This post contains affiliate links.
In our home, one evening a week is dedicated to spending time together as a family. We gather for song, prayer, a spiritual lesson, activity, and special treat. Our children look forward to this every week. Some weeks are more organized than others. Other weeks are extremely chaotic and sometimes quite miserable depending on the kiddos’ behaviors. However, this past week was fabulous! After a quick song and prayer, we read the story of the good Samaritan to our children. In our home, until the children are old enough to read and understand the King James Version of the New Testament, we use New Testament Stories
After reading the story, we shared a video portrayal of the story. My children LOVED watching the video and were so engaged. Both my husband and I love this video above all others because of the small details that really make you think. When the video was finished we talked to them about what we had read and seen, discussing those that helped the injured man, and those that didn’t. Then I brought out our Montessori-inspired activities to go along with the story.
Sequencing The Good Samaritan’s Kind Acts
One thing that always touches my heart about this story is how much the good Samaritan did for the injured man. I wanted the kiddos to understand this also. This activity includes 6 objects that represent the acts of kindness rendered by the good Samaritan. Acts are bold faced in the scripture verses as a control. As the kiddos read the verses, they sequence the acts and can recollect all that was done. I chose six acts/objects, but you may choose more or less, depending on what you have on hand at home.
- “compassion”=felt heart
- “bound up his wounds”=gauze
- “pouring in oil and wine”=jar of oil
- “set him on his own beast”=donkey from Nativity scene
- “brought him to an inn”=picture of injured man being brought to inn
- “took out two pence, and gave them to the host”=two plastic gold coins
The kiddos enjoyed this activity very much and really felt the spirit of the lesson.
Source: I created the printable for this activity as part of The Good Samaritan Printable Pack 1. For your free copy. click on the link at the bottom of this post.
Who Is Your Neighbor?
I ended our lesson on a powerful note. The activity in the tray above was presented to the children. They all helped spell the word NEIGHBOR using the control, without looking at the backs of the cards. When they were finished, I asked them who their neighbors were. Each of them gave different answers. It was then that I asked them to take turns, turning over the letter cards one at a time. Each card showed a picture of a child from a different part of the world. We discussed how each of the children in the pictures are our neighbors and that we must treat them with compassion just like the good Samaritan. This was such a powerful part of our lesson, filled with so much discussion.
Source: I created the printable for this activity as part of The Good Samaritan Printable Pack 1. For your free copy, click on the link at the bottom of the post. (You will need to glue letters onto the back of each picture card.)
How to Be a Neighbor!
It is one thing to learn and understand the story of the good Samaritan, yet a completely different thing for a child to apply it to their own lives. For our activity following the lesson, I decided to create a matching game. One person may play it, simply matching up cards. Or more than one person can play it in the form of a memory game. We played it as a memory game. Half of the cards gave scenarios where individuals needed help. The other half of the cards gave sample responses of how one might help the individuals. Names of individuals were used as controls to help kiddos find the correct matches. This game went over very well with everyone! I love it when everyone is smiling still at the end of our lesson and activity. (That doesn’t always happen.)
Source: I created the printable for this activity as part of The Good Samaritan Printable Pack 1. For you free copy, click on the link at the bottom of this post.
Pouring Oil
We finished our evening with yummy treats. Activities used for our family night lesson will now find their place on our in home Montessori classroom shelves this week for further enjoyment. Knowing the kiddos would enjoy it, I added one more activity to our shelves. Kiddos will practice pouring oil from one jar to the other using the funnel provided. I would have also added an activity where the kiddos bandage up a doll, but I ran out of room and knew I wouldn’t have enough gauze for all three kiddos to use throughout the week. (They become incredibly excited when using gauze and go a little bit overboard. Lol.)
For those interested in the FREE printables, please click the link below!
The Good Samaritan Printable Pack 1 by Renae at Christian Montessori Network
Very beautiful Bible lesson! Thank you so much for sharing this. 🙂
Wonderful. I know my kids will love this lesson. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you! These are fabulous materials. The children in my second grade Bible Study class will love them.
Thank you so much, I absolutely love the scenario cards and match game. It is difficult for kids to think of ways to help others other than the if someone falls I can pick them up, these will be great discussion starters and a great way to teach kids to apply the lesson of the good Samaritan to their daily lives. Thanks again
You are welcome! I am so glad you enjoyed this lesson on the Good Samaritan. 🙂