Older Primary Lesson Plan: Ruth;1 Samuel 1–7

Opening Connection (Object Lesson)

Theme: The Lord can guide us through hard changes, and we can choose kindness and faith.

Object: A small toy car (or paper arrow) and a strip of paper with a “detour” sign drawn on it.

1. Show the toy car and say: “Sometimes we think life will go straight, like a car driving on a straight road.”
2. Put the “detour” sign in front of it: “But sometimes there are detours, changes we didn’t plan.”
3. Ask: “What are some ‘detours’ kids might have? (moving, family changes, hard friendships, not getting something we hoped for)”
4. Explain: “This week we learn about Ruth and Hannah, who had unexpected paths. The Lord helped them, and they kept trusting Him.”

Read this line from the Come, Follow Me introduction:

“And yet life is often full of delays and detours that take us in unexpected directions.” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “June 1–7. ‘My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord’”)

Scripture Discovery

1) Ruth chooses faith and kindness (Partner Reading)

Have children pair up. Give each pair one verse to read aloud, then answer the question.

• Pair A reads Ruth 1:16: What choice is Ruth making?
• Pair B reads Ruth 2:12: What does it mean to “come to trust” the Lord?
• Pair C reads Ruth 4:4–10 (teacher summarizes if needed): What does “redeem” mean in Ruth’s story?

Use the bundle’s guiding question to connect it:

“How did Boaz redeem Ruth from her desperate situation? (see Ruth 4:4–10). How were both Ruth and Boaz like Jesus Christ?” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Jesus Christ can turn tragedy into triumph.”)

2) Samuel learns to listen (Scripture Treasure Hunt)

Read 1 Samuel 3:1–10 together (teacher reads; children listen for repeated words). Ask them to raise a hand when they hear:

• “Samuel”
• “called”
• “spake”
• “hear”

Then ask: “What did Samuel do when he finally understood it was the Lord?”

Core Gospel Principles

1. God can guide and help me no matter what is happening. The bundle teaches:

“I can trust that God will guide and help me regardless of my situation.” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Ruth; 1 Samuel 1”)

2. Faith looks like loyal choices and kind actions. Ruth’s story is full of kindness and steady faith, especially during loss (see Ruth 1:4–18 in the bundle overview).

3. I can learn to hear and obey the Lord’s voice. The bundle teaches:

“Like all of us, Samuel had to learn how to recognize the Lord’s voice.” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “1 Samuel 3”)

Interactive Learning Activities

Activity 1: “Kindness Spotters” (Game)

Type: Games Materials: 8–10 small paper hearts; pencil; tape

Steps:

1. On each heart, write a simple kindness action (help a sibling, include someone at recess, share, say sorry, sit by someone alone).
2. Tape hearts around the room.
3. Children walk quietly to find one heart each and bring it back.
4. One at a time, each child reads their heart and answers: “How is this like Ruth being kind and loyal?”

Connection to scripture: Ruth’s story invites us to notice “acts of kindness” (bundle children’s section). Discussion questions:

• “How do you feel when someone is kind to you?”
• “How do you think Naomi felt when Ruth stayed with her?” (see Ruth 1:4–18 in the bundle overview)

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Activity 2: “Samuel Says: Listening Practice” (Role-Play & Acting)

Type: Role-Play & Acting Materials: None (optional: simple scarf or paper “priest robe” for Eli)

Steps:

1. Choose three children: Samuel, Eli, and a Voice (teacher can be the Voice if preferred).
2. Act out the pattern: the Voice calls “Samuel,” Samuel runs to Eli sends him back.
3. When you reach the final time, have Samuel practice the listening response reverently (as described in 1 Samuel 3:1–10).
4. Pause and ask: “What helped Samuel finally understand?”

Connection to scripture: Directly reenacts 1 Samuel 3:1–10 (bundle suggestion). Discussion questions:

• “What are some quiet places where you can listen for the Lord?”
• “What does it look like to obey quickly when you feel the Lord guiding you?”

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Activity 3: “Detour Path Map: Trials, Actions, Blessings” (Hands-On Craft)

Type: Hands-On Crafts Materials: Paper; crayons/colored pencils; ruler (optional)

Steps:

1. Each child draws a simple road with a “Detour” sign in the middle.
2. Make three boxes on the page labeled: Trials, Actions, Blessings (use the bundle’s chart idea).
3. As a class, fill in one example from Ruth and one from Hannah (teacher writes on board; kids copy).

• Ruth: trial (loss), action (faithful choice/kindness), blessing (the Lord provided help, Boaz redeemed her; see Ruth 4:4–10 in the bundle prompt).
• Hannah: trial (“in bitterness of soul,” see 1 Samuel 1:1–10 in the bundle overview), action (prayed), blessing (the Lord heard her prayers; see 1 Samuel 1:1–18 in the bundle children’s section).

Connection to scripture: Uses the bundle’s suggested chart: “Trials, Actions, Blessings.” Discussion questions:

• “What’s a small ‘detour’ you’ve had?”
• “What action of faith could you try when something is hard?”

Life Application Bridge

Invite children to choose one place they’ll practice this week:

• School: “I will notice someone who is alone and be kind, like Ruth.”
• Home: “I will obey quickly the first time, like Samuel learning to listen.”
• Personal prayers: “I will pray honestly like Hannah did, trusting Heavenly Father hears me” (see 1 Samuel 1:1–18 in the bundle children’s section).

Remind them of the promise from the bundle:

“But everyone who turns to the Savior receives His help and guidance.” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Ruth; 1 Samuel 1”)

Testimony Time

Invite a quiet moment. Ask:

• “When did you feel something good inside today, while talking about Ruth’s kindness, Hannah’s prayer, or Samuel listening?”

Offer a simple testimony tied to the sources: I know the Lord can guide and help us through life’s “detours,” and I trust that as we turn to the Savior, we truly “receive His help and guidance” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Ruth; 1 Samuel 1”).

Take-Home Challenge

Give each child a small paper heart (or have them draw one) that says: “This week I will choose one kindness + one listening moment.”

They will:

1. Do one Ruth-like kindness (write what they did).
2. Have one Samuel-like listening moment (quiet prayer; write one feeling they noticed).

Teacher Tips

• Keep reverence during “Samuel Says” by practicing a “quiet freeze” signal before role-play (hands folded = freeze).
• Support different learners: If reading is hard for some, assign them the job of “word spotter” (listening for repeated words like “called” in 1 Samuel 3:1–10) instead of partner reading.