LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Genesis 6:5–7:16, the world had become filled with wickedness. People were making sinful choices and had turned away from God. But one man, Noah, stood apart. He loved God, walked with God, and chose to obey Him even when no one else did. God saw Noah’s faithfulness and gave him very specific instructions — build a large ark, gather his family, and bring two of every kind of animal — because a great flood was coming to cover the earth.
This lesson teaches young children that God’s instructions are always good and that obeying God is always the right choice. Noah did not fully understand everything God told him, but he trusted God and obeyed step by step. For preschoolers, the key truth is simple: when God tells us to do something, we should do it — just like Noah did. Obedience brings blessing, safety, and closeness with God.
PLAY ROOM 10:15–10:30
Children will be dropped off in the playroom between 10:15–10:30 a.m. Allow them to play freely as they arrive. You may set out toy animals or building blocks to spark interest in today’s lesson. Transition children to the classroom at 10:30 a.m.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:30–10:45 | Make a Rainbow
Items Needed
- Rainbow Craft Template
- Water Colors
- Cups of Water
- Paper Towels
Invite the children to work together to build a big boat — an ark — using the blocks. Show them the picture of the ark and encourage them to make their structure big enough to hold the toy animals. As they build, talk with them: “Noah had to build a very big boat. God told him exactly how to do it. Noah listened and obeyed!”
Best practice tip: Encourage teamwork by asking children to take turns placing blocks. This reinforces the lesson theme of following instructions.
WORSHIP IN SONG 10:45–10:55
PRAYER 10:55–11:05
“Dear God, thank You for loving us so much. Thank You for the Bible and for giving us good instructions to follow. Help us to listen to You and obey You every day. We love You, God. Amen.”
Allow kids to go around the circle and pray as they feel led.
BIBLE STORY 11:05–11:15
Where does our story come from? Old Testament
What book? Genesis
Today our story is about a man named Noah.
“Noah loved God. Noah walked with God every single day. God saw that Noah was different from everyone else.”
“So God came to Noah and said, ‘Noah, I need you to build a big, big boat. It is called an ARK.'” [Stretch arms wide to show how big.]
“God gave Noah very special instructions. He told him exactly how long to make it, how wide to make it, and how tall to make it. It was going to be ENORMOUS.”
“And do you know what Noah did? Did he say, ‘No, I don’t want to’?” [Shake head no. Let kids respond.]
“Noah obeyed! He got right to work. His sons helped him too. They built and built and built.” [Pretend to hammer. Let kids pretend to hammer too.]
“When the ark was all done, God said, ‘Now bring the animals — two of every kind!’ There were elephants and lions, birds and bears, little bugs and tall giraffes. Two by two, the animals walked right into the ark.” [Walk fingers together like animals marching two by two.]
“Noah and his whole family walked in too. And then — God closed the door.” [Clap hands together like a door shutting.]
“Noah obeyed God. And God kept Noah and his family safe.”
“Can you say that with me? ‘NOAH OBEYED GOD!'” [Let kids repeat it together. Do it two or three times.]
THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS
- Who told Noah to build the ark? (God)
- Why did Noah obey God even though it was hard? (Because he loved God and trusted Him)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- What is one way you can obey God this week? (Being kind, sharing, listening to parents)
- How do you feel when you do what God says? (Happy, safe, good inside)
BIBLE CRAFT 11:15–11:30 | Noah’s Ark Mobile
Items Needed
- Noah’s Ark Mobile Template
- Yarn
- Crayons or Markers
- Tape
Give each child their ark mobile template pieces to color. You can either pre-string them together or you can use this as a lesson where kids color their rainbow and ark. Then they take turns picking animals (precut and sections in ZipLock bags and taped to the wall) to add to their ark mobile. You can tape the animals to the string (faster than having to tie string).
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 11:30–11:40
Pass out snacks and allow kids to eat while watching the Bible story video.
BIBLE STORY GAME 11:40–11:55 | Animal Pairs Egg Hunt
Items Needed
- Plastic Animal Easter eggs (two of each animal)
- A decorated box or basket labeled “THE ARK”
Before class, hide the eggs around the room. At game time, tell the children: “The animals need to go into the ark two by two — just like God told Noah! Can you find the matching pairs and bring them to the ark?”
Children hunt for eggs, find the matching pairs, and place them together into the ark basket. Have children look for matches one at a time.
Best practice tip: For younger or smaller groups, scatter the eggs in plain sight rather than hiding them. Keep the focus on matching and marching to the ark.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Animal Name Ball Game
Items Needed
- A bouncy ball
Children sit or stand in a circle. One child bounces the ball to another and calls out: “Noah brought a ___!” (naming an animal). The child who catches it makes that animal’s sound, then bounces it to someone new and names a different animal. Keep it moving and keep it silly!
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | Genesis 6:5–8; 6:13–14, 22; 7:1, 5, 9, 16 (ESV)
Genesis 6:5–8 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:13–14 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood.”
Genesis 6:22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
Genesis 7:1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.”
Genesis 7:5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
Genesis 7:9 Two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:16b And the Lord shut him in.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Lesson: Noah Obeyed God Scripture: Genesis 6:5–7:16
What We Learned: Today we learned about Noah, a man who loved God and obeyed Him even when no one else did. God gave Noah special instructions to build a big boat called an ark. Noah trusted God and did everything God told him to do, and God kept Noah, his family, and all the animals safe.
Talk About It:
THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS
- Who is the only one who knew a flood was coming? (God)
- Why did God choose Noah? (Because Noah loved God and obeyed Him)
- Who told Noah exactly how to build the ark? (God)
- What does it mean that Noah “walked with God”? (He loved God, talked to God, and tried to obey God every day)
- Who closed the door of the ark when everyone was safe inside? (God)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- Can you think of a time when you obeyed even when it was hard? (Answers will vary)
- How can we follow God’s instructions at home? (By being kind, telling the truth, obeying our parents)
- What do we do when we don’t understand why God says something? (We trust Him, just like Noah did)
- Where can we find God’s instructions for our lives? (In the Bible)
- How does it make you feel to know that God takes care of the people who trust and obey Him? (Answers will vary)