### Lesson Plan: Paul's Early Life
#### Subject: Christian Religious Studies
#### Grade: Primary 6
#### Duration: 60 minutes
#### Objective:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe the early life of Apostle Paul.
2. Understand the significance of Paul's background in his ministry.
3. Discuss the transformation of Saul to Paul.
### Materials Needed:
- Bible (preferably translated for children)
- Chart paper and markers
- Printed maps of ancient Judea and surrounding regions
- Activity sheets
- Pictures depicting life in biblical times
- Whiteboard and markers
### Lesson Outline:
#### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Welcome and Opening Prayer:**
- Begin with a short prayer asking for guidance and understanding.
2. **Introduction to Apostle Paul:**
- Show a picture of Apostle Paul.
- Ask students if they know who Paul is or anything about him.
- Briefly explain that he was an important figure in the early Christian church but started with a different name and background.
#### Body (40 minutes)
##### Section 1: Early Life of Saul (15 minutes)
- **Saul of Tarsus:**
- Explain that Paul was previously known as Saul and was born in Tarsus, a prosperous city in the Roman province of Cilicia.
- Locate Tarsus on a map to give geographical context.
- **Education and Background:**
- Discuss Saul’s Jewish heritage and Roman citizenship.
- Explain how Saul was educated under Gamaliel, a prominent Pharisee teacher (Acts 22:3).
- Describe the significance of his education and how it equipped him for his later ministry.
##### Section 2: Saul's Persecution of Christians (10 minutes)
- **Saul the Persecutor:**
- Explain how Saul was zealous for Jewish law and took part in persecuting Christians (Acts 8:3).
- Mention the stoning of Stephen and Saul’s approval of it (Acts 7:58-8:1).
##### Section 3: The Transformation (15 minutes)
- **The Road to Damascus:**
- Read the story of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19).
- Highlight the vision of Jesus and how Saul was blinded and then healed by Ananias.
- **New Identity:**
- Discuss how Saul’s name was changed to Paul and how he became a fervent missionary for Christ.
#### Activity (10 minutes)
- **Timeline Creation:**
- Provide students with an activity sheet to create a timeline of Paul’s early life and conversion.
- Encourage them to illustrate key events and write short descriptions.
### Conclusion (10 minutes)
1. **Recap and Questions:**
- Go over the main points of the lesson.
- Allow students to ask any questions.
2. **Reflection:**
- Discuss the importance of Paul’s transformation and how it shows that anyone can change with God's help.
3. **Closing Prayer:**
- End with a prayer thanking God for Paul’s life and asking for help to learn from his example.
### Evaluation:
- Assess students based on their participation in the discussion and the completion of their activity sheet.
- Observe their ability to recall key events and details about Paul’s early life and conversion.
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### Additional Notes:
- Ensure students are engaged through visuals and interactive discussions.
- Be sensitive to varying levels of prior knowledge and provide additional support where necessary.