jonah prays to god inside the fish • lesson 12 bible point...

163Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4

Bible Point God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

Jonah Prays to God Inside the Fish • Lesson 12

Bible Verse“We must obey God” (Acts 5:29b).

Growing Closer to JesusChildren will n talk about how Jonah might have felt inside the fish,

n hear how Jonah prayed to God for help, n teach Whiskers that God will listen to his prayers, andn discover that God is always ready and waiting to answer their prayers.

Teacher EnrichmentBible Basisn Jonah prays to God inside the fish.

Being swallowed by a whale would be traumatic, to say the least, but in this case the event was arranged by God to save Jonah’s life. For in the belly of that whale, Jonah came to his senses and realized that he needed to obey God.

Deep inside the belly of the fish, Jonah finally yielded to God’s will. As he contemplated his near-drowning, he must have finally understood

the folly of trying to run from God. What would happen to him now? God had saved his life once—perhaps God would save him again. Jonah cried out to God in sorrow and repentance, his heart full of gratitude that he was even alive. The Lord heard Jonah’s prayer, and commanded the fish to deliver Jonah onto dry land.

Prayer• Read Proverbs 3:5-6.• Where do you turn when you need guidance?• Pray: Lord, thank you for your faithful direction in my life. Help me listen for your guidance,

especially in the area of…

Before the Lessonn Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies

and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart.n Make photocopies of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home

with your children.n Pray for the children in your class and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.

Jonah 2:1-10

Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4164

Lesson 12

What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies

WelcomeTime

Welcome!—Receive name tags, and be greeted by the teacher.

“Praying Hands Name Tags” (p. 23), scissors, marker, safety pins or tape

Let’s Get Started

Direct children to one or more of the

optional activities until everyone

arrives.

Option 1: Sea Senses—Discover what it might have been like for Jonah to be in the sea.

Salt, cotton swabs, spoon, plastic bottle, food coloring, oil, tape, bowl of water

Option 2: Fish Bubbles—Make bubbles like fish, and talk about the fish that swallowed Jonah.

Bubble solution, large bowl

Option 3: More Fish-Box Fun—Continue to decorate and play inside their fish box.

Fish box from Lesson 11, tape, art supplies

Pick-Up Time—Sing a song as they pick up toys and gather for Bible Story Time.

CD player

Bible Story Time

Setting the Stage—“Swim” around the room as they get ready to hear about Jonah.

Bible Song and Prayer Time—Sing a song, bring out the Bible, and pray together.

Bible, CD player

Hear and Tell the Bible Story—Hear how Jonah prayed inside the fish.

Bible

Do the Bible Story—Play a beanbag game to review Jonah’s story.

Fish box from Lesson 11, beanbags

Closing Time to Pray—Help Whiskers learn to pray to God in a time of trouble.

Inside the Fish—Pray inside a giant classroom “fish.”

Table

This Lesson at a Glance

*See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.

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Jonah Prays to God Inside the Fish


Welcome TimeSUPPLIES: “Praying Hands Name Tags” (p. 23), scissors, marker, safety pins or tape• Bend down and make eye contact with children as they arrive.• Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile.• Thank each child for coming to class today.• As children arrive, ask them how they put last week’s lesson into practice. Use

questions such as “What did Jonah learn by being inside the fish?” and “Who helps you learn to obey?”

• Say: Today we’re going to learn that God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

• Hand out the praying hands name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help children attach the name tags to their clothing. If some of the name tags were damaged or if children weren’t in class that week, have children make new name tags using the photocopiable name tag patterns.

• Direct children to the Let’s Get Started activities you’ve set up.

Let’s Get StartedSet up one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After

you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity.Circulate among the children to offer help as needed and direct children’s

conversation toward today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “What do you do when you’re in trouble?” or “When are some times you pray and talk to God?”

n Option 1: Sea SensesSUPPLIES: salt, spoon, cotton swabs, plastic bottle, food coloring, oil, tape, bowl of water

Set out one or both of the following sensory items for children to explore. Discuss what it might have been like for Jonah to fall into the sea and be swallowed by a giant fish.

