Work That Matters (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

• post-it notes with the letters of STEWARDSHIP written, one letter per note
• what-im-in-charge-of-managing-for-God.pdf
• pencils
• big sheet of paper
• markers

OPENING ACTIVITY: word race (5 MINUTES)

Review the spelling of the word STEWARDSHIP a couple of times. Leave a scrambled pile of the post-it notes on one side of the room. Set a timer with two minutes. Have students line up and race across, one at a time, to tape the letters to the other side of the room to spell STEWARDSHIP.

Review the meaning of the word stewardship: a person who manages another person's property or money as the owner would wish them to. Another word for steward is a manager.

Management Worksheet (15 MINUTES)

Have students fill out the categories on their copy of what-im-in-charge-of-managing-for-God.pdf with all the things, people, and abilities that God has put them in charge of. If children are stuck or unsure what to write, help them think through what they have.

After everyone has filled out their sheets, ask students to share one thing they do a good job managing or taking care of, and one thing they have a hard time managing.

Group Think (15 MINUTES)

Pick a category that all the children have in common as something God has given them to manage - i.e. doing homework, siblings, etc. Ask them to brainstorm what it would be like to manage this area well. Write suggestions on the big piece of paper.

Remind the group of the three areas that are involved in being a good steward or manager:

• You treat things and people as belonging to God and not to you
• You handle things and people with love
• You invest time into developing and caring for it.

SHARE & PRAY (5 MINUTES)

Ask if any students have any prayer requests to share. Pray for these requests, and for blessing on everyone in the room.