Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

Christian Lesson Plans and Activities for Kids

Christian Lesson Plans and Activities for Kids thumbnail
Create lively biblical activities to inspire Christian children.

Telling biblical stories on a regular basis can familiarize children with the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ offers simple truths children can relate to. Biblical chapters that emphasize personal responsibility with animated storytelling will engage young listeners. Children respond best to the message of a loving and forgiving God. Choose activities that are hands-on, and allow ample time to make a spiritual impression.

  1. Bible

    • The Bible inspires ethics that children can relate to.
      The Bible inspires ethics that children can relate to.

      Stories from the Bible inspire ethics and values. The book of Daniel highlights faith and strength. Combine the storytelling of Daniel and the Lion's den with a craft to underscore Christian values. Assemble lunch-sized paper bags, construction paper, scissors and crayons to construct Daniel paper-bag puppets. Supply large or over-size paper grocery bags along with crayons and construction paper for lion masks. The same materials can be used for the New Testament Gospels. Cut out fish shapes and decorate with glitter and sparkles to represent Simon Peter, a disciple who was a fisherman. Ask the children to write one word on their fish that best expresses a Christian value, such as "honesty." Use tie-dye paints and white T-shirts to craft brightly colored shirts to illustrate the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors.

    Hymns

    • Singing hymns expresses devotion to God.
      Singing hymns expresses devotion to God.

      Children's choirs demonstrate an expression of spiritual musicality. Provide a different musical experience by singing in unison with a folk guitar. Bring instruments used in the Bible to illustrate the biblical history of music. A psaltery which resembles a lute, drums and pan-pipes intrigue and encourage children to sing. Children may be encouraged to bring their own instruments to play and share. Combine hymn singing with a craft to deepen understanding of the lyrics. For example, assemble wax and candle molds for older children to craft their own candles for "This Little Light of Mine." Younger children can paint toilet paper tubes. Help the younger children tear flame-colored tissue paper to stuff inside their tubes, to simulate lit candles. Large paper towel dowels can be decorated with paint mixed with glue. Sprinkle glitter and sequins onto the dowels for use as horns for "Go Tell it On The Mountain." Twist assorted colored pipe-cleaners together and cover with tissue paper to create halos for "Angels We Have Heard on High." Fold several sheets of 8x10 paper in half and staple to create a Bible for "Jesus Loves Me." Pass out crayons for the children to color and dictate words of spiritual wisdom for their "Bibles."

    Holidays

    • Create a dramatic performance of the Nativity.
      Create a dramatic performance of the Nativity.

      Religious holidays trigger high energy for many children. The major holidays are Advent, Christmas and Easter. Providing the spiritual context through activity shows children a deeper meaning. Co-create a script for the Nativity with the children and dramatize a short excerpt for church. Use sugar dough to make angel cookies or gingerbread to make a creche. Cut out religious iconic shapes for children to color for an Advent calendar. Provide a large poster board with verses of the Nativity as the Advent calendar board. Read a few verses each session and allow the child to post the shapes on the calendar. Make a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake to celebrate Christmas. During Lent season, a pancake breakfast is made for Shrove Tuesday. Prepare a meal together for Easter with food mentioned in the Bible. Cook a meal using fish, loaves of bread and salad as a special activity. Invite each child to contribute one item from home for the salad and assign each child one cooking task. Create a discussion on cooperation. Halloween is not a holiday for Christians, but many celebrate Hallelujah night as an alternative. Children come to church dressed as their favorite Biblical character. Jewelry made with yarn and strung with fruit-flavored cereal replaces trick-or-treating. Children share the history of their Bible character .

    Family

    • Create banners of Christian principles.
      Create banners of Christian principles.

      Sunday School lessons shared with families help keep the message of Christ consistent. Parents can help their child find pennies or loose change or share a small portion of their allowance to donate to Sunday School. Create a chart with a picture of your child and of Jesus in the middle. Allow her to place cheerful religious or biblical stickers on the chart each time she shares what she learned in Sunday School. Use a magnet board with magnetic letters to form the words Jesus Christ. Add the word Christian, below Jesus Christ. Ask your child to take away the letters "-i-a-n" from Christian to illustrate the Christ is the root word. Explain that Christians who carry the name Christ have the responsibility to act as Christ did. Create banners of Christian principles for children to paint and post in their rooms. Write or recite the Song of Songs verse that reads and "His banner over me was love."

Related Searches:

References

Resources

  • Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images

Comments

You May Also Like

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured