David and Goliath Activities for Preschoolers

Try these eight David and Goliath activities with children aged 3–5. Start with one picture or craft, then add a short counting or matching game. Children can point, talk, glue and color without needing to read or write.

Read the Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17 (WEB). Choose selected verses to read aloud. These are modern learning activities inspired by the account.

Get ready

Set out chunky crayons, paper and glue. An adult should prepare cut pieces and supervise loose materials. For the counting activity, use large paper ovals rather than small stones.

Free sheets to use

Choose from the preschool coloring collection, or use the counting, matching and sequencing sheets linked below with adult help. These learning sheets come from an older-child activity pack; preschoolers can point to pictures instead of writing answers. For US Letter paper, print the A4 sheets using “Fit to page.”

1. Color David and the sheep

Allow 5–10 minutes · You need: One simple coloring picture and chunky crayons.

Let the child choose a picture from the preschool collection. Offer a few crayons and let them use their own colors.
Ask a simple noticing question, such as “What can you see beside David?” Stop when the child is ready to move on.

Choose a coloring picture

2. Count five paper stones

Allow 10–15 minutes · You need: Five large paper ovals, a sheet of card and glue.

An adult cuts five large oval shapes. Count them together, touching each one once.
Draw a bag outline on card. Invite the child to glue the five ovals inside it, then count again. Read 1 Samuel 17:40 (WEB) together.
Keep this as a flat collage and counting activity; there is nothing to throw.

Paper-stone craft: cut five ovals, draw a bag, count and glue Download the illustrated guide.

Download the counting sheet

3. Put three pictures in order

Allow 5–10 minutes · You need: Sequencing sheet and three adult-cut pictures.

Select three pictures from the sheet. Read the matching part of the passage, then show which picture comes first.
Offer the other two pictures and ask which comes next. Let children point or move the cards; use more cards only if they want to continue.

Download the sequencing sheet

4. Match a pair of pictures

Allow 5–10 minutes · You need: Matching sheet.

Name the pictures together. Cover extra rows if the full sheet feels busy.
Invite the child to point to a matching pair. Drawing lines is optional. Work through one pair at a time and help as needed.

Download the matching sheet

5. Make a torn-paper sheep

Allow 10–15 minutes · You need: White paper, colored card, crayons and glue.

Draw a large oval body, a face and four legs on card, or use a simple sheep picture.
Help the child tear white paper into large pieces and glue them inside the body. Leave the face clear.
Draw eyes and a smile, then leave the collage flat to dry. Use paper rather than loose cotton wool for this version.

Sheep collage: draw the outline, tear paper, glue the wool Download the illustrated guide.

Find a sheep picture

6. Compare taller and shorter

Allow 5 minutes · You need: Two paper figures or large blocks.

Put two figures or blocks beside each other and ask which is taller. Place both on the same tabletop so the comparison is clear.
Try another pair. Invite the child to arrange three blocks from shortest to tallest. No fighting or throwing is part of this game.

7. Carry the pretend food basket

Allow 5–10 minutes · You need: A lightweight basket and large pretend-food pieces.

Read 1 Samuel 17:17-20 (WEB). Put a few large pretend-food pieces in a basket and clear a short walking path.
Let the child carry the basket to a seated adult. Count the pieces together, then swap roles or put the pieces away.

8. Make standing story figures

Allow 10–15 minutes · You need: Printed pictures, card, tape and crayons.

Color two or three pictures. An adult cuts around the figures, leaving a white border so small details do not need to be cut.
Fold a small rectangle of card in half to make a tent-shaped stand. Tape one side to the back of each picture.
Place the figures on a table and move them as you read a few verses aloud. Use the passage for the words of the account.

Standing figures: color and cut, fold a stand, tape behind Download the illustrated guide.

Choose pictures for the figures

Keep the session short

Read a few verses, let the child choose one coloring picture, then try one craft. There is no need to complete all eight activities at once. Save the remaining ideas for another day.