Preparation
Introduction
When you tell the children the story of Jonah, it is important that they experience that this story is about God and His goodness towards us. He hears our prayers no matter where we are or what we have done, just as He heard Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish far down in the depths of the sea and just as He listened to the people of Nineveh when they repented of all the bad things they had done. It’s also good for children to hear that they too have been given an important task by God, to be good to the people we meet on our way.
The story of Jonah shows how patient and merciful God is with us people. Both Jonah and the people of Nineveh were given a second chance by God to repent. Jonah, when instead of drowning he was swallowed by a large fish that God sent, and the people of Nineveh when God changed His mind when He saw their sincere repentance. Both the sailors and the people of Nineveh repented from their idol worship and turned to God because they feared Him. For Jonah, his own honor stood in the way of serving God with all his heart.
The goal is that the children are not left with a frightening experience that God may send a storm or something else terrible if they have done something wrong. It was God who created the storm that eventually threw Jonah overboard, and it was God who sent the big fish that swallowed Jonah. It is important to have a positive angle here, where the purpose is for the children to experience a sense of security by hearing that God can always look after them and show us what His will is in all aspects of life, even when we have done something wrong. It was so important to God that Jonah went to Nineveh to save the people there that He had to send the storm to show Jonah what His will was.
Bible verses that go with the theme
Jonah 2:1–2
“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: ‘I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.’”
Psalm 50:14–15
1 Timothy 2:4
Jonah 3:10
Psalm 103:13–14
Program elements
Jonah receives a task from God that he does not want to carry out, so he runs away to sea to hide from God. A violent storm threatens the ship, and Jonah is thrown overboard. He is swallowed by a huge fish and spends three days in darkness. Can Jonah survive and find his way back to his task?
Welcome
How you meet the children is very important. Welcome them with a warm smile, say the child’s name and they’ll feel included.
Message
This is a PowerPoint with animated images intended to support the mentor telling the story to the children. This can be a great way to catch the children’s attention while they are listening to the story. Supporting text on how to tell the story to the children has also been prepared together with these illustrations.
Decor
The setting around the gathering has a lot to say for the children. From the moment the children enter the room, the decor and lighting can be something that supports the Bible story. As a mentor, you can be creative and make it exciting for the children. Children use all their senses and learn in different ways. Here are some suggestions and ideas for how to decorate, inspired by the elements in the story of Jonah.
3. Other supporting elements
A party tent was set up inside with the children’s chairs arranged in the tent to create a feeling that they were sitting “inside the fish”. Using simple effects such as paper fish, strings of lights, and pieces of fabric, a warm and exciting environment was created inside the tent for the children to sit in.
4. A surprise on the chairs
For children in this age group, it means a lot to receive a small gift. Finding a surprise on their chair that relates to the day’s Bible story can be very nice, and helps to support the message. It can also help the children to find where to sit and make them settle into their seats.
Suggestions/alternatives:
- Various sea creatures in small figures lie on the chairs, one for each
- Each child gets their own box of slime (since it is slimy inside the belly of the fish)
- Each child gets a mask with a different fish.
5. Make a sensory box
Children in this age group often need something concrete they can touch to help them understand things better. A good idea might be to make a sensory box that allows children to feel what it was like inside the fish – before they hear the story. This proposal uses a cardboard box covered in fabric. Inside is boiled pasta with blue or green food coloring: If you live near the sea, you can also collect sea grass and seaweed from there.
Hobby
Some children want to play, others want to make something. Here are suggestions for craft activities related to the story of Jonah.
Here you can download PDF files of coloring sheets.
Make your own whale
Preparations:
-
Download the PDF template
-
Print the template
-
Lay out scissors
-
Show a finished whale
-
Help the children cut and fold the whale
Suggestions for different whales:
Games
Here is a suggestion on how to create an exciting obstacle course for children, using elements from the story they have just heard. Children learn best through repetition, so highlighting elements they recognize from the story can help them remember it better. Use what you have available and be creative! Of course, you can also add more exciting “obstacles” if you wish.
-
A rocking boat – a tub placed on a mattress
-
Jumping into the sea – blue fabric
-
Crawling through the whale – a table with a long tablecloth over which strips of shredded plastic bags, real seaweed or other things are glued to the ceiling, with bubble wrap on the floor, etc.
-
Balancing on the stones – be creative with what you use; for example pillows, bring in some large stones, balancing cushions, pieces of fabric
Equipment:
- A tub
- A mattress
- Blue fabric
- A table
- A long tablecloth
- Plastic bags
- Bubble wrap
- Seaweed
- Cushions
- Large stones
Preparations:
-
Cut plastic bags into strips
-
Set up the obstacle course according to the suggestion in the illustration, or as you wish.
Instructions:
-
Present the obstacle course to the children, and make some exciting points about the fact that they are about to embark on the same journey as Jonah, with a storm in the sea, through the belly of the fish, and back onto dry land.
This is a twist on the classic “Pin the tail on the donkey””.
Equipment:
-
Gray, white, blue and pink sheets
-
Scissors
-
Glue
-
A scarf or similar for blindfolding
Preparations:
-
Draw the desired shape on the sheets
-
Cut out and glue the pieces together
Instructions:
-
The children are blindfolded and have to try to attach the spout to the right place on the whale
A fun way to make an octopus.
Equipment:
-
Balloons in different colors
-
Sheets in different colors
-
Scissors
-
Glue
Preparations:
-
You can choose whether to prepare balloons with eyes in advance or together with the children
Instructions:
-
Let the children cut strips of paper and glue them together in chains as shown in the picture
-
Attach the “arms” to the balloon as they become ready, so the children can see the octopuses take shape