The Good Samaritan is a parable to teach us how we should treat everybody. You can use the ideas presented here to help teach this lesson to preschoolers.

The ideas below may help you when teaching a lesson on the Good Samaritan. Feel free to use these ideas to supplement your current curriculum or to make your own lesson.

Story Suggestion

Luke 10:25-37 - The Good Samaritan

Game Ideas

Who is My Neighbor?

Directions: Have the children sit or stand in a circle. The children will be the neighbors. Make one child stand in the center of the circle. She will be the "new" neighbor. The new neighbor must pick out one of the neighbors in the circle and say something like, "My neighbor is wearing brown shoes." If a child thinks he might be the one she is talking about he must raise his hand. If multiple children raise their hand, the new neighbor says, "Yes, it is one of you." Next, the new neighbor says something else about the person she has picked. She might say, "My neighbor has black hair." Again, if a child thinks he is the one she is describing he must raise his hand. The game continues until only one child has his hand up, and he is the correct person. He then becomes the "new" neighbor.

What is a Neighbor?

Directions: Draw an outline of a person on a big piece of paper and tape the drawing to a wall. Ask the children to give you their suggestions on what makes a good neighbor. They might say things like they share or they give you treats. As each suggestion is called out, write it down and give it to the child who said it. Have that child stick their answer around the outline drawing. When complete you should have a good example of the kind of things a good neighbor should be.

Snacks

A good snack idea for this lesson would be:

Dipped Marshmallows

Ingredients:

• 1 bag large marshmallows
• 1 or 2 containers of Baker's chocolate
• Sprinkles, colored sugar, shredded coconut, crushed nuts (be careful about allergies)

Directions:

1. Heat up the Baker's chocolate in the microwave according to package directions before snack time.
2. Set out the sprinkles, sugar, coconut, nuts in separate bowls on the table.
3. Give each child a few marshmallows on a paper plate.
4. Let the children dip their marshmallows in the chocolate (covering about 1/3 to 1/2 of the marshmallow) and then dipping the chocolate into the sprinkles, etc.
5. Have the children bring their marshmallows back to their own plate before eating them. They will harden if left alone for about 30 seconds.

Another good snack idea would be to just serve frozen fruit Popsicles for a treat.

Art Center Idea

Get Well Survival Kit

Materials:

• Zip-lock bags
• Paper to print out the list of items below (along with their meanings)
• Stapler (adult use)
• Hole punch
• Ribbon

What Should be Printed:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tootsie Roll - To help all the pain, "roll" off your back.

Snicker's Bar - To remind you that laughter is the best medicine.

Lifesavers - To "save" you from feeling bored.

Dum-Dum Lollipop - To remind you to not do anything that silly again.

Chocolate Covered Raisins - For when your spirit needs "Raisin."

Flipz - To remind you that you will be back to doing "flips" in no time.

Mounds Bar - To remind you of how much you are loved.

Bubbles - To just blow all your worries away.

Hershey Kisses - Because they always make you feel better.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Directions:

1. Give each child a copy of the list above that you have already printed, a zip-lock bag, and one of each item in the list.
2. Let the children put their items in the zip-lock bag and seal it. An adult can staple the list to the outside of the zip-lock bag.
3. Place a hole punch somewhere near the top of the zip-lock bag and have children string a ribbon through the hole and knot it for a nice decoration.

Suggested Prayer (or use your own)

Dear God, thank you for our class today. Help us to be like the good Samaritan in our story. Let us show your work by being a good neighbor to those around us. Amen.

See the full list of Sunday School lesson ideas on both the Old Testament and the New Testament!