Moses and the Golden Calf Idol | Interactive Bible Curriculum Lesson
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❇️ Lead your students through a comprehensive study of Exodus 32 and 33, including the pivotal moment where the Israelites worship the golden calf at Mount Sinai in Moses’ absence.
Students are taught to focus on the "hands" in the narrative as God, Moses, Aaron, the Israelites and the Levites all use their hands in significant ways ~ some for good and some for evil. Students participate in "hands-on" physical challenges directly linked to the story such as a pep rally cheer, interactive reenactments, and colorful worksheets. Through these activities, students in grades 5-8 will understand the importance of remembering God's faithfulness and goodness in difficult times.
✍️ Key terms like "theophany" and "anthropomorphism" are introduced, deepening your students' theological vocabulary. The lesson culminates by highlighting how Moses as intercessor and Aaron as high priest prefigure Jesus, our ultimate Mediator who bridges the gap between humanity and God. Perfect for fostering spiritual growth and critical thinking, this curriculum will leave a lasting impact on young minds.
✴️ LESSON PART A ~ COLOR CODING THE GOLDEN CALF FIASCO
A hallmark of our Walking Alongside Jesus series is that students color code a passage in every lesson which trains them to see repeated words, phrases and important details that might be missed in a simple reading. In this lesson, your students color code verses in Exodus 32 and color code what the Israelites did with their hands in red, what God did with his hands in green and what Moses did with his hands in blue. As this activity progresses, students can see the importance of watching the hands to see into the heart.
✴️ LESSON PART B ~ I HAVE TO HAND IT TO YOU PEP RALLY
Students use the fingers on their hand as a memory aide of the story ~ the index finger (I) represents the Israelites, the little finger (L) is the Israelites (and so on). Students then use their hands to represent major words in a pep rally cheer: “God’s Love Stirs our Hearts from Selfishness to Service”. This cheer is repeated before each physical challenge, each of which represents an important element of the story. For instance, two students race against each other to pulverize a bath bomb in less than one minute ~ mimicking what Moses did as he melted down the idol, grinding it into powder.
✴️ LESSON PART C ~ IN THE SHELTER OF A ROCK
Moses wanted assurance from God that He was going with the Israelites to the Promised Land and asked to see the fullness of God’s glory. This, Moses felt, would convince him that God would not abandon them. God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock and covered with his hand. Then after God passed by, He removed His hand so Moses could see God from the back, revealing only His goodness. This insight into God’s character was the reassurance that Moses needed. God would not abandon His covenant or His promise to stay with His people.
A cave opening template is included in the lesson, which when added to an aluminum can, allows you to demonstrate this story to your students. Additionally, a timed challenge has students rolling as many balls as they can inside the cave opening as a kinesthetic memory of this important lesson.
✴️ LESSON PART D ~ THE LEVITES DEFENSE ~ THE HANDS AND HEART OF GOD
Integral to any study of idols is the identification of them in one’s own heart. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory ~ constantly churning out idol after idol on its conveyor belt of destruction. A colorful worksheet brings this concept home with ELEVEN questions to help students identify their personal idols such as: “What do you actively hide from others?” and “What items, when they are temporarily taken away, cause you to feel upset, uptight or uneasy?”
✴️ LESSON PART E ~ WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT JESUS?
Using colorful nametags and reenactments, students learn that Moses was a mediator between God and the Israelites as he begged God for mercy in sparing the people from destruction. Aaron was a mediator as high priest offering sacrifices to God on behalf of the Israelites. Finally, Jesus is our Mediator, standing in the sin gap between God and us – a permanent bridge to life and relationship with our Heavenly Father.
⏰️ Timing: This is a three to five hour lesson that can be spread over several sessions, stopping and starting where you left off or stopping at the labeled sections.
✔️ Included in this lesson:
Colorful 23-page lesson plan is written with clear DO/SAY/READ wording that can be adapted to fit your voice if necessary. This includes a three page preparation guide that includes items to gather, photocopies students will need, pre-class preparations and instructions organized by "Lesson Part A", "Lesson Part B" etc.
17 pages of worksheets, answer keys and supplemental material
Color Coding the Golden Calf Fiasco ~ worksheet and answer key
Up on the Mountaintop Review Song sheet
I Have to Hand it to You Pep Rally
I Have to Hand it to You ~ worksheet and answer key
A Very Visual Series of Events ~ worksheet and answer key
The Theophanies of Exodus 33 ~ worksheet and answer key
The Human Heart ~ worksheet
Rock Cleft
Moses, Aaron, Israelites, God Nametags (three pages)
Stepping Stone: Jesus Our Mediator
Save time and shop with confidence! Watch the lesson preview video here.
❇️ Lead your students through a comprehensive study of Exodus 32 and 33, including the pivotal moment where the Israelites worship the golden calf at Mount Sinai in Moses’ absence.
