Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Psalms 23:1-6
Children walk through Psalm 23 with motions, a shepherd-path game and a cotton ball sheep craft. They learn that God provides, guides, protects and stays with them, and they learn Psalms 23:1.
Memory verse
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalms 23:1, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Explain that God cares for His people like a shepherd cares for sheep.
- Name things the shepherd does in Psalm 23: feeds, guides, protects and stays close.
- Say Psalms 23:1 from memory and trust God when things feel scary.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Sheep Sounds (5 min)
Setup: Clear a small open space.
Greet each child by name. Then play: you are the shepherd. When you say "Baa!" the children answer "Baa!" When you say "Follow me!" they walk slowly behind you in a line, no running. Do this three times, changing direction each time.
Say: "Today we are sheep, and we need a shepherd."
Say: "Sheep cannot find food or water alone, and they get scared easily."
Say: "A shepherd looks after them every day."
Ask: "Who has seen a real sheep or a picture of one?" Take two or three answers.
Say: "A man named David wrote a song about God being his shepherd. Let's listen to it."
Background: The psalm is titled "A Psalm of David." The Bible tells us David looked after sheep as a boy (1 Samuel 16:11).
Hear the Psalm with Motions (7 min)
Read Psalms 23:1-6 aloud slowly from your KJV Bible. Then read it again, one verse at a time, and let the children copy a motion for each.
v.1 The LORD is my shepherd: hold a pretend staff.
v.2 Green pastures, still waters: sit down and rest.
v.3 He leads me: walk in place.
v.4 The valley and "thou art with me": hug yourself, then point up.
v.5 A table is prepared: spread your hands out. "My cup runneth over": make a big cup with your hands.
v.6 Goodness and mercy follow me: point behind you.
Say: "David said the LORD is his shepherd."
Say: "A shepherd feeds his sheep, leads them and keeps them safe."
Say: "David also says goodness and mercy will follow him all his days."
Now let's find out what the shepherd does for us.
What Does the Shepherd Do? (8 min)
Hold up fingers as you teach four things.
1. He provides. "I shall not want" means I will have what I need. He gives green pastures and still waters (v.2).
2. He guides. He leads me and restores my soul (v.3). When we do not know which way to go, God shows us.
3. He protects. A valley can be dark and scary, but David says, "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (v.4). The rod and staff are the shepherd's tools to guard and guide.
4. He stays close. Goodness and mercy follow David all his life, and he will dwell in the LORD's house for ever (v.6).
Say: "God does not leave His sheep alone in scary places."
Say: "Sheep do not have to be strong because the shepherd is strong."
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). He loves us so much that He gave His life for us.
Say: "Now let's walk the shepherd's path."
Game: Follow the Shepherd's Path (7 min)
Setup: Before class, lay a winding path of masking tape on the floor. Place a green sheet (pasture), a blue sheet (water) and a black sheet (valley) along it. Keep the floor clear of hazards.
Steps:
1. Choose a shepherd (or be one yourself). The other children are sheep and line up behind.
2. Everyone walks slowly along the tape. No running or pushing.
3. At the green sheet, the shepherd says, "I give you rest." Sheep sit and pretend to eat.
4. At the blue sheet, they pretend to drink. At the black sheet, the shepherd says, "Do not be afraid, I am with you," and the sheep walk through together.
5. Swap shepherds and repeat if time allows.
Time: 7 minutes.
Say: "Which stop felt like Psalm 23?"
Say: "The sheep were not afraid because the shepherd was near."
Now let's talk about it.
Talk It Over (6 min)
Sit in a circle. Ask each question and take a few answers.
1. What does a shepherd do for his sheep? (Feeds them, leads them, protects them.)
2. David wrote about a dark valley. When might you feel scared? (At night, at a new school, when someone is sick.)
3. What does "thou art with me" mean? (God is right there with me, even when I'm scared.)
4. Why is it good to follow God like sheep follow a shepherd? (He knows the best way and takes care of me.)
5. How does Jesus show He is our Good Shepherd? (He loves us and gave His life for us.)
Say: "There are no wrong answers about feelings."
Say: "You can tell God when you are scared. He is already with you."
Now let's make something to remind us.
Craft: My Cotton Ball Sheep (8 min)
Safety: Cotton balls and paper pieces are small parts, so keep them away from children under 3. Check for allergies and supervise glue use. Scissors are not needed, as shapes are pre-cut.
Setup: Pre-cut a black head and four black legs for each child. Put materials on tables.
Steps:
1. Give each child a cardstock sheet. Write "The LORD is my shepherd" across the top, or let older children write it.
2. Glue the black head and legs in the middle of the page.
3. Glue cotton balls to make the sheep's fluffy body.
4. Draw green grass and a blue stream at the bottom with crayons.
5. Write your name on the back.
Time: 8 minutes.
Say: "Take your sheep home and remember who your shepherd is."
Now let's close together.
Closing: Verse and Prayer (4 min)
Teach the memory verse: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Say it line by line with the children repeating, and add the shepherd-staff motion. Say it together three times.
Prayer: Have the children hold their sheep. Pray, pausing for them to repeat:
"Dear God, thank You for being my shepherd. Thank You for food, rest and people who love me. When I am afraid, help me remember You are with me. Help me follow You. Thank You for Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Amen."
Say: "God is your shepherd this week."
Say: "Tell someone at home the verse you learned."
Say: "Goodbye, and remember that God goes with you."
Materials
- KJV Bible
- Masking tape
- Green, blue and black paper sheets
- White cardstock (one per child)
- Cotton balls
- Glue sticks
- Crayons or markers
- Pre-cut black paper heads and legs for sheep
Teacher notes
- Safety: The craft uses cotton balls, glue and small paper pieces. Check for allergies, supervise closely and keep small parts away from children under 3.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards for each verse, offer a seated option for the path game, and pair children with a buddy. Let non-writers decorate instead of writing.
- Some children may have lost someone or feel afraid often. Keep the valley discussion gentle and reassuring, and do not press anyone to share.
- Keep the path game calm. If it gets noisy, slow down and have the shepherd whisper the lines.
Send it home with parents
Today we learned Psalm 23. God is like a loving shepherd who gives us what we need, guides us, protects us and stays with us, even in scary times. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd.
- What part of the shepherd's care did you like best today?
- When do you feel scared, and how can we remember God is with us?
Read Psalm 23 together at bedtime. Let your child do the motions from class. Then thank God for one thing He provided that day.
Say Psalms 23:1 each night this week. When your child feels worried, pray together and remind them, "The LORD is my shepherd."
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