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(WT) The Story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz ~ A Tasty Cooking Workshop

The Rotation.org Writing Team

The Story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz

A Tasty Cooking Workshop

RuthCookingLogo

Summary of Activities

Students will experience the story of Ruth using our free illustrated storybook version while tasting some simple foods that will help them retell the story with understanding.

Scripture

Book of Ruth
The lesson uses our Ruth Storybook, a free abbreviated retelling created by our Writing Team. Based on the NIV translation and illustrated with John August Swanson's colorful Ruth images (used with permission), it may be printed and shared or projected. Additional Bible Background, insights, and questions are included in the storybook.

Memory Verse:
Ruth 1:16 NIV

”Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at Rotation.org for insights on this story and this set's complete list of objectives.

Preparation and Materials

  • Read the Bible Background and scripture
  • Print the Ruth Storybook PDF, or save its file for viewing on a large screen (simply save the PDF to a flash drive and insert the flash drive into your device for viewing; or see suggestions for how to show web content from your cellphone on a TV)
  • Large plates and bowls to hold the various food items
  • Smaller plates for students
  • Spoons for dishing up and spreading
  • Hand washing supplies
  • Paper towels for drying hands
  • Water and cups
  • A paper tablecloth that can be written and drawn on by the students (butcher paper, paper tablecloths, or paper grocery store bags)
  • Washable markers or crayons in individual sets as children will be using them while eating
  • Foods for tasting during the reading:
    • Salt and small bowls/cups of water (to make tears)
    • Celery cut into small sticks - de-stringing celery first makes this more palatable for some children
    • Cream cheese, softened
    • Dates
    • Unshelled sunflower seeds
    • Pocket Pita Bread (enough for 1/2 of a pocket for each student)
    • Honey
    • Almonds (optional)
  • Perfume to dab on students



See the Alternative Food Options at the end of this lesson for picky eaters.

Prior to the start of class, be aware of any food allergies and have an alternative ready.




Lesson Plan

Opening

Welcome your students and explain that today they will read the Book of Ruth and taste different foods to help them remember important ideas in the story.

ASK: Why do we need to eat food? And why do we sometimes eat together with other people?

SAY & ASK: Sharing food is a way to bring people together to share friendship and love, tell stories, and bring comfort. Can you think of times here in our CHURCH when we share a meal together?  (Answers and suggestions may include Communion as well as various fellowship meals.)

SAY: Today we are going to tell the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz with food; but before we do that, we need to wash our hands.

Hand Washing ~ Being Guardian-Redeemers*

Explain that part of the story of Ruth talks about a "Guardian-Redeemer"—someone who protects or guards someone else. Tell students that they will now practice protecting and guarding everyone in their class from germs by washing their hands before we read our story and share special foods.

ASK students as they wash their hands:

  • How can you protect a person's feelings?
  • How can you make a person feel "safe" around you?
  • How does God make us feel safe? (saved, redeemed)

*"Guardian-Redeemer" is a major theme in Ruth. It is described in detail in the Bible Background and explained in other lessons in this set as well.

A Tasty Retelling of the Book of Ruth

Invite children to sit at the paper-covered table and place an empty plate, cup, and a set of crayons or felt markers in front of each child. (Having individual art supplies will maintain hand hygiene during the meal.)  Explain that today's story is an entire book in the Old Testament and we will be reading a shorter version adapted from the Bible. Share copies of the Ruth Storybook or view it on a screen together.

Accept volunteer readers as you progress through the pages. The first few pages go a bit slowly with the foods, then the pace picks up.

PAGE 1: A Famine In The Land

Read aloud page 1 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. SaltTearsWhat does the word "famine" mean?
  2. Do people today sometimes have to leave their countries in search of food and a better life? We call them "refugees" or "immigrants."
  3. How are refugees throughout the world treated today? Get ready to see how the Story of Ruth says that refugees are supposed to be treated!
  4. Draw an empty plate on the paper tablecloth and label it "Bethlehem."
  5. Draw a full plate with some food on it and label it "Moab."
  6. How do you think Naomi and Ruth are feeling at the end of page 1?
  7. Draw some tears in Moab.
  8. Make and taste salty water and ask what kind of life does God want for Ruth and Naomi—and for us? (joy, to wipe away every tear)
  9. Let's see how God guides Ruth and Naomi to a better life.

