Inside: David and Goliath Sunday School Lesson for Kids, including a David and Goliath Object lesson, games, activity ideas, a story summary, discussion questions, and a devotional. This children’s Bible lesson is perfect for a Sunday school teacher, preschool teacher, or homeschool family.
The story of David and Goliath is an iconic Bible story for teaching to kids, with easily identified good guys and bad guys, a larger-than-life villain, impossible stakes, and a young hero.
Based on my experience in Children’s Ministry and as a Christian Children’s author, I’ve created this David and Goliath Sunday School lesson plan for kids. You can pick and choose the elements that work best in your context, whether it’s in your family or church.
If you like these ideas, I should mention that most of them come from two of my books. Wise for Salvation is an interactive preschool devotional covering major stories from the entire Bible, and The Mother and Son Prayer Journal is a devotional that focuses on the life of David.
David and Goliath Story for Kids
Despite how many picture books you can find on the topic, the full David and Goliath story isn’t hugely kid-appropriate. There are some fairly nasty things shouted from the Philistine line, and each army is trying to murder each other. Also, David doesn’t actually kill Goliath with the stone – he merely knocks him out, then grabs Goliath’s sword and hacks off his head, bronze helmet and all. Slightly gory, right?
The Scripture references for this story are all in 1 Samuel 17, but if you’re wondering how to tell this important but bloodthirsty story to preschoolers, here’s the David and Goliath story in a nutshell for little ones:
There was a big bad army that had a big bad man named Goliath in it. This big bad man made fun of God and God’s people and tried to hurt them. David the shepherd boy decided that this needed to end. He picked up 5 smooth stones, put one in his sling, and then whipped the sling around and around above his head. When he let it go, the sling let loose an itty-bitty stone which flew into the giant’s big head and knocked him down! With God’s help, even little people can defeat giants.
*This summary is found in my preschool devotional book called Wise For Salvation. Check out the book here.
David and Goliath Object Lesson
Object lessons are a fun way to help kids visualize the point of a Bible story. To start our free David and Goliath Bible lesson, here’s a simple (buy really fun) one you can use with kids:
Find some small and soft objects, like cotton balls, socks, or small stuffed animals (to act like David’s small stones). Have children throw them at you to see if they can knock you down. Then ask: “Why do you think you couldn’t knock me down? How do you think David knocked down Goliath with such a small rock? Do you think he had help from someone?”
David and Goliath Games
- This paper cup slingshot from Sunday School Games is a super fun game for kids of all ages!
David and Goliath Activity Ideas
Draw a picture of David and Goliath together while talking about the story. Consider adding some of the terrifying Philistine army behind Goliath or the terrified Israelite army behind David. SAY: I wonder how Goliath felt when he saw that stone coming toward his face?
Practice memorizing the following Bible verse while pretending to swing a sling. When you say “possible,” let the pretend sling fly! “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
Have kids draw a picture or create a comic of a time they needed God’s help (or might need God’s help in the future). In their picture or comic, have them depict how they think God helped them.
David opted not to wear armor when he faced Goliath. Despite his giant problem, he trusted God to fight for him and keep him safe. Have kids make a list of the things or people that keep them safe. Then pray, “God, please help me to trust you to care for me, no matter what happens.”
Pray together: Dear God, You are the God of Israel and You’re my God too! Thank You for being more powerful than any giant, even any giant problem I might have in my life. Thank You for sending Your son Jesus to defeat sin and death for us, just like David defeated Goliath for the people of Israel. Help me to trust You just like David did! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Want more David-focused prayer ideas to use with your David and Goliath lesson for kids? Check out “5 Powerful Bible Verses To Pray For Your Son”.
David and Goliath Memory Verse
There are several Bible verses you can encourage your kids to memorize, some directly from 1 Samuel and others that help kids understand what the story shows us.
Memory Verse for preschoolers: “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
Memory verse options for older kids: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:47 NIV)
David and Goliath Coloring Page
I know many Sunday School teachers love to have coloring pages for when there’s extra time, so here’s a verse poster/coloring page for you! To download and print this free coloring page, simply right-click on it, click “save image as”, then print the file. Please use it for personal use (including for your Sunday School), and do not post it elsewhere online. Thanks!
David and Goliath Devotional
The Battle Is the Lord’s: 1 Samuel 17:40–51
Ask the kids: Tell me about a time you desperately needed help.
When the Philistine giant, Goliath challenged the Israelites to single combat, King Saul trembled in his boots. As the king, he should have been the one to go fight Goliath. But he trusted only in himself, and he knew he couldn’t win against Goliath.
Young David, however, knew this wasn’t his fight. It was God’s fight.
You see, ancient people believed that battles were decided by their gods. In the age-old Greek story about the Trojan War, the author shows the Greek gods taking sides. Even though it was the humans who were fighting, the story talks about gods and goddesses manipulating people to make the battle go the way they wanted.
David knew he had the only real, living God on his side. He knew God had helped him before and would help him again.
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45–47)
David knew the battle was the Lord’s and that he was just doing his part. So he approached the battle-hardened soldier with his staff, a few stones, and a sling. As Goliath moved in for the attack, David pushed a rock into his sling and began to swing it around. He ran toward the vicious, angry warrior and opened his sling to let the rock fly out.
And I think you probably know the end of the story. The rock knocked Goliath out, and David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head.
Who won the battle? David’s God: the living God. How’s that for a God worth chasing?
(This devotional is one of 52 devotions from my book, The Mother And Son Prayer Journal. For more devotions and prayer ideas on the life and writings of David, check out the book!
Such a creative way to teach a classic Bible story. Will be incorporating these actives for Sunday school. God bless you!
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.