J Is for Judge It: ABC: Deuteronomy for Me! Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World

J Is for Judge It!  ABC: Deuteronomy for Me!  Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World!

Here is the next lesson in the ABC: Deuteronomy for Me Series. Scroll back for the rest!  This lesson features Jj rhymes, poems and stories; Jj Bible words, Jj Bible books, and Jumbo Jj;  Judge It! Bible verse, and book marker; little girl Deuteronomy 32:4 verse video, and The Monkey Judge story video;  "Judges Should," Deuteronomy Law Jumble, and a "Whole Lot of Laws" book; "He Is the Rock" verse, cross book mark, and video song; Journal Js, "Kids in Court" video, and Moses' Sculpture at US Capitol; and for teachers/parents "Social Justice Vs. The Gospel."   

Little Kids (Ages 4-7)

J Is for Judge It!

J is for judge it-

a job Jethro did say

Moses should share

with others each day.

Act it out: Moses Was the Judge

Moses was the judge, Moses was the jury,

Moses was tired, Moses was weary;

Then Jethro, his father-law,

Moses did tell, "Choose men with understanding

and wisdom as well-to help you judge." And 

Moses listened!                                             LEP

From Deut. 1 and Exodus 18

Motions:  Pretend to be Moses; let arms droop;

look sad.  Touch head with both hands.

Point to ears; and smile. 

Hear It:  Jethro Helps Moses

Moses was the leader of God's people.  They were on a journey.

The people had problems and kept coming to Moses to have

him fix them.  Jethro, Moses father-in-law came for a visit.  He saw 

Moses.  He saw just how tired out Moses was trying to help the

people.  "You'll wear yourself out," said Jethro.  "Why  don't you 

choose men with understanding, and men with wisdom

to help you." Moses listened.  He took Jethro's  advice and chose 

leaders from the people to be judges.  Moses told his new leader-judges,

"You will hear what the people say and help them with their problems.

If you can't fix it, then I will help you."  After things were much better.
Deuteronomy 1;10-17; Exodus 18:1-27

Listen to it:  Deuteronomy J Words 

Deuteronomy J Words

Big J, little j,

What begins with Jj?

Joshua, Jeshurun, journey,

judge, n' judgments too;

Judah, Jacob, Jordan--

just to name a few!
                                   LEP

Discuss the Jj words in the rhymes and story. List them on your white board. Ask children what the word "journal" begins with?  Print the Jj words in the poem, and pick two Jj words to use in sentences.

Make-It:  Jumbo Jjs

Give kids an uppercase and lowercase outline Jj.  Let kids print Jj words from the story and rhymes inside the Jjs.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+of+outline+large+letters+for+preschool&qpvt=images+of+outline+large+letters+for+preschool&form=IGRE&first=1&cw=1117&ch=373

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+of+outline+lowercase+letters+for+preschool&qpvt=images+of+outline+lower+case+letters+for+preschool&form=IGRE&first=1&cw=1117&ch=373

Learn It:  A Judge It Verse

"...  Judge righteous judgment."  John 7:34 (fours, fives)
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 ( Gr.1-2)

What letter does John begin with?  Explain John is the fourth book of the New Testament.  It is called the Gospel of John.   Help kids highlight "John" in their table of contents.  Assist them in finding the book of John, the chapter, and verse.  Highlight it.  Read it.  Explain this verse idea is from Deuteronomy 1:16, and it is in red in most Bibles because these are Jesus' words.

What does it mean: judge not according to the appearance?  Give examples:  someone who is poor, and dresses poorly; or someone who has lots of money, etc.  What does it mean to judge righteously?

Mark It:  John 7:24 Marker

This is a marker with lots of learning involved in it.  There are four "Jj" words to begin to learn.  And there is a John 7:34 verse to learn as well which comes from Deuteronomy 1:16 where it says: "judge righteously."   If a child is small, they can count the number of letters in the words and notice judgment ends in a t and so on.  They can also compare them to a printed list.  This skill is known as "visual discrimination." which is a pre-reading skill.  They can also listen to hear a "t" e.g. at the end of just or judgment.

