Introduction for: Year 1, Lesson 05
Tower of Babel
The Big Idea (Textual Principle):
God guides all nations toward His mission.
Genesis 11:1–9
Biblical Virtue (Timeless Principle)
Humility – We follow God’s plan and not our own pride.
Memory Verse
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
Psalm 108:5
Tower of Babel
Bible Text: Genesis 11:1–9
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 Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9)
#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: Setup: Start with all kids in one corner of the room. Activity: Say: “You’re all together, building one big city.” Then announce: “God scattered the people!” and have them run to different corners. Lesson: God wanted people to spread across the earth, not stay in one place for their own name.
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): Humility – We follow God’s plan and not our own pride.
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
This craft reminds us that God’s wants the whole world to be filled with people who praise Him! Supplies: Paper with map, paper people (cutouts), scissors. Instructions: Let the children cut out peoples of the world and place them on the map. If you do not have a map, you may start by having the children draw the basic continents. While doing this remind them God wants all people to know about him.
Resources:
C. Total Physical Response
| Story Moment | Teacher TPR Commands | Expected Student Actions |
|---|---|---|
| People decide to build a tower | “Point up high!” / “Pretend to stack bricks!” | Students point upward, pretend to stack blocks. |
| Tower grows taller | “Stretch taller and taller!” | Students rise on tiptoes, stretch arms upward. |
| People want to make their name great | “Beat your chest proudly!” | Students puff chest, act proud. |
| God comes down to see the tower | “Look down from above!” | Students shade eyes and look down as if from high up. |
| God confuses their language | “Speak silly words!” / “Talk in gibberish!” | Students babble nonsense or funny sounds. |
| Builders can’t understand each other | “Shrug your shoulders… look confused!” | Students shrug, scratch heads, act puzzled. |
| Work stops | “Drop your bricks… stop building!” | Students pretend to drop blocks and freeze. |
| God scatters the people | “Run to different corners!” | Students scatter to different parts of the room. |