The "Wow!" Factor: Learning Prayers of Praise
Lesson Overview
Target Age: 7 Years Old (2nd Grade)
Subject: Spiritual Growth / Character Education
Estimated Time: 45–60 Minutes
Big Idea: Praise isn't asking for things; it’s telling someone why they are amazing! This lesson teaches children how to shift their focus from "Please give me" to "You are wonderful."
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to:
- Explain the difference between a prayer of "asking" (petition) and a prayer of "praise" (adoration).
- Identify at least three qualities or creations worthy of praise.
- Compose and share an original prayer of praise using creative materials.
Materials Needed
- A small mirror and a magnifying glass (or pictures of them)
- A "Wow Box" (any decorated shoebox or gift bag)
- Colorful strips of paper
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Glue, glitter, or stickers
- Background "joyful" music (instrumental)
1. Introduction: The "Wow" Hook (10 Minutes)
The Hook: Place the "Wow Box" on the table. Inside, hide something beautiful or impressive (like a large seashell, a photo of a galaxy, or a bright flower).
Teacher Talk: "Today, we aren't going to ask for a single thing. Usually, when we talk to [God/the Creator/the Universe], we say 'Please help me' or 'Can I have...'. But today is a 'Wow' day! Open the box. What do you see? When you look at it, what's the first thing you want to say? If you say 'Wow, that's beautiful!' or 'You did a great job making that!', you are already starting a prayer of praise!"
Objective Setting: "Today, we are learning how to give 'Praise.' Praise is like being a giant fan of someone and cheering for them because they are so awesome."
2. Body: I Do, We Do, You Do (30 Minutes)
I Do: The Mirror vs. The Window (Direct Instruction)
Show the learner a mirror and a magnifying glass.
- Talking Point: "A lot of times, our prayers are like mirrors. We look at ourselves and think about what we need or what we want. That's okay! But a Prayer of Praise is like a Magnifying Glass. We use it to look closely at how big and wonderful [God/the Creator] is. We focus on Them, not us."
- Example: "Instead of saying 'Thank you for my snack' (which is about me eating), a praise prayer says 'You are so creative for making apples crunchy and sweet!'"
We Do: The Alphabet of Awesome (Guided Practice)
Let’s practice finding "Wow" moments together using the alphabet. We will pick a few letters and think of a reason to say "You are..." to the Creator.
- A: "You are Amazing at making the stars."
- B: "You are Bright like the sun."
- C: "You are Creative with colors."
(Ask the learner to come up with D, E, and F. Help them move from 'Thank you for...' to 'You are...')
You Do: The Praise Banner (Independent Application)
Now, it’s time for the learner to create their own "Praise Banner."
- Give the learner several strips of colorful paper.
- On each strip, have them write or draw one "Praise Statement."
- Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters like "You are..." or "It is amazing how You..."
- Extension: Encourage advanced learners to use "Mighty Words" (adjectives) like Majestic, Eternal, Compassionate, or Infinite.
- Glue the strips together to form a paper chain or tape them to a string to hang up.
- Decorate with stickers and glitter to make it look "joyful."
3. Conclusion: The Praise Parade (5 Minutes)
Recap: Ask the learner: "What is the difference between asking for a toy and a prayer of praise?" (Answer: Praise is about how great the other person is!)
Closing Activity: Turn on the joyful music. Have a mini "Praise Parade" around the room holding the banner. To finish, have the learner read their favorite strip from the banner aloud as a closing prayer.
Success Criteria & Assessment
| Criteria | Evidence of Success |
|---|---|
| Understanding Concept | Learner can explain that praise is "cheering" for someone's character/actions. |
| Formative Check | Learner successfully completes the "Alphabet of Awesome" examples. |
| Summative Project | The Praise Banner contains at least 3 distinct "You are..." statements. |
Adaptations
- For the Busy Learner: Instead of writing, do a "Praise Scavenger Hunt" outside. Find things in nature and shout a praise for each one (e.g., "You are a great artist for making this leaf!").
- For the Artistic Learner: Instead of a banner, create a "Praise Painting" where colors represent different feelings of praise (Yellow for joy, Blue for peace).
- For Virtual/Digital Learning: Use a digital whiteboard to paste images of things that make the learner say "Wow!" and add text captions starting with "You are..."