Scripture: Judges 1-3
Learning Objectives:
- Students will review how Israelites were more faithful to God when they had judges as leaders than when they did not.
- Students will learn how to give reasons for a point of view to prepare them for persuasive writing.
Guiding Questions:
Why is leadership important?
How can we give reasons to persuade people that leaders are important?
Materials: open space, obstacles such as desks, chairs, boxes, etc., paper, pencils
Procedure: Review the story of Judges and Ehud focusing on how the Israelites were more obedient when God gave them judges as leaders. Set up an area with a boundary around it. Within the boundary, scatter things that students have to walk around or step over such as chairs, boxes, etc. Have a student blindfolded. This student should start on one side of the room/designated area. Then tell the student that they have to walk across to the other side without touching anything. The other students will give them directions verbally. The blindfolded student will likely feel confused and overwhelmed by so many opinions. Next, designate a leader to tell the person how to walk across. The leader is the only one who can talk. The blindfolded person may ask questions and reply to the leader. Discuss with students which was easier and why. Explain that it is important to have a leader because otherwise people become disorganized and say whatever they want.
For the second part of the activity: Have students give two reasons for why it is helpful to have a leader. Students verbalize their reasons to a peer. Then if you have time, students write down their reasons. More advanced students can write it in a paragraph. Start with a topic sentence that states that people need leaders. Then they should write their reasons and end with a conclusion sentence.
Additional Questions:
- What happens when we do not obey our leaders?
- Did anyone who was giving directions try to purposefully confuse the blindfolded person?
- Who are leaders in your community? (parents, teachers, presidents, etc.)
- What would it be like if there were no leaders?
Supplemental Activity: Students can make a story that finishes the phrase “Once upon a time in a land with no leaders…”. They can do oral storytelling and illustrate it or if they have more advanced writing skills, they can write down their story.
Written by: Savannah Negas