• Have children help you add a spoonful of salt to a small bowl of water. Let children take turns stirring the salt water, and then invite them to dip a cotton swab in the salt water and dab it onto their tongues to taste it. For sanitary purposes, do not let children re-dip their cotton swabs. Explain that Jonah probably swallowed some salty water before the fish swallowed him.

• Create a “slow-motion ocean” for children to play with. Before class, fill a clear quart- or liter-sized plastic bottle half full of water. Add a few drops of blue or green food coloring, and then add oil until the bottle is three-fourths full. Seal the bottle by taping the cap shut. For extra fun, insert a miniature person or boat figure in the bottle before sealing it.

Show children how to tilt the bottle up and down and move it back and forth slowly. Encourage them to watch the waves and imagine what it was like for Jonah to be thrown into the stormy sea. Explain that today they’ll learn that God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point again and again will help children remember it and apply it to their lives.


Lesson 12

n Option 2: Fish BubblesSUPPLIES: bubble solution, large bowl

Empty a large bottle of bubble solution into a large bowl and the tray (or make your own bubble solution with dish soap and water). Choose two children to be bubble blowers, and give each a large bubble wand.

Remind children of the giant fish that swallowed Jonah. Tell them that today’s Bible story is about how Jonah prayed inside the fish. Explain that fish sometimes make bubbles under the water as they move their tails and fins. Have others pretend to be fish swimming in the ocean. The children with the wands can blow bubbles, and the others can “swim” through the bubbles, using their arms as fins. Make sure the children don’t rub their eyes after handling the bubble solution.

Let children switch roles frequently. As they’re swimming, encourage them to try different styles, such as swimming fast, slow, backward, and at the bottom of the ocean.

n Option 3: More Fish-Box FunSUPPLIES: fish box from Lesson 11, tape, art supplies

Let children add decorations to the fish box they made last week. They can add additional paper-plate scales or make construction paper fins and tape them on. They can even name the fish! As children work, encourage them to climb inside the fish box and then crawl out to see what it might have been like for Jonah to be swallowed by the fish and then spit out. Explain that today they’ll learn that God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

When everyone has arrived and you’re ready to move on to Bible Story Time, encourage the children to finish what they’re doing and get ready to clean up.

n Pick-Up TimeSUPPLIES: CD player

Lead children in singing “Come Along With Me” with the CD (track 2) to the tune of “Come and Go With Me.” Encourage children to sing along as they help clean up the room.

Come along with me and pick up all our things,Pick up all our things,Pick up all our things.Come along with me and pick up all our thingsSo our room will be clean.

(Repeat 2x.)

Bring in a goldfish for children to observe, name, and feed. Let children imagine what a gigantic goldfish might be like!

track 2At this stage in their physical development, 3- and 4-year-olds can draw recognizable shapes and can work simple puzzles.



Bible Story Timen Setting the StageSUPPLIES: none

Tell children that when they hear you clap your hands two times, they’re to stop what they’re doing and clap their hands two times. Practice this signal a few times. Encourage children to respond quickly so you’ll have time for all the fun activities you’ve planned.

Ask: • What did you make or do when you came to our class today? (Blew bubbles; tasted salt water; got in and out of a fish box.)

Say: Some of you tasted salt water, some of you made fish bubbles, and some of you played in our fish box. You were all learning important things about our Bible story. If you tasted salt water, stand up and make a sour face and say, “Ooh, yuck!” Pause. If you played inside our fish box, stand up and say, “Gulp! I’m in a fish’s tummy.” Pause. If you made fish bubbles, stand up and swim with your fish fins right where you are. Pause.

In a few minutes, we’re going to hear what happened to Jonah inside the fish. We’ll learn that God wants us to obey him and pray to him. Let’s all get ready for that story by swimming around the room with our fish fins.

Lead children around the room once. Then pretend to see Jonah, and say: Calling all fish! Do you see that man swimming in the water? I think it’s Jonah. Open your fish mouth wide and swallow him up. Gulp!

Lead children in opening their arms wide and then closing them to indicate they’ve “swallowed” Jonah. Say: Oh my, that Jonah didn’t taste very good. He’s giving you a tummy ache. Groan and rub your fish tummy. Ohh!

