Transfiguration

 TRANSFIGURATION

 

Objectives:

  1. Children should be able to tell the story of the Transfiguration.
  2. Children should be able to say the word “transfiguration” and know that it means “Change”.
  3. Children should be able to identify each character in the icon and his role in the story.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Read the story of the Transfiguration in the Children’s Bible Reader, pages 218-219 or the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 406-407. Show the icon. Have the children identify the figures and retell the story in their own words using the icon. Say the word “transfiguration” several times until the children can repeat it easily. What does it mean? Who was transfigured? In what way? Who did Jesus speak to? Which disciples came with Him?

 

  1. Feed the Elephant True/False Questions:

True                                                     False

            Jesus shone with dazzling white robes.          Jesus turned pink and purple.

            Peter, James, and John came with Jesus.        Mary and Joseph came with Jesus.

            Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah.                Jesus spoke with King Herod.

 

  1. Review the Old Testament stories of Moses and Elijah; both are in the Read with Me and Children’s Bible. Why would God have chosen these two men for Jesus to speak to?

 

  1. The Feast of theTransfiguration is celebrated on August 6. We bring fruit to church on the feast. Why? We are asking God to bless the harvest of fruit and the crops, which are just becoming ripe at this time.

 

  1. Make a Come Alive Mural: Draw the icon HUGE on a humongous piece of bulletin board paper. Cut out the faces of the people. Have the children each color one of the figures. Then, hold the giant icon up near the wall of the room. Have each child put his face in the place of his person. Let them one by one step down and see each other. You may need to do this part in the Social Hall with the help of the parents. Finally, cut the masterpiece apart so each child can take home his portion.

 

  1. Alternate (smaller) craft idea: Print icon on cardstock. Cut out the figures carefully ahead of time, making puzzle pieces. Have children color and see if they can put the icon together and explain each part!

 

8.  Alternative easy craft: Cut out outline of Jesus on glitter paper (scrapbooking supplies) or white paper ahead of time (blow up the size to fit your paper). Have children color the “rays” with crayons, or, even better, with oil pastels on light blue cardstock. Now glue on the glittery Jesus in the center.

9. Close with prayer. Ask God to bless the fruit and crops now and every year.