Purpose
To help the children have the desire to follow the example of righteous people and to be good examples themselves.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study:
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Ruth 1:1–5—Naomi and her family move to Moab. Her husband and sons die.
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Ruth 1:6–22—Ruth stays with Naomi when Naomi returns to Bethlehem.
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Ruth 2—Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz.
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Ruth 4:9–17—Boaz marries Ruth and they have a son named Obed.
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Additional reading:
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John 7:42—Christ was to be a descendant of David and be born in Bethlehem.
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Study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account (see “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii). Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will best help the children achieve the purpose of the lesson.
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Materials needed:
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A Bible for each child.
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Several large paper footprints. Before class arrange these footprints so they lead from the door of the classroom, around part of the room, and then to where the children will be sitting.
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Picture 6-33, Ruth Gleans in the Fields of Boaz.
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Suggested Lesson Development
As the children enter the room, direct them to walk on the footprints you have placed on the floor around to where they can find a seat.
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Enrichment Activities
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
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Have the children think of righteous people who have been good examples to them. Ask them to identify outstanding traits of these people and write these traits on the footprints used in the attention activity. You may want to put the footprints back down on the floor so the children can take turns following the footsteps. Say the trait written on each footstep as each child steps on it.
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Give the children each a piece of paper and a pencil and have them trace their own footprint. Have them name traits they would like to develop so they can set good examples for others. Write these traits on the chalkboard. Have them choose one, or more, they want to work on and write it on their footprint.
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Who set a perfect example for us? If available, show pictures of Jesus Christ helping others and discuss how we can follow his example. Or invite the children to each choose an incident from the Savior’s life and talk about what we can learn from it that will help us set good examples for others.
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Assign each of the following scriptures to one or more children to look up:
Then read the following statements about Ruth, one at a time, and let a child read the scripture it applies to:
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Ruth was kind. (1:8)
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Ruth was loyal. (1:16)
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Ruth wanted to worship Heavenly Father. (1:16)
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Ruth worked hard. (2:2)
Discuss how Ruth can be an example for us. Help the children decide which traits of Ruth they want to develop.
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Sing or read the words to “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, p. 78).
Conclusion
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.