Early Childhood Education: September 2010

Inspired by the Holy Spirit

By Anne Neuberger

In preparing yourself and your little students for the new school year, go right to the greatest source of inspiration: the Holy Spirit.

Pray that the Holy Spirit helps you reach the minds and hearts of the children.

Then prepare a little ritual and art project to help the children come to feel the Holy Spirit too!

Materials needed:

For prayer:

• Small table
• Candle and candle holder, matches

For the project:

• Red felt or construction paper
• Orange felt or construction paper
• The patterns provided below
• Scissors
• Glue if using felt, glue stick if using construction paper
• Wet cloth for wiping sticky fingers in using glue

Before class, cut out a heart shape for each child based on the pattern, one for each child. Do the same with the flame shapes.

Gather the children into a circle around a small table which holds the candle.  Explain that the Spirit of God is with us, helping us learn, listen, make friends and pray. Tell them that while we can’t see the Spirit, we can use a sign that helps us think of this Holy Spirit. A good sign is a little flame of fire.

Light the candle. Take a few seconds of silence. Then lead children in a simple prayer to the Holy Spirit, such as: 

 Dear Spirit of God, warm our hearts so we feel your love. Help us know you are  with us, helping us learn and love each other. Amen.

Then suggest children make their own sign of the Holy Spirit that they can always keep in a pocket, backpack, near their beds, etc.

Give them the materials listed above and help them attach the flame to the center of the heart. 

Click in the images below to open them in a new window and print out.

 

 

Check out Anne's website at www.anneneuberger.com and see her latest book, "A Circle of Saints".