My Favorite Pumpkin Object Lesson (updated Oct 2024)

I first taught this lesson in the late 70’s, it’s a favorite lesson of mine with a great message for kids and adults. The late Eleanor Harwood formerly with Child Evangelism Fellowship® of SW AL adapted it for the Good News Club®.

All you need is a pumpkin! Make sure you cut out a SIMPLE happy pumpkin face. Be sure to save the cut-out parts for your lesson. Be extremely careful not to break any of the cut-out parts (eyes, nose, mouth) because you will use them during the lesson. 

You can download the complete lesson with visual aids at the bottom of this post. 

Pumpkin No Glow

Review Game Idea: Kids always love “Mystery Phrase.” Use a wipe board and draw blanks for the phrase: “Let Your Light Shine!” Let children take turns guessing letters for the phrase but they MUST answer a review question to guess a letter and guess the mystery phrase. Have a small treat for the winner!

Alternative Learning Activity: To reinforce the challenge to “Shine for Jesus” put on a wipe board, “Be a Light!” Create 10 mystery words of ways children S. The children can take turns calling out letters (you fill in the letters for all the words that the 1 letter applies for) the child who called out the letter can try to guess one of the 10 mystery words. Examples: Be friendly, Be cheerful, Be loving, Be kind, Be forgiving, Be helpful, Be polite, Be respectful, Be obedient, and Be honest.

Fun Ice Breaker Game: Fill a jar with candy corn and let the children guess how many candy corns. The one closest to the correct number without going over wins! Give a small treat and share the candy corn with all the children. (You can now get marshmallow candy corn! A  great alternative for the really sweet candy corns.) Alternative: Fill a jar with un-popped popcorn instead and serve popcorn for a treat. Have a popcorn ball for the winner.

Musical Pumpkin: Have a small pumpkin and play the song “This Little Light of Mine” while the children pass the pumpkin from one child to the other. Stop the music randomly and the child holding the pumpkin must choose an activity card from a ball or bag. The child can choose rather he/she wants to do the activity, call on someone else raising their hand to do the activity, or everyone do the activity. (For activity cards, make 12 cards and place on each card a random fun activity depending on your age group. For younger children you may want to write activities such as: clap your hands 10 times, jump up and down 5 times, name your favorite color… For older children make the activities more challenging: do 10 push-ups, do 15 squats, run in place for 30 seconds, give everyone a high-five…. )

Dessert: For a great activity, I let the children create their own pumpkin face on their cookie. I gave them a plain sugar cookie, orange frosting with a plastic knife or Popsicle stick to spread, pretzel sticks, and sprinkles. I told them they could break the pretzels to create their pumpkin face. They really had fun and created some awesome pumpkin faces! I also gave them some candy corn and pumpkin marshmallows (the candy corn marshmallows went over better than the original candy corn! They loved them! )

Word-Up: I had a small plastic pumpkin and had a word-up for the day. Every-time I tossed the pumpkin up in the air, the class chanted “Shine for Jesus!”

Song: YouTube has two great videos of the song, “This Little Light of Mine.” One for younger children and one for older children.

For younger children: This Little Light of Mine – For younger children

For older children: This Little Light of Mine – Older

I have an old CD that has This Little Light of Mine with a great rhythm and blue arrangement sung by a child (He sounds like a young Michael Jackson). You can find it used on Amazon: Good News Rhythm and Blues CD

Pumpkin Tips: 

  1. Roast the Pumpkin Seeds for a nutritious treat. My medium size pumpkin yielded 1/4 cup of seeds.
  2. Pumpkins keep a long time before carving but once you carve your pumpkin it won’t last long. I put mine in the refrigerator to keep for Thursday to Sunday (I taught the lesson 3x.) To control sweating, I brought it to Sunday School in a cooler bag and didn’t take it out until ready to teach the lesson. I just wiped the sweat off of it and it worked beautifully! The kids LOVED it and all wanted to take the parts on and off.)
  3. The simplest way to puree your pumpkin to make delicious smoothies is to cut into small pieces and microwave until tender, (put in a covered casserole dish with a tablespoon of water). Remove the shell while the pumpkin is still warm and freeze to use in smoothies later.
  4. Instead of using a candle, you can purchase battery operated Tea Candles at a Dollar Store. Buy extra and use them with the children when you sing the song, “This Little Light of Mine.” You can purchase is large quantities from Oriental Trading.

Hand-Out for Kids: Don’t forget the fun Pumpkin tract from LettheLittleChildrenCome.com  ; I filled my with marshmallow candy corns!

Pumpkin Tract

As promised, here are your lesson and visual aids:

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The Gospel Parade

LOOK!!!! SCROLL TO BOTTOM TO VIEW THE TRUE EASTER STORY!