Lead children in groaning and rubbing their tummies. Then say: I don’t think your tummy ache is going to go away as long as Jonah’s in your tummy. Spit Jonah out so you’ll feel better. Ptooie!

Lead children in pretending to spit Jonah out. Then say: That feels much better. People don’t make very good fish food. Let’s swim over to our story area and lie down. All this swimming is making me tired.

Lead children back to your story area. Then say: Let’s rest here in our story area while we hear how Jonah learned that God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

n Bible Song and Prayer TimeSUPPLIES: Bible, CD player

Say: Now it’s time to choose a Bible person to bring me the Bible marked with today’s Bible story. As we sing our Bible song, we’ll pass around our special Bible. The person who’s holding the Bible when the music stops will be our Bible person today.

Lead children in singing “I’m So Glad for the Bible” with the CD (track 3) to the tune of “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.” As you sing, pass around the special Bible.

tracks 3 & 4


Lesson 12

I’m so glad for the Bible,Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’.I’m so glad for God’s book today.I’m so glad for the Bible,Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’—Keep me learnin’ all about his way.

Let me hear ’bout God’s love—Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’.Let me hear ’bout God’s love for me.Let me hear ’bout God’s love—Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’.Let’s shine the light for all to see.

(Repeat first verse.)

When the music stops, invite the child who’s holding the Bible to bring it to you. Stamp the child’s hand with the fish stamp, and thank the child for bringing you the Bible. Then stamp the other children’s hands. Return the fish stamp and ink pad to the Learning Lab.

Say: I’m thankful for [name of child who brought the Bible], and I’m thankful for everyone in our class today. Let’s thank God together for all our friends in this class.

Lead children in singing “I’m So Glad We’re Together” with the CD (track 4) to the tune of “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.”

I’m so glad we’re together.Keep us prayin’, prayin’, prayin’.I’m so glad we’re all here today.I’m so glad we’re together.Keep us prayin’, prayin’, prayin’—Prayin’ for each other every day.

Lead children in folding their hands and bowing their heads as you continue to sing.

Thank you, Lord, for each one.Keep me thankful, thankful, thankful.Thank you for everyone who’s here.Thank you, Lord, for each one.Keep me thankful, thankful, thankful—Thankful for our friends both far and near.

Play “The Bible Is God’s Special Book” (track 21 on the CD) when you bring out your Bible. Have children march around the room with the Bible person and invent motions to the song. For example, they may pretend to swim, pluck a harp, or spit Jonah out. Lyrics are on page 80 if you want to refer to them.



n Hear and Tell the Bible StorySUPPLIES: Bible

Open the Bible to Jonah 2, and show it to the children. Say: Our Bible story comes from the book of Jonah in the Bible. Our Bible Big Book shows us pictures of our Bible story.

While I read the story of Jonah from our Bible Big Book, I want you to listen very closely. Every time you

hear the word “fish,” I want you to puff out your cheeks and make a fish face. Remember, God sent a giant fish to teach Jonah to obey.

Read the story from the Bible Big Book: Jonah using the text printed on the back cover. Pause whenever you read the word “fish” so that children can make fish faces. Turn the pages as directed. After you finish the story, put the Bible Big Book away and out of sight.

Ask: • What did Jonah do when he realized there was no way out of the fish? (He prayed to God for help; he cried; he didn’t know what to do.)

Say: God listens to and answers prayers. Let’s share about a time God answered our prayers. I’ll go first. Tell children about a time you received an answer to your prayers.

Ask: • Who can tell us about a time you prayed and God answered your prayer? (My dog was lost, and we prayed and then found him; my dad was sick and he got better; I prayed before I went to bed so I wouldn’t be scared at night.)

Say: God likes it when we talk to him, because he loves us. God loves us so much that he gave us Jesus to be our forever friend. We can talk to Jesus anytime, and Jesus can help us obey if we ask him to. Let’s thank God for giving us a friend like Jesus right now.

Lead children in a short prayer of thanks for sending Jesus as a friend who loves us and always listens.

Say: God wants us to obey him and pray to him. God will hear and answer our prayers just as he heard Jonah’s prayer and helped Jonah get out of the fish.

