Old Testament Unit 9: Samuel Lesson 1: God Answered Hannah’s Prayer Hour 1

God’s Unfolding Story Suggested

Bible Story:
1. God created everything Schedule:
God Answered
Arrival
Hannah’s Prayer 2. People disobeyed God. Centers – 25 minutes
(1 Sam. 1:1-20) Clean-up Time – 5 minutes
Bible Phrase: “God hears me 3. God chose a special people. Bible Story Time – 15 minutes
when I pray” (Ps. 66:19). Craft Time – 10 minutes
Bible Truth: God always 4. God sent Jesus to help us. Snack Time – 10 minutes
Game Time and
hears me when I pray. 5. Jesus began the Church. Dismissal

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

Unfolding God’s Story for Teachers
I always have wanted to write a book. Lots of book titles
and characters have been jotted down on random pieces
of paper that have ended up somewhere! The words
to those chapters and books never may be written, but
really something better and more wonderful than writing
a book is happening as you are reading these words. It is
happening to you, as well, if you are a believer and follower
of Jesus Christ. We are part of God’s unfolding story! His
story did not end when His beloved disciple John penned
the last words of Revelation; the story is still unfolding. You
and I are part of God’s Unfolding Story as He works in,
through and for us today. Consider what He would want to
write in His book today about you. Are you following His
plan, His desire for your life?
The only way to know for sure is by abiding in Him. To
abide means “to remain or dwell.” That means spending
time with the Master to know what His plan is for your life.
Praying is part of abiding. Prayer is talking to God about
everything in your life and getting His perspective and
direction about how to respond. In our Bible story today,
Hannah does just that, pouring out her heart in anguish
before God. She desperately wanted a child and promised
if God granted her request, she would give him back to
God. The Bible says when she left, she was no longer
downcast. Hannah believed God heard her
prayer. She waited, and God’s favor was upon
her to conceive. Precious Samuel was born and became a
mighty instrument in God’s Unfolding Story.
To help a child understand that God hears our prayers,
we must have experienced that reality in our own lives.
Pour out your heart to Him as Hannah did. Wait with a
joyful spirit. God will answer. His story continues.
Lesson Plan
Arrival
• Greet children at eye level and express how happy
you are to see them.
• Be sure each child has a name tag and the security
measures of your church are followed.
• Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly
encourage children who have brought items from
home, such as toys and books, to place them on a
shelf while they are working with other materials.
Assure children their items will be safe and they
can take them home at the end of the session.
• Help each child make a choice where he or she
would like to begin his or her center time.

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 Block Center
Center Time Bible Learning Center
Build with Blocks Color a Bible Story Picture
Supplies: Supplies:
• Wooden blocks • Copies of “God Answered
What to Do: Hannah’s Prayer” Coloring Sheet
Provide a small carpet if (Reproducible)
possible. Blocks are best located in • Crayons or washable markers
a corner of the room away from the What to Do:
traffic flow. Encourage preschoolers to Ask children to color the picture.
work together to build and construct. Link to Bible Story:
Home Living Center
Link to Bible Story: As children work, briefly tell the Bible
Role Play Home Activities
As children work, look for Story. Express that Hannah prayed
Supplies:
opportunities in conversation to say for a baby. God gave Hannah baby
• Doll bed, small rocking chair, sink and
the Bible phrase or briefly tell the Samuel. Samuel learned to love
stove unit, small table and chairs, plastic
Bible Story. and serve God.
dishes, child pots and pans
• Doll items such as blanket, clothes, bottles
What to Do:
Arrange furniture in a corner of the room. Organize the
dishes and other accessories. Children naturally are
drawn to this center. Encourage preschoolers to Puzzle Center
keep home living items in the center. Work Puzzles
Art Center Supplies:
Play with Playdough Link to Bible Story:
As children play with the doll, comment • Offer a variety of non-fantasy
Supplies:
that Samuel’s mother loved and cared wooden or cardboard puzzles for
• Enough playdough for three or children to work.
four children (see recipe below) for Samuel.
What to Do:
• Cookie cutters, small rolling pins, Invite preschoolers to work puzzles.
plastic scissors, craft sticks Encourage children to finish a puzzle
What to Do:
before leaving the center. Give guidance
Encourage children to work with their rather then doing the puzzle for the child.
hands to roll, cut and mold playdough. Playdough Recipe Link to Bible Story:
Link to Bible Story: 1 cup salt 2 cups flour 2 cups water As children work, look for
Use today’s Bible verse in your 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
opportunities in conversation to
conversation as children work 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
say the Bible phrase or briefly
with playdough. tell the Bible Story.
Mix ingredients. Cook in a heavy pan over
medium heat stirring constantly. Cook until
mixture forms a ball.
God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com
Remove from pan and knead. OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Page 2
 Clean-up Time
Encourage Hannah may have gotten on her knees
preschoolers to and bowed her head to pray. Hannah
help at clean-up time. cried as she began talking to God.
Assign specific tasks for Hannah asked God to give her a son.
preschoolers to do such as She told God if He would give her a son,
placing all the crayons in the Ask children to tell you what they know she would help him know and love God.
basket, throwing away the trash, about prayer. Explain that prayer is Eli could not help but overhear Hannah
gathering all the glue sticks, talking to God or Jesus. Prayers can praying and crying. He went over to
be spoken out loud, or they can be Hannah to see what was wrong. She told
etc. Guide children to the
Eli she was talking to God about why
Bible Story Time area. thoughts in our minds. Our prayers
she was so sad. Eli told her God would
may be words of praise, asking God answer her prayer.
for something we need or asking Him Not long after, Hannah had a baby boy.
Bible to forgive us for something we have
done wrong. Express that God
She and her husband named him Samuel.
Hannah kept her promise and helped
Story Time always hears our prayers. Show the Samuel know and love God. Samuel
teaching picture. Tell the children grew up to be a man who loved and
Supplies: that today’s Bible story is about followed God.
• Bible a woman named Hannah, who
• Teaching Picture – “God prayed to God. Listen to hear her Talk Time
Answered Hannah’s Prayer” request and how God answered
(Reproducible) her prayer. Open your Bible to 1 1. Show the teaching picture “God
• God’s Unfolding Story Cube Answered Hannah’s Prayer.” Ask,
Samuel 1:1-20.
(Reproducible/Cardstock) “Why was Hannah sad?” “What did
Hannah pray for?” “How did God
Bible Story answer her prayer?”
“God Answered Hannah’s Prayer”
(1 Sam. 1:1-20) 2. Show children the Bible phrase on
Introduction the teaching picture. Say the phrase
Tell children the Bible is one big story A long time ago, a woman named together. Express to children that God
about God. Show the God’s Unfolding Hannah was very sad. Hannah was sad always hears their prayers.
Story Cube and recite the elements of because she and her husband did not
have any children. One day, Hannah went 3. To close Bible Story Time, invite
God’s Unfolding Story. (Refer to page
to worship and pray. As she entered the children to join you in prayer time.
1.) Explain to children they will hear a Allow any interested preschooler to
story today from God chose a special tabernacle, Eli the priest saw her. He
noticed how sad she looked. pray. Close the prayer time by thanking
people. (Point to that symbol on the God for hearing us when we pray.
cube.)

