Introduction for: Year 1, Lesson 31
Josiah’s Reforms
The Big Idea (Textual Principle):
God helped Josiah.
2 Kings 22–23
Biblical Virtue (Timeless Principle)
Renewal – We let God clean our hearts.
Memory Verse
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 22–23
Josiah’s Reforms
Bible Text: 2 Kings 22–23
Answer the following questions:
After asking these for yourself, you will be ready to ask these questions of the students after you tell the story.| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What did you like in the story? | |
| What did you not like in the story? | |
| What does the story teach you about God? | |
| What does the story teach you about mankind? | |
| What might the Lord be calling you to do after hearing this story? |
Teacher Soft Skills Development
Create 5 Questions and answers to thoughtfully review the text.| Question | Answer | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | ||
| What | ||
| When | ||
| Where | ||
| Why | ||
| How |
Classroom Sequence for Josiah’s Reforms (2 Kings 22–23)
#1 Welcome the Students
AHello students, please sit down and stay quiet for prayer.”
BPray and praise God for a beautiful day, and
ask God to bless the teacher and students.
#2 Rules Review
Use the rules chart to remind everyone to sit, listen, watch, put away their toys/personal items, and have fun.
#3 Music
Sing two or more joyful songs.
#4 Five-Finger Prayer Time
Thumb
Praise God for His
worthy character
Index Finger
Confess sins
Middle Finger
Thank God for
His great care
Ring Finger
Pray for those
who are weak
or in need
Pinky
Pray for my own
needs
#5 Bible Time
Use the rules chart to remind everyone to sit, listen, watch, avoid toys, and have fun.
#6 Story Time
Engage: Engage
Expound: Tell the Story (5-10 minutes)
1. Mention the historical situation.
2. Begin: “This is a true story from God’s
Word.”
3. Tell accurately with gestures/pictures.
(Accurate/Transferable/Contextual/Short)
Explain (Before or after the story – not during):
1. Share insights and biblical principles.
2. Compare with Jesus or NT when appropriate.
3. Identify Christian virtue(s): Renewal – We let God clean our hearts.
4. Apply an example to real life.
Note: Learning to read the full passage and accurately retell a short version is part of the personal development of the teacher.
#7 Expand
Do 2 or 3 of the following as time permits. The teacher does not have to do everything listed – just choose according to the time permitted.
A. Retell the Story so the students can memorize it.
If possible, tell the story again so the students can memorize it.
B. Craft
Materials Needed
1 zipper-seal plastic sandwich bag
1 household kitchen sponge (cut into small handheld squares)
1 piece of white paper or cardstock (cut to fit inside the plastic bag)
1 set of dry-erase markers (black, brown, or dark colors work best)
1 or 2 cotton swabs (Q-tips) or small scrap pieces of felt
A small bowl with a tiny splash of water
Colored markers or crayons
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Take your piece of white paper and trim it so it slides easily inside your zipper-seal plastic bag.
Step 2: On the middle of the paper, draw a large heart using bright colored markers or crayons.
Step 3: Inside the drawn heart, write the phrase "God Cleans My Heart."
Step 4: Slide the decorated paper inside your plastic sandwich bag and seal the bag shut at the top.
Step 5: On the outside plastic surface of the bag, write the verse "2 Kings 22–23" using a marker.
Step 6: Using your dark dry-erase marker, draw dark smudges, dust spots, and scribbles directly over the plastic surface covering the heart to make it look dirty and forgotten (like the Temple before Josiah cleaned it).
Step 7: Dip a small piece of household kitchen sponge or a cotton swab lightly into water so it is slightly damp.
Step 8: Gently wipe the damp sponge across the outside of the plastic bag to scrub away the dark dry-erase marks.
Step 9: Watch as the dirty spots disappear completely, leaving the bright, clean heart underneath completely shining through!
Step 10: Dry off your plastic bag with a paper towel so you can color it dirty again and repeat the cleaning action whenever you want to retell the story.
C. Total Physical Response
| Story Moment | Teacher TPR Commands | Expected Student Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Josiah discovers God’s Word | “Open a book… read carefully!” | Students pretend to open a book and read. |
| Josiah realizes the people have not obeyed God | “Look surprised… shake your head.” | Students show surprise and shake their heads. |
| Josiah leads the people back to God | “Turn around… come back to God!” | Students turn in place and point upward. |
| The people remove wrong things and choose God | “Sweep it away… make it clean!” | Students pretend to sweep away dirt. |
| We let God clean our hearts | “Hands on heart… make me clean, God!” | Students place hands on heart and look upward. |