Goal: To learn about the golden rule in the Bible and in other religions.

Materials:
Golden Rules Cards: Page 1 and Page 2

Activities:
Read “The Very Short Rule”
If you want to show children the Bible reference for this story, it can be found in the New Testament of the Bible in the following passages: Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Mark 7:1-5 and 14-23. This is a well-known story from Jesus.

Discuss (according to age appropriateness):
All the people who talked to Jesus in this story seemed to find it hard to be good. Why was this? Do you find it hard, too? What makes it hard?
What are some of the rules you have to obey and find hard to remember?
What was the very short rule Jesus suggested?
How good a rule do you think it really is?
How can you tell someone that you do not want to play or be in their group or be with them so that they will leave you alone without hurting their feelings?
Think about this rule in your every day life. How would it work in specific situations. If you wanted to give your father a birthday present, would you give him a bike because that’s what you want him to give you for your birthday? Help kids see that we must learn how to imagine ourselves in other people’s situations in order for this rule to work well.

Cut and Color the Golden Rules cards