The Valley of Dry Bones Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God can make dry bones live!”
Ezekiel was a prophet – a man who told people God’s words. God’s people were far from home, in the land of Babylon. They were very sad. They said, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost.” So God gave Ezekiel a picture to show them.
The Spirit of the LORD took Ezekiel to a valley. A valley is a low, wide place between hills. The valley was full of bones. God can make dry bones live!
God led Ezekiel all around the bones. Step, step, step. There were very many bones, and they were very dry. Old, dry bones, lying all over the ground. They were very still. Nothing moved.
God asked, “Son of man, can these bones live?” What would you say? Ezekiel answered, “Lord GOD, you know.”
To prophesy means to speak God’s words. God said, “Prophesy over these bones. Tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear the LORD’s word.’”
This was God’s message for the bones. “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you. You will live. I will cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
So Ezekiel spoke, just as God said. Then something wonderful happened! There was a noise, and the ground shook! Rumble, rumble! Then the bones came together, bone to its bone. Clack, clack, clack! God can make dry bones live!
Ezekiel looked. He saw it all with his own eyes. Sinews came on the bones. Sinews are like strong strings that hold our bones together. Then muscles and skin came on them. Muscles make us strong. Skin covers us like a coat. Now they looked like people. But they were not breathing yet.
God said, “Prophesy to the wind.” So Ezekiel called, “Come from the four winds, breath. Breathe on these, that they may live.” The four winds come from north, south, east and west. Can you point to all four sides?
Whoosh! The breath came into them! They lived, and stood up on their feet – a very great army. There were so many people! God can make dry bones live!
Can you take a big, deep breath? Breathe in. Breathe out. Can you feel the air go in and out? Now stand up tall, like the great army!
Then God told what the picture meant. “These bones are the whole house of Israel.” God’s people felt dry and without hope, like those old bones.
But God said, “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land.” God would bring his people home, to their own land!
Every breath we take is a gift from God. God gives breath and new life and new hope to his people. God can make dry bones live!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think Ezekiel felt when the bones stood up?
- What does it feel like to take a big, deep breath?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw the people standing up in the valley, full of new life.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.” — Ezekiel 37:14 (my Spirit → blow out softly; in you → hands on your chest; you will live → jump up)
Dear God, thank you for my breath. Thank you that you give new life and new hope. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God brings new hope to life
Memory verse: “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.” — Ezekiel 37:14 · WEB
The Bible story
God takes His prophet Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and shows him the most amazing thing: that He can bring new life and hope to anything!
Talk about it
- What did the dry bones stand for in God's picture? — God's people, Israel
- Who did God lift up and take to the valley? — Ezekiel
- What did Ezekiel see all over the valley? — Bones everywhere
- What question did God ask Ezekiel? — Can these bones live again?
- What did God tell Ezekiel to do first? — Speak to the bones
- What sound happened when Ezekiel spoke? — A rattling sound
Where is Jesus in this story?
In the valley, God's breath brought dry bones back to life. On the evening of the first Easter, the risen Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Jesus, who came out of his own tomb, still gives his life-giving Spirit today, making hearts that feel dry and hopeless truly alive with God.
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes we can feel tired, sad, or as empty as dry old bones, as if our hope has all dried up. But this story shows us something wonderful about God: nothing is ever too far gone for Him. Just as He gathered the bones and breathed fresh life into them, God can fill our hearts with new hope, comfort, and strength when we feel low. He never gives up on His people, and His gentle love can make things new again.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You that You never give up on me, even when I feel tired or sad. Thank You that You can bring new hope and life to anything. Please fill my heart with Your love and help me trust You every day. Amen.
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