Making a Practical Boat

Scripture: Exodus 1-2

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will learn God has a plan, but sometimes bad things still happen.
  • Students will learn God is working even when bad things happen.
  • Students will learn sometimes things in our lives don’t make sense, because we are only one piece of a much larger plan of God’s.
  • Students will learn how to make waterproof boats.

Guiding Question: How does God work with a much larger plan for our life?

Materials: Materials for building boats (aluminum foil, cardboard, popsicle sticks/glue, etc), water, large container

Procedure: Review the story of Moses. Discuss Egypt in the time of Moses including how pharaohs were viewed as gods and the Israelites were slaves. Explain that Moses’ birth and life as a child was a very important event. His life story may not have made sense but was part of a big plan God had for him and others. In our lives, we often do not understand things that happen or people that are placed in our lives. We must remember that God is working a much larger plan that is in our best interest, even if bad things do happen.

Introduce the experiment. Remind students that the basket that baby Moses was in had to be waterproof in order to float down the river. Have the students experiment with different materials available to create miniature boats that would be waterproof. Have them test their boats in water (large bucket or small baby pool) to see how well they float and move. Talk with the students about if it would be practical to make larger boats of the same materials.

Additional Questions: How can students apply knowledge of what boats need to be successful?

Supplemental Activity: Have students create a blueprint for a large boat that is waterproof and carry a large amount of people.

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