Scripture: Genesis 11
Learning Objectives:
- Students will review the story of the Tower of Babel
- Students will learn the people probably had to build new homes when God dispersed them all over the earth
- Students will learn how to build a simple, lost cost shelter that can be used for housing if necessary.
- Students will participate in building either a model or an actual pallet structure to understand how to build one at another time
Guiding Question: How can you build a simple low cost shelter using wooden packing pallets??
Materials: set of instructions for each student, tools and materials necessary to build either model or real pallet house(s)
Procedure: Review the details of the story of the Tower of Babel. Discuss what the various people who were dispersed around the world needed to do when they settled in their new homes. Discuss the necessity of building a shelter to protect the people from the weather and wild animals. Discuss situations today when people might need to be shelters that are very low cost and easy to build (natural disaster recovery, refugees from war, etc.). Help students understand the plans for building a pallet shelter. Using the materials you have chosen allow the students work to construct model pallet houses or a real one (Could it be moved and donated to someone who needs it?). Make sure students review and follow all safety rules for construction.
Additional Questions: What programs are there in your are that help homeless people find or build shelters? How can you become involve in helping them?
Supplemental Activity: Have students research what groups in your area work with build who need shelter. Consider inviting representatives of the organizations come speak to the students and bring a project the students can help complete for the organization.