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📖

Jonah Prays to God

A Big Fish Swallows Jonah

Day 168of 180
Week 34of 36
15Minutes
← Day 167Day 168 of 180Day 169 →
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Child will know that Jonah prayed to God when he was in trouble

2

Child will practice praying by folding hands and talking to God

3

Child will understand that God listens when we pray and say we're sorry

📖 Scripture Connection

Jonah 2:1

“Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish's belly.”

— Jonah 2:1 (WEB)

This verse shows us that even in the scary, dark belly of the fish, Jonah remembered to talk to God and pray for help.

📦 Materials Needed

  • Dark blanket or large towel
  • Flashlight
  • Jonah figure (from this week's materials)
  • Small bowl of water
  • Prayer hands craft (construction paper hands cut out)
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse lesson! Let's remember what happened yesterday - Jonah was inside the big fish's belly for three whole days and nights! That must have been very dark and scary. But guess what Jonah did when he was scared?

💭 Review Question: Can you show me how big the fish was that swallowed Jonah?
2Teaching (5 min)

When Jonah was inside the fish, it was very dark and scary. But Jonah did something very important - he prayed to God! Let's read what the Bible says: 'Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish's belly.' Even though Jonah had run away from God, he knew God would still listen to his prayers. Jonah said 'I'm sorry, God!' and asked God to help him.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Jonah prayed to God from inside the fish
  • Prayer is talking to God
  • God always listens when we pray
  • We can say sorry to God when we do wrong things
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think it was like inside the fish?
  • How do we pray to God?
  • When do you like to pray?
3Activity: Praying in the Fish Belly (6 min)
hands-on

We're going to pretend to be Jonah inside the fish and practice praying to God just like he did!

📝 Instructions:
  1. Cover yourself and your child with the dark blanket - this is the fish's belly!
  2. Use the flashlight to make it a little less dark, and hold the Jonah figure
  3. Practice folding hands and saying a simple prayer: 'Dear God, I'm sorry. Please help me. Amen.'
  4. Come out from under the blanket and glue the paper hands together for a prayer reminder craft
  5. Practice the prayer again with hands folded, thanking God that He always listens
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Just sit under the blanket for a few seconds and say 'Dear God' together

Challenge: Let child say their own sorry prayer and think of things to thank God for

4Closing (3 min)

Jonah learned that even when we make mistakes and run away from God, we can always pray and say we're sorry. God loves us and always listens to our prayers, no matter where we are - even in a fish's belly!

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did Jonah do inside the fish?
  • Does God listen when we pray?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You that You always listen when we pray. Help us remember to talk to You every day. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about how God told the big fish to spit Jonah out onto dry land - Jonah was safe!

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 139:7

“God is everywhere!”

— Psalm 139:7 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Point around the room and say 'God is HERE!' Then point to different places - under the table, behind the chair, in the closet - and repeat 'God is everywhere!' Clap and stomp while saying the verse three times together.

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson focuses on prayer as communication with God and introduces the concept of repentance in very simple terms. At this age, children are learning that prayer is simply talking to God.

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Keep the 'fish belly' experience brief if child gets scared
  • Emphasize that God always listens and loves us
  • Use simple, repetitive prayers
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some children may be frightened by the idea of being inside a fish - reassure them it's just pretend and that God kept Jonah safe

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child attempts to fold hands for prayer, shows understanding that prayer is talking to God, connects that God listens even when we're scared

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a prayer journal with pictures - your BibleMouse Resource Guide includes prayer journal templates for young children
  • Practice bedtime prayers throughout the week, reminding child that God is everywhere and always listening
  • Use the ocean sensory bin from this week's materials and hide the Jonah figure, then 'pray' for God to help find him

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 169 →Back to Bible