How to Teach Day 1 of Creation So Kids Remember It

Twice a month, I have the opportunity to lead 80 three through six-year-olds in worship and story time at our church.  I love this time with these precious kiddos and am so encouraged by the joy they have for learning about Jesus.

Because of the age span and vast background of the group, I try to come up with new and creative ways to tell the Bible stories to these kiddos.  I love it when out of the blue the Holy Spirit will give me an idea that I know will make a lasting impression on the kids.

Teaching Creation Day 1

A couple of weeks ago, I was scheduled to teach the kids Day 1 of creation.  I was thinking through the idea of turning off the lights and turning them back on.  Because we have so many kids and an array of sensory issues, I decided against this plan.  The Holy Spirit gave me the idea using a black and white piece of construction paper.

For starters, I glued only half of a side of black construction paper to a smaller piece of white paper.  I wanted the kids to only see the black construction paper without any idea that the white paper was behind it.

Then I began reading from the Bible while holding up the black piece of construction paper.  (I made a big deal that I was reading to them from an adult Bible.  They think that is really cool.)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

“Do you see how dark this paper is?  That is how dark it was everywhere!”  I asked the kids to closer their eyes really tight and then put their hands over their eyes.  Then they looked all around the room.  “It was completely dark.”

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

I told the kids to remove their hands and open their eyes.  I reminded them of the black paper.  “It was totally, completely, 100% dark but with just four words from God, there was light.”  At this point I tore the non-glued sheet of black paper away from the white paper.

4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

They were shocked and awed.  I could see their minds spinning trying to figure out how that white paper got there.  And so I explained, “It was completely dark but God is the creator of the world and with just four words He made what looked impossible happen.”

So simple.  A visual from the Holy Spirit that made a lasting imprint on the kids’ minds.

Click for more preschool Creation crafts and teaching ideas.