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Have you ever tried to find a children’s activity on Noah’s Ark that doesn’t feature a cartoon giraffe smiling with its head sticking out of a bathtub-sized boat? It’s challenging to say the least.
For some reason, Noah’s Ark has become the go-to cute nursery theme, complete with plush animals and pastel rainbows. And while I get it, animals are adorable, that’s not really the heart of the story, is it?
The true account of Noah’s Ark is about God’s holiness, the seriousness of sin, His righteous judgment, and His breathtaking mercy. It’s about a global flood that actually happened and a covenant that points forward to the ultimate rescue we have in Jesus.
That’s why I created my new Noahic Covenant study resource. I wanted something that would help kids understand the real, big-picture meaning behind the rainbow, not just that it’s a pretty color display in the sky, but that it’s a sign of God’s promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood.
Why focus on the Noahic covenant?
Genesis 9:13 says, “I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
This is the very first covenant God makes with all living creatures, not just one family or nation. Unlike human promises that can be broken, God’s covenants are unchanging because they rest on His perfect character. When we study the Noahic covenant, we see so clearly that God is both just and merciful. He takes sin seriously (so seriously that He judged the entire earth), but He also delights in mercy and in making a way for life to continue. The rainbow isn’t a sweet ending after a scary rainstorm. It’s a sign of God’s mercy and faithfulness that points us to His bigger plan to rescue and redeem.
The Noahic covenant isn’t just a random Old Testament promise; it’s part of the big story of redemption.
The ark itself points forward to Christ, the one way to be saved from judgment. The rainbow points forward to God’s ultimate mercy shown at the cross. Jesus took the judgment we deserved so that we could receive God’s promises of life.
When we understand this covenant, we see that God has always been faithful and that His promises have always led to Jesus.
What’s inside the study?
This isn’t just a “color the ark” and “count the animals” kind of activity (though coloring is included!). We dig deeper with:
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Reading guide and theology-focused discussion questions that guide you past surface-level details.
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Vocabulary explaining words like covenant, sacrifice, pitch, cubits, and more.
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Cards and a matching activity to learn the timeline of events, because the flood wasn’t just a quick weekend rain. It was a year-long event with God’s timing woven through every moment.
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Verses to trace, helping kids meditate on God’s Word and improve handwriting at the same time.
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Anatomy of a rainbow diagram, coloring, and facts, where science and Scripture meet in a beautiful, worshipful way.
We also explore what “breath of life” means, why Noah brought clean and unclean animals, and why God shut the door of the ark Himself. All the big and often overlooked details that actually deepen our awe at this story.
It’s hard to find faithful resources
So many activities focus on the cute animals and miss the heavy, holy parts of the story, or skip God’s covenant entirely!
Our kids need to see that the flood wasn’t just about animals being saved. It’s about God judging sin and then extending mercy through a covenant promise. When we teach this clearly, the rainbow becomes a true symbol of hope and grace, rather than just a pretty thing to look at.
Get The Noahic Covenant Study Set Here!
Recommended resources to go deeper
Adding books or videos to these hands on activities will not only deepen understanding of them, but can help incorporate science and nature in a fun way!
- Master Books offers a huge selection of books ranging from preschool age to adult covering the Noahic covenant from a theological, historical, and scientific aspect.
- I created a list of additional books (some just fun, some scientific) that also compliment the study nicely.
- Answers In Genesis offers a full playlist of videos on Noah’s Ark (geared toward older kids and adults).
- Younger kids might enjoy this video on how rainbows are formed.
Fun extras!
Want to sprinkle in some fun rainbow or weather-themed activities? You can add:
- A prism experiment to see God’s beautiful design in light. We have one of these prisms hanging in our school room.
- Go on a color hunt! Challenge kids to find items around the house or outside in each color of the rainbow.
- Make a simple fruit rainbow platter (strawberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, grapes).
- A nature walk to look for water droplets and talk about how God designed the water cycle.
- Start a “God Keeps His Promises” journal where kids can write or draw moments when they saw God’s faithfulness in their own lives.
Pair any “just for fun” rainbow books or activities with a strong reminder: God made the rainbow to show us His mercy, not just to brighten up rainy days.
Let’s teach them the whole story.
No more tiny arks with smiling giraffes peeking out! Let’s give our kids the full picture: God’s judgment against sin, His amazing rescue plan, and His covenant promise symbolized by the rainbow.
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