The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost: Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Ages 3-5)
Ages 3-5 · 30 minutes · free lesson plan · Acts 2:1-21
A 30-minute interactive preschool lesson on Acts 2:1-21 using movement, a wind and fire craft, and a simple memory verse about calling on the name of the Lord.
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
- Children will hear that God sent the Holy Spirit to the believers, as the Bible tells it.
- Children will retell the story with actions: wind, fire-like tongues, and speaking in other languages.
- Children will learn that anyone can call on the name of the Lord.
The full lesson plan
Welcome and Wind Wiggle (4 min)
Setup: Have children sit in a circle with room to wave their arms.
Say: "Good morning! Today we have a story about a big, loud wind!"
Say: "Let's make a gentle wind. Whooo, whooo!"
Lead the children in these actions:
- Soft wind: wiggle fingers and whisper "whoo."
- Big wind: sway arms and say "WHOOO!"
- Wind stops: freeze and put a finger to the lips.
Repeat two times.
Say: "In our Bible story, God's friends heard a sound like a mighty wind. Now let's listen to what happened."
Bible Story: The Day of Pentecost (5 min)
Hold up the Bible. Tell the story in order, with an action for each part. Children copy you.
Say: "Jesus' friends were all together in one place." (Hold hands together.)
Say: "Suddenly there was a sound from heaven, like a rushing mighty wind. It filled the whole house!" (Wave arms, say "whoo.")
Say: "Then they saw something like tongues of fire. It sat on each one of them." (Wiggle fingers over your head.)
Say: "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other languages." (Say "hello" and wave.)
Say: "People from many nations heard them. Each person heard in his own language, and they were amazed!" (Open eyes and mouth wide.)
Background: This day is called Pentecost. Read Acts 2:1-4 aloud from the Bible if time allows.
Say: "Now let's find out what Peter said."
Peter Tells the Good News (4 min)
Say: "Peter stood up and spoke to the people. He told them what God had promised."
Say: "God said He would pour out His Spirit. This was God's gift!"
Say: "Peter ended with good news: whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Say: "Jesus came to save us. Anyone can call on His name, big or small."
Ask the children to repeat each line with you:
- "God sent His Spirit." (Hands rise like a gift.)
- "Call on the Lord." (Hands cup the mouth.)
- "He saves!" (Arms wide in a hug.)
Say: "Now let's play a wind game!"
Game: Whoosh and Freeze (5 min)
Setup: Clear a space. Children stay in place, with no running.
Time: 5 minutes.
1. Everyone stands in their own spot.
2. Call out "Gentle wind!" and children sway slowly.
3. Call out "Mighty wind!" and children spin their arms and say "WHOOO!"
4. Call out "Fire!" and children wiggle fingers over their heads.
5. Call out "Say hello!" and children wave to a friend and say "hello." Then call "Freeze!" and everyone stops.
Say: "Great listening! God's Spirit came with wind and fire, and God's friends spoke so everyone could understand."
Say: "Next we'll make our own wind wands."
Craft: Wind and Fire Wand (6 min)
Setup: Pre-cut tissue paper strips, about 5 per child. Put out tubes, tape and crayons.
Time: 6 minutes.
Safety: Teacher does all cutting. Tape and tissue pieces are not for mouths. Watch children who still mouth objects, and check for any sensitivities before class.
1. Give each child a tube and crayons. They color it.
2. Each child chooses red, orange and yellow strips.
3. Teacher or helper tapes the strips inside one end of the tube.
4. Children wave the wand and say "whoo!"
5. Say: "This reminds us of the wind and fire in our story."
Say: "Wonderful! Now let's talk about our story."
Talk Time (3 min)
Ask each question. Keep answers short and let children answer in a word or an action.
1. What did the sound from heaven feel like? (Like a rushing wind.)
2. What did the people hear? (Their own language.)
3. Who can call on the name of the Lord? (Everyone!)
Say: "Thank you for sharing! Now let's learn our verse and pray."
Memory Verse and Prayer (3 min)
Teach Acts 2:21 one phrase at a time with actions. Children repeat each phrase:
- "Whosoever" (point to everyone)
- "shall call on the name of the Lord" (hands cupped at mouth)
- "shall be saved." (hug yourself)
Repeat twice, with wands waving softly.
Say: "Let's pray. Dear God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that everyone can call on Your name. Amen."
Prayer points: thank God for His gift of the Holy Spirit, and thank Jesus for saving us.
Say: "Take your wand home and tell someone the story!"
Materials
- Bible
- Red, orange and yellow tissue paper strips (pre-cut)
- Cardboard tubes (one per child)
- Tape
- Crayons
Teacher notes
- Stick to what the text says: wind, tongues like fire, and other languages. Do not add numbers or names the passage does not give.
- Craft safety: you do all the cutting, tissue and tape pieces are not for mouths, and check for any sensitivities before class.
- Adaptation: for children who dislike noise, offer a quiet wave option and a visual picture of wind and fire. In a mixed-age group, pair older children with younger ones.
- Keep the wind game seated if space is tight; no running.
Send it home with parents
Today we heard Acts 2:1-21. God sent the Holy Spirit with a sound like wind and tongues like fire. The believers spoke in other languages, and people from many nations understood. Peter told everyone that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
- What was your favorite part of the wind and fire story?
- Who can call on the name of the Lord?
Wave the wind wand together and retell the story with actions. Then say Acts 2:21 together.
Each day this week, say the memory verse at bedtime and thank God for sending His Spirit.
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