As a mom who’s always looking for creative ways to teach my little ones about important life lessons, I’m thrilled to share with you this delightful Fruit of the Spirit activity that not only brings joy but also helps children learn about the Fruit of the Spirit in a fun, hands-on way! This activity is easy to implement. In addition, it’s a great opportunity for children to explore the Biblical concept of the Fruit of the Spirit while developing fine motor skills, creativity, and understanding of the qualities that God desires in us.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to create your Fruit of the Spirit puppets with the free printable found at the bottom of this post. What’s more, I’ll also share a fun Fruit of the Spirit game that will help reinforce the lesson in a playful, interactive manner. This Fruit of the Spirit activity will be perfect for church gatherings, homeschooling, or a fun craft afternoon at home. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need for the Fruit of the Spirit Activity
Before we dive into making the puppets, let me tell you what you’ll need for this easy fruit of the spirit activity. Fortunately, this project requires just a few simple materials, many of which you may already have around the house.
Materials:
- Printable Fruit of the Spirit Puppet Templates (download for free at the end of this post)
- Cardstock
- Glue stick, tape, or glue dots
- Scissors
- Popsicle sticks (one for each puppet)
- Markers or crayons
The great thing about this fruit of the spirit activity is that you can customize it however you like! Moreover, you can choose any colors for your puppets—be as creative as you’d like. This craft will teach children about the Fruit of the Spirit and encourage them to use their creativity.
Click the Images Below to Discover More Fruit of the Spirit Fun:
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Fruit of the Spirit Activity
- Download the Fruit of the Spirit Printable: First, click on the free Fruit of the Spirit printable link provided at the end of this post. You’ll find a set of templates, each representing one of the Fruits of the Spirit. These Fruits include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- Print and Cut Out the Fruit of the Spirit Templates: Once you’ve downloaded the printable, print it on cardstock. Encourage your child to color the Fruits. Next, using scissors, carefully cut out each Fruit template.
- Decorate the Puppets: Now comes the fun part—decorating your puppets! Let your kids use markers, crayons, or colored pencils to add their unique creativity to each puppet. You can use vibrant colors to make each fruit come to life. This is also a great opportunity to talk about the meaning behind each Fruit of the Spirit. For example, explain how love is patient and kind, and joy is a feeling that comes from knowing God.
- Attach the Popsicle Sticks: Take a popsicle stick and apply glue, tape, or a glue dot to one end. Stick the popsicle stick to the bottom of the fruit template, ensuring that it is securely attached. This will turn each fruit of the Spirit into a fun, movable puppet!
- Enjoy Your Fruit of the Spirit Puppets! Once all of the puppets are assembled, it’s time to start playing! The best part of this fruit of the spirit activity is that it’s interactive. Not only will your kids love to make these colorful puppets, but they’ll also have a great time playing games with them!
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Lesson for Kids
Scripture Reference:
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Lesson Theme:
The Fruit of the Spirit
Objective:
To teach children about the Fruit of the Spirit and how these qualities can grow in our lives when we follow the Holy Spirit. Through this lesson, kids will learn how to identify and apply each fruit in their daily lives.
Introduction:
Have you ever heard the saying, “You will know a tree by its fruit”? That saying actually comes from the Bible, so it’s pretty special! This means that just like a tree grows fruit, our hearts also show the kind of person we are through the things we say and do. The Bible tells us that when we give our hearts to God and follow Him, the Holy Spirit works in us to produce something very special—something called the “Fruit of the Spirit.”
But wait! The Fruit of the Spirit is not like the apples or oranges you eat! These Fruits are qualities that show the world who we are as followers of God. When we live according to the Holy Spirit, He helps us grow these beautiful fruits inside of us.
In Galatians 5:22-23, the Bible lists the nine fruits of the Spirit:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
Let’s learn more about each of these fruits and how we can grow them in our lives!
1. Love
Love is the first Fruit of the Spirit. God’s love for us is so big and perfect! When we have the love of God in our hearts, we can love others too—whether it’s our family, our friends, or even people who are hard to love.
Application: We can show love by being kind to others, helping our friends, and showing forgiveness when someone hurts us.
