### Lesson Plan: Jesus Loves the Little Children
#### Grade Level: Nursery 1
#### Duration: 30 minutes
#### Topic: Jesus Loves the Little Children
---
### Objectives:
1. **Understand** that Jesus loves all children.
2. **Recognize** that they are special and loved by Jesus.
3. **Learn** a simple Bible verse emphasizing Jesus’ love.
4. **Engage** in activities that reinforce the message.
### Materials Needed:
- Children’s Bible
- Picture of Jesus with children
- Coloring sheets with Jesus and children
- Crayons or markers
- Simple craft materials (e.g., paper, glue, stickers)
- A song: "Jesus Loves the Little Children"
### Lesson Outline:
#### 1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)
- **Greet the children warmly.**
- **Opening Prayer:** "Dear Jesus, thank you for our time together. Help us to learn about your love for us. Amen."
#### 2. Bible Story Time (10 minutes)
- **Read the Story:**
- Gather the children in a circle.
- Show them a picture of Jesus with children.
- Read a simplified version of Matthew 19:13-15:
"Some parents brought their children to see Jesus. Jesus' friends tried to stop them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me. Do not stop them! They are important to God.' And He blessed the children."
- **Discuss:**
- Ask, "How do you think the children felt when Jesus said they were important?"
- Emphasize: "Jesus loves all the children, including each one of you!"
#### 3. Activity 1: Bible Verse Learning (5 minutes)
- **Teach a Simple Verse:**
- "Let the little children come to me." (Matthew 19:14)
- Repeat the verse several times with actions (e.g., making a 'come here' gesture with hands).
- Encourage the children to say it with you.
#### 4. Activity 2: Coloring and Craft (10 minutes)
- **Coloring Time:**
- Distribute coloring sheets with an image of Jesus and children.
- Provide crayons or markers.
- As they color, walk around and engage with them, reinforcing the message of Jesus’ love.
- **Simple Craft:**
- Create a paper heart craft.
- Each child can decorate a heart with stickers, and you can write "Jesus loves [child’s name]" on each heart.
#### 5. Song Time: "Jesus Loves the Little Children" (5 minutes)
- **Teach and Sing:**
- Introduce the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children."
- Sing together:
"Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world."
- Encourage actions and dance to make it fun and engaging.
#### 6. Closing (5 minutes)
- **Recap the Lesson:**
- Briefly reiterate that Jesus loves all children.
- Ask them to share what they learned with their families.
- **Closing Prayer:**
- "Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us so much. Help us always remember that we are special to you. Amen."
- **Goodbye:**
- Thank the children for coming and invite them to the next class.
### Additional Notes:
- Keep the atmosphere cheerful and loving to reflect the message of Jesus' love.
- Be patient and gentle, providing encouragement to each child.
- Adapt the activities based on the children’s interests and attention spans.