God Meets Us in the Law:
The Ark of the Covenant
Session
Exodus 25:10–22
Main Idea
The Ark of the Covenant is built to hold the
tablets of the Law and to symbolize God’s
presence with Israel.
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Catechism Question
Question 47. What do we do when we pray?
When we pray, we adore God, we confess our
sins, we give God thanks, and we pray for the
needs of others and ourselves.
—Belonging to God:
A First Catechism
Background for Teachers
The Ark of the Covenant is one of the great
lost objects of the world. Moses had the Ark
constructed, with God’s specific directions, to
carry the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The
Ark was also designed as the very throne of God,
serving both literally and symbolically to represent
God’s presence with the Israelites. Moses and the
later priests stood before the Ark to pray and to
receive revelation from God.
gave detailed directions for making the Tabernacle,
which could be set up and dismantled as the
people camped and traveled in the wilderness. As
the Israelites wandered through the desert, they
followed Levite priests who carried the Ark. They
would carry it by holding two long poles on their
shoulders. These poles were attached to the bottom
of the Ark in order for the priests not to touch the
Ark itself. Hebrew priests were always Levites, or
members of the tribe of Levi, one
Beginning with Exodus 25, the
of the twelve tribes descended
Something to Remember
plan for building the Ark and the
from Jacob’s twelve sons. Moses
They shall make an ark of
details for the priest who would
and his brother Aaron were
acacia wood; . . . You shall
tend it fills thirteen chapters!
members of the tribe of Levi.
put into the ark the covenant
These chapters detail God’s
that I shall give you.
command to Moses, Moses’
The Tabernacle and the Ark gave
—Exodus 25:10a, 16
instructions to the Israelites,
focus and centrality to the people’s
and the actual construction of
faith in the formative years of
the Ark. The Ark was to be made of acacia wood
the nation. God’s presence hovered over the Law
covered with gold. Its lid would feature two golden and was always present with God’s people. To be
cherubim, or angels, with outstretched wings. The
faithful to God meant the people were committed
Israelites, at the time they constructed the Ark,
to God’s Law to mold, nurture, and govern the
were in the middle of the Sinai Desert. Where were community. The Ark was present with Israel from
they to find all the fine materials that God required the time of Moses to the destruction of Solomon’s
for building? These would come from the people
Temple in 586 b.c. Its fate is unknown to this day.
themselves. Building the Ark became a community
In today’s session, the children will build a model
project.
of the Ark of the Covenant and consider God’s
presence in the Law, then and now. In upcoming
The Ark was kept in the Tabernacle, a portable
sessions (Sessions 3, 4, 5, and 11), we will continue
tent, and was covered with a cloth taken out for
to use the model of the Ark as we study additional
procession and for travel. The Israelites were a
stories about the Ark and its central role in the
nomadic people after their exodus from Egypt, so
people’s worship of God.
their worship site had to travel with them. God
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God Meets
Us in the Law:
The Ark of the
Covenant
Lesson
Plan
Exodus 25:10–22
Activity
Intelligences
People
Prepared Resource 01 (Attendance Chart), offering basket or
envelope (optional), markers, self-stick name tags
Make Your Own Ark!
Picture, People
See page 3 for Special Preparations. Resource 04 (Make Your
Own Ark: Directions), Resource 03 (Make Your Own Ark:
Materials), Resource 06 (Ark of the Covenant Illustration),
prepared Resource 05 (Cherub Pattern), materials for making
the Ark from Resources 03 and 05, adult helper (optional)
T
he Israelites Make
the Ark
Word
Bible, Poster 02 (Ten Commandments), Ark of the Covenant
from Assemble, 10-inch length of yarn or string, prepared
cubit stick (cut a yardstick in half and sand the rough edges)
Ten Commandments
Treasure Hunt
Body
Prepared Resource 07 (Ten Commandments Tablet Cards),
Ark of the Covenant from Assemble, scissors, colored paper
(optional)
Saying the Great
Commandments
Word, Body
No materials needed
Singing the Great
Commandments
Music, Body
LifeSongs Leader Book, LifeSongs CD Volume 1, CD
player, prepared newsprint with the words to “The Great
Commandments” (no. 172 in the LifeSongs Leader Book)
Good Rules Pictures
Picture, Self
One 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of white construction paper for each
student, markers or crayons, Ark of the Covenant (optional)
R
emembering and
Sending Out
Word, People, Body
Poster 01 (Catechism Questions 46 and 47), Resource 08
(Something to Remember Picture, Session 2), copy of For the
Home 02 for each child unless e-mailing it to their homes
Welcome
Assemble
Bible Study
Claim
Depart
You Will Need
The Heart of the Lesson: The heart symbol shows you those parts of the
session that carry you through the “heart of the lesson.” Choose other
activities as you prefer.
The Resource CD: Find Resources, MP3 files for
music, Song Sheets, For the Home, Consider the
Season, and Bonus Materials on the Resource CD.
