The Beatitudes

Art Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Construct a set of keys to illustrate the Beatitudes and to use as a permanent reminder of Jesus’ teachings. [Note: 1st – 6th graders visited this workshop.]

Scripture Reference & Key Bible Verse & Objectives: 

Refer to first post in this lesson set.

Specific Objectives for Art Workshop
To create a permanent reminder of the Beatitudes.

Leader Preparation:

•  Read the scripture for this lesson.
• Read and reflect on the overview material provided for this lesson.
• Gather the materials.
• If plastic milk cartons are used for the keys instead of foam core, wash and dry them thoroughly and precut into flat pieces. Suggested key size is 5-6 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide at the top portion.
• Make sample key(s).

Supplies List:

• Acrylic paints or fine-tipped permanent markers, various colors
• Bibles
• Chalkboard, easel with paper, or white board and appropriate writing utensils
• Foamie sheets, white or off-white, 2mm thick [Available at craft or office supply stores]
• Hole punch
• Labels
• Key ring [One per student] or yarn
• Paint brushes
• Paint shirts
• Patterns for keys
• Pencils
• Permanent markers, black
• Plastic milk cartons [Optional alternative to foam core sheets]
• Scissors
• Scissors with decorative edges such as "Aztec" or "Deckle" [Optional; Available at scrapbook supply store]
• Scrap paper
• Styrofoam meat trays

Before Start of Class:

• On the white board, list the eight Beatitudes, leaving space around each of them for student ideas to be written. List them as: "Poor in spirit, Mourning, Meek, Hungry for righteousness, Merciful, Pure in heart, Peacemakers, Persecuted for being Christian."

Presentation

Opening – Welcome & Lesson Introduction:

Welcome the children to the Art Workshop. Do introductions. Open with prayer. A suggestion: "Dear God, Thank you for this day and for everyone who is here today. We ask that you help us learn about you and how you would have us live as your disciples. Amen."

Gather the students around the table. Explain that we are learning (continuing to learn) about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, which includes a portion of Jesus' teachings called the Beatitudes. Jesus gave us the Beatitudes as the "keys" to how we should live. We can think of the Beatitudes as being keys that open the doors to a happy, fulfilled life. Today we'll be making keys to help us remember the Beatitudes.

Ask: What are some things that make you happy? (Allow a few answers.) Do any of those things you listed provide long-lasting happiness or do they only provide happiness for a little while?

Say: Jesus taught us the Beatitudes as the keys to happiness that can last a lifetime. Jesus, in his teaching, used the word "blessed" to mean this long-lasting happiness. Listen for these key ways of living as we read our Bible passage.

Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Matthew 5:1-11 in the Bible. Read the scripture together.

Dig - Main Content:

Say: Today we will make keys to represent the Beatitudes. Show the sample keys.

Before starting it might be necessary to spend some time discussing the meaning of each Beatitude, in order to get ideas for what sort of symbol could be used on their keys. Write or sketch any ideas suggested by the students on the whiteboard. Do encourage the students to use their own creativity. Use the information in the background materials and the following ideas as needed, for further discussion:

• Poor in spirit: Humble, dependent on God. Symbol: figure kneeling in prayer, a cross.
• Mourning: Sad. Comforted: Flowers, ***OOO (hugs and kisses), flowers, anything else that symbolizes comfort.
• Meek: Gentle. Symbol: a lamb, earth (for inherit the earth).
• Hungry for righteousness: wanting to obey God and do what's right. Symbol for "filled": a full cup.
• Merciful: Compassionate, forgiving. Symbol: two people shaking hands, one person helping another.
• Pure in heart: focused on God. Symbol: a heart with 100% written on it.
• Peacemakers: a dove, an olive branch, a peace sign, a bridge between two people.
• Persecuted for being Christian: One person looking to a cross while second person shakes fist.

Provide the supplies and illustrate the process for making the keys. Explain that on the top of each key they may wish to make a symbol for the Beatitude. On the long portion of the key they are to write a word or words for that Beatitude. Provide patterns for the keys, or invite the participants to design the shapes freehand. Let the students know that there might not be time to make a key for each Beatitude.

Other design hints:

• Have students sketch ideas on scrap paper.
• Encourage simple designs. Stick figure people are fine.
• If using paint, write any words on a key first, then paint the symbol. The permanent marker dries faster than the paint.
• Students who can't think of an idea of a symbol for a Beatitude may wish to just write the entire Beatitude on their key.

Reflection:

Have students share one key they have made. Have them suggest a way they can live that Beatitude.

Ask: Do you think it is easy to live the Beatitudes?

Say: Living as Jesus taught is hard! When we use these key ways of living, we live as disciples of Jesus. This makes the world a better place and we receive that long-lasting happiness that Jesus spoke about.

Say: Hang your keys in a place where you will see them every day. Maybe hang them on your backpack! When you see your keys, remember that these keys show us how to live as Jesus taught.

Close in prayer. A suggestion: "Dear God, We thank you for loving each and every one of us. Help us, when we see these keys we made, remember how to live as Jesus taught us. Amen."

Clean up: Have the children help clean up and put away all supplies.

Additional Suggestions

If possible, have older students visit this workshop first. Thus younger students can gain a better understanding of the Beatitudes before attempting to draw them in a symbolic way.

Adaptations

Younger Children

Cut out keys in advance.

Skip any writing of Beatitudes or ideas on a white board.

Read the Bible passage to the students.

Have symbols to show them as ideas for each of the Beatitudes or help students to sketch an idea they may have.

Allow students to paint/draw their own keys but have an adult write the Beatitude on the long portion of the key.

Older Children

Get into deeper discussions about the meaning of each Beatitude and how to live it in their lives.

If time allows, have them make additional keys to give away to someone or perhaps to contribute to a classroom set of keys. Or make oversized keys to display in the classroom.

Sources

The idea of using milk jugs was inspired by an article in the March 2003 Family Fun magazine.

Author's Review:

Wanted to comment on our experience with this lesson.

I was so impressed with how kids wanted to make an entire set of keys! They worked so hard. Our workshop leader found it worked best to cut out keys ahead of time for all ages. For the youngest she also put together packets of stickers that could be used to illustrate a particular beatitude. (Lambs for meek). For the younger kids she used different colors of the foamie sheets for the keys. They seemed to like the bright colors she choose. I don't think we had anyone paint on their keys - all older kids choose to use the sharpie pens.
This was a very successful workshop - surprised even me (the author)!
--Carol

A lesson written by Carol Hulbert from: First United Methodist Church

Ann Arbor, MI 

Copyright 2009 First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI. Permission to copy materials granted for non-commercial use provided credit is given and all cited references remain with this material.

If you use this material, even in a modified form, please include the following reference:
Hulbert, Carol. "The Beatitudes: Cooking Lesson." Sept. 2009. Place URL where lesson found inside angle brackets<>.

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