Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – What Would I Do?
Materials: paper, pencil
Give a piece of paper and pencil to each child. Say to draw a line down the middle of the page and then two horizontal lines across the page, creating six equal boxes. Inform your children that you will read them three different scenarios and they will draw two different pictures for each scenario. In the left box, they will draw what they would want to do, and in the right box, they will draw what the Bible calls them to do. Afterwards, read the Weekly Verse with your class, and tell them they will see how Joseph forgave his brothers.
Possible scenarios:
Your little brother came into your room and broke your favorite toy.
Your mom made your favorite meal but dropped it on the floor.
You got into an argument with your friend, and they said something mean to you.
Live It Out
Game – Give and Take
Materials: two tennis balls
Create two teams and take them to the hallway. Both teams will form two lines with the children facing each other about 6 feet apart. When you say go, the first two kids on each team will walk as quickly as possible while tossing the ball back and forth. They will go to the end point you have designated and then walk back to their team. The teams will continue to do this until everyone has participated. If someone drops the ball, then they must start over. The first team to complete the activity wins! Explain to your kids that friendships and relationships with family can be very hard and forgiveness is a vital part to any relationship. The game today was filled with tossing and catching, or a constant “give and take.” Say the Life Point together with the kids.
Craft – Hearts of Forgiveness
Materials: red construction paper, scissors, colored pencils or crayons
Instruct your children to draw large hearts on their construction paper. Tell them to think of someone in their lives they need to forgive. It could be a parent, sibling, or friend. Instruct them to write the person’s name on the top of the heart and then write, I forgive you below the name. On the back of the heart, tell them to write the Weekly Verse. Tell them to cut out their hearts and give it to the correct person when they see them next.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Forgiveness Skits
Materials: no materials needed
Form children into groups of 2 or 3. Tell your children they are going to develop short skits where someone “wrongs” the other person and the second person must choose to forgive. Give them several minutes to prepare their skits, and then let several groups perform their skits for the entire class. Explain to your class that today’s Bible Story shows Joseph forgiving his brothers.
Live It Out
Game – Jo-darts
Materials: white board, dry erase marker, suction cup darts
Draw a large outline of Joseph on the white board. Using lines, divide Joseph up into various sections. Write a phrase in each section and the amount of points a team will gain or lose. Divide your class into two teams. Alternate each team throwing a dart at Joseph to get points. Whichever team has the most points at the end wins! Talk with your class about the Life Point and say that Joseph honored God when he forgave his brothers.
Possible phrases to use:
I refused to forgive my friend. -20
I helped someone who hurt me. +30
I accepted my brother’s apology. +20
I refused to say, “I’m sorry.” -30
Craft – Forgiveness Glitter
Materials: glitter, glue, construction paper, pens
Instruct kids to write a large, I forgive you on their paper. Tell them to trace what they wrote with glue. Next, instruct them to cover their glue with glitter. On the bottom of the page, tell the kids to write the Life Point. Tell your kids that the phrase, “I forgive you,” can be very hard to say. Have them practice saying it and even let them yell it very loudly. Tell them that this week someone is probably going to do them wrong in some manner. Encourage them to forgive quickly. Lead everyone say the Weekly Verse together.
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