Lesson

Begin by playing a game of magic box with the children. The magic box contains the most important thing in their lives. What is it? Invite volunteers to share their ideas with the rest of the class.

Inform them that another word for a box is an ark. Have they encountered this word before?

Apart from Noah, someone else was told to build an ark. That person was Moses, following the Israelites' escape from Egypt. (You may need to fill in some background here).

Read the instructions for making the Ark - Exodus 25:10-21

The ark was to contain two tablets of stone upon which the Ten Commandments were written.

Do the children know what the Ten Commandments are? Why are they so important to the Jews?

After their escape from Egypt, the Jews spent many years wandering in the desert without a permanent home. During that time, they carried the ark around with them. They believed it had special powers. Share with the children the story of the capture and swift return of the Ark by the Philistines. (1 Samuel: ch.4-6)

Conclusion

Conclude by informing the children that when the Jews were in the desert, the ark was kept in a special tent. But when they finally settled in the land which is today known as Israel, the ark was place in the temple in Jerusalem.