This lesson teaches children that God made the whole world, and He takes care of every creature in it. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, with time for questions and an activity.
Big Idea
God made everything, and He takes care of everything He made, including us. The whole world is His gift, and He gives us good things every day.
Memory Verse
Psalm 104:24
The LORD, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
(WEB)
Have children hold both arms out wide like a sunrise, then bring their hands together in front of their chest like a prayer. Say the verse together while you move, and do it three times so the words stick.
The Story: Psalm 104 for Kids
A long time ago, a man named David wrote a song to God. He looked up at the sky and said, “Lord, you are very great.” David saw the blue sky stretched out above him like a big tent. He saw clouds floating by like chariots, and wind moving through the trees.
David thought about how God made the earth. God set the mountains and the valleys in their places, and He put water in the springs. The springs run down through the valleys and bubble between the rocks. Wild donkeys drink from them, and birds sing in the branches above.
God also gives us food. He makes grass grow for animals to eat, and He helps plants grow for people. David said that God gives us bread that makes our hearts strong, and wine and oil that bring gladness. Every good thing comes from God’s hand.
David also saw the night and the day. God made the moon to mark the seasons and the sun to know when to rise and set. At night, the lions go out to hunt, and in the morning, people go off to work. Each creature has its own time, and God knows them all.
David looked at the big sea, too. It is wide and full of animals, large and small. Ships sail across it, and every creature waits on God for its food. When God opens His hand, they are filled with good things. David ended his song by saying, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.”
Read It Together
Psalm 104:14-15
14 He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth: 15 wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
(WEB)
Point out how God causes grass to grow for animals and plants for people to eat. Ask children to name foods they ate today and remind them that God is the one who made them grow.
Psalm 104:10-12
10 He sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains. 11 They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
(WEB)
Show how the springs flow down into the valleys and the birds nest in the trees. Help children picture a creek near their home and talk about the animals that visit it.
Psalm 104:19-20
19 He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
(WEB)
Explain that God made the moon and the sun and the night. Ask children what their favorite time of day is and how God’s care shows up at every hour.
Talk About It
- What is your favorite animal that God made, and what does it eat?
- What did David see when he looked up at the sky?
- How does God take care of you each day?
- What good things do you enjoy that come from the earth?
- How can you thank God for the world He made?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Created World
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw one thing God made, such as a mountain, a fish, a bird, or a tree. Then have them add a sun or moon in the sky and display the pictures together on a wall to show how big God’s world is.
Animal Movement Game
Clear a space in the room and call out different creatures from the psalm: birds, wild goats, lions, fish, and donkeys. Children act out each animal with a simple movement, such as flapping arms for birds or leaping for goats. Finish by having everyone freeze and say “God made you!” together.
Take-Home Thank You Jar
You will need a clean jar, paper slips, and a pen. Give each child a few slips to write or draw something God provided, like food, sunshine, or water. They place the slips in the jar at home and read a few aloud at dinner each week to remember God’s gifts.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 104 is a song of wonder that moves from creation to daily provision. It shows that God is both the powerful maker of the cosmos and the attentive sustainer of every creature. The psalm invites us to see the world as God’s ongoing gift and to live with gratitude and reverence.
With children, avoid overstating the science of how the earth was formed or how animals behave. Keep the focus on the psalm’s message that God made everything and cares for it. Let children wonder and ask questions rather than teaching a detailed account of creation.
A Prayer to Close
Lord God, thank you for making the sky, the mountains, the sea, and every animal. Thank you for the food we eat and the water we drink. Help us remember that you care for us every day, and help us care for the world you made. Amen.
