3 joshua and the battle of jericho bible STEM challenges
I love using games to help kids understand Bible stories better! Joshua and the battle of Jericho is a great Bible story for teaching kids to choose to serve the Lord because He is faithful to help us. Let’s talk about some of my favorite Bible STEM challenges to play during our Joshua and the battle of Jericho Bible unit!
“ants on a log” Bible stem challenge
Bible Story: Joshua is Moses’ helper
Bible Idea: I can help others.
Materials: kids and tape (or sidewalk chalk)
Directions: Create a pretend log using tape or sidewalk chalk. The log should be slightly wider than your kids so that they can stand “on the log” without “falling off.” The log should also be long enough for all kids to fit on the log with some length room to spare.
(You can also use a real box or beam to stand on off the ground, but tape or chalk will work just fine in a pinch so you don’t have to look for crazy supplies!)
Have kids stand shoulder to shoulder inside the “log.” Name one kid “Moses.” Moses will need to move down the log past a few kids without stepping “off” of the log. Have them move past at least 2-3 people. While “Moses” is moving, make sure the other kids are helping Moses just like Joshua did in the Bible. Play several rounds to let kids take turns being Moses.
joshua and the battle of jericho stem challenge
Bible Story: Joshua and the Battle of Jericho
Bible Idea: God can do anything!
Materials: red solo cups (or playing cards for more of a challenge) and a party favor kazoo
Problem: Pretend that the king of Jericho has asked the kids to rebuild the wall of Jericho with playing cards (or solo cups to make it easier as shown in the pictures!). It needs to be tall to protect the city, but also strong enough to withstand Joshua and his army.
Directions: Let kids work alone or in teams to complete the challenge. They will work to see how tall they can build the wall of Jericho.
When they are finished, they can test out their wall by walking a stuffed animal (hey there, Ducksworth!) or toy around the wall 7 times for the 7th day.
On the 7th time around the “wall,” they will blow the kazoo directly at the wall to see if it will stand.
Sing it with me: “And the walls came tumbling down!”
“Hailstone Drop” bible stem challenge
Bible Story: Joshua defeats the Amorites
Bible Idea: God is my helper.
Materials: white pompoms, buckets or cups of various sizes
Directions: Kids will grab a handful of white pompoms to use as the hailstones.
Then, they will toss or drop the “hailstones” all at once toward the buckets like a hailstorm.
Count the hailstones that fell into the buckets to see how many points you get! Make sure they are high enough so that it’s not too easy. You can do this by putting the buckets on the ground and having them stand and keep their hands at chest height. Or the buckets on a table and have them stand on a chair and do the same thing with their arms.
You can set up multiple stations for people to play in small groups, or do one large hailstorm where everyone drops and handful toward a lot of buckets and count the whole collection together!
Find all of these Bible STEM challenges and more in this Joshua and the battle of Jericho Bible Unit from my Sunday School curriculum.