Prep It:  jumbo-sized rectangular marker, printed Jj word list, printed verse word strips for youngest children, two colors of markers, pencil, glue ….

Make-it:  Fold marker in half lengthwise.  Give first/second graders printed Jj paper letting them using one color marker print the Jj words listed* down the left side beginning with "judge."  Leave a little space below judge and each of the other three words.   In the space below, using a pencil, or other colored marker, print its definition.

On the right side print "Judge … judgment. John 7:24" vertically. For fours/fives help them glue just four word strips: judge, judgment, just, and justice on the left side.   While little folks can't read the words, they notice the beginning letter and can compare them to a sample.  Skip the definitions and just talk about them.  On the right use Bible verse strips words and glue vertically.

*Word List:   Left: judge (to decide), judgment (a decision), just (fair), justice (fairness/righteousness)  Right:  John 7:24

Explore It! J Books of the Bible

1st/2nd Grades:  Let kids look at the table of contents.  Tell them they are to open their journals and write OT for Old Testament; then they are to search to find Bible books that begin with Jj.  How many did they find?  Do the same for the New Testament.  Print NT and so on.  They should find six OT books:  Joshua, Judges, Job, Jeremiah, Joel, and Jonah; and six NT books:  John, James, I John, II John, III John, and Jude.

When everyone is done, print list on board.  Discuss it.  Which was the first book, the last book? Which two OT books are together? Which has to do with "judges?"  How do you pronounce Job?  Which is the first J book in the NT? How do you say I, II and II John? Which is the last book in NT?  How many books in all; how many in each section?

Listen to It:  Little Gal Quotes Deuteronomy 32:4

In seventeen seconds this little girl quotes Deuteronomy 32:4 --"He is the Rock, his work is perfect...." verse!   What a just perfect video to show how very young children are able to learn scripture!  See her shirt--purrfect!  I recall standing on a platform at four and quoting a verse which to this day I have never forgotten.  Use these lessons to consistently train up Caleb kids who will early know scripture which will make them wise unto salvation.  You may also wish to teach Deut. 32:4 to your child as well as John 7:24.  See the video here:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=images+of+deuteronomy+32%3a4&&view=detail&mid=0C420ACD8DBBF76AC4720C420ACD8DBBF76AC472&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Bdeuteronomy%2B32%253a4%26FORM%3DHDRSC3

Look at It:  Judge Images for Kids

Look at the various judge images.  Choose one to print and color.  Click on the cute story; "The Monkey Judge." Let kids watch it.  Talk about how the Monkey Judge managed to cheat the cats out of the cake they found.  Clever!  Find the images here:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=judge+images+for+kids&qpvt=judge+images+for+kids&form=IGRE&first=1&cw=1117&ch=373

View "The Monkey Judge" here!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+monkey+judge+youtube+video&docid=608000230196578690&mid=BB1F731232A8CAE7E932BB1F731232A8CAE7E932&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

Older Kids (Ages 8-12)

Read It:  Judges Should

Deuteronomy 16:18-20 declares judges' decisions must be fair or just.  Judges shouldn't accept money from someone or take a bribe in order to help them out so they won't get in trouble.  If a judge does accept money or a gift, it can make him do wrong things.  Over all, good judges must decide cases justly or rightly.  They must follow rules that are altogether just!

Learn It:  Just and Right Is He!

