Elijah and the Widow: Engaging Activity Sheet for Kids

A story from the Bible that often captures young children's imagination is Elijah and the Widow from 1 Kings, chapter 17. This tale is not only an engaging story but also a great opportunity for children to learn and practice their reading and comprehension skills through an activity sheet.

Creating an "Elijah and the Widow" activity sheet allows children to interact with the story in an exciting and educational way. This can be a standalone activity or part of a broader Bible study session for kids.

Preparing the Activity Sheet

The first step in creating an effective activity sheet is to understand the story. Elijah, a prophet, is sent to a widow in Zarephath. Despite her poverty, she shares what little she has with Elijah, and miraculously, her jar of meal and jug of oil never run out. Ultimately, her faith is rewarded, and her son is brought back to life.

Once you've understood the story, you can start planning your activity sheet. Here are some engaging elements to include:

Story Summary Section

Include a simple, child-friendly retelling of the story at the top of the activity sheet. This will help children recall the main events before they start the activities.

Example: "Read about Elijah, who met a kind widow. She gave him food even though she didn't have much. God blessed her for her kindness... (1 Kings 17:8-24)"

Matching Game

Create a matching game with story events and illustrations. List story events or character names on one side and corresponding pictures on the other. Children match the pictures with the right events to test their understanding of the story.

Events could include: "Elijah finds the widow", "The widow shares her food with Elijah", "The jar of meal and jug of oil never run out", "The widow's son gets sick", "Elijah prays to God", and "The boy comes back to life".

Activity Sections

Now that you've set the stage with the story summary and matching game, you can delve into more engaging activities that encourage critical thinking and application of the story's values.

Character Feelings

Ask children to identify and explain how the widow and her son might have felt at different points in the story. This helps children develop empathy and emotional understanding.

באר Ink - "Match the character to the feeling they had when..." and provide options like "Elijah", "The widow", "The widow's son", "Happy", "Scared", "Grateful", "Sad".

God at Work

Discuss how God played a hand in the widow's life. Ask children to find and circle all the instances where God works in the story. This helps children recognize God's presence and provision in everyday life.

هدافm - "Find and circle where God works in the story:" (Provide hints like "the widow's food never runs out", "the widow's son comes back to life")

Living Like the Widow

Encourage children to apply the widow's kindness and generosity in their own lives. Ask them to draw or write about a time they could share what they have with others, just like the widow.

Friedman - "How could you be kind and generous like the widow? Draw or write about a time you could share with others."

Art and Prayer

Have children create a visual representation of the story's miracle - the widow's endless supplies of meal and oil. Then encourage them to pray for their own 'miracles' - things they need but don't have yet.

Example: "Draw a picture of the widow's miracle. Then pray about a miracle you need in your life."

Through these engaging activities, children can delve into the story of Elijah and the widow, fostering not only literacy skills but also empathy, critical thinking, and spiritual understanding.Encourage children to share their completed activity sheets with their families, as a natural conclusion to their learning experience.