Advent activities for Sunday school, week by week
Four Sundays, four themes: a simple Advent plan you can run in any kids' class, with the Bible reading, a candle moment and an activity for each week.
Updated 1 November 2026 · How we pick resources
Advent 2026 dates: Sunday 29 November, 6 December, 13 December and 20 December, with Christmas Eve on Thursday 24 December and Christmas Day on Friday 25 December.
Many churches light one candle on an Advent wreath each Sunday. Traditions differ in the names and order of the candles; the plan below uses a common pattern of hope, peace, joy and love, with the centre candle for Jesus at Christmas. Use the names your church uses.
Week 1 (29 Nov): Hope, the promise
- Bible reading: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7. God promised a king who would bring light.
- Candle moment: Light the first candle. "People waited hundreds of years for God's promise. Advent is a time of waiting with hope."
- Activity (ages 3–11): Promise chain. Each child writes or draws one thing they're hoping for, on a paper strip. Link the strips into a chain and add one each week.
- For preteens and teens: Read Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 7:14 and ask what kind of king the people were expecting.
- Review: Three quick questions on the prophecies.
Week 2 (6 Dec): Peace, getting ready
- Bible reading: Luke 1:26–38. Gabriel visits Mary.
- Candle moment: Light two candles. "Mary was surprised and probably scared, but she trusted God and was at peace."
- Activity: Who said it? Read lines from the Christmas story and guess the speaker (list here).
- For preteens and teens: Discuss Mary's answer, "I am the Lord's servant" (Luke 1:38). What would it take to say that?
- Review: Christmas story in order, first four cards.
Week 3 (13 Dec): Joy, good news
- Bible reading: Luke 2:8–20. Angels appear to the shepherds.
- Candle moment: Light three candles. In many churches this is the pink candle for joy. "The angels said the news was good news of great joy for all the people."
- Activity: Shepherds, sheep and angels for younger children; carol Pictionary for older ones (youth games).
- Review: Our free Christmas trivia, one level per class.
Week 4 (20 Dec): Love, God's gift
- Bible reading: John 3:16 and Matthew 2:1–12 (the Magi).
- Candle moment: Light four candles. "The greatest gift was God's love: he gave his Son."
- Activity: Christmas gift pass with Christmas story questions on each layer.
- Celebration review: Play a Christmas Bible game show as a class party.
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day: the Christ candle
Light the centre candle. Read Luke 2:1–7 and John 1:14. Keep it short and joyful: a song, the candle, and one sentence: "Jesus is here: God with us."
Need a memory verse for each week? See Christmas memory verses for kids.
A review game for the last Sunday before Christmas
Bible Showdown: The Christmas Story
A click-to-play Bible game show covering the prophecies, the angel messages and the nativity. Kids, preteens and teens each get their own 25 questions plus a Final Round, all with Bible references. Plays in any web browser with automatic scoring, or as a PowerPoint, with printable cards for classes without a screen.
Have a Christmas party instead of a regular class? Try a Nativity escape room or a Christmas "Who Am I?" round.
Escape to Bethlehem (Nativity escape room)
A printable Nativity escape room built on Luke 2 and Matthew 2. Teams follow five clues, from the angel's coded message to the wise men's riddle, to find the baby in the manger. Includes a web lock checker with a countdown timer and hints, a host guide with Bible readings and a certificate for every team.
Who Am I? The Christmas Story
20 Christmas story characters, from Isaiah and Micah to Simeon and Anna, with four clues each from hard to easy. Read the clues aloud or play the web game, which keeps score for 2 to 4 teams. Answer key with Bible references included.
Advent resources we recommend
Truth in the Tinsel
Why we picked it: A 24-day Advent devotional with daily ornament crafts that walks families through the Christmas story. Good to recommend to parents for use at home.
A 24-day Advent devotional with daily ornament crafts that walk families through the Christmas story, plus Christmas book lists and ideas.
Sunday School Works Advent
Why we picked it: Free printable Advent and Christmas lessons that follow the church calendar, for weeks when you need a full lesson.
Free printable Advent and Christmas lessons following the lectionary, plus a free month on thankfulness each November.
Kregel (Advent Storybooks)
Why we picked it: Arnold Ytreeide's Advent read-aloud chapter books (Jotham's Journey and sequels), a family favourite for ages 8–12.
Christian publisher behind Arnold Ytreeide's beloved Advent trilogy (Jotham's Journey and sequels) — daily-read-aloud Christmas chapter books for families.
Rain for Roots
Why we picked it: Singable Scripture songs for kids, including an Advent album, for worship time or the candle moment.
Singable Scripture songs for kids and grown-ups from Sandra McCracken, Katy Bowser Hutson and friends, including an Advent album.
CTA Christ to All
Why we picked it: Affordable Advent and Christmas products for children, such as take-home gifts and devotion books for your class.
Affordable Scripture-based gifts, decor, devotion books and kids' products (including CTAKids Advent and Christmas lines) for churches and schools.