Creation Activity for Preschoolers: Let There Be Light

In this activity, preschoolers will explore the story of Creation as glow-in-the-dark stars help them understand and experience God’s light.

Bible Basis: Genesis 1:1-31

Let There Be Light

You’ll need:

• Bible
• sheet of dark-colored construction paper for each child
• glow-in-the-dark star stickers

Prep

Before this activity, remove the glow-in-the-dark star stickers from their package. Set them in a place where they have direct exposure to a light source such as a window or lamp. This allows the stickers to absorb plenty of light so they’ll glow brightly.

Dark Into Light

Hold up a sheet of dark-colored paper.

Say: Before God made our world, everything was completely dark, like this paper. There was nothing in the world—not a sun or a moon or stars. Let’s close our eyes to see what that might have been like.

Close your eyes, and direct the children to do the same. Tell children to keep their eyes closed until you say to open them. You might suggest that they put their hands over their eyes to make it “extra” dark.

While their eyes are still closed, ask:

• What do you see?
• What would it be like if our world was like this all the time?

Say: In the Bible, the first thing God said was “Let there be light.” And the world became bright! Let’s call out together, “Let there be light!” just as God did. Then we’ll open our eyes and see what happens.

Have the children call out with you, “Let there be light!”

When they’ve opened their eyes, ask:

Say: Giving light to the whole world is something only God can do! Only God can make light as bright as the sun or as pretty as the stars.

Crafty Creation

Give each child a sheet of dark-colored construction paper.

Say: Let’s add something special to our dark pieces of paper to remember that when God made our world, God gave us light, too. You may each put one of these star stickers on your paper. When you place your sticker on your paper, say, “Thank you, God, for making our world.”

Distribute the glow-in-the-dark stickers, and let children place stickers on their papers as they say, “Thank you, God, for making our world.”

When everyone has finished, say: Now turn your paper over so you can’t see your star. When I turn off the lights, let’s all call out, “Let there be light!” just as God did. Then we’ll turn our papers over again, and we’ll see a big surprise!

Be sure the children have turned their papers star-side down before you turn off the lights. Then turn their papers back over to show their stars.

Say: Wow! Our papers look brighter now! Because God made light, our world looks brighter, too.

Encourage the children to place their starry pictures next to their beds at home so they’ll remember God’s gift of light even when it’s dark outside.

Open your Bible to Genesis 1:1, and show children the verse.

Say: The Bible tells us that God made the world. I’m glad God put lights in the sky so we could see all the wonderful things he has made.

This activity is from The Humongous Book of Preschool Ideas. For more preschool ideas, check out these posts.

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