Lesson Plan for Nursery 1 - Christian Religious Studies - Prayer

Sure, here's a basic lesson plan for Nursery 1 students (approximately ages 3-4) on the topic of "Prayer": --- **Lesson Plan: Introduction to Prayer** **Grade Level:** Nursery 1 (Ages 3-4) **Subject:** Christian Religious Studies **Duration:** 30 minutes **Topic:** Prayer **Objective:** - Introduce the concept of prayer. - Teach a simple prayer that children can remember and recite. - Help children understand that prayer is talking to God. **Materials Needed:** - A Bible (children's version if available) - Picture cards or illustrations of children praying - Soft mat or blanket for sitting in a circle - Small activity sheets with a short prayer **Lesson Outline:** 1. **Welcome (5 minutes)** - Start with a friendly greeting and a brief chat to make the children comfortable. - Explain that today we will be learning about talking to God, called "prayer." 2. **Introduction to the Concept of Prayer (5 minutes)** - Show the children a picture card or illustration of children praying. - Ask them if they know what the children in the picture are doing. - Explain that praying is talking to God, just like we talk to our friends and family. 3. **Bible Story Time (5 minutes)** - Read a short, simple Bible story that features prayer, such as "Samuel’s Prayer" (1 Samuel 3:1-10) or "Jesus Prays" (Matthew 6:9-13). - Use a children's Bible or simplified language to ensure understanding. 4. **Learning a Simple Prayer (10 minutes)** - Teach the children a simple prayer they can remember. For example: "Dear God, Thank you for my family, Thank you for my friends, Please keep us safe, Amen." - Recite the prayer several times with the children, encouraging them to repeat after you. 5. **Activity Time (10 minutes)** - Hand out small activity sheets with the prayer written on it and a picture to color. - While they color, go around and help them repeat the prayer, reinforcing what they've learned. 6. **Closing (5 minutes)** - Gather the children back into a circle. - Recap the lesson: "Today we learned about prayer, which is talking to God. We also learned a simple prayer that we can say every day." - End with the same simple prayer you taught them. - Thank the children for their participation and tell them you’re excited to see them next time. **Assessment:** - Listen to the children as they recite the prayer to gauge their understanding. - Ask a few simple questions about what they learned to reinforce the lesson. **Follow-Up:** - Encourage the children to say their simple prayer at home with their families. - Suggest parents practice the prayer with their children during bedtime or mealtime to reinforce the habit of praying. --- This lesson plan focuses on making prayer a positive and understandable concept for young children, using simple language and interactive activities to keep them engaged.