Deuteronomy 32:4  "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

In your Bible highlight the darkened words which describe who the Lord is.  Every judgment He makes will be perfect and just.  How very different the Lord is than human judges who often are not truthful, nor are they just.  Some day the Bible says all people will stand before God and will answer to him for all they have done.  (Romans 14:10-13)

Mark It:  Deuteronomy 32:4 Coloring Sheet Cross

Click onto "Images of Deuteronomy 32:4" to find Daniellesplace.com "cross"; run off.  Glue it to red or blue paper.  Cut it out.  Its size can be increased to 200% e.g. and that will make the cross bigger.  Or you may print it in a smaller size, glue it to paper, and cut it out for a marker.  Or instead find a rock to which you can attach your cross, and use it for a paper weight.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=qmsIuj%2bH&id=1C16CF4D64AA0FA70E5FF716D3AF2783A5EA4A56&thid=OIP.qmsIuj-HFWQIR3sqeJFYJQAAAA&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.daniellesplace.com%2fimages91%2fbible-verse-coloring-sheet-deut-pic-4.jpg&exph=288&expw=288&q=images+of+deuteronomy+32%3a4+kjv&simid=607987787706271066&selectedIndex=64&ajaxhist=0

Sing It:  "He's A Rock" by John Hardwick

Here's a lively video with a seaside intro where kids sing Deuteronomy 32:4; hear it, and learn it.  Do the motions too.  Another song you might sing is "His Banner Over Me is Love" that begins "Jesus is the rock of our salvation …."  Find it here:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=he%27s+a+rock+john+hardwick&qpvt=he%27s+a+rock+john+hardwick&view=detail&mid=8D90C98049824633B5048D90C98049824633B504&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dhe%2527s%2Ba%2Brock%2Bjohn%2Bhardwick%26qpvt%3Dhe%2527s%2Ba%2Brock%2Bjohn%2Bhardwick%26FORM%3DVDRE

Note:  The "He's A Rock" video takes just a bit longer with its introduction of seaside activities; but its song comes on immediately after.  

Find Out About It:  A Whole Lot of Laws!

The Torah for Dummies (Arthur Kurzweil) details that the Torah contains 613 commandments that Jewish people traditionally have tried to keep.  According to Kurzweil, 248 are positive and 365 (number of days in a year) are negative.  The positive ones are what the Torah wants you to do, and the negative are ones the Torah says not to do.  (p.305)  These lists (found in his appendix) are grouped in various categories e.g. "The Courts and Court Procedures."  One from this list states: "Make sure every community has judges and officers."(Deuteronomy 16:18) (p.311)  Kurzweil also explains that all these laws are related either to the first or second of The Ten Commandments.

This book is a great resource to learn about Deuteronomy from a Jewish perspective.  How glad we are that in order to get to Heaven we aren't required to keep all the laws, for as James 2:10 reminds us if we break one commandment than we are guilty of them all, and as Titus 3:5 tells us it's not by works of righteousness that we have done that we are saved but by faith in the Lord Jesus alone.
https://www.amazon.com/Torah-Dummies-Arthur-Kurzweil/dp/0470173459

Jumbled Laws:  Which law is which?  

Write the correct law verse beside its sentence.  Notice these statements are all incorrect; how should you change them to correct them?

*  A lady should wear men's clothing.
*  A farmer hooked up an ox and a donkey.
*  A man picked a basketful of grapes from a neighbor's vineyard.
*  Reading books about wizards is something God approves.
*  It is fine for a man to wear lady's clothing.
*  If you want to know the future talk to a fortune teller.
*  A man should make sure all his olives were off every tree he owned.
*  A farmer drops a sheaf and goes back to pick it up.
*  In a dispute all a judge needs to listen to is one witness.
*  In war you should cut all the trees down.
*  An Ouija board is a fun board game.    

*  Deut.24:20 (olives)  Deut. 24:19 (sheaf)  Deut. 23:24 (grapes)  Deut. 22:10 (ox)  Deut. 21:23 (tree)  Deut. 18:10 (fortune) Deut. 20:19,20 (trees)  Deut.19:15  (witness)  Deut. 18:11 (wizards) Deut. 18:11 (Ouija)  Deut. 22:5 (men, women)

Parents/teacher:  Print out the sentences and the Deuteronomy references. (without clue words)  Let kids research the verses and put the verse with the correct sentence.  Correct each sentence.  Discuss each one and the laws given.  While some of these laws specifically applied to Israel in that day, a number apply to us today.  Which ones apply to us and why?

