Understanding the Synoptic Gospels | Highlighting Project LESSON/SLIDES Bundle
Save time and shop with confidence! Watch the lesson preview video here.
"This was a great resource to help my students learn about the concept of the synoptic gospels, which can be tricky."
- Claire L.
This lesson unit on the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) is a hands-on project that illustrates that while these books share many of the same events, each author presents them from a unique perspective. By pulling out the slight differences and highlighting them, students can then grasp how different viewpoints work together to provide a fuller, richer picture of Jesus’ life and teachings.
✳️Engaging Activity: Seeing the Same Event Differently
Students begin by analyzing three fictional modern day witness statements about a surprise flash mob performance. Each witness—a 14-year-old boy, a retired music teacher, and an emergency room doctor—describes the event differently based on their background, interests, and profession. This activity illustrates how multiple people can see the very same event yet focus on different details, setting the stage for understanding the Synoptic Gospels.
✳️Bible Study: Comparing the Story of Jesus and the Children ✍️
After a short discussion on the meaning of the word “synoptic” you will give your students a worksheet with which you will lead them through a side-by-side comparison of the story of Jesus and the Children in each of the three synoptic gospels. Verse by verse and section by section and under your direction they will highlight the details and richness that that each gospel provides to the story.
What’s Included in This Lesson?
➡️Step-by-step lesson plan – 8 pages of easy-to-follow instructions and clear DO/SAY/READ conversational wording
➡️Side-by-side Gospel comparison worksheet – featuring the “Jesus and the Children” narrative from Matthew, Mark, and Luke
➡️Color-coded answer key
➡️Fourteen PowerPoint slides allowing your students to visually follow along as they color code their worksheets. For your convenience, the slide numbers are referenced in the lesson plan.
This interactive Bible lesson for grades 4-8 strengthens critical thinking, biblical literacy, and comparative reading skills—perfect for Sunday school, homeschool, or Christian classroom use!
✔️Our goal with each lesson is to combine scholarly study in a fun, interactive way so that students not only experience the rich Biblical narrative but also to whet their appetite for more by learning how to study the Scriptures for themselves.
Save time and shop with confidence! Watch the lesson preview video here.
"This was a great resource to help my students learn about the concept of the synoptic gospels, which can be tricky."
- Claire L.
This lesson unit on the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) is a hands-on project that illustrates that while these books share many of the same events, each author presents them from a unique perspective. By pulling out the slight differences and highlighting them, students can then grasp how different viewpoints work together to provide a fuller, richer picture of Jesus’ life and teachings.
✳️Engaging Activity: Seeing the Same Event Differently
Students begin by analyzing three fictional modern day witness statements about a surprise flash mob performance. Each witness—a 14-year-old boy, a retired music teacher, and an emergency room doctor—describes the event differently based on their background, interests, and profession. This activity illustrates how multiple people can see the very same event yet focus on different details, setting the stage for understanding the Synoptic Gospels.
✳️Bible Study: Comparing the Story of Jesus and the Children ✍️
After a short discussion on the meaning of the word “synoptic” you will give your students a worksheet with which you will lead them through a side-by-side comparison of the story of Jesus and the Children in each of the three synoptic gospels. Verse by verse and section by section and under your direction they will highlight the details and richness that that each gospel provides to the story.
What’s Included in This Lesson?
➡️Step-by-step lesson plan – 8 pages of easy-to-follow instructions and clear DO/SAY/READ conversational wording
➡️Side-by-side Gospel comparison worksheet – featuring the “Jesus and the Children” narrative from Matthew, Mark, and Luke
➡️Color-coded answer key
➡️Fourteen PowerPoint slides allowing your students to visually follow along as they color code their worksheets. For your convenience, the slide numbers are referenced in the lesson plan.
This interactive Bible lesson for grades 4-8 strengthens critical thinking, biblical literacy, and comparative reading skills—perfect for Sunday school, homeschool, or Christian classroom use!
✔️Our goal with each lesson is to combine scholarly study in a fun, interactive way so that students not only experience the rich Biblical narrative but also to whet their appetite for more by learning how to study the Scriptures for themselves.
Save time and shop with confidence! Watch the lesson preview video here.
"This was a great resource to help my students learn about the concept of the synoptic gospels, which can be tricky."
- Claire L.
This lesson unit on the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) is a hands-on project that illustrates that while these books share many of the same events, each author presents them from a unique perspective. By pulling out the slight differences and highlighting them, students can then grasp how different viewpoints work together to provide a fuller, richer picture of Jesus’ life and teachings.
✳️Engaging Activity: Seeing the Same Event Differently
Students begin by analyzing three fictional modern day witness statements about a surprise flash mob performance. Each witness—a 14-year-old boy, a retired music teacher, and an emergency room doctor—describes the event differently based on their background, interests, and profession. This activity illustrates how multiple people can see the very same event yet focus on different details, setting the stage for understanding the Synoptic Gospels.
✳️Bible Study: Comparing the Story of Jesus and the Children ✍️
After a short discussion on the meaning of the word “synoptic” you will give your students a worksheet with which you will lead them through a side-by-side comparison of the story of Jesus and the Children in each of the three synoptic gospels. Verse by verse and section by section and under your direction they will highlight the details and richness that that each gospel provides to the story.
What’s Included in This Lesson?
➡️Step-by-step lesson plan – 8 pages of easy-to-follow instructions and clear DO/SAY/READ conversational wording
➡️Side-by-side Gospel comparison worksheet – featuring the “Jesus and the Children” narrative from Matthew, Mark, and Luke
➡️Color-coded answer key
➡️Fourteen PowerPoint slides allowing your students to visually follow along as they color code their worksheets. For your convenience, the slide numbers are referenced in the lesson plan.
This interactive Bible lesson for grades 4-8 strengthens critical thinking, biblical literacy, and comparative reading skills—perfect for Sunday school, homeschool, or Christian classroom use!
✔️Our goal with each lesson is to combine scholarly study in a fun, interactive way so that students not only experience the rich Biblical narrative but also to whet their appetite for more by learning how to study the Scriptures for themselves.
❓️FAQS❓️
What Christian perspective is used for these Bible lessons?
I am an evangelical Christian who writes Bible curriculum for older students, and I take this tremendous responsibility seriously. Each lesson has a clear focus on what God says in His Word and the lessons are presented age appropriately, thoughtfully and biblically.
What translation of the Bible is used? 99% of the time I use the ESV although on rare occasion I might use another translation such as the NIV.
How can this Bible curriculum be used? These lessons are flexible enough to be used in the following settings:
Children's Sunday School class
Youth Group
Private Christian school Bible class
Chapel for Christian schools
Children's Church
Homeschool Bible class
Family Bible time
Copyright ©️ Experience the Bible Creatively. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
