V- Virtues
Objectives: The children will
- identify who wants to be a good person all the time and wants to be more like Jesus
- discuss what makes a good Christian
- give examples of being a good Christian
- identify who we are supposed to be like so we will do the right thing
Review:
Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson
Vocabulary Words:
Virtues Word Wall- Word wall templates are large flash card printables that you can hang on the wall to aid children when they are learning or using new vocabulary words.
Plan:
Circle Time:
When teaching virtues to Pre K – K you need to simplify them so the children can understand. Keeping it simple and using real life situation will make it easier to for them to comprehend. By coupling it with a Bible story it will reinforce for them to follow Jesus’ teachings so it will lead them to the right way to live.
Break the virtues into concepts the children will understand. Focus on moral issues involving right and wrong and how people should behave such as: kind, respect/obey, thankful, sharing, I’m sorry/forgiving, faith/trust, love others, etc.
Say to the children: What does it mean to be good or to behave? Discuss. Show pictures from magazines or from books of children being good and not being good. Have the children tell you what the person is doing in the picture and if they are being good.
Write the concepts on the board you want your children to learn that focus on moral issues involving right and wrong and how people should behave. Discuss. Ask the following questions: (examples)
What does it mean to be _____? (What does it mean to _____? Etc.)
Has someone done that for you? What did they do?
How did you feel when someone did that for you?
Tell me about a time when someone was not _____ to you. (Tell me about a time when someone did not _____ you. Etc.)
How did you feel?
What can you do to be _____?
How does it make you feel when you do that for another?
indianchild.com- Teaching Children Virtues & Values
virtuetoys.com- Here are some resources to jump start a discussion with kids about virtues.
Say to the children: A Christian is a follower of Jesus. A Christian tries to be a good person all the time and wants to be more like Jesus. A Christian is a good person who does the right thing all the time. Are you a Christian? Are you a good person who does the right thing all the time?
Discuss with the children about being a good Christian and the traits we should have. List them on the board and have the children give examples of each. Assign each child a word to draw a picture of (if you have lots of children you will have several examples of each word). Have the children share their picture with the class. Discuss.
*To help the children understand what traits we should have, use real life situations to make it easier to for them to comprehend.
“Win or Lose by How You Choose” by Judge Judy Sheindlin
Directions- Show the children the picture and read the situation. With each situation there are a series of answers for the children to choose from. Ask the children what they would do. Do not tell the children the right answer. Explore and evaluate the different choices together with the children.
What Do I Do?- The teacher can read the situations and ask the children what they can do to show the special love Jesus says we should have. (Look under Bible Story Activities)
Songs and/or Finger Plays:
Introduce songs and/or finger plays: How does Jesus want us to behave? Who do we want to be more like?
kiddles.com- Lord, I Want To Be A Christian (song)
sugardoodle.net- I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus (song)
ebibleteacher.com- I am A C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N (song)
ebibleteacher.com- This Little Christian Light Of Mine” (song)
ebibleteacher.com- ”I’m inright, outright, upright, downright . . .” (song)
ebibleteacher.com- “I’ve Got The Joy” (song)
Activities:
Introduce activity: What makes a good Christian?
thatresourcesite.com- Our Virtue Lessons are designed to be used one virtue at a time, on a daily basis, over the course of a month for learners K-6. Each of Our Virtue Lesson pages breaks down the resources used by week. View the core components below to see what you can expect from each of Our Virtue Lessons. The Virtue Lesson for Love is used in the example pictures. Some additional resources can be found on the individual virtue pages and we intend to keep adding to these lessons as time marches on. Feel free to use these lessons in a repetitive sequence of every 2-3 years since children will grow and develop a better understanding of the material as they mature.
Make a “We Are Good Christians" chart and have the children help make it. Then use the chart to reinforce being a good Christian. Try to catch your students being good and let them know what a good Christian they are.
freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com- Using behavior charts. The How Tos.
parentingmethods.suite101.com- Simple Inexpensive Rewards for Children: Encouraging Good Behavior by Reinforcing Positive Actions
Rewarding kids for achieving goals is part of learning. Posted here are some simple and inexpensive rewards to reinforce positive actions without encouraging materialism.
specialchildren.about.com- How To Make Behavior Charts Work
ehow.com- How To Make A Behavior Chart
dotcomwomen.com- Star Chart: Have the children help you make this chart and post in the classroom.
*Make a “We Are Good Christians” bulletin board using the children’s pictures and chart that they just made. Children love seeing their pictures displayed and it helps reinforce the concept of being a good Christian.
