Jonah Activities for Children Who Are Not Reading Yet

Children can take part in a Jonah lesson by listening, drawing, arranging pictures, and retelling aloud. Replace written instructions with one spoken direction at a time. A simple activity needs only paper and crayons.

Prepare the story

• For: children who are not yet reading independently, with an adult leading.
• Materials: three pieces of paper or one sheet divided into three spaces, plus crayons.
• Suggested time: 10–15 minutes for retelling and drawing, with breaks if needed.
• Passages: Jonah 1–3 for the story sequence below; Jonah 4 for a later conversation about God's compassion.

Read the passage yourself before teaching. Use the phrase “great fish” or the wording of your chosen Bible translation rather than presenting a particular animal species as certain. Tell the story calmly and avoid using the storm to frighten children into obedience.

Activity 1: three drawings, one spoken story

1. A boat. Explain that Jonah went away from where God sent him. Invite the child to draw a boat; it does not need to look realistic.
2. A great fish. Explain that God provided a great fish and that Jonah prayed. Invite the child to draw the fish or tell you where Jonah was.
3. A city. Explain that Jonah later went to Nineveh and delivered God's message. Draw a few houses to represent the city.

The pictures are memory prompts, not a complete account. An adult can fill in the missing details while reading or retelling. Do not imply that Jonah changed his attitude completely at the end of chapter 3; chapter 4 continues the story.

Activity 2: point, choose, and retell

Put the three drawings in a different order. Ask, “Which picture comes first?” Then ask, “What happened next?” Help by offering two choices if the child is unsure.

Let the child move the papers or simply point. If they want to retell the story using toys instead, use the same sequence. No cutting or additional equipment is necessary.

Activity 3: a short prayer together

Ask, “Where was Jonah when he prayed?” Give the child a moment to answer using the picture. You might pray, “God, help us listen to you and care about other people.” This is a suggested prayer, not a quotation from Jonah.

For older children, return to Jonah 4:10–11 and discuss God's concern for Nineveh. Keep the lesson broader than “Jonah was naughty and got punished.”

What if drawing is difficult?

Draw the three simple symbols yourself and let the child choose colors or tell you what to add. The aim is to discuss the story, not assess drawing skill. Children can also answer through gestures, with an adult providing words if helpful.

Add a printable only if it helps

For more on adapting activities, read Bible activities for preschoolers and our mixed-age lesson guide. The Jonah book guide provides another starting point. Browse existing free printable packs for other passages; this activity does not promise a downloadable Jonah pack.

Passage references: Jonah 1:1–3, 1:17, 2:1–10, 3:1–10, and 4:10–11. Read these in your chosen Bible translation before leading the activity.