This lesson teaches children that Noah obeyed God when everyone around him did not, and that God keeps His promises. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, questions and one activity.
Big Idea
God sees what is good and what is wrong, and He helps the people who trust and obey Him. Noah did what God asked, even when it was hard.
Memory Verse
Genesis 6:22
Thus Noah did. He did all that God commanded him.
(WEB)
Hold both arms out wide like a boat. Then bring your hands together in front of your chest, as if you are doing exactly what someone asked you to do. Say the verse together while you move.
The Story: Genesis 6 for Kids
Long ago, people began to live all over the earth. Many of them did not love God. They did wrong things, and the land was full of trouble and fighting. God looked at the people and felt very sad about how they had turned away from Him.
But there was one good man named Noah. Noah loved God and walked with Him every day. While everyone else was doing wrong, Noah kept doing what was right. God noticed him, and God was pleased with Noah’s faithful heart.
God spoke to Noah and said, “I am going to bring a great flood to the earth. But you will build a big boat called an ark, and you will be safe inside it with your family.” God gave Noah clear instructions about how long, how wide and how tall the boat should be. God also told him to bring animals inside, two of every kind, a male and a female.
Noah did not stop to ask why it was hard or whether anyone would laugh at him. He got right to work. Day after day he built the ark, just as God had told him. He gathered food for his family and for all the animals.
When the ark was finished, Noah walked inside with his wife, his three sons and their wives, and the animals came to him. God shut the door behind them. Then the rain began to fall, and God kept Noah and his family safe through the whole storm.
The lesson is simple. Noah trusted God, and God took care of Noah. When you obey God, even when it is hard, you can trust Him to keep you safe.
Read It Together
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the LORD’s eyes.
(WEB)
Point out that Noah was not perfect, but God looked on him with kindness. Explain that God chooses people who love Him, and that God’s favor is a gift. Ask children to notice the word “favor” and talk about what it means to be loved by God.
Genesis 6:9
This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God.
(WEB)
Show children how Noah is described in this verse. Point out that he walked with God, which means he spent time with God every day. Ask how they can walk with God in their own lives, through prayer, reading and kind actions.
Genesis 6:14
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
(WEB)
Help children picture the ark being built. Explain that God gave Noah very detailed instructions, and Noah followed them carefully. Remind children that when God gives us directions in His Word, we can follow them like Noah did.
Talk About It
- What do you think it felt like for Noah to build a big boat when no one had ever seen rain like that before?
- Why do you think Noah kept doing the right thing even when other people did wrong?
- What is one thing God asks you to do that can be hard, and how can you ask Him for help?
- How do you think Noah’s family felt when they walked into the ark and the door closed?
- What are some ways you can show God that you trust Him this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Ark Craft
You will need a paper plate, brown and blue crayons or markers, scissors, glue and a few small paper animal cutouts. Fold the paper plate in half to make a boat shape and color the outside brown. Glue the animals on the inside, two of each kind, and draw a blue wave along the bottom. As you work, tell children that Noah followed God’s plan step by step, just like they are following yours.
Follow the Leader Obedience Game
Gather the children in an open space and call out simple actions like “hop three times,” “touch your nose” or “turn around.” Children must do exactly what you say, not what they think is fun. Afterward, explain that Noah obeyed God’s instructions every time, and ask children why listening carefully matters.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need an index card, a pencil and a small object like a sticker or button. Ask each child to write or draw one way they will obey God this week, then tape the sticker to the card. Encourage them to show the card to a parent at home and talk together about the promise. Remind children that God helps them keep their promises too.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows a world marked by deep wickedness and God’s grief over it, yet it also shows His grace toward Noah. Noah’s faithfulness is not based on his own goodness alone but on God’s favor and his willingness to walk with God. The account also points forward to God’s covenant promise and His care for creation and His people.
With children, avoid suggesting that the flood is a simple story about bad children being punished, or that God is unkind. Keep the focus on Noah’s trust and God’s faithfulness, and let the mystery of God’s judgment remain something to talk about gently with older children.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for loving us and keeping us safe. Help us to listen to You and obey You, like Noah did, even when it is hard. Help us walk with You every day. Amen.
