How do I encourage classroom prayer and a deeper faith in the classroom setting? By modeling it of course, and giving the children something to pray about each day. My students start the year as 4-year-olds and many will not turn 5 until the Spring before Kinder. However, they are avid prayer partners from the first day of school. This daily prompt allows for individualized classroom prayer. The children can pray their own intentions while reinforcing concepts and traditional Catholic prayer.
I use the 5 Finger Prayer from Pope Francis, and teach my students to choose one finger each day. They pray for family members, school leaders, and friends. Walking the students through daily and weekly prayers has allowed the students to deepen their faith and understanding at the same time.
Every time we have an opportunity to chat about God’s creatures, children, or natural creation we take part. This allows students to understand the correlation between our physical world and encourages spontaneous prayer in the classroom.
Over the years I have looked and looked for age-appropriate Christian programs. When I created the Catholic Kids bundle it was to include prayer in the classroom and incorporate academic learning. It is a curriculum extender that is affordable for schools and individuals alike. Incorporating letters, numbers, and Christian teaching has offered my students some well-rounded learning opportunities. Encouraging prayer in classrooms through hands-on learning activities.
Journaling Classroom Prayer
My classroom prayer time begins with the students searching for the days’ verse. We then add it to our Bible treasure map. Once we have read the verse and talked about how it applies to our everyday lives. We read the corresponding story and then come up with a daily classroom prayer that we can record in our bible journals.
One of our main activities during the year is bible journaling. We spend the year recording our prayers, bible verses, and general Christian teachings. Once the year is over the students have a concrete memory of the year of prayer in the classroom. Bible journaling has become all the rage for Christians around the world. I love being able to share such a meaningful art experience with my young students.
Prayer in the classroom does not have to be labor-intensive, or daunting. It can be as simple as:
Thank you, God, for our beautiful day.
The sunshine which helps the flowers grow.
And for helping me be a good friend.
In your name, Amen
Prayer Table
I love being able to utilize a prayer table in my current classroom. It is a space where students actually visit all during class. I have included some small prayer peg dolls (the students helped create them). I found a Mass kit online- but you could easily incorporate loose parts and use them as items you would find in a church sanctuary.
The prayer table is located between the library (a quiet area) and the block center so the children can actually use the peg dolls as people in their play. A the beginning of the year I made sure to hide the very first treasure hunt item in the prayer corner. This allows for some deeper conversations with students and showcases how to use the prayer table. I include copies of each of our Catholic Prayers for kids Books so we can chat each day.
My favorite memory from the last few years with a prayer table is when the students actually practice the liturgical dance they see during Mass. Real-world learning helps my early learners scaffold understanding in every aspect of their day.
If you are looking for more Faith-based inspiration and classroom prayers for Catholic Schools week for your young learners check out my friend Marissa at Teach By Faith.
