Gifts of the Holy Spirit Activity Sheets

Gifts of the Holy Spirit activity sheets help children learn that God gives them abilities for serving others and building the Church, not only musical, artistic, or athletic talents. The activities can be used in Sunday School, Confirmation preparation, religious education, family lessons, children’s church activities, or as a kids’ bulletin during adult worship.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. Students can learn what each gift means, identify ways the gifts appear in their own lives, and consider how they can use them to help other people.

How to Use the Activity Sheets

These activities can be completed as part of a single lesson or spread over a series of weeks to begin, end, or fill extra time in lessons. The hope with these activities is that students will not only learn what each gift of the Holy Spirit means but also come to realize how God has personally bestowed on them some unique experience of the gift in their lives.

Bibles and pencils are needed for each worksheet. These are recommended for second grade and up. Each worksheet has two pages, which we recommend printing back to back.

These sheets can be used in Sunday School, during another children’s activity, or as a kids’ bulletin during adult church. They can also provide a review or introduction to a lesson about spiritual gifts, Confirmation, Baptism, Pentecost, the Trinity, or the work of the Holy Spirit.

What Are Spiritual Gifts?

“Spiritual gifts are blessings or abilities that are given by the power of the Holy Ghost. As children of Heavenly Father, we all have spiritual gifts. God gives us these gifts so that we can serve others and help build His kingdom. He has commanded us to diligently seek out and develop our spiritual gifts.”

“In the most basic sense any increase in light that an individual experiences may be regarded as a spiritual gift-or a gift or free offering of the Spirit.”

Children need to know that they have abilities for helping do the work of the church, not just musical or sports talents. Spiritual gifts can help people teach, encourage, understand, serve, make wise decisions, show courage, worship God, and recognize what is good and true.

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Based on the Scriptures Isaiah 11:2-3 and the Church’s teaching we know that there are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel (right judgment), fortitude (courage), piety (reverence), and fear of the Lord (wonder and awe).

Opening Discussion: Recognizing God’s Gifts

What Traits Did You Inherit?

Ask: “What traits did you inherit from your parents?” Allow everyone the chance to answer, giving students time to think before speaking. Be sensitive to those who may be adopted.

Let this be a catalyst to start talking about how we inherit physical traits from our earthly parents and how spiritual gifts come from our Heavenly Parents.

“Because we are the spiritual offspring of God, and indeed by virtue of our very existence, each of us possesses a portion of that element which is variously identified in the scriptures as intelligence, light, truth, spirit, life, law, power, glory, knowledge, etc.-the light which ‘proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space … which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne.’ (D&C 88:12, 13.) This light gives life to our physical bodies and enables us to discern between good and evil and to make intelligent choices as we interact with others of our Father’s children and perform our work upon the earth.”

Questions for Discussion

• What are spiritual gifts?
• What are some examples of spiritual gifts?
• How can we learn to recognize our spiritual gifts?
• What can we do with our spiritual gifts once we recognize one in our life?
• How can a spiritual gift help someone serve another person?
• How can a gift be used to make the Church stronger?

“We can recognize our spiritual gifts as we ‘reference our patriarchal blessing, ask those who know us best, and personally identify what we are naturally good at and enjoy. Most important, we can ask God.’ As we discover the gifts Heavenly Father has given us, we can come to know Him and ourselves better.”

“According to scripture, the ultimate purpose of our spiritual gifts is to draw us to Jesus Christ and to make this mortal sojourn a little easier for our brothers and sisters-‘for the benefit of the children of God’ and for ‘the edifying of the church’.”

Activity Sheet 1: Wisdom

With the gift of wisdom, we can think deeply about a situation, conflict, or experience and see things the way God sees them.

Have the students pick a challenging situation in their lives or in the lives of people their age, such as fights with friends, test anxiety, or sitting the bench on a sports team. Invite them to imagine what God might think about the situation.

Have them write a letter from God’s perspective offering advice on how to think about overcoming the biggest challenges.

Worksheet Prompts

• What challenging situation did you choose?
• How might the people involved feel?
• What might God see that the people involved do not see?
• What wise advice could help someone respond with love?
• What could the person do next?

Activity Sheet 2: Understanding

With the gift of understanding, we experience a compassionate awareness of what others think and feel.

Have the students make a list of all the people they have spoken to so far today. Next to each one of these names, have them write what emotions these acquaintances were experiencing and why they might feel that way.

Then, at the bottom of the paper, have students write ways they might help one of the people on their list.

