2. Adam & Eve
Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Story Summary
God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. He became a living being. This is Adam. (You might have some dry dirt to show as you teach this part of the story.) Adam lived in the garden that God planted. The garden was full of all kinds of trees and 4 rivers. There were two trees in the middle of the garden: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God commanded man that he could eat from any tree but not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God brought all the living creatures to Adam so he could name them. No suitable helper was found to for Adam, so God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of the man’s ribs and made a woman. This is Eve. The serpent caused Eve to doubt what God had told her about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She ate some and gave some to Adam who was with her. This was the first sin. As a result of that sin choice, the serpent was made to crawl on its belly. Women will have pain while giving birth and man will be forced to work for food.
Adam and Eve were banished from the garden. Because of this, they could no longer eat from the tree of life (second tree in the middle of the garden) and live forever.
There are many different aspects to focus on during this lesson.
- Creation of man and woman,
- Adam naming animals,
- Garden with tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
- First sin,
- Consequences of sin.
What You Will Need
- Supplies
- small amount of dry dirt
- Snack Suggestion
- animal crackers, various types of fruit, chocolate snake (see reinforcement activities)
Video Options
From Crossroads Kids Club
From Crossroads Kids Club
From Saddleback Kids Hey-O Series
From LifeKids
Resource Sheet
This coloring sheet depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
1. Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
Ask the children if they have ever eaten something they weren't supposed to have (like a cookie from the kitchen) without their parents knowing. In a playful way, you can tell them you won't tattle on them to their parents... Ask them if they knew that was wrong. This story is about the very first time a human made that bad choice.
2. Teach the Story teach a holistic story
Younger children should be taught the story as a whole, while older children can focus on one or more of the different aspects from the Story Summary. Choose reinforcement activities accordingly.
For younger children, read story from a Children's storybook Bible.
For older children, ready story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or tell the story yourself.
3. Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud: Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:18-23, Genesis 3:1-6, Genesis 3:23
4. Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- How did God form man? (from the dust of the ground)
- Where did Adam and Eve live? (in The Garden)
- What did God breathe into Adam's nostrils? (breath of life)
- Why did God create Eve? (there was no suitable helper found for Adam)
- How was Eve created? (from man's rib)
- What tree were Adam and Eve told not to eat from? (tree of knowledge of good and evil)
- What was the consequence of Adam and Eve's disobedience? (serpent will crawl on belly, woman will have pain in childbearing, man will have to work for food, both were banished from garden)
- What was the name of the second tree in the garden? (Tree of Life)
5. Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- Each and every one of us rebels against God (or sins) like Adam and Eve did.
- But did you know that God is willing to forgive us when we sin? No matter how many times we sin?
6. Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me. Psalm 119:105Mud Fun
Heads up! You might think about doing this outside or in a tiled area
Scripture Then the Lord God formed a man. He made him out of the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7
Supplies Dirt and water - in dish pans or rubbermaid bins
- Allow students to use their hands to explore the mud.
- Make the mud stiff enough for the students to mold it into a shape.
- A large tarp placed under the work area will help keep your room clean, if done inside.
- Craft shirts for the students will help to keep their clothes clean.
- Remind students that God made Adam out of the dirt, just like they are making their creations out of dirt.
- But they can't breathe life into their creations - only God can do that.
Obscure Animals
Scripture The Lord God had formed all of the wild animals. He had also formed all of the birds of the air. He had made all of them out of the ground. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give them. And the name the man gave each living creature became its name. Genesis 2:19
Supplies mobile laptop or tablet, or printed animal pictures
- Show students pictures of animals they will not recognize.
- Come up with names for the animals before telling the students the real names.
- Can you just imagine how much fun Adam must have had naming all the animals he was meeting for the first time?
Fruit Taste Test
Heads up! Be aware of food allergies
Scripture The Lord God gave the man a command. He said, "You can eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden. But you must not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you do, you can be sure that you will die." Genesis 2:16-17
Supplies fruit, knife, plates
- Adam & Eve were able to eat from any of the fruit trees in the garden, except from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- Taste test different types of fruit.
- Try and get some fruits that the children may not have tried before.
