Class: Primary 4
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 8
Age: 9 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Christian Religion Studies
Previous Lesson: Jesus Gave Us the New Life, Salvation and Faith Response.
Topic: JESUS GAVE US THE NEW LIFE
Subject Matter: Fruits of the Spirit, Character of Renewed Life, Spiritual Growth, Godly Behavior

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define “fruits of the Spirit.”
List the nine fruits of the Spirit.
Explain what is meant by a renewed life in Christ.
Identify signs of spiritual growth in a Christian.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of living a life that shows the fruits of the Spirit.
Desire to demonstrate godly behavior in their daily interactions.

Psychomotor Domain:

Practice showing love, joy, and peace towards others.
Act out scenarios that demonstrate godly behavior.

Discuss with peers how to apply the fruits of the Spirit in their relationships.
Share examples of how a renewed life impacts their community.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum (Primary 4 Christian Religious Studies)
Lagos State Unified Scheme of Work for Primary 4 CRS
Akinyemi, T. (2018). Christian Religious Studies for Primary Schools Book 4. Learn Africa Plc.
The Holy Bible (Galatians 5:22-23)
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/fruits-of-the-spirit-bible-verses/
https://www.gotquestions.org/renewed-mind.html

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

A Holy Bible
Bible story book
Chart showing the fruits of the Spirit
Flashcards with words describing godly behavior
Christian films or video clips showing examples of good character

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand that accepting Jesus brings a new way of living, characterized by good qualities. It enables them to identify and practice these good qualities, which are essential for living a Christian life and getting along well with others.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have learned about Jesus’ life, teachings, and how He helps people. They also know some basic Christian values.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

JESUS GAVE US THE NEW LIFE

Fruits of the Spirit

The “fruits of the Spirit” are the good qualities or virtues that the Holy Spirit produces in the lives of people who believe in Jesus. These qualities show that a person has a new life in Christ.

The following are the nine fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23:

Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering (Patience)
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

Character of Renewed Life

When a person accepts Jesus, their life changes from the inside out. This new life is shown through a transformed character, meaning they start to think and act differently.

The characteristics of a renewed life include:

Having a desire to obey God’s word.
Showing love and forgiveness to others.
Avoiding bad habits and choosing good ones.
Being honest and truthful.
Caring for those in need.

Spiritual Growth and Godly Behavior

Spiritual growth means becoming more like Jesus every day. Just like plants grow, Christians are expected to grow stronger in their faith and show more of God’s character.

Godly behavior is the way a person acts when they are growing spiritually. It means doing things that please God and reflect the fruits of the Spirit. For example, a growing Christian will show more patience, be kinder, and control their temper.

Ways to show godly behavior include:

Speaking kind words.
Helping others without being asked.
Being honest in all situations.
Forgiving those who offend them.
Praying and reading the Bible regularly.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to name some good qualities they admire in people. The teacher then tells them that today’s lesson is about the new life Jesus gives and the good qualities that come with it.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greetings and name good qualities. They listen attentively.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the topic and relate it to real-life characteristics.

Step 2: Introduction to Fruits of the Spirit

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the concept of “fruits of the Spirit” and explains that these are qualities God’s Spirit produces in believers. Using a chart, the teacher lists and reads out the nine fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the chart, and repeat the fruits of the Spirit after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the definition and list of the fruits of the Spirit.

Step 3: Explaining the Character of Renewed Life

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elucidation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what it means to have a “renewed life” after accepting Jesus. The teacher discusses how this new life changes a person’s character, giving examples of how someone might act differently (e.g., being less angry, more forgiving, more honest).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, ask questions, and share their own understanding of how someone’s life changes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that a renewed life leads to a changed character.

Step 4: Understanding Spiritual Growth and Godly Behavior

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Analogy/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains spiritual growth using an analogy of a plant growing. The teacher then links spiritual growth to godly behavior, explaining that as a Christian grows, they will naturally show more of the fruits of the Spirit in their actions. The teacher gives examples of godly behavior in daily life.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the analogy, discuss how a plant grows, and identify examples of godly behavior.
Learning Point: Pupils connect spiritual growth with demonstrating godly behavior.

Step 5: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What are the “fruits of the Spirit”?
List any five fruits of the Spirit.
Mention three characteristics of a renewed life.
Explain how a Christian can show spiritual growth through godly behavior.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 6: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson by reminding pupils that Jesus gives us a new life, and this new life is seen through the fruits of the Spirit and godly behavior. The teacher encourages pupils to pray for the Holy Spirit to help them live a renewed life. The teacher assigns homework: Ask parents to help them find Galatians 5:22-23 in their Bibles and write it out.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary, ask any final questions, and copy their homework.
Learning Point: Pupils review the main points of the lesson and are encouraged to apply it.

Home Task: Write three lessons learned about JESUS GAVE US THE NEW LIFE and one suitable way to apply the teaching responsibly.

Lesson Keywords

Fruits of the Spirit – Good qualities like love, joy, peace that the Holy Spirit produces in believers.
Renewed Life – A changed way of living and thinking that comes from accepting Jesus.
Spiritual Growth – The process of becoming more like Jesus in character and actions.
Godly Behavior – Actions and attitudes that please God and show good Christian character.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can ask them to explain how each fruit of the Spirit can be shown in school. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified explanations and use more visual aids like pictures to illustrate the concepts.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to share personal examples (without judgment) of how they have seen or experienced the fruits of the Spirit. Emphasize that living a renewed life is a journey with God’s help, not just about being perfect. Use real-life scenarios relevant to primary school children to make the concepts relatable.