Esther Becomes Queen 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 was watching over Esther.”
Esther was a young Jewish girl. She was very beautiful. She had no father and no mother. Her cousin Mordecai took care of her, as if she were his own daughter. God was watching over Esther.
Esther had a second name too. It was Hadassah. That is the name of a little tree with white flowers and sweet-smelling leaves.
Mordecai’s family had been taken far away from Jerusalem, long before. Now they lived in the city of Susa, where the great king lived.
The king’s name was Ahasuerus. He ruled over a very big kingdom – from India all the way to Ethiopia! First he showed everyone his riches for one hundred eighty days. That is half a year! Then he made a great feast in his palace garden. It lasted seven days.
There were white and blue curtains. There were golden cups and couches of gold and silver. The floor was made of shiny stone – red, white, yellow and black. Can you name all the colors? Red, white, yellow, black!
The king sent for Queen Vashti. But Queen Vashti would not come. The king was very angry. So Vashti could not be queen anymore.
Later the king’s servants said, “Let’s look for a new queen.” So many young women were brought to the palace. Esther was one of them. Mordecai told her not to tell anyone that she was Jewish. And Esther listened to Mordecai.
Every day Mordecai walked by the women’s house. He wanted to know how Esther was doing. Can you walk in place, like Mordecai walking by?
A man named Hegai took care of the young women. Esther pleased him, and he was kind to her. He gave her good food. He gave her seven helpers and the best place to live. Everyone who saw Esther liked her. God was watching over Esther.
Each young woman got ready for a whole year. They used sweet-smelling oils and perfumes. Mmm! Can you sniff the air, like smelling a flower?
Then it was Esther’s turn to meet the king. She did not ask for anything special. She took only what Hegai told her to take.
The king loved Esther more than all the others. He set the royal crown on her head. And he made her queen! Can you put a pretend crown on your head? God was watching over Esther.
The king made a great feast for her. It was called Esther’s feast. He gave everyone a holiday, and gifts too.
One day Mordecai was sitting by the king’s gate. He found out that two of the king’s doorkeepers were angry. Their names were Bigthan and Teresh. They wanted to hurt the king! Mordecai told Queen Esther. And Esther told the king, in Mordecai’s name.
So the king was kept safe. It was all written down in the king’s book. Later, that book would be very important.
A girl with no father or mother became a queen. God is a father to the fatherless. God was watching over Esther.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Esther felt when the king put the crown on her head?
- Who takes care of you, like Mordecai took care of Esther?
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)
Color the crown, and the 7 helpers who were given to Esther.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“He set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen” — Esther 2:17 (the royal crown → hands make a crown; on her head → hands on your head; made her queen → sit up tall and proud)
Dear God, thank you for the people who take care of me. Thank you that you watch over me. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God places you where you belong
Memory verse: “He set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” — Esther 2:17 · WEB
The Bible story
A brave orphan girl named Esther is chosen from all the land to become queen, and God has a very special plan for her all along.
Talk about it
- In which land did this story take place? — Persia
- What was the name of the mighty king? — Xerxes
- What was the king looking for? — A new queen
- Who had raised Esther like his own daughter? — Her cousin Mordecai
- Why did Esther have no mother or father? — She was an orphan
- What secret did Mordecai ask Esther to keep? — She was one of God's people
Where is Jesus in this story?
Esther had lost her father and mother, and her cousin Mordecai raised her as his own daughter (Esther 2:7). God took care of this orphan girl and gave her a place in the palace. Through Jesus, God does something even bigger: everyone who receives Jesus is given “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). In Him, no one has to be without a family.
What God wants to tell us
Esther started as an ordinary orphan girl, yet God had a wonderful plan for her all along. Sometimes we may feel small or wonder if anyone notices us, but God sees each of us and knows exactly where He wants us to be. Just like Esther, you are precious to God, and He can use you for something good, even when you don't understand it yet. You can trust that He is always working quietly for your good, watching over every step you take.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me just as I am. Thank You that You have a special plan for my life, even when I feel small. Help me to be kind and brave like Esther, and to trust that You are always watching over me. Amen.
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