First: Opening prayer; get the children to repeat after the Spiritist volunteer. As weeks go by the Spiritist volunteers should encourage the children to volunteer for this task. If they don’t want to collaborate we could say we will follow the letters of the alphabet. The child’s name that starts with the letter A will do the opening prayer this time. Everybody will have the chance to collaborate as the weeks unfold. The child’s name that starts with the letter B will do the closing prayer at the end of the session.
Second: Welcome the children into the session. Say how happy we are to see them there and how important they are for the class. Sing songs together; get the children to remain standing but in a circle.
Hello my friend,
Let’s learn and play,
We will learn about Jesus all night long!
Good morning
Good morning, good morning, good morning (say the name of one of the children)
I am so happy today. Hooray!
Good morning, good morning, good morning (say the name of one of the children)
My heart wants to say
Good morning, good morning, good morning (say the name of one of the children)
Let's all sing and play
For Nature is so beautiful and wise
Teaches us to love every day
+++ repeat this song if necessary, as every child should hear their name being sang; this will help the children to feel integrated into the group).
+++ sing other songs from the songs’ list as per attached here.
+++ please find an additional list of songs attached here.
Third: Get the children to sit down into a circle. Tell them we will today learn more about plants and the special relationship they have with us. Ask them if they remember the new song about plants that we learned about the other day? Shall we sing it together?
Vital Fluid
Vital fluid is necessary,
Necessary, necessary
For the life of living beings,
Living beings, living beings
Vital fluid is necessary,
Necessary, necessary
Even plants already have it,
Already have it, already have it.
Follow the music tune from the following song: London Bridge is falling down
Fourth: Tell them the story below with mimics
God, our loving Father, created everything that exists. God created the solar system and our planet. (The Spiritist volunteer should show a picture of our solar system to the children, as well as of our planet)
Ask the children: How is our planet called?
Our planet and all these other planets are part of a larger unity of planets. They are part of the Universe. The Universe is so large and vast we can’t see all planets with our physical eyes! It’s so vast we can only see a tiny part of it. God, this amazing Father, has handed over our lovely planet.
Ask the children: How is our planet called again?
He handed over our lovely planet to a person who is much more evolved than us. He is someone who came once to Earth to teach us love and charity.
Ask the children: How is this person called?
Yes, that’s right! His name is Jesus! (The Spiritist volunteer should show a picture of Jesus to the children)
He handed over our planet Earth to Jesus, so he could help us develop and become a better person, just like him! Our planet Earth is our home in this physical existence. We need to be grateful to Jesus and God for being able to live here.
Ask the children: Why do you think we came to Earth to do?
Yes, that’s right! We came to learn and grow! God gave us the sun to give us the light and help life on Earth. (The Spiritist volunteer can now switch off the lights and switch it back on again)
He also gave us so many amazing gifts to help us maintain life on Earth.
Ask the children: What other gifts do we have on Earth?
Yes, that’s right! We have the water, the plants and the animals! The water is needed for our life. (The Spiritist volunteer can spray some water in the children’s hands; never on their faces as it can make them feel uncomfortable)
What about the weather? The weather changes to help maintain our life on Earth. Sometimes it’s sunny, sometimes it’s rainy… Ask the children: What does the rain sound like? Shia!!
Sometimes it’s windy… Ask the children: What does the wind sound like?
And sometimes it’s cloudy. Ask the children: What does thunder sound like?
Sometimes it even snows!! Ask the children: Does snow make any sounds? What do you think?
So when it rain, let’s remember that plants and animals need the water. The water falls down from the rain!!! (The Spiritist volunteer can spray some water in the children’s hands; never on their faces as it can make them feel uncomfortable)
Ask the children: Shall we sing another song together? What do you think?
Sing the song called ‘How's the Weather?’ by Maple Leaf Learning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8GeA3anPdo.
How's the Weather? It’s sunny
How's the Weather? It’s sunny
How's the Weather? It’s sunny, it’s sunny today
How's the Weather? It’s rainy
How's the Weather? It’s rainy
How's the Weather? It’s rainy, it’s rainy today
How's the Weather? It’s cloudy
How's the Weather? It’s cloudy
How's the Weather? It’s cloudy, it’s cloudy today
How's the Weather? It’s windy
How's the Weather? It’s windy
How's the Weather? It’s windy, it’s windy today
How's the Weather? It’s snowy
How's the Weather? It’s snowy
How's the Weather? It’s snowy, it’s snowy today
Fifth: Ask the children
* What are plants? Can you give me some examples?
* What do you think plants are important for?
* What’s the role of the plants?
* How can we care for nature? Listen to their answers.
Sixth: Ask the children to name examples of things that are related to plants. Can you think of anything? When you think of a plant, what comes to your mind? Can you think of elements relates to plants in general? If they can’t, take one example from the bag and show it to them. This will encourage them to think about other examples.
Note: The Spiritist volunteer should bring a bag or box with things that come from plants, such as leaves, flowers, pines, a squirrel toy, an apple, an orange, a bird toy, a bee toy, a monkey toy, a mushroom, a tomato, a butterfly toy, a pepper, seeds, etc.
Ask the children and show them each step of the way - Did you know stamens make pollen, the nectar used by bees to make honey is made in the nectarines of a flower and petals are often bright so they attract insects? Did you notice how perfect nature is?
Did you notice how everything is connected? The animals and the human beings need plants. That’s why we should care for nature! Our planet is the home we have received from God to learn and grow!
Seventh: Ask the children - what can we do to help the nature? Listen to their answers. Remember children, plants have that special something we also have in our physical bodies! They have vital fluid! Did you remember? From the song we sang in the beginning? (The Spiritist volunteer can get some water bubbles blown in the air to illustrate this, once again) This is a fluid that gives life to all living beings. It is the fluid of life that helps maintain the vitality of our physical bodies.
Eighth: The Spiritist volunteer should spread different pictures on the floor. These pictures should include pictures of things related to plants: animals, minerals, trees, etc. Give each of them A4 sheet of paper and get them to build an individual panel with elements from nature. Get them to colour their work and talk about what else they could do to help nature?
Ninth: Get the children to help cleaning the room; one of the children will do a closing prayer; encourage the children to volunteer for this task. If they don’t want to collaborate we could say we will follow the letters of the alphabet. The child’s name that starts with the letter A will do the opening prayer this time. Everybody will have the chance to collaborate.
Note: Please find an activity, which can be used during this class or given to the children as homework here.
Closing prayer
Class suggested being suitable for: Nursery (3 to 4 years old) and Kindergarten (5 to 6 years old).
Spiritist volunteer: Carolina von Scharten, London, linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.