Manna from Heaven: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Exodus 16:1-18
An interactive 45-minute lesson on Exodus 16:1-18 for ages 6-10. Children act out the story of manna and quail, play a gathering game, make a Thankful Manna Bowl, and learn to turn grumbles into trust and thanks.
Memory verse
Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. (Exodus 16:4, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell how the Israelites grumbled in the wilderness and how God sent quail and bread (manna).
- Explain that God cares for His people and gives what they need each day.
- Practice turning a grumble into a thankful prayer.
The full lesson plan
Hungry Tummies (5 min)
Welcome the children and let them find a seat.
Say: "Good morning! Rub your tummy if you have ever been really, really hungry."
Ask: "What do you do when dinner is late?" Take two or three answers.
Say: "Sometimes we get grumpy when we are hungry. Today we meet a whole crowd of people who were hungry and grumpy."
Say: "Let's practice a grumble face. Cross your arms and frown on three. Now switch to a happy face!"
Say: "Listen to see what God does when His people grumble."
Transition: "Now let's hear what happened in the wilderness."
Grumbling in the Wilderness (8 min)
Tell the story in order from Exodus 16:1-18. Read short parts from the KJV. Children do the actions.
Say: "The whole congregation of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin." (v1) Walk fingers in place.
Say: "They murmured against Moses and Aaron." (v2) Arms crossed, frown.
Say: "They said they wished they had food like they had in Egypt." (v3)
Say: "Then the LORD told Moses, 'I will rain bread from heaven for you.'" (v4) Wiggle fingers downward like falling bread.
Say: "The people were to gather a certain amount every day." (v4) Pretend to gather.
Say: "Moses and Aaron told them their grumbling was really against the LORD." (vv7-8)
Say: "In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning dew lay around the camp." (vv13-14)
Say: "When the dew was gone, there was a small round thing on the ground, as small as frost." (v14)
Say: "The people said, 'It is manna,' for they did not know what it was." (v15)
Say: "They gathered it, each one according to his eating. Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack." (vv16-18)
Background: Manna sounds like a question, "What is it?" Keep this short.
Transition: "Now let's think about what this shows us about God."
God Hears and Gives (6 min)
Say: "The people were hungry, and they grumbled. God heard them."
Say: "God did not ignore them. He sent quail in the evening and bread in the morning."
Say: "God gave what they needed. It came again, day after day."
Ask: "Why do you think God had them gather only a certain amount each day?" (To trust Him for today's food.)
Three big ideas, with a hand motion for each:
1. God hears. (Cup your ear.)
2. God gives. (Open hands.)
3. We can trust Him. (Hands over heart.)
Say: "Grumbling shows we are not trusting God. Thankful prayers show we do."
Say: "Later, Jesus said, 'I am the bread of life.' God fed His people with bread then, and He gives us Jesus, who satisfies us forever." (John 6:35)
Transition: "Now let's play a game and gather manna ourselves."
Gather the Manna Game (8 min)
Setup before class: Scatter the paper circles on the floor on one side of the room. Clear the area of hazards. Give each child a basket.
1. Say: "God gave bread every morning. When I say 'Gather!', WALK to the manna and fill your basket. No running."
2. Call "Gather!" and give 30 seconds.
3. Call "Stop!" Say: "Now let's measure. Our game rule: everyone gets exactly 3 pieces." (Compare with v18.)
4. Children with extras put them in a shared basket. Children with fewer take from it until everyone has 3.
5. Say: "In our story, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no lack." Play 2 rounds, then ask: "What if the amount we need could change each day? Who do we trust?" (God.)
Transition: "Now let's make something to remember God's gifts."
Thankful Manna Bowl (8 min)
Safety: Check for allergies and use no food. Only the teacher uses scissors. Hand out pre-cut circles so there are no small parts to swallow.
Setup before class: Pre-cut about 6 white paper circles per child. Put crayons and glue sticks at each table.
1. Each child writes their name on a paper plate and "God gives daily" around the rim.
2. On each circle, they draw or write one thing God gives them (food, family, friends, a home, a day to play).
3. They glue the circles into the plate like manna on the ground.
4. Younger or shy writers can draw pictures, or tell a helper who writes it.
5. Share one circle with a neighbor: "Thank You, God, for ___."
Say: "When you feel like grumbling, look at your bowl and say thanks."
Transition: "Let's talk about what we learned."
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask the questions below. Sample answers are in parentheses.
1. What did the people do when they were hungry? (They grumbled against Moses and Aaron.)
2. Who was their grumbling really against? (The LORD, Exodus 16:8.)
3. What did God do even though they grumbled? (He heard them and sent quail and bread.)
4. What is something you can thank God for instead of grumbling? (Answers vary: food, family, a home.)
5. Why is it good to ask God for what we need today? (He cares, He hears, and He keeps His promises.)
Transition: "Let's finish by saying our verse and praying."
Verse and Thank-You Prayer (5 min)
Memory verse: Show the card with Exodus 16:4. Say it a phrase at a time and have the children repeat it with motions:
"Then said the LORD unto Moses," (point up)
"Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you;" (wiggle fingers down)
"and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day," (gather)
"that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no." (walk in place)
Say: "Let's pray. Repeat after me."
Prayer points:
- "Thank You, God, that You hear us."
- "Thank You for giving us food and everything we need."
- "Forgive us when we grumble."
- "Help us trust You every day. Thank You for Jesus, the bread of life. Amen."
Say: "Take your bowl home. This week, say one thank-you instead of a grumble."
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- White paper circles, pre-cut (about 40), to be the 'manna'
- Baskets or bowls (one per child)
- Paper plates (one per child)
- Extra white paper circles for the craft (about 6 per child)
- Crayons or markers
- Glue sticks
- Index cards with the memory verse written large
Teacher notes
- Safety: This lesson uses no food. Paper circles are large, but supervise glue and crayons. Only the teacher uses scissors. Check for any allergies if you add a snack.
- Adaptation: Use buddy pairs and picture cards for the story. For children who prefer a quieter option, let them sort circles instead of walking, or act as the 'measurer' in the game. Mixed ages can work in pairs.
- Stay with the text: this lesson covers verses 1-18 only. Do not add details the Bible does not give. If children ask what manna tasted like, say you can read about it later in the chapter.
- Memory verse: Exodus 16:4 is long. Teach it in four chunks with motions. Children who find it hard can learn the first two chunks and add the rest over the week.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Exodus 16:1-18. The Israelites grumbled about being hungry in the wilderness, and God heard them and sent quail and bread (manna) each day. Children learned that God cares for us and gives what we need, and that thankful prayer shows we trust Him.
- What did God give the Israelites to eat, and when did it come?
- When is it hardest for you to be thankful instead of grumbling?
- What is something God gave you this week that you can thank Him for?
At dinner, go around the table and say one thing God gave you today. Place the Thankful Manna Bowl where everyone can see it and add one new circle at each meal.
When you catch yourself grumbling this week, stop and say one thank-you to God instead. Practice the memory verse together, one phrase each day.
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