Students are taught to focus on the "hands" in the narrative as God, Moses, Aaron, the Israelites and the Levites all use their hands in significant ways ~ some for good and some for evil. Students participate in "hands-on" physical challenges directly linked to the story such as a pep rally cheer, interactive reenactments, and colorful worksheets. Through these activities, students in grades 5-8 will understand the importance of remembering God's faithfulness and goodness in difficult times.
✍️ Key terms like "theophany" and "anthropomorphism" are introduced, deepening your students' theological vocabulary. The lesson culminates by highlighting how Moses as intercessor and Aaron as high priest prefigure Jesus, our ultimate Mediator who bridges the gap between humanity and God. Perfect for fostering spiritual growth and critical thinking, this curriculum will leave a lasting impact on young minds.
✴️ LESSON PART A ~ COLOR CODING THE GOLDEN CALF FIASCO
A hallmark of our Walking Alongside Jesus series is that students color code a passage in every lesson which trains them to see repeated words, phrases and important details that might be missed in a simple reading. In this lesson, your students color code verses in Exodus 32 and color code what the Israelites did with their hands in red, what God did with his hands in green and what Moses did with his hands in blue. As this activity progresses, students can see the importance of watching the hands to see into the heart.
✴️ LESSON PART B ~ I HAVE TO HAND IT TO YOU PEP RALLY
Students use the fingers on their hand as a memory aide of the story ~ the index finger (I) represents the Israelites, the little finger (L) is the Israelites (and so on). Students then use their hands to represent major words in a pep rally cheer: “God’s Love Stirs our Hearts from Selfishness to Service”. This cheer is repeated before each physical challenge, each of which represents an important element of the story. For instance, two students race against each other to pulverize a bath bomb in less than one minute ~ mimicking what Moses did as he melted down the idol, grinding it into powder.
✴️ LESSON PART C ~ IN THE SHELTER OF A ROCK
Moses wanted assurance from God that He was going with the Israelites to the Promised Land and asked to see the fullness of God’s glory. This, Moses felt, would convince him that God would not abandon them. God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock and covered with his hand. Then after God passed by, He removed His hand so Moses could see God from the back, revealing only His goodness. This insight into God’s character was the reassurance that Moses needed. God would not abandon His covenant or His promise to stay with His people.
A cave opening template is included in the lesson, which when added to an aluminum can, allows you to demonstrate this story to your students. Additionally, a timed challenge has students rolling as many balls as they can inside the cave opening as a kinesthetic memory of this important lesson.
✴️ LESSON PART D ~ THE LEVITES DEFENSE ~ THE HANDS AND HEART OF GOD
Integral to any study of idols is the identification of them in one’s own heart. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory ~ constantly churning out idol after idol on its conveyor belt of destruction. A colorful worksheet brings this concept home with ELEVEN questions to help students identify their personal idols such as: “What do you actively hide from others?” and “What items, when they are temporarily taken away, cause you to feel upset, uptight or uneasy?”
✴️ LESSON PART E ~ WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT JESUS?
Using colorful nametags and reenactments, students learn that Moses was a mediator between God and the Israelites as he begged God for mercy in sparing the people from destruction. Aaron was a mediator as high priest offering sacrifices to God on behalf of the Israelites. Finally, Jesus is our Mediator, standing in the sin gap between God and us – a permanent bridge to life and relationship with our Heavenly Father.
⏰️ Timing: This is a three to five hour lesson that can be spread over several sessions, stopping and starting where you left off or stopping at the labeled sections.
✔️ Included in this lesson:
Colorful 23-page lesson plan is written with clear DO/SAY/READ wording that can be adapted to fit your voice if necessary. This includes a three page preparation guide that includes items to gather, photocopies students will need, pre-class preparations and instructions organized by "Lesson Part A", "Lesson Part B" etc.
17 pages of worksheets, answer keys and supplemental material
Color Coding the Golden Calf Fiasco ~ worksheet and answer key
Up on the Mountaintop Review Song sheet
I Have to Hand it to You Pep Rally
I Have to Hand it to You ~ worksheet and answer key
A Very Visual Series of Events ~ worksheet and answer key
The Theophanies of Exodus 33 ~ worksheet and answer key
The Human Heart ~ worksheet
Rock Cleft
Moses, Aaron, Israelites, God Nametags (three pages)
Stepping Stone: Jesus Our Mediator
Save time and shop with confidence! Watch the lesson preview video here.
❇️ Lead your students through a comprehensive study of Exodus 32 and 33, including the pivotal moment where the Israelites worship the golden calf at Mount Sinai in Moses’ absence.
Students are taught to focus on the "hands" in the narrative as God, Moses, Aaron, the Israelites and the Levites all use their hands in significant ways ~ some for good and some for evil. Students participate in "hands-on" physical challenges directly linked to the story such as a pep rally cheer, interactive reenactments, and colorful worksheets. Through these activities, students in grades 5-8 will understand the importance of remembering God's faithfulness and goodness in difficult times.