Assemble: God Calls Us Together
Welcome
Take time to welcome children as they arrive. Orient them to
sign-in procedures and your attendance and offering routine. You
may choose to offer each student a name tag at the beginning of your
first few sessions, especially if the children do not know one another.
Greet each child and direct him or her to the craft table to begin
working to make an Ark of the Covenant.
If you use an attendance chart, use the chart prepared from Resource
01 (Attendance Chart) in Session 1 and a marker to record your
students’ attendance. If you collect an offering, use a basket or
envelope and let the children place their offerings in it.
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Session 2
Make Your Own Ark!
Show the children Resource 06 (Ark of the Covenant
Illustration) The picture is an artistÕ s idea of what the Ark might have
looked like, based on the description given in the Bible. Distribute
several copies of Resource 04 (Make Your Own Ark: Directions)
and Resource 05 (Cherub Pattern). Use the supplies that you have
prepared and 5 out and the directions to make a model of the Ark.
Assist the children as needed, particularly when using the hot-glue
gun. Encourage them to work together so that everyone has a chance
to participate in building the Ark. While the children work, ask them
what they know about the Ark of the Covenant. Some may share
information from Bible stories or from the popular Indiana Jones
movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Special Preparations for
the Ark of the Covenant
Read carefully the directions and
supply lists on Resource 04 (Make
Your Own Ark: Directions) and
Resource 03 (Make Your Own Ark:
Materials). You will need to gather
supplies, print copies, and make
additional preparations before the
session begins. You may also want
to invite an adult helper to come to
class to assist the children in making
their Ark.
Bible Study: We Hear God’s Word
The Israelites Make the Ark
Invite the children to gather around their model of the Ark.
Tell the children that over the next few months, the class will explore
how people first worshiped God and how we worship God today.
Use the prayer printed below or one of your own prayers.
Prayer for Illumination
We worship you, O God, in many different ways and in
many different places. Help us to know you and see you and
hear you as we worship, play, and pray. In JesusÕ name we
pray. Amen.
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Teaching Tip
A good way to adapt this activity
for younger elementary students
is to let the children wrap the box
and lid using precut paper. They can
also trace pattern shapes and use
glitter-glue to decorate the cherubim
and the Ark. The cutting work will
probably be more accurate if done
by an adult.
Talking Points:
The Ark of the Covenant is an important worship piece from
Bible times.
WeÕ ve heard about an ark from the Bible. What Bible stories
involve an ark? (NoahÕ s ark, the Ark of the Covenant).
NoahÕ s ark didnÕ t look like this golden box with angels on it!
What did it look like? (a very large boat)
Why would a boat and this box both be called an ark? How
could these two arks be alike? (They both hold something special
from God.)
God put elements of creation that God made, the animals and
people, onto NoahÕ s ark. LetÕ s hear our Bible story for today and
find out what God put in the Ark of the Covenant. Open your Bible
to Exodus 25 and show the children where todayÕ s Bible story is
located.
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God Meets
Us in the Law:
The Ark of the
Covenant
Exodus 25:10–22
The NRSV version is lengthy for younger elementary readers, so use
the paraphrase below to tell the Bible story. Have your cubit stick
ready to show the children. Let the children measure their model
ark to compare its size with the dimensions of the Ark that God told
Moses to make.
The Israelites Make the Ark (Exodus 25:10Ð22, paraphrase)
?
?
?
?
Conversation Starters
Do you think our ark looks like
Moses’ Ark? How closely did we
follow the directions from the
Bible?
What does God want Moses
to put inside the Ark of the
Covenant? (the
(the stone tablets of
the covenant)
covenant
What is the covenant that’s
written on the stone tablets? (the
promise between God and God’s
people)
God gave laws to Moses and
the Israelites. Do you remember
what they’re called? (The Ten
Commandments)
God said to Moses, ÒT ell the people of Israel to make an
Ark out of acacia wood. Make it two-and-a-half cubits long,
one-and-a-half cubits wide, and one-and-a-half cubits high.
Cover the wood inside and outside the Ark with gold. Put a
trim of gold around it. Make four gold rings and put them
at the bottom corners. Make poles of acacia wood, and cover
them with gold. Put the poles into the rings so you can carry
the Ark. I will give you the stone tablets with the covenant
written on them.
You shall put into the Ark the covenant that I shall give
you. Make a cover for the Ark out of pure gold. Make two
cherubim of gold. (Cherubim are angels with large wings.) Put
one cherub at one end of the Ark, and one at the other end.
The cherubim should spread their wings over the cover of the
Ark. They should face each other and look down at the Ark.
Put the covenant in the Ark and put the cover on top. I will
meet with you there, between the cherubim, to tell you all my
commands for the Israelites.Ó
Use the Conversation Starters in the margin for discussion. Ask the
children to name as many commandments as they can remember.