This Bible story is featured in My First Hands-On Bible™. Order several now for your ministry at group.com.


Lesson 12

n Do the Bible StorySUPPLIES: fish box from Lesson 11, beanbags

For this activity use the fish box you made last week during Let’s Get Started or Do the Bible story. You’ll also need three beanbags or small balls.

Have children gather around the fish box. Say: God wants us to obey him and pray to him. We’re going to play a game now to help us remember how Jonah prayed inside the fish.

Hand the three beanbags to a child standing near you. Say: When I say, “In goes the water,” [name] will throw one beanbag into the fish box, and the rest of us will say “swoosh.” Let’s try that.

Say, “In goes the water,” and let children do their actions. Then continue: When I say, “In goes the fish,” [name] will throw another beanbag into the fish box, and the rest of us will flip our arms like fish and say, “Swim, fish, swim.” Let’s try that.

Say, “In goes the fish,” and let children do their actions. Then continue: When I say, “And in goes Jonah!” [name] will throw the last beanbag into the fish box, and the rest of us will kneel on our knees, fold our hands, and say, “Thank you, God.” Let’s try that.

Say, “And in goes Jonah!” and let children do their actions. Say: That was good practicing. Now we’ll take turns until each of you has a chance to throw the beanbags while the rest of us do our actions.

Repeat the game until everyone has had a chance to toss the beanbags into the fish box. If children miss the fish box, let them try again or “help” the beanbags in yourself. After everyone has had a turn, collect the beanbags in the fish box and have children sit down.

Say: God was waiting for Jonah to ask for help. As soon as Jonah prayed, what did God do? (Told the fish to spit Jonah out; answered Jonah’s prayers.)

Toss the beanbags out of the fish box as you say: When Jonah prayed, God told the fish to spit Jonah out. God wants us to obey him and pray to him. Our Bible verse is from Acts 5:29, and it says, “We must obey God.” Let’s say that together. Lead children in saying the Bible verse. We can obey God by doing what our parents or our teachers tell us to do. They help us know what God wants us to do.

Our friend Whiskers likes to hear about Jonah. Let’s tell him what we’ve learned about how God helped Jonah out of the fish.

Closingn Time to PraySUPPLIES: none

Bring out Whiskers the Mouse, and go through the following puppet script. When you finish the script, put Whiskers away and out of sight.



Whiskers: (Crying) Oh…h…h, oh…h…h…

Teacher: What’s wrong, Whiskers?

Whiskers: Remember the big cat that was after me last week?

Teacher: I remember. You ran away because you didn’t want to get in trouble, and then you met up with a big cat behind the church. You were afraid he was going to eat you.

Whiskers: Yeah, well I went right home and told my brother I was sorry.

Teacher: What did he say?

Whiskers: (Scowling) He had already told my dad that I pinched him. My dad made us play by ourselves for a while. Then he showed both of us some tricks to help us get away from cats.

Teacher: Well, it looks like the tricks must be working. You’re still here.

Whiskers: Yeah, but so is that cat. And I’m so afraid! Will he ever go away?

Teacher: I think I know how you feel, Whiskers. Do you remember our story about Jonah? When Jonah was inside the fish, he probably wondered if he’d ever get out.

Whiskers: But Jonah was only in the fish for three days. This cat has been around for a whole week!

Teacher: Jonah didn’t know how long he’d have to stay inside the fish. But he finally did something very smart after doing many foolish things.

Whiskers: What was that?

Teacher: Children, can any of you tell Whiskers what Jonah finally did inside the fish?

(Help children explain how Jonah prayed to God. Lead them in repeating the Bible Point: God wants us to obey him and pray to him.)

Whiskers: I guess I should pray to God, too. Maybe God will help me not be so scared of that cat.

Teacher: God is always there to listen to us and help us—especially when we’re feeling scared. Maybe your brother could even pray with you.

Whiskers: That’s a great idea! I feel so much better. I’m going to go home and pray right now. Then I’m going to practice those tricks my dad taught me. You never know when I might meet another cat. I’ll see you next week. Goodbye!

