Time to Praise: Teaching Kids How to Worship With Their Whole Heart

There’s something special about watching little learners lift their voices and hands in worship. The Time to Praise lesson helps children see that praising God isn’t only about singing. It’s also about what we feel, say, and do to show our love for Him.

Designed as part of the Time With God Bible Unit, this lesson gives teachers and Bible class leaders a complete plan for helping young learners experience worship in meaningful ways.

What’s Inside the Time to Praise Lesson

This lesson centers around Psalm 86:12:

“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”

Learners read Psalms of Praise by Danielle Hitchen and talk about what worship feels like in their hearts. Then, they explore how praise can be shown through both words and actions.

Here’s how the lesson unfolds:

• Opening: Sing the song Praise God and introduce the memory verse from Psalm 86:12.
• Whole Group: Discuss what it means to praise God from the heart, then create a class anchor chart showing how we feel, what we say, and how we act when we worship.
• Activity: Use the When I Praise chart and visuals to help learners recognize that worship is more than a song…it’s a response from the heart.
• Small Group Game: Play Pass and Praise. Learners pass a small heart around the circle as music plays. When it stops, the child holding the heart shares one way they praise God.

This lesson helps connect big spiritual truths to concrete, child-friendly actions that learners can see and feel every day.

Lesson Crafts and Printables

Each hands-on activity reinforces the theme of worship in a tangible way:

• “Feel, Say, Act” Trifold: Learners draw or write how they feel in their hearts, what they say, and how they act when praising God.
• Praise God Pocket Notes: Learners write or draw praise notes and tuck them into a paper pocket. Display them on a Praise Wall to celebrate throughout the week.
• Speech Bubble Craft: Learners complete the sentence “I praise God because…” and pose for a photo holding their speech bubble for a sweet visual reminder of gratitude.
• Memory Verse Bracelet: Learners trace and color Psalm 86:12, then glue the strip into a wearable verse bracelet.

Each printable helps learners engage their hearts, hands, and voices as they learn to praise.

Time With God Passport Connection

In this lesson, learners glue their Praise stamp into the Time With God Passport, showing that they spent time praising God that day. This passport connection helps them track their spiritual growth and builds a rhythm of worship and reflection each week.

Amazon Favorites for Your Lesson Prep

Get everything you need to bring this lesson to life—books, music, and classroom supplies—on my curated Time With God Amazon List. It includes Psalms of Praise, rhythm instruments, and heart-themed crafts perfect for this unit.

Bring Praise to Life in Your Bible Class

The Time to Praise lesson makes worship meaningful and fun for even your youngest learners.
You can grab this lesson individually or as part of the complete Time With God Bible Unit, which includes six lessons designed to build lifelong spiritual habits: prayer, study, remembrance, praise, and giving.