David: Shepherd and King – Lesson Plan

Joe Paprocki Intermediate Grades, Scripture

Here is my lesson plan for this evening’s session focusing on David…ambitious as usual!

Session 10: David – Shepherd and King

BIG IDEA

David: shepherd and king, points the way to Jesus: the Good Shepherd and Christ the King

PRELIMINARIES (15 mins)

  1. Students fill out prayer intention slips upon arrival
  2. Opening procession to set up prayer table
  3. Opening prayer ritual

ENGAGE (20 mins)

  1. Give Ten Commandments Quiz and review (answer key).
  2. Invite volunteer to come forward to put on shepherd costume.
  3. Talk about the role of a shepherd; the use of the staff to keep sheep from straying.
  4. Introduce David, the greatest king of Israel, who began as a shepherd.

 EXPLORE (25 mins)

  1. Pass the shepherd’s staff to volunteers to read pgs. 52-53 of Finding God about David.
  2. Distribute David video guide sheets and show YouTube video: David, King of Israel (9:43)
  3. Discuss the 7 words related to David from the video: shepherd, warrior, king, challenges, temple, Psalms, messiah.

 REFLECT (10 mins)

  1. Direct young people to their “sacred space” taking with them their tea-light candle and their textbook open to page 54.
  2. Invite young people to still themselves and then play “Shepherd Me, O God”  (Marty Haugen), reminding them that David “wrote” the Psalms and that, although we don’t have original melodies, we have contemporary melodies with the words from Psalms.
  3. Invite the young people to pray aloud the words of the prayer on pg. 54 of Finding God. Have the girls take the role of Group A and the boys Group B. Pause in between each group’s part and signal to begin with chime.

 RESPOND (5 mins)

  1. Tell the young people that one of the duties of a king, like David, was to protect and see to the needs of those who were poor and vulnerable.
  2. Distribute the Homework sheet that invites them to sit down with their parents to visit several Web sites through which they can care for those who are poor and vulnerable.
  3. Closing prayer – young people bless themselves with holy water as they leave.

[free clip art via Phillip Martin]

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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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