PAGE 2: More Tears!  Naomi tries to send Orpah and Ruth to their families

Read aloud page 2 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. How many times is crying mentioned on page 2? (twice! "even louder!")
  2. Taste even MORE salty tears and draw a bigger tear on the tablecloth.
  3. Why do you think Ruth "clung" to Naomi?

PAGE 3: Ruth pledges her love and loyalty to Naomi

Read aloud page 3 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. page3Give each student two celery sticks, one to represent Ruth and the other to represent Naomi.
  2. How do you think Naomi felt when she heard Ruth pledge to her, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and
    your God (will be) my God."?
  3. Give each student some cream cheese and have them use it to bind their Ruth and Naomi celery sticks together before they munch on them. As they do this, emphasize the bond of commitment and protection that Ruth was making to Naomi. As they munch on their celery and cream cheese, start reading page 4.


PAGE 4: Something Pleasant and Amazing

Read aloud page 4 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. page4Naomi means pleasant. Why did she change her name to "Marah"? (bitter losses)
  2. Give each student a sweet date to eat as you explain the significance of dates. Invite them to draw other sweet treats on the Bethlehem plate from page 1 as you speak:

Dates are a sweet fruit that grows on a kind of palm tree. Kids in Bible times ate them as sweet treats, and they were used to sweeten all kinds of cookies and cakes back then. Jesus probably loved them! They taste like big raisins or figs and are also very healthy.

At this point in the story of Ruth and Naomi, something wonderful and "sweet" is about to happen. Do you know what it is?  (It began to happen when the townspeople welcomed Naomi home.)

The sweetness of the date reminds us that God has good things in store for us, even when we feel bitter, ashamed, or unwelcome.

As students munch on their dates and any remaining food, continue reading.

PAGE 5, 6, and 7: Ruth meets Boaz

Read aloud pages 5, 6, and 7 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. page6Spread un-shelled sunflower seeds on the tablecloth. Spread them to represent Boaz's field. Then ask your students to "HARVEST" almost all of the sunflower seeds. Try to leave 1/10th of them behind, with everyone ending up with the same number of sunflower seeds. Encourage them to give away extra sunflower seeds if someone else hasn't gathered enough. Explain that sharing and leaving something behind for the poor and refugees is part of God's Law (also known as the Law of Moses in Leviticus 19) and the Great Commandment ("You shall love your neighbor as yourself," also known as "do unto others as you would have done unto you").
  2. What would the world be like if everyone followed God's Law about sharing?
  3. Boaz told his workers to be generous. What does this tell you about him?
  4. Invite students to remove the sunflower seeds from their shells and snack on them. Point out that it's hard work, just like Ruth worked hard! ...and just like it is hard work to share and make sure that everyone has what they need to live and be healthy.


PAGE 8 and 9: Naomi talks to Ruth about Boaz

Read aloud pages 8 and 9 of the storybook as students munch on any remaining food or seeds on their plates.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. Page9Let each student dab a tiny bit of perfume on their hand and smell it.
  2. Why does Naomi want Ruth to marry Boaz?  Who is he? What's his title?

    Emphasize the meaning of "Guardian-Redeemer." According to the Law of Moses, Boaz had a responsibility to take care of the poor in his family and refugees. This title is also used by the prophet Isaiah to describe God! And let's not forget that Ruth was Naomi's Guardian when she stayed committed to Naomi and helped her return to Bethlehem and provided food for her. You might even say that your Guardians and Protectors make your life "sweet."

  3. Draw on your tablecloth a simple drawing of yourself covered with sweet-smelling perfume. The Hebrew and Christian scriptures often equate a good smell with blessing, a clean smell with being free of sin. Offerings were sprinkled with frankincense to make an aroma pleasing to God. Indeed, in 2 Corinthians 2 the forgiven are described as an aroma or sweet perfume pleasing to God. Ruth's perfume would have been a signal to Boaz.

