A Partner, Not a Robot (Classroom Activity for Grades 2-5)

This lesson is part of God's Story of Work for Kids, a 12-week curriculum that teaches children to see work through God's perspective.

Props:

• God-made-you-a-partner-in-his-work.pdf worksheet (one copy for each child)
• 2 large circles of paper per group (If you don't have large paper, tape together 4 letter-sized sheets of paper, then cut out a circle
• markers / crayons

Opening Activity (5 minutes)

Ask children to share a time that they helped somebody do their work. It could have been anyone - a teacher, parent, sibling, friend, or a stranger. How did they feel about being able to help? What did they enjoy about the work?

Worksheet: God Made Us Partners in His Work (6 minutes)

Give each child a copy of the God Made You a Partner in his Work worksheet. Ask children to circle the words that describe what a partner does, then circle the words that describe what a robot does. They can add their own words to the lists. Review the lists together.

Robots, Partners and Pizza Game (15 minutes)

Place one large circle in the center of the group. Tell the children you will be the master, and they are the robots. The circle of paper will be a pizza pie, but they must decorate it the way you tell them. Give out orders such as "Robots, put 15 slices of pepperoni on your pie. Robots, put broccoli on your pie. Robots, color your pie green." (Give specific orders, suggesting things that the children might not like on their pizza.) (Alternative - You can invite a child to be the Master and give the orders.)

Place the second circle in the center of the group. Tell the children that now they will be partners, not robots. You are all part of a pizza shop and you need their help to create some really creative pizzas. Have them work together to come up with a new pie.

Review: Ask the children: What did you enjoy about being a robot? What did you not like? What did you enjoy about being a partner?

Share & Pray (5 minutes)

Ask each child to pray for the person to his/her right. If they are unsure how to pray, you can model and they can repeat. Or lead them in the following prayer. Explain that you will start the prayer, and when you pause they can add any names or requests they want to pray for.

Leader: Dear Jesus, thank you for our class and for teaching us today that you want us to be partners in your important work. You know each of us by name. You made each of us and love each of us so very much. You know the things we want to bring to you and right now we lift up ____________________________. In Jesus' name, amen.