At the State Street UMC G.R.E.A.T. Adventure, we are studying several prophets this summer, including Elijah. We're trying something new and alternating computer and video one week with building the story in Lego™ the next. Our attendance is typically lower in summer, so we have combined all our kids to do this. It's a little large and a bit complicated to have our younger kids and older kids together, especially for the Bible study portion of the lesson, but it's summer, it's different and so far it seems to be going ok. Attached is our first "Lego Building Lesson" for Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. We'll do two more sessions -- Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel and Elijah and Elisha: the passing of the mantle.

Elijah Fed by Ravens, and Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath

Brick Building Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

The children will use Lego™ to create scenes from parts of the story.

Scripture Reference:

1 Kings 17  (For our younger students we use Deep Blue Bible Storybook: “Elijah and the Ravens," page 158.)

Memory Verse:  “The Lord, He is God!”  1 Kings 18:39 (NIV)

Objectives and Life Application:

• Children will retell the story in their own words.
• 3-5 graders will identify the books of 1 and 2 Kings as books of Old Testament History.
• Children will identify the following characters in the story: Elijah, King Ahab, Elisha, Baal, Queen Jezebel.
• Children will describe a prophet. (one who tells God’s message)
• Children will understand that God wants to take first place in our lives.
• 3-5 graders will explore the concept of God’s sovereignty – how God uses situations to bring about his ultimate plan of good in the world.
• Children will memorize 1 Kings 18:39.

Themes: God provides what we need! There is only one, true God; we must worship only him.

Preparation and Room Set Up:

• Review the Background Information and Lesson plan.
• Read 1 Kings 17.
• Create story cards by enlarging the images from the Blankenbaker book (see Resources at end of lesson) and printing onto cardstock – one or two images per half sheet.
• Print out four copies of the Lego Building Directions (for adult helpers).
• Print out four scene titles:
  • Elijah visits King Ahab – drought is announced.
  • Elijah flees – ravens feed him.
  • Miracle - Elijah meets the widow of Zarephath, oil does not run out.
  • Miracle - Elijah brings the widow’s son back to life!
• Gather the following:
  • Lego style bricks – variety of bricks, including LOTS of people, landscapes and regular bricks
  • Small tubs or boxes (4 for the groups, plus others for sorting the types of bricks)
• Sort Lego into separate containers – people, landscape and regular blocks.
• Set out four empty tubs for each group.
• Write the following on the flip chart or white board:
  • Elijah visits King Ahab – drought
  • Elijah flees – ravens
  • Widow of Zarephath – Miracle!
  • The widow’s son – another miracle!

Lesson Plan

Welcome/Introduction

Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Make sure everyone is wearing a nametag. Please include the shepherd in introductions.

Opening Prayer
Light the Christ Candle and place in the middle of the table where all can see.

Say:  We light this candle to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world. God is with us wherever we go. God is with us here in this place today.

Pray:  Heavenly Father, We thank you for today and this time together. This month we are learning about Elijah, an important prophet and how he listened and followed you. Help us to have open eyes, ears, minds and most of all hearts. Help us truly listen this month so we can draw closer to you. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Note:  the candle should remain lit until the end of the session)

Important Teacher Notes:
Each workshop includes the Bible story. One of our primary goals is to improve the children’s Bible literacy! If children did not bring their Bibles from home, use the classroom Bibles. Shepherds should help the children locate the stories. Use the Background Information to help you introduce the story.

Remember that as the rotation progresses; the children will become more familiar with the story. When this happens, allow the children to tell you what they know. The children should still locate the story in their Bibles every week. Use the bold headings in their Bibles to guide your discussion. You may want to review some of the Bible notes as well. Be sure to fill in any missing information and add additional details using the Background Information to help you. One of the greatest advantages of this model is that children who come regularly learn the story in great depth.

Each lesson contains more Background Information and discussion questions than can be used in one session. Remember, children are studying this story for four weeks! Be sure to follow the time guidelines and leave ample time for the activity.

Introduce the Story
Say: Last month we talked about Samuel, who was a mighty prophet and judge. Remember that a judge was a leader, sort of like the major of the city. But the Israelite people wanted to have a king, like the other nations around them. And so, after many years being ruled by judges, Samuel anointed the first king of Israel. This began a real up and down time in Israel’s history. Some kings were good…. and some were not so good…. and some were just awful!!! This month our story will focus on a time when there was a really bad king who ruled and the story of the prophet who brought him God’s message.

Elijah was a great prophet of God. His name means “Yahweh is God.” What is a prophet? (a messenger for God)

Prophets brought God’s message to the kings and leaders – they listened closely to God and then shared God’s message. Often the prophets told the kings and leaders they were doing wrong and needed to turn back to God. Do you think this made them very popular with the kings? (No, in fact, prophets were often very Unpopular!)

 So our story begins with Elijah bringing an unwelcome message to King Ahab…

Let’s see what happens…..

Elijah lived many, many years before Jesus was born. Where would we find his story in the Bible? (Old Testament) The story of Elijah is found in the books of 1 and 2 Kings, which are books of history.

