Lesson Plan:
**Mary's Visit to Elizabeth**
**Grade Level:** Primary 1 (Ages 6-7)
**Duration:** 45 minutes
**Objective:**
By the end of this lesson, students will:
1. Understand the story of Mary's visit to Elizabeth.
2. Recognize the importance of friendship and support in times of need.
3. Learn to show care and compassion to others.
**Materials Needed:**
- Children's Bible or Bible Storybook
- Pictures of Mary and Elizabeth
- Craft supplies (paper, crayons, glue, etc.)
- A small gift or token (for demonstration purposes)
- Song lyrics
- Handouts with the key verse
**Lesson Outline:**
**1. Introduction (5 minutes):**
- Greet the students and say a short prayer.
- Introduce the topic by showing a picture of Mary and Elizabeth.
- Ask the students if they know who Mary and Elizabeth are and if they have heard of their story.
**2. Bible Story (10 minutes):**
- Read the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth from the children’s Bible (Luke 1:39-56).
- Discuss the story with the students:
- Who is Mary? (The mother of Jesus)
- Who is Elizabeth? (Mary’s cousin)
- Why did Mary visit Elizabeth? (To share the good news and support each other)
- What happened when Mary arrived? (The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy)
**3. Discussion and Understanding (10 minutes):**
- Explain the importance of friendship and support using the story.
- Ask students how they show care and compassion to their friends and family.
- Share a personal example of helping a friend or receiving support.
- Highlight how Elizabeth and Mary praised God for His blessings.
**4. Activity (10 minutes):**
- Craft: Students will make a "Friendship Card" to give to a friend or family member. Provide paper, crayons, and other craft supplies.
- Encourage them to draw a picture of Mary and Elizabeth and write a simple message of friendship or support.
**5. Song and Movement (5 minutes):**
- Teach the students a simple song about friendship or love, such as "Jesus Loves the Little Children" or "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy".
- Incorporate hand claps or movements to make it fun and engaging.
**6. Closing (5 minutes):**
- Recap the lesson's main points:
- Who visited who?
- Why did Mary visit Elizabeth?
- What can we learn from their story?
- Share the key verse for the week: Luke 1:45 – “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"
- Distribute handouts with the key verse for the students to take home.
- Close with a prayer, thanking God for friends and asking for help to be supportive and kind like Mary and Elizabeth.
**Assessment:**
- Observe participation and responses during the discussion.
- Evaluate the students' understanding through their craft and engagement in the song.
- Check if the students can recite the key verse by the end of the lesson.