The Ten Commandments Bible Lesson for Preschool and Big Kids
Teaching the Ten Commandments to kids can be fun and meaningful with the right resources. By incorporating kid-friendly videos, crafts, activities, and printable lesson plans, you can make these timeless lessons come alive for young learners. These creative approaches will help children understand the importance of each commandment while having fun and staying engaged. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or children's ministry leader, this blog offers practical ideas for bringing the Ten Commandments to life in a memorable and impactful way.
What are the ten commandments in kid-friendly terms?
The Ten Commandments poster is available in the Bible for Bigger Kids lesson.
When I teach the Ten Commandments to kids, especially the littlest ones in preschool and kindergarten, I share God’s commandments in kid-friendly terms. This helps the kids understand the commandments and keeps our conversation at an age-appropriate level.
Some of the commandments are for adults and don’t need to be explained in nitty-gritty detail to three- and four-year-olds.
Here’s each of the commandments (taken from the NIV Bible) broken down into kid-friendly terms.
You shall have no other gods before me - Love God and put Him first.
You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything - You should only worship God.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God - Say God’s name with love and respect.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy - Rest one day a week and keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother - Obey your parents.
You shall not murder - Do not hurt anyone.
You shall not commit adultery - Keep your wedding promises.
You shall not steal - Do not steal anything.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor - Tell the truth.
You shall not covet - Don’t wish for what others have.
The Ten Commandments Bible Lessons for Kids
Are you looking for a simple way to teach the Ten Commandments to kids? Check out our scripted lessons, discussion questions, and printable crafts. Perfect for kids aged 3-8.
where are the ten commandments found in the bible?
The story of the Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 19 and 20. About three months after leaving Egypt, the people camped near Mount Sinai. God descended onto the mountain in a cloud. Moses then went up and down Mount Sinai, hearing what God had to say and telling the people about it. Along with other instructions outlined in Exodus 20-31, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets. God’s people were to follow these foundational laws, which we still follow today!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Did you know God had to write the commandments on the stone tablets twice? While Moses was on top of the mountain, the people became impatient. They had Aaron (Moses’ brother) form a golden calf to worship. After God had finished writing the commandments on the tablets for the first time, Moses walked down the mountain, saw the golden calf, and was enraged. He threw the tablets onto the ground, and they broke. Exodus 32 tells the whole story of the golden calf.
Later, in Exodus 34, God wrote the commandments again on two new tablets.
TEN COMMANDMENT CUT AND GLUE CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOLERS
The printable Ten Commandments craft for kids in preschool and kindergarten.
Sometimes, the language used around the Ten Commandments can be confusing. Coveting? What exactly does that mean? Adultery? How do you explain that in kid-friendly terms?
Younger kids will love this simple cut-and-glue Ten Commandments craft that uses kid-friendly language. Kids will cut out each of the ten commandments. Then, they’ll glue them onto a printable stone table. Each of the printable pieces is available in color or greyscale in the lesson The Ten Commandments for Preschoolers.
TEN COMMANDMENT CRAFT FOR OLDER KIDS
The printable Ten Commandments craft for bigger kids in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.
We also complete a ten commandments craft in the Bible lesson for bigger kids in first, second, and third grades. At this level, you can use your discretion and teach the commandments in kid-friendly terms or teach them directly from your preferred translation of the Bible.
The printable craft pieces (and posters) in this lesson come in multiple versions, so you can choose the one that works best for your group of students.
The Ten Commandments for Older Kids includes two versions of the craft pictured here. Version one (pictured) includes words and pictures, and version two leaves space for kids to draw their own illustrations of each commandment.
OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Brown Paper Bag Tablets: Cut a brown paper bag (or brown construction paper) into two stone tablet shapes. Then, use markers to write the Ten Commandments on the tablets. Crumple the brown paper to give it an “old-stone” effect. For more detailed instructions, check out Crayola’s Ten Commandments Craft
Ten Commandment Memory: Create a simple memory game where kids must match the command with its meaning. For example, “Do not covet” means “Don’t envy what someone else has,” and “Do not steal” means “Don’t take what isn’t yours.” You’ll have to be careful with the definitions you choose for adultery, depending on the age level of your kids. You might want to try “Staying faithful to your marriage vows” or “keeping your marriage promises.”
Ten Commandment Songs: There are several catchy songs that you could sing with your kids to teach them the Ten Commandments. Here are some fun ones
YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
As always, make sure to preview any videos your show your kids, but here are some ideas:
Kids on the Move: The Ten Commandments Message discusses the Ten Commandments and how God gave them to the Israelites so He could have a relationship with them.
Saddleback Kids: Moses in the Wilderness - This video starts with the Israelites grumbling and receiving manna. The end of the video is about the Ten Commandments.
WANT MORE MOSES BIBLE LESSONS FOR KIDS?
Continue the learning with more lessons about Moses. This lesson is part of a four-week series about Moses. These lessons about Moses are also included in the 52-week Bible curriculum for little kids in preschool/kindergarten and bigger kids in first, second, and third grades.
Whether you’re a parent, Sunday School teacher, or teacher at a faith-based school, there are plenty of great ways to teach kids that the Ten Commandments are more than just rules. They are guidelines for showing love to God and to others.
