Welcome (5–10 minutes)
Set out:
As kids arrive, say simple lines:
- Free play: blocks, play kitchen, soft toys.
- Table: Coloring page with sun and stars (or simple light/dark picture) and crayons.
- Have the room a little dimmer than usual if possible.
As kids arrive, say simple lines:
- “Today we will hear how God made light.”
- “Before God spoke, it was all dark.”
- “God made light, and Jesus is our light.
Opening Prayer (echo prayer)
Children repeat after you:
“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Use the same opening prayer every week if you like.
“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Use the same opening prayer every week if you like.
Songs (5–10 minutes)
Pick 2–3 songs, repeat them often through the year.
Song 1 – “The B-I-B-L-E”
Motions:
Song 2 – “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions:
Optional short chant – “This Little Light of Mine”
Motions:
Between songs you can say: “God made light. Jesus is our light.”
Song 1 – “The B-I-B-L-E”
Motions:
- Hold hands like a book on “The B-I-B-L-E”.
- Hug the “book” on “Yes, that’s the book for me”.
- Step forward and stomp gently on “I stand alone on the Word of God”.
Song 2 – “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions:
- Point to self on “me”.
- Cross arms like a hug on “loves”.
- Open hands like a book on “for the Bible tells me so”.
Optional short chant – “This Little Light of Mine”
Motions:
- Pointer finger “light” up in the air.
- Cover with other hand for “hide it under a bushel? No!”
- Move finger around for “all around the neighborhood.”
Between songs you can say: “God made light. Jesus is our light.”
Lesson
Sit kids in a circle. Have a flashlight ready and access to the light switch if safe.
a) Dark and light object lesson
Ask kids to close their eyes or briefly dim the lights (only if safe, not too dark for any anxious child).
Say: “Everyone, close your eyes. What do you see? It’s dark. Before God made the world, it was like this—dark and empty.”
Turn on lights or flashlight.
“Then God spoke. God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And right away, there was light. God made the light!”
b) Short lesson paragraphs
Open your Bible to Genesis 1:1–3 and hold it where kids can see.
“The Bible tells us that in the beginning, before there were trees or animals or people, everything was dark. There was no light at all.”
“Then God spoke. God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God made the light so we could see. God saw that the light was good. Our God is so powerful—He just speaks, and things are made!”
d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat: “God made light. Jesus is my light.”
Motions:
e) Optional short video (4–8 minutes)
Show a preschool-friendly creation Day 1 video (God made light and dark).
After the video, ask:
Repeat: “God made light. Jesus is my light.”
a) Dark and light object lesson
Ask kids to close their eyes or briefly dim the lights (only if safe, not too dark for any anxious child).
Say: “Everyone, close your eyes. What do you see? It’s dark. Before God made the world, it was like this—dark and empty.”
Turn on lights or flashlight.
“Then God spoke. God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And right away, there was light. God made the light!”
b) Short lesson paragraphs
Open your Bible to Genesis 1:1–3 and hold it where kids can see.
“The Bible tells us that in the beginning, before there were trees or animals or people, everything was dark. There was no light at all.”
“Then God spoke. God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God made the light so we could see. God saw that the light was good. Our God is so powerful—He just speaks, and things are made!”
d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat: “God made light. Jesus is my light.”
Motions:
- Point up on “God.”
- Open hands wide like shining rays on “light.”
- Point to self on “my.”
- Point up or to your heart on “Jesus is my light.”
e) Optional short video (4–8 minutes)
Show a preschool-friendly creation Day 1 video (God made light and dark).
After the video, ask:
- “What did God make on the first day?” (Light!)
- “What did God say?” (“Let there be light!”)
- “Who is our light?” (Jesus!)
Repeat: “God made light. Jesus is my light.”
c) Jesus connection
Point to the light (flashlight, window, or overhead lights).
Point to the light (flashlight, window, or overhead lights).
- “The Bible also tells us that Jesus is like light for our hearts. Jesus is God’s Son. Just like light helps us see with our eyes, Jesus helps us see and know God. Jesus loves us and shines His love in our hearts.”
Craft – “Light and Dark” (God Made Light)
Goal: Help children remember that God made light and that Jesus is our light.
Steps
Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
“On this side, we see dark—no light. On this side, we see light—bright and warm. God made the light with His words. When we look at the light, we can remember that Jesus is our light. Jesus shows us God’s love and helps us not be afraid.”
Before you clean up, have kids hold up their papers and say together:
“God made light. Jesus is my light.”
Steps
- Give each child a white paper. Draw or pre-draw a vertical line down the middle.
- On one side, write “Dark.” On the other side, write “Light.”
- Children glue black pieces on the “Dark” side.
- Children glue yellow pieces or sun shapes on the “Light” side.
- At the bottom you (or a helper) write:
- “God made light. Jesus is my light.”
Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
“On this side, we see dark—no light. On this side, we see light—bright and warm. God made the light with His words. When we look at the light, we can remember that Jesus is our light. Jesus shows us God’s love and helps us not be afraid.”
Before you clean up, have kids hold up their papers and say together:
“God made light. Jesus is my light.”
Supplies
- White paper with a line down the middle (or folded in half).
- Pre-torn black paper squares or circles.
- Pre-torn yellow paper squares or circles (or sun stickers).
- Glue sticks.
- Marker to write words “Dark” and “Light” or a short phrase.