Explore More: Journal Concordance Js

Have kids use a Bible Concordance to find Jj words that relate to the lesson.  Record each one in your journal, write a sentence about it, and illustrate. One of my KJV Bibles has an especially helpful concordance.  Besides listing Jj words and their references, it serves as a dictionary as well concisely defining each word.  Here are the Jj words in it:  judge: pass sentence; judgment: acts of judgment; just: honest; justice: equality; justify: defend; and justly: accurately.  Which Jj words do you find in your concordance?

View It:  "Kids in Court" Video

See this video which gives children a little sense of what a judge and a courtroom looks and feels like.  Talk about it with them.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kids+in+court+video&docid=608024475302234089&mid=5C92477999E9AE615AC75C92477999E9AE615AC7&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

Learn It:  Moses' Lawgiver Sculpture at US Capitol

Perhaps you've heard of Ten Commandment displays that judges and others have removed. But, all over the US Capitol there's still art work of Moses and the ten commandments. Check into this site to see Moses' marble plague, that's displayed with twenty-two other plagues done by seven sculptors, which hangs over the gallery doors of the House chamber of the capitol.  What other art work exists of Moses and the ten commandments?  Research it!
https://www.aoc.gov/art/relief-portrait-plaques-lawgivers/moses

Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, YOU!

Think About It:  Social Justice Vs. The Gospel

When I first heard the term "social justice"* I recall being unsure of its meaning.  At about the same time I heard the phrase "fix up the world."  That too was puzzling for I'd never heard of the idea that Christians or the church's mission was to "fix up the world," but rather as Jesus instructed we were to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)  However, this social justice idea seemed to say that if we joined together in common causes with others--even those who didn't teach salvation through Jesus Christ alone-- this would then make the world a better place and would help usher in the return of the Lord.

*  Definition of social justice:  justice in terms of distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

After some research it was clear churches and colleges alike were and are heavily into social justice pushing the simple gospel message aside.  Besides, it also became apparent many were adding to the gospel. To find out more about social justice "gospel" do read on line, or order the excellent booklet: The Dangerous Truth About the Social-Justice "Gospel" by Mary Danielsen from:
https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=15318     
 



     

Inherit It! ABC Deuteronomy for Me! Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World

Inherit It!  ABC:  Deuteronomy for Me!  Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World

The next lesson in our Deuteronomy ABC series helps a child learn how Joshua was charged by Moses to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan to inherit the land promised them by the Lord.  Create colorful Twelve Tribe Maps, and play the "Zap-It, Map-It Game."  Use pipe cleaners or modeling dough to make map bodies of water and toilet tubes to make twelve tribe rings. Learn the "Inherit It" and "Be Strong" Verses and songs.  Teachers, and parents be encouraged as you write out the"Be Strong" verses and begin to prepare Biblical memories/ materials for your kids to inherit.  As  Moses told Joshua:  "Be strong, and of a good courage!"          

Little Kids: (Ages 4-7)

I Is for Inherit It

I is for inherit it
that good land
God did sware
that his servant
Joshua would lead
God's people there.

Think About It:  Things Kids Inherit

Have you inherited or been given something that belonged to your sister, brother, or a relative?

Perhaps it was old clothing they once wore or toys they used to own. In my husband's family there was a huge bedroom each child in turn took over when the other one left home.

I received things from my cousin--his old rocking chair and lots of books and puzzles.  What are things you've been given from your older siblings or relatives? Sometimes we call these things "hand-me-downs!"    Discuss:   Would it be possible for kids to inherit money or land from someone?  How might this happen?

