Lesson Plan- Loaves & Fishes (1st grade on up)

Loaves & Fishes


Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story Loaves & Fishes
- define what a miracle is
- identify the miracle that Jesus did in the story Loaves and Fishes
- discuss ways we can share with others



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Lake Galilee- Israel’s largest freshwater lake. Much of the ministry of Jesus happened on the shores of Lake Galilee (show students this on a map or have one of the students find it on a map).
Heal- to make well again
Miracle- something that happens that is hard to believe and totally amazing and is an act of God



Plan:

Story: "Loaves & Fishes" and then ask questions



Activities:

sundayschoollessons.com- Jesus Gives Lunch To Thousands of People lesson

ministryspark.com- Jesus Feeds 5,000 (Elementary Lesson)

catechist.com- Loaves and Fish: Eucharistic Generosity

sermons4kids.com- Feeding the 5000 (Matthew 14:20) object lesson with group activities, crafts, puzzles, quiz, worship bulletin

rotation.org- Lessons and Ideas for Feeding the 5000

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings (Matthew)

sermons4kids.com- A Feast For All object lesson with group activities, coloring pages, puzzles, quiz, worship bulletin, etc.

truewaykids.com- The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) (free printable lessons for under 5s, over 5s, preteens and teens)

missionarlington.org- Jesus Feeds A Big Crowd (Matthew 14:13-21) lesson 25

sundayschoolresources.com- Jesus Feeds Five Thousand lesson with discussions, songs, crafts, games, questions, worksheets, memory work, etc. (Matt 14:13-21, John 6:1-14)

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings (Luke)

missionarlington.org- Jesus Feeds 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17) lesson with activities, word search, etc.

jesuswalk.com- Feeding the Five Thousand (Luke 9:10-17) lesson

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings (John)

dltk-bible.com- Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand lesson with memory verse, teacher's guide, coloring pages, crafts, puzzle, snack recipes, take home sheet, etc.

sundayschoollessons.com- Jesus Gives Lunch To Thousands of People lesson

missionarlington.org- Jesus Feeds the Big Crowd (John 6:1-15) lesson

sermons4kids.com- All Day Preaching Dinner (John 6:1-15) object lesson with group activities, coloring page, puzzles, quizzes, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- What to Do with the Leftovers (John 6:12) object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

jesuswalk.com- Feeding the Five Thousand, Walking on Water (John 6:1-21) lesson

faithsprouts.blogspot.com- Jesus Feeds 5,000 People (John 6:1-14) lesson with activities

dltk-bible.com- Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (John 6:1-15) lesson with activities

biblegamescentral.com- Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand Sunday School Lesson (John 6:1-16)

teacherspayteachers.com- Free Bible Unit Jesus Feeds the 5,000 (can easily be adapted to Luke 9:11b-17



Crafts:

sermons4kids.com- Feeding the 5000 group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- What To Do With The Leftovers group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- All Day Preaching Dinner group activities (crafts)

Feeding the 5,000 - Bible Story Wheel (Bible Wheels to Make and Enjoy by Carmen Sorvillo, page 45 & 46.)

books.google.com- A Basket With Five Loaves and Two Fishes- A craft to show how Jesus turned five loaves and two fishes into enough to feed 5,000 people by unfolding the loaves and fishes to turn a little food into a lot. (Crafts from your favorite Bible Stories by Kathy Ross, pages 46 - 48).

daniellesplace.com- Jesus Feeds the 5,000 crafts

truthforchildren.net- Feeding the Five Thousand Craft (page 9 & 10)

catechist.com- Loaves and Fishes Craft (scroll down for this)

craftingthewordofgod.com- Feeding The 5,000 (craft)

craftingthewordofgod.com- Feeding The Multitude

craftingthewordofgod.com- Feeding The 5,000 Paper Basket

jesus-without-language.net- Feeding 5000

biblegamescentral.com- Paper Fish Chain (scroll down to this)



Games:

sermons4kids.com-Feeding the 5000 group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- All Day Preaching Dinner (games)

sermons4kids.com- What To Do With The Leftovers group activities (games)

christiancrafters.com- Fish and Loaves Relay

The Catholic Toolbox- Loaves & Fishes Game

jesus-without-language.net- Feeding 5,000 Games

ticiamessing.com- Feeding of the 5,000 Active Games

smp.org- Loaves and Fishes: A Game of Feeding Others
A game that involves reading Scripture passages, answering questions, and making your way through a maze. smp.org- Card Template for Loaves and Fishes: A Game of Feeding Others

Feeding Frenzy (Jesus Feeds Five Thousand)- As your students explore the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, your kids will discover how God provides for them, too. (The Encyclopedia of Bible of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 81).

