Lesson eight - pages 16/17 Sea images

Aim for the book

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

Learning objectives

• To know that life exists above and below water.
• To be able to understand differences between the sea and the land.
• To understand that Christians see God everywhere, both above and below water.

Bible references

Genesis 1.20-21
Psalm 29.3
Psalm 135.6

Background

The power of the sea, the crashing of the waves and the richness of the ocean are used by Christians to describe the greatness of God and God's creation. These pictures explore the idea that the sea is the home of so many living things and yet is also powerful and to be feared; the sea gives life and can also destroy it. Human beings are aware of their frailty and limitations when faced with a tempestuous sea. For Christians these images deepen their understanding of the nature of God.

Ways of using the picture

• Use the picture of the ocean to talk about the different kinds of life that can be found on, and below the surface of, the water.
• Use the picture of the waves to explore how the children feel when they are close to the surging sea. Focus upon the noise, the power and the force of the crashing waves.
• Introduce the idea that, just as the sea can be inviting, cleaning and life-creating, it can also destroy with awesome force. Christians use words and images of the sea to help them to describe God's creative power.

Key words

• Sea
• Fish
• Waves
• Water
• Swim
• Calm
• Rough
• Deep

• You will need

A seaside story

• Start

Read the story of a visit to the seaside.
Talk about the children's own experiences of the seaside.

• Develop

List the good things about the sea.
List the dangers of the sea.

• End

Reflect on how those who have visited the sea felt about being there.

Activity two - fishy business

• You will need

Art materials

• Start

Make a list of things that can be found under the sea.

• Develop

Make a collage of an underwater scene.

• End

Think about what it might be like to live under the sea.

Activity three - what about God?

• You will need

The underwater scene

• Start

Look again at the underwater scene. Can the children try moving like a fish? Or like an octopus? Or like a crab.

• Develop

Could God live under the sea? Why?

• End

Talk again about whether God could be everywhere. Christians say there is nowhere they can go where God cannot be found.

 

Activity checklist

Activity one - paddling and playing

A seaside story

Activity two - fishy business

Art materials

Activity three - what about God?

The underwater scene

Web site links

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

http://www.abc.net.au/oceans/alive.htm

http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/kids.htm

http://www.virtual-canyon.org/toolbox.html

© Pauline Davis, 2001

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