It would be good if the spiritist teacher avoided telling the same parables/cures to the children; using the same techniques every year.
We suggest the spiritist teacher talk, organize and split Jesus’ parables/cures which should be told in each cycle. Spiritist education is split into cycles of two years each. The kindergarten is for children of ages of 5 and 6. Since the children stay two years in each cycle, it is good to have two alternatives to be told. This will avoid the same parable/cure which was told in the first year to be told again on the following year.
Here is a suggested division of contents and aspects to be approached in each cycle about Jesus; this is based on the Brazilian Spiritist Federation Curriculum.
a – Jesus’ birth up until the age of 12
- Place where He was born: Bethlehem;
- Jesus was born in a stable; the most humble of circumstances surrounded by animals and his family;
- The birth of Jesus was expected by the people (there were old prophecies that affirmed the Master would come);
- We celebrate Jesus' birth on Christmas, but this is just a symbolic date since no one really knows exactly when Jesus was born.
- Jesus had many friends;
- Children’s plays were very different at that time. There was no TV, radio, videogame, electricity, water treatment. Children had to make their own toys from wood and stone;
- Jesus learned to read and to work as a carpenter;
- Please tell them the story of the boy Jesus at the Temple. When he was twelve years old, his parents went up to Jerusalem. As they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it, but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking those questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. This proofs Jesus was a very special child (spiritually evolved).
b - Jesus, our brother and Master
- Jesus is the son of God; therefore, our brother. We are all children of God;
- God created us; we are all spirits who have a have a physical body. Our parents only give us the physical body (this is the reason why we look similar to them: hair, height, eyes, nose);
- Jesus is our Master;
- Master is someone who teaches others, because he recognized to be wiser.
- Jesus practiced the lessons he taught;
- He taught us love, forgiveness, peace, respect to one another, charity;
- The spiritist teacher could give examples of how Jesus demonstrated his teachings:
Jesus loved his disciples, his friends and other people;
Jesus never hurt people who condemned or crucified him;
Jesus never fought with anyone;
He respected people, treating every person with care;
He practiced charity curing people, helping them with words and kind gestures.
c – Jesus’ teachings
- Jesus taught us about love, forgiveness, charity;
- Jesus taught through stories; called parables. These are brief, succinct stories that illustrate a moral lesson. Many of Jesus' parables refer to simple everyday things, such as a woman baking bread (parable of the Leaven).
Suggestion:
1. The Widow's Offering from The Gospel According to Spiritism. As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (Luke, 21:1-4).
Click here to find a PowerPoint which can be used with this story.
2. Parable The Unmerciful Servant from The Gospel According to Spiritism (Mt.18: 23/35). "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Click here to find a PowerPoint which can be used with this story.
Click here to find a copy or print the parable. There are several other interesting activities available here: Activities.
Click here to find another activity that could be used (received from Gisel Haddad / KSSF Kardecian Study Society of Florida - USA). There are several other options available here: Activities.
d - Learning Opportunity 1:
Jesus' love is very wonderful – Lyrics by Julia Plaut (Sample tracking listing: http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Julia_Plaut/Mr_Cow_The_Best_Of_Julia_Plaut/51503/.
Sit the class in a circle. While you play music the children pass two balls. When the music stops the children who have the balls answer a question each. (What positive attitudes would you take to be just like Jesus?). The aim of the game is to get all children to respond to this question. Please encourage them to sing this song at home with his family members. Please find the lyrics:
e - Learning Opportunity 2:
Please sing the following song with the children. You could also ask them how we bring happiness and love to the world? How can we make a difference in our day to day life? We can choose to have positive attitudes in regards to nature, animals, family, friends, colleagues (love, respect, gratitude, forgiveness, friendship, kindness, happiness, union, collaboration, charity, etc.).
f - Learning Opportunity 3:
here are some suggested activities about Jesus, which could be used for Kindergarten (5 and 6 years of age), 1st cycle (7 and 8 years of age) and 2nd cycle (9 and 10 years of age).
Activity sent to us by the spiritist teacher Marcia Silva (Spiritist Centre Perdão e Caridade – Lisbon - Portugal)
Click here to see the activity.
Click here to see orientations and the drawing assembled.
In order to create Jesus’ family, a saucer and a jelly cup were used to draw the shapes. The characters were made out of paperboard and attached to a paper base. We glued the baby to the mothers’ lap. The animals were placed around them. You could also add small flowers (drawn out of paper or made from biscuit). For kindergarten groups, the idea is to cut geometrical forms (triangles, rectangles and circles) so the children can glue the characters that will represent Jesus’ family and. They can later on complete eyes, mouth, nose and hair – which could be made out of wool or other material, such as newspaper strips or magazines.
g - Learning Opportunity 4: color Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem.
Click here to find the colouring page.
Activity sent to us by the spiritist teacher Marcia Silva (Spiritist Centre Perdão e Caridade – Lisbon - Portugal)
h - Learning Opportunity 5: connect the dots.
Click here to find the activity.
Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, Sir William Crookes Spiritist Society linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.
