Here are the lesson notes for the first lesson that I will be teaching to the children in Taiwan. Thanks to Uncle Sam for providing the PowerPoint slides which are described in the subsection titles.
Today we’re going to go into a time machine and go back thousands of years to find out how things were created.
jin tian wo men yao jin qu yi ge shi jian ji qi he hui qu hen jiu yi qian shi hou wei le yao kan dao wo men de shou hui shen me bei zhao wu zi
Jīntiān wǒmen jiāng jìnrù yī tái shíjiān jīqì bìng huísù shù qiān nián, yǐ liǎojiě chuàngzàole duō shào dōngxī.
The Story of Creation - Genesis 1-2:3
How many of you know what the Earth is? Well, we’re going to learn how Earth was created. The story I am telling you today is from Genesis, the first book of the Bible.
Nǐ men dāng zhōng yǒu duō shǎo rén zhī dào dì qiú shì shén me? Hǎo ba, wǒ men jiāng xué xí dì qiú de chuàng zào fāng shì. Wǒ jīn tiān gào sù nǐ de gù shì lái zì chuàng shì jì, zhè shì shèng jīng de dì yī běn shū.
Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Qǐ chū shén chuàng zào tiān dì. De shì kōngxū hùndùn. Yuān miàn hēi’àn. Shén de líng yùnxíng zài shuǐmiàn shàng.
The first thing that God created was the Earth on the first day.
zai di yi tian, Shàng dì chuàng zào dìqiú.
Are you afraid of the dark? Imagine if everything, the whole wide world, was always dark.
Nǐ hài pà hēi’àn ma? Xiǎng xiàng yī xià, rú guǒ yī qiè, zhěng gè shì jiè dōu shì hēi’àn de.
Imagine if you couldn’t see anything even if it was right in front of your nose. Everyone close your eyes.
Xiǎng xiàng yī xià, ru guo zheng ge jie hei dao ni bu neng can dao ni de bi zhi de mian qian. da jia xian zai dōu bì shàng yǎn jīng.
And God said, “Let there be light,”
ran hou Shén shuō, yào yǒu guāng, jiù yǒu le guāng
Now open your eyes. On the first day, there was light so that we could see. By saying “Let there be light,” God created light.
da jia Xiàn zài zhēng kāi ni men de yǎn jīng. Zài dì yī tiān, yǒu guāng, suǒ yǐ wǒ men kě yǐ kàn dào. Tōngguò mìnglìng “yào yǒu guāng”, shàngdì chuàngzàole guāngmíng
Can you guys imagine it was always nighttime or always daytime. Which do you like more? Raise your hands if like day more. Raise your hand if you like night more.
Nǐ néng xiǎng xiàng ni mei tian shi wan shang huò shi bái tiān. Nǐi nǎ yī gè bi jiao xi huan? Rú guǒ xi huan bai tian bi jiao duō, ju shou. (pause for response) Rú guǒ nǐ bi jiao xi huān yè wǎn, ju shou.
God separated light from darkness and called the light “Day” and darkness “Night”
Well on the first day, God separated the light from the dark and created day and night.
Zài dì yī tiān, shàng dì ba guang he hēi’àn fen kāi, rì yè chuàng zào.
Day 2
Now that we have day and night, let’s go to the second day.
Xiànzài wǒmen yǒu báitiān hé hēiyè, wǒmen yǒu qu dì èr tiān.
Looking at the picture, who can tell me what is strange about the Earth? Is there any land? The Earth is all water right now. Who do you think created the sky?
Kàn kàn túpiàn, shéi néng gàosù wǒ xiànzài dìqiú yǒu shé me qíguài zhī chù? Yǒu tǔdì ma? Dìqiú xiànzài dōu shì shuǐ. Nǐ rènwéi shéi chuàngzàole tiānkōng?
Genesis 1:7-8 And God made the expanse and separate the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Shén jiù zào chū kōngqì, jiāng kōngqì yǐxià de shuǐ, kōngqì yǐshàng de shuǐ fèn kāi le. Shì jiù zhèyàng chéngle. Shén chēng kōngqì wéi tiān. Yǒu wǎnshàng, yǒu zǎochén, shì dì èr rì.
Although we have day and night, nothing else has been created yet. If God made people now, we would just be floating in space or drowning in the water. So on the second day, God separated the water from the sky.
