DLTK's Sunday School Lessons
The Lord's Prayer

by Leanne Guenther

Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan.  Visit the Lord's Prayer Bible Lesson Plan for further ideas to supplement this.

Introduction:

This lesson is about the Lord's prayer.  Communication is important in all our relationships, so it should be no surprise that prayer is one of the most important parts of our relationship with God.  You'd think talking to God would be harder or more complicated than it is but God gave us five verses to show us how to do it right.  This lesson will help children understand what the Lord's prayer means and help them understand that anyone can pray.  Even the disciples wanted to know how to pray (Luke11:1).

The message:

Preschool thru Grade 1: Jesus taught us how to pray.
 
Grades 2 and 3: Use the Lord's prayer as an example and guide to pray.

I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level.  For the younger children, the message is simple: Jesus taught us how to pray. For the older children, we expand on this message and say use the Lord's prayer as an example and guide to pray.  Going beyond reciting the Lord's prayer and applying it to their everyday life.

Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson.  Send the Lord's Prayer Take Home Sheet home with the children to encourage parents to reiterate the message during the week.  It includes a poster at the bottom that the children can color and hang on their wall or refrigerator.

Preview of the lesson:

Some people like to do craft time first and story time second and some like to switch it around.  I like the first option, myself.

Always consider offering Lord's Prayer Coloring Pages or you could look at the Lord's Prayer Mini Book or Itsy Bitsy Book for children who aren't interested in participating in the group activity (or if you get done the group activities very quickly and need something to fill in the spare time).  Everyone has a need for "alone time" once in awhile.  Also, sending home the coloring pages with the Take Home sheet provides parents with much needed help in reinforcing the lessons.  You can make a nice little booklet each week with the Take Home Sheet on top -- I promise that most parents will appreciate the effort! 

Description

Time Allotted

Supplies


Welcome!

Receive name tags.  Have the children use crayons, markers, yarn and whatever other materials (such as sparkle glue) you have available to personalize their name tag.

Sing the Learning our Names song

10 to 15 minutes Praying hands name tags, scissors (or adults can precut),  crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape.

Craft time!

Preschool thru Grade 1: Make the Praying Hands Silhouettes (easy version). OR make the Lord's prayer Bingo Dauber Art.  Use bingo daubers, stickers or pom poms to fill in the circles on the coloring page.

Grade 2 and 3:  Make the Praying Hands Silhouettes (older children version).

15 to 30 minutes 
depending on your
adult/child ratio

Preschool thru Grade 1: Praying Hands Silhouettes template.  Printer, paper, scissors, glue, black paint. Bingo Dauber Art template

Grade 2 and 3: Praying Hands Silhouettes template.  Printer, paper, scissors, glue, black construction paper.


Bible Story/Song Time:

All Grades:  Sing Jesus Taught us How to Pray.

Preschool thru Grade 1:  Read The Story of The Lord's Prayer (or read from your own store bought children's bible).

Grade 2 and 3:  It's tough to know when it's the right time to start readings from the Bible, but if the children have been read a children's version of the story in the past, I believe this is a good age to introduce the King James (or your preferred) bible reading.

10 minutes The Coloring Pages , Mini Book or Itsy Bitsy Book be distributed to the children so they are able to color at home, or during the story.  Print the pages, staple them together in order and let the kids know when to turn the page.  The handouts can be taken home to color in.

Closing:

Preschool thru Grade 1: depending on the time remaining ask the children: if they know how to pray.  What do they pray?  What kind of things do they ask God for?  What do they thank God for?  Do they ask God for forgiveness (or say they're sorry) in their prayer?  God doesn't just want to hear a list of requests but how much we love him and need him too.

Grade 2 and 3:  depending on the time remaining ask the children: if they know how to pray.  When do they pray?  How many times do they pray in a day?  God doesn't just want to hear from us when we need him but he wants to hear from us when we're doing good too.  He wants to be your friend and wants to hear from you anytime and all the time.

All Grades: Make the Praying Pretzels ahead of time or at the beginning of class with the kids.  Or buy some pretzels and explain that pretzels were first made by monks who gave them as rewards to children who had learned their prayers.  The special twisted shape looks like the folded arms of a child praying.  The word pretzel means reward.

Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together"

5 to 15 minutes

Brainstorm Board (chalkboard, whiteboard, poster board,...)

 

 

 

Words to:

Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together"

 


Printable version of this Teacher's Guide