I was invited to join a local school to explain the Christian perspective on forgiveness to Year 1 and Year 2

I share below some of the ideas I used.

Using Haiku

Old / Biblical Style

Lo, I forgave thee.
Wrongs are cast into the sea—
East from west they fly.

Solemn / Reflective

You said sorry once.
I still feel the sting sometimes—
But I let it go.

Modern / Lighthearted

You took my last chip!
But hey—friends are more tasty.
I forgive you, bro.

Funny / Silly

You burped in my face.
That's gross, but I still like you.
Just don’t do it twice.

Kids’ Slang / Relatable

Ugh, you were so mean!
But I pressed the “forgive” switch.
We’re cool now. Let’s play.

Nature-Inspired

Storm clouds come and go.
The sky doesn’t hold a grudge.
Sunshine wins again.

🎭 Sketch 1 – The Forgotten Pencil

Theme: “Father, forgive them” – Jesus forgave even when people didn’t say sorry.

Characters:

• Sam (has a pencil)

• Mia (takes it)

• Narrator

• Optional extras: classmates reacting

Script:

Narrator:
Sam is proud of his brand new pencil. He’s showing it to his friends.

(Sam shows off a pencil proudly)

Narrator:
But while Sam is talking, Mia picks up the pencil… and walks off with it!

(Mia sneaks the pencil and walks away)

Sam (noticing):
Hey! Where’s my pencil? It was right here!

Narrator:
He looks around… and sees it in Mia’s hand.

Sam (angrily):
Mia! That’s mine!

Mia (shrugs):
I thought it was just lying around.

Narrator:
Mia doesn’t say sorry. But Sam remembers what Jesus said:
“Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.”

Sam (calming down):
You know what, Mia? I forgive you. But next time, please ask.

Mia (surprised):
Really? Thanks, Sam.

Narrator:
Forgiveness is a gift—even when someone hasn’t said sorry yet.

Focus: Forgiving someone even when they don’t say sorry.

Setting: Classroom scene

Props:

• A clearly visible pencil (make it big or colourful if possible)

• A small desk or table

• Optional: a few chairs for “classmates”

Staging Tips:

• Have Sam and Mia at the front, others seated behind as a class.

• Narrator stands slightly to the side and speaks clearly—could be you or a confident reader.

• Encourage children to act naturally: Sam should look proud, then confused and sad; Mia should act casual, not mean.

• Reinforce through action: Sam crosses arms or looks cross, then slowly softens.

Class Involvement:
Ask the watching class at the end:
“Was Sam right to forgive Mia even though she didn’t say sorry? Why do you think Jesus forgave the people who hurt him?”

🎭 Sketch 2 – The Denial and the Hug

Theme: Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus still forgave and trusted him again.

Characters:

• Lily (the friend)

• Josh (denies being her friend)

• Two classmates (teasing)

• Narrator

• Optional: Jesus (appears silently at the end)

Script:

Narrator:
Lily and Josh are best friends. But one day, something changes…

(Lily and Josh laugh together)

Narrator:
Then some kids walk over, teasing.

Classmate 1:
Hey Josh! Is she your girlfriend?

Classmate 2:
You always hang out with her!

Josh (panicking):
No way! I don’t even know her!

(Lily looks hurt and walks away)

Narrator:
Josh denied Lily. Three times he said “I don’t know her.”

Josh (alone, sad):
Why did I say that? I was scared. But now I feel terrible.

Narrator:
Later, Lily comes back. Josh has to choose…

Josh (quietly):
I’m sorry. I was silly. Will you forgive me?

Lily (smiling):
Yes. I missed my friend.

(They hug)

Narrator:
Peter let Jesus down, but Jesus still said, “Feed my sheep.”
That means: I still trust you. Let’s start again.

Focus: Jesus forgives Peter and gives him a second chance.

Setting: Playground or school field scene

Props:

• None needed

• Optional name tags for Josh and Lily

Staging Tips:

• Use physical spacing: Josh should physically move away from Lily when he denies her. This makes the hurt visible.

• Let the “teasing classmates” be cheeky but not cruel. You can even rehearse a few silly lines they’re allowed to use.

• The silent moment after Lily walks away is powerful—pause here before continuing.

• Make the final hug gentle but clear (or high five if more comfortable).

Class Involvement:
After the sketch, ask:
“Have you ever said something you wish you hadn’t? What would Jesus want us to do next?”

🎭 Sketch 3 – The Balloon Release

Theme: “As far as the east is from the west” – when God forgives, it’s gone forever.

