Pentecost Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free Pentecost Sunday school lesson teaches kids that God kept His promise and poured out the Holy Ghost: on the day of Pentecost the believers "were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4), Peter preached Jesus, and about three thousand souls were added (Acts 2:41). 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 paper-blowing game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you") with a motion, and a flames-on-the-house drawing activity.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the What Do You Hear? sound game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Flame Verse game with eight paper strips, and a tell-it-in-order circle.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a name twister with the nations of Acts 2:9–11, then kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the promise in Acts 1, the wind and the cloven tongues, every man in his own language, Peter's sermon, the three thousand and the church), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a "Big Question" opening, students read Acts 2:1–13 and 2:36–41 out loud themselves, then discuss waiting in prayer, answering mockers with Scripture, Peter's answer and being a witness. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Acts 1:8 and Acts 2:38).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: Acts 1:4–14 and Acts 2:1–41
• Main point: God kept His promise and poured out the Holy Ghost, and the promise is for us and our children too (Acts 2:39).
• Memory verse: Acts 1:8 (KJV), with Acts 2:38 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about sounds, wind or many languages, or a "big question" for preteens.
2. Bible story: Jesus tells His followers to wait for the promise (Acts 1:4–5), the sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind (2:2), cloven tongues like as of fire (2:3), filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with other tongues (2:4), every man hearing in his own language (2:6), Peter's sermon (2:14–36), "What shall we do?" (2:37), Peter's answer (2:38) and about three thousand added (2:41). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Acts 1:8.
5. What this means for us: the gospel in the words Peter preached that day (Acts 2:38), and a challenge to be a witness this week.
6. Activity: the Pentecost word search, the Pentecost crossword, the Pentecost maze, the Pentecost worksheet, the Pentecost craft, a tell-it-in-order circle, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching Pentecost

• Read Acts 2:4 and Acts 2:38 straight from your Bible. They are the heart of the story: what God did, and what Peter told the people to do.
• Use the King James words: "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind" (2:2), "cloven tongues like as of fire" (2:3), and "every man heard them speak in his own language" (2:6).
• Jesus is not in the house in this story: He had already been taken up into heaven (Acts 1:9).
• If a child asks about speaking in tongues, each lesson gives you a short, warm answer from Scripture. Never pressure a child; invite them to talk with their parents and pastor.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.