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(WT) Elijah Super Set - Bible Skills and Games Workshop

Rotation.org Writing Team

Elijah Super Set*

Bible Skills and Game Stations Workshop 

Summary of Activities

Students will "travel" to games stations at Zarephath, Mt Horeb, and the Jordan River to study and play memorable games about each Elijah story. Each station is supplied, set up, and staffed by a volunteer. 

*Check this link for what a "Super Set" is.

**See the end notes for an alternative "quiz game" about Elijah's stories.

Scripture for the Lesson

1 Kings 17:1-24, Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (Game Station 1)

(1 Kings 18:2-46, Elijah and the Prophets of Baal is only briefly referenced in this lesson plan)

1 Kings 19:1-16, Elijah and Still Small Voice (Game Station 2)

2 Kings 2:1-14, Elijah recruits Elisha, Chariot of Fire, the Mantle (Game Station 3)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives. One of the unique outcomes of this lesson is when the students write "Elisha declarations" on the mantles used in the slingshot game. These declarations teach students that THEY are today's Elisha. 

This lesson also suggests the teacher travel to the stations with a MAP of Israel, showing the kids where Elijah is for each story. Look at the end of the lesson for the geography notes.

The Story & Game "Stations" Set-up

The stories of Elijah are set in some very interesting Holy Land locations —each of which has some history and meaning attached to it. By "traveling" to a new location for each story, rather than simply staying in one spot, you open up several possibilities. 

1. Anticipation!  Traveling to a new destination will heighten their enthusiasm.

2. Different stations can be staffed by different volunteers –each of whom has taken the time to decorate his/her station in a way one teacher trying to juggle three games in one location cannot do.  Being set up and ready to play as soon as the kids arrive saves lesson time, too.

3. The "Travel Guide" (the main teacher leading the students) can focus on filling in the story and reinforcing key points made by the station teacher, instead of having to worry about conducting the game.

Preparation and Materials

  • Read the Bible Background and scriptures.
  • If needed, print the Cooking lesson's illustration packet for storytelling to young children, if needed, or prepare to display the narrated illustrations/animations from Elijah and Jonah software (Sunday Software).
  • A map of the Holy Land, including Sinai.
  • Recruit volunteers for each station and give them a copy of this lesson plan.
  • Help station volunteers gather and set up their stations.
  • See the Materials List for each station below (we have also attached a printable Coordinator's Preparation and Materials List handout for ease of gathering supplies).

Lesson Plan

Welcome your students and explain what they'll be doing today. Then, start the lesson by playing the Flour Sock Catch game at Station 1.

Station 1:  Zarephath Catch the Compassion! "Flour Sock" Game

floursockThis game is a good example of creating a fun memory hook for the story.

Sharing and Discussing the Story

Write the following question about God and Elijah on the board and tell your students that you want them to answer it after they hear the story. 

Read the story.

The Question:
What did you learn about God and Elijah from this story?  

(An answer: God cares!  -- even about those who do not know him, like the Widow. This story teaches that the compassion of God and Elijah are not just for believers, but for all. How do we know that? The widow made her proclamation after the miracles of compassion. Zarephath is outside of Israel. God's message is for everyone.)

Play the Catch the Compassion! Game

The Game:  Split into two or more teams. Assign one member from each team to be "the widow" while the other team members are the Elijah flour tossers.  You can either have the widows lay on their backs to catch the flour socks or sit cross-legged on top of a tablecloth. The widow is holding a 6" or wider container or bucket (her "jar") to try to catch the flour socks. Adjust the distance for different ages. 

Begin the game by having the first Elijah on the first team toss to his "widow." Then the next team's Elijah tosses, and so on. 

Round One: Teammates take turns tossing flour socks for the widow to catch. Those that are missed or glance off the jar will leave a poof of flour. 

Round Two: The flour socks are soaked for a minute in "oil" (which is actually just water) and tossed for a new widow to try to catch so she "doesn't run out." 

Points: Give each team four to six tosses and see which "widow" catches the most socks. Switch who gets to catch if you have extra time. 

Tossing Tips: Adjust distance between Elijah and the Widow according to the ability of your students. The higher the thrower throws the sock, the bigger the "poof" when it lands. Adjust number of tosses and turns depending on how much time you have for the lesson. You've got two other games, so keep it moving!  

Materials:

  • Plastic table cloth (for the floor)
  • A pan of "Olive Oil" (water) to soak the socks in.
  • sock-fillCheap panty-hose (cheaper meaning a weave that has bigger holes for the flour to sift out of, not solid). One pair can make approximately 6 flour socks.
  • Flour -2/3 cup per sock (or cornstarch if you have a student with a gluten allergy).
  • Clear plastic "Jar" for each "widow" (a plastic container or bucket with a 6" to 12" opening, larger for younger children).
  • Small bucket of water to dip flour socks in for round 2.
  • Clean-up supplies!

