Objective

By the end of this lesson, Elliott will be able to identify and understand the nine Fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Elliott will also learn how to express these qualities in everyday life.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Crayons or markers
• Fruits (real or toy) to represent each Fruit of the Spirit
• Space for movement activities

Before the lesson, prepare a small area where Elliott can draw and play. You can also gather some fruits or toys that represent different fruits to make the lesson more engaging.

Activities

• Fruit Drawing: Elliott will draw a picture of each Fruit of the Spirit. For each fruit, discuss what it means and how it can be shown in real life.

• Fruit of the Spirit Dance: Create a fun dance for each Fruit of the Spirit. For example, jump for joy, sway for peace, or hug for love. This will help Elliott remember each one through movement.

• Fruit Matching Game: Use the fruits or toys to match them with the corresponding Fruit of the Spirit. For example, a banana can represent joy, and a heart can represent love.

• Story Time: Share a simple story that illustrates each Fruit of the Spirit in action. Encourage Elliott to think of examples from their own life.

Talking Points

• "The Fruits of the Spirit are like special gifts from God that help us be nice to each other!"
• "Love is like a big hug! Can you think of someone you love?"
• "Joy is feeling really happy! What makes you feel joyful?"
• "Peace is when everything is calm. Can you show me a calm face?"
• "Patience is waiting without getting upset. Can you pretend to wait for a cookie?"
• "Kindness is being nice to others. Can you think of a kind thing you did?"
• "Goodness is doing what is right. Can you tell me what is good?"
• "Faithfulness means being a good friend. What does a good friend do?"
• "Gentleness is being soft and caring. Can you show me how to be gentle?"
• "Self-control is being able to stop and think. Can you pretend to think before doing something?"