The Catholic Toolbox- Liturgical Memory & Go Fish Card Game (play “Go Fish” using these cards)



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What miracle did Jesus do in this story? (Fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.)

dltk-bible.com- Unleavened Bread and Tuna

Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Crackers

Mini Loaves- Use refrigerator biscuits to bake tiny loaves of bread. Give each child a piece of biscuit dough. Let them shape and place on a cooking sheet. Bake according to directions. Share “loaves” with class.

Fish in the Ocean Snack- Make blue JELL-O in clear plastic cups and add gummy fish to it. Children love to see the fish wiggle or swim in the JELL-O.

Aquariums- Spread peanut butter on graham crackers and top with Pepperidge Farms Goldfish crackers.



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

kidsundayschool.com- Children match the correct basket to the number of loaves and fish shown.

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds the Multitude (Maze)

web.archive.org- Maze

web.archive.org- Maze

More 365 Activities for Kids (puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc.) from October 21 - 26.

web.archive.org- After Jesus fed the 5,000 people his disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. Can you find all 12 baskets hidden in this picture?

Jesus Is More Than Enough! (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word (Grades: 1-3) by Linda Standke, page 22.

dltk-bible.com- Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Printable Puzzles & Worksheets

web.archive.org- Feeding of 5,000 (Word Search)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Word Search)

sermons4kids.com- Feeding The 5,000 (Word Search)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds (Word Search)

sermons4kids.com-Jesus Feeds the 5,000 (Word Search)

sermons4kids.com- Dinner On The Grounds (Word Search)

4catholiceducators.com- Luke 9:11b-17 (Word Search)

web.archive.org- Matthew 14:13-21 (Word Search)

web.archive.org- John 6:1-15 (Word Search)

web.archive.org- Luke 9:11-17 (Word Search)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Word Shape)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Decoder)

web.archive.org- John 6:9 (Decoder)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Cryptogram)

web.archive.org- Use the scrambled letters to complete the sentences about Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 #1 (Crossword)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 #2 (Crossword)

web.archive.org- Matthew 14:13-21 (Crossword)

web.archive.org- Luke 9:11-17 (Crossword)

4catholiceducators.com- John 6:1-15 (Crossword)

web.archive.org- John 6:1-15 (Crossword)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Matching)

sermons4kids.com- Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Multiple Choice)

truewaykids.com- The Feeding of the Five Thousand (free printable puzzles and worksheets for under 5s, over 5s, preteens and teens)

sdc.me.uk- Matthew 14:13-21

sdc.me.uk- Mark 6:30-34 Worksheet

sdc.me.uk- Luke 9:11-17 Worksheet

sdc.me.uk- John 6:1-15 Worksheet

gracebibleny.org- Ministering to the Multitudes – Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13 (scroll down to Fill in the Blank questions at bottom that can easily be made into a worksheet)

Have students compare and contrast Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:5-15. Students can use a Venn Diagram if desired.

jesuswalk.com- Feeding the Five Thousand (Luke 9:10-17) questions at bottom that can easily be made into a worksheet

jesuswalk.com- Feeding the Five Thousand, Walking on Water (John 6:1-21) questions in lesson that can easily be made into a worksheet


From Google AI Mode

For Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus's character and compassion
• Jesus withdrew to a private place after hearing the news of John the Baptist's execution, yet when the crowds found him, he had compassion on them (Matthew 14:13–14). What does this reveal about Jesus's character, and how might his response encourage us to care for others even when we are grieving or need rest?
• How might you or others you know respond when your plans for rest and solitude are interrupted by the
needs of others?
The disciples' lack of faith
• When the disciples suggested sending the crowd away to buy food, what did that reveal about their faith?. Why did they only consider the "normal" solution, despite having witnessed Jesus's other miracles?
• Jesus told his disciples, "You give them something to eat" (Matthew 14:16). Why do you think Jesus gave them this seemingly impossible command?
• How often do we, like the disciples, fail to consider Jesus's power in our own challenging situations?

