Everyone gets angry at some point. Teach preschoolers how to control their anger by using examples set in the Bible and with these fun games and activities.

Anger is an emotion that every child needs to learn to cope with. The ideas below may help you when teaching a lesson about anger. Feel free to use these ideas to supplement your current curriculum, or to make your own lesson.

Story Suggestion

Read the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:2-8. Focus on verse 7 where God tells Abel that he must learn to master his anger.

Game Ideas

This Is Me When I am Angry

Materials:

• "This is Me When I am Angry" worksheet (print out below)
• Red crayons (1 per child)

Directions: Give each child a copy of the worksheet and a red crayon. Talk about the pictures. Have children circle pictures that look like them when they are angry.

The Angry Red Ball

Materials:

• 1 large red rubber ball
• 1 permanent black marker

Directions: Say “Sometimes when I get angry I feel like I have a big red ball right in the middle of my tummy.” Ask “Do you ever feel that way?” Tell kids that you are going to write on the ball all of the things you can think of that make you angry. Give children ideas. “When someone picks on me, I get angry.”

Ask children what makes them angry. Write those things on the ball. When you have listed all of the things that make them angry, take the ball outside for a few minutes, letting children kick or throw it around.

Snack Ideas

Both of these snack ideas will give opportunities to talk with children about how to handle their anger. Say “Remember how God told Cain that he would have to learn to master his anger?” Ask “What are some ways you think you can do that?” Give children ideas on how they can handle anger in a good way. (Talking about it, drawing, writing, or painting, going for a walk, etc.)

Angry Face Cookies

Ingredients:

• Pre-baked sugar cookies, lightly frosted
• Raisins, chocolate chips, thin red licorice (for making faces)

Directions: Give each child a cookie, and a few items to decorate it with. Show children how to make an angry face on the cookies, using decorating ingredients. When each child is done making their angry face, talk about how they can turn their anger into a good thing. (Turn over your piece of licorice to make a smile out of the frown.)

Another good snack idea for this lesson would be:

Monster Mash

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1 cup oats

Directions: Make sure children wash their hands. Mix all ingredients together. Give each child some of the “mash” and let them shape it, roll it, squish it, etc.

Art Center Ideas

Paper Plate Faces

Materials:

• 1 plain paper plate per child
• Crayons
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Yarn (for hair)
• Scraps of material (for clothes)

Directions: Have children draw an angry face on one side of their plate. Glue a Popsicle stick to the bottom, to form a handle. Talk about ways to handle anger. Children can draw happy faces on the other side of their plate. Ask “How can we turn our angry face around?”

Another good craft idea for this lesson is:

Group Collage

Materials:

• 1 large piece of poster board
• Old magazines
• Glue
• Safety scissors

Directions: Work together to make a collage showing different ways that people can handle their anger. (walking, listening to music, dancing, etc.)

Suggested Prayer for This Lesson

Dear God, I know I get angry and feel so bad, sometimes people make me feel hurt or sad. But, I know that you love me all of my days, and with your help I can correct my ways. Amen.

Find more great Sunday School lesson ideas and Bible crafts here on Suite101.