Software that has POST-MT SINAI content:

Leviticus/Numbers/Deuteronomy is a huge swath of stories. Some rotation churches 'overview' them. Others focus on a story or two, such as "Spies" or "Joshua". The following programs have something you may find useful for your approach.

Exodus Adventures software (which has a lesson plan in this forum)

 This software is FREE to supporting members. Learn more.

When the venerable "Life of Moses" went out of print, I sat down and created the Exodus Adventures which I infused with more content across a broader range of the Exodus stories. The program covers Moses in Egypt, Red Sea to Rock of Horeb, and Game 3 in this program covers "The After Mt. Sinai Wanderings". Game 3 in the program is a "flying quiz game" that find your students crossing from Mt Sinai up to Mt Nebo... the location where Moses was permitted to see the Promised Land, but then died.

There are seven stations to fly to, --each presents content and a questions that provide students with AN OVERVIEW the Leviticus/Numbers/Deut stories. At the end of the game, you land and talk to Sir Dabney about Moses on Mt. Nebo. The game stops short of going into Jericho.

Game 3 of Exodus Adventures  (Sunday Software) is for grades 3 to high school.

Internet- Exodus Map Workshop Lesson Idea:

If your lab is connected to the internet, you could have your older students create their own customized Google Maps of the Exodus route using Google Map/Earth. List locations and add details of what happened there. I really like this idea, and doing it in Google Maps just requires some familiarity and prep.

This would be a good workshop for post-Red Sea stories where there's a lot of relocating in the stories.

Maps help SEQUENCE the story into memory, and locations provide VISUAL HOOKS for information. Our brains recall these visual maps which trigger memory. Yep, that's the way it works! ...and why I've always liked teaching with maps as visuals. (It's also why Exodus Adventures CD has an Exodus landscape to fly through.)

A sharp teacher could also make their own Google Map of the Exodus journey and use it in their Bible study in ANY WORKSHOP on Post-Mt. Sinai stories. One big advantage of using a computer-map over a paper one, is that you can zoom in and move around in the map. And MOVEMENT catches and focuses the student's mind on the content. That's the way we are built...so move it!

Back in the early days of Rotation, if the story warranted it, we would convert a space into a Map Workshop. In some churches, the Bible Skills and Games Workshop did that. Maps can make great games.

Note: The time requirements for students to create an Exodus Google Map can be daunting, especially for younger students (grades 3 would be the youngest to do this with). But you can create the basic maps IN ADVANCE of class, and have the kids fill out the details. Add photos of the locations for effect.

Post links to these maps at your church website and publish in the newsletter so the adults can see what your kids are doing.

Attention Rotation.org Supporting Members: This software program may now be downloaded and used by you and your members free-of-charge. Learn more here.

"Are We There Yet?"
Red Sea, Manna, Marah, and Water from the Rock

Computer Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Uses the Exodus Adventures software 

This lesson is a slightly different and improved version of the "Sea & Sand" computer workshop lesson I wrote for the Rotation Writing Team (posted in this forum for Supporting Members).

Point of View:
Some Rotation churches include "Red Sea" with the first part of the Exodus story (Moses and Pharaoh in Egypt). Indeed, many curriculums do this too. But....In Exodus Adventures CD, I made "Crossing the Red Sea" the first part of the Sinai Wanderings stories. Makes more narrative sense that way. The Red Sea escape is really the beginning of the wandering and complaining stories. And it's theologically, dramatically and psychologically POIGNANT to see the Hebrews rejoicing at their rescue, then immediately starting to complain, get rescued again by manna, then complaining, get rescued by Marah's sweet water, more complaining, then get water from the rock ...and so on. How human of them! Truly the "children" of God (and thus my lesson title: "Are We There Yet?"). The Writing Team's Lesson Set follows this same grouping, putting "Sea" and "Sand" together.

Key Verse:
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." Exodus 14:13

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Become familiar with the software
• Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

• Exodus Adventures CD

About the Exodus Adventures CD:
In Exodus Adventures, students navigate "Robin" an onscreen character through the Exodus landscape meeting characters, visiting locations in the Exodus story, and listening to the story. Scripture, concepts and questions for discussion are presented throughout. When they are done, they will know the basic outline and themes of this grand story.

For this lesson, you will be playing GAME 2: Red Sea to Sinai. (Game 1 covers Moses, Pharaoh and Plagues. Game 3 is a flying game that introduces students to the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.) You will need a minimum of 40 minutes in the software. The program thinks it is the Bible study, so afer a short opening, you can dive right in. It is essential that you use the Game Guide in previewing and preparing for this lesson. The guide has shortcuts, secrets, and maps. Print it from www.sundaysoftware.com/Exodus/guide.htm. You may also choose to print and handout the Student Worksheet attached to this post, it will function as a guide for kids and the teachers.

