The Fruit of the Spirit: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Galatians 5:22-23
Elementary students explore Galatians 5:22-23, learning that the Holy Spirit grows love, joy, peace, and more in God's people. They play a game, make a fruit tree craft, and memorize Galatians 5:22.
Memory verse
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Name the nine fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
- Explain that the Holy Spirit grows this fruit in us; we cannot make it by trying harder.
- Choose one fruit to practice with family and friends this week.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: What Grows on This Tree? (5 min)
Setup: Hold up an apple. Do not eat it. Keep it for display only.
Say: Good morning! What do you think grows on an apple tree?
(Let kids answer: apples!)
Say: Could an apple tree grow oranges? No! A tree grows the fruit that matches its kind.
Say: Today we learn about a different kind of fruit. It grows inside people, and God's Spirit grows it.
Quick action:
1. Have everyone crouch down like a tiny seed.
2. Slowly stand and stretch arms up like branches.
3. Say: God is the one who makes things grow!
Say: Now let's hear what God's Word says about this fruit.
God's Word: The Fruit List (5 min)
Background: Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Galatia. In it he told them how God's people live by the Spirit.
Say: Listen for how many fruit are named. I will read Galatians 5:22-23.
Read aloud from the KJV: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Say: Let's count together on our fingers. Nine!
Have kids say each word, holding up a finger for each: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
Say: Some words are old. Longsuffering means being patient. Temperance means self-control. Meekness means being gentle and humble.
Say: Now let's see where this fruit comes from.
Fruit From the Spirit, Not From Trying (8 min)
Say: Look at the verse. It says the fruit OF THE SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit grows it.
Say: An apple tree does not grunt and strain to make apples. It stays rooted, and the fruit grows.
Say: We cannot make this fruit by trying super hard. God's Spirit grows it in us.
Tell it with action:
- Roots: Stomp feet. Staying close to God by praying and reading the Bible.
- Sun and rain: Wiggle fingers down. God gives what we need.
- Fruit: Make a circle with arms. Love, joy, peace, and more show up in how we act.
Say: Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches" (John 15:5). A branch grows fruit by staying joined to the vine.
Say: Jesus came to save us and bring us close to God. Those who belong to him receive the Holy Spirit.
Say: A fruit tree is not perfect right away. Fruit takes time. God is patient with us while we grow.
Say: Now let's play a game with the nine fruit.
Game: Which Fruit Fits? (7 min)
Setup before class: Tape the nine fruit signs on walls around the room, with clear walking space. Write these scenario cards:
- A friend is sad and alone.
- Your little brother keeps interrupting you.
- You got a surprise gift.
- Everyone is arguing, and you help calm things down.
- You want to grab the last turn, but you wait.
- Someone is being left out, and you invite them in.
Steps (about 7 min):
1. Say: I will read a situation. Walk, do not run, to the sign that fits best.
2. Read a card. Kids walk to a sign.
3. Ask a few kids: Why that fruit? (More than one answer can fit!)
4. Say: The Spirit helps us show that fruit.
5. Repeat with the rest of the cards.
Safety: Walking only. Keep paths clear. Let shy children go with a buddy.
Say: Great job! Now let's make something to remember these fruit.
Craft: My Fruit Tree (8 min)
Setup: Cut a brown trunk and green leafy top for each child, or let kids tear them. Pre-cut nine fruit shapes per child if time is short.
Steps (about 8 min):
1. Glue the trunk and green top on a sheet of paper.
2. Write one fruit name on each of nine paper fruit shapes.
3. Glue the fruit onto the tree branches.
4. Write at the top: "The fruit of the Spirit".
5. Circle the one fruit you want to practice this week.
Say: Look at your tree. Which fruit would you like God to grow in you?
Safety: Use safety scissors only, with supervision. Check for glue or paper allergies. Remind kids to keep scissors away from faces.
Say: Let's put our trees down and talk about what we learned.
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask the questions below one at a time. Sample answers are in parentheses.
1. Where does the fruit of the Spirit come from? (The Holy Spirit grows it in us.)
2. Why can't we just try harder to make it? (We need God's help. Fruit grows; we can't force it.)
3. How does a branch get fruit in John 15:5? (By staying joined to the vine, Jesus.)
4. When might it be hard to show patience? (Waiting in line, with a sibling, or when I'm tired.)
5. What can we do to stay close to God? (Pray, read the Bible, go to church, ask for his help.)
Say: Great thinking, everyone! Let's finish by praying and practicing our verse.
Memory Verse and Prayer (7 min)
Memory verse: Galatians 5:22
Say: Let's learn our verse with motions.
1. Say the verse line by line. Kids repeat.
2. Add motions: love (hands on heart), joy (jump once), peace (hands folded), longsuffering (tap wrist like waiting), gentleness (stroke the air softly), goodness (thumbs up), faith (point up).
3. Say the verse together twice, then a third time faster.
Prayer points (kids repeat after you, one line at a time):
- Thank you, God, for sending your Holy Spirit.
- Help me stay close to Jesus like a branch on the vine.
- Grow love, joy, and peace in me.
- Help me show patience and kindness at home this week.
Say: Amen! Take your tree home and show your family.
Materials
- Real apple (for display only, not for eating)
- Bible (KJV)
- 9 large paper signs, one fruit name on each
- Scenario cards (the teacher's list from the game)
- Construction paper (green, brown, and bright colors)
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors and glue sticks
- Tape
Teacher notes
- Keep the focus on the Spirit growing fruit, not on kids being good enough. Be gentle with children who feel they are failing.
- Safety: the craft uses scissors and glue. Supervise closely, use safety scissors, and check for allergies. The apple is for display only.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards for each fruit and let children point if they are not ready to speak. Pair younger or shy children with a buddy. Offer a seated option for the game.
- Older readers can read verses aloud. For mixed ages, let older kids help younger ones write on their fruit shapes.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Galatians 5:22-23 and the nine fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Your child learned that the Holy Spirit grows this fruit in God's people as they stay close to Jesus, and that we cannot make it only by trying harder.
- Which fruit of the Spirit did you circle on your tree, and why?
- When is it hardest for you to be patient, and how could you ask God for help?
- How can our family stay close to Jesus this week?
Hang your child's fruit tree where everyone can see it. At dinner, each person shares a time this week they saw someone show one of the fruit.
Pick one fruit from the tree. Pray for it each morning and notice one way to practice it each day.
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