Pentecost Sunday School Lesson for Kids
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Acts 2:1-4; John 14:26
An interactive 45-minute lesson on Acts 2:1-21 for ages 6-10. Children act out the story of Pentecost, play a movement game with greetings in several languages, and make a wind and flame wand. They learn Acts 2:21: anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Memory verse
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell what happened on the day of Pentecost in the right order.
- Explain that the Holy Spirit was given so people from many nations could hear about God's wonderful works.
- Remember and say Acts 2:21: anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Can You Hear It? (5 min)
Welcome the children. Ask them to sit quietly and listen for 20 seconds. Then ask: What sounds did you hear?
Say: Today we hear about a day when a sound came that nobody expected.
Say: Before Jesus went up to heaven, He told His friends to wait for a gift from God, the Holy Spirit. Now they were waiting.
Say: Let's find out what happened.
Have the children blow softly like a gentle breeze, then like a strong wind. Then say: Hold that picture in your mind. Now let's hear God's Word.
Background: Pentecost was a Jewish feast day, and many visitors came to Jerusalem for it.
Hear the Story: Acts 2:1-21 (8 min)
Tell the story in order, using simple words. Invite the children to do the actions with you.
1. Say: On the day of Pentecost, the believers were all together in one place. (Hold hands together.)
2. Say: Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house. (Sway and whoosh.)
3. Say: They saw what looked like tongues of fire, and one sat on each of them. (Wiggle fingers above your head.)
4. Say: They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words. (Open hands wide.)
5. Say: Jews from every nation under heaven were in Jerusalem. The crowd came together and was amazed. Each person heard them speaking in his own language about the wonderful works of God! (Cup hand to ear.)
6. Say: Some people made fun and said, "They are full of new wine." (Shake head.)
7. Say: Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. He said, "These people are not drunk. It is only the third hour of the day." (Stand tall.)
8. Say: Peter reminded them that God had promised through the prophet Joel to pour out His Spirit on all people. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! (Point up.)
Read Acts 2:1-4 and 2:21 aloud from the KJV if time allows.
Say: Now let's play a game to remember the story.
Game: Wind, Fire, Languages! (8 min)
Setup: Clear a safe open space. Children stay in their own spot, so no running. Write the greetings on the board: Hola (Spanish), Bonjour (French), Jambo (Swahili), Shalom (Hebrew).
Steps:
1. Teach the four greetings and the actions. Wind means sway arms side to side. Fire means wiggle fingers over your head. Language means wave and say a greeting.
2. Call out "Wind!", "Fire!" or "Language!" in any order. Children do the matching action in place.
3. When you call "Language!", name one greeting for the children to say together.
4. Call "Together!" and everyone freezes with hands joined in a circle, just like the believers waiting in one place.
5. Play several rounds, getting faster. Invite a volunteer to be the caller. Anyone may choose to just watch.
Say: Great job! The believers did not choose those words. The Spirit gave them the words.
Say: Now let's think about what this means.
Why Did God Do This? (7 min)
Say: God did something amazing, and He did it for a reason.
Say: The wind and fire were signs that God was near. Jesus had promised His Spirit would come, and God keeps His promises.
Say: The people in Jerusalem came from many places and spoke different languages. God let each person hear about His wonderful works in their own language. God wants everyone to know Him.
Say: Peter explained that this was what God promised through Joel. God's Spirit is for sons and daughters, young and old.
Say: Then Peter said the most important part: whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. That means anyone, from any country, of any age.
Say: Jesus is the Lord we call on. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven and become God's children.
Teach the memory verse. Show the card and say it in short phrases, with the children repeating. Say it three times: whispering, then normal, then loud.
Say: Now let's make something to remind us of the wind.
Craft: Wind and Flame Wand (8 min)
Safety: Children use scissors under supervision. Streamers and tape are not for the mouth. Check for any allergies to craft materials.
Setup: Pre-cut streamers into strips about 30 cm long, 4 to 5 per child. Write "Acts 2:21" on one index card per child.
Steps:
1. Give each child a tube or craft stick.
2. Children tape 4 or 5 red, orange and yellow streamers to one end.
3. They decorate the tube with crayons and a flame or wind design.
4. They tape or glue the Acts 2:21 card to the tube.
5. Children wave their wands gently while saying the verse with a partner.
Say: When you see this wand at home, remember that God's Spirit came, and anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.
Say: Let's put our wands down and talk.
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask these questions. Give children time to answer.
1. What two things did the believers see and hear when the Spirit came? (A sound like a rushing wind and tongues like fire.)
2. Why were the people in Jerusalem amazed? (They each heard the believers speak in their own language about God's wonderful works.)
3. Why do you think God wanted people to hear the news in their own language? (He wants everyone to understand and know Him.)
4. What does Acts 2:21 promise? (Whoever calls on the Lord will be saved.)
5. Who could you tell about God's love this week? (Accept any real answer: a friend, a neighbor, a family member.)
Say: Great thinking, everyone.
Closing and Prayer (4 min)
Say: Let's say our verse one more time with our wands. (Say Acts 2:21 together.)
Say: Let's pray. I'll say a line and you repeat it.
Prayer points:
- Thank You, God, for sending Your Holy Spirit.
- Thank You for keeping Your promises.
- Thank You that anyone can call on Your name.
- Help us tell others about Jesus.
- Help us to be kind to people who are different from us.
Say: In Jesus' name, amen. Goodbye! Take your wand and your verse card home.
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Index cards or paper with the memory verse written large
- Paper towel tubes or craft sticks (one per child)
- Red, orange and yellow crepe paper or tissue streamers
- Tape
- Child-safe scissors
- Crayons or markers
- Whiteboard or large paper
Teacher notes
- Safety: Scissors, tape and streamers need adult supervision. Streamers are not for the mouth. Check for allergies before using craft materials.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards for wind, fire and language. Let children who prefer a quieter option be the caller, or sway and wiggle while seated. Pair younger or shy children with a buddy for the craft and verse practice.
- Stay with the text: Acts 2 does not say how many people were there or how long it lasted. Do not add details. Keep background short.
- Offer the gospel gently: invite children to talk to you or a parent if they want to know more about calling on the Lord.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Acts 2:1-21. On the day of Pentecost, God sent the Holy Spirit with a sound like a rushing wind and tongues like fire. The believers spoke in other languages so people from many nations heard about God's wonderful works. Peter told the crowd that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
- What was your favorite part of the Pentecost story, and why?
- Why do you think God wanted people to hear about Him in their own language?
- What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord?
Learn to say "God loves you" or "Hello" in another language together. Use a library book, an app or a neighbor who speaks another language. Then wave your wand and say Acts 2:21 as a family.
Say Acts 2:21 each day this week. Then tell one person something you are thankful to God for, using words they understand.
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