CLASS NOTE: WHAT A CHRISTIAN DOES
Subject: Christian Religious Studies (CRS)
Class: Nursery Three (Ages 5–6)
Topic: What a Christian Does (Living Like Jesus)
Theme: Practical Christian Living and Values
1. INTRODUCTION: THE BRIGHT LIGHT
Have you ever seen a flashlight in a dark room? As soon as you click the button, the darkness disappears! Jesus Christ told His followers, "You are the light of the world."
Being a Christian is not just a name or a label; it is a way of living. Just like we know a mango tree because it grows mangoes, people should know we are Christians by the beautiful things we do. A Christian is a friend and follower of Jesus who tries to act exactly like Him every single day—at home, in school, and on the playground.
2. COMPREHENSIVE CORE CONCEPTS
I. Christians Talk to God (The Power of Prayer)
Prayer is simply talking to God. Just like you talk to your Mummy, Daddy, or your best friend, God wants you to talk to Him too! Christians believe that God is always listening and that He loves the voices of children.
- When do we pray? We pray when we wake up to say "Thank You" for a new day. We pray before we eat our Jollof rice or yams to thank God for providing food. We also pray before we sleep to ask God to keep us safe.
- Why do we pray? We pray to show God we love Him, to ask for help when we are scared or sad, and to pray for other people who might be sick or lonely.
- Example: If you are nervous about a spelling bee in class, you can whisper a small prayer: "Dear God, please help me remember my letters. Amen."
II. Christians Show Love and Kindness
Jesus taught us a very important rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." For you, a "neighbor" is anyone around you—your classmate, the person who drives the school bus, or your little brother.
- Using Magic Words: Christians use kind words like "Please," "Thank You," "Excuse Me," and "I am Sorry." These words are like keys that open people's hearts.
- Being a Helper: Kindness means looking for ways to make someone else's day better. It means not laughing when someone makes a mistake, but instead helping them try again.
- Example: If a classmate, Tunde, drops his box of crayons and they spill everywhere, a Christian child doesn't just sit and watch. You bend down and help him pick them up.
III. Christians are Givers (Generosity)
God gave us the most wonderful gift of all—His Son, Jesus. Because God is a giver, Christians are givers too. Giving doesn't always mean giving money; it means sharing what you have with others.
- Sharing Resources: This could be sharing your "Chin-Chin" during break time, letting a friend use your eraser, or giving your old clothes to children who need them.
- Sharing Joy: You can give a smile, a hug, or a high-five to someone who looks sad.
- Example: If you see a friend who forgot their snack at home, you can share half of your biscuit with them. This makes God very happy!
IV. Christians Tell the Truth (Honesty)
A Christian is a person of truth. Honesty means saying what really happened, even if you are afraid you might get into a little bit of trouble. God is Truth, and He wants His children to be honest so that people can trust them.
- Why Honesty Matters: When you tell the truth, your heart feels light and happy. When you tell a lie, your heart feels heavy and worried.
- Example: If you accidentally spill water on your workbook, don't say "The wind did it!" Instead, go to your teacher and say, "I am sorry, Teacher, I accidentally spilled my water." Your teacher will be happy that you told the truth.
3. REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES (SCENARIOS)
- Scenario 1: The New Student
- The Situation: A new girl named Amina joins your class. She sits by herself and looks like she wants to cry because she doesn't know anyone.
- The Christian Action: You walk up to her, give her a big smile, and say, "Hi, my name is [Your Name]. Do you want to play with me?" This is showing the love of Jesus.
- Scenario 2: The Broken Toy
- The Situation: You are playing with your brother's favorite toy car and the wheel pops off.
- The Christian Action: Instead of hiding the car under the bed, you take it to your brother or your parents and say, "I am sorry, I was playing with this and it broke. Can we fix it?" This is being honest.
- Scenario 3: Helping at Home
- The Situation: Mummy is busy carrying heavy grocery bags from the car into the kitchen.
- The Christian Action: You put down your tablet or toys, run to her, and say, "Mummy, can I help you carry the bread?" Helping your parents is a way of obeying God's command to honor our parents.
4. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: "THE KINDNESS TREE"
This project helps you see how much "fruit" your good actions produce!
Materials Needed:
- A large piece of brown cardboard (for the trunk).
- Green paper (for leaves).
- Markers/Crayons.
- Tape or Glue.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Build the Tree: With a grown-up’s help, cut out a large tree trunk and tape it to your bedroom wall or the classroom wall.
- Prepare the Leaves: Cut out 10 to 20 leaf shapes from the green paper.
- Identify Actions: Every time you do something a Christian should do (like praying, sharing, or helping), ask a grown-up to help you write that action on a leaf. (e.g., "I helped Daddy wash the car" or "I said sorry to my sister").
- Grow the Tree: Glue or tape the leaf onto the branches of your tree.
- The Goal: Try to make your tree "bushy" and full of leaves by the end of the week!
5. HOME PRACTICE ACTIVITIES: "THE GOOD DEED CHALLENGE"
Objective: To practice being a light for Jesus at home.
Materials: A clear jar (the "Light Jar") and some colorful beads or small stones.
Instructions:
- Place the "Light Jar" in a central place like the dining table.
- Morning Prayer: Start every morning by saying a short prayer for your teachers and classmates.
- The Challenge: Every time you do a "Good Deed" without being told (like picking up your shoes, sharing a toy, or telling the truth), you get to put one bead in the jar.
- Outcome: On Sunday, count the beads with your family. Each bead represents a time you acted like a Christian and shared your "light" with the world!
6. LIFE SKILLS CONNECTION
Learning what a Christian does helps you grow into a wonderful person and a great leader:
- Empathy: By helping others, you learn to understand how they feel. This makes you a great friend.
- Integrity (Honesty): People trust leaders who tell the truth. Whether you want to be a Doctor, a Pilot, or a Teacher, people must be able to trust your word.
- Responsibility: When you help with chores at home, you are learning how to take care of things. This is a skill used by every successful person in the world!
- Social Skills: Using "Magic Words" and sharing makes people want to be around you. It helps you make friends easily in any country you visit.
7. ASSESSMENT THROUGH APPLICATION (PRACTICE)
To see how well you understand, try these activities with your teacher or parents:
- The "What Would Jesus Do?" Role-Play:
- Teacher/Parent: "I am pretending to be a friend who has no pencil and is sad. Show me what a Christian does."
- Student Action: The student should pretend to offer a pencil and say something kind.
- The "Truth or Tale" Game:
- The teacher says a sentence. If it's a Christian action, the student claps their hands. If it's not, the student puts their hands on their head.
- Examples: "Sharing your biscuits" (Clap!), "Pushing a friend" (Hands on head), "Saying Thank You" (Clap!).
- Show and Tell:
- Find one thing in your house that you shared with someone this week. Bring it (or a drawing of it) to class and explain how sharing it made you feel.
8. STUDENT REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- How do you feel in your heart when you help someone?
- Why do you think God likes it when we tell the truth?
- Which "Magic Word" is your favorite to use?
- What is one thing you can do today to be a "light" in your home?
Conclusion:
Being a Christian is like being a superhero for God! You don't need a cape; you just need a kind heart, a truthful tongue, and helping hands. When you pray, love, give, and obey, you are making the world a brighter and happier place for everyone. Keep shining!
DOXCOV ACADEMY