Kindergarten: The Spirit on the Move
LESSON INFORMATION
Unit Essential Questions:
How was the Holy Spirit on the move during the early church?
How is the Holy Spirit on the move today?
How does the Holy Spirit work through followers of Jesus?
Lesson Essential Questions:
How did Jesus' followers act towards one another?
How does the Holy Spirit gather people together?
Bible Text:
Acts 4:32-35
Contextual Lenses:
Learning Goals:
Students will be able to explain in their own words ways in which the Holy Spirit gathers people together.
Students will be able to illustrate how the Holy Spirit gathers.
Common Core ELA:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5.c- Identify real-life connections between words and their use.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.6- Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.1- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.3- Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.
Teaching Points:
Jesus went UP (point up)
The Holy Spirit came DOWN (point down)
The disciples went OUT (point anywhere using both hands)
Early followers of Jesus lived in such a way that they cared for each other, ate meals together, shared their money, and worshiped God together.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our Helper and to gather Jesus followers to live life together.
LESSON PREPARATION
What you should prepare . . .
Download and print off the arrow symbol. Use the arrow symbol as a visual anchor. It will also be on the presentation slides.
Get the presentation slides ready on your computer, screen, or smart board.
Print out paper figures. Either cut them out or gather scissors and art supplies like markers, crayons, colored or patterned paper, glues sticks, and string or yarn.
What you should know . . .
These lessons focus on the powerful stories of the Holy Spirit’s work in the early followers of Jesus. Jesus promised that after He ascended into heaven, He would send a Helper to be with His followers. That Helper is the Holy Spirit, who now dwells within everyone who believes in Jesus.
To help reinforce this lesson, you can use the phrase "The Holy Spirit came!" as you review the story with your learners. Additionally, you might consider revisiting the story of Paul’s transformative encounter with Jesus, using the phrase "The Holy Spirit changes lives!" to highlight the life-changing power of the Spirit.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Where are we? (time and location):
Jerusalem - a house.
Today we are going to travel to a house in the city of Jerusalem. (Slide 1: Show map)
We’re going to discover how the Holy Spirit was on the move! Do you remember? Jesus promised that after He went back to heaven, He would send a Helper to be with His followers. That Helper is the Holy Spirit, who now lives within everyone who believes in Jesus. The Spirit came with the powerful signs of wind and fire, and because of the Spirit, everything changed. The Holy Spirit truly transforms lives! The Holy Spirit was on the move!
To help us remember this, we’ll begin by saying: (Show arrow symbol)
Jesus went UP (point up)
The Holy Spirit came DOWN (point down)
The disciples went OUT (point anywhere using both hands)
Are you ready to go to Jerusalem?
In our story today, we’ll find out what the disciples and Jesus’ followers did after the Holy Spirit came down. We don’t quite know where Jesus’ followers were when our story for today takes place, but we do know they were in Jerusalem. They may have been at someone’s home, like this one. (Slide 2: typical Jerusalem home.) Let’s join them there!
GOD-CENTERED STORYTELLING
Jesus’s followers sat together. They felt good when they were together! (turn to the person on either side of you and give them a high-five.) They could still remember the day the Holy Spirit came down (hug self). It filled them with a lovely warm feeling (smile, close eyes, say ahhh).
All the believers loved each other! (wave to others). They felt like they were ONE FAMILY! (Link arms or put arms around each other so you make one giant circle). They said together: “We are one! We are one family!” (Say that with me: We are one! We are one family!) Unlink arms.
The believers took good care of each other (give each other a thumbs up). Sometimes those who owned a house (make a house shape with arms out and put tips of fingers together) SOLD it and shared the money. (Say, “here you go”/pretend you’re offering money out). Sometimes those who owned a field (put hands together, spread them apart, as if drawing a flat field shape), SOLD it and shared the money (Say, “here you go”/pretend you’re offering money out). Sometimes those who owned a cow (make horns on head, say moo) SOLD it and shared the money (Say, “here you go’/pretend you’re offering money out).
The believers shared everything they had (pretend you’re giving something to someone else). They ate together (pretend to eat/ say yummy!). They sang praises to God (lift arms up, pretend to sing, or sing something short, such as ‘Praise him, praise him, Praise him in the morning, Praise him in the noontime, Praise him, praise him, Praise him when the sun goes down.).
The Holy Spirit had gathered them together. They were ONE (Put index finger in air, as if pointing up.)
EXPLORE THE STORY
Wow! It sounds as if the Holy Spirit did a great job gathering all Jesus’s followers together!
Spend five minutes discussing the story. Possible wondering questions/starter points:
I wonder how it felt to be a Jesus follower that day?
I wonder why those followers decided to sell their possessions?
I wonder if the Holy Spirit still gathers people together?
I wonder what the world would be like if everyone shared with those in need?
RESPOND TO THE STORY
Give everyone a paper figure shape. Ask them to draw (or cut out from paper) their own faces/clothing etc. and to write their name in the center. Once finished, make a circle out of the figures, making sure the arms are joined.
Write above, or inside the circle: The Holy Spirit Gathers.
Lesson Files Include:
Lesson PDF
Presentations Files (Keynote, Power Point, Google Slides)
Additional Lesson Resources
Contact info@lovegodloveothers.com if you are interested in trying out this unit with your students!