This is the 5th lesson of a 5-part series based on the life of Moses. This free Children’s Church lesson plan was first written for elementary aged students. It covers the 10 Commandments. This material could also be used as the Bible lesson for children’s Sunday school. Be sure to consider your own ministry context and modify it as needed.
Bible Story: 10 Commandments for children
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17
Target Age Group: Age 6 – 11 (U.S. Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Learning Context: Children’s Church
Target Time Frame: 60 minutes
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Learning Objectives: After this lesson, the children will demonstrate an understanding of the 10 Commandments by being able to tell them to a friend.
Target Age: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
- Bible, Exodus 20:1-17
- The 10 Commandments Mini Book for each child, crayons, scissors
- 10 pieces of construction paper, markers
Additional Lesson Resources:
- The 10 Commandments Rule Signs 1 [pdf]
- The 10 Commandments Rule Signs 2 [pdf]
- 10 Commandments Booklet [pdf]
- The 10 Commandments Mini Book [pdf]
Teaching Plan: The 10 Commandments
Welcome Activity: Welcome activities are things to have out for the children to do as they are arriving for class. These activities will get them engaged as soon as they arrive and will help the transition from their parents.
Coloring the 10 Commandments – give each child a copy of the 10 Commandments’ mini book and let them color it. Make sure each child’s name gets written on their book. Cut the mini book on the dotted line and fold on the bold lines. To cut on the dotted lines, fold the paper in half and then cut.
Worship: Moses Songs
Bible Lesson Introduction: What are some of the rules at your house? What are you allowed to do and not allowed to do? Did you know that God has rules, too? We are going to learn about them today.
Have the children open their Bibles Exodus 20:1-17. To help them find it, use the following questions. Answers are in italics.
- Which part of the Bible is Exodus in? Old Testament
- What book of the Old Testament is Exodus? #2
Read Exodus 20:1-17(NIV) aloud to the children.
1 Here are all of the words God spoke. He said,
2 “I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves.
3 “Do not put any other gods in place of me.
4 “Do not make statues of gods that look like anything in the sky or on the earth or in the waters. 5 Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their parents. I punish the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me. 6 But for all time to come I show love to all those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will find guilty anyone who misuses his name.
8 “Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. 9 Do all of your work in six days. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the Lord your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your cities. 11 In six days I made the heavens and the earth. I made the oceans and everything in them. But I rested on the seventh day. So I blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “Do not commit murder.
14 “Do not commit adultery.
15 “Do not steal.
16 “Do not give false witness against your neighbor.
17 “Do not long for anything that belongs to your neighbor. Do not long for your neighbor’s house, wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey.”
Discuss Bible Lesson: Go over all of the 10 commandments with the children, explaining them along the way.
Bible Lesson Activities
Activity: 10 Commandment Posters
- Have the children get into groups.
- Give each group a piece of paper and markers.
- Assign each group one of the commandments.
- Have the groups draw a picture explaining the commandment.
- Make sure that each commandment has been drawn (some groups may have to draw a couple, depending on how many groups you have)
- Let the children display and explain their poster.
Activity: Bible Verse Memorization
- “Here are the laws you must explain to the people of Israel.” Exodus 21:1
Have the children do the following hand motions along with repeating the words after you, to help them learn the Bible Verse:
Here are the laws: hold out your arms as though you are giving something
You must explain: make a motion with your hand around your mouth
To the people of Israel: point to others in the class
Exodus 21: hold 2 fingers on one hand and 1 finger on the other hand
1: hold up 1 finger
Do this a few times with the children. Make it fun for them to do the motions and say the words. Involving them in active learning is essential for memorization.
Activity: 10 Commandment Acting
Have the children get into groups and choose a commandment to act out.
Evaluation: Have the children state the 10 commandments to a friend.