Enjoy this free sample lesson from Prayer Power Lab: 5-Week Curriculum for Kids on the Lord's Prayer. If this teaching format fits your children's ministry or Sunday School, check out the complete five-lesson series. Available for Prek (ages 3-5) and Kids (ages 6-12).
Week 1 — Start with Praise: Our Father Is Holy
Bible Story: Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Matthew 6:5–9)
Key Discovery: God is our holy Father—close to us and worthy of worship.
Takeaway: I can praise God’s name and trust His fatherly care
About the "Prayer Power Lab" Curriculum Series
Prayer can feel abstract to kids — invisible words to Someone they can't see. Prayer Power Lab makes prayer real. Over five weeks, kids step into the role of junior researchers in a hands-on prayer lab, testing how unseen power works through simple demos any volunteer can run. They walk out with the Lord's Prayer memorized, five Toolbelt Badges earned, and a real understanding that God hears them when they pray.
Week 1 — Start with Praise: Our Father Is Holy
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Bible Story: Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Matthew 6:5–9)
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Key Discovery: God is our holy Father—close to us and worthy of worship.
-
Takeaway: I can praise God’s name and trust His fatherly care.
Video Bible Stories: Use this link to access recommended Bible story videos and bonus content for this curriculum series. https://linktr.ee/PrayerPowerLabLessons
Parent Connect: Print extra copies of this overview page to share with the families in your ministry.
Week 1 - Supply List
Group Game: Praise Power Freeze
- Open space for movement
- Phone or music player to play a praise song to pause during the game
Lab Demo: Praise Eruption
- Clear plastic cup or small clear container
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Tray or pan to catch spills
- Safety goggles (leader only)
Bible Story Teaching
- Optional: lab goggles or lab-themed prop for visual cue
Coloring Page
- Printed Week 1 coloring page (Jesus teaching the disciples, portrait orientation)
- Crayons or colored pencils
Craft: Praise Toolbelt Badge
- Cardstock or construction paper, cut into circles or shield shapes about 3 inches across (trace a cup or use a circle punch — no template needed; kids draw freehand on the blank shape)
- Markers or crayons
- Hole punch
- Yarn or string
-
Tape (optional, to reinforce holes)
Introduction Game (5 minutes)
Praise Power Freeze
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Open space for kids to move safely
- Phone or music player to play a praise song to pause during the game
TEACHER: Welcome to the Prayer Power Lab, junior researchers! Today we’re learning what happens when praise starts the reaction in prayer.
When the music is playing, you will move around the room like busy scientists. You can walk, march, or tiptoe—no running. When the music stops and I say a praise word, everyone freezes and looks up.
(Demonstrate freezing and looking upward.)
When you freeze, listen carefully. I will say a word that praises God, like holy, loving, or mighty. When I point to you, say Amen and stay frozen until the music starts again.
(Start and stop the music several times, using different praise words.)
Each time we freeze, remember this: praise helps us stop, focus, and remember who God is before we talk about anything else.
Great job, researchers!
DEBRIEF: When we praised God’s name, our bodies stopped and our focus changed. That’s what praise does in prayer—it helps us remember God is holy and close to us.
Object Lesson (5 minutes)
Praise Eruption (Baking Soda & Vinegar)
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Clear plastic cup or small clear container
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Tray or pan to catch spills
- Safety goggles (leader only)
TEACHER: Welcome back to the Prayer Power Lab, researchers. Today we are testing what happens when praise starts the reaction.
(Put the clear cup on a tray.)
Before we add anything, notice this cup. Nothing is happening yet.
(Add a spoonful of baking soda to the cup.)
Still nothing exciting. Now I’m adding just a little dish soap.
(Add a small squirt of dish soap.)
Everything is ready, but the reaction hasn’t started yet. Before we pour the vinegar, we’re going to start with praise—just like Jesus taught us to pray.
(Hold the vinegar and pause.)
Let’s say this part of the Lord’s Prayer together: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
(Slowly pour the vinegar into the cup as kids speak.)