Bible Study: Grades K-5
NIV Adventure Bible and Deep Blue Bible Storybook

Say: As we review the story, watch for the following important scenes (written on the white board or flip chart). After the Bible study, we will build these scenes with lego.

1. Elijah visits King Ahab – drought is annouced
2. Elijah flees – ravens feed him
3. Elijah meets the widow of Zarephath – miracle of the oil
4. Elijah brings the widow’s son back to life – another miracle

 
Help the 3-5 graders locate 1 Kings 16:29 in the NIV Adventure Bible.
Help the K-2 graders turn to page 158 in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook.

Say: Elijah’s story is found in many chapters of the Bible, because he was such an important prophet. We will learn about several of Elijah’s adventures over the next few weeks.

NIV Bible: Have the 3-5 graders turn to 1 Kings 17 (Elijah Fed by Ravens). Children with their own Bibles should highlight the title of this story.

Deep Blue Bible Storybook: Have the K-2 turn to page 158 Elijah and the Ravens.

Say: This is where we find one of Elijah's stories in the Bible.

Place the Elijah story cards in the middle of the table. As you read the explanation, have children help you complete the information and locate the correct card. Place the cards in a line on the table.

Say: Let’s review the story using the story cards.

1. Israel gets a king – Who are these people? (Samuel and Saul and later David and Solomon). What is Samuel doing? (anointing – pouring oil on his head to indicate that he is chosen for an important job – being king)
2. Israel worships idols – What did the people do that was wrong? (worshiped idols). What is an idol? (something that you put before God – in this case it was a statue)
3. After King Solomon died, the country of Israel was divided into two parts. What are they? (Israel in the north and Judah in the south)
4. A series of good and bad kings followed, more BAD than good actually.
5. Perhaps the MOST evil king was King _________ (Ahab) and his equally wicked queen _______ (Jezebel). They built many idols and made everyone worship them instead of the one, true God.
6. God called Elijah to listen closely to him and to tell others God’s important message. Elijah was a __________ (prophet). Elijah went to meet with King Ahab. He told Ahab there would be a _______________ (drought, no dew or rain) in the land for several years.
7. Then God sent Elijah to the country near a brook, east of the Jordan river. God provided for Elijah’s needs. Elijah drank from the __________ (brook) and was fed by _____________ (ravens, birds).
8. Later the brook dried up (remember, no rain!) and God told Elijah to go to a town called ___________ (Zarephath) and to meet a widow (a woman whose husband had died) there who would give him food. She was almost out of food so she told Elijah, “Sorry I can’t help you.” True or False? (FALSE – even though she was nearly out of flour and oil, she fed Elijah first!)
9. The widow’s flour and oil did not run out! It was a ___________. (miracle)
10. Later Elijah performed another miracle. The widow’s ittle boy became very sick and died. What did Elijah do? (prayed, pressed himself onto the boy three times, and the boy came back to life!)
    
    

Memory Verse:  Review the verse with the children at this time.  “The Lord, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:39

Say: The widow learned to trust Elijah and to trust God. She learned that God cares for us always, even in times of trouble. God provides for us. She trusted God. She believed!

Sign the Verse
Lord – with index finger and thumb make “L” sign, place on opposite shoulder and bring across chest diagonally to right hip
God – raise right hand above head with palm facing head, bring hand down near side of face.

Brick-Building Story Scenes

Directions:

1. Divide the children into four groups. Assign an adult to each group.
2. Give each group one of the scene titles and a tub to hold their Lego pieces.
3. Explain that they will build a Lego scene that depicts that part of the story. Have them refer to their Bibles if needed for details.
4. Explain that this is a cooperative project -- everyone has a voice and they must work together to build the scene.
5. For each scene, ask:
   • Where did this take place? (palace, outside near a brook, town, widow’s house, etc.)
   • Who were the main characters in this scene? (King Ahab, Elijah, ravens, widow, widow’s son)
   • What is the most important thing that happened in this part of the story?
6. Groups will take turns coming to the Lego table to select the bricks and extras they need to build their part of the story.
7. Once all the groups have completed their structures, take turns visiting each group. Have the group members explain their building and answering the three questions posed above.

Note:  Leave the Lego structures intact for the remaining Elijah sessions. 

Closing prayer
Do:  Invite children to stand in a circle.

Say:  Today we continued our study of Elijah, one of God’s most powerful and amazing prophets. We built scenes from the story using Lego, so we will close with Lego prayers. Think about the scene that you built. What word reminds you of this part of Elijah’s story? As I go around the circle, please say that word as your prayer, asking God to help you remember this from the story.

Do:  Go around the circle asking for each child’s "prayer." Add your own. Then close with the Lord’s Prayer.

Resources:
Story cards created using images from What the Bible is All About for Young Explorers, Frances Blankenbaker, Gospel Light, 1998.

A lesson written by Jaymie Derden from State Street United Methodist Church G.R.E.A.T. Adventure, Bristol, VA
Photos Copyright 2017, State Street UMC