we put all these names together, what do we know about Jesus?

Reflect - Closure

Say a blessing for the cookies:

Jesus, you are so many things to us, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Help us to listen when you counsel us. We praise you as our God, and we love you as our Father. Bring peace to our world and our hearts. We love you. Thank you for all these things, and please bless our cookies as we share them. Amen.

Eat the cookies and depart!

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If there is extra cookie dough, have the children work together to form the letters of the name "JESUS".

CONTRIBUTOR: Kim Trimboli

[This message was edited by Writing Team on November 11, 2002 at 10:31 PM.]

We are going to use this workshop in December. How many cookies does this recipe make?

We don't have a place to bake, so we used edible dough made with peanut butter, honey, and non-fat dry milk.

We are using this workshop right now. This is a guess but I'd say that one batch of the recipe listed above, made enough for 30 kids to make two large letters each. Have extra flour on hand to keep things from getting too sticky. We are also having the kids decorate the cookies with colored sprinkles applied before baking.
--Carol