Show Poster 02 (Ten Commandments) and go over the Ten
Commandments briefly. Include the following points:
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Talking Points
The Ten Commandments were given as a covenant, or promise,
between God and GodÕ s people. They are also called the Law.
The covenant states that God promises to be a faithful God for
the people and the people are commanded to worship, praise,
and obey their one and only God.
God saw that the people needed rules or laws to guide their
living, so God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and to
GodÕ s people.
These laws are good rules because God made them.
When we follow these rules, or laws, we are living in a good
relationship with God and with one another.
The Ark of the Covenant was always to be treated with great
care and respect, because the Israelites knew that God was
always present with the Ark!
Session 2
Following discussion, roll up Poster 02 (Ten Commandments), tie it,
and invite one child to place it in the Ark while two other children
open and close the lid. Decide together where your class can store
the model ark in the classroom for use in future sessions.
Ten Commandments Treasure Hunt
Hide the Ten Commandments Tablet Cards around the room.
Challenge the students to work together to see how quickly they
can find the cards. Once all the cards are found, distribute them
equally among the students. Invite each student to read aloud the
commandment that is written on his or her card(s). Collect all the
tablet cards and place them in the Ark.
Claim: We Respond to God’s Word
Explain to the children that in the New Testament, Jesus was
asked to name the greatest commandment in the Law. In his
answer, he summarized the Ten Commandments into two laws. (See
Matthew 22:34Ð 40 and Mark 12:28Ð31.) The Great Commandments
help us to know whatÕ s important when we follow GodÕ s Law. Have
the children say the Great Commandments, choosing either the
spoken or sung versions below.
Large Group Options
for Treasure Hunt
If you have more than eight students
in the class, photocopy the tablet
cards onto different colors of paper
so that you have multiple sets of the
cards. Make teams of six to eight
students and instruct each team to
find a particular color set of tablet
cards. As an option, you might let
the teams race to find their tablet
cards; or, if your church has usable
outdoor space, the treasure hunt
could be an outdoor activity.
Saying the Great Commandments
Lead the children in saying the Great Commandments in unison.
Read a phrase from Two Great Commandments while showing the
students the motions that accompany the phrases. Invite students to
repeat the phrases and the motions after you model them.
Singing the Great Commandments
Display a prepared newsprint with words to the song ÒT he Great
Commandments.Ó Play the song (Tracks 7 and 31 on LifeSongs CD
Vol. 1) and have the children listen. While the song is playing, model
for the children the movements that go along with the song.
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•
•
•
For heart, cross arms over chest
For soul, place clasped hands over heart
For strength, make muscle arms
For neighbor, shake hands with a classmate
Two Great Commandments
You shall love the Lord your God
(raise
raise hands high overhead and
look up))
With all your heart (cross
(cross arms over
chest),
Soul (fold
fold hands together and place
them directly over heart),
heart),
Mind ((place
place hands on top of head),
And strength (make
(make muscle arms);
arms
And you shall love your neighbor as
yourself (shake hands with person
next to you).
Play the song again and let the children join you in the singing and
movements.
Good Rules Pictures
Give each child paper and markers or crayons. Invite the
children to think about a good rule that shows love for God, for
others, or for ourselves and draw a picture to represent the rule.
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God Meets
Us in the Law:
The Ark of the
Covenant
Exodus 25:10–22
Gather the children around the Ark. Remind the children that you
have put the Ten Commandments poster and the tablet cards inside
your Ark. Now you will add the good rules pictures. Let each child
show his or her picture and explain the rule that is depicted, and
then place the picture in the Ark. Replace the cover on the Ark and
move it to the place where it will be stored.
Depart: God Sends Us into the World
Remembering and Sending Out
Gather the children in an open area. Explain that during
Depart, the class gathers to end our time together and to remember
what was learned today.
Catechism Question
Direct the childrenÕ s attention to Poster 01 (Catechism Questions 46
and 47). A catechism is a series of questions and answers about faith
and belief. Read aloud Question 19. Sing or say the answer (the Great
Commandments). Use the hand motions that were taught in Claim.
Something to Remember
Read aloud the Bible verses for today from Resource 08 (Something
to Remember Picture, Session 2), Exodus 25:10a, 16. Have the
children repeat the verses.
Peace Pass
Gather the students in a circle, and have them hold one hand of the
person on each side of them. Look to the child who is on your right
side and say, ÒPea ce be with you.Ó Have the child respond to you,
ÒA nd also with you.Ó The child to your right then exchanges the
message of peace with the child who is on his or her right side. The
peace exchange moves around the circle, passing from child to child.
Let everyone say, ÒA men.Ó
Evaluate
Send home with each child:
• Copy of For the Home 02, if not
e-mailed home.
Think about the children in your class. What did they enjoy most?
How did they interact with you and with each other? As you get to
know your class, you will be better able to choose options that best
suit them or challenge them!
Future
Store the Ark of the Covenant in a safe place (after all, we already
lost the real one!). The class will need it for Sessions 3, 4, 5, and 11.
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