Lesson one - pages 2/3 Children in the mirror

Aim for the book

To engage children in a discussion relating the Christian understanding of God to everyday life.

Learning objectives

• To know Christians believe that every individual is valued and has a place in God's world.
• To be able to reflect on how pupils see themselves and each other, and so how they may understand the idea of God.
• To understand Christians believe that although people look different, they are all the same underneath - and that human beings are made in God's image.

Bible references

Genesis 1. 26-27
Genesis 3.8

Background

Christians use a range of different images and words to describe what God is like. An exploration of our own identity is an initial step in this search. On this page we begin with the identity of the child.

Ways of using the picture

• Explore together and reflect upon how the children see themselves.
• Consider ways in which people describe themselves and others; try to move beyond describing a person's appearance.
• What similarities and differences are identified when we describe each other?

Key words

• Reflection
• Alike
• Same
• Different
• God
• Loved
• Valued
• Important

Activity one - portraits

• You will need

Mirror
A4 white paper
Pencils
Skin tone crayons

• Start

Talk about how we look on the outside.
Demonstrate drawing your own face.

• Develop

Using a mirror, the children draw a portrait of their own face. Then they draw a portrait of a partner. Finally, they discuss with each other the ways they are alike and the ways they are different.

• End

All together, look at some of the portraits, discussing similarities and differences of appearance.

Activity two - photos

• You will need

Digital camera
Collage paper

• Start

Take digital photos of each other, and make a collage of the whole class.

• Develop

With this wider group to look at, discuss again the differences and similarities.

• End

Recap the theme of being all different and all the same. Label the faces on the collage, and add the questions: 'Are we all the same? Are we all different?'

Activity three - painting God

• You will need

Images of God (pictures of paintings, stained glass windows, sculpture, and so on)
A4 white paper
Paint or pencils

• Start

Discuss what God might look like.
Brainstorm the children's ideas.

• Develop

Paint or draw a picture of what you think God looks like.

• End

Look at images of God - both traditional and modern - from books, posters and so on.
Discuss the images and help the children to compare them.

 

Activity checklist

Activity one - portraits

Mirror
A4 white paper
Pencils
Skin tone crayons

Activity two - photos

Digital camera
Collage paper

Activity three - painting God

Images of God (pictures of paintings, stained glass windows, sculpture, and so on)
A4 white paper
Paint or pencils

Web site links

For further information, look at the links section of this site.

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002043/

http://www.goofyface.com/

© Marion Brooks, 2001

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