✍️ Key terms like "theophany" and "anthropomorphism" are introduced, deepening your students' theological vocabulary. The lesson culminates by highlighting how Moses as intercessor and Aaron as high priest prefigure Jesus, our ultimate Mediator who bridges the gap between humanity and God. Perfect for fostering spiritual growth and critical thinking, this curriculum will leave a lasting impact on young minds.
✴️ LESSON PART A ~ COLOR CODING THE GOLDEN CALF FIASCO
A hallmark of our Walking Alongside Jesus series is that students color code a passage in every lesson which trains them to see repeated words, phrases and important details that might be missed in a simple reading. In this lesson, your students color code verses in Exodus 32 and color code what the Israelites did with their hands in red, what God did with his hands in green and what Moses did with his hands in blue. As this activity progresses, students can see the importance of watching the hands to see into the heart.
✴️ LESSON PART B ~ I HAVE TO HAND IT TO YOU PEP RALLY
Students use the fingers on their hand as a memory aide of the story ~ the index finger (I) represents the Israelites, the little finger (L) is the Israelites (and so on). Students then use their hands to represent major words in a pep rally cheer: “God’s Love Stirs our Hearts from Selfishness to Service”. This cheer is repeated before each physical challenge, each of which represents an important element of the story. For instance, two students race against each other to pulverize a bath bomb in less than one minute ~ mimicking what Moses did as he melted down the idol, grinding it into powder.
✴️ LESSON PART C ~ IN THE SHELTER OF A ROCK
Moses wanted assurance from God that He was going with the Israelites to the Promised Land and asked to see the fullness of God’s glory. This, Moses felt, would convince him that God would not abandon them. God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock and covered with his hand. Then after God passed by, He removed His hand so Moses could see God from the back, revealing only His goodness. This insight into God’s character was the reassurance that Moses needed. God would not abandon His covenant or His promise to stay with His people.
A cave opening template is included in the lesson, which when added to an aluminum can, allows you to demonstrate this story to your students. Additionally, a timed challenge has students rolling as many balls as they can inside the cave opening as a kinesthetic memory of this important lesson.
✴️ LESSON PART D ~ THE LEVITES DEFENSE ~ THE HANDS AND HEART OF GOD
Integral to any study of idols is the identification of them in one’s own heart. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory ~ constantly churning out idol after idol on its conveyor belt of destruction. A colorful worksheet brings this concept home with ELEVEN questions to help students identify their personal idols such as: “What do you actively hide from others?” and “What items, when they are temporarily taken away, cause you to feel upset, uptight or uneasy?”
✴️ LESSON PART E ~ WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT JESUS?
Using colorful nametags and reenactments, students learn that Moses was a mediator between God and the Israelites as he begged God for mercy in sparing the people from destruction. Aaron was a mediator as high priest offering sacrifices to God on behalf of the Israelites. Finally, Jesus is our Mediator, standing in the sin gap between God and us – a permanent bridge to life and relationship with our Heavenly Father.
⏰️ Timing: This is a three to five hour lesson that can be spread over several sessions, stopping and starting where you left off or stopping at the labeled sections.
✔️ Included in this lesson:
Colorful 23-page lesson plan is written with clear DO/SAY/READ wording that can be adapted to fit your voice if necessary. This includes a three page preparation guide that includes items to gather, photocopies students will need, pre-class preparations and instructions organized by "Lesson Part A", "Lesson Part B" etc.
17 pages of worksheets, answer keys and supplemental material
Color Coding the Golden Calf Fiasco ~ worksheet and answer key
Up on the Mountaintop Review Song sheet
I Have to Hand it to You Pep Rally
I Have to Hand it to You ~ worksheet and answer key
A Very Visual Series of Events ~ worksheet and answer key
The Theophanies of Exodus 33 ~ worksheet and answer key
The Human Heart ~ worksheet
Rock Cleft
Moses, Aaron, Israelites, God Nametags (three pages)
Stepping Stone: Jesus Our Mediator
FAQS:
What Christian perspective is used for these Bible lessons?
I am an evangelical Christian who writes Bible curriculum for older students, and I do not take this tremendous responsibility lightly. Each lesson has a clear focus on what God says in His Word and the lessons are presented age appropriately, thoughtfully and biblically.
What translation of the Bible is used? 99% of the time I use the ESV although on rare occasion I might use another translation such as the NIV.
How can this Bible lesson be used?
Each lesson unit in our Walking Alongside Jesus series is divided into five sections, each section takes between 30 minutes to an hour. This allows homeschool and Christian school teachers to use it daily in the classroom (thereby completing an entire unit in a week) OR in a Sunday School classroom or youth group once a week (thereby completing an entire unit in a month). These lessons are flexible enough to be used in the following settings:
Children's Sunday School class
Youth Group
Private Christian school Bible class
Chapel for Christian schools
Children's Church
Homeschool Bible class
Family Bible time
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