Filling the sock:  Cut a 10" length of panty hose. Tie one end. Stretch the sock opening over a glass to make pouring flour into the sock easier (see photo). Add about 2/3 cup of flour per sock. Tie the end closed.  (If a student has a wheat or gluten allergy, substitute cornstarch. If a student is asthmatic, let them toss, not catch.)

Tip: Cut several small holes in the pantyhose near one of the knots so flour will "poof" out in a bigger (more fun) cloud when it lands. 

Wetting the sock for Round Two: Give it a good soak, then have the students reach into the pan and immediately throw the sock towards the widow. It lands with more of a thud, and is sticky if they miss it!  (Once you wet the flour, you will need to make new socks for the next week).

Important Follow-up Questions:

How easy would it be to catch God's blessings if we closed our eyes? Didn't expect to receive them?  Didn't have our hands and hearts ready to receive them?  (Note: Toss a flour sock to a student who has her/his eyes closed or arms folded to demonstrate this idea.)

Here's a thought:  Here in Sunday School, we are learning to open our eyes to God's blessings, learning to see and grab hold of his love and compassion which never runs out.



Station 2: Mt Horeb

This "game" is really a dramatic re-enactment of the story of Elijah and "the still small voice" of God on Mt Horeb. Begin by assigning students to be the story's "TECH CREW," another to portray God, and another to portray Elijah.

Tech Crew positions to fill:  

  • Assign someone to turn on the Leaf Blower or a strong fan at Elijah when cued by God in the story.
  • Assign crew members to "shake the tarp" like an earthquake when cued by God.
  • Assign an adult volunteer to "flick a lighter" when cued by God.  
  • Assign a crew member to speak "in a still small voice" through a microphone or cardboard tube when cued by God. Encourage them to think about how a "still small voice" might sound or make you feel.

Materials:

  • Canvas tarp
  • Electric Leaf Blower or strong fan
  • Lighter (for use by the teacher)
  • Cardboard tube or something similar for the "still small voice" effect

Re-enact the Story

Begin by summarizing what has brought Elijah to Mt Horeb:  On top of Mt Carmel in northern Israel, Elijah had shown the people that Baal was a false God. But now he was being hunted down by the Baal worshiping King and Queen, Ahab and Jezebel. So he escaped into the Wilderness of Sinai to the holy cave of Horeb. Thinking his mission was a failure, he asked God to take his life. 

Begin reading the story from your favorite kid-friendly version of the Bible. Pause to "cue God" who is standing on a chair (to signify "above") across from Elijah (Elijah will be standing on the tarp). As you read "wind," then "earthquake," have God cue the tech crew to provide the special effects.  A teacher can step forward to flick the lighter (this is kind of funny, have them make some crackling and whooshing sounds). Be sure to say, "but God was not in the..." and cue the crew to stop their special effect.

When it comes time for the "still small voice" (or however your translation says it), cue God to walk silently towards Elijah and take some time whispering in a deep silent tone. The idea here is to imitate the FEELING of closeness we sometimes feel when God's invisible spirit draws close to us in words "too deep for understanding." Invite Elijah to lay down in that presence. After this has played out, the scripture narrator can walk with God up to Elijah and complete the scripture reading. Invite Elijah to show his best "pleading" pose. 

Follow up Questions:

What did Elijah need the most from God that day on Mt Horeb? (Elijah was afraid and resigned to die. He didn't need a "powerful" God, he needed a comforting God.)

What did you learn from the story about how God's presence feels and what his voice sometimes sounds like?  

What did God promise to do for Elijah?  (Get him some help.) 

Say: At our next game station, we're going see God fulfill that promise of help.


Station 3: Mantle Game at the River Jordan

Read aloud 2 Kings 2:1-14Elijah recruits Elisha, Chariot of Fire, and the Mantle.

Say and ask the following when you're done...

Say: One of the things we do as readers of the Bible is ask "who are we in the story." Who do you think YOU are in the story?  (Elisha, obviously.)

Ask: What did Elisha say he wanted from Elijah before Elijah died? (a double portion of his spirit)  What does that mean?  (It means I want to be just like you.)

Ask: What did Elisha receive from Elijah just before he vanished into heaven? (mantle)  And what did Elisha do with it?  (he struck the river and called upon God)

Ask: What did God answer Elisha when Elisha cried out for God? (The waters parted as if to say, "I'm with you, Elisha." And Elisha became an even greater prophet than Elijah ever was!)

Say:  Elijah left behind his mantle –which was his symbol of authority, his mission to encourage the people to believe and follow God, and live holy lives. In our game today, you're going to have the opportunity to BE ELISHA: the next generation of prophets who step up, catch the mantle of Elijah, and continue his work. 

PLAY THE GAME: Have the students write "Elisha declarations" on the mantles –things Elisha and young Elishas, like us, should be declaring out loud to God. (Remember from other workshops that Elijah's name is a declaration: "My God is Yahweh!" You can also interject that Eli-sha's name in Hebrew means "My God Saves!" In fact, his name is synonymous with Yesh-shua's! --Jesus.) Have an "Elijah" slingshot the mantle to the waiting Elishas. Then, when an Elisha catches a mantle, she/he has to read the declaration as she strikes the "river" like Elisha did. If short on time, write these declarations ahead of time.

