Making the Fruit of the Spirit Fun: A Creative Song & Activity for Kids
As parents and teachers, one of our greatest joys is watching little ones grasp big biblical truths. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a beautiful list of character traits we want to see grow in our children’s hearts:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Learning these verses should be a goal for all of us, but for children ages 4 to 7, memorization happens best when we get moving! Whether you are leading a Sunday School class or doing family devotions at home, adding creative props to your worship time can make Scripture stick.
Here is a fun, interactive way to teach the Fruit of the Spirit using a catchy song and a few simple props.
Gather Your Props
To make this activity truly engaging, visual aids are key. One of my mottos in children’s ministry is: The bigger the better! Here are the three props you need:
1. Fruit of the Spirit Boards Create three sturdy poster boards or signs. Divide the nine fruits among them (three fruits per board). Make the text big, colorful, and easy to read. If you laminate them or use thick cardboard, they will last for years of lessons! Here is a picture showing how I made my boards. Notice how I placed the words. Picture 3 children holding the boards and standing side by side. As the song is sung and as described below, you will acknowledge each of the children and the fruit name that is on their board. (See directions below.)
2. The “Bopper” This is a crowd favorite! A “bopper” is simply a wooden dowel rod with a soft sponge ball attached to the end. It adds a silly, physical element that kids love.
3. A Big Bible While a regular Bible works, using a large “family-sized” Bible is much more engaging for young children. It emphasizes the importance of God’s Word.
How to Lead the Activity
This method turns a simple song into a game. This activity works best with my version of the “Fruit of the Spirit” song, which can be found right here:
“The Fruit of the Spirit” in mp3 file format:
To listen to the song, left click on the title button below.
To save the song, right click on the title button below.
How to Lead the Activity
This method turns a simple song into a game. This activity works best with my version of the “Fruit of the Spirit” song, which can be found right here:
Step 1: Set the Stage Select four children to come up “on stage” with you.
- Give the first 3 children one of the Fruit Boards to hold.
- Give the 4th child the Big Bible to hold.
- You (the parent or teacher) are in charge of the Bopper!
Step 2: Sing and Bop Stand behind the children. As you sing through the list of fruits (“Love, joy, peace…”), lightly “bop” the child holding the corresponding sign on the head with the sponge ball.
Step 3: The Spin Tell the children beforehand that when they feel the “bop,” that is their cue to do one full turn as fast as they can! Because the signs have multiple fruits, you will be moving back and forth, bopping and spinning the kids as you sing through the list.
Step 4: The Grand Finale When you get to the scripture reference in the song (“Galatians 5:22-23”), bop the child holding the Big Bible. This is the cue for everyone in the room—including the kids in the audience or the rest of the family—to stand up and spin around!
Why It Works
This simple activity engages three learning styles at once:
- Visual: They see the words on the big boards.
- Auditory: They hear the song and scripture.
- Kinesthetic: They get to hold props, spin, and move.
Props can make a BIG difference in your children’s ministry. Give this a try this week and watch your kids memorize the Fruit of the Spirit with smiles on their faces!
If this fun Bible object lesson helped you teach a memorable Bible truth, join thousands of teachers and leaders who have used The Scripture Lady’s resources to make learning Scripture fun. Subscribe to The Scripture Lady’s Free Newsletter to receive 6 FREE downloadable resources for your classroom or home.
• What you’ll get: 6 printable resources including Bible games and Bible verse songs for both the preschool and elementary levels, all meant to help learn scripture.
• Who it helps: Perfect for Sunday school teachers, children’s ministry leaders, and parents who want creative ways to teach the Bible to kids.
• Privacy note: We respect your inbox — no spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Resources are delivered by email.
Click here to subscribe and download your free resources. Thank you!
Whether you are leading a Sunday School class or doing family devotions at home, adding creative props to your worship time can make Scripture stick.