Lesson

Dorcas Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Dorcas (Tabitha) Sunday school lesson (Acts 9:36–43) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions and a take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

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Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: Acts 9:36–43
Bible story: Peter Raises Dorcas (Tabitha)

What you need

A Bible (mark Acts 9:36 and Acts 9:40)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
5 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A few small towels, shirts or cloths to fold (kindergarten to 2nd grade) and a small blanket or sweater with a few stuffed animals (preschool)
Paper strips, crayons and tape or a stapler for a paper chain (kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Dorcas word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Dorcas Sunday school lesson teaches kids to serve others with kind deeds. Dorcas, also called Tabitha, "was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did" (Acts 9:36). When she died, the widows showed Peter the coats and garments she had made. Peter kneeled down and prayed and said, "Tabitha, arise," and she opened her eyes (9:40). "Many believed in the Lord" (9:42). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a keep-them-warm game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("this woman was full of good works") with a motion, and a coat drawing activity.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Fold and Stack game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Coat Strips verse game with five paper strips, and a Good Works Chain.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: an act-it-out game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (Aeneas and "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole," the widows and the coats, "Tabitha, arise," many believed), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Acts 9:32–43 out loud themselves, then discuss healing in Jesus' name (Acts 3:12), good works that point people to God, praying first and serving people who are easy to overlook. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Acts 9:36 and Matthew 5:16).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: Acts 9:36–43
Main point: Serve others with kind deeds, like Dorcas did. God hears our prayers.
Memory verse: Acts 9:36 (KJV), with Matthew 5:16 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about helping and kind deeds.
Bible story: Dorcas, full of good works (Acts 9:36), gets sick and dies (9:37), the widows show Peter the coats she made (9:39), Peter prays and says, "Tabitha, arise" (9:40), and many believe in the Lord (9:42). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Acts 9:36.
What this means for us: serving others, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Dorcas craft, a good works chain, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Dorcas

Tabitha and Dorcas are the same woman: Acts 9:36 gives her name in two languages.
Keep the sad part short and gentle. The Bible says only "she was sick, and died" (Acts 9:37), and then God raised her.
Point out that Peter prayed first, and that the power was Jesus' (Acts 9:34, 9:40).
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Dorcas lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of the story of Dorcas?

Serving others. Dorcas "was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did" (Acts 9:36), and the widows showed the coats and garments she had made (9:39). When she died, Peter prayed, and God raised her up. "Many believed in the Lord" (9:42).

Are Dorcas and Tabitha the same person?

Yes. Acts 9:36 says she was "named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas." Tabitha is her name in one language, and Dorcas is the same name in another. Peter called her Tabitha when he said, "Tabitha, arise" (9:40).

How do I teach about Dorcas dying to young kids?

Say it simply, the way the Bible does: "she was sick, and died" (Acts 9:37). Then go straight to the good news: Peter kneeled down and prayed, and God brought her back to life (9:40–41). The lessons keep it short and gentle, with a teacher note for questions.