Scripture: Nehemiah
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn God wants us to repent of our sins and be restored to Him.
- Students will learn prayer is an important part of our relationship with God.
- Students will learn we must be prepared to do what God wants us to do even in the face of opposition.
- Students will practice strategically building a wall.
Guiding Question: How can students work together using strategies to build?
Materials: Cups, strings, rubber bands
Procedure: Review the story of Nehemiah including the importance of prayer, forgiveness, and being prepared to do what God asks of us. Tell the students that sometimes, they may feel that God is calling them to help a certain person or group of people. Praying to God and asking for His direction will help you figure out how to serve that person best.
Introduce the activity. Divide the students into teams. They need to build the tallest wall without touching the cups used to build the wall until the cup is in place on the wall. Give students cups, 4 pieces of string and a rubber band (solution: tie the four pieces of string to the rubber band. Students tug on the strings to make the rubber band large enough to fit over the cup. Then loosen the strings enough to tighten the rubber band around the cup and use them to lift the cup into place on the wall.)
Additional Questions: How can students apply STEM skills to building?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students build a wall made out of spaghetti and marshmallows.