Suīrán wǒmen you báitiān hé hēiyè, dàn hái méiyǒu chuàngzào rènhé qítā dōngxī. Rúguǒ shàngdì xiànzài zào rén, wǒmen jiù huì piāofú zài tàikōng zhōng huò yān sǐ zài shuǐzhōng. Suǒyǐ zài dì èr tiān, shàngdì jiāng shuǐ yǔ tiānkōng gé kāi.
Can anyone tell me what else we’re missing right now? We have the water and the sky. Can we survive? Are any of you good swimmers?
Shéi néng gàosù wǒmen xiànzài hái quēshǎo shénme ne? Wǒmen yǒu shuǐ hé tiānkōng. Wǒmen néng huó xiàlái ma? Nǐmen ke yi you yong hen hao ma?
Day 3 - Genesis 1:9-10 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
Shén shuō, tiānxià de shuǐ yào jù zài yī chù, shǐ hàndì lùchū lái. Shì jiù zhèyàng chéngle. Shén chēng hàndì wèi de, chēng shuǐ de jù chù wèi hǎi. Shén kànzhe shì hǎo de.
This is good since we now have water, land, and air.
Zhè hěn hǎo, yīn wèi wǒ men xiàn zài yǒu shuǐ, tǔ dì hé kōng qì.
But right now on land, there was nothing, no life. What are the animals and humans going to eat?
ke shi zai lùdì shàng, méiyǒu rènhé dōngxī, méiyǒu shēngmìng. dòngwù hé rén ke yi chi she me ne?
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.”
Shén shuō, de yào fāshēng qīngcǎo, hé jié zhǒngzǐ de càishū, bìng jiéguǒzi de shùmù, gè cóng qí lèi, guǒ zi dōu bāozhe hé. Shì jiù zhèyàng chéngle.
So now we have grass, flowers, and trees.
Suǒyǐ xiànzài wǒmen yǒu cǎo, huā hé shù
Do we have any gardeners here? Riley, what is your favorite plant? Who created that plant?
Wǒmen zhè li yǒu yuándīng ma?
After God created the plants on the Earth, He created something in the sky. Who can tell me what they see when they look up at the sky at night?
Zài shàngdì chuàngzàole dìqiú shàng de zhíwù zhīhòu, tā zài tiānkōng zhōng chuàngzàole yīxiē dōngxī. Shéi néng gàosù wǒ tāmen wǎnshàng yǎngwàng tiān kòng shí kàn dàole shénme?
Genesis 1:14-15 And God said “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Shén shuō, tiānshàng yào yǒu guāng tǐ, kěyǐ fēn zhòuyè, zuò jìhào, dìng jiélìng, rìzi, nián suì. Bìng yào fāguāng zài tiānkōng, pǔzhào zài dìshàng. Shì jiù zhèyàng chéngle.
Earlier we said that we see stars in the sky. The position of the stars help us figure out the seasons, years and the days.
Zǎo xiē shíhòu wǒmen shuō wǒmen kàn dào tiānkōng zhōng de xīngxīng. Xīngxīng de wèizhì bāngzhù wǒmen zhǎo chū jìjié, niánfèn hé rìzi.
So God created stars on the 4th day.
Suǒyǐ shàngdì zài dì sì tiān chuàngzàole xīngxīng.
The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:16-19 “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also… And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”
Yúshì shén zàole liǎng gè dà guāng, dà de guǎn zhòu, xiǎo de guǎn yè. Yòuzào zhòng xīng… Yǒu wǎnshàng, yǒu zǎochén, shì dì sì rì.
Who can tell me what these two great lights are? And who created them?
Shéi néng gàosù wǒ zhè liǎng gè wěidà de dēng shì shénme? Shéi chuàngzàole tāmen?
Now its time for day 5. I need a 5th grader’s help now. Matthew, can you tell me what your favorite sea creature is? Who do you think created those?
Xiànzài shì dì 5 tiān de shíjiān. Wǒ xiànzài xūyào yi ge 5 niánjí xuéshēng de bāngzhù.
Day 5 - God created fishes of the sea and the great sea creatures.
Now I need a 4th grader. Jonny, can you tell me what your favorite bird is? Who do you think created those?
Xiànzài wǒ xūyào yīgè si niánjí xuéshēng.
God created every winged bird according to its kind
Now I need a 4th grader to help me. Micah, what is your favorite land animal? Who do you think created those?
Xiànzài wǒ xūyào yīgè sì niánjí xuéshēng lái bāngzhù wǒ. Mí jiā, nǐ zuì xǐhuān de lùdì dòngwù shì shénme? Nǐ rènwéi shéi chuàngzàole nàxiē?
