Noah & the Ark Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Free, Ages 3–6)
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 kept Noah safe in the ark.”
Noah was a good man. Noah walked with God. That means Noah stayed close to God every day. Noah had a wife and three sons. Their names were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
But the other people on the earth did bad things. They hurt each other. The earth was full of fighting. This made God sad in his heart.
God said to Noah, “I will bring the flood of waters on this earth.” A flood is so much water that it covers the land. But God would save Noah and his family. God said, “Make a ship.” The ship was the ark – a very, very big boat.
God told Noah just how to build it. It must have rooms inside. It must have a roof on top and a door in the side. It must have three floors, one on top of the other. And Noah must cover it with pitch – sticky stuff that keeps the water out.
Noah’s family would go inside. And the animals too! God said, “Bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive.” Noah must take food along too, for his family and for all the animals.
So Noah got to work. Bang, bang, bang! Can you hammer like Noah? Noah did all that God told him.
Then God said, “Come with all of your household into the ship.” In seven days, the rain would come.
And the animals came, two by two. Big animals and small animals. Birds and creeping things. Noah and his family went in too. Then the LORD shut the door. God kept Noah safe in the ark.
Pitter, patter! The rain came down. Water came up from deep under the ground too. It rained for forty days and forty nights.
The water went up, up, up. It lifted up the ark. The ark floated on top of the water. The water covered even the high mountains. Only Noah and those with him in the ark were saved. God kept Noah safe in the ark.
Then God remembered Noah and all the animals. God made a wind blow over the earth. Can you blow like the wind? Whoosh! The rain stopped. Slowly, slowly the water went down. The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.
Noah opened the window. First he sent out a raven, a big black bird. It flew back and forth. Then Noah sent out a dove. But the dove found no place to rest her feet. There was still water everywhere. So she came back. Noah put out his hand and took her in.
Noah waited seven more days. Then he sent the dove out again. In the evening, the dove came back. And look! In her mouth was a fresh olive leaf! Now Noah knew the water was going away.
Noah waited seven more days. He sent the dove out one more time. What do you think happened? This time, she did not come back.
Noah took the cover off the ark and looked. The ground was dry! God said, “Go out of the ship.” Out came Noah and his family. Out came all the animals! God kept Noah safe in the ark.
Noah built an altar and worshiped the LORD. An altar is a place to bring gifts to God. And God said, “Summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” That means they will never stop.
Then God made a promise. “There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “I set my rainbow in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember.” Can you draw a big rainbow in the air?
Now the day is over, and it is night. Morning will come again, just as God said. God always remembers his promise. God kept Noah safe in the ark.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Noah felt when the dove came back with a leaf?
- Which animals would you like to see walking into the ark?
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)
Two by two! Color 2 elephants, 2 giraffes, and 2 birds going into the ark.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“I set my rainbow in the cloud” — Genesis 9:13 (I set → point up to the sky; rainbow → draw a big arch in the air; in the cloud → hands up high, soft and round)
Dear God, thank you for keeping Noah safe. Thank you for the rainbow and your promise. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God keeps His promises — every single one.
Memory verse: “I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.” — Genesis 9:13 · WEB
The Bible story
God saw a broken world — but He had a rescue plan, and a promise that still shines in the sky today.
Talk about it
- Why did God choose Noah? — He loved God
- What did God tell Noah to build? — An ark (big boat)
- How many of most animals came onto the ark? — Two
- What fell for forty days and nights? — Rain
- What bird did Noah send to look for dry land? — A dove
- What did the dove bring back? — An olive leaf
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus Himself pointed back to Noah. He said that when He comes again, it will be like the days of Noah: people busy with everyday life and not ready (Matthew 24:37–39). Noah's family was safe because they went into the ark God provided. In the same way, God invites you to be safe with Jesus, who promised to come back for His people.
What God wants to tell us
Noah waited a long time, but God never forgot him. When life feels stormy, you can hold on to this: God is faithful. He kept Noah safe, and He keeps you close too. The rainbow still reminds us that God's love does not give up.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for keeping Noah safe, and for keeping me safe too. When I feel afraid, help me to trust You like Noah did. Thank You that You always keep Your promises. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