Game 2 has four parts:

Part 1) Red Sea, a presentation of the Red Sea played in the "Red Sea Room" located in the Sinai Monastery.

Part 2) Miriam's Song Library: The Song of Moses/Miriam (a song game you play in the Monastery library)

Part 3) Wilderness journey: The stories of manna, the Marah well (found in the wilderness outside the Monastery)

Part 4) Return to the Monastery to Strike the Rock of Horeb, and swim in the pool.

If you need to skip forward, consult the guide for help with the following: The quickest route to the Library and Red Sea rooms in the monastery. How to bypass Miriam's Song Game in the Library. How to quickly find the entrance to the Rephidim cave (manna section). And where to find the "branch" for the well (Marah section).

Presentation

Opening- Welcome and Lesson introduction:

Greet the children and introduce yourself. Start on time. You will need 40 minutes to play through Game 2.

Write on the board key ideas and instructions, and the Question for the Day: "What does this story tell us about God's character and plan, and about Humanity's character and desires?"

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

Dive into Game 2 on the computer(s).

1) Robin meets Brother Deni in the Sinai monastery and hears a message from her grandfather to come to the Library.

2) In the monastery Library, Grandpa Dabs tells Robin to go to the Red Sea Room across the monastery compound (read complete guide for map).

3) Inside the Red Sea Room, Robin finds Brother Magdi, who tells her to go back to the pillars and watch a video about CROSSING THE RED SEA.

4) After the Red Sea Video, Robin is instructed to go back in the Monastery Library where her grandfather tells her to play Miriam's Song game. Be sure to VIEW the song game instructions that are sitting on the CHEST by the bookshelves. They contain the correct order of tiles. Before you exit the Library, don't forget to look at the picture of Miriam!

About Miriam's Song Game:
Miriam's Song game features seven chanted Scripture verses from the Song of Miriam/Moses that are activated by stepping on floor tiles in the library. The Player must listen and play them in the correct order to advance to the next level (Marah). Check the guide for instructions on resetting or bypassing the song game.

5) Once the Song game is completed in order, a secret door to Marah opens on the main wall of the Library.

6) Robin travels to Marah. She encounters a thirsty Hebrew. Read the scroll then find the tree branch. Carry the branch to the well and press 'Enter'. Robin will utter a prayer to God, throw the branch in, and the waters will change. The Hebrew now praises God, starts to sing part of Miriam's Song, and goes swimming.

7) Night falls and Robin goes to Rephidim in the Wilderness of Sin where she finds a big cave. Inside is Brother Deni who will invite you to sit by the fire. After he tells part of the Bible story, Robin falls asleep. (the entrance to the cave is hidden by bushes)

8) In the morning, Brother Deni tells Robin the story of Manna, and has her collect some. After collecting Manna, Deni has a message from Grandpa Dabney to go climb the rope to the top of the rocky outcropping, get in the helicopter and return to the Sinai monastery.

9) After landing at the Monastery helipad, find Sir Dabney nearby. He tells Robin to "go find the Staff which Moses used to bring forth water from the Rock of Horeb" The staff is on top of "Massah" tower (tell students where if you are short on time). STRIKE the Rock with Moses' staff just like in the story. Water fills the lower courtyard, and a swim party ensues!

10) CLOSING: Swim up to listen to Deni and Dabney in the pool. They have a few interesting (and humorous) things to say, including questions for discussion. Swim up to them several times. If you have time, invite the students to gather around one computer to hear some of the swimmer's comments. Add your own in summary.

Closing:

Now have everyone step away from their computers and go to the board to consider the Question for the Day you wrote there. Now write the words, "Trust God or Fear". Have student place their hands on the word they want most and close with a prayer that "we would be brave enough to follow God in this life, knowing he will see to our needs no matter how hard life might get, ...to always listen to his voice and trust his words. .....Amen."

For Younger Children
Children in K-2nd will love the sense of adventure and the characters in the game. But....they will need help navigating and playing through some of the trickier sections of the game. Some gameplay and navigation will otherwise be too difficult for them. You can also find parts of the Exodus story briefly presented in the Play & Learn Children's Bible CD ("Walking through Red Sea" and "Moses Leads His People").

Hope you like the software game and the lesson plan!

<>< Neil