MONTH: THEME: TIME ALLOTED: Objectives

March Holy Spirit 1.5 to 2 hours At the end of the activity, the children should: understand who the Holy Spirit is recognize the works of the Holy Spirit seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their everyday lives But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide us into all truth. John 16:13 15 mins Gathering and teaching of song 10 mins Kids praise/opening prayer 15 mins Pep talk 30 mins Activity (per age group) 15 mins Processing/Conclusion/ Featured Saint 10 mins Closing prayer/KFL Habits/ Announcements Radio* This month we will talk about the Holy Spirit, and how he works on our everyday lives. How many of you have ever done something wrong? How many of you felt sorry about it? How many of you have ever been brave when you could have been afraid? How many of you need help in making the right decisions? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you may have had a little help from the Holy Spirit. We know Who God is. He created us. We know Who Jesus is. He saved us. So who is the Holy Spirit anyway? Some of you have heard that God is three persons in one or what they call Trinity. God is the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. How can we explain it? (Note: You may use an egg, a bowl and a towel for your hands while presenting the talk)

Anchor Bible Verse Schedule

Song for the Month Pep Talk:

Well, this egg right here has three parts. There is the shell, (crack open), the yolk, and the egg white. It has three parts with different functions, but it is still one egg. Same as the Trinity, they are different persons with different tasks, but they are considered as one. According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit has many names some of which are: - Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26) - Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26) - Spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17) - Spirit of knowledge (Isaiah 11:2) - Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Job 33:4) When Jesus ascended to heaven, He didnt want to leave us alone on Earth. He sent the Holy Spirit to: Comfort us when we are sad or when we are in pain Guide us to be honest and tell the truth at all times Have wisdom and knowledge when we study for our exams Protect us every day to avoid danger and in sickness It means that anytime a child of God calls on the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit goes forth and springs into action to help us. Suggested Activities Kids at Play (3-4 years old) Activity: Holy Spirit Stained Glass Craft Materials: Colored papers (assorted) scissors glue cardboard or 1/8 size illustration board print out of a dove and fire Instructions: Create the stained glass window background: o Cut out an archway shape from a cardboard or an illustration board.

Cut out random rectangular shapes from colored papers of different colors. Glue the pieces all over the window to give it a stained glass look. Glue the print out dove or fire on the center of the window.
o o

After the activity, tell the kids that dove and fire were some of the symbols used to describe the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The dove was used as symbol during the baptism of Jesus and the fire was used during Pentecost. First Step (5-7 years old) Activity: Silent Answer Materials: Cup of water Piece of any fruit Hand drawn map of the church Picture of a stop sign Index cards Mechanics: 1. Draw a map of the church. Write the following questions on index cards: I am hungry; can you help me? I need water for my plant; can you help me? I really like your church; can you tell me how to locate the sanctuary to attend the service? I'm thinking about fighting my friend; what do you think about that? 2. Place the first four objects on a table and ask for two kids as volunteers. 3. Give the index cards to the first kid and he or she will verbally ask the questions to the second kid. 4. The second volunteer may use any of the objects on the table to answer the questions, but may not speak. 5. See how many of the questions can be answered. If time permits, allow other volunteers to play the two roles.

After the questions have been asked and answered to the best of the student's ability, explain the following:

The cup of water and the piece of fruit represent how God answers our prayers for our physical needs. By supplying food, drink, homes and medicine, He shows that He cares for us. The map and picture of the stop sign represent how God speaks to us through His written word the Bible. The Bible is similar to a map, or owner's manual, for our lives. God also speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, which is the part of us that feels guilty or bad when we know in our hearts that we did something wrong. In addition, this part of us feels happy and joyful when we worship and praise God.

Footstep (8-10 years old) Guided in Truth Materials: Identical sets of colorful blocks 2 tables Mechanics: 1. Form two teams. Have each team sit back to back with a table in front of them. Give each team an identical set of colorful building blocks. The object is for the members of one team to create a design using their blocks, and the other team duplicating that design exactly but without looking. 2. Taking turns, one member of the first team places a block on the table, and tells second team how to do just as he or she had done. You can have second team work together, or take turns having one member of the second team attempt to duplicate the block. After all of the blocks are placed, the teams compare and talk about what went wrong. 3. Then switch sides, and let first team attempt to duplicate the design created by the second team. The kids will no doubt get better at listening and knowing what to do. So, to improve the kid's problem solving skills, and add to the fun, here are ways to make it a little harder: 4. Tell the kids that they can only give the commands as before, but this time they can not say any "color words" (Red, blue, green, etc.) They must find creative ways to convey the idea of the color without actually saying its name. For example: "Take the block that is the color

of grass." They can also take away shape words, (square, triangle, circle, etc.) They must find creative ways to convey the shape of the block they are using. Finally, you can take away position words, (up, down, front, back, etc.) After the activity: When we are in a situation that we dont know what to do, like how to build a house, how to solve a mathematical equation during a quiz bee, or when we accidentally broke our moms favorite vase, it is very hard for us think of a right way. However, when we allow the Holy Spirit to be the eyes of our heart, he will tell us everything we must do. The Bible says, "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13 Step Up (11-12 years old) Materials: Deflated balloons Masking tape Mechanics: 1. Mark a line on the floor at opposite ends of the room. 2. Tell kids that they'll have a race to see who can make a balloon fly across the finish line first. 3. Give each preteen a deflated balloon, and have kids spread out along one line. 4. Tell kids that on "go" they should blow up their balloons and then let them go, allowing the balloons to fly toward the finish line. 5. Of course, none of the balloons will cross the finish line on the first try. Have kids run to where their balloons land, pick them up, and repeat this process until their balloons cross the finish line. After the activity, ask them the following: How was this activity related to what the Holy Spirit will do in our life? Share an experience where you think that it is the Holy Spirit who worked in your life. What are the things that you can do to allow the Holy Spirit being present in your life?

Saint of the Month

Processing/Conclusion

St. Patrick Feast Day: March 17 He is the famous patron saint of Ireland He was born in fifth-century Britain to Roman parents He was sold as a slave; Patrick was so lonely on the hillside that he turned often in prayer to Jesus and his Mother Mary Patrick's trust in God grew stronger all the time He became Ireland's first Bishop, leaving a legacy for the island to become the great center of Catholic faith and mission for centuries St. Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Because of Gods great love for us, he sent us His only son Jesus. Through Jesus, he gave us the Holy Sprit to guide and help us. Just like the air that we breathe, we cannot see Him, but He is always present. He is with us all the time. All we have to do is to ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Since the Holy Spirit is God-sent to help us, we are now encouraged to share and impart to others the love of God by being a good child and a good example to others.