Worksheet Prompts

• Who did you speak with today?
• What emotion might each person have experienced?
• Why might that person have felt this way?
• What could you say or do to help?
• How can understanding change the way you treat someone?

Activity Sheet 3: Knowledge

With the gift of knowledge, we can make good decisions based on the information we have at hand.

Invite the students to think about a good deed they did recently for someone. For example, they might say: “I let my brother eat the last waffle.”

Then, have them create a true/false quiz about the information they used to make this choice. Statements might be: “My mom will buy more at the store today” (true), or “I don’t like waffles” (false).

Worksheet Prompts

• What good deed did you do recently?
• What information helped you make that choice?
• Write one true statement about the situation.
• Write one false statement about the situation.
• How did using knowledge help you make a good decision?

Activity Sheet 4: Counsel

With the gift of counsel, sometimes called “right judgment,” we can make good decisions based on what is right and wrong.

Have the students work in groups of three to create a skit about a common misbehavior among children their age, such as lying, gossiping, or stealing.

One student will be a person struggling to make a decision, and the other two students will act as an angel offering counsel about the right thing to do and a devil offering tempting advice about the wrong thing to do.

Worksheet Prompts

• What decision does the character need to make?
• What advice encourages the wrong choice?
• What advice explains the right thing to do?
• What consequences could follow each decision?
• What choice reflects counsel and right judgment?

Activity Sheet 5: Fortitude

With the gift of fortitude, we experience the courage to overcome our fears.

Students will imagine that they are kid superheroes with a superpower to help them overcome common fears among young people.

Ask them to draw the superhero costume to show their superpower on a piece of paper, and then have them describe their superpower to the class and the fear it helps them overcome.

Worksheet Prompts

• What fear does your superhero face?
• What superpower represents fortitude?
• How does the costume show courage?
• What courageous action can your superhero take?
• What can you do when you feel afraid?

Activity Sheet 6: Piety

With the gift of piety, or reverence, we can worship God more meaningfully.

Have students think about someone who has been a good example of piety in their lives.

Have them write thank you notes to these people describing how they have lived as a holy example for the students at home, school, or in church.

Worksheet Prompts

• Who has shown reverence for God?
• What did that person say or do?
• How has this person been an example at home, school, or church?
• What have you learned from this example?
• What could you do to worship God more meaningfully?

Activity Sheet 7: Fear of the Lord

With the gift of the fear of the Lord, the Holy Spirit enables us to be in humble wonder and awe of God’s creation and of our relationship with him.

On the left side of a piece of paper, have students write the words AWESOME or WONDER vertically on the page.

Next to each letter, tell them to list words that describe things that amaze them with humility and love for God. Next to the “E,” for example, students might write eagles, Easter, education, entertainment, ecology, or elm trees.

Worksheet Prompts

• Write AWESOME or WONDER vertically.
• List something that amazes you next to each letter.
• How does creation show God’s greatness?
• How can wonder lead to humility?
• How can awe deepen your relationship with God?

Lesson Activities for Reviewing the Seven Gifts

Bell Work: Gifts and Talents

List all of the skills, talents, gifts, etc. that you have been given by God and provide one example of how you have used that gift.

Provide an example from your personal life such as: “For example, I have been given the ability to sing well and I use that gift to sing loudly in Church on Sundays.”

Video and Note-Taking Worksheet

Watch “The 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit” video.

Use The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Worksheet graphic organizer to help them take notes on the video.

Flashcards

Have students create flashcards with each of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit labeled on one side and synonyms and definitions on the other side.

Once they have finished making the cards, give them time to memorize the gifts and their meanings with a friend.

Journaling

While each of us receives the gifts of the Spirit in special ways at Confirmation, we have all been given a portion of these gifts by the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism and our daily prayer.

Have students choose a few or all of the gifts and write how they have used each gift in a positive way in their lives lately.

Room-Corner Activity

Label different parts of the room with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

If you are crafty, create labels ahead of time that resemble balls of flames, or tongues of fire.

Have students write one gift that they would like to receive from God the most on one side of a piece of paper and how they will use that gift to become a better person on the other side.

Again, use papers shaped in tongues of fire or create them as a class project.

Exit Card Assessment

On a blank note card, or “exit cards,” have students list the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit from memory without looking at the board, their notes, or the walls of the room.

Optional Enrichment Activity: Personal Gifts Lists

If you feel so inspired and have given yourself enough time, contact the parents of each of your students and ask them to let you know what some of your students’ spiritual gifts are.

Create a list for each student, adding some of your own observances and present it to them at the end of the lesson.

Present it to them with reverence and a moment of quiet reflection to read through it.