Permission to photocopy this script from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Preschool granted for local church use.Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com


Lesson 12

n Inside the FishSUPPLIES: table

Have children gather under a large table or under two small tables pushed together. Encourage children to pretend they’re inside a fish.

Say: Shh! Let’s sit very still for a minute and pretend we’re really inside that giant fish. Remember, Jonah was alone inside the fish, so he didn’t have anyone to talk to.

Sit quietly for a few moments, and then ask:• Do you think Jonah tried to get out of the fish? What would you do to try

to get out from inside a fish? (Tickle the fish to make him open his mouth; ask God to help me.)

• How did Jonah finally get out? (God helped him; he prayed; the fish spit him out.)

Say: God heard Jonah’s prayer and helped him get out of the fish. God wants us to obey him and pray to him, too. When we pray to God, God will help us just as he helped Jonah. What can we pray to God about today?

Share something you’d like to pray for, and then let the children share. Invite children to pray for one another’s requests if they want to. Then close with a prayer similar to this one: Dear God, you heard all these things that we want to pray for. Thank you that you love us and are waiting for us to talk to you. Thank you that you will answer our prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom.Photocopy the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with the children. Encourage parents to use the handout to plan meaningful family activities to reinforce this week’s topic.



n Lively Learning: Wiggly FishMake sure the floor is clean for this activity. Have children lie on the floor on their

tummies and pretend to be fish. Tell children that when they hear music, they should wiggle around and “swim.” When the music stops, they should stop and lie still.

Play the “Swimming Music” segment from the CD (track 19). Start and then pause the CD several times. Each time children are lying still, have them tell you something they remember about Jonah and the big fish.

n Make to Take: Ball FishGive each child a small ball such as a tennis ball or pingpong ball, and set out sheets of colored construction

paper. Let children tear the construction paper to create fins for their fish. Help them carefully tape the fins to the balls. As children work, talk about the big fish that swallowed Jonah. Ask children who helped Jonah get out of the fish and remind them that God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

When children finish adding fins to their fish, help them draw eyes on their fish. Then lead them in “swimming” their fish around the room while they wait for their parents to arrive.

n Treat to Eat: Straw BubblesGive each child a straw and a paper towel. Have extra paper towels on hand for quick clean

up. Demonstrate to children how to blow and suck air through a straw, and then give them each a glass of chocolate milk. Have them blow gently through their straws into the milk to make bubbles. (If you have children with milk allergies, provide juice or water instead.)

To keep this activity from getting too messy, tell children you’ll time them for 15 seconds while they blow fish bubbles in their milk. Then let children drink their milk. Serve fish-shaped crackers with the milk. As children are enjoying the snack, review details from Jonah’s story. Remind children that God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

n Story Picture: Jonah Prays Inside the FishGive each child a copy of the “Today I Learned…” handout. Have children color the picture of Jonah

inside the fish. Then give each child a square of blue plastic wrap or acetate large enough to cover the picture. Show children how to crumple the plastic wrap to make water to cover the fish in the picture. Watch children closely to make sure they don’t hold the plastic up to their faces or put it in their mouths. Help children tape the plastic wrap over their pictures. Review the story of Jonah with children as they work. Remind them that

God wants us to obey him and pray to him.

For Extra Time If you have a long class time or want to add additional elements to your lesson, try one of the following activities.

track 19

174

Lesson 12Today your child learned that GOD WANTS US TO OBEY HIM AND PRAY TO HIM. Children heard how Jonah prayed

to God inside the giant fish and discovered that God is always ready to answer their prayers, too.him and pray to him.God wants us to obey

“We must obey God” (Acts 5:29b).

n What did Jonah do inside the giant fish?

n Tell me about a time God answered your prayers.

n When can our family pray together this week?

n Make a family prayer chart. Ask each family member to share one or two things they want to pray for. Write down the prayer requests on fish shapes drawn on blue con-struction paper. Set a special time each day to pray for the items on the list. As each prayer is answered, help your child outline that fish with glitter glue. Hang the list where everyone can see it and be reminded to pray.

Jonah Prays to God Inside the Fish (Jonah 2:1-10)

Help me learn this:

Ask me:

Family Fun

Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Preschool granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

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