Characters:

• Ben (holds a grudge)

• Max (accidentally broke Ben’s model)

• Teacher/Narrator

• Optional extras (class)

Props: Paper balloon on a string

Script:

Narrator (or teacher):
Ben made a spaceship out of Lego. He was so proud.

Ben (smiling):
It took me all lunchtime!

Narrator:
But then Max ran past and—CRASH!

(Max knocks over the model accidentally)

Max:
I didn’t mean to! I’m so sorry!

Ben (angrily):
You’ve ruined it! I’ll never forgive you!

Narrator:
Ben holds on to his anger. He even makes a balloon labelled “I’m still mad.”

(Ben shows a balloon or piece of paper with angry face)

Narrator:
But then he hears what the Bible says:

Teacher/Narrator reads slowly:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us.”

Narrator:
So Ben takes the balloon… and lets it go.

(Ben releases or drops the balloon; class watches it float away or disappear)

Ben (quietly):
I forgive you, Max. It’s gone now.

Narrator:
Forgiveness means letting go—forever.

Focus: Forgiveness means letting go completely.

Setting: Schoolroom or simple open space

Props:

• A balloon or paper balloon on string (write “I’m still mad” on it)

• Lego or Duplo spaceship (optional – or use a drawing of one)

• Paper to represent the model if no blocks available

Staging Tips:

• Max should act clumsy but not naughty.

• Ben should react strongly—crossed arms, exaggerated sighs, facing away.

• Use the balloon release as a symbolic act. You can drop it into a bin, let it float (if helium), or pull it away with string from behind a table.

• If possible, dim lights slightly or pause the class to watch it go—it’s a visual moment that can land deeply.

Class Involvement:
Invite them to mime letting go of their own balloon silently after the sketch. Then say together:
“As far as the east is from the west.”

Here are age-appropriate summaries of the three key Bible passage, written for 5–7 year olds (Year 1 and Year 2). Each one is short, clear, and designed to lead naturally into the sketches or activities.

✝️ 1. Jesus on the Cross – “Father, forgive them”

(Luke 23:34)

Jesus was hurt very badly. People were mean to him, and they nailed him to a cross.
But instead of being angry, Jesus said something amazing:
“Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”

Even when people were unkind to him, Jesus chose to forgive.

Link to Sketch 1: Sam forgives Mia, even though she doesn’t say sorry—just like Jesus did.

🐑 2. Peter’s Denial and Jesus’ Forgiveness

(John 18:15–27 & John 21:15–17)

Peter was one of Jesus’ best friends.
But when Jesus was in trouble, Peter got scared and said, “I don’t know him!”—not once, but three times.
Later, when Jesus came back to life, he didn’t stay angry.
He asked Peter, “Do you love me?”
And then he said, “Take care of my people.”
That means Jesus forgave Peter—and trusted him again.

Link to Sketch 2: Josh lets Lily down, but she forgives him and stays his friend—just like Jesus did with Peter.

🌍 3. As Far as the East is from the West

(Psalm 103:12)

When we say sorry, God forgives us.
And when He forgives, He forgets the bad thing—completely.
The Bible says:
“As far as the east is from the west, that’s how far God takes our sins away.”
That means they’re gone forever.

Link to Sketch 3: Ben lets go of his anger balloon—just like God lets go of our mistakes when we are forgiven.

🎈 The Balloon of Anger – Letting It Go

🧠 “When you forgive, it’s like letting go of a balloon.”

How to Use It:

• Draw a balloon on the board with the word “I’m still cross” or “You hurt me” written inside it.

• Ask: “What happens if we hold on tight?”
  (It gets in the way, we can’t use that hand, it might pop.)

• Then ask: “What happens if we let it go?”
  (It floats away. It's gone. We feel lighter.)

Draw a second balloon with a little line trailing off into the sky—labelled “I forgive you”.

💬 Say this aloud (or adapt it):

“When we hold on to hurt, it’s like gripping a balloon full of anger.
But when we forgive, we open our hand—and let it fly.
It doesn’t mean we forget what happened.
It means we’re free again.
Just like God lets go of what we’ve done—as far as the east is from the west.”

Alternatively or additionally:

🧽 The Whiteboard Metaphor – Wiped Clean

• Write something “bad” on the board (e.g. “He was mean”).

• Show the class that forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending it never happened—but it does mean we don’t hold on to it.

• Wipe it away while saying:
  “That’s what God does when we say sorry.
  He wipes it away—completely clean.”

And Finally:

Should I forgive you?

It’s what Jesus would have done.

Remembered no more.

☁️ If you enjoyed this piece, look out for our workbook on learning poetry - great for classrooms or homeschooling - Because I Said So.