This lesson teaches children that God created the whole world by speaking, and that everything He made is very good. It suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, with a short story, a memory verse and a few activities.
Big Idea
God made everything, and He made it all good. He made the world with His words, and He took care to make it beautiful and full of life.
Memory Verse
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
(WEB)
Hold your arms wide like you are holding the whole world. Then slowly bring them together in front of your heart as you say the verse with the children, reminding them that God made everything that is.
The Story: Genesis 1 for Kids
In the very beginning, there was no sun, no sky, and no dry land. Everything was dark and empty, and the deep waters covered everything. But God was already there, and His Spirit moved over the waters like a bird hovering over its nest.
God spoke, and His first words were, “Let there be light.” Light shone out right away. God looked at the light and saw that it was good. Then He gave the day and the night their names, and the first day ended and a new morning began.
Over the next days, God kept making new things with His voice. He made the sky above, and He gathered the waters together so dry land could appear. Then He told the land to grow plants, trees and fruit. He also set the sun, moon and stars in the sky, to shine and mark the days and seasons.
On the fifth day God filled the seas with fish and filled the sky with birds. On the sixth day He made animals to live on the land. Then God said, “Let us make people in our image.” So He made a man and a woman, and He blessed them and gave them the care of the whole world.
At the end of the sixth day, God looked at everything He had made. It was very good. Then the seventh day began, and the story of creation was finished.
Read It Together
Genesis 1:3-4
3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.
(WEB)
Point out that God spoke first, and light came. Show how God looked at the light and said it was good, so children can see that God thinks about what He makes.
Genesis 1:26-27
26 God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
(WEB)
Explain that God made people in a special way, as His image. Help children see that every person has real worth because God made them on purpose.
Genesis 1:31
God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
(WEB)
Ask the children to say “very good” together. Point out that God looked at all He had made and called it very good, which means He was pleased with the world.
Talk About It
- What is your favorite thing God made, and why do you think He made it?
- How did God make the light, and what did He say first?
- Why do you think God made animals and plants that were different from each other?
- What does it mean that people are made in God’s image?
- How can you take care of the world that God made?
Activity Ideas
Six-Day Creation Drawing
Give each child a sheet of paper folded into six sections, and some crayons or markers. Ask them to draw one thing God made on each day, starting with light and ending with people and animals. Let them tell you about their pictures, and hang them up where everyone can see the whole week of creation.
God Said, Let There Be
Play a game where you call out things God made, like “Let there be fish!” The children wiggle like fish, flap like birds, or stretch like trees. Each time you say “God saw that it was good,” everyone gives a big thumbs up. Keep the pace lively for about five minutes.
Creation Jar at Home
Give each child a small jar, some paper scraps, and a pencil. Each day that week they write or draw one thing they see that God made, like a cloud, a pet or a flower, and drop it in the jar. On Sunday, read the slips together and thank God for each one.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that the world did not come from chance or from something competing with God. God made it by His word, in an orderly way, and He declared it good. It also shows that human beings bear God’s image and are given a role of caring for creation, not ruling it carelessly.
Be careful not to overstate how the days or the process of creation work in scientific terms when you teach children. Keep the focus on who God is and what He did, and let the questions of how and when stay open for older children and adults to explore later.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for making the whole world with Your words. Thank You for the light, the sky, the animals and the plants. Thank You for making us in Your image and for loving us so much. Help us take good care of everything You made. Amen.
