The Ten Commandments
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Orthodox Spirituality Module is to teach the fundamentals of what it means to be an Orthodox Christian. In first grade, the lessons focus on obedience in the children's lives, prayer, church, and spirituality. Obedience helps grow the spiritual lives of people, therefore children need to understand the importance of it in regards to their spiritual lives. In this particular lesson, students will learn about The Ten Commandments and how it applies to their lives.
INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes
Show a picture of the tablets with The Ten Commandments. Ask children if they know what they are. Let this be your segue into talking about The Ten Commandments.
CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes
It may be helpful to show pictures of the story while you are telling it.
God helped Moses take the Israelites of the Egypt and led them in a desert to go to the Promised Land, Canaan. Three months after their journey, Moses and the Israelites reached Mount Sinai and rested there.
Moses went up to the mountain and God spoke to him, telling him to tell the people that they are to be a holy nation. On the third day, there was thunder and lightning that flashed at the top of the mountain. There was a loud trumpet that filled the air and the people at the bottom of the mountain were fearful. The trumpet grew louder and louder then God came down like a fire onto Sinai. The whole top of the mountain was wrapped in dense clouds of smoke as if it were a volcano erupting.
Then God spoke to Moses (the Israelites heard God's answers as thunder), telling him to come to the top of the mountain, until he disappeared into the smoke at the mountaintop. God gave Moses The Ten Commandments: (Be sure to explain the meaning of the each commandment)
- You shall have no other God before Me
- Do not worship any idol
- You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain
- Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy
- Honor your father and mother
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
- You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his house
After the story, show the students the following video about the Moses and the 10 Commandments:
DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes
Review the Ten Commandments with the students once more. Have them tell a partner three commandments, then share with the class.
APPLICATION (Action) - 10 Minutes
Talk about how the story of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments shows obedience and how this applies to our lives (The Ten Commandments and obedience).
Using the following video, teach hand gestures to remember the Ten Commandments:
- Teaching Kids the 10 Commandments:
ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes
The link below contains instructions on how to create historic looking stone tablets.
PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK
Today we told the story of The Ten Commandments and how it shows obedience. Review the story with your child and talk about obedience. Review The Ten Commandments with your child and work on memorizing them. Parents can use the link below to play a Ten Commandments board game at home with their children.