LearningCycles series The Good Shepherd Creative Activities for Teaching about a Protective and Loving God

The LearningCycles series offers a creative approach to faith formation based on different learning styles, appropriate for K-5th graders.  Each LearningCycles unit generally includes seven workshops: Art, Story & Games, Drama & Activity, Music, Kitchen, Movie, and Publishing.  This series works well for whole family/intergenerational catechesis and is a great basis for grandparent camps or other vacation bible schools.

The Good Shepherd is one of the most tender images given to us in the Bible and Psalm 23 is one of the best-known and well-loved passages of scripture. Add those two together and you have a fabulous set of lessons for children’s formation, rich in imagery and language!

This LearningCycle uses images from Psalm 23, the the Good Shepherd story from John, and the Parable of the Lost Sheep to help children engage with the reality of how Jesus and God care for us.

• Art Workshop – Make a diorama and homemade picture frames for Psalm 23 as a way to pray with and reflect on the beautiful poetry of the Psalm.
• Publishing Workshop – Research and talk about the characteristics of sheep and shepherds as a way to explore more deeply the parable of the Lost Sheep.
• Drama Workshop – Try to complete an obstacle course that echoes some of the themes in the story of the Good Shepherd.
• Movie Workshop – Watch Finding Nemo and make connections to how it illustrates the parable of the lost sheep and discuss the idea of being “lost” and “found.” (Supporting DVDs can be found for sale here.)
• Story Workshop – Hear stories about Psalm 23 and the parable of the Lost Sheep and engage in memory exercises with the poetry of Psalm 23.
• Kitchen Workshop – Create a shepherd’s staff pretzel and donut hole sheep and learn some traditions about pretzels.
• Music Workshop – Learn songs that reinforce the teachings of the Good Shepherd parable and the imagery of Psalm 23.

Click to find additional resources for use with this unit.