Prodigal Son

THE PRODIGAL SON

Objectives:

  1. Children should be able to tell the story of the Prodigal Son in their own words.
  2. Children should know that God forgives us even when we do something we shouldn’t.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Read the story of the Prodigal Son in the Beginner’s Bible, pages 397-404, the Children’s Bible Reader, pages 207-209, or the Read with Me Bible, pages 344-349. Supplement with the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 416-417, if desired. Where did the son go? What did he do with his money? Where did he end up, doing what? Why did he go back to his father? What did he say? What did his father say?

 

  1. Feed the Elephant True/False Questions:

True                                                     False

            The son left home with his money.                 The son stayed home with daddy.

            The son spent all his money.                           The son saved his money carefully.

            The son had to feed the pigs.                          The son worked in the market.

            The father was happy the son came home.     The father hated the son.

 

Add the Pig the Prodigal Son had to feed to your timeline:

  1. Talk a bit about the words “I’m sorry”: These are powerful words. When do we say them? Have the children think of some times they have said them or heard someone else say them. What do we mean by saying “I’m sorry”? Did the Prodigal Son say, “I’m sorry”? How did the father respond? How do we respond when someone says they are sorry? Sometimes it’s not so easy to forgive. What if your friend broke your favorite toy and said, “I’m sorry”? Is it easy to forgive when the toy is still broken?

 

  1. Make a Piggy Bank: The teacher should make one, too, for the class Piggy Bank. Take a gallon milk or juice plastic container. Turn it on its side so the handle is on top. Glue eyes just below the handle on both sides, 4 corks or bottle tops for feet, pink felt ears, and paper circles for spots all over the pig’s body. Twist a pipe-cleaner into a tail and poke it into the plastic behind. Draw on a mouth. Finally, cut a slit in the top for coins. All during Great Lent, we will each collect coins at home (from the sofa cushions, off the floor, by doing chores, etc.) and will bring them in to class to put in the class Piggy Bank to give to the IOCC at Pascha.

Don't have milk jars? Lots of options for the base of the piggy bank including tin can, tissue box, plastic bottle, mayo jar, etc. 

Or, even, use a toilet paper tube for the bank: print the pattern on cardstock and cut out. Cover tube with pink paper or duct tape. Glue head over one open end and circle over the other open end. Cut slit. Glue or tape legs, 2 on each side, to keep it from rolling. Stick pink pipe cleaner in back circle and coil it a bit. Voila! A piggy bank!

  1. Alternate Craft Idea: Paper bag pig. Use the templates on this page to glue on a paper bag (You can also use them as templates for your piggy bank). Write the verse on the bottom of the bag: “I shall arise and go unto my Father and shall say unto Him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eyes and nose                                                                                       Arms

 

  1. Close with prayer.