DLTK's Sunday School Lessons
Psalm 23
by
Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. Visit the Psalm 23 Bible lesson plan for further ideas to supplement this.
Introduction:
This next lesson is about Psalm 23. Known as a psalm that comforts people it's about how David sees his relationship with God and God's relationship with him. Even though God is our ultimate king he compares him to a shepherd leading and taking care of his sheep. As the sheep we are under the shepherd's care and need to trust him for all our basic needs. For more reading on how Jesus is the good shepherd refer to John 10:1-21 (also in the KJV link below).
The message:
All Grades: God is your shepherd and will take great care of you.
I've split this message into two separate ones depending on the age level. For the younger children, the message is simple: God is your shepherd and will take great care of you. For the older children, the message is the same but you could ask them to make their own message after reading the psalm.
Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson. Send the Psalm 23 Take Home Sheethome 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 the Shepherd Coloring Page or the Lamb Coloring pages 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, feathers and whatever other materials (such as sparkle glue) that you have available to personalize their name tag. Sing the Learning our Names song |
10 to 15 minutes | Sheep name tags, scissors (or adults can precut), crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape. |
Craft time! Preschool thru Grade 1: Make the Lamb Handprint Craft. Write: "The Lord is my shepherd" on the back of the handprint craft. Grade 2 and 3: Make the Shepherd toilet paper roll Craft and the Lamb tp roll craft. If the time doesn't allow you to make both crafts, the shepherd craft has a little lamb attached to it. |
15 to 30 minutes depending on your adult/child ratio |
Preschool thru Grade 1: Lamb
Handprint template. black/grey construction paper, glue,
white pencil crayon or silver marker, cottonballs.
OPTIONAL: wiggly eyes,
scissors.
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Bible Story Time: Preschool thru Grade 1: Read the Psalm 23 Children's version (or read from your own store bought children's bible). Grades 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 Shepherd Coloring Page can be distributed to the children so they are able to color at home, or during the story. |
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Closing: Preschool thru Grade 1: depending on the time remaining ask the children what are some of the things a shepherd would do to take care of a herd of sheep? How is God like a shepherd? How are they like sheep? Just as sheep would be lost without their shepherd, we would be lost without God. Grade 2 and 3: depending on the time remaining ask the children how the Lord is their shepherd? How does he guide and take care of them? Discuss what would happen to a herd of sheep without a shepherd and compare that to what would happen to them without God.
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"
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