Elijah, the Ravens, and the Widow
Embedded Files
Story Summary
Story Summary
Elijah was the first major prophet after the kingdom of Israel had divided. Remember that 10 tribes split off to become the Northern Kingdom and were known as Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained together as the Southern Kingdom known as Judah. Elijah prophesied to the Northern Kingdom, because all of their kings were evil.
The drought begins and Elijah is fed by ravens
Ahab was one of the bad kings of Israel. In fact, in 1 Kings 16:30, the Bible tells us that he was one of the worst kings of all. He married a woman named Jezebel. Elijah gave a message to Ahab that there would be no rain in the land of Israel for several years, until Elijah came back and told him there would be rain.
So, while there was a drought in the land, God send Elijah to a valley east of the Jordan River where he provided ravens to bring food for Elijah. They brought him bread and meat in the morning and the evening and there was a brook nearby where Elijah was able to drink. Talk about room service!
Elijah and the widow
There was still no rain in the land of Israel, and the brook that Elijah was drinking from finally dried up. So God sent Elijah to a widow who could provide him food and drink. This widow was very poor. See, in those days, a widow would have no one to provide for her and her son. So when Elijah asked her for a drink, she got a drink for him. But when he asked her for some bread, she told Elijah that she was on her last bit of flour. "I'll make one last meal for myself and my son. We'll eat it. After that, we'll die." (1 Kings 17:12).
But Elijah knew God was up to something. He told her not to be afraid, but to go ahead and make the meal anyway. To her amazement, she made the meal and there was still some flour and oil left! Every day, she made the bread, and every day, there was still some flour and oil left. God was miraculously providing food for Elijah, the widow, and her son.
Elijah and the widow's son
Some time later, the widow's son became very sick. Eventually, he stopped breathing and the widow thought he was dead. Elijah asked for her son, and he took him upstairs. Elijah prayed to God that God would give the boy his life back and God did! Elijah took the widow's son back downstairs to his mother.
Activities
Activities
Activity 1 "Fed by Ravens Relay"
Activity 1 "Fed by Ravens Relay"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Clothes pins
Snack of some sort
Get the details by clicking here!
Scripture
And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:6
Directions
The basic idea here is to have the children feed each other using a clothespin, as if they were a raven feeding Elijah.
You could have a relay:
Two from each team run from the starting line to the feeding line.
One lays down with their mouth open while the other takes a clothespin, puts the snack in it, holds the clothespin by their chin and tries to drop the snack into the mouth of the person laying down.
Once they successfully do that, switch.
Once both have finished, they run back and tag their teammates for another pair to run down to the feeding line and do it.
For younger ages, you could have them take turns trying to feed the teacher or each other.
Activity 2 "Paper Bird Craft"
Activity 2 "Paper Bird Craft"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Paper
Scissors
Tape/glue
Crayons or Colored Pencils
Craft Feathers
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Before class print out the patterns and make copies. (Pages 22 - 23) Large Bird Puppet Patterns: Top of Head Pattern and Bottom of Head Pattern Small Bird Puppet Pattern (Page 24)
In class have your children color the patterns and then cut them out. If you have younger children, cut them out before class.
Instruct your children to colo the birds beak and head and color the side of the bird without the word “glue” pink for the mouth.
When they are done coloring fold the pattern in half down the center of the beak on both the top and bottom pattern. Then fold the sides back.
Place glue on the side indicated on both patterns and match them up to the opposite sides pressing the sides together.
Fold down the tab on the head pattern and glue it to the bottom of the head pattern. Reinforce it with tape.
To finish tape a feather to the top of the head.
Activity 3 "King David Paper Doll "
Activity 3 "King David Paper Doll "
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Cardstock body cutout (1 per child)
Crayons
Construction paper
School glue
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
1. Print out the Pattern, one for each student. (Page 20 and 21 )
2. Have the children color the pattern pieces and then cut them out. Have the pieces already cut out for younger children.
3. Tape the body piece together to form a cone shape. Glue the wings on the back where the sides of the cone come together.
4. Tape the head to the top front of the cone. You can glue on wiggly eyes if you would like.
5. Tape the tail feather to the bottom back of the cone to the inside of the cone.
6. You can fan fold the legs folding the feet up at the end and then taping them to the body. Some children will not like the fan fold. They can cut the legs shorter and just tape them on or you can use pipe cleaners to form the legs and tape them on.
7. Tape the “God will take care of you!” message to the underside of the bird’s beak.
Other Fun Games
Other Fun Games
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Varies depending on the game
Get the details by clicking here!
Musical Chairs
Grab the black chairs out of the closet (so that they are lighter to move around) and have the kids play musical chairs!
David, David, Goliath
This is Duck, Duck, Goose.... instead use the words "David, David, Goliath" for the game.
Cup stack races
Keep a stack of cheap plastic cups in your bag to pull out for a quick game. Two children can race each other in making the highest or biggest pyramid of upside-down cups in one minute.
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
christian just dance videos below
If they don't want to play the Christian Just Dance game they can play follow the leader.
Wrap It Up!
Wrap It Up!
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
Worship
Worship
Energy Release!
Energy Release!
Last Minute Filler Ideas
Last Minute Filler Ideas
-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.
-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)
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