Choose a virtue that you want to teach your students. Use a Bible story below to help you teach the virtue.
*You can also continue teaching lessons throughout the year about virtues. Incorporate various Bible lesson and stories to reinforce moral values. (There are many more Bible stories that fit these categories, but here are a few just to get you going.)
Kindness-
• The Good Samaritan
• Ruth (Ruth 1:1 – 4:32)
• David's Kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13)
• The Golden Rule (Luke 6:31)
Respect/Obey-
• Adam & Eve
• Noah’s Ark
• Moses
• Joshua & Jericho
• Elijah and the Ravens
• Elisha and Namaan
• Jonah and the Whale
Thankfulness-
• Thank you, God: Ten Lepers
Sharing-
• Elijah and the Widow
• Loaves & Fishes
• The Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)
I’m Sorry/Forgiving-
• Prodigal Son/I’m Sorry
• Joseph and His Wonderful Coat
• Zacchaeus
Faith/Trust-
• Abraham
• Isaac & Rebecca
• David & Goliath
• Daniel and the Lions
• Samson
• Jesus Calms the Storm
• The Healing of a Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12)
• Jairus’ Daughter
Loving Others-
• Jesus Loves Me/Loving Others
• Good Shepherd
• The Two Greatest Commandments (Mark 12:28-34; Matthew 22:34-40)
• Love Your Enemies (Luke 6:27-36; Matthew 5:44-48))
Movies:
Introduce movie: How are we supposed to behave?
Veggie Tales has several movies to reinforce moral values.
Coloring:
ponderedinmyheart.typepad.com- This is a collection of pictures drawn by Lydia to teach an alphabet's worth of virtues to little ones. She also did a drawing that can be used as a cover page if you like. You can slip it into the clear front pocket of a binder and keep all of the coloring pages inside, or you can fasten your pages into a book with staples or comb binding or the like. If you use a binder perhaps you might even include little narrations done by the children as you discuss the virtue learned, or concerning the stories or picture books you use to reinforce each virtue.
Crafts:
Introduce craft: Are you a good Christian?
daniellesplace.com- Keys to Good Behavior
Parents can use these keys to help make children aware of bad behavior in a fun way. You can also use these to reinforce good behavior in the classroom. (Scroll down to Good Behavior)
theteacherscorner.net- Good Behavior Beads: I used this my first year teacher and it worked great for behavior. I let each child have a Ziploc bag in their desk. If a found someone doing something they should they got a bead. At times I would give more than one or maybe the entire class. An example is if we received a compliment for walking nicely in the hall. I would give everyone one when we returned. Then at the end of the month they should make them into necklaces. I try to use beads that go with the month or a holiday color. The kids love to see who has the most.
brighthub.com- Tracking Manners: Craft for Preschoolers
Are you looking for a fun way to teach preschool manners? This preschool manners craft does just that. Students will have a great time making and using this craft. You and their parents will have a great time rewarding them for their good manners! (Adapt this craft any way you want to reinforce being a good Christian.)
westerntractmission.org- WWJD Mirror Craft
ehow.com- WWJD Crafts
Introduce craft: How do you show that you are a Christian?
chrisitancrafters.com- Mosaic Cross (easy cross necklace/magnet that all children can make)
christiancrafters.com- The Colors of Christ Cross (neat tip for little ones on the bottom)
Games:
Introduce game: What makes a good Christian?
Games to help reinforce moral values:
Chutes & Ladders- This would be great game for teaching about rewards and consequences for your actions. As kids travel along the game path, they encounter situations that reward them for good deeds by letting them climb the ladders or punish them for misbehaving by sending them down chutes. (Ages 3 & Up)
The Emotions Game- You need to think before you say or do things because you may hurt someone's feelings. Remember what Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39
4bambini.com- Don’t Pick Your Nose: Teaches children 3 to 8 the basics of good manners and proper social behavior using a set of 36 questions/illustrations and matching answers. The game will give your child the basics of home manners, table manners and proper social behavior. More information here.
Mind Your Manners- With over 100 different picture cards depicting proper and improper manners, children learn to distinguish between correct and incorrect behavior at an early age. Playing the game is a fun-filled way to help children remember the correct choices as real life situations face them. For 2 - 6 players. Ages 4 - 8.
rapidoline.com- The six games include morals, manners, empathy, friendship, showing emotions and managing emotions. Each game supports the development of social and emotional skills and the consolidation of those already learnt. A comprehensive approach to promoting the social and emotional skills that underpin effective learning, positive behaviour, regular attendance, staff effectiveness and the emotional health and well-being of all who learn and work in schools. Ages 5 to 7.