Snake Chains
Scripture So the Lord God spoke to the serpent. He said, "Because you have done this, "I am putting a curse on you. You are cursed more than all of the livestock and all of the wild animals. You will crawl on the ground. You will eat dust all of the days of your life. Genesis 3:14
Supplies colored paper cut into 1/2 inch strips, glue, googly eyes, thin piece of paper cut with a v in the end for tongue
- Make paper chains by alternating two colors to create a snake.
- Add eyes and a slithery tongue on the last link.
Playdoh Animals
Scripture The Lord God had formed all of the wild animals. He had also formed all of the birds of the air. He had made all of them out of the ground. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give them. And the name the man gave each living creature became its name. Genesis 2:19
Supplies Playdoh, animal cookie cutters
- Let the children make animals out of the playdoh
- Remind them that last week, we learned that God made animals
- This week, remind them that Adam got to name all the animals
- Encourage them to make up their own animal out of playdoh and give it their own name.
Snake Craft
Scripture So the Lord God spoke to the serpent. He said, "Because you have done this, "I am putting a curse on you. You are cursed more than all of the livestock and all of the wild animals. You will crawl on the ground. You will eat dust all of the days of your life. Genesis 3:14
Supplies paper plate for each student, scissors for each student, small strips of paper with v cut out at end (for tongue), googly eye or markers to make eyes.
- Cut paper plate around in circles into shape of snake
- Decorate
- Remind the students about the serpent that deceived Eve.
- What do you do that is sin?
Chocolate Snake
Heads up! You can complete ahead of time or make with students, if time allows
Scripture So the Lord God spoke to the serpent. He said, "Because you have done this, "I am putting a curse on you. You are cursed more than all of the livestock and all of the wild animals. You will crawl on the ground. You will eat dust all of the days of your life. Genesis 3:14
Supplies See ingredients below for various recipes
- Prepare one of these recipes
- Cake ball recipe OR
- Chocolate No-bake Oatmeal
- On a sheet of waxed paper, shape mixture into snake shape.
- Add red hots for eyes.
- Let cool in fridge.
Cookie Cutter People
Scripture Then the Lord God formed a man. He made him out of the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7
Supplies gingerbread dough, sugar cookie dough, person cookie cutter, raisins (or small candy) to decorate
- Provide different colored cookie dough (gingerbread, sugar) and cookie cutter.
- Allow students to cut out their person shape and decorate.
- After they bake, allow students to look at the differences in each gingerbread man.
- Talk to the students about their differences and help them to appreciate themselves as individual creations of God.
Name that Animal
Scripture Genesis 2:19
Supplies Animal crackers/cookies
- Give each child animal crackers and allow them to decipher what the animals are. Take turns deciding what cookies are which animals and allow them to eat them once they are named.
Apple Hunt
Scripture So God created man in his own likeness. He created him in the likeness of God. He created them as male and female. Genesis 1:27
Supplies apple for each students (small classes should use same color of apples), basket
- Pass out an apple to each student. (Try to make sure not to get apples with bruises and obvious blemishes, rather use different shapes and sizes and colors.)
- Have students look at their apple, carefully.
- Place all apples in a basket in the center of the room/table.
- Ask students to come identify their apple.
- Just like we knew our apple apart from the others, God knows us, too!
- We are all God's creation. He made us all differently, but each one of us is special to him.
Human Robot
Scripture Have you eaten the fruit of the tree I commanded you not to eat?" Genesis 3:11b
Supplies 2 pieces of bread, plastic knife, peanut butter (or other nut butter, if allergies), jelly, plate
- Make peanut butter sandwich with exact directions from another student.
- Make sure you take things in the most extreme literal sense you can
- When the child says, "Put the peanut butter on the bread", literally place the jar of peanut butter on the bag of bread unless they tell you to take out the bread from the bag, etc.
- The more exact you make them be, the more fun this exercise is
- God did not create us as robots.
- He gave us free choice.
- Adam and Eve used that choice to disobey God.
Clay People
Scripture Then the Lord God formed a man. He made him out of the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7
Supplies clay, plastic knives, small pieces of cardboard covered in aluminum foil
- Give each student a small piece of cardboard covered with aluminum foil.
- Place a small amount of clay on each piece of cardboard (make it stiff enough to mold)
- Allow students to use plastic knives to mold and shape their clay into a person.