Grade 1 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 1
2- Obedience: St. John the Short
Objective:
To teach the children the blessing of obedience.
Memory Verse:
“Children, obey your parents” (Colossians 3:20)
References:
Sinaxarium, Part 1 (20th of Babah)
The Paradise of the Monks
Introduction:
Review the previous lesson and verse with the students.
Prepare the following visual aids: draw a black stick planted in the ground and a man carrying
a jar of water watering it.
Ask the children what is the meaning of obey? and whom should we obey?
Lesson Outlines:
Once upon a time there was a short man his name was John. So, everybody called him John the
short. He was 18 years old when he went to the monastery to become a monk. Do you know what is a
monk?. Explain to the children the meaning of a monk and show them pictures of monks. The abbot
(the leader of the monk) refused him because he was still young but he was accepted at last.. He
became a disciple to one of the monks in the wilderness of Scetis. The abbot wanted to test John’s
ability to obey so he said to him, “John, take this dry stick and plant it”. John looked at the abbot and
said, “All right my father”. And John took the stick and did as he was told (the teacher can bring a
dry branch to the class in a pot and water it to help the children understand). St. John the short
watered the stick twice a day and returned to tell the abbot of what happened to the stick.
Why did St. John go to the wilderness?
Who examined him?
Why?
What did St. John do with the stick?
The water was far away from the stick and it was heavy to carry it all this distance (the servant can
act carrying a heavy load on his back or shoulder). But St. John the short obeyed and did it every day
4 FILLER LESSONS