Divine provision and our role
• The disciples brought their limited resources to Jesus—five loaves and two fish. What did Jesus do with this small amount?. What does this teach us about the importance of giving all we have to God, even when it seems inadequate?
• Jesus chose to use the disciples' hands to distribute the food, rather than feeding the crowd directly. What does this detail say about our role as followers of Christ in serving others?
• The miracle resulted in 12 baskets of leftovers, perhaps one for each disciple. Why might there have been an abundance of food left over?. What does this say about God's provision?
• What earthly or spiritual needs do you need to bring to Jesus right now, and how can you place them entirely in his hands?

Lessons for today
• In today's world, people are hungry for many things beyond physical food. What are some of the deep hungers people experience? What can we, as modern disciples, offer to those in need?
• How does the story challenge our typical ways of viewing and distributing resources? What might it look like to trust in God's abundance rather than being limited by our own perceived scarcity?
• The story suggests that Jesus's compassion was contagious, leading the crowds to share with one another. How can we cultivate a sense of contagious compassion in our own communities?


For Mark 6:31-44

Questions about compassion and ministry
• How does Jesus's response to the crowd, even after his planned retreat was interrupted, define Christian compassion?
• Jesus first meets the crowd's spiritual need by teaching them, then their physical need by feeding them. What does this sequence imply about prioritizing needs in ministry?
• The text describes the crowd as "sheep without a shepherd". What does this tell us about the condition of the people and the failure of their religious leaders?
• How can Jesus's unwavering compassion for the multitude serve as a model for how Christians should view and respond to those in need, even when it's inconvenient?
Questions about rest and spiritual renewal
• Why was it important for Jesus to invite his disciples to a "solitary place" to "rest a while"?
• How does this passage show the need for both rest and readiness for ministry? In the story, the disciples' rest is interrupted, and Jesus still ministers.
• What lessons can people in ministry today learn from Jesus's example of balancing work with intentional rest and retreat?

Questions about discipleship and faith
• When the disciples propose sending the crowds away, how does Jesus's command, "You give them something to eat," challenge their—and our—perspective on impossible situations?
• What does the disciples' suggestion to spend "two hundred denarii" on food reveal about their human-centered, rather than faith-centered, way of thinking?
• The miracle happens not in a supernatural flash but through the disciples distributing the food. What does this teach about believers' role in God's provision?
• Following this miracle, the disciples' "heart was hardened" because they failed to understand its significance (Mark 6:52). Why do you think they struggled to grasp the meaning of what they had just experienced?

Questions about the miracle itself
• Why does Jesus have the crowd sit down in organized groups of fifties and hundreds? What does this organization suggest about God's provision?
• What is the significance of the 12 basketfuls of leftovers? What might the number 12, representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 disciples, signify here?
• How does the miracle of feeding the 5,000 parallel other stories in the Old Testament, such as God providing manna in the wilderness or Elisha feeding people with a few loaves?
• How does the abundance of the meal—everyone eats "and were filled"—contrast with Herod's self-serving feast mentioned in the verses preceding this passage?

Application and reflection
• What "impossible situations" in your life or ministry are you currently facing? How can you apply the lessons of this passage to trust in God's provision?
• What "five loaves and two fish" (limited resources) can you offer to Jesus, trusting him to multiply them for his purposes?
• The miracle shows Jesus's power to satisfy both spiritual hunger (through teaching) and physical hunger (through food). How does this story confirm Jesus's power to address all of our needs?


For Luke 9:10-17

Questions about the context
• Why was Jesus in a remote place with his disciples, and what interrupted their time together (Luke 9:10–11)?
• How did Jesus respond to the crowd that followed him, even though he was seeking privacy with the apostles?
• What did Jesus's actions of teaching and healing reveal about his compassion for people, even when his own needs were set aside?

