Quick Game: Tower of Babel Challenge
Today, we're diving into an exciting activity that helps students understand the challenges of communication and collaboration, inspired by the story of the Tower of Babel. This hands-on game not only makes learning fun but also connects biblical lessons to real-life experiences. By the end of this activity, your students will have a visceral understanding of what it’s like to build something without a common language!
Why This Activity?
The goal of this activity is for your students to viscerally feel how difficult it is to build something without a common language. Initially, they might not grasp why they are being challenged this way, but trust me, they will soon understand when you disclose the Bible story behind it!
Materials Needed
- Jenga blocks, wood blocks, Legos, or Lincoln Logs
- Instructions for building (customized based on material)
- Sealed envelopes (optional for added mystery)
Setting Up the Challenge
First, come up with some crazy set of directions based on which material you have chosen. For example:
- Create a hexagon (a six-sided shape).
- Place two blocks standing up in the center.
- Then place another block on top of them to look like a doorframe.
Make enough copies of these instructions so that groups of two students can each have one. You might want to place them in sealed envelopes to deepen the mystery!
Dividing into Teams
Next, divide your class into teams of two, designating one member as the Builder and the other as the Foreman. Give each group a set of building materials and a sealed envelope with the instructions.
The Foreman will read the directions silently and then sit on his or her hands, keeping the instructions out of the sight of the Builder. The Builder will use his or her hands to build the structure based on the Foreman's head gestures and eyes only. Remember, there’s to be no talking between them!
Building Time!
Give teams approximately five minutes to build their structures. After the time is up, share with each team how well they did. This is a great moment for reflection!
Connecting to the Bible
After the challenge, gather everyone together and read Genesis 11:1-9 as a class. Discuss the story behind the Tower of Babel, where the people aimed to build a ziggurat, a multi-level structure that could reach the heavens. They wanted to make a name for themselves, but God confused their language, scattering them across the earth.
Ask your students how difficult it was to build their tower without talking. This leads to a great discussion about why God decided to confuse their ability to communicate by giving them multiple languages.
Wrap-Up
This activity not only teaches about the Tower of Babel but also provides a hands-on experience that illustrates the importance of communication and teamwork. Remember, as Becky from Experience the Bible Creatively reminds us, props are always better than paper!
And don't forget to explore our curriculum for VBS, homeschool, Sunday School, and church for 4th-6th graders.
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