PAGE 10: A Sweet Promise

Read aloud page 10 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. Page10Say that Bethlehem means "House of Bread" in the Hebrew language (Bet = house, Lehem = bread). Explain that a threshing floor is where workers separate the kernels of wheat or barley from their husk, just like you separated the sunflower seeds from their shells!
  2. Share "pocket" pita bread (or whole-seed bread). Have each student open the pocket in their bread, but don't let them eat it yet!  Say, "Something is missing! Let's keep reading to find out."

PAGE 11 and 12: A Sweet Ending

Read aloud pages 11 and 12 of the storybook.

ASK, SAY, & DO:

  1. Say, I have here some HONEY that you can dip or spread onto your pita bread. As I give it to you, be ready to tell me something "sweet" or good that happened here at the end of the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.
  2. Prompt those who need help with these sweet observations: Ruth found a family, a husband, security, love, and faith. Naomi kept a daughter and added a son in Boaz. Boaz fulfilled his responsibility as Guardian-Redeemer, and he married a virtuous, hard-working woman and had a son. Ruth and Boaz had a child who would become the grandfather of King David!

    We learned that God cares about refugees and wants to turn our tears into joy. We also learned that God cares about our future, desiring to bring people together who will help change the world, people like Ruth and Boaz whose union eventually produced Israel's greatest King (David) and eventually Jesus himself!

  3. Draw or write some of these good things on your tablecloth.

    Note: Honey is commonly spread on food at weddings to celebrate the goodness of the event. It is also a symbol of the blessings of God.

Closing

Close by writing prayers on your tablecloth thanking God for Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz and the example of their faithful lives. These may be read out loud if the students wish.

OPTIONAL Final Food Reflection: The almond "watchful eye of God"

Almond-Shakeid-EyesAfter spreading some almonds on the tablecloth, hold one up to your eye and say, What does the shape of the almond remind you of? If you guessed "eye," you are correct!  In fact, the Hebrew word for "eye" in the Bible is the same word as "almond." That word is "SHAKEID" (sha-KED). Say it with me and then draw and write it on our tablecloth.

As you munch on your almonds, see if you can split them into two halves to make two eyes.

Throughout the Book of Ruth and the rest of the Bible, we can see the watchful eye of God guiding good people to do great things. When God looks at you, does God see someone faithful and loyal like Ruth?  Someone in need of care and protection like Naomi?  Someone doing the right thing by protecting others like Boaz?




Adaptations

For Younger Students:

Keep questions short and simple. Invite teens or helpers to help little hands with the food and encourage "trying new foods." Make portions small. Consider having alternative food options ready (see list below).

For Older Students:

Introduce the Hebrew word for “Guardian-Redeemer" found in the Bible Background (Gaw-al').

Connect this food-informed reading to the rituals of the Passover and Communion "meals" and the "fellowship" rituals/foods practiced by your congregation. Discuss how inviting/inclusive your practices are.

For Those with More Class Time:

Have students prepare and take turns serving the food.

Add the almond reflection.

Walk around the table at the end of class to review what people have drawn on the tablecloth.

For a Shorter Class Time:

Abbreviate the retelling of the Ruth Storybook, or use the Arch Books Ruth book described here.

Prepare some of the snacks in advance such as the celery and cream cheese or bread and honey.

Alternative Food Options:

  • Instead of or in addition to dates: figs or raisins
  • Instead of or in addition to celery: pretzel sticks
  • Instead of or in addition to cream cheese: soft cheese spread
  • Instead of or in addition to in-shell sunflower seeds: peanuts
  • Instead of pita pocket bread: whole-grain bread with toasted wheat, barley, or oats on the crust

More Ideas and Insights about Preparing and Serving Food in the Lesson:

  • Preparation for a cooking lesson is always a special time! Make good hand hygiene fun and meaningful by singing a favorite Bible song as you wash. See a handwashing song poster suggestion.
  • Respect picky eaters and make them feel included, not excluded. Feeling comfortable saying “no” gives many children the courage to say “yes” in the future and also gives them control over their bodies.
  • Do not waste food, especially because we are to share what we have, not throw it away. Encourage students to only take what they'll consume and leave plenty for others.



Written by Meghan Adrian and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright Rotation.org Inc.

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Last edited by Neil MacQueen
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