Children's Bible Activities About Abraham & Sarah

Add structure to your tot's daily dose of dinosaurs and princesses with a Biblical lesson about Abraham and Sarah. Remind your child of how Abraham was considered a "friend of God" because he obeyed. Using hands-on activities and games, reinforce the lessons about obeying and following God even when it seems impossible. Your child may not realize he’s creating a foundation for a lifetime of learning, but he will remember Abraham and Sarah's story after acting it out with you.

Design a punch-out picture with black construction paper. Hold your child’s finished work up to the light to help her see the “constellations,” and remind her how God promised Abraham his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. As another teaching tool from this set of scriptures, make a sand jar design with layers of colored craft sand. Talk about God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would be like the stars in the sky or the dust on the ground. Alternatively, give your child a mini-math lesson while she a creates a 100-inch yarn star. Measure out 100 inches of yellow yarn to show how old Abraham was when his son, Isaac, was born. Glue a star shape onto thick craft paper and fill in with the yarn.

Sneak in some exercise with a rousing version of “Father Abraham." Start with the classic lines of "Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham." Add in one moving body part after another, until the final "Turn around, sit down!" After your child collapses, winded and giggling, on the floor, slow things down with “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and the story about Abraham’s descendants. Next, sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” substituting the traditional words with “Sarah had a baby boy.” End the singing session with an interactive chant. Have your child sit on the floor, clapping and patting his legs to the “Going on a Trip” chant. Amend the traditional words with the insertion of lines about trusting, praying and obeying.

Make a homemade “Abraham’s Journey” board game for preschoolers. Illustrate a tent on one end of a cardboard square, and write “Promised Land” on the other. Draw a path of 1-inch stars meandering between the two sides of the board. Cut out small flash cards with simple questions about the Bible story on one side and answers on the other side. Children can advance along the path with each correct answer. Or, play a game of "Follow the Leader." Remind your child how Abraham followed God, even when he did not know where he was going.

Read an illustrated version of the Bible story, and have your preschooler use hand motions to act out sections like Sarah listening in the tent, laughing at the news she’d have a baby or rocking her new baby. For a more permanent way to play pretend, make Abraham and Sarah’s tent out of a small box and construction paper. Create stand-up paper dolls from card stock paper and cardboard bases. After your child colors in the scene, have her make the characters talk to accompany your narration. Lastly, encourage role-playing by having her act out parts of the story. Get out the pop-up tent, some towels and sheets for costumes, and let the drama unfold.