Tower of Babel Bible Lesson for Kids
A free Tower of Babel Bible lesson (Genesis 11:1–9) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions, memory verse and take-home.
Preschool–Grade 6
Download
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, kindergarten to 2nd grade (PDF) · 4 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preschool ages 3–5 (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, 3rd to 5th grade (PDF) · 4 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preteens ages 11–12 (PDF) · 4 pages
- ⬇ Take-home sheet (PDF) · 1 page
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
- Genesis 11:1–9
- Bible story
- The Tower of Babel
What you need
- A Bible (mark Genesis 11:4 and Genesis 11:7)
- Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
- Building blocks (preschool) or about 10 paper cups for each team of 3 or 4 kids (kindergarten to 5th grade)
- 5 paper rectangles for "bricks," a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade), plus one more paper brick for each child
- A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
- Paper and pencils (preteens)
- Printed take-home sheets, one per child
- Printed Tower of Babel word search and crayons for early finishers
This free Tower of Babel Bible lesson teaches kids that God is greater than anything people can build. The people at Babel said, "let us make us a name" (Genesis 11:4), but the LORD came down, confounded their language and scattered them (11:5–8). 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, 3 pages: a block-tower game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("Pride goeth before destruction") with motions, and a Scatter! game with a tower drawing.
- Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 4 pages: the Mixed-Up Builders cup game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Brick Tower memory verse game, and a Praise Tower activity.
- 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a silent tower-building game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (brick and slime, "let us make us a name," the LORD came down, the scattering), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
- Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: students read Genesis 11:1–9 out loud themselves, then discuss making a name for ourselves, doing things God's way, pride and humility, and Babel next to Pentecost. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Proverbs 16:18 and 1 Peter 5:6).
Lesson at a glance
- Bible passage: Genesis 11:1–9
- Main point: God is greater than anything we can build. We don't need to make a big name for ourselves; we honor God's name.
- Memory verse: Proverbs 16:18 (KJV), with 1 Peter 5:6 added for preteens
- Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions
Lesson outline (the same in every version)
- Opening game: a tower-building game, with a round where nobody can understand anybody.
- Bible story: one language, brick and slime for morter, "a city and a tower," "let us make us a name," the LORD came down, He confounded their language and scattered them, and the name Babel. 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 motions to help kids learn Proverbs 16:18.
- What this means for us: honoring God's name instead of our own, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
- Activity: the Tower of Babel word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Tower of Babel craft, a Praise Tower, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
- Prayer.
Tips for teaching the Tower of Babel
- Read Genesis 11:4 and 11:5 back to back. The people wanted their tower to reach up to heaven, but "the LORD came down to see" it.
- Use the Bible's own words: brick, slime for morter, "a city and a tower," "let us make us a name," "confound their language." Each lesson explains the old words.
- Genesis 11:1–9 gives no height for the tower and names no leader, so the lessons don't either.
- If a child asks about "let us go down" (11:7), the kindergarten to preteen lessons have a short teacher note: the passage says plainly that the LORD did it (11:5, 11:8, 11:9), and there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
- 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 Tower of Babel 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 Tower of Babel for kids?
The people wanted to build a city and a tower and "make us a name" (Genesis 11:4), but the LORD came down, confounded their language and scattered them (11:5–8). God is greater than anything people can build. Instead of making a name for ourselves, we honor God's name, because "Pride goeth before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18).
Why did God confuse the languages at the Tower of Babel?
The lessons say only what Genesis 11 says. The people wanted to make a name for themselves and not be scattered (11:4). The LORD said that because they were one people with one language, nothing they planned would be held back (11:6). So He confounded their language, so they could not understand one another, and scattered them over all the earth (11:7–8).
How tall was the Tower of Babel?
The Bible doesn't say. Genesis 11:4 says only that the people wanted a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven." It doesn't give a height or name a leader, so the lessons don't either.
