The Prodigal Son: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Luke 15:11-32
An interactive lesson on the Prodigal Son. Children act out the story, make a welcome-home ring, and learn that God joyfully welcomes us when we turn back to Him.
Memory verse
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:24, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell the story of the father and his two sons in order.
- Explain that God, like the father, welcomes us with love when we turn back to Him.
- Choose one way to show welcome and forgiveness to someone this week.
The full lesson plan
Lost and Found Welcome (5 min)
Setup: Before class, put the mitten somewhere in plain view but hard to spot.
Say: "Good morning! Today's story is about someone who was lost and then found."
Say: "Have you ever lost something you loved? How did you feel when you found it?" (Take 2-3 answers.)
Game: Tell the children the mitten is lost. They walk (no running) and look. Call "warmer" or "colder" as they search. When someone finds it, everyone cheers quietly with big smiles.
Say: "We were happy to find the mitten. Jesus told a story about a father who was even happier to find something much more important."
Say: "Now let's listen to that story."
Hear the Story (8 min)
Say: "Listen for what the younger son does, and what the father does."
Read or tell Luke 15:11-32 in order, pausing at these points:
1. The younger son asks for his share, and the father divides his goods (vv. 11-12).
2. He goes to a far country and wastes it all. Famine comes, and he feeds swine and is hungry (vv. 13-16).
3. He "came to himself" and decides to go home and say, "I have sinned" (vv. 17-20a).
4. While he is still far off, the father sees him, has compassion, and runs to him (v. 20).
5. The father gives a robe, a ring, shoes, and a feast (vv. 22-24).
6. The older son is angry, and the father goes out to him (vv. 25-32).
Ask after each pause: "What happened?" Children answer in one sentence.
Say: "Notice the story does not tell us what the older son did next."
Say: "Now let's find out what this story teaches us."
A Father's Big Love (7 min)
Background: Jesus told this story because some leaders grumbled that He welcomed sinners (Luke 15:1-2).
Say: "The younger son made a bad choice and ended up hungry and far from home."
Say: "The Bible says he 'came to himself.' He turned around and went home."
Say: "The father did not wait with folded arms. He saw his son far off and ran to him."
Say: "He gave his son a robe, a ring, and shoes, and held a feast. His son was welcomed back as his son."
Hold up three fingers and ask what they were (robe, ring, shoes).
Say: "The older son was angry. The father went out to him too, and said, 'All that I have is thine.' He loved both sons."
Say: "God is like that father. When we do wrong, we can say sorry and turn back to Him. He forgives and welcomes us. Jesus came so we can be God's children, found and forgiven."
Say: "Now let's act out the story."
Walk Home Story Game (7 min)
Setup: Put a long masking-tape line across the floor. One end is "far country," the other is "Father's house." Leave plenty of walking space.
Time: 7 minutes. Everyone walks slowly, never runs.
1. Children stand at "far country." Teacher says the story cues, and children do the actions.
2. "Spend, spend, spend!" Children pretend to toss coins. "Famine!" They rub hungry tummies.
3. Say: "He came to himself!" Children turn around and slowly walk toward the house.
4. At the middle, the teacher stands at the house and calls: "The father sees him far off!" Everyone says, "He ran!" (Children walk fast and stop at the tape.)
5. At the end, children open their arms wide (no hugs needed) and say together: "Welcome home!"
Play a second time if there is time, with a different child as the "father" calling the cues.
Say: "Now let's make something to remember the father's welcome."
Welcome-Home Ring (8 min)
Safety: Use pre-cut strips, so no scissors are needed. No small parts. Supervise tape use.
Setup: Pre-cut 2 paper strips per child. Place crayons and tape on tables.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Say: "The father put a ring on his son's hand. Let's make a ring to remember."
2. Children decorate one strip with colors and patterns.
3. On the second strip, they write or draw: "Loved. Found. Welcomed."
4. Help each child tape the first strip into a ring that fits a finger. Tape the second strip as a bracelet or place it in a pocket.
5. Children share their ring with a partner and say, "God welcomes you home."
Say: "When you see your ring, remember that God is a loving Father who welcomes you."
Say: "Now let's talk about the story."
Let's Talk About It (5 min)
Ask the questions below. Sample answers are in parentheses.
1. What did the younger son do with his father's money? (He wasted it, and then he was hungry.)
2. What did the father do when he saw his son far away? (He had compassion, ran, and welcomed him.)
3. Why was the older brother upset? (He thought it was not fair that his brother got a feast.)
4. What does this story tell us about God? (God loves us and forgives us when we turn back to Him.)
5. How can you welcome someone who says sorry? (Forgive them and be kind.)
Say: "Thank you for sharing such good ideas."
Say: "Now let's close with our verse and a prayer."
Memory Verse and Prayer (5 min)
Show the verse card. Say it line by line and the children repeat it:
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again;" (point to the ground, then stand up)
"he was lost, and is found." (hands shade eyes, then open arms)
"And they began to be merry." (clap and smile)
Repeat it twice, getting faster.
Say: "Let's pray together. Repeat after me."
Prayer points:
1. "Thank You, God, that You are a loving Father."
2. "Thank You that You welcome us when we say sorry."
3. "Help us forgive others the way You forgive us."
4. "In Jesus' name, amen."
Say: "Take your ring home and remember you are loved. See you next time!"
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- A mitten or small toy to be "lost"
- Masking tape (for a "home" line on the floor)
- Pre-cut paper strips, about 2 x 20 cm (2 per child)
- Crayons or markers
- Clear tape
- Index card with the memory verse written large
- Blanket or scarf for the "robe"
Teacher notes
- Safety: Check that the craft area is clear of small parts. Supervise tape and crayons. The games are walking only, with no pressure to touch or hug.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards of the story (far country, hungry, walking home, robe/ring/shoes) for visual learners. Pair children in buddy pairs for the craft, and offer a quieter seat-based option for the game.
- Stay with the text. The Bible does not say what the older son decided, so leave the ending open and do not invent details.
- If a child shares hurt about family, listen kindly and tell the lesson leader after class.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Jesus' story of a father and two sons (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son left and wasted everything. When he came home, his father ran to welcome him with a robe, a ring, shoes, and a feast. The father also went out to the angry older son. The story shows God's loving welcome to all who turn back to Him.
- What part of the story was your favorite? Why?
- When has someone forgiven you? How did it feel?
- How can we welcome someone who says sorry to us?
Read Luke 15:20-24 together. Then have a simple "welcome home" moment at the door, with a cheer for each family member who comes in.
This week, forgive someone quickly when they say sorry, and say the memory verse once a day.
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