Baby Moses and the River: Preschool Lesson

This is the 1st in a 5-part series on the life & ministry of Moses, including a lesson entirely on the 10 Commandments. Each story will have two versions of the lesson plan, one for preschool and the other for elementary aged children. Click here to see the series index.
This printable lesson plan is designed to teach preschool aged children about the story of Moses and the River. It could be used in any setting with children age 2-5 at church, including a preschool Sunday School class or a preschool children’s church class. As always, consider your own ministry context and modify it as needed.
Bible Story: Moses and the River – Exodus 1:22-2:10
Learning Objectives: After this lesson, the children will demonstrate an understanding of the how Moses was save by retelling the story.
Target Age: 2 year olds – 5 year olds
Items Needed:

• Bible, Exodus 1:22-2:10
• “Moses and the River” Booklet (PDF printable)
• Babies and stuffed animals
• Basket template (from dltk.com) put together – print on card stock to make it sturdier, 6 construction paper strips per child (the size of the holes in the basket), tape, marker
• Glue, ¼ sheet of construction paper, 1 circle per child (for baby Moses’ head), tape

Worship
Use the “Moses Songs” (extra print out) to lead the children to sing before the Bible lesson.
Teaching Plan: Moses and the River
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.
• Have babies and stuffed animals available for the children to take care of
Worship: Moses Songs

Bible Lesson Introduction
Talk with the children about what they would need to go in the water. What about a baby?
Bible Lesson
Read Exodus 1:22-2:10 (NIRV) aloud to the children. There is also a book that you can print out that has the story along with simple pictures to help the children understand what is being read.
Read the verses (story) to the children. If you are using the print out story, point to the pictures as you read the story so that the children can better understand what you are saying.
Read Exodus 1:22-2:10 (NIV) aloud to the children.
Then Pharaoh gave an order to all of his people. He said, “You must throw every baby boy into the Nile River. But let every baby girl live.”
A man and a woman from the tribe of Levi got married. She became pregnant and had a son by him. She saw that her baby was a fine child. So she hid him for three months.
After that, she couldn’t hide him any longer. So she got a basket that was made out of the stems of tall grass. She coated it with tar. Then she placed the child in it. She put the basket in the tall grass that grew along the bank of the Nile River. The child’s sister wasn’t very far away. She wanted to see what would happen to him.
Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile River to take a bath. Her attendants were walking along the bank of the river. She saw the basket in the tall grass. So she sent her female slave to get it.
When she opened it, she saw the baby. He was crying. She felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister spoke to Pharaoh’s daughter. She asked, “Do you want me to go and get one of the Hebrew women? She could nurse the baby for you.”
“Yes. Go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother.
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby. Nurse him for me. I’ll pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.
When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter. And he became her son. She named him Moses. She said, “I pulled him out of the water.”
Read the verses (story) again, but this time have the children have the children act out the story:
Characters: Moses’ mom
Moses
Moses’ sister
Pharoah’s daughter
Discuss the Bible Reading
When you are finished reading the story the second time, ask the children the following questions so that you can know they understood it.
“Who was in the story?” Moses, Moses’ mom, Moses’ sister, Pharoah’s daughter
“What did Moses’ mom put Moses into?” A basket
“Who found Moses?” Pharoah’s daughter
Bible Lesson Craft / Activity
Activity: Weave a Basket
“What was our Bible Lesson about today? (allow for responses) Right, a mother put her baby into a basket in order to save him. We are going to make our own basket.”
• Give each child a basket template and 6 construction paper strips
• Demonstrate to the children how to weave a strip of construction paper in and out of the template (Allow them to make it their own – it won’t be perfect. Just encourage them so that they don’t get frustrated.)
• While the children are weaving, walk around and make sure that each child’s name gets written on their paper

Activity: Bible Verse Memorization
“So she got a basket that was made out of the stems of tall grass. She coated it with tar. Then she placed the child in it.” Exodus 2:3 (New International Reader’s Version)
Have the children do the following hand motions along with repeating the words after you, to help them learn the Bible Verse:

So she got a basket: make the shape of a basket with your hands
That was made: twist fists together (one on top of the other)
Out of the stems of tall grass: wiggle fingers in front of body
She coated it with tar: place one hand on top of the other
Then she placed the child in it: act as though you are placing the baby in the basket
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 at this age.

Bible Verse Activity: Finish Basket
• Let them glue cotton balls on the inside of their basket
• Help them glue Moses’ head on the inside of their basket
• Help them glue the ¼ sheet of construction paper as Moses’ blanket
• When they are finished, help them hold their basket by the handles
• While the other children are finishing their basket, the children can act out the story using their basket
Evaluation:
Have the children tell you the parts of the story.