Suggested declarations:

  • "I'm here God and ready to follow you like Elijah did!"
  • "I am Eli-sha, and my name means, "God is our Savior!"
  • "Lord, give me a double share of the spirit of Elijah!"
  • "My God is Yahweh too!"   (Eli-jah's name means "My God is Yahweh")
  • "I will worship God and follow his way."

Materials:

  • A big sling-shot or some other type of fun launcher
  • Four or five "mantle" cloths (inexpensive fabric cut to approximately 2' x 3')
  • Markers
  • Blue tarp or paper - river (Option: if playing games outside one could use a small plastic kiddie pool with a few inches of water and have the kids STRIKE the water once they catch it and shout the faith declaration written on the mantle.)

An Important Way to Reinforce Meaning During the Game:
Before slinging the mantle, you could have every Elisha looks to the sky and say,
          "My father, my father, mighty defender of Israel, you're gone!"  
That's the signal for Elijah to fling his mantle. Whoever grabs it must strike the "river" with it (a blue tarp or paper will do), saying the slogan that was written on the cloth during the study. For example, "I'm ready to follow the God of Elijah!"

mantle-slingshotSlingshot Tips:
Recruit two strong helpers to hold the ends of the slingshot while you let a student pull back and fling the mantle. Younger children may need help. Roll the mantle cloth to launch it. In flight it will come unrolled and flutter. If some students are "too good" at catching the mantle, invite them to be launchers.

"Water balloon slingshots" can be found online for about $20 and make a fun addition to future picnic and outdoor game events. Alternatively, you could just roll up the mantles and have a blindfolded person 'toss' them to the crowd. If you have time, launch a few of the flour socks. Just remember that the wet ones will be gooey. 

Conclusion

At the end of the lesson, hang the "Elisha declaration mantles" as a reminder of today's lesson, or send them home with your students.

Close with a prayer that God would help us be strong and compassionate like Elijah, and ready to follow like Elisha.



Adaptations

For Younger Students: Have a "storyteller" present to read a shortened, child-friendly version of the stories. Use a Bible story book, and show illustrations. (Note: The Cooking Workshop in this lesson set has a printable packet of illustrations you can use. These images can also be projected on the wall.) 

For those with less class-time: Eliminate one of the stories, or only play one round of the sock game.

For those who need to stay in one room:  Set up the game stations in different corners of the classroom. (Remove tables and chairs to make room.) It is still a great idea to invite volunteers to supply, set up, and staff each station.

Alternate or Additional Elijah Quiz Games Workshop Lesson

Elijah and Jonah CD (Sunday Software) includes a comprehensive quiz game about all three Elijah stories. The software also contains arcade-style computer games that function as quizzes and reinforcing games for each of the three stories. These games and quizzes will be especially helpful if you have also previously used the Elijah Computer Workshop lesson in this set. 

Bible Map Notes

The three stories take place in three very distinct locations –each of them "outside" of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. God is not confined to boundaries. And the Bible's theme of "meeting God in the wilderness" is reinforced by these stories as well.

Elijah-Map

Zarephath was a village near Sidon, which is a city in Lebanon. Significantly, it is also the hometown of Queen Jezebel the Baal Worshiper. In those days, the Kings of Israel often married foreign wives to form alliances with neighboring kingdoms. As was the case with Jezebel, it also meant the worship of Baal was permitted, and encouraged. What does it say that God would save the Widow of Zarephath and her son -two outsiders?

Mt Carmel is the name of a prominent mountain range that looms above the northern Kingdom of Israel. Undoubtedly, children grew up watching storms and lightning on it. Though not covered in this lesson, it is good to show children where it is on the map.

Mt Horeb is a very old name for Mt Sinai, the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments. It too is outside of Israel. A cave there was said to be holy. Recall that God allowed himself to be seen by Moses just before giving him the tablets. The wilderness was a place where the people felt especially close to God. Recall Jesus going into it and being ministered to by angels after The Temptation. Elijah wanted to die there, but God had other plans.

Exodus 33:18-23  (Moses said) “Show me your glory, I pray.” And God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, ...but you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live. ...and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by...."

The River Jordan was the eastern boundary of both the southern Kingdom of Judah and northern Kingdom of Israel. Elijah grew up near it in Tishbe, and retreated across it when Ahab chased him off of Mt Carmel. This was the same river John would baptize Jesus in, and God's voice from heaven would declare that Jesus was his Son.

Water miraculously parts FIVE TIMES in the Old Testament!   (1) The Red Sea. (2) Joshua 3:10–13 when they place the Ark of the Covenant in it to cross into the Promised Land. (3) Parting for Elijah and Elisha. (4) Parting for Elisha after Elijah is gone. And.... (5) Parting at Creation to make the dry land appear


Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2017, Rotation.org Inc.

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Last edited by Neil MacQueen
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