Object Lesson | Peel and Sink
Lesson Topic: Holiness, Godly Living, Obedience, and Making Right Choices
Main Point: God calls us to live holy lives and make choices that please Him. Just as an orange’s peel helps it float, the biblical principles and godly guidance we follow can help protect us from influences that would pull us away from God.
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15–16
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Lesson Overview
Can you make one orange float and another orange sink in water? This simple but surprising science demonstration provides a memorable way to teach children about holiness, obedience, and the importance of making godly choices.
Using two ordinary oranges and two containers of water, you’ll show how two oranges that appear nearly identical can behave very differently. The secret is in the peel!
As you tell the story of two children who grew up in church, you’ll use the oranges to illustrate the difference between someone who chooses to follow God’s Word and someone who gradually begins ignoring the principles they’ve been taught.
This object lesson is especially effective for teaching children that holiness isn’t simply about following rules because their parents or teachers tell them to. As they grow older, they must develop their own commitment to living for God and making choices that honor Him.
Supplies Needed
- Two oranges of approximately the same size
- Two clear containers large enough to hold the oranges
- Water
- Towel for spills
- Bible
- Optional: Extra oranges for testing
Preparation
Before class, fill both clear containers with enough water for an orange to float freely.
Test your oranges ahead of time to make sure the demonstration will work as expected. Smaller Valencia-style oranges often work well.
Begin by placing both unpeeled oranges in water. They should float because the peel contains tiny air pockets that contribute to the orange’s buoyancy.
Next, peel one orange completely and return it to the water. In many cases, the peeled orange will sink because removing the peel also removes much of the trapped air that helped it float.
However, not every orange behaves exactly the same way. Some peeled oranges may continue floating because of differences in size, density, or trapped air. If necessary, try another orange, remove excess loose pith or the center plug, and allow trapped air bubbles to escape.
Once you’ve found two oranges that produce the desired result, set them aside for the lesson. Begin the presentation with both oranges unpeeled so the children can watch the demonstration unfold.
Teacher Tip: The effectiveness of this lesson depends on the contrast between the floating and sinking oranges. Always test the demonstration before presenting it to your class!
How to Teach the Object Lesson
Step 1: Meet the Two Oranges
Begin by holding up both oranges where the children can see them.
Explain that today you’re going to tell them about two children who grew up in church. For the illustration, we’ll call them Tim and Jerry, although you can use any names you prefer.
Hold up the first orange.
“This is Tim. Tim grew up going to Sunday School, learning Bible verses, and hearing about the importance of living for God.”
Hold up the second orange.
“And this is Jerry. Jerry grew up in church too! He heard the same Bible lessons, attended the same services, and learned many of the same things about serving Jesus.”
Show the children that both oranges look very similar.
Ask:
“Do you think these two oranges will float or sink when I put them in water?”
Allow the children to make predictions.
Place one orange into each container of water. Both should float.
“Look at that! They’re both floating! Right now, they seem to be doing exactly the same thing. But as Tim and Jerry get older, they’re going to start making some different choices.”
Step 2: Tim Chooses to Live for God
Point to the first orange.
“Tim has been taught the importance of living a holy life. His parents have taught him about God’s Word, and his Sunday School teachers have explained why Christians should live differently from the world.”
“But something important happens as Tim gets older. He begins to understand that he needs to live for God because HE loves Jesus, not just because his parents tell him to!”
Explain that Tim decides to continue following the biblical principles he’s been taught.
He chooses friends who encourage him to do right. He’s careful about the things he watches and listens to. He wants his words and actions to honor God.
Lift Tim’s orange out of the water briefly and show the children that the peel is still intact.
“Tim has decided that the principles he’s been taught are worth keeping. He understands that God’s instructions are for his good!”
Place the orange back into the water and allow it to continue floating.
Step 3: Jerry Begins Making Different Choices
Now turn your attention to the second orange.
“Jerry grew up learning many of the same things as Tim. But as he gets older, he begins to make some different decisions.”
Pick up Jerry’s orange and begin peeling it slowly.
“One day, Jerry decides that he doesn’t need to listen to some of the things he’s been taught. He starts spending time with friends who encourage him to do things he knows are wrong.”
Remove a section of the peel.
“Then Jerry begins watching things he knows aren’t pleasing to God. Instead of turning them off, he decides it doesn’t really matter.”
Remove another section.
“Before long, Jerry starts talking differently. He begins using words and telling jokes that don’t honor God.”
Continue peeling the orange.
“Jerry tells himself, ‘It’s not that big of a deal. Everybody else is doing it. Why should I be any different?'”
Remove another section of peel.
“Little by little, Jerry is making choices that take him farther away from the way God wants him to live.”
Continue until the orange is completely peeled.
Hold up the peeled orange beside the unpeeled one.
“Look at these two oranges now! They started out looking almost exactly the same, but something has changed!”
Step 4: Will They Sink or Float?
Hold up both oranges and ask the children:
“Now that Jerry has lost his peel, do you think he’ll still float like Tim?”
Allow the children to make predictions.
Place Tim’s unpeeled orange into the first container and Jerry’s peeled orange into the second.
If your demonstration has been prepared correctly, Tim will float while Jerry sinks.
Pause and allow the children to react.
“Wow! Look at the difference! Tim is still floating, but Jerry has sunk to the bottom!”
Explain the science behind what happened.
An orange’s peel contains tiny air pockets that help the fruit float. When the peel is removed, much of that trapped air is removed as well. Depending on the orange’s density, it may no longer be able to float.
Point out that the change didn’t happen because the oranges were placed in different kinds of water. The difference was what happened to the oranges themselves.
Then transition into the spiritual application.
Step 5: The Importance of Holiness
Read 1 Peter 1:15–16:
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Explain that God calls His people to live holy lives.
Holiness means being set apart for God and seeking to please Him in the way we live. It affects our attitudes, actions, words, entertainment, appearance, and the choices we make every day.
Just as the orange’s peel helped it float, the biblical principles we follow provide important guidance in our lives.
God’s instructions aren’t intended to make our lives miserable. They teach us how to live in a way that honors Him and helps us avoid things that can harm us spiritually.
Remind the children that making one wrong choice doesn’t mean God has abandoned us or that we can never recover. When we make mistakes, we can repent, seek His forgiveness, and turn back to Him.
The orange demonstration is a picture of the importance of godly choices, not a claim that Christians will never experience difficulties. Even people who faithfully serve God face trials and challenges.
The important thing is that we continue following Jesus and trusting His Word.
Bringing the Lesson Home
Hold up the two oranges one final time.
Explain that both Tim and Jerry grew up hearing the same teaching, but they eventually had to decide for themselves how they would live.
It’s wonderful to have parents, pastors, and Sunday School teachers who teach us God’s Word. But as we grow older, we must make our own commitment to following Jesus.
We shouldn’t live holy lives simply because someone is watching us or because we’re afraid of getting in trouble.
We should want to please God because we love Him!
Ask the children to think about the choices they make when nobody is around to remind them what is right.
What do they watch when they’re alone? How do they speak when their parents aren’t listening? What kinds of friends influence their decisions? Are they willing to stand for what’s right even when others are making different choices?
Explain that living for God involves making faithful decisions in both the big things and the small things.
Remind the children that holiness is not merely about outward behavior. It begins with a heart that loves God and desires to obey His Word. Our outward choices should reflect that inward commitment.
