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JONAH
1
Jonah is swallowed by a big
fish. Jonah 1:1–2:10
1
LI STEN TO
IT!
TM
Play track 6 from the Kingdom Safari
CD. Display the Bible card photos
in order (they’re numbered on the
back.) Each time you pause the CD,
summarize what just happened to
Jonah, and lead kids in the following
actions to go with the cards.
Card 1: Have kids stand up and run in
place.
Card 2: Pretend to swim, and then
count to three and yell, “Gulp!”
Card 3: Hold your nose inside the fish,
and then pretend to pray.
Card 4: Count to three and shout,
“Burp!”
Card 5: Clap for Jonah and the people
of Nineveh.
• How do your parents feel when
you obey? when you disobey?
• What are some ways you obey
at home? at church? during
playtime? Have children act out
different behaviors showing how
they obey.
God wants us to obey. But we don’t
always do that. When we disobey
and we’re sorry, we can ask God
for forgiveness. And he’ll forgive
us—every time! Jonah asked God
for forgiveness. God is loving, so
we ask God for
forgiveness, too.
After the story,
• What did God do when Jonah said
he was sorry?
Pre -K&K , Fall, Week 8, © Gro
u p Pu b
lishin
g, I n c .
5
JONAH
2
Jonah is swallowed by a big
fish. Jonah 1:1–2:10
2
AC T I T !
TM
Jonah disobeyed God and tried to
hide by jumping on a boat. God sent
a big storm—like this!
Have everyone sit together on the
floor in a “boat.” Rock gently back and
forth. Say that the waves are getting
bigger in the storm, and rock harder.
Pat your thighs to make rain sounds,
and hit the floor with your hands to
make thunder. Keep the storm sounds
growing. Jonah knew the storm was
his fault because he had tried to
hide from God. So he told the sailors
to throw him overboard. And they
did!
Pretend to roll out of the boat and
“swim.” Jonah was drowning! But
God sent a big fish to swallow him.
Lead kids in shouting, “Gulp!” Jonah
sat inside that fish for three days
and three nights.
• What do you think that
was like?
• What would you have been
thinking sitting inside that fish?
I bet it was stinky in that fish! Hold
your nose. And I bet it was scary
and lonely. Hug yourself. Jonah told
God he was sorry and asked God to
forgive him. And God did! He told
that fish to spit Jonah out on the
shore. Lead kids in shouting, “Pitooey!”
Jonah prayed to God for
forgiveness. God is loving, so
we pray to God
for forgiveness,
too.
Pre -K&K , Fall, Week 8, © Gro
u p Pu b
lishin
g, I n c .
5
JONAH
3
Jonah is swallowed by a big
fish. Jonah 1:1–2:10
3
PL A Y I T !
TM
Play this variation of Tag to help
children learn that we can’t hide from
God and that God loves us. Form two
teams. Have one team be the Huggers
and the other team the Huggees.
On “go,” have the Huggers chase the
Huggees and hug them. Repeat with
teams switching roles. Kids will want
to play this several times. Vary it by
having kids hop, skip, or crab walk
during the chase.
God is loving, so
We ask God for
forgiveness.
• Do you think you could ever
really hide from God? Why or
why not?
• Why did God forgive Jonah?
• Why does God forgive us?
We can’t hide from God. God always
sees us, and always wants
to lead us in the right direction.
Pre -K&K , Fall, Week 8, © Gro
u p Pu b
lishin
g, I n c .
5
JONAH
4
Jonah is swallowed by a big
fish. Jonah 1:1–2:10
4
SING I T !
TM
Lead children in singing this song to
the tune of “Bingo.”
There was a fish who swallowed
a man,
And Jonah was his name-o.
J-O-N-A-H.
J-O-N-A-H.
J-O-N-A-H,
And Jonah was his name-o.
Remind kids that while Jonah was
inside the fish, he prayed to God for
forgiveness. Say that God is loving, so
we pray to God
for forgiveness,
too.
Repeat the song, each time leaving
out an additional letter at the end of
the name and substituting the missing
letters with claps. Sing until the entire
name is clapping only.
Sing the song several times. After each
time you sing,
• Jonah learned to obey; how can
you obey this week?
Let kids shout out ways they can obey
God and their parents this week.
Pre -K&K , Fall, Week 8, © Gro
u p Pu b
lishin
g, I n c .
JONAH
5
Jonah is swallowed by a big
fish. Jonah 1:1–2:10
5
PLAY IT!
TM
Play this game like Duck, Duck, Goose.
Have kids sit in a circle with their
hands behind their backs. Choose
someone to be “Jonah,” and give Jonah
the neutron ball.
Jonah will carry the neutron ball
around the outside of the circle
while everyone says, “Jonah, Jonah
disobeyed. God forgave him anyway.”
Jonah will tap children’s heads as he
passes by.
Play several times. Remind kids that
Jonah prayed to God for forgiveness,
and God forgave him. God is loving, so
We pray to God for
forgiveness, too.
At the end of the phrase, Jonah will
put the neutron ball into a child’s
hands, and that person will chase
Jonah around the circle.
If Jonah makes it back to the open spot
in the circle without being tagged, the
person holding the neutron ball will be
Jonah.
Pre -K&K , Fall, Week 8, © Gro
u p Pu b
lishin
g, I n c .
5