Day 6 - God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25
Yúshì shén zào chū yěshòu, gè cóng qí lèi. Shēngchù, gè cóng qí lèi. Dìshàng yīqiè kūnchóng, gè cóng qí lèi. Shén kànzhe shì hǎo de.
God formed each animal by hand including rhinos, hippos, elephants, and your favorite animals. And He saw that it was good.
Shàngdì yòng shǒu xíngchéngle měi zhǐ dòngwù, bāokuò xīniú, hémǎ, dà xiàng hé nǐ zuì xǐhuān de dòngwù. Tā kàn dào zhè hěn hǎo.
Who can tell me who gave birth to you? Who gave birth to mommy? Who gave birth to grandma? Okay now who gave birth to the first person?
Shéi néng gàosù wǒ shéi shēngle nǐ? Shéi shēngle māmā? Shéi shēngle po po? Hǎo de, xiànzài shéi shēngle dì yī gè rén?
The answer is no one because God formed the first person from the dust.
Dá’àn shì méiyǒu rén, yīn wéi shàngdì cóng chén’āi zhōng xíngchéngle dì yī gè rén.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature.
Yēhéhuá shén yòngdì shàng de chéntǔ zào rén, jiāng shēngqì chuī zài tā bíkǒng lǐ, tā jiù chéngle yǒu líng de huó rén, míng jiào yàdāng.
So God created humans and he breathed the breath of life into us. Even though mommy gave birth to you, God also created each and every one of us.
Suǒyǐ shàngdì chuàngzàole rénlèi, tā wèi wǒmen zhùrùle shēngmìng de qìxí. Jíshǐ māmā shēng xiàle nǐ, shàngdì yě chuàngzàole wǒmen měi yīgè rén.
Why are humans special? How are we different from other animals?
Wèishéme rénlèi tèbié? Wǒmen yǔ qítā dòngwù yǒu hé bùtóng?
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Shén jiù zhàozhe zìjǐ de xíng xiàng zào rén, nǎi shì zhàozhe tā de xíng xiàng zào nán zào nǚ.
Did God create any other thing in His image? Wow so we are very special.
Shàngdì shìfǒu zài tā de xíngxiàng zhōng chuàngzàole rènhé qítā dōngxī? Wa suǒyǐ wǒmen hěn tèbié.
This was the end of the 6th day. Wow how much has God done in 6 days? Let’s find out what he is going to do next.
Zhè shì dì liù tiān de jiéshù. Wa shén zài 6 tiānnèi zuòle duōshǎo? Ràng wǒmen kàn kàn tā jiē xiàlái yào zuò shénme.
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day; and sanctified it: because in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Dào dì qī rì, shén zàowù de gōng yǐjīng wánbì, jiù zài dì qī rì xiēle tā yīqiè de gōng, ānxíle. Shén cì fú gěi dì qī rì, dìng wèi shèng rì, yīnwèi zài zhè rì shén xiēle tā yīqiè chuàngzào de gōng, jiù ānxíle.
All of God’s creations over these 6 days are very very good.
Zài zhè 6 tiān lǐ, suǒyǒu shàngdì de chuàngzào dōu shì fēicháng hǎo de.
What was your favorite thing thing? Who created it? Is that good?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de dōngxī shì shénme? Shéi chuàngzàole tā? Zhèyàng hǎo ma?
Creation - “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1 “And God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
This is our Bible verse for today. Could you please repeat after me?
Zhè shì wǒmen jīntiān de shèngjīng jīng wén. Nǐ néng zài wǒ zhīhòu chóngfù yīcì ma?
Humans are also special among all of God’s creation? Who can tell me why humans are special?
Rénlèi zài shàngdì de chuàngzào zhōng yěshì tèbié de ma? Shéi néng gàosù wǒ wèishéme rénlèi hěn tèbié?
God loves us - He created us more special than all His other creations.
Shàngdì ài wǒmen - tā chuàngzàole wǒmen bǐ tā suǒyǒu qítā chuàngzào gèng tèbié de dōngxī.
We know he loves us since he breathed life into us and created us in his own image.
Wǒmen zhīdào tā ài wǒmen, yīnwèi tā wèi wǒmen zhùrùle shēngmìng, bìng yǐ tā zìjǐ de xíngxiàng chuàngzàole wǒmen.