Genesis 8 teaches children that God remembered Noah and his family and kept His promise to bring them safely out of the flood. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the memory verse, and the activity.
Big Idea
God always remembers His promises, and He keeps His people safe even when the storm is very big and scary.
Memory Verse
Genesis 8:1
God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided.
(WEB)
Have children cup both hands together like a boat, then slowly rock them side to side as they say the verse. On the word “remembered,” tap your forehead gently, so the children learn that God never forgets His people.
The Story: Genesis 8 for Kids
Noah and his family had been inside the big ship for a very long time. Rain had poured down, and water covered the whole earth. Everyone inside the ship had to wait patiently. Then God remembered Noah, and the animals that were with him, and God sent a wind over the earth. Slowly, the water started to go down.
Noah let a raven fly out of the window to look for dry land. The raven flew back and forth, but it did not find a place to land. Then Noah sent out a dove. The dove could not find a place to rest, so it came back to the ship. Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove out again. This time, the dove came back with a fresh olive leaf in her beak. Noah knew the water was going down!
After many more days, the ground was dry. God spoke to Noah and said, “Go out of the ship, you and your family, and all the animals with you.” So Noah and his family stepped out onto the dry land. Every animal, bird, and creature came out too, going back to their families.
The first thing Noah did was build an altar to the LORD. He thanked God by offering burnt offerings from the clean animals and birds. God was pleased with Noah’s thankful heart. God said in His heart that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. God promised that seasons, days, and nights would keep coming for as long as the earth remains.
Read It Together
Genesis 8:6-7
6 At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made, 7 and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth.
(WEB)
Point out how Noah waited patiently and then sent out the birds to find out what was happening outside. Ask children what they think Noah was feeling while he waited for the raven and the dove to return.
Genesis 8:11
The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth.
(WEB)
Show children the olive leaf as a sign of hope and new life. Explain that the dove returning with a leaf meant the trees were growing again and the ground was becoming ready for life.
Genesis 8:20-22
20 Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasant aroma. The LORD said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. I will never again strike every living thing, as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
(WEB)
Point out that Noah’s first act was to thank God, and that God promised to keep the seasons, day, and night going. Remind children that God’s promises last forever, and that God is faithful even when we cannot see what He is doing.
Talk About It
- What do you think Noah did while he waited inside the ship for so long?
- Why do you think the dove came back the first time, and then again with a leaf?
- What is something God has promised us in the Bible that we can trust Him to keep?
- How do you think Noah and his family felt when they first stepped out onto the dry ground?
- What is one way you can say thank you to God for taking care of you this week?
Activity Ideas
Rainbow and Olive Leaf Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have each child draw a simple ark shape and a dove with an olive leaf in its beak. Then have them color a rainbow above the ship. As they work, explain that the rainbow reminds us of God’s promise. Children can take their picture home to share the story with family.
Dove Flight Game
You will need a open space and a soft ball or beanbag. Have children stand in a circle with their arms out like wings. Call out “raven” or “dove” and have them flap their wings and walk around the circle. When you say “olive leaf,” they stop and hold up a hand to show the leaf. This helps children remember the order of the story while staying active.
Promise Card for Home
You will need index cards, a pencil, and tape or string. Write “God remembers His promises” on one side of each card and draw a small rainbow on the other side. Let children decorate the cards and take them home. Encourage them to tape the card to their bedroom door or hang it on their bed so they can see it and remember God’s faithfulness each day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Genesis 8 shows that God’s judgment on sin is serious, yet His mercy and faithfulness toward Noah is complete. The chapter also shows that God’s promises stand firm even when circumstances look hopeless, and that God remembered Noah in the middle of the flood rather than forgetting him.
Avoid overstating to children that the flood was a simple picture of Christian baptism or that the rainbow is the only sign of God’s promises. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and Noah’s obedience, and let children ask questions about the rest of the story as they grow.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for remembering Noah and keeping Your promise to take care of him. Help us remember that You never forget us, even when we feel like we are waiting for a long time. Thank You for being faithful every day. Amen.
