Ruth and Naomi: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Ruth 1:1-22
Elementary children follow Naomi and Ruth from Moab to Bethlehem. They learn what loyal love looks like through a story with actions, a road game, a bookmark craft, and the memory verse from Ruth 1:16.
Memory verse
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: (Ruth 1:16, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell in order what happened to Naomi, Orpah and Ruth in Ruth 1.
- Explain that Ruth chose to stay with Naomi and to follow Naomi's God.
- Name one way to show loyal love to a family member or friend this week.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Packing for a Move (5 min)
Setup: Write the memory verse on the poster. Put tape on the floor later for the activity.
Say: "Good morning! Pretend your family must move far away to a new country. Stand up if you would be nervous."
Let children share one thing they would take and one thing they would miss. Keep answers short.
Say: "Today we meet a family who moved far from home. Then things got very sad. But God did not leave them."
Say: "Let's listen to the story and find out who stayed faithful."
Transition: "Now let's hear what happened."
Bible Story: Naomi and Ruth (8 min)
Read or tell Ruth 1:1-22 in order. Have children do the actions below.
1. A famine came to Bethlehemjudah. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons went to the country of Moab (vv. 1-2). (Rub tummy)
2. Elimelech died. The sons married Orpah and Ruth. After about ten years, both sons died too (vv. 3-5). (Hands over heart)
3. Naomi heard that the LORD had given his people bread. She set out for Judah with her daughters-in-law (vv. 6-7). (March in place)
4. Naomi told them to go back to their mothers' houses. They wept. Orpah kissed Naomi and went back. Ruth clave to Naomi (vv. 8-14). (Hug yourself)
5. Ruth said her promise (vv. 16-17). (Hold hands out: "I will go!")
6. They came to Bethlehem. The town was moved. Naomi said, "Call me Mara," for she felt life had been bitter. It was the beginning of barley harvest (vv. 19-22). (Look up)
Say: "Ruth could have gone home, but she stayed with Naomi."
Say: "Ruth also chose Naomi's God."
Transition: "Now let's see what this means for us."
Teaching: Loyal Love (7 min)
Say: "Naomi had lost her husband and both sons. She said her life felt bitter. The Bible does not hide sad things."
Say: "Orpah went home. The Bible does not say she did wrong, but Ruth made a different choice."
Point 1: Ruth chose to stay. Ask: "What did she promise?" (To go where Naomi went, live where she lived.)
Point 2: Ruth chose Naomi's God: "thy God my God." Ruth did not just pick a person. She chose to trust the God of Israel.
Point 3: God had not forgotten them. Naomi heard that the LORD had given bread to his people (v. 6). They arrived at the start of the barley harvest (v. 22).
Say: "Loyal love sticks with people when it is hard, and it trusts God."
Background (later in the Bible): Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17). Her family line leads to Jesus (Matthew 1:5-16). God's care for the lonely led to the Savior of the world.
Transition: "Let's walk the road ourselves!"
Game: The Road to Bethlehem (8 min)
Setup: Tape a wavy "road" on the floor, about 5 m long. Label one end "Moab" and the other "Bethlehem." Place 6 index cards along the road, each naming a scene: famine, Elimelech dies, sons die, Naomi decides to go, Orpah goes back and Ruth stays, arrive in Bethlehem.
Steps:
1. Shuffle the cards. Pairs get one card each and stand by the road.
2. Pairs work out where their card goes in the story and place it along the road.
3. As a group, walk slowly along the road. At each card, a pair says what happened.
4. At the Orpah/Ruth card, everyone says: "Where you go, I will go!"
5. Walk the road once more, partners side by side.
Safety: Walking only, no running. Keep the road clear of bags and chairs. Pairs can choose not to link arms.
Craft: Promise Bookmark (8 min)
Setup: Pre-cut cardstock strips. Write "thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16) on a sample.
Steps:
1. Copy the phrase from the poster onto the top of your strip.
2. Draw a road from "Moab" to "Bethlehem" with two stick figures walking together.
3. Decorate with crayons: barley stalks, a sun or hills.
4. Write the name of someone you want to be loyal to on the back.
5. Practice the memory verse with a partner as you color.
Say: "Put this in your Bible or school book. When you see it, remember to stay loyal."
Safety: Scissors are for the teacher or closely supervised. Check for glue or marker allergies and keep markers capped when not in use.
Talk Time (5 min)
Ask each question and let several children answer.
1. What sad things happened to Naomi? (Her husband and both sons died.)
2. What did Ruth promise Naomi? (To go where she went and to follow her God.)
3. Why was Ruth's choice brave? (She left her home and country to stay with someone who needed her.)
4. How can you be a loyal friend or family member this week? (Stay with a lonely classmate, help a sibling, keep a promise.)
5. How do you think God cared for Naomi and Ruth? (He gave bread to his people, and they arrived at harvest time.)
Say: "God sees us when we are sad and cares for us."
Say the memory verse together two times, with Ruth's "I will go!" motion.
Closing Prayer (4 min)
Say: "Let's thank God for loyal friends and ask him to help us be loyal too."
Have children stand in a circle holding their bookmarks.
Prayer points (children repeat each line):
- "Thank you, God, for people who stay with us."
- "Please comfort anyone who is sad or has lost someone."
- "Help us choose you, like Ruth did."
- "Help us be kind and loyal at home and at school."
Say: "Take your bookmark home and tell your family about Ruth. See you next week!"
Materials
- KJV Bible
- Masking tape (for a floor road)
- 6 index cards with story scenes written on them
- Cardstock strips (about 5 x 18 cm), one per child
- Crayons or markers
- Glue sticks
- Scissors (teacher use or supervised)
- Poster or whiteboard for the memory verse
Teacher notes
- The full verse is long for this age. Teach it in two parts: "whither thou goest, I will go" first, then "thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Add motions for each phrase.
- Some children may have lost family members. Keep the grief part brief and gentle, and let them pass on questions if they wish.
- Craft safety: Teacher handles scissors. Check for glue or marker allergies. The game is walking only.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards for the story scenes. Pair non-readers with a buddy. Offer a seated option for the game.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Ruth 1. Naomi lost her husband and sons. Ruth chose to stay with Naomi and follow her God, and they went to Bethlehem. We talked about loyal love and trusting that God cares for us in hard times.
- Who has stayed with you when things were hard?
- What do you think it was like for Ruth to leave her home?
- How can we show loyal love to someone this week?
Make a "Loyal Love" list together. Each person writes one way to help another family member this week, then everyone does it.
Say the memory verse once a day. Do one kind thing for someone who is lonely or having a hard time.
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