Saint Vincent de Paul Lesson: Generosity, Kindness and Prayer in Action A lesson plan which looks at the life of Saint Vincent de Paul to help children understand that God is generous and that kindness, love and prayer in action can change hearts and change the world. Lesson Plan
P2 INTRODUCTION Introduction Generosity, Kindness and Prayer in Action This lesson follows the assembly about St Vincent de Paul which includes Film 1. In every age and time, there are people in need and want there are always people who go hungry, thirsty and homeless. What must we do when faced with all this suffering? Is it someone else s responsibility to look after others? Can we really make a difference? What are the values we must base our lives upon? The life of St Vincent de Paul can inspire us and we can learn from him about the importance of generosity, kindness, prayer and action and, most importantly, trusting in God s goodness that he will provide everything we need. Through this, we can change the world for better! This 55 minute lesson for KS2 follows an assembly in which children were introduced to these themes through looking at St Vincent de Paul s life and witness. The lesson explores these themes in more depth and makes use of Film 2 about St Vincent de Paul.
P3 OVERVIEW Overview Learning Objective: 1. Children will know through hearing about the life of Saint Vincent de Paul that God is never out-done in generosity. 2. Children will recognise, through studying Saint Vincent de Paul, how kindness is a language which speaks to everyone s heart. 1. Children will understand how they, like Saint Vincent de Paul, need both prayer and to put their prayer into action by loving others. Success Criteria: Children can explain that God is incredibly generous. Children can describe how being kind and loving to people can make a big difference to them and the world. Children can explain why they need to pray and put their prayer into action. Resource Materials: Teacher s script Laptop / screen / speakers PowerPoint Presentation Crowns: Paper on which to draw a crown or use Appendix 1 - the crown template, glue, sequins, buttons, cotton wool, glitter etc. for crowns. (Alternatively ask the children to draw their own crowns and colour in using standard pencils/ felt-tips. For this you will need paper and colouring in pens/pencils.) Box with crown (if possible) Bibles (if available at least one copy needed) Exercise books Appendix 2 for writing (Alternatively ask the children to draw a heart on paper/in their books). For Focus Table: Bible, crown, jug of water and towel. (If you do not have these you can use the PowerPoint image of the jug, towel and bible.)
P4 OVERVIEW Resource Materials (cont d): CD player for background music (suggestions: Beethoven s Moonlight Sonata / Edvard Grieg s Peer Gynt - Morning Mood ) Overview & Timings: 1. Starter Activity 5 mins 2. Introduction including Film 20 mins 3. Discussion 5 mins 4. Independent Activity 20 mins 5. Reflection and Self-Evaluation 5 mins Total 55mins
P5 TEACHER SCRIPT Teacher Script Starter Activity Slides 1-3 Timing: 4 mins Slide 1-3 Introduce the learning objectives, success criteria and key vocabulary. Give the children a crown template (Appendix 1) and ask them to start decorating it. If you don t have a template, ask them to draw a crown and colour it in on paper. Introduction Slides 4-7 Timing: 20 mins Show some of the pupils crowns. These crowns are great and will be beautiful with a bit more work! Let me show you what I have in this special box. Reveal a crown or use Slide 1 which has an image of a crown.
P6 TEACHER SCRIPT Slide 4 All of you will recognise this object. It is a crown, similar to one at some schools (your school may do this). In some schools, when a pupil celebrates his or her birthday that pupil can wear a crown and is King or Queen for the day. This brings special privileges. You will get to be first in line everywhere the class goes during that day. You lead the class to other lessons and to the playground. You can even be first in the line to lunch. You are also chosen to do special jobs. It is a great feeling to be King or Queen for the day. All your friends look up to you and wish that they could do the things that you are doing. They all look forward to the day when they will wear the crown. Ask a selection of the following questions depending on the level of your group. LOWER MIDDLE UPPER Would you like to be a King or Queen in real life? Would you like to be treated like a King or Queen every day? How does a King or Queen live? Answer: They live in a palace, have lots of money, jewels, servants who get them anything they want, everyone admires them. We know a King who took off his crown to become a servant. That king is Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to Earth to become a servant. Show the water jug and towel or use Slide 5 which has an image of a jug and towel.
P7 TEACHER SCRIPT Slide 5 Do you know that Jesus even knelt down to wash the disciples dirty feet That must have been a horrible job! Encourage the children to find John 13: 1-17 (washing the disciples feet) in their Bibles (if possible) where Jesus washes the disciples feet and ask one to read the passage out loud. When Jesus was on Earth, he spent his whole life serving others. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and was a friend to those who had no friends and who were excluded from society. Jesus was born in a stable not a palace, he had no money, no jewels. The only crown he ever wore was a crown of thorns. Why do you think Jesus chose to be a serving King rather than just a ruling King? Take Answers. That s right, it s because he is loving, caring and generous. In fact, God is never outdone in generosity. This means that no-one is more generous than God, no-one gives us more. Can anyone tell me what generous means? Take answers (Generous means being happy to give and happy to give more than normal) God is never outdone in generosity. Shall we say that together? Slide 6 (All together) God is never outdone in generosity.
