Teach Kids About Passover: Pre-K and Kindergarten Lesson
Are you looking for an age-appropriate way to teach kids about Passover? Try this simple lesson for pre-K and kindergarten kids. Through a game, experiential lesson, and engaging Bible-memory activity, kids will walk away knowing that God takes care of them.
You’ll Need
Introduce the Passover Lesson: Play a Game
Play a version of London Bridge, but encourage kids to rush under the bridge to safety before it falls down. Play several rounds, and at the end of the last round, have everyone join in a group hug.
Say: Like you rushed to safety in our game, when trouble comes, we can always rush to God. He’s our friend who loves us no matter what. We showed God’s love with a group hug to celebrate that God takes care of us.
Today, we’re going to learn about a story that we call Passover. As we hear that story from the Bible, we’ll discover that God takes care of us!
Teach Kids About Passover
Introduce the Story
Hold up a Bible.
Say: Our Bible story tells about how God took care of his people, the Israelites. And we’ll find out God takes care of us.
The Israelites were God’s special people, and he had good plans for them. But at the beginning of our story, things were very hard for them. They were working for people called Egyptians who were very mean to them. But God was going to rescue his people.
Have kids and leaders break into smaller discussion groups and sit in knee-to-knee circles.
Ask:
- Tell about someone who rescues or helps people when they’re in trouble.
Have leaders give thumbs-up when everyone has shared
Say: These rescuers help and take care of people when they’re in trouble. In our Bible story, God decided to rescue his people and move them out of Egypt.
For now, God’s people were stuck in Egypt with no way out. Do something with me:
- Push classroom chairs together to form a tight circle.
- Have everyone gather and sit closely together inside the circle with no way out. If you have a large group, make several circles.
Say: We’re stuck. We can’t get out by ourselves! We need someone to rescue us.
Have everyone shout “Help us!” several times
Say: God heard his people. God told the Israelites’ leader, Moses, to tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go.
Chant “Let God’s people go!” 10 times and pump fists.
Say: Did Pharaoh listen? Let’s read and find out!
Teach About the Plagues
Read aloud Exodus 11:9.
Say: The Egyptian leader, Pharaoh, didn’t want God’s people to move out of Egypt. But God is stronger than Pharaoh. God showed his amazing power and sent plagues to Egypt. Plagues were terrible things that caused a lot of harm.
- There were bugs. Let’s buzz like bugs.
- There was darkness. Let’s close our eyes tight.
- And there was even sickness. It was very sad.
These plagues showed God’s power. God loved his people so much that he would rescue them and take care of them. God loves us, too. And God takes care of us.
Learn About God Showing Care Through Passover
Say: The last plague was the worst. But God gave special instructions to his people so they would be safe. God took good care of them. Let’s listen to God’s directions and pretend to get ready. There were five things they had to do. Let’s count them on our fingers.
- Hold up one finger. One: get a special lamb.
- Hold up two fingers. Two: wait 14 days. Count to 14.
- Hold up three fingers. Three: paint over the doorway so God will know his people live there.
- Hold up four fingers. Four: make a special meal. Rub your tummies like you’re hungry.
- Hold up five fingers. Five: get dressed and ready to go. Pretend to put on a coat and gather blankets, teddy bears, and other household things.
Did God’s people follow his directions? Let’s read and find out
Read aloud Exodus 12:28.
Say: God’s people followed his instructions, and that night, when the last plague came, the Israelites were safe. God took care of them.
Pharaoh was sad and mad, and he wanted God’s people to leave. He said, “Get out of here!” and God’s people were ready to go. We’re ready to move out of here, too!
- Move one chair, and have everyone leave the circle and return to their seats.
- As everyone moves, have them skip and jump and celebrate being free.
Say: It must’ve been scary, but God rescued the Israelites and helped them move out of Egypt. God took care of them, and God takes care of us.
Discuss God’s Care for Kids
Ask:
- Tell about a time you were scared but someone took care of you.
Take a few kids’ answers.
Say: God loves you, and God takes care of you. He gives you people to help you when you’re in need. And God takes care of you and finds a way for you to get the things you need.
Pray, thanking God for how he takes care of each child.
This lesson is adapted from Group’s Simply Loved curriculum, which guides preschool and elementary-age kids to know and love God—it’s that simple!
Are you looking for Holy Week lessons, too? Check out these activities!
