Lesson Plan- Prayer: Sermon on the Mount/Our Father (1st grade on up)

Sermon on the Mount/Our Father


Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story The Sermon on the Mountain
- identify which prayer Jesus taught us
- recite the Our Father from memory
- explain what the Our Father means



Review:
Prayer, Take Home Sheet, and vocabulary from last week’s lesson and also Objects Used as Mass cards: (show picture cards that we have done thus far)



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Pray- speaking to God
Amen- yes; a Hebrew word meaning “it is so” or “let it be done”
Evil- the opposite or absence of good; the result of the choice to sin
God’s will- what God wants
Hallowed- holy
Heaven- the life with God that is full of happiness and never ends
Kingdom- people and land ruled by a king
Saints- good people who loved God on earth and are now in heavenly glory
Trespasses- wrong things we do
Temptation- something that leads us to do what is wrong
Sabbath- the day of worship to God
Synagogues- the place of worship for Jewish people
Prayer- talking and listening to God



Plan:

Read story: "The Sermon on the Mount" and ask questions from Take Home Sheet that will be sent home today.



Activities:

Explain the meaning of each part of the prayer. Write the underlined words on the board and discuss with students. Each time you write a new line, say the “Our Father” from the beginning and have the students try to tell you the next line of the prayer.

Our Father

What are the first words of the prayer that Jesus taught? Our Father
Why do you think Jesus called God “Father” instead of “Lord” or “King” or “Mighty”? Jesus wanted to show us that God is close to us; God loves and cares for us like a loving parent.
Why do we say “Our Father” instead of “My Father”? God is the Father of us all.


who art in heaven

What is our Father’s special home called? Heaven
Who lives with God in heaven? Mary, the angels, and the saints.
Who are saints? The saints are good people who loved God on earth and are now in heaven.


hallowed by thy name

The word hallowed means “holy”. Whose name is holy? God’s
Why is God’s name holy? Because God is holy.


thy kingdom come

What is a kingdom? A kingdom is the people and land ruled by a king.
Where is God’s kingdom? In heaven and on earth.


thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

When we pray “thy will be done” we are saying that we want whatever God wants. Since God wants us to be happy, we are saying that we will follow whatever he says will make us happy.


Give us this day our daily bread

When we say these words we ask for everything we need each day. What are some of the things we need every day? Food, clothes, a home, etc.


and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Trespass is a word for something wrong that we do. When we say “forgive us our trespasses,” we ask forgiveness for the wrong things we have done.

Jesus also tells us to forgive. What are some things that our brothers, sisters, or frirends sometimes do that hurt our feelings? Say unkind things about us; tease or make fun of us; push or hurt us, etc.
When someone hurts or offends us, they trespass against us. What must we be ready to do when others trespass against us if we wish God to forgive the wrong things we do? Forgive them.


and lead us not into temptation

A temptation is something that leads us to do what is wrong. Why might we be tempted to take a candy bar or something else that belongs to someone else?
Why might we be tempted to say something that is not true?
When we say, “lead us not into temptation,” we ask god to keep us from all that can lead us to do what is wrong.
What do you say when you are tempted to do something that you know is wrong? No


but deliver us from evil

Evil is the name for things that are not good are not from God. One form of evil is when we choose to sin. We choose to turn away from God. The result of this choice to sin is evil.
When we pray “deliver us from evil,” we are saying that we trust that God will save us or protest us from doing wrong and from harmful things.


Amen

What is the word that we say at the end of our prayers? Amen
What does Amen mean? Yes
When we say Amen at the end of the Our Father, we are saying yes to everything we have just said.



Introduce activity: What prayer did Jesus teach us? Do you know it? Let’s find out.

Lord’s Prayer worksheet- Fill out the worksheet with the students on the board.

fcpeace.com- Our Father (mini book)

dltk-kids.com- The Lord’s Prayer (mini book)
Directions and template.



Crafts:

Introduce craft: How can we remind ourselves to pray “Our Father”? Let’s make something that will help remind us to pray “Our Father”.


Our Father Magnet

Need: 8 Popsicle sticks, craft foam pieces, “Our Father” prayer printed on paper (size of print should be about 8 pt.), sticky magnet, index card, glue

Directions: Make Popsicle Stick Picture Fame from kaboose.com

Glue craft foam pieces on frame to decorate. Let frame dry. While frame is drying, go to next activity, then come back and finish frame. Cut out “Our Father” prayer that is printed on paper and glue to index card. Cut to fit on the back of the frame with “Our Father” prayer showing on the front of the frame. Attach sticky magnet to top of frame on back to make it into a magnet.



Games:

Introduce games: What prayer did Jesus teach us? Do you know it? Let’s find out.


Prayer Review:

1. Say a line from the prayer “Our Father” and have the students say the following line. Go back and forth until the prayer is finished.

2. Have the students sit in a circle. Tell the students that they are going to recite the “Our Father”. Have each student say one word in the prayer and the next person will say the following word. If someone makes a mistake or gets stuck, he or she begins over again with the first word of the prayer. The last person that says, “Amen” finishes the prayer.

3. Ball Pass: Have the students sit in a circle. The teacher turns her back to the students and she says, "Pass, pass, pass." The students then pass a ball to their right around the circle. When the teacher says, "Stop," the child holding the ball and the person to his right and left say the prayer together.



thatresourcesite.com- Our Father worksheets (color or black & white version) to print out, cut apart on lines, and have children order correctly under a time limit.




This game is free, however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.



The Lord's Prayer File Folder Game: (Catholic version of Debbie's ffg)

Game Board & Directions- Print out Game Board, trim and glue on the inside of the file folder. Make sure the directions are on the front of the file folder. Laminate or cover file folder with clear contact paper to make it last.




Snacks:

Introduce snack: How are we supposed to treat others? We are to be kind to everyone, even our enemies.

Have the students wash their hands and make an easy snack. Then to show their kindness, they give it to another in the class.

(Examples of easy snacks: cheese on crackers, ants on a log (fill the inside of celery with peanut butter and put a few raisins on top), etc.

familycrafts.about.com- Apple Smiles



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:



Our Father puzzle- All you need is some heavy paper and a copy machine. Copy the puzzle and have the children glue it on some heavy paper and color. Then have the children cut on the lines to make a puzzle. Have the children put the puzzle together to practice the Our Father. Put puzzle pieces in an envelope or ziplock bag. (Catholic version)




More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Sermon on the Mount puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from August 30 – September 1).

faithfirst.com- Cut out words and put the words in order. Paste the words in order on a piece of construction paper.

silk.net/RelEd/- 3 Lord’s Prayer (word searches)

blestarewe.com- About The Lord’s Prayer (crossword)

The Lord’s Prayer (worksheet)- Answer the following questions about the meaning of The Lord’s Prayer.



Homework: Prayers and Take Home Sheet (It is in MS Word and can be changed any way you like according to your student’s abilities.)