Golden Rule- This game helps promote why someone would use proper manners and etiquette in our daily lives.
Random Acts of Kindness- Children identify Random Acts of Kindness as they move around the board.
I’m Sorry!- Players move around the game board by rolling the dice and following the directions on the space they land on. If they land on “I’m Sorry!” space they draw a card and read it out loud (if they cannot read it, have someone else read it for them). On the card is a situation that someone has done something wrong. The player must then apologize to the person to his/her left for the situation on the card and they must be specific with their apology. They must say something like, “I’m sorry I took your video game,” instead of “I’m sorry.” The player that they apologized to must then say, “I forgive you.” Teaching children to apologize and to seek forgiveness from family and friends will encourage them to do so with God. (If needed, the teacher will help the students understand what to do and coach them how to do it correctly.) The player then must also say what they should do to correct their mistake and/or what consequences should happen to them so they will learn to take responsibility for their actions. If the player apologizes correctly for the situation they receive a token. If a player lands on “Lose 1 Token” they must forfeit one token. The player at the end of the game who has the most tokens wins.
Jesus is Our Savior- Jesus is our rescuer and offers us a lifeline when we’re trapped in sin. How can we solve the problems in our life? Jesus is our savior and if we follow him, he will show us the way.
VirtueGame- The VirtueGame is a fun, bingo-style card game that focuses on ten virtues: compassion, respect, enthusiasm, trust, friendliness, determination, responsibility, integrity, cooperation and thankfulness. To win the game, kids have to earn five out of the ten virtues by completing the tasks described on each card they draw. For example, a "Thankfulness" card asks the player to hold their breath for as long as they can. When they are finished, the card asks; "aren’t you thankful to breathe again?" and reminds the player to be thankful for things that we sometimes take for granted. Tasks often have to be completed cooperatively and require respectful listening to other players. The VirtueGame makes virtues concrete. It helps kids experience virtues through play so that they can internalize what they mean. The word "play" is important – the game is social, interactive, and silly. It teaches by surprise.
Snacks:
Introduce snack: How does Jesus want us to behave?
Have the children make a snack and give it to another child to help promote being good and sharing.
Letter V Snacks-
Vanilla Cake, Vanilla Ice Cream, Vanilla Pudding, Vanilla Wafers, Vanilla Yogurt, Vegetables, Vegetable Dip, Vegetable Soup, etc.
Coloring/Puzzles:
Prayers while students are doing worksheets and/or coloring.
sermons4kids.com- I will follow Jesus, our leader (coloring)
sermons4kids.com- I can follow Jesus by sharing (coloring)
kindnews.org- A Kind Kid Named _____ Lives Here (coloring sheet, page 13)
mssscrafts.com- Sharing/Helping Hands: Make a small booklet which will illustrate how we can share or help others.
thatresourcesite.com- Blank My Book Mini Book Template
Use this blank mini book template for the children to make a mini book about being a good Christian. Encourage your children to put their thoughts and creativity to work creating these mini-books that they either illustrate, write or write and illustrate. Each book has 8 pages including a title and end page. Print out, fill in, cut apart and staple together. Glue onto our keepsake pages below to create a library of your child's work or document their learning.
dltk-teach.com- What begins with V? (mini book)
V is for Virtues- (handwriting)
kidzone.ws.- Hidden Letter Worksheet Letter V
Make your own handwriting sheets for what you want your children to write.
handwritingworksheets.com- Make basic print, D’Nealian, or Cursive handwriting worksheets. You can make the worksheets dot trace, dash trace, hollow trace, and even separated letters by just a click of a button. Each format has starting dots for each letter.
softschools.com- Make manuscript handwriting worksheets in PDF form.
handwritingforkids.com- Manuscript personalized worksheets you can make for free.
atozteacherstuff.com- Create your own custom handwriting worksheets for handwriting practice! You can choose traditional or modern print styles.
kidzone.ws/tracers/- Type in anything you like into the custom tracer pages to practice printing (standard block or script type printing fonts) or cursive handwriting. The custom tracer pages are available in a variety of themes as well.
writingwizard.longcountdown.com- Create writing practice sheets in D'Nealian or Zaner-Bloser style, in print or cursive form.
kindnews.org- Kind Kids- These children are being kind. They are helping others. Draw the thing that is missing in each picture (page 12).