Encourage them to keep the list to themselves and challenge them to tape it into their journals when they get home and to add their own thoughts and reflections on them.

Be extra sensitive to those with non-member or less engaged parents. If you have a parent that doesn’t respond, please don’t exclude that student or make them feel “less than” in any way.

Add your own observances, counsel with other youth leaders, do whatever it takes to add authentic gifts to every person’s list and distribute it with the rest.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Follow up each of these activities with a prayer experience in which the kids ask for the Holy Spirit to bless them with each of the gifts. This is an essential conclusion to each of these activities and the best way for them to personalize what they learn about the gifts.

Lord Jesus Christ, send down your Spirit upon me.

When I am uncertain, grant me wisdom.

When I am confused, grant me understanding.

When I am ignorant, grant me knowledge.

When I am wandering, grant me counsel.

When I am afraid, grant me fortitude.

When I am separated from you, grant me piety.

When I am selfish, grant me the fear of the Lord.

I ask for an outpouring of your Spirit with all of these gifts in your name. Amen.

Bible Passages for the Activity Sheets

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Moroni 10:9-16

“For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; And again, to another, all kinds of tongues; and to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.”

Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-26

“To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby. To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

“And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.

“And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal.

“And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom. To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.

“And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed; And to others it is given to have faith to heal. And again, to some is given the working of miracles; And to others it is given to prophesy; And to others the discerning of spirits.

“And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues; And to another is given the interpretation of tongues. And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God.”

Article of Faith #7

“We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.”

Printable Worksheet Ideas

A worksheet packet can combine several types of activities so that students with different learning styles can participate.

• Gifts of the Holy Spirit word search.
• Gifts of the Holy Spirit word search solution page.
• Gifts of the Holy Spirit crossword puzzle.
• Gifts of the Holy Spirit crossword puzzle solution page.
• A matching activity with the seven gifts and their definitions.
• A coloring page connected with Isaiah 11:1-3.
• A graphic organizer for taking notes during a lesson or video.
• Flashcard templates for memorizing the gifts.
• A personal reflection page about gifts already received.
• An exit card for listing the seven gifts from memory.

The words for the puzzle include the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

The crossword puzzle includes one clue for each of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Several of the gifts will be used as an answer again in the puzzle because there are clues that give an alternate name for one of the gifts and asks which gift that is.

Download and print this lovely, original coloring page by fine artist Joan Bratt to meditate on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in Isaiah 11:1-3.

This printable includes: one black & white coloring page with no labels, one matching activity with blanks for the labels, and one key in full color with labels.

Related Holy Spirit Activities for Children

The month of April is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and you can find all of my resources for living the liturgical year in April here.

Over the years, we have celebrated the Holy Spirit in a number of ways. We like to do fun Holy Spirit activities during Pentecost, when learning about Baptism, at Confirmation, and also when learning about the Trinity.

Fruits of the Spirit

The fruits of the Holy Spirit can be found in the Bible at Galatians 5:22-23, but did you know that Catholics have 3 extra fruits of the spirit?

You can find resources for all 12 fruits of the spirit for kids here. I even have a song for teaching kids the fruits of the spirit!

Gifts of the Spirit

There are 9 gifts of the holy spirit and they are a totally different thing than the fruits!

While the fruits are usually visually represented with fruit, the gifts of the holy spirit are often depicted as flames.

Pentecost and the Trinity

Celebrating Pentecost Sunday is a great way to live the liturgical year with your kids!

As the Holy Spirit is one of the divine persons of the Holy Trinity, you may also want to check out these Trinity resources for kids!

Dove Crafts

Because the Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove, any of these dove crafts would also be perfect for learning about the Holy Spirit with kids!

This dove handprint craft is perfect for preschoolers! Long term it will also serve as a keepsake.

This super easy paper plate dove craft is also fun for preschool! The kids love how the final version rocks.

For older kids, this paper plate dove craft is fun and really quite cute when completed.

Adapting the Activities for Different Ages

Although the focus may be on Confirmation, the activities can be used with a wide variety of ages, including Confirmation kids, elementary kids, and middle school kids.

Some ages are going to work their way through the word puzzles more quickly than others.

Nothing is effective than teaching kids at their own level!

• For younger children, use pictures, coloring, simple matching, and short verbal answers.
• For elementary students, use word searches, crossword puzzles, flashcards, drawing, and guided writing.
• For older students, use skits, journaling, Bible study, personal reflection, and group discussion.
• For mixed-age groups, let students choose from several activity options and pair older students with younger students when appropriate.

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