Introduction to the Bible: A Special Book of Stories

Materials Needed

• A child-friendly Bible or Bible storybook
• A small basket, box, or cloth bag
• Paper and crayons or washable markers
• Optional: toy animals, blocks, or a soft blanket
• Optional: song or music about kindness, love, or helping others

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Say that the Bible is a special book with stories about God, people, and how to live with love and kindness.
• Name one Bible story or character they heard about.
• Tell one kind action they can do today.
• Handle a book carefully and explain that books help us learn.

Success Criteria

The child is successful when they can:

• Listen to a short Bible story.
• Answer at least one simple question about the story.
• Show or describe one way to be kind, helpful, or loving.

Lesson Length

Approximately 25–35 minutes. Activities may be shortened or spread across the day.

Introduction: Hook and Objectives

1. Mystery Book Hook

Place the Bible inside a basket or cloth bag. Invite the child to feel the outside without looking.

Say:

“There is a special book in this bag. It has many stories inside. What do you think it could be?”

Reveal the Bible and allow the child to look at the cover and carefully turn a few pages.

Say:

“This is the Bible. The Bible is a special book. It has stories about God, people, animals, love, helping, and making good choices. Today we will learn what the Bible is and hear one short story.”

2. Share the Learning Goals

Use simple language:

• “We will learn what the Bible is.”
• “We will listen to a Bible story.”
• “We will think of one kind thing we can do.”

Body: Teach and Practice

I Do: What Is the Bible?

Show the Bible and point to its pages.

Say:

“The Bible is one book, but it has many stories inside. Some stories tell about people. Some tell about God’s love. Some teach us to be kind, brave, thankful, and helpful.”

Explain these words:

• Bible: A special book of stories and teachings.
• Story: Something that tells what happened.
• Kindness: Doing something caring or helpful for someone.

Model how to treat the Bible and other books respectfully:

1. Wash or clean hands if needed.
2. Hold the book gently.
3. Turn the pages carefully.
4. Listen while someone reads.
5. Ask questions about what was heard.

Quick Check: Ask, “What is this book called?” and “What can we find inside it?” Accept answers such as “stories,” “people,” “God,” or “animals.”

I Do: Read a Short Bible Story

Choose a short, age-appropriate story. Good choices include:

• Jesus Welcomes the Children — Mark 10:13–16
• The Good Samaritan — Luke 10:25–37
• Noah and the Animals — Genesis 6–9
• David and Goliath — 1 Samuel 17
• The Lost Sheep — Luke 15:1–7

For a first introduction, read or tell a shortened version of Jesus Welcomes the Children:

“Some children came to see Jesus. The helpers thought the children were too little to come close. Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me.’ Jesus welcomed the children and showed that every child is important and loved.”

Pause during the story and ask:

• “Who came to see Jesus?”
• “Did Jesus welcome the children?”
• “How do you think the children felt?”

We Do: Story Talk and Acting

Invite the child to retell the story using toy animals, blocks, or simple movements.

Give roles or actions:

• One person can pretend to be Jesus.
• One person can pretend to be a child coming to visit.
• Use open arms to show “welcome.”
• Use a happy face to show how someone might feel when welcomed.

Say:

“Jesus welcomed the children. We can welcome people too. We can smile, say hello, share, or help.”

Think and Share: Ask, “How can we welcome someone today?” Help the child think of one answer, such as:

• “I can say hello.”
• “I can share a toy.”
• “I can help someone.”
• “I can give a hug if they want one.”

We Do: Kindness Practice

Place three simple choices in front of the child:

1. Draw a picture for someone.
2. Share a toy or book.
3. Help put something away.

Let the child choose one action to practice. Complete it together.

Use specific encouragement:

“You shared the book gently. That was kind and helpful.”

You Do: Draw and Tell

Invite the child to draw one of the following:

• The Bible
• Jesus welcoming children
• A kind action they can do

Ask the child to tell you about the picture. Write down their words beneath the drawing if desired.

Use prompts if needed:

• “Who is in your picture?”
• “What are they doing?”
• “How are they showing kindness?”

Optional Movement Activity: Welcome Circle

Stand or sit facing the child. Take turns welcoming one another.

1. Say, “Welcome!” with a smile.
2. Open your arms or wave.
3. Say one kind word, such as “friend,” “happy,” or “loved.”

For a classroom, children may take turns welcoming a partner. For homeschool, the child may welcome a family member, stuffed animal, or toy.

Formative Assessment

Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking:

• “What is the name of this special book?”
• “What can we find in the Bible?”
• “Who did Jesus welcome?”
• “What kind thing can you do?”

Observe whether the child:

• Listens to the story for a short period.
• Answers or responds to simple questions.
• Uses the book carefully.
• Shows understanding through words, drawing, movement, or pretend play.

Summative Assessment: Show What You Know

Invite the child to complete these three prompts:

1. “This special book is called the __________.”
2. “One story I heard was about __________.”
3. “One kind thing I can do is __________.”

The child may answer by speaking, pointing, drawing, acting, or using a sentence completed with adult support.

Differentiation and Adaptations

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Use a picture Bible with large illustrations and very few words.
• Read only a few sentences at a time.
• Offer choices: “Did Jesus welcome the children or send them away?”
• Allow the child to answer through pointing, gestures, drawing, or acting.
• Repeat the main idea: “Jesus welcomed children. We can welcome people too.”

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Ask the child to retell the story in the correct order.
• Invite the child to compare two Bible stories.
• Ask, “Why is it important to welcome people?”
• Help the child make a simple kindness plan for the day.
• Let the child choose another short Bible story to explore.

For Different Learning Formats

• Homeschool: Include a family member or stuffed animal in the role-play.
• Classroom: Have children sit in a circle and take turns sharing kind actions.
• Digital learning: Use an approved child-friendly Bible story recording, then pause for questions and drawing.
• Limited materials: Use any book, paper, and household objects for pretend play.

Conclusion: Closure and Recap

Review Together

Say:

“Today we learned that the Bible is a special book with many stories. We heard that Jesus welcomed children. We also learned that we can show kindness by welcoming, sharing, and helping.”

Ask the child:

• “What did we learn about the Bible?”
• “What did Jesus do?”
• “What kind thing will you try today?”

Simple Closing Prayer or Reflection

Use a prayer if it fits the family’s beliefs:

“Thank you for the Bible and its stories. Thank you for love and kindness. Help us welcome and help others today. Amen.”

For a non-prayer reflection, say:

“Let’s take a quiet breath and think of one person we can treat with kindness today.”

Optional Follow-Up Activity

During the week, read one short Bible story each day. After each story, ask one question:

• “What happened?”
• “How did someone show kindness or courage?”
• “What can we learn from this story?”