Fruit of the Spirit Lesson for Kids
A free fruit of the Spirit lesson for kids (Galatians 5:13–26) in four age levels, preschool to preteen: a game, Bible teaching, questions, verse and take-home.
Preschool–Grade 6
Download
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, kindergarten to 2nd grade (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Take-home sheet (PDF) · 1 page
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preschool ages 3–5 (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, 3rd to 5th grade (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preteens ages 11–12 (PDF) · 3 pages
Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.
- Ages
- Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
- Time
- 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
- Scripture
- Galatians 5:22–23
- Bible story
- The Fruit of the Spirit
What you need
- A Bible (mark Galatians 5:13 and Galatians 5:22–23)
- Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
- 9 paper fruit shapes or sticky notes and a marker (memory verse game)
- Real fruit, like an apple, an orange and a banana, and a paper bag (optional, great for preschool)
- Chairs in a circle, one fewer than the number of kids (kindergarten to 2nd grade game)
- Paper and pencils (3rd grade and up)
- Printed take-home sheets, one per child
- Printed Fruit of the Spirit word search and crayons for early finishers
This free Fruit of the Spirit Sunday school lesson teaches kids that God's Spirit grows good fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace and more (Galatians 5:22–23). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.
Choose your age level
- Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a "What's in the bag?" fruit game, a short teaching with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace") with a motion for each word, and a fruit tree drawing.
- Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: who wrote Galatians and why, walking in the Spirit and the nine-part fruit in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Fruit Basket Swap game and the Fruit Basket Verse game with nine paper fruits.
- 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: kids look up verses in their own Bibles as you teach (Paul's letter to Galatia, freedom to serve by love, the flesh and the Spirit, works versus fruit), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
- Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Galatians 5:13–26 out loud themselves after hearing why Paul wrote the letter, then discuss why rules can't change a heart, biting and devouring one another, and walking in the Spirit. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Galatians 5:22–23 and 5:25).
Lesson at a glance
- Bible passage: Galatians 5:13–26
- Main point: God's Spirit grows good fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace and more.
- Memory verse: Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV), with Galatians 5:25 added for preteens
- Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions
Lesson outline (the same in every version)
- Opening game: a short fruit game that leads into "every tree is known by his own fruit" (Luke 6:44).
- Bible teaching: Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia, serving one another by love, walking in the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit. Every point has its verse reference so you can check it.
- Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
- Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Galatians 5:22–23, with the old KJV words explained.
- What this means for us: God's Spirit grows the fruit, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and one fruit to practice this week.
- Activity: the Fruit of the Spirit word search, a coloring page or craft, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
- Prayer.
Tips for teaching the Fruit of the Spirit
- Give the setting: Paul was writing to believers who were biting and devouring one another (Galatians 5:15). The fruit list is his answer.
- The Spirit in this passage is the Holy Ghost, God's own Spirit. Each lesson explains it simply: the one God living in His people.
- The KJV words are old. Teach "longsuffering = patience," "meekness = humble and gentle" and "temperance = self-control" before the memory verse.
- Point out that it is "fruit," not "fruits." God wants all of it to grow in us, not just the parts we like.
- Short on time? Do the teaching, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this Fruit of the Spirit lesson take?
It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the Bible teaching, three questions and the memory verse.
What age is this lesson for?
All ages from preschool to preteen. The lesson comes in four separate teacher PDFs: preschool (ages 3 to 5), kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, and preteens (ages 11 to 12). Each one teaches the same Bible passage at the right length and reading level, with its own questions and activity.
What are the 9 fruits of the Spirit?
In the King James Version they are love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness (being humble and gentle) and temperance (self-control) (Galatians 5:22–23). The Bible calls them "the fruit of the Spirit," grown in us by the Holy Ghost, God's own Spirit.
Who wrote about the fruit of the Spirit, and to whom?
The apostle Paul wrote it in a letter to the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:1–2). He had preached the gospel to them before (Galatians 4:13). In this part of the letter he teaches them to serve one another by love and to walk in the Spirit, instead of biting and devouring one another (Galatians 5:13–16).
Is this Sunday school lesson really free?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your church, school or home. Please don't resell it.