Hello! Listen to the Story of the Beads and the Gospel Bead Song!

Here is a song that goes with the Gospel Bead Bracelet:

Learn the Gospel Bead Bracelet Song

Now Listen to the Story of the Beads by Mrs. Debbie

What is your favorite color? Comment below.

Here is the Gospel Fuzzie Song that goes with the Gospel Bracelet too!

The Gospel Parade Book: You can download Patti’s book great children’s story, The Gospel Parade, for under $10 here.

Free Download Gospel Bead Song Handout:

Posted in Bible Lessons, Children's Ministry, Color Page, Evangelism, Evangelistic, Seasonal Lessons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fun and Faithful Activities: Engaging Preschoolers this October

Photo by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages

As Christians, Halloween presents a unique opportunity to focus not on the darkness, but on the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Instead of emphasizing spooky themes, we can engage our preschoolers in fun, faith-filled activities that reflect God’s love and protection. This October, let’s explore some exciting, non-scary activities that point our little ones to Christ, while helping them experience joy and peace.


Puppet Shows:

One of the best ways to make Bible stories come alive for young children is through puppetry. Puppets capture kids’ attention, making the stories engaging and relatable. We love using our Gospel Fuzzies hand puppet, which has a different color for each color of the Wordless Book.

A lamb puppet is a perfect tool for illustrating Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who lovingly cares for His flock. They may also love cozying up to it for comfort when things get scary this month.

Whether you’re teaching about Jesus’ care or the importance of trusting God, your preschoolers will love interacting with the puppet while learning deep spiritual truths.

Clapping for Rain:

Interactive activities are wonderful for keeping preschoolers engaged while teaching them biblical lessons. It’s the easiest way for us to adapt any story or children’s lesson to preschoolers! It gets them up and moving, plus they can feel like they’re part of the story.

Since it’s October, we want to help them learn not to fear because Jesus is with them. A great story for that is Jesus calms the storm. Try having your kids clap and/or rub their hands together for rain as you tell the story. Let them softly rub their hands together to simulate rain as the storm begins, and as the storm grows louder in the story, have them clap, clapping harder as you go on. When Jesus speaks to calm the storm, they can stop clapping and experience the peace that follows. This hands-on activity helps them connect emotionally and physically with the lesson of trusting Jesus in scary times.

You can find a whole lesson geared towards preschoolers for Jesus Calms the Storm, as well as 5 others in the Little Kids Can Know God through His Miracles curriculum from Child Evangelism Fellowship. True Way Kids also has great FREE resources for Jesus Calms the Storm.

Crafts:

Crafts and coloring sheets are another great way to help preschoolers connect to biblical lessons. One fun and simple craft is making sheep from cotton balls. As you and your child glue together their fluffy sheep, you can talk about Psalm 56:3 and remind them that God, like a shepherd, is always watching over them and protecting them. It’s a great opportunity to reinforce the message of God’s presence during times of fear. Here’s a great FREE Coloring and Tracing Page for Psalm 56:3.

Using the “Shine the Light” Tract:

During our October outreach events, we love using the Shine the Light tract, which shares the Gospel through a fun, interactive pumpkin-carving activity. This colorful tract includes step-by-step instructions on carving a pumpkin while sharing key Bible verses that you can read and discuss with your child. As children light up their pumpkin, it becomes a visual reminder of how God’s light shines through them! This tool is also perfect for trick-or-treaters, providing a meaningful way to share the Gospel during Halloween.


Preschoolers learn through play, and incorporating biblical themes into their activities is one of the best ways to plant seeds of truth in their hearts. Whether you’re using puppets, interactive storytelling, or crafts, these fun activities help build a foundation of trust in God that will stick with them as they grow. When kids are laughing and playing, they’re also absorbing the lessons that Jesus is always with them and they never need to be afraid.

This October, we can shine Christ’s light through playful and meaningful activities with our preschoolers. Let’s take this season as an opportunity to engage them in joyful, faith-filled experiences that reflect God’s love and protection.

Do you have any fun ideas for engaging your little ones with the Gospel this month? We’d love to hear them—share your ideas in the comments below!

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Posted in Fall Harvest, Fear, Parenting Helps | Leave a comment

Overcoming Fear: Teaching Our Preschoolers about God’s Presence

October tends to bring out all the spooky themes, but for our little ones, it can be more than just pretend. It’s real fear. As parents, we know how easily our preschoolers can feel scared—whether it’s the dark, a storm, or just loud noises. But we also have the incredible opportunity to guide them through these fears by teaching them that God is always with them. Here’s how we can help.


