Jesus and the Children

Art Workshop--K-2nd

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will make blessing plaques

Lesson Objectives:

• Learn what a blessing is.
• Hear different types of blessings from the Bible and the Book of Common Worship, as well as other sources.
• Make a blessing plaque using a printed blessing.

Workshop Preparation:

• Make a sample of the project.
• Cover tables with newsprint

Supplies List:

• Memory verse poster
• The Beginner’s Bible
• Traditional blessings printed on cards (I will post blessings at the end)
• Blessings printed on parchment paper in fancy font, cut to fit plaques within a one inch margin (so that there is one inch of wood around the paper). Chose three or four different types of blessings.
• Decorative scissors.
• Elmer’s glue
• Pencils
• Wood plaques-prepainted a neutral color
• Glitter glue pens
• Paint aprons and sleeve guards
• Paper towel

Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Lesson Introduction:

Welcome and Introductions: Greet the children and introduce yourself. (Remember, you are interacting with a different group of students each week, who may not know you.)

Explain the purpose of this workshop: Today we make a blessing plaque to give to someone special. We will learn that a blessing is like a prayer.

Our memory verse is from 1 John 3:1, “The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God”

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Bible Story:
INTRODUCTION:
SAY: Right before the passage we are going to read in Luke, people were asking about who could get into heaven. While he was teaching them and telling them stories about the Kingdom of Heaven, some parents brought their children to Jesus. They wanted him to bless them.

ASK: What is a blessing?

SAY: The Greek word used here really means, “to put a good word on.” It was like they wanted Jesus to say a prayer for their children for good things to happen to them.

Read the story from The Beginner’s Bible.

Discuss:
I wonder why the disciples were trying to stop the parents from bringing their children to Jesus.
I wonder why Jesus was angry with them.

Activity—Blessing Plaques
Introduction:
SAY: A blessing is like a prayer, which someone says for the good of another person.

ASK: Can any one think of a time when we say blessings? (before meals, at the end of worship, before communion, when a person is baptized, when elders are ordained, in weddings, other times in worship)

Read a few blessings from the cards.

ASK: Who do you think can say a blessing? (anyone—even kids!)

SAY: Name someone—a friend or family member—you would like to receive a blessing.

Instructions:

Show children the example of the blessing plaque they will be making.

When they put on aprons and move to their tables, have them first write their names on the back in pencil!!

Let children chose the blessing they want to give to someone, from the available blessings.

They may use the decorative edge scissors around the blessing before gluing it on the plaque.

Children may use glitter glue to decorate the margin around the blessing.

If there is time, they may show their blessing plaques.

Clean up and transition to journaling (May be omitted if children need the time to finish their project.).

• Pass out journals and journal pages.
• Have children clip journal pages to the fronts of the journals.
• Before giving the children their markers or crayons, talk about the journal activity: Who is your blessing plaque for? How do you think they will feel when they receive it?
• Help children who are struggling, if they want help.
• Warn the class when they have just one minute left.

Closing:

End with a prayer.

A lesson from First Presbyterian Church
Nevada, MO

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