“God made all the animals. Jesus cares for everything God made, and He cares for you.”

“Thank You, Jesus, for making animals and loving me.”

Genesis 1:20–25

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.

Pick 2–3 songs, repeat them often through the year.

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 – “If You’re Thankful God Made Animals”
(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

• “If you’re thankful God made animals, clap your hands (clap clap)
• If you’re thankful God made animals, clap your hands (clap clap)
• If you’re thankful God made creatures,
• And you know God is their Teacher,
• If you’re thankful God made animals, clap your hands (clap clap).”
  
  

Repeat verses with “stomp your feet,” “make an animal sound,” etc.

Sit kids in a circle. Have a basket of toy animals to show and pass around.

a) Show animals
Hold up several toy animals (e.g., lion, cow, bird, fish):

• “Look at these animals. Some animals are big and strong, like lions and elephants. Some animals are soft and cuddly, like bunnies and kittens. Some animals live on farms, some in the jungle, some in our homes.”
• Let each child hold or touch one animal as you continue.

b) Short lesson paragraphs (Genesis 1:20–25)
Open your Bible and hold it where kids can see.

• “The Bible tells us that God made animals. God made fish to swim in the water. God made birds to fly in the sky. God made animals to walk on the ground—big animals, small animals, fast animals, slow animals.”
• “God made each animal special. God made cows that say ‘moo,’ dogs that say ‘woof,’ and birds that sing pretty songs. God made all the animals, and God said it was good.”

d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “God made animals. Jesus loves me.”

Motions:

• Wiggle fingers like little paws/hooves on “animals.”
• Point to self and hug self on “Jesus loves me.”
• Say it several times: in a whisper, with animal sounds between, standing and sitting.

e) Optional short video (4–8 minutes)
If you have a preschool creation video highlighting animals, show it.

Then ask:

• “Who made the animals?” (God!)
• “Does Jesus love the animals?” (Yes!)
• “Does Jesus love you?” (Yes!)

Repeat: “God made animals. Jesus loves me.”

c) Jesus connection
Hold an animal gently and smile at the kids.

“Jesus is God’s Son. The Bible tells us that everything was made through Jesus. Jesus helped make every animal you see—the ones in the zoo and the ones in your house. Jesus cares about the animals, and He cares about you even more. Jesus loves us so much.”

Goal: 

• Children create a simple “parade” of animals God made, with a Jesus line.
  

Steps

• Give each child a paper strip.
• Help them place animal stickers or glued animal pictures in a row like a little “parade.”
• Encourage them to add grass or simple scenery with crayons.
• At the bottom or side, add label or write:
  • “God made animals. Jesus loves me.”
• As they work, invite them to name the animals and make the sounds.

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)

• “You are making an animal parade. All these animals were made by God—horses, dogs, cats, birds, and more. Jesus helped make every animal and loves us even more than all the animals. When you see animals, you can remember: ‘God made animals. Jesus loves me.’"

When they are done, have them hold up their animal parade and say:

• “God made animals. Jesus loves me.”