Cain and Abel - Genesis 4:1-16
Idea 1
Set up a murder mystery event for the kids.
Tell them that someone has been killed and they need to figure out who died, and why they were killed.
Set up the scene but setting up a kids house and inside, put up pictures of Cain and Abel with their names on them.
Outside of the house have two different platters, one with a nice piece of steak and another with some fruits and vegetables that don’t look very good.
Put up a sign that says Garden of Eden pointing one way and Nod pointing the other.
Have two people act as Adam and Eve. They can be in or around the house and very upset about what has happened.
Set up a grave site for Abel.
Let the kids walk around and ask questions. Keep going until the get the whole story.
Idea 2
Act out a skit with the kids.
Choose people to the the Narrator, Cain, Abel, and God
Act out the skit. or ask the older kids to practice the skit and then perform it for the younger kids.
Idea 3
Read through the story with the kids.
Ask them questions while they are colouring:
What were the two brother’s names?
What did each brother offer God?
Which gift did God accept?
Idea 4
Tell the kids that you have two different gift ideas that you would like to show them.
One gift should be amazing, something really nice in a great bag, and the other gift should be terrible, like a half eaten chocolate bar in a plastic bag.
Ask the kids what they think of the gifts? Which one did you work hard on? How would they feel if they got the good gift and how would they feel if they got the bad gift.
Relate it to the story. Abels gift was a good gift and Cain didn’t work as hard at his gift. Cain didn’t give his best to God.
Idea 5
Giving our best to God.
Ask the kids if they can think of a way to give their best to God?
What does it mean to Give our best to God and what does it look like?
Think of a story when you gave your best to God and share it with the kids.
Click below for formal lesson plans.
Large group
Kindergarten and Grade 1
Grades 2,3
Grades 4,5