The Ten Commandments: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Exodus 20:1-17
Children hear the Ten Commandments, learn that God gave them to a rescued people, play a matching game, make a two-tablet craft and learn Exodus 20:3.
Memory verse
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Children will hear the Ten Commandments in order and say that God gave them to His people after rescuing them from Egypt.
- Children will explain that the first commandments are about loving God and the others are about loving people.
- Children will name one way to obey God this week and see that they need Jesus' help.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Who Makes the Rules? (5 min)
Setup: Stand where all the children can see you.
Say: "Good morning! Let's play Follow the Leader. Do what I do."
Lead 4 or 5 simple moves (clap, touch your head, turn around, sit down). Then change the rules in the middle. Say "Do the opposite!" and watch the confusion.
Say: "What happened when the rules kept changing?" (It was confusing. We didn't know what to do.)
Say: "Rules help us know what to do. Good rules keep us safe and help us get along. Who can name a rule at home or at school?" Take 3 or 4 answers.
Say: "Today we find out about the rules God gave His people. They show us how to love Him and love each other."
Transition: "Now let's hear what God said."
Hear God's Words (8 min)
Open your KJV Bible to Exodus 20. Have the children count the commandments on their fingers as you go.
Say: "Verse 1 says God spoke all these words. Listen first to what He says about Himself."
Read verse 2 from the Bible: "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt."
Say: "God rescued His people first. Then He gave the rules."
Retell in order (read the verses aloud from the KJV if time allows):
1. No other gods before me (v. 3).
2. Do not make or bow down to idols (vv. 4-6).
3. Do not use the LORD's name in vain (v. 7).
4. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy (vv. 8-11).
5. Honour your father and mother (v. 12).
6. Do not kill (v. 13).
7. Do not commit adultery (v. 14).
8. Do not steal (v. 15).
9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbour (v. 16).
10. Do not covet what belongs to your neighbour (v. 17).
Background: "Covet" means wanting something that belongs to someone else so much that it makes your heart unhappy.
Transition: "Now let's see why God gave these rules."
Rules from a Rescuing God (8 min)
Say: "God didn't give these rules to spoil our fun. He gave them to a people He had already rescued."
Say: "The first four commandments are about loving God. He comes first in our hearts, and we honour His name and His day."
Hold up four fingers on one hand, then six on the other.
Say: "The last six are about loving people: our family, our neighbours, and everyone around us."
Background: Later God wrote these words on two stone tablets (Exodus 31:18).
Ask: "Can anyone keep all ten perfectly, every day?" (No.)
Say: "We all fail sometimes. That is why we need Jesus. He said the most important rules are to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus loved perfectly, and He forgives us when we say sorry and trust Him."
Say: "When we love Jesus, He helps us want to obey."
Transition: "Let's play a game to practise spotting these rules."
Which Rule Is It? Game (7 min)
Setup before class: Write numbers 1-10 on index cards, each with a short rule in kid words (for example 1: God first, 5: honour parents, 8: don't steal, 9: tell the truth, 10: be thankful, don't covet). Tape them around the room at child height with clear walking space.
Steps:
1. Explain: "Walk, never run, to the card that fits what I read."
2. Read a situation, such as "Someone tells the truth even when it's hard" (card 9) or "A child takes a pencil that isn't hers" (card 8).
3. Children walk to the matching card. Praise good guesses, and say the right answer together.
4. Play 5 or 6 rounds. Include "A child is happy with what they have" (card 10) and "A child listens to a parent" (card 5).
5. Have everyone return to their seats and say Exodus 20:3 together twice.
Tip: A child who prefers not to walk can point from their seat.
Craft: My Two Tablets (8 min)
Setup before class: Cut cardstock into rounded-top tablet shapes, or have the children cut them with supervision. Each child needs two tablets.
Safety: Supervise scissors and glue. Use pre-cut shapes for children who need help.
Steps:
1. Write "Love God" at the top of tablet one and "Love People" at the top of tablet two.
2. On tablet one, write or draw the numbers 1-4. Add a small heart or Bible picture.
3. On tablet two, write the numbers 5-10. Add a picture of family or friends.
4. On the back of tablet one, write "Exodus 20:3" and the memory verse. Older children can write it themselves.
5. Glue or tape the two tablets side by side onto a strip of paper so they stand or fold.
Say: "Put your tablets where you will see them this week. They remind you that God's rules come from His love."
Transition: "Let's talk about what we learned."
Let's Talk (5 min)
Ask these questions and give each child a chance to share.
1. What did God say about Himself before He gave the rules? (He said He brought His people out of Egypt. He rescued them.)
2. Why do you think God gave us rules? (To show us how to love Him and each other, and to keep us safe.)
3. Which commandment is easy for you to obey, and which is hard? (Answers will vary. Be kind and thankful for honest answers.)
4. What can we do when we fail to obey? (Tell God we're sorry. Jesus forgives us and helps us.)
Closing and Prayer (4 min)
Say: "God's rules are good, and God is good. Let's thank Him together."
Have the children stand and say the memory verse once more with their fingers counting: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Prayer points (pray one line at a time, children repeat):
- "Thank You, God, for rescuing and loving us."
- "Help us to put You first."
- "Help us to love our family and friends."
- "Thank You, Jesus, for forgiving us when we fail."
Say: "Take your tablets home, and tell someone one thing you learned today. See you next week!"
Materials
- KJV Bible
- 10 index cards with numbers 1-10 and a short rule on each
- Marker
- Tape (to post cards on the wall)
- Cardstock or heavy paper, 1 sheet per child
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors (or pre-cut tablet shapes)
- Glue stick
Teacher notes
- Safety: The craft uses scissors and glue. Supervise closely, use pre-cut shapes for those who need them, and check for glue or marker sensitivities. Keep game walking only.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards for the game and offer buddy pairs for the craft. A child who prefers a quieter option can point from their seat or colour the tablets.
- Explain "adultery" simply: being faithful to a husband or wife. Keep this brief and calm for this age group.
- Keep the focus on God's love and rescue. Stress that obedience comes from loving God, and that Jesus forgives when we fail.
Send it home with parents
We studied Exodus 20:1-17. God rescued His people from Egypt and then gave them the Ten Commandments. The first four show us how to love God, and the last six show us how to love others. We can't keep them perfectly, so we need Jesus, who forgives us and helps us.
- Why did God give His people rules after He rescued them?
- Which of the Ten Commandments is hardest for you? How can we help each other with it?
- What does it mean to put God first in our family?
Put your child's craft tablets on the fridge. At dinner, take turns naming one commandment and one way your family can obey it this week.
Each day, find one way to obey a commandment, such as telling the truth, honouring a parent, or being thankful instead of wanting more. Say Exodus 20:3 at bedtime.
Make this lesson your own: change the age, length or language · Printables to go with this lesson · Printables for this story
More teaching resources
More free lessons
See all free lessons