Questions about the disciples' actions and faith
• What did the disciples want Jesus to do when they saw the enormous, hungry crowd (Luke 9:12)?
• Why was their suggestion to send the crowd away a seemingly reasonable solution from a human perspective?
• What was Jesus's surprising instruction to the disciples in verse 13? How did they react?
• What do the disciples' responses reveal about their understanding of Jesus's power and their own capabilities?
• When Jesus said, "You give them something to eat," was he testing the disciples' faith? For what lesson was he preparing them?
• What did the disciples learn about relying on Jesus by having to distribute the food themselves?

Questions about the miracle and its meaning
• Why did Jesus take, bless, break, and give the loaves and fish, and how does this action foreshadow the Lord's Supper (the Eucharist)?
• Some interpretations suggest Jesus's blessing and breaking of the bread inspired the crowd to share food they had brought with them. What is the significance of this possible interpretation?
• Beyond simply providing food, what does this miracle demonstrate about God's generous nature and Jesus's identity?
• What is the significance of having twelve baskets of leftover fragments after everyone was full (Luke 9:17)?
• What does the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand say about God's ability to provide in times of scarcity?

Application questions
• When faced with a problem that seems overwhelming, do you sometimes, like the disciples, try to dismiss the people or the need?
• What small resources has God given you that you can offer back to him for a larger purpose?
• What does it mean to "give them something to eat" in your own life? How can you be an instrument of God's provision for others?
• How can this story inform your understanding of charity, generosity, and hospitality in today's world?


For John 6:5-15

Questions about the miracle and its purpose

• Why did Jesus test Philip? Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread, but John notes that Jesus already "knew what he was going to do". Why did Jesus test Philip and not one of the other disciples? Was Jesus revealing Philip's limited, human perspective that calculates lack instead of trusting in divine abundance?

• What is the significance of the boy's offering? The miracle is catalyzed by a young boy's small lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish. What qualities did the boy demonstrate, and what lessons can be learned from his selfless act? How does his small contribution contrast with the disciples' doubt and despair?

• Why were there twelve baskets of leftovers? After everyone ate "as much as they wanted," Jesus instructed the disciples to gather the leftovers. Many find significance in the number twelve, which corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. What might this abundance symbolize?

• Why did Jesus withdraw after the miracle? The crowd, impressed by the miracle, declared Jesus to be "the Prophet who is to come into the world" and intended to make him king by force. Jesus, however, withdrew alone to the mountain. Why did he reject this popular, politically-motivated attempt to crown him?

Questions about symbolism and deeper meaning

• How does this miracle relate to the Old Testament? This event took place around the time of Passover, and the miracle of providing food in a desolate place recalls God's provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness during the Exodus. How does Jesus's miracle surpass the manna provided by Moses?

• How does this passage foreshadow Jesus as the "Bread of Life"? The multiplication of the loaves and fish is the setup for Jesus's "Bread of Life" discourse later in the chapter. What is the connection between this physical nourishment and the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers? What does it mean to be nourished by Christ?

• What do Philip and Andrew's differing responses reveal? Both disciples express doubt, but Philip focuses on the human impossibility of buying enough food, while Andrew finds the meager resources available. What does this suggest about the limitations of both a pessimistic and a hopeful human perspective when confronted with a need beyond their abilities?

Questions for personal application

• What are your motives for following Jesus? The crowd followed Jesus because of his miraculous signs and the promise of more food. Are you motivated by what Jesus can do for you, or by who he truly is?

• What are your "loaves and fish"? The small meal provided by the boy was multiplied to meet the needs of thousands. What small gifts, resources, or abilities can you offer to God that he could use for a greater purpose?

• How does this miracle affect your trust in God's provision? Do you tend to focus on the inadequacy of your resources like Philip, or do you trust that God can use the little you have to accomplish great things?

• Are you seeking the right "bread"? In the broader context of John 6, Jesus clarifies that he offers food for eternal life, not just temporary satisfaction. Are you focused on your physical needs, or are you seeking the spiritual nourishment that only Jesus provides?