Summer Remix Fruits of the Spirit

In this special 10-week summer unit, we’ll be learning and singing our way through the Fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Week 1

Jesus Session: Week One is Love. We learn to love because God first loved us.

TIP: Set up a buddy system with older and younger kids. make groups of 2-3 for the entirety of the Ten weeks. Encourage older kids to take on responsibility.

Art Session: Each craft in this unit will be based on fruit. Because of its heart-shape, strawberry represents Love. The seeds can be made with any small white object: pompoms, buttons, felt, glitter glue, etc.

TEMPLATE: The template to all 10 crafts can be found at the bottom of this page. there are also coloring sheets to use if you don't have time for the craft or you can pass it out to early arrivers or kids who finish their craft quickly.

Music Session: Introduce “Fruit Salad”. Sing through the first section. Go over the words to the first section phrase by phrase and have the kids repeat them back to you. Next, sing the melody to that section on your choice of syllable. Once they are comfortable with both the lyrics and the melody, combine them.

For this special summer Remix, I’ve included summer snack options for each fruit. This is completely optional. Here’s a recipe for strawberry ice pops. Or try one of the store-bought options to the right. (No, I am not an affiliate, they just look tasty.)

Week 2

Jesus Session: Joy! Our main focus is that while happiness comes from circumstances, joy comes from God. Joy is bright and refreshing, like Joy!

Art Session: We make lemon slices into lemonade. If glitter scares you, you could use white chalk.

Music Session: Separating melody and lyrics can be helpful in the beginning, but ultimately it’s the combination that helps them remember. Review the first section. Learn the next section. If you have time, sing another worship song. If you know one about joy, that would be perfect.

Today would be a great day to serve lemonade! Serve with straws matching the ones you used in the craft.

Week 3

Jesus session: This week we learn about peace. We learn about being a peacemaker.

Art Session: Apple prints are fun to do. Just printing is fun, but they could turn them into people or other things too. I love using the real seeds as seeds!

TIP: Don't be afraid to ask for donations. A Sunday School group, small group, or worship team would probably love to help with supplying apples. Parents could do this too, but its great to ask other groups. It brings the needs of kidmin to their minds and it gives them a small way to contribute, which makes them feel good too.

Music Session: Sing through “Fruit Salad.” Have the older kids help form a circle and walk in the circle while singing. This changes things up and also forces them to concentrate more on the words.

Save half of the apples for snacks!

Week 4

Jesus Session: Patience we’re defining as waiting without complaining. God is certainly patient with us!

Art Session: These cute watermelon are simple and fun. Older kids can add white and black to shade and highlight.

Music: Sing through all of “Fruit Salad.” Teach proper singing posture and sing again. If there’s time, sing a favorite worship song.

Slices or chunks of watermelon are fantastic on a warm summer day!

Week 5

Jesus Session: The Golden Rule is the essence of Kindness. Treat others like you want them to treat you.

Art Session: Have older kids help younger ones with making branches for the cherries.

Music Session: Talk to the kids about singing on a stage. Show them how to line up. Reinforce how they will be leading worship when they sing. Practice singing in the line or rows you will be singing in.

TIP: Here is a guide to lining up your choir, whether it is three kids or 100.

There are lots of tasty cherry snacks. Here’s a recipe for cherry frozen yogurt drops. Or of course, a bowl of cherries!

Week 6

Jesus Session: God is Good. All the time! Focusing on how Goodness as spelled out in Micah 6:8, we learn about justice, mercy, and walking humbly with God.

Art Session: These little oranges can be as creative as you like. get enough of them to make a the craft and to have as a snack.

Music: Sing a worship song. Then get into rows for “Fruit Salad.” Make a point of how individual worship and group worship is a little different than choir worship. In a choir, like sections of an orange, you are acting as one unit. That’s why we stand together and sing together (and dress similarly) and pay attention to the director.

Week 7

Jesus Session: Great is thy Faithfulness Oh God my Father!

Art Session: These bananas make me smile. I love the different textures created.

Music: Sing “Fruit Salad” in formation. Make certain the littles are doing okay. Sing another worship song (not in formation) if you have time.

Yummy banana bread would be great today!

Week 8

Jesus Session: Gentleness is treating people with respect rather than yelling or being angry. pears have to be handled with gentleness or they go bad.

Art Session: Today we make 3D pears. have older kids help the littles when it comes time to glue the pieces together. It can be a little confusing.

Music: Sing “Fruit Salad” in formation. Practice lining up and walking into those rows. Then sing. Then practice walking off. The more they practice this, the smoother it goes. A smooth lineup creates a calm and a confidence. Then relax for another worship song.

Pear slices are great. What other pear snacks sound good? let me know and I’ll add them!

Week 9

Jesus Session: Self-control could be rebranded God-control because it’s really about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you to help you make good decisions.

Art Session: Have older kids help the littles with handling the pinecones.

Music: Talk about all the Fruit of the Spirit. Ask about favorites. Lean into understanding these Bible truths before singing. Then get into formation, line up, pretend to walk on stage, sing, pretend to walk off. Send home information for the parents for next week.

Pineapple is the yummiest! I would just serve straight-up fresh pineapple and pretend I’m on holiday! Or here’s a tasty smoothie recipe. Or check out these store-bought options.

Week 10

The order of the sessions can be adapted to work for your schedule. If your rehearsal time is not on the day/time you sing, plan week 10 as a party. Play music from the playlist. Make the snack/craft. Add some of the other fruit snacks. Fun and easy!

Jesus Session: Talk about ways to make our fruit grow. Remember that it’s the Fruit of the Spirit not the Fruit of Me! We grow the fruit as a result of listening to God.

Art Session: This week, the art and the snack are the same thing! Decorate group (or individual) fruit pizzas. Recipe here.

Music: Be calm. Smile a lot. Sing!

Fun Fruit of the Spirit Game!