How to Write an Object Lesson on Jonah and the Whale

Jonah & the Whale

The Bible story of Jonah and the Whale is one of the favorites of young children. It teaches our children that God's love is never-ending and also that you should never give up hope. It will also teach children to turn their problems over to God, because he will have a solution, even if it is not the solution we think is best.

Things You'll Need

• Bible
• Two large black trash bags
• Strong tape
• Fish line
• Small fan
• Can of sardines
• Small squirt bottle

Instructions

1. To help children understand the meaning of the Bible story, create a whale so they have an object to focus on. This will make the lesson fun and keep the attention of young students.

2. To make this whale, take two large black trash bags and cut them down one side. Tape them together so they make a tent to use as the whale.

3. You can suspend this with fishing line from the ceiling. Attach the fishing line in the front, middle, and back.

4. You will need a small fan to blow air into the opening so it will open up the bags. It will also simulate the wind of the storm.

5. Open up a small can of sardines and place them in the very back of the whale to have a "fishy" smell. This is, of course, totally optional, but the children will love it for sure.

6. You can use a small water bottle to squirt water in the wind to help create the rain. Perhaps an assistant can help you with this as you do the lesson.

7. Now tell the children the story of Jonah by reading the passages from the Bible (Jonah 4:4-11). Take the time to let the children ask questions, if they need clarification about the story.

8. Explain to the children about how unhappy Jonah was about his life, but that he still believed in God. You can also explain that Jonah did not listen to what God wanted him to do. The storm and the whale were consequences of his actions. Let the children know that Jonah learned his lesson and how the experience changed Jonah afterwards.

9. After the story, let the children crawl into the whale and imagine what it would be like to be inside the belly of a whale for three days and three nights. Ask the child what they think would be the worst part of the whole ordeal.

10. Finish the story with a snack of fish cheese crackers. Send the children home with an activity sheet to help them remember the lesson throughout the week. Preschool Sunday School Central has a great worksheet. There is a link provided below in the Resources section.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove the sardines before letting the children go into the whale.

• Keep children away from the running fan.

Resources

• Find Jonah Worksheets and Games