Today I have a special treat for you! Anne Marie Gosnell is a master at bringing the Bible to life for kids. She has graciously agreed to share one of her ideas that’s perfect for this Valentine’s Day season.
So if you’re wanting to help your students understand what love really is, try this love filled object lesson.
We love chocolate. We love the color green. We love the season of spring. We love our children. We use “love” to describe many emotions and relationships. But what is REAL love? This preschool object lesson for Valentine’s Day will help your children to understand that true love is sacrificial and that God’s love is the best.
Scripture Focus: 1 John 3:16, 4:9-10, 5:3
Materials: A box with a top (you can wrap it if you want to); Love in a Box Printable {You can either use the printables yourself, OR cut some out for the kids to glue onto a sheet of paper.}
Preparation: This lesson is for children ages 3 through 6. Cut apart the four images. Use your Bible to write 1 John 3:16 on the back of the cross. Write 1 John 4:10 on the back of the red heart. Write 1 John 4:9 on the back of the nativity. Write 1 John 5:3 on the back of the ten commandments. Put the images in this order: Nativity (1), red heart (2), cross (3), ten commandments (4). Place the pictures in the box and close the lid. {Use the International Children’s Bible version for the verses.}
Valentine’s Day Love in a Box Object Lesson:
It’s Valentine’s Day! On Valentine’s Day we enjoy telling people that we love them. Sometimes we give gifts in boxes.
Have you ever gotten a gift in a box before? [Allow for answers, such as toys, shoes, etc.]
I like to store items in boxes as well. I like to keep items that remind me of people I love. [Describe a box that holds something precious to you.]
{Show the closed box.}
Valentine’s Day is a wonderful day to learn about real love, God’s perfect love. This box holds a few pictures that explain to us about God’s love. But the love of God cannot be put into a box. It’s too big. Let me show you why.
{Open the box and take out the nativity.}
The Bible tells us that God showed us His love by sending Jesus, His Son, to be a person like us. Only He wasn’t totally like us because Jesus was perfect. He never did anything wrong.
Do you sometimes do something wrong? [Allow for answers.]
Me, too. But Jesus didn’t. And God sent Jesus to give us life.
{Show the picture of the red heart.}
This red heart helps us to remember that God loved us first before we even knew anything about Him. Remember all those wrong things we’ve done? Anything we think, say, or do that does not please God is called sin.
The red heart reminds us that Jesus came to earth to take away our sins. In order to do this, Jesus had to die.
{Show the picture of the cross.}
Jesus died on a cross and all the sins, all the bad things we’ve done were put onto Jesus. Did Jesus ever do anything wrong? [No, he was perfect.]
Jesus showed us what real love is. He died for us. He died for you. But Jesus didn’t stay dead! After three days, Jesus came back to life again!
Jesus loves us so much that He put us first.
{Show the picture of the ten commandments.}
If we believe that Jesus died and rose again because He loved us, then we need to show Jesus that we love Him, too.
We show God and Jesus that we love them by loving other people and obeying God’s commands.
How do we know what God’s commands are? [The Bible tells us.]
Life Application of Valentine’s Day Love in a Box
We like to give gifts in boxes. We like to store things in boxes.
- Can you put love in a box? [No.]
- How can you show your parents that you love them? [Allow for answers, but help them to see they show love by being obedient and having a respectful attitude.]
- How can you show love to your friends? [Allow for answers, but help them to list actions that show kindness, service, and putting their friends first and themselves last.]
God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to this earth to die on a cross and take away your sins. If you believe that, then you can’t help but show God how much you love Him. We do that by loving others, and obeying God.
{If you chose to have the children glue the pictures onto a sheet of paper, have them tell you what each image reminds us about God’s love. Review any not remembered.}
Click HERE for MORE Valentine’s Day Learning Activities!
**If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out Anne Marie’s new book, Walk This Way: Ethics and Sanctification Lessons for Kids
Anne Marie Gosnell is the author of Walk This Way: Ethics and Sanctification Lessons for Kids
Julie is a frazzled mom of three tornadoes. As a dorky second-generation homeschooler, she writes about learning and play, natural living, special needs parenting and matters of the heart. She serves an astounding God that radically saved her.
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