The Good Samaritan Bible Lesson for Kids
A free Good Samaritan Bible lesson for kids (Luke 10:25–37) in four age levels, preschool to preteen: a game, Bible story, questions, verse and take-home.
Preschool–Grade 6
Download
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, kindergarten to 2nd grade (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Take-home sheet (PDF) · 1 page
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preschool ages 3–5 (PDF) · 2 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, 3rd to 5th grade (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preteens ages 11–12 (PDF) · 3 pages
Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.
- 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
- Luke 10:25–37
- Bible story
- The Good Samaritan
What you need
- A Bible (mark Luke 10:27 and Luke 10:37)
- Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
- 5 index cards and a marker (memory verse game)
- Strips of cloth or a few adhesive bandages, and a stuffed animal or doll (preschool, and for acting out the story)
- Two coins (to show the "two pence")
- Paper and pencils (3rd grade and up)
- Printed take-home sheets, one per child
- Printed Good Samaritan word search and crayons for early finishers
This free Good Samaritan Sunday school lesson teaches kids that anyone who needs help is their neighbor, and God wants them to show mercy. It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.
Choose your age level
- Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, a "Bandage Helpers" game with a stuffed animal, three simple questions, a short memory verse ("Go, and do thou likewise") with a motion, and an "I can help" drawing.
- Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, Freeze and Help Tag, and the Heart, Soul, Strength, Mind verse game with five cards.
- 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the law the lawyer quoted, why Jews and Samaritans didn't get along, what two pence was worth), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
- Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Luke 10:25–37 out loud themselves, with every old KJV word explained, then discuss who is hard to love, what mercy costs and how Jesus turned the lawyer's question around. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Luke 10:27 and 1 John 3:18).
Lesson at a glance
- Bible passage: Luke 10:25–37
- Main point: Anyone who needs help is my neighbor, and God wants me to show them mercy.
- Memory verse: Luke 10:27 (KJV); Luke 10:37 for preschool, with 1 John 3:18 added for preteens
- Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions
Lesson outline (the same in every version)
- Opening game: a short game about stopping to help, like "Freeze and Help Tag."
- Bible story: the lawyer's question, the man on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, the priest and Levite who passed by, and the Samaritan who showed mercy. 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 it.
- What this means for us: God showed us mercy, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
- Activity: the Good Samaritan word search, a coloring page or craft, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
- Prayer.
Tips for teaching the Good Samaritan
- Start with the lawyer's question (Luke 10:25–29). The parable is Jesus' answer to "Who is my neighbour?"
- The Bible says the Samaritan used "his own beast" (Luke 10:34). It doesn't say what kind of animal, so we just say "his animal."
- Talk about safety: kids help strangers by getting a trusted grown-up. Each lesson includes a short answer for this.
- 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 Good Samaritan 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 age is this lesson for?
All ages from preschool to preteen. The lesson comes in four separate teacher PDFs: preschool (ages 3 to 5), kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, and preteens (ages 11 to 12). Each one tells the same Bible story at the right length and reading level, with its own questions and activity.
What is the moral of the Good Samaritan for kids?
Our neighbor is anyone who needs help, and we show love by showing mercy. After the story Jesus said, "Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:37).
Why did Jesus tell the parable of the Good Samaritan?
A lawyer (an expert in God's law) asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life. He agreed we must love God and our neighbor, then asked, "And who is my neighbour?" Jesus answered with this story (Luke 10:25–29).
Is this Sunday school lesson really free?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your church, school or home. Please don't resell it.
