Choose a simple Bible verse that you want the children to learn. Lead the children in singing the verse, fitting it to simple tunes they already know such as "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star." Add actions to provide emphasis and illustration of the concepts, and encourage the children to mimic them.
This game is an effective ice breaker that will introduce the children to one another and help them get over feelings of shyness. Have the children stand in a circle and hold hands. Then the circle draws inwards, tightening until the children are standing very close to one another. The children then switch up and grab onto a different hand. Now, without letting go, ask the children to try to untangle themselves.
With this activity your aim is to emphasize all the gifts the children have received for which they should be thankful, such as a home, a family, food, and love. Prior to the lesson, gather example gifts (a cardboard heart, plastic food, and so forth) that represent these things, and wrap them in colorful gift boxes. The children take turns opening the gift boxes after being told that these are "Presents from God." The children can try to identify what "gift" each item represents, with you providing hints and guidance as necessary.
For this activity, prepare cutouts of lambs from white paper and hide them in various places around the lesson area. Explain to the children that the lambs are lost and the class must help bring them back, then direct them to search for the lambs. When a child finds a cutout lamb, you can thank him and place the lamb on a bulletin board next to a picture of Jesus. When all the lambs have been found, ask the children, who is looking after them, and relate the activity back to an appropriate Scriptural lesson.