P8 TEACHER SCRIPT Like Jesus, St. Vincent was uninterested in worldly riches, comfort or power. He saw the pain and suffering of those around him and felt called by God to take action. St Vincent de Paul knew that we all needed to pray but we also need to put that prayer into action. God helps us and guides us in prayer but he also asks us to make a difference in the world - to take action. We re now going to see a short film- it shows some children just like you, interviewing some modern day Vincentians. People who want to follow Vincent s example and work with the poor, putting prayer into action. Slide 7 Play Film, St Vincent de Paul Part 2 Pause occasionally to check understanding, as appropriate. Discussion Slide 8 Timing: 5 mins Children can talk in pairs after each question and then feedback to the class: Did anything stand out in the film? Why do you think they did these interviews? Did you learn anything new? The children in the film wanted to learn more about the work of St. Vincent. What did you learn about the Sisters from the children s interviews? In what ways do you think the children in the films were inspired by the Sisters and by St Vincent de Paul? What lesson have you learnt from St Vincent which could help you in your life? Now we need to do some thinking for writing.
P9 TEACHER SCRIPT Slide 8 Ask a selection of the following questions depending on the level of your group. LOWER MIDDLE UPPER Who have we been learning about? Answer: St. Vincent de Paul. What did St Vincent de Paul do? Answer: He was not interested in worldly riches, instead he took action to help the poor. How did he do it? Answer: He got people organised (one person is good, but a group has more impact.) Why did he do it? Answer: Because he believed in a compassionate God and because he felt called to serve. Independent Activity Slides 9-12 Timing: 20 mins In a moment, we are going to write about the life and work of St. Vincent, using the prompt words on the screen to help you (Who, What, How, Why). God wants everyone to know deep in their hearts that he loves them. God needs us to tell them and show them about this. Slide 9 St Vincent believed that kindness was a great way of showing people this. He believed that kindness is the key to hearts. Let s say that together. Kindness is the key to hearts. Everyone repeats Kindness is the key to hearts.
P10 TEACHER SCRIPT Slide 10 Give out copies of Appendix 2. I am giving you a heart template on which to write about his life. Why do you think that you will be writing on a heart shaped template for this task? Take answers: (St Vincent taught us to love God through serving others, etc.) Slide 11 Now let s take some time to write about the life and work of St Vincent de Paul on our hearts. Use the four key words on the screen to help your writing try and respond to each of the key words. Send to work at tables. Alternatively ask them to draw a heart shape on their paper/in their books and write about St Vincent de Paul in the space. Check the pupils are progressing with the activity, directing ability groups as necessary for the writing task. After 5/10 minutes, set the following activities for each group. Slide 12 RED (BASIC): Complete your crown and discuss with your partner why Jesus and St. Vincent were not interested in riches. ORANGE (TRICKY): Write a prayer about serving others, including either the phrase Kindness is the key to hearts or God is never outdone in generosity.
P11 TEACHER SCRIPT Reflection and Self- Evaluation Slides 13-14 Timing: 5 mins Play Background Music. This could be gentle classical music such as Beethoven s Moonlight Sonata or Edvard Grieg s Peer Gynt - Morning Mood Share some pieces of pupils research with the class. Direct pupils attention to the towel and jug on the table (or use slide 13). Slide 13 Place some crowns (red activity) below, at the foot of the table or prayer display. We are going to take some time to pray, just as St Vincent de Paul often did. Let s remember that Jesus laid aside his crown and became a servant, as we pray. Now we will pray in silence. Talk to God and listen to Him in your heart. Leave a short amount of time in silence (30-60 seconds) How is He calling you to do this work? Read one of the pupils prayers (orange activity) as a finishing prayer. Stop Background Music. Slide 14 Thank you. Now let s have a quick look at what we have learned today. Can anyone tell me what generous means and someone who is incredibly generous? (If students are not sure, remind them that this person is never outdone in generosity.) Answer: Generous means happy to give and give more than normal. God is very generous and never outdone in generosity.
P12 TEACHER SCRIPT What did we learn about kindness? Answer: Kindness is the key to people s hearts. Kindness can make a big difference to people and kindness can change the world. What did we learn about prayer? Answer: We need to pray and we also need to put prayer into action. Let s finish our lesson today with a short prayer. + In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit + Lord, help us to do all that we can to help others and to show your love to those who are in any kind of need, just at St Vincent de Paul did. Help us to pray and to act and to always show kindness. We ask this in your name. Amen.
P13 CREDITS Credits This resource has been produced by: department & Ten Ten Resources Written by: Jimena Larraguivel and Martin Brown Designed by: Kathy Kielty www.kathykielty.com department helps people of all ages to discover their vocation by providing resources, insights, stories, testimonies, retreats and pastoral support. For more information, visit: www.rcdow.org.uk/vocations Ten Ten Resources is an online resource for Catholic schools and parishes throughout the UK. It is part of Ten Ten, a charitable organisation dedicated to bringing matters of faith to a wider public sphere by inspiring audiences to examine aspects of spirituality and life through drama and storytelling. www.tentenresources.co.uk