Joshua 6:1-27

Joshua and the Walls of Jericho Bible lesson for kids

A complete Joshua and the Walls of Jericho lesson plan for Sunday school or homeschool — one version for each age band, from preschool to preteen. Pick the section that matches your kids and teach.

Jump to Ages 4–6Jump to Ages 6–9Jump to Ages 9–12

Preschool & Kindergarten

Ages 4–6

Objective

Children will understand that God helped Israel win when Joshua and the people obeyed his unusual plan.

Opening question

Can you follow directions even when they seem strange?

Tell the story

Jericho had very big walls, but God gave Joshua a plan. For six days, the people quietly walked around the city once while the priests blew horns and carried the ark. On day seven, they walked around seven times, the priests blew their horns, and everyone shouted; God made the walls fall. Joshua kept the promise to protect Rahab and her family because she had helped Israel’s messengers.

Hands-on activities

Quiet March and Mighty Shout

Materials: Seven paper cups, Open floor space

  1. Read Joshua 6:1-27 together in simple sections.
  2. Stack the cups to make a wall.
  3. March quietly around the wall six times.
  4. March around it once more for day seven.
  5. Pretend to blow horns.
  6. Shout, “God gives victory!”
  7. Knock down the cup wall together.
  8. Explain that God brought the wall down, not the people’s noise.

Scarlet Cord Coloring

Materials: Our free printable coloring page, Crayons, Red yarn or red crayon, Tape

  1. Color our free printable coloring page.
  2. Find Rahab’s window in the picture.
  3. Tape on a short piece of red yarn or draw a red cord.
  4. Say, “God remembered Rahab.”
  5. Display the picture as a reminder that God keeps his promises.

Talk about it

  1. What did the people do for six quiet days?
  2. Who made Jericho’s walls fall?
  3. How did God care for Rahab and her family?

Closing prayer

God, help us obey you and trust your good plans, amen.

Early Elementary

Ages 6–9

Objective

Children will explain how steady obedience, faith, and God’s power led to victory at Jericho and safety for Rahab.

Opening question

What would you think if God’s battle plan was to march quietly?

Tell the story

Read Joshua 6:1-27 together. Jericho’s gates were shut, but God told Joshua that he had given Israel the city. Israel marched around Jericho once a day for six days, with armed men, seven priests blowing rams’ horns, and the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day they circled seven times, then shouted at Joshua’s command; the walls fell, and the spies brought Rahab and her relatives to safety because she had hidden Israel’s messengers.

Hands-on activities

Obedience Path Challenge

Materials: Paper, Pencil, Tape, Two chairs

  1. Write “start,” “march,” “wait,” “listen,” and “shout” on separate papers.
  2. Tape the papers along a path around the chairs.
  3. Choose one child to act as Joshua and read each direction.
  4. Walk the path silently until Joshua gives the shout command.
  5. Repeat with a new Joshua.
  6. Discuss why following every part of a direction matters.

Six Quiet Days, One Victory Day

Materials: Our free printable coloring page, Crayons or markers, Seven small paper squares, Glue

  1. Color our free printable coloring page.
  2. Write one day on each paper square from Day 1 through Day 7.
  3. Draw a quiet marching foot on the first six squares.
  4. Draw a horn and a shout on the seventh square.
  5. Glue the squares around the coloring page.
  6. Say one way you can obey God quietly and faithfully this week.

Talk about it

  1. Why might God’s plan have seemed strange to Joshua and Israel?
  2. What can six quiet days teach us about faithful obedience?
  3. Why was Rahab’s family rescued?

Closing prayer

God, help us trust your power, obey each day, and welcome people who turn to you, amen.

Upper Elementary & Preteen

Ages 9–12

Objective

Children will examine how obedience, God’s judgment, and mercy appear at Jericho and identify a faithful response to a difficult situation.

Opening question

How do you obey God when his way seems slow, strange, or hard to understand?

Tell the story

Read Joshua 6:1-27 together. Although Jericho looked secure, God announced the victory before Israel saw any change and commanded six days of quiet marching followed by seven circuits on the seventh day. When the priests sounded the trumpets and the people shouted, the walls fell and Israel carried out God’s judgment on the city. Rahab and all those with her were rescued because she had protected Israel’s messengers, and she later lived among Israel.

Hands-on activities

Strange Plan Strategy Lab

Materials: Paper, Pencils, Building blocks or paper cups

  1. Build a strong wall from blocks or cups.
  2. Write three human strategies for getting past it.
  3. List the instructions God gave Israel in Joshua 6.
  4. Circle the instructions that required patience or trust.
  5. Silently walk around the model once.
  6. Remove the wall only after a leader gives the command.
  7. Discuss the difference between earning victory and receiving what God gives.

Justice, Mercy, and Faith Picture Study

Materials: Our free printable coloring page, Colored pencils, Three sticky notes per child, Pencil

  1. Color our free printable coloring page.
  2. Label three sticky notes “judgment,” “mercy,” and “faith.”
  3. Place each note near a detail that connects with its word.
  4. Write one question the story raises for you.
  5. Share questions without pretending every answer is easy.
  6. Remember that God judges evil, keeps promises, and rescued Rahab when she turned toward him.

Talk about it

  1. Why do you think God required Israel to wait and follow such an unusual plan?
  2. How can we respond honestly to the difficult judgment described in this chapter?
  3. Where might quiet faithfulness matter more than quick results at school or with friends?

Closing prayer

God, help us trust your wisdom, face hard questions honestly, and obey you with courage, amen.

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