Understanding Fear in Preschoolers

Let’s be real—preschoolers can be afraid of everything! The dark, thunderstorms, loud sounds, and even things like going to bed alone. And since they’re so young, they don’t always know how to express those fears clearly. They might act out, get clingy, or have trouble sleeping. But that’s where we, as parents, can step in to help.

It’s important to recognize their fears are real to them, even if they seem small to us. Have you noticed your little one suddenly getting nervous at night or jumping at loud noises? These are the moments when we can gently help them understand that they’re never alone because God is always with them.


Psalm 56:3 – A Verse to Calm Their Hearts

One of my favorite verses to teach during these times is Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” It’s simple enough for a preschooler to understand, but packed with meaning. Child Evangelism Fellowship even turned it into a song that we added motions to to help you help them remember it. I love repeating this verse with my kids, especially during moments when they feel anxious. It helps them understand that fear is normal, but we can trust God to be with us through it.

You could even make this verse part of your bedtime routine or say/sing it together when they feel scared. The more they hear it, the more they’ll begin to remember it when those feelings of fear creep in.


Practical Tips for Helping Your Preschooler Overcome Fear

Now let’s get into some practical ways you can support your preschooler when they’re feeling afraid.

  1. Modeling Calmness
    When those thunderstorms roll in or the power goes out, it’s natural for kids to freak out a bit. But our calm response can do wonders for them. They look to us for cues on how to react. When we stay calm, it reassures them that everything is okay, and we can even say something like, “God is with us, and He’s keeping us safe.” It’s a great opportunity to remind them of God’s presence. I love wrapping my children up in cozy blankets and hugging them really tight. We’ve coined it “comfy cozy” time and they love knowing they’re safe in my arms. Use this time to share that God is there keeping them safe too.
  2. Storytelling
    Another great way to teach your child about God’s protection is through storytelling. One of the many places you can see God’s protection modeled in Scripture is the story of Jesus calming the storm. It’s such a vivid reminder that even in scary situations, Jesus has everything under control. It’s amazing how much this story calms our kids when they feel afraid. CEF Press Little Kids Can Know God Through His Miracles includes this story with great visuals and additional tips. You can also create your own stories where God helps a little child overcome fear. Make it personal and relatable! Kids love hearing their parents make up stories! Enlist Dad on this one — my husband makes up the best stories that our children love and remember!
  3. Creating a Safe Space
    Bedtime can be a tricky time for preschoolers, especially if they’re afraid of the dark or being alone. Creating a comforting bedtime routine can work wonders for calming their fears. This could include reading a Bible story, saying prayers and singing together, and maybe even using a nightlight that reminds them that God is with them. You can say something like, “Let’s ask God to be with you tonight and help you feel brave,” right before bed. It reassures them and helps make the connection between faith and comfort. We love the song Jesus is Caring For You by Child Evangelism Fellowship. My children also love the calming scents of lavender. We use the Monster Sleep Spray from Jordan Essentials that calms and relaxes them, helping them fall asleep much faster.

Trusting God Together

Helping our preschoolers navigate their fears is an ongoing journey, but reminding them of God’s presence is one of the best gifts we can give. Every time we speak His promises to them, we’re building a foundation of faith that will last a lifetime.

I’d love to hear from you—how do you help your little ones deal with fear? Let’s share ideas and encourage one another as we walk this path of parenting together!

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Navajo Nation Day of Prayer

Join with us today praying for the Navajo Nation. Debbie chose to pray for the Navajo families.

Use can use this prayer guide for additional ways to pray.

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Give NOLA Day 2024 Business Sponsors

We thank the Lord for these business sponsors and their generosity.

Bay Auto Glass & Upholstery (Daphne, AL)

Bay Periodontics & Implants, Marc Millier, DDS, MS (Daphne & Mobile, AL)

Butch Cassidy’s Cafe (Mobile, AL)

David Dutton, CPA, 251-340-7345 (Mobile, AL)

Gethsemane Preschool (Chalmette, LA

Midtown Family Dental (Mobile, AL)

Ponstein’s Food Store, 3523 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA

Zick and Associates, Accounting & Tax Services (Mobile, AL)

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Wee Can Know and Mardi Gras Outreach

Recently, we received an anonymous letter from a concerned individual due to the WCK Mardi Gras outreach. We greatly appreciate this person’s concern about Wee Can Know and Mardi Gras.

First, I do want to reassure this person that we completely agree with them regarding participating in the celebration and the need to separate ourselves from drunkenness and revelry (Romans 13:13-14).

Considering this individual’s concern, we will no longer call the outreach, Mardi Gras. Instead, we will call it what it truly is, The Gospel Parade. Wee Can Know does not “take part in the celebration of Mardi Gras” we are not involved nor pay fees with any Mardi Gras Society.

