The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth because their hearts were full of evil. He decided to wipe mankind, animals and other creatures from the face of the earth. Noah was a righteous man, in whom God found favor. He gave Noah very specific directions to build an ark. He told him exactly how long, wide and high to make it. He told him what kind of wood to use and how to divide the space.
God gave Noah instructions for his family to go inside the ark (He had three sons, Ham, Shem and Japheth.) He told him to take seven of every kind of clean animal, male and female and two of every kind of unclean animal, male and female, into the ark. Noah did all God commanded him, then the Lord shut him in.
For forty days, it rained. The waters rose 20 ft. above the mountains and the ark floated on the surface of the water. The water flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. (Note that the flood waters remained, even after it stopped raining. Oftentimes, this story is taught as if the total time on the ark were 40 days and 40 nights.) At the end of the 150 days, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.
Noah opened the window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. He waited 7 more days until the dove returned with an olive leaf. After 7 more days, he sent the dove out again. This time it did not return.
Noah, his family and all the animals came out of the ark. Noah built an altar to the Lord. The Lord created a covenant, or agreement, that he would never destroy all life with a flood again. He set a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of the covenant for all generations to come.
What is the biggest job you have ever had to do? We are going to read today about a man who was given a really big task.
For younger children, read the story from a Children's storybook Bible so they get a summary of the entire story.
For older children, read the story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or you can tell the story yourself (using the "Story Summary" from above as a guide). If you tell the story yourself, make sure you fully understand the story prior to class time.
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud: (choose several, depending on the size of your class) Genesis 5:32, Genesis 6:5-8, Genesis 7:1-5, Ge
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
Scripture Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you. Genesis 6:20
Scripture So make yourself an ark out of cypress wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out. Genesis 6:14
Supplies straw for each student, large tub of water, paper, plastic or aluminum boats
Scripture So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is the sign of my covenant. I have made my covenant between me and all life on earth." Genesis 9:17
Supplies clear glass with water, sunshine
Heads up! This activity is more fun with a large group of students.
Scripture Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you. Genesis 6:20
Scripture So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is the sign of my covenant. I have made my covenant between me and all life on earth." Genesis 9:17
Supplies paper plates, colored streamers, glue, cotton balls
Scripture Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you. Genesis 6:20
Supplies Animal cards (download at link below), prizes for winners
Scripture Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you. Genesis 6:20
Scripture The waters rose higher and higher on the earth. And the ark floated on the water. Genesis 7:18
Supplies tub, water, small toys or objects that will float and sink
Scripture They had every kind of wild animal with them. They had every kind of livestock. They had every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And they had every kind of bird that flies. Genesis 7:14
Supplies Mobile device or computer, website with animal sounds
Scripture I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13
Supplies Fruit loop candy, paper with lines in shape of rainbow, one per student, glue
Scripture Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you. Genesis 6:20
Heads up! Don't use liquid glue as it tends to disintegrate the cookies.
Scripture They had every kind of wild animal with them. They had every kind of livestock. They had every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And they had every kind of bird that flies. Pairs of all living creatures that breathe came to Noah and entered the ark. Genesis 7:14-15
Supplies card stock with printed ark, animal crackers, glue dots, crayons
Scripture They had every kind of wild animal with them. Genesis 7:14
Scripture In the evening the dove returned to him. There in its beak was a freshly picked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the water on the earth had gone down. Genesis 8:11
Supplies small tree branch
Scripture So make yourself an ark out of cypress wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out. Genesis 6:14
Supplies large boxes, stuffed animals or small plastic animals
Scripture So make yourself an ark out of cypress wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out. Genesis 6:14
Supplies mobile device, computer or printed instructions, paper cut into squares
Scripture So make yourself an ark out of cypress wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out. Genesis 6:14
Supplies index card for each student, paper clips, aluminum foil, cut into pieces for each student
Scripture I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13
Supplies Crayon shavings, wax paper, iron, cloth
Scripture So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is the sign of my covenant. I have made my covenant between me and all life on earth." Genesis 9:17
Scripture Here is how I want you to build it. The ark has to be 450 feet long. It has to be 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Genesis 6:15
Scripture Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you. Genesis 6:20
Supplies Animals cards (download at link below)