Hallelujah Buttons: A Fun Bible School Activity for Preschoolers

Isn’t it fun to shout “Hallelujah!”? Praising the Lord with loving abandon is quite a wonderful experience. Preschoolers love to be loud, so why not teach them to shout for Jesus while learning the super verse found in Isaiah 35:10 which says, “They will enter Zion with singing. Everlasting joy will crown their heads.” Joy and joy will reach them and sadness and groaning will flee “. This verse speaks of the future of each child of God. The word Zion is often used as an alternative term for Heaven, where songs of praise to God will abound and there will be no sorrow or groaning. That deserves a “Hallelujah!” Here is a fun Bible school activity to help your preschoolers learn this truth. I call it “Hallelujah Buttons”.

Here what you do:

For this game, you will need to prepare a “Hallelujah Button” for each child in your class. You can easily do this by taking paper plates and then writing “Hallelujah” in a colorful way in the center. You will also need to prepare 4 copies of each of the following objects: a musical note, a crown, a smiley face, and a crying child with a line through it. I suggest you laminate these for long term use. Mix up the pictures and place them face down on a table or hang them on a wall with which the children will try to make combinations. Finally, prepare a scripture chart that includes smaller versions of the images along with the words of the verse, as suggested here:

They will enter Zion with songs (Place musical note here.)

Eternal joy will crown (place crown here) their heads

Joy and joy (place smiley face here) will overtake them

And the sorrow and the sigh (place the “don’t cry” image here) will flee

Now you are ready to play the game.

This is how it is played:

Have all of your children sit Indian style in a circle and place a “Hallelujah Button” in front of each of them. Ask a child to try to make a pair by turning over 2 cards placed on the table. As the child does this, recite Isaiah 35:10 with all of his children while holding the scripture chart. After saying the verse, ask the class, “Did (Tabitha) make a match?” If the answer is “yes”, all the children must hit their “hallelujah buttons” while shouting “Hallelujah!” If no match was made, say “Oh well, I’d better match next time.” Pick a new child to try to make another pair and play the game the same way each time until all the cards have been turned over.

Before playing this Bible school activity, you can introduce the lesson as follows:

On the count of three, I want everyone to shout, “Hallelujah!” (Wait for response.) Good job. Let’s say it again… and again. (Wait for response.) Hallelujah means Praise the Lord and there is so much to praise God for or be thankful for. We can be especially happy and thankful that one day we will be able to live in Heaven with God forever. The sky will be filled with songs, joy and absolutely no tears. That is what Isaiah 35:10 says. Let’s all say it together. I’ll say a few words first and then you’ll repeat after me. (Say the verse while holding up the scripture chart.) Let’s make a fun game to help us learn more about this great Bible verse. It’s called “Hallelujah Buttons”.