2. Joy
Joy is more than just happiness. It is a deep, lasting happiness that comes from knowing God loves us and is always with us. No matter what happens, we can have joy because God is good!
Application: Even when things don’t go our way, we can still choose to be joyful. We can share our joy with others by smiling, laughing, and praising God.
3. Peace
Peace is when we feel calm and peaceful in our hearts because we trust in God. It’s the opposite of being worried, angry, or upset. When we have peace, we trust that God is in control of everything.
Application: We can show peace by being patient in difficult situations and trusting God instead of worrying.
4. Patience
Patience means waiting without getting upset. It can be hard to be patient, especially when we have to wait for something we really want! But when we have patience, we show others that we trust God’s timing.
Application: We can practice patience by waiting our turn, not getting angry when things don’t happen right away, and showing kindness even when we’re frustrated.
5. Kindness
Kindness means being thoughtful and caring to others, even when they don’t deserve it. Just like God shows kindness to us, we can show kindness to others by being helpful and considerate.
Application: We can show kindness by sharing, saying kind words, and helping others, even when they don’t ask for it.
6. Goodness
Goodness is when we do the right thing, even when no one is looking. It means choosing to do what pleases God by being honest, fair, and caring.
Application: We can practice goodness by telling the truth, standing up for what is right, and being helpful to others.
7. Faithfulness
Faithfulness means being loyal and dependable. When we are faithful, we keep our promises and stay true to our word. God is always faithful to us, and He wants us to be faithful in return.
Application: We can show faithfulness by keeping promises, being reliable, and trusting God no matter what.
8. Gentleness
Gentleness is being kind, calm, considerate, and tender with others. It’s about treating people with respect and care, just like God treats us!
Application: We can practice gentleness by speaking kindly, not being rough or harsh, and showing love in our actions.
9. Self-control
Self-control means being able to control our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s about making good choices even when we want to do something bad or selfish.
Application: We can practice self-control by controlling our anger, choosing to make good decisions, and avoiding things that can harm us or others.
Fruit of the Spirit Activity: Puppet Game
Purpose of the Game:
This game will help the children remember the nine Fruits of the Spirit by physically engaging with each one. It also helps reinforce what each fruit means.
Materials Needed:
- Fruit of the Spirit puppets (created from the free printable download at the bottom of this post)
- A space where the kids can move around easily
Fruit of the Spirit Puppet Game Instructions
- Preparation:
- Have each child choose one puppet from the nine they made and put the others aside.
- Instruct the children to sit in a circle. The adult leader of the game should sit where the children can see them.
- Explain that each puppet represents one of the nine Fruits of the Spirit.
- How to Play:
- Tell the children that you will call out a Fruit of the Spirit (such as “Love” or “Joy”), and they need to hold up their puppet that matches the fruit called.
- Once the correct puppet is held up, ask the child holding it to share one way they can show that Fruit of the Spirit in their life. For example, if you call out “Peace,” the child holding the peace puppet might say, “I can show peace by not arguing with my friends.”
- Continue the Game:
- Call out the names of the Fruits one by one and have the children hold up their puppets. Encourage them to think of other ways they can show that Fruit to others.
- For an added challenge, you can speed up the game or mix up the order to see how quickly the children can recognize each fruit.
Game Reflection and Discussion
- Reflection:
- After the game, discuss what it means to have the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Talk about how these Fruits help us show others that we are following God and growing in His love.
The Fruit of the Spirit is a beautiful gift God gives us when we follow Jesus. These nine fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are ways that we can show God’s love to the world. Just like a tree produces fruit, the Holy Spirit works in us to grow these qualities in our hearts.
Ask God to help you grow in each of these areas. As you do, others will see the amazing Fruit of the Spirit in your life, and you’ll be able to show God’s love to everyone around you!
Let’s pray:
“Dear God, thank You for the Fruit of the Spirit. Please help us grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our hearts. Help us to show others these fruits every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
Fruit of the Spirit Activity for Kids: Conclusion
I hope this Fruit of the Spirit activity, lesson, and game help your kids learn more about God’s Word while having fun at the same time!
Click the Images Below for More Hands-On Bible Fun:
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