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(WT) The Story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz - "Geo Journey" Workshop

GeoJourneyLogo

In the following Geo Journey lesson, students travel through the landscape of Ruth and Naomi's journey from Moab to Bethlehem.  Students will stop at learning stations along the journey to view media and engage in discussion and activity.

  • This lesson offers the greatest value to students who are familiar with the "whole" story of Ruth from attending one of the other workshops that use our entire Ruth Storybook, a faithful and kid-friendly condensation of Ruth's four chapters based on the NIV.

  • Rather than teaching all the scenes of the Ruth Storybook, this lesson focuses on certain aspects of Ruth's story and the necessary commitment required for the journey. The lesson technology shares some spectacular Bible geography and locations that will help students better understand the landscape where Ruth's story took place.

  • The lesson elects the "southern route option" for Ruth and Naomi's journey from Moab to Bethlehem for its teaching value and unique beauty. Surprisingly and excitingly, the southern route crosses the Dead Sea at the Lisan Peninsula, its narrowest point. Geologists tell us this crossing was quite narrow and shallow during what's known as the "Assyrian Megadrought" which lasted through the period of Ruth's writing (estimated to be the 7th Century BC; recall that Naomi's family left Israel because of that drought). Even in wetter periods, there is ample evidence of boats plying the waters of the Dead Sea in ancient times (Madaba map, Dead Sea boat anchors), which would have made the Lisan crossing a short ferry ride.

This workshop/lesson can be used in a variety of ways:

  • Teach the lesson as written, every week during your Ruth rotation to a different age group class.

  • Depending on your demographics and your facility,  you might want to use this Journey as a lesson for combined age groups all on the same day to eliminate weekly setup and teardown time. See the lesson's Adaptations for more ideas.

  • The Journey can be staffed by one teacher going from station to station, or by a team of leaders, one at each station.

  • Consider expanding this lesson into a church-wide intergenerational class,  a family event, or a Saturday morning of kids exploring the story of Ruth while their parents are involved in another activity. Use the Additional Options and Enrichment Resources below to add additional activities and stations for a longer, more in-depth event.

  • Use all of the lessons in this set to create your own Ruth's Faith Journey themed Vacation Bible School.

Be sure to come back and share with our community the creative ways that you used this lesson and this lesson set!




This lesson was written by Samantha Corcoran, whose "Geo Logos" YouTube journeys are exciting and exemplary ways of sharing the joy and the geography of the land behind the Word.

Attachments

Images (3)
  • Geo Journey sharing
  • Geo Logos logo
  • Geo Journey Lesson Logo
Last edited by Neil MacQueen
Original Post
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