Noah's Ark Animal Pairs

God told Noah to build a large boat because a great flood was coming. Animals of every kind came to Noah in pairs, and Noah's family went in with them. After the flood, God made a promise and put a rainbow in the sky.

This game lets everyone feel what the animals did: look for the one who matches you, and walk in together.

Verse to remember (Genesis 7:8-9): Two by two they came to Noah into the ark, as God had told him.

1. Choose a doorway, a line on the floor or two chairs as the ark. The leader plays Noah.
2. Choose one animal for every two players: lion, sheep, frog, dove, elephant, monkey and so on. Whisper an animal to each player so that two people have the same one. Do not let anybody tell their animal out loud.
3. On "Go", everyone walks around making their animal's sound and movement. No words are allowed.
4. When two players find each other, they hold hands and walk to Noah. Noah welcomes them onto the ark with "Welcome aboard!"
5. If one player is left without a partner, Noah quietly checks their animal and helps them find the match.
6. Play again with new animals. In the second round, ask players to be quieter, so that they listen more carefully.

How it ends: When every pair is on the ark, the leader tells the group how God shut the door, how the rain fell for forty days and how the rainbow came after the flood.

Leader can say: “Two by two, just as it was in the days of Noah. God kept every one of them safe.”

For little ones: Use easy animals with strong sounds, such as a cow, duck or dog. Let little children go in pairs with a helper if they cannot find a partner.

For teens and adults: Older players can play the round with movements only, or each pair can say one thing they would take on the ark. Adults can read Genesis 6 to 9 aloud after the game.

Safety: Walk, do not run. Ask players to keep their hands to themselves while they look for a partner. Tell everyone to stop at once when the leader says "Freeze".

After the game, sit together and ask:

• Why do you think God asked Noah to build the ark?
• How long did Noah wait before the flood came?
• What does the rainbow remind us of?

• Bible Charades Relay: Two teams act out Bible people and stories with no talking.
• Peace, Be Still: Act out wind, waves and thunder, then freeze when Jesus calms the storm.
• All Bible games for church