Looking for meaningful and fun Mother's Day ideas for Sunday School? Celebrate moms and teach kids about the power of prayer and love through Bible stories, crafts, and activities perfect for Sunday School, homeschooling, or faith-based schools. These special Mother’s Day lessons feature the story of Hannah praying for a son from 1 Samuel 1, YouTube video suggestions, creative crafts, and printable lesson plans to help kids honor the special women in their lives.
MOTHERS IN THE BIBLE
There are many great examples of mothers in the Bible. Women who showed compassion, sacrificial love, and faith. Here are a few examples:
Mary, Mother of Jesus – Luke 1–2
Jochebed (Moses’ mother) – Exodus 2:1–10
Naomi and Ruth – Ruth 1–4
Sarah (Mother of Isaac) – Genesis 21
Mothers in the Bible show us what it means to love deeply, pray faithfully, and trust God with the ones we love most. From Hannah’s heartfelt prayers to Mary’s quiet courage, these women remind us that motherhood is a calling filled with both joy and sacrifice. Their stories can inspire kids (and grown-ups!) to see how God works through love, patience, and faith.
Grab Your Mother’s Day Bible Lessons for Kids!
Did you know the story of Hannah’s Prayer for a Son and Mother’s Day can go hand-in-hand? Be sure to check out our printable crafts, discussion questions, and scripted lesson plans for a Mother’s Day lesson with a focus on Hannah’s prayer for a son.
Teaching about Mother’s Day with compassion
While Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and honor moms, it’s important to remember that not every child has a traditional family structure. Some children may be experiencing grief from the loss of a parent, separation or divorce, foster care, estrangement, or other complex family situations. These holidays can bring up big feelings and may be difficult for some students.
As you prepare to teach this lesson, I encourage you to approach it with sensitivity and compassion. Consider broadening the focus to include all the loving adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, guardians, step-parents, aunts, family friends, or church mentors. Encourage children to celebrate the people who care for them, guide them, and show them God’s love.
mother’s day bible story - HANNAH PRAYS FOR A SON
One of my favourite ways to integrate Mother’s Day into a Sunday School lesson is to teach the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel.
Hannah was a great mother and a woman who loved God. She was married to Elkanah. Every year, they went to the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices and pray.
In 1 Samuel 1, a story is recorded about Hannah slipping away from Elkanah and going to pray. She promised that if God gave her a son, she would give him back to God. She prayed so earnestly for a son that the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk!
God heard Hannah’s prayer, and a year later, she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel. When he was old enough, she brought him to the Tabernacle to live. There, Samuel helped Eli and faithfully served God.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT HANNAH’S STORY
Hannah was a woman who really wanted a baby, so she prayed and asked God for a child. God heard her prayer, and she had a baby named Samuel, which means heard by God. Hannah loved her child very much and trusted God to take care of him.
Hannah promised that her son would become God’s helper; he would grow up in God's house, the Tabernacle, and serve God. When Samuel was old enough, Hannah brought him to the Tabernacle to live there. Samuel lived there and helped the priest, Eli. God talked to Samuel and used him in incredible ways.
Hannah’s promise to give Samuel back to God is often seen as the inspiration for child dedications in church today.
PRAYING HANDS CRAFT FOR KIDS
Praying hands craft for bigger kids.
God heard Hannah’s prayers, and God listens to our prayers as well. By creating a praying hands craft, kids will have a visual reminder that their prayers matter to God and that He hears them.
Praying hands craft for preschool.
Trace each child’s hands on construction paper and cut them out. Glue the palms together at the base so they open like praying hands. Inside, kids can draw a heart or write “God hears our prayers”. For a printable version, check out Hannah Prays for a Son for Older Kids.
Or, for a simplified version, check out "Hannah Prays for a Son" for Preschool. In this version, the kids glue the two hands together, rather than trying to glue them in a way that allows them to open like a card. This makes it slightly easier for little hands.
“YOU ARE A BLESSING” FLOWERPOT - MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT FOR OLDER KIDS
Mother’s Day printable flowerpot craft for bigger kids.
Mother’s Day and flowers often go hand-in-hand, so why not take time to create a flower pot craft with kids? This craft will also get kids thinking about the reasons why they love their mom.
You’ll find the template pieces provided in Hannah Prays for a Son for Older Kids. Have kids color and cut out their flower pot and glue the flowers to form a bouquet. On each flower, kids can write something they love about their moms.
It is helpful to brainstorm ideas with your kids first. This will give them a starting point for writing their own ideas. They can use some of the brainstormed ideas or come up with their own.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR mE - MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL
Mother’s Day handprint craft for preschool and kindergarten.
Hannah fervently prayed for Samuel, and it can be assumed that she continued to pray for him as he grew. Our mothers pray for us, too! Let’s take a moment to thank moms (or other important women in the child’s life) for praying for them.
In this craft, found in Hannah Prays for a Son for Preschool, kids will either use paint to create a handprint or trace their hand in the center of the “Thank you for praying for me!” paper. Then give kids time to decorate their paper using stickers, markers, and crayons. Kids can give this to their moms as a gift.
OTHER MOTHER’S DAY ACTIVITIES
Mom and Me Popsicle Stick Picture Frame: Have kids draw a picture of themselves with their mom. Or take a quick Polaroid picture of the child with their mom in advance. Then follow the instructions from this tutorial on making a popsicle stick picture frame from Elmer’s Glue. Once the picture frames are formed, glue the “Mommy and Me” picture into the frame.
Mirror Craft: Make a popsicle stick picture frame, like in the idea above. But instead of putting a picture in the frame, put in a mini mirror or tin foil. Give kids time to decorate their frames with paint, markers, or stickers. Then add a caption like, “You reflect God’s love.”
I Love You to Pieces Mosaic Heart: Kids Activity Zone has a cute template for a mosaic heart. Kids use ripped-up tissue paper and contact paper to create a beautiful heart-shaped mosaic.
“My Mother is Like…” Similes: Older kids might like to try their hand at some poetry! Write some simple similes with kids, such as “My mom is as kind as a….” or “My mom is as beautiful as a….” You could turn these into a card or a booklet.
YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT HANNAH’S PRAYER FOR A SON
YouTube can be a great resource for helping our visual learners connect better with a story. Here are a couple of suggestions for YouTube videos about Hannah’s Prayer. As always, be sure to preview the video before showing it to your kids.
Just like Hannah, our moms (or the special women who care for us) love us, pray for us, and help us grow. This story helps us remember to thank God for our moms and to show them love, too!
Do you Like What you see?
Be sure to check out our 52-week Bible curriculum for preschoolers and kindergarteners, and older children in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grades. These lessons cover stories from Genesis, Moses and the Exodus, the prophets, the life of Jesus, parables, and Jesus’ miracles.