We do not “adapt to the cult of other Gods” but we shine God’s light in the darkness. We want to expel the darkness with the truth of God’s Word. The Gospel Parade was inspired by the children’s book written by Patti McDonald, “The Gospel Parade.”

As we reflect on scripture, we think of Jesus love for sinners and his willingness to go where they live. To one group who questioned His actions, Jesus replied, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick” (Luke 5:31). We also see Jesus love for sinners with the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-50) and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). While Jesus actions were questioned, Jesus intention was love for the sinner and their need for salvation. In Acts, we see Paul, at Mars Hill, he used the false gods as an object lesson to preach the Gospel (Acts 17:22-31). These are just a few references but there are many others.

Basically, the Gospel Parade happens early in the morning (5 am) before the first parade rolls. Adults and children are sitting and waiting in a family-friendly area (uptown New Orleans) for the first parade of the day (10:30 am). As they are waiting for the parade to roll, we share with them the story of Wordless Book using shoebox floats decorated to represent the meaning of the Wordless Book. We hand the children and adults a Wordless Book bracelet (the beads that tell His story) with a tract explaining the meaning of the colors. The packet also includes follow-up information. What a delight to see these children and adults reading the Gospel tract and wearing the Gospel bracelet after we pass on.

These children and parents along the parade route are individuals created in the image of God that Jesus bled and died for. Many of them are in darkness. They represent the “world” in John 3:16. It’s our desire to introduce them to the One True God and plants seeds that will bear eternal fruit. In New Orleans, the children make shoebox floats at their schools to represent themselves and the things they enjoy. We took that concept and the story from Patti’s book and created the Gospel shoebox floats.

By the time the Mardi Gras parade rolls, our volunteers pack up and go home. Believe me, it would be so much easier and convenient for us to take the day off and not “go.” However, God has called us to “go” and tell His story. What better place to go than where multitudes gather?

As we pray and seek God’s will regarding the Gospel Parade ministry, God continues to confirm His will for us to “go” and tell His story.  

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Posted in Evangelism, Missions, Modesty, The Gospel Parade, Uncategorized, Wordless Book | Tagged | Leave a comment

Wee Can Know Lagniappe’ Spring 2024

We made a couple of videos for our 20th Anniversary Zoom Fellowship that highlight our 20 years of service.

This 5 minute upbeat slideshow highlights the many aspects of our ministry over the years
This 3.5 minute joyful slideshow is packed full of favorite people and memories then and now
Debbie was featured in the March WMU Mission Mosaic Magazine, to her surprise!



This is a slideshow video of our two recent Gospel Parades! 

 

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CEF Press Jesus Gives Life & Hope Easter Lesson Overview

We love the easy- user friendly Easter Outreach Kit designed by Child Evangelism Fellowship. Below I’ve provided demonstrations of crafts, snacks, games, lesson, and songs.

Memory Verse song. Purchase Video just .99 cents @ CEFPress.com
Chris Jolissaint Demonstrates Jesus Gives Life and Hope
lesson Live. Order the full kit digital or flashcard @ CEFPress.com digital is just $2.49, order here.
Debbie Demonstrates the Silly Shepherd Lesson Review Game
CEF Press Song: Jesus is the great Good News is the theme song. Order at CEFPress.com Download the video or MP3 for just .99 cents.

The Greater New Orleans Good News Club volunteer, Vallerie, created these Bingo Cards for the recommended game. She created 22 different cards you can download right here for free! You will need to print an additional card to have calling cards.

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One Teacher – One Child

Do you ever wonder if sharing the Wordless Book to a group of children makes a difference?

Here is one of our CEF’s Teaching Children Effectively Level 1 students (Tim Floyd) father’s testimony.

Posted in Life's Lessons, Teacher Training, Testimonies, Uncategorized, Wordless Book | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fall-o-ween Jesus 2023

What a blessing to partner with Pastor Trevor and Celebration Church (Arabi/Lower 9th Ward) once again for a neighborhood outreach.

This year we added colored lights to our Gospel Shoebox Floats!

We thank the Lord for volunteers: Mia and Mya Augustine, and Candy Campagna. We are grateful for those who helped bundle up our bracelets packs: Trudy Albarado, Mia and Mya Augustine, Cyndy Jones, and Liz McNabb. Also, Alfie Owens who hand-made 2200 bracelets.

This year we distributed almost 600 bracelet packs with a Gospel presentation on Palmisano Blvd, Chalmette and 144 bracelet packs with presentation at Jolly Kids Early Learning Center Fall Fest.

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