Lutheran school teachers have several things they can count on when it comes to curriculum. For one, there will always be a Reformation unit in October. When Lent rolls around, you will be covering Holy Week in great detail. And finally, in first grade (and probably for many grades following) you will be teaching the Ten Commandments. It’s important to remember to teach your students that these are not rules God made up to make our lives less fun or take away our freedom. Rather, they are the guidebook to being human! They represent God’s will for his creation and how he created us to work
Learning the Order of the Ten Commandments
My youngest son had a hard time learning the order of the commandments. He could not for the life of him remember which came after the other! That was until I came up with hand motions for each one using the number of fingers that corresponded with the commandment. For example, we have four boys so four stood for the boys honoring their parents. Five was an outstretched hand to hurt or help. The sixth finger curled around the ring finger of the left hand to represent the sixth commandment. Ten fingers come together to make a house that should not be coveted. It’s a fun way to remember the order and the meaning of each commandment.
Ten Commandments Resources
Coming up with your own motions for the commandments is a great strategy to use in the classroom as well. That way, the students are not simply repeating words but using their hands to demonstrate the meaning. If you’re looking for more Ten Commandments resources, Teach by Faith has some great activities on the commandments included in this first grade curriculum supplement pack. There are so many wonderful resources that are sure to enrich your first grade religion class.
If you are looking for more ready-to-use resources for your students, check them out in my store.
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Free Printable 10 Commandments Activities for Kids