Look at that! The reaction starts right away. The bubbles rise up as soon as the vinegar touches the baking soda.
Praise didn’t wait until the end. Praise came first and started the reaction.
In prayer, we don’t begin by asking for things. We begin by praising who God is. He is holy. He is our Father. He is close and worthy of worship.
(Point to the bubbling cup.)
Just like this reaction, praise changes what’s happening right away—even before anything else is added.
Bible Story (15 minutes)
Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Matthew 6:5–9)
Key Discovery: God is our holy Father—close to us and worthy of worship.
Takeaway: I can praise God’s name and trust His fatherly care.
TEACHER: Today we are learning about prayer straight from Jesus. The disciples watched Him pray and wanted to know how to talk to God the right way. Jesus taught them that prayer is not about showing off or using fancy words. Prayer is about talking to our Father in heaven.
Jesus wanted His followers to know that God is close and loving, but also holy and worthy of praise. That’s why He taught them to start prayer in a special way.
READ (NIV): Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer is not a performance. It’s a real conversation. God sees us, hears us, and cares about us—even when no one else is watching. He is our Father, and He wants to hear from us.
Then Jesus taught His disciples the words we call the Lord’s Prayer. He showed them how to begin.
READ (NIV): Matthew 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Jesus didn’t say to start prayer by asking for things. He said to start by praising God. He reminded us that God is our Father—close and loving—and that His name is holy.
(Hold up lab goggles or gesture toward the lab setup.)
In our lab today, we saw that when praise starts the reaction, everything changes right away. Praise helps us remember who God is before we think about what we need.
When we praise God, we are saying:
- You are holy.
- You are good.
- You are worthy of worship.
That changes our hearts. It helps us trust God as our Father.
Jesus wants us to begin prayer with praise, because praise helps us focus on God instead of our problems.
GOSPEL CONNECTION: Jesus is the reason we can pray to God as our Father. He died on the cross and rose again so we could be forgiven and welcomed into God’s family. Because of Jesus, we are heard, loved, and never alone when we pray.
That’s why we can say with confidence: Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy
Discussion Questions & Prayer (5-10 minutes)
TEACHER: You did a great job listening and thinking today. We learned that prayer begins with praise because God is our holy Father. Praise helps us focus on who God is before we think about what we need.
Let’s talk about how this works in our own lives.
Discussion Questions:
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What does it mean that God is our Father?
- Why do you think Jesus wants us to start prayer with praise?
- What is one word you could use to praise God today?
Prayer: Let's pray together — and we'll start with praise, just like Jesus taught.
God, thank You for being our Father.
Thank You that You are holy, loving, and close to us.
We praise Your name today.
Help us remember to start our prayers with praise and trust You with our lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Word Search Puzzle
PRAYER – PRAISE – FATHER – HOLY – JESUS – TRUST
HEAVEN – LOVE – TALK – GOD – AMEN – HEAR – CLOSE
Craft Activity (5-10 minutes)
Praise Toolbelt Badge
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Cardstock or construction paper, cut into circles or shield shapes about 3 inches across (trace a cup or use a circle punch — no template needed; kids draw freehand on the blank shape)
- Markers or crayons
- Hole punch
- Yarn or string (for lanyard or toolbelt)
- Tape (optional, to reinforce holes)
TEACHER: Today you are making your very first Prayer Power Lab Toolbelt Badge. This badge reminds us that prayer starts with praise.
(Hold up a sample badge.)
On your badge, draw a simple symbol that reminds you to praise God. You could draw a crown to remember that God is King, a star to remember that God is holy, or hands raised to remember worship.
(Pause while kids draw.)
When you are finished drawing, we’ll punch a hole at the top so you can wear your badge or attach it to your Prayer Power Lab toolbelt.
(Punch holes and help kids add yarn as needed.)
Every week, you’ll add a new badge as we learn more about prayer. This first badge reminds us that before we ask for anything, we praise God for who He is.
Let’s say it together one more time: Prayer starts with praise.
