Prodigal Son

THE PRODIGAL SON

 

Objectives:

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

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Scripture Reference: Luke 15: 11-32. 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?  Let’s look a bit at the older brother. He stayed at home, obedient. Where was he when the younger brother returned? What did he hear as he approached the house? How did he feel about all the celebration? Why? What did the father do when the older brother wouldn’t come to the party? What did the father say? How did the brother respond?

 

  1. Play a learning game: Word Jumble. Give each student a pad and pencil. Have your chalkboard or large tablet ready. Ask the question and then write the scrambled answer on the board. Give the students 30-60 seconds to write their answer on their tablet and go on to the next question:

(1) I was supposed to be given away when the          THENECIARNI

                        father died. What am I?

            (2) I left my family to go to the city. Who am I?       GRAPOLID SNO

            (3) I am a shortage of food. What am I?                    MEFNIA

            (4) I gave the prodigal son a job. Who am I?             GPI NOREW

            (5) I was given to the prodigal son when he               GIRN

                        returned. What am I?

            (6) I forgave the prodigal son. Who am I?                 SHE TREAFH

            (7) I did not waste my inheritance. Who am I?          DOREL OSN

            (8) I was called on to prepare a feast. Who am I?      NEVSTAR

 

  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. Take a pigpen pledge: Review the story. The Prodigal Son was in the pigpen. He realized his sin and his father’s love – then he had to take a step. He had to get up and leave the pigpen and take a step towards his father! Picture this with the students. Then have each in preparation for Lent consider his or her own pigpen. What one single step can he or she take during Great Lent to move towards the Lord? Increased prayer time? Scripture reading each day? Lenten services? Improved fasting? Visiting the sick? Let each student actually write down the step he will take to draw nearer to the Father.

 

  1. Make a Piggy Bank: The teacher should make one, too, to be 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.

No milk jug? Lots of options for the base for the piggy bank. See options like tin can, tissue box, plastic bottle, plastic mayo jar, etc. 

Too big a project or students think they're bit old for piggy banks? Then how about pipe cleaner finger puppets to retell the story. You’ll need son, father, pig, sheep, and older brother. Use any robe color for people and pink for pig, white or black for sheep. First coil up the first half of the pipe cleaner to fit around your finger. Then shape the other half to make animal or person. Start with two ears, large or small, and then add nose right thru a paper face. You can add pompom or circle of construction paper or foam for head plus wiggle eyes if desired or shape the entire finger puppet from pipe cleaners. Note that hot glue or glue dot will be needed to get a pompom to hold on a pipe cleaner! Even easier for the people? Print an icon or a picture on cardstock which has all three characters delineated, cut out the faces, and glue to a circle in place of the ears. Some possible "icon people" faces and storybook faces plus pig and sheep face, but plain circles or pompoms work just fine. Then, be sure to tell the story again using your puppets. 

 

 

 

  1. Close with prayer. Pray for each student to be faithful in his steps from the pigpen to the Father.