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 Craft Time
Create a Bible Verse Picture Frame
Supplies:
• Copies of Bible Verse Squares (Reproducible)
• Wide craft sticks – four per child
• White glue
• Buttons or foam stick-on shapes
• Tape and yarn Snack Time
What to Do: Be sure to wash hands or use
Cut apart Bible Verse Squares. Invite children to glue crafts hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you
sticks around the Bible Verse Square to form a frame. prayer to God for the snack.
Children can add buttons or foam stick-on shapes to When snack time has ended,
decorate. Attach yarn with tape on the back of the frame encourage preschoolers to
for hanging. help with cleaning up.
Link to Bible Story:
Talk to children about things for which we pray, such as a
sick family member or pet, going on a trip or something
we might need.

Game Time/Dismissal
Play Listen, Watch and Do
Supplies:
• Masking tape
Place two parallel lines of masking tape on the floor about 6 feet apart.
Ask children to stand behind one of the lines. Tell children they are going
to play a game called, “Listen, Watch and Do.” You begin the game by
demonstrating a movement that will get you from one line to the next, such
as hopping. Ask children to do exactly what you have done. When children
reach the other side, choose a child to teach another action. Ask children
to copy the movement. Play the game several times. At the close of the
game, ask children to sit on the two lines for dismissal.
Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security
procedures of your church.

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 Hour 1

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 9: Samuel

Lesson 1: God Answered Hannah’s Prayer

Standard Art Supplies Standard Equipment

(Supplies that are generally in the room) (Supplies that are generally in the room)
Washable markers Bible
Crayons Small Beanbag for Bible Story Time
Child Scissors Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles
Playdough and accessories Set of wooden blocks
Drawing paper Small cars and trucks
Easel (optional) Doll bed
Glue/glue sticks Doll baby – soft plastic
Tempera paint – four colors Stove/sink unit
Tape/masking tape Play dishes/pots and pans
Pencils/colored pencils Small table and chairs
Hole punch Small carpet for block area
Teacher scissors Play food items
Stapler/staples Storage shelf for blocks
Permanent markers Tables and chairs for art, puzzles,
Water colors Bible Learning Center
Paint brushes CD player/Children’s Worship CD’s
Yarn

Reproducibles
Coloring Sheet, “God Answered Hannah’s Prayer” – Class size amount
Bible Verse Squares – 1 copy for every 4 children
Teaching Picture – “God Answered Hannah’s Prayer” – 1 copy per class
God’s Unfolding Story Cube – Cardstock - 1 copy per class
Parent Page – Class size amount

Additional Art Materials

Wide craft sticks – 4 per child
Variety of buttons or foam stick-on shapes

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1
 God God
hears me hears me
when when
I pray. I pray.
Psalm 66:19 Psalm 66:19

God God
hears me hears me
when when
I pray. I pray.
Psalm 66:19 Psalm 66:19

Bible Verse Squares

OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Craft Time Instructions: Copy one per every four children.
God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com
Cut apart on dotted lines
 God hears me when I pray. Psalm 66:19
OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 1 Center Time: Bible Story Center Coloring Sheet
God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com
“God Answered Hannah’s Prayer”
 God’s Unfolding Story Cube
Instructions: Cut out on dotted
lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or
tape to form a cube.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2015- SundaySchoolZone.com

 Heath McPherson

OT09 Lesson 1 Hour 2 Craft Time Puzzle

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com
“God Answered Hannah’s Prayer”