Lesson four - pages 8/9 Jesus calming the storm

Aim for the book

To engage children in a discussion relating the Christian understanding of God to everyday life.

Learning objectives

• To know the story of Jesus and the storm.
• To be able to understand that the wind has power.
• To understand Christians believe that God, like the wind, is all around us.

Bible references

Genesis 1.2
Matthew 8.23-27

Background

The word for wind in the Bible usually includes the implication of breath and life. Wind is powerful and destructive but can also be gentle and refreshing. Wind cannot be seen but it can be heard and felt. Christians often use qualities of the wind as a symbol for God; at other times biblical material speaks of God having power over natural forces.

The wind is often used to describe the Spirit of God. When the disciples are gathered together in the biblical account of Pentecost, the sound of the driving wind is a metaphor for the breath of God giving energy, purpose and new life to Jesus' followers after he had left them.

In this picture Jesus stills the violent wind and storm and calms the fears of his disciples. The Bible story identifies that Jesus has power over the elements and also the power to calm the anxieties of his followers. It ends with the question, 'What sort of man is this...?'

Ways of using the picture

• What does the wind feel like to you? Do you enjoy the sound and feel of the wind?
• Explore the picture and use it to tell the story of Jesus calming the storm.
• Talk about the ways in which the artist has illustrated the story of Jesus calming the storm. Look closely at Jesus' clothing. Why is it blowing into the wind and not being blown by the wind?

• Storm
• Calm
• Wind
• Waves
• Frightened
• Journey
• Guide

Activity one - storytelling

• You will need

The story of Jesus and the storm (see Bible reference).

• Start

Tell the story very simply to the children.

• Develop

Talk about how the fishermen felt when the wind was blowing and then when the wind stopped.

• End

Did the fishermen feel alone?
What did the fishermen think about Jesus?
What did they expect Jesus to do?

Activity two - acting it out

• You will need

Props for drama
Possibly music to accompany drama

• Start

Revisit the story of Jesus and the storm.
Discuss how the children could act out the story.

• Develop

Groups of children can be wind, waves and fishermen.

• End

How did you feel in the part that you played?
Did you feel alone?

Activity three - poem

• You will need

The poem 'Have you seen the wind' by Christina Rossetti
Design technology materials

• Start

Read the poem (see above).

• Develop

Discuss good things the wind does.
Discuss bad things the wind does.
Make a simple kite or windmill.

• End

Discuss the question: 'Do you think God is in the wind?'
Refer back to the story of Jesus and the storm.
Refer back to the poem about the wind.

Activity checklist

Activity one - storytelling

The story of Jesus and the storm (see Bible reference)

Activity two - acting it out

Props for drama
Possibly music to accompany drama

Activity three - poem

The poem 'Have you seen the wind' by Christina Rossetti
Design technology materials

Web site links

For further information, look at the links section of this site.

http://www.brainpop.com/science/weather/

http://www.wildwildweather.com/wind.htm

© Marion Brooks, 2001

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