I Am Blessed (Beatitudes)

Cooking Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will discuss how the Beatitudes are an upside way of looking at the world and to illustrate this point, make pineapple upside down cake. 

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 5:3-5.

Mt 6:19-20 
Mt 19:23
Mt 20:16

Lesson Objectives:

1. Children understand that the beatitudes are an upside down way of looking at the world
2. Children can name at least one beatitude that seems to go against logic.

Supplies Needed:

• See recipe sheet for ingredients and equipment
• Paper easel
• Markers, pencils
• Bibles

Advance Preparation:

• On easel write the following:

1) poor  rich
2) happy  sad
3) strong  weak

• Mix cake mix
• Melt butter
• Open and drain fruit

Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introduction:
As they enter, give each child an apron and chef’s hat to wear.

Look at the paper easel and ask the children which they would rather be. Why?
Write their reasons below each word. If there is a consensus, circle the one they pick. 

Have the children open their Bibles and read Matthew 5:3-5.
According to the Beatitudes are the people “blessed” by God the ones you picked?
Why do you think this is?

Explain that Jesus had an upside down way of looking at the world sometimes. 
Tell the children that to remind us of this upside down view of the world we are going to make pineapple upside down cake.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:
Prepare cake according to the recipe card, through step 5 (see below).
Clean up.

Life Application:
While your cakes bake:

Review with the children the opening discussion about the upside down nature of the Beatitudes, and read all or part of the passage together.
If the children have their own Bibles, help them write in the margin next to the Beatitudes:

Mt 6:19-20 
Mt 19:23
Mt 20:16

Lookup one or all of these passages as time permits:
Mt 6:19-20

• What would be an example of a treasure on earth?
• What would be an example of a treasure in heaven?
• (Looking at easel) Which of these creates a treasure on earth?
• Which of these creates a treasure in heaven?

Mt 19:23 (Read vs. 16, 21-30)

• How is this an upside down story?
• Which Beatitude might go along with this story?

Mt 20:16
Make up two lists of people. On one side, list all the people that are considered important in our world – who have jobs with fame, power, rewards. On the other side, list all the people that are looked down upon. 
Read the passage together. What is Jesus saying about our two lists?

• Which Beatitude might go along with this passage?

When your cakes are done…
Finish steps 6 and 7
Drink with milk (if time permits), continuing your discussion if needed.

To take home
Copies of the recipe

Closing:

End with a prayer.

Adjustments for age levels and abilities:
Illustrate the first/last principle by having the children line up to go for a walk. There may be squirming to get to the front of the line. Then, lead the children out in reverse order, with the last child being first in line. Connect this to the Beatitudes and Jesus’ upside down look at the world.

If you have extra time…
Practice memorizing parts of the beatitudes.

If time runs short…
Have cakes available to take home following fellowship hour.

Pineapple Upside Down cakes (8 mini loaf pans)

1 package yellow cake mix, (enough for two layers) prepared ahead of time to package directions 
Important: this is to be divided into 8 equal parts – about ½ cup per child depending upon the mix used. If you have fewer than 8 children DO NOT give them extra mix or the cake will not bake in allotted time.
½ cup butter, melted (1 T per child)
1 cup brown sugar (2 T per child)
2 cans pineapple slices
jar of maraschino cherries

small loaf pans
measuring spoons
½ cup measuring cups
knives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Have children prepare cakes per directions (below)
Bake for about 22-27 minutes, checking for doneness (toothpick comes out clean) at about the 20 minute point
Note: Extra liquid or extra batter can greatly increase time needed to bake.


Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cake

1. Place 1 T. butter in your loaf pan and tilt pan to cover
2. Sprinkle 2 T. brown sugar evenly over the butter.
3. Lay 1-2 pineapple slices and 1-4 cherries decoratively on top of sugar. You may want to cut some of your pinapple pieces in halves or quarters to make the pattern you want.
4. Carefully pour ½ cup cake batter on top of fruit
5. Bake in 350 degree oven for 22-27 minutes. Have and adult check for done-ness with a toothpick
6. With a plastic knife, cut around edges of your pan.
7. After allowing the cake to cook about 5 minutes, flip it upside down onto a plate. 

A lesson originally posted by Lisa Martin who at the time was at Trinity UCC, Pottstown, PA.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Beatitude Sandwich Ingredient Ideas

I'm thinking of some kind of SANDWICH or Recipe assembly project where each ingredient represents a word in the Beatitudes, or at least starts with the same letter (memory lesson).

Poor - empty  (pepper or a shaker of nothing)

Mourn - perhaps "know what they have lost" (lettuce)

Meek - Humble  (ham)

Righteousness - made right with God (mustard)

Merciful - Kind/forgiving  (mayo? napkin?)

Pure in heart - perhaps "made clean" is better translation  (wash hands before eating)

Peacemakers - pepperonis are round like peace symbol

Strong Faith/Brave (persecuted) - you are the salt

Put them all together on a Beatitude Bun.

Does this lesson idea sound intriguing? (It does to me!) That's why I'm headed over to the Writing Team's Hero Sandwich lesson, where this idea is expanded into a full-blown Cooking Workshop!

Note: You must be a Supporting Member to access Writing Team lessons. It's the best money you'll ever spend. So little for a year of access!  All of those benefits!  Sign me up!

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