Kids are introduced to the Poetry (Wisdom) books as the Bible’s songs and prayers: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs.gotquestions+1
They discover that these books express emotions, praise, questions, and wisdom, and they practice finding Psalms and Proverbs as “song and wisdom” books in their Bibles.

Psalm 100:1–2 – “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Action idea:

• “Shout for joy” – cup hands to mouth.
• “Worship the Lord with gladness” – hands lifted.
• “Joyful songs” – pretend to sing into a microphone.

Purpose: 

• Connect poetry with feelings and worship.

Call out an emotion that appears in Psalms: “happy,” “sad,” “afraid,” “thankful,” “sorry,” “excited.”
Kids act it out with a simple motion (happy: big smile and jump; sad: shoulders down; afraid: hands on cheeks; thankful: hands together, looking up).
After each emotion, say: “The poetry books let us talk to God when we feel ___.”

Optional extension: 

• Read a single verse (e.g., a joyful verse from Psalms) and ask, “What emotion is this?” Kids show the matching motion.

Show where the Poetry books sit: 

• turn to the middle of the Bible and show the cluster Job–Psalms–Proverbs–Ecclesiastes–Song of Songs.

Simple overview:

• Job – big questions and trusting God in suffering.
• Psalms – songs and prayers for every feeling.
• Proverbs – short wise sayings for daily life.
• Ecclesiastes – “What really matters in life?”
• Song of Songs – a love song (for older kids, “teaches that love is God’s good gift”).

Explain: 

• “These books are like Israel’s songbook and wisdom book; God gave us words to sing, pray, and think about.”

Read a short, upbeat psalm of praise aloud (e.g., a few verses from Psalm 100 or 136) and have kids echo a repeated line.

Goal: 

• Practice navigating to Psalms and Proverbs as “song” and “wise saying” books.

Step 1: 

• Help kids open to the table of contents and locate Psalms and Proverbs.

Step 2: Everyone finds:

• One simple praise psalm (e.g., Psalm 100:1–2 or a short verse in Psalm 136).
• One short proverb (e.g., Proverbs 3:5–6 or another child-friendly verse).

Step 3: On a half-sheet, they write:

• “Psalms = songs and prayers.”
• “Proverbs = wise sayings.”

Younger groups:

• leader reads; children draw a picture that matches the verse (singing to God, walking on God’s path).thereligionteacher+1

Purpose: 

• Reinforce the five poetry books and their “feel.”

Lay five floor cards in order: 

• Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs.

Kids line up and hop from book to book while you chant together:

• “Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs – poetry books, songs and wisdom from God!”

On each card, pause and say a one-word theme:

• Job – “Why?”
• Psalms – “Sing!”
• Proverbs – “Wise!”
• Ecclesiastes – “Think!”
• Song of Songs – “Love!”

Older kids:

• call a book name out of order; they must race to that card and shout the theme word.