Discuss It:  Things Grown-ups Inherit

While kids might receive things from others, grown-ups often inherit such things as a house, a family treasure, or property from their parents, grandparents, or relatives. In our family there's a very old watch from the Revolutionary War that's handed down to someone who has a certain name. Do you know about any one in your family that has inherited any thing? Now, God's people would inherit lands that God gave to them that they later would give to their children after them.  

Know It:  Dough It--Inherit It

Roll out some playdough snake-like ropes.  Use them to spell the words: "Inherit It!"  Talk about your word.  What smaller words do you see in inherit?  Here's how we  pronounce it--in-her-it.  To inherit something means to take possession of it.  God's people were going to live round the Lake of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea.  God was going to give it to them.

Map It:  The "Dangling Earring!" 

Hang up a map showing the land where the Israelites lived.  Mention maps have four directions:   north, south, east, and west.  North is always at the top of a map, while south is at the bottom.  West is on the left, and east is on the right.  View map images here:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=twelve+tribe+allotment+maps&qpvt=twelve+tribe+allotment+maps&FORM=IGRE

Use modeling dough ropes to make N., S., W., and E.  Lay them out on a table.  Next form a Sea of Galilee.  Then  make a skinnier rope for the Jordan River.  At the bottom make the Dead Sea.  Demonstrate.  Every time I look at the Sea of Galilee I think it looks like "an ear" while the Jordan River with the Dead Sea at its end looks like "a dangling earring."

View It:  Images of Promised Land Places

Write the Lake of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea on your white board.  View images of each of them.  Talk about them.  Let kids write two sentences about each one.  Illustrate.  View images here:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=lake+of+galilee+images&qpvt=lake+of+galilee+images&FORM=IGRE

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dead+sea+images&qpvt=dead+sea+images&FORM=IGRE

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jordan+river+images&qpvt=jordan+river+images&FORM=IGRE

Hear It:  Moses Tells Joshua to Become a New Leader

Moses was getting older so God told him to charge or instruct Joshua to become the leader to take God's people over the Jordan River into the Promised Land.  After they got there, Joshua would help the Israelites take over the lands that God told them they would inherit to become their new homes.  They would become God's people of inheritance. All of the twelve tribes would have special places each one would inherit to live in.  From: Deuteronomy 1/31

Learn It:  An Inherit It Verse

Deuteronomy 1:38  "But Joshua he shall go in … encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it."

Move It:  Act it Out!

"But ... Joshua he shall go in …  (Walk in place.)  encourage him:   (Trace a smile!)
for he shall cause Israel to inherit it." (Shake both index fingers.) Inherit what? (Yell: "That good land!")

Ask:  Would Moses get to go into the good land?  Who would be the new leader?  What does encourage mean?  What would the people get or inherit?  Who can you encourage or help?  

Discuss It:  Dividing Up Something

Have you divided up something to give to a lot of kids where some had bigger pieces, and others had smaller pieces. That is kind of like God's people divided or split up the land all around the Jordan between each of the groups or tribes of Israelites.  Some Israelites stayed on the east side of Jordan, and others stayed on the west side of the Jordan. Some had smaller land areas and others had larger land areas.  And they each had their own special space.

Make-It:  A Map Marker

Prep It:  Find a map which shows "The Tribal Allotments of Israel."  Copy it.  Cut rectangle marker from the map; glue to piece of construction paper; and trim round it.   Print Deut. 1:38.
Make-It:  Glue printed verse to map front; to back glue "Inherit It!"  Practice verse and think about it.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=tribal+allotment+maps+of+israel+images+maps&qpvt=tribal+alottment+maps+of+israel+images+maps&FORM=IGRE

Explore It:  Learn More!

Find as many Bibles as you can; let kids examine the back map sections--did they find maps of where the Israelites lived in their tribal places?  While you are at it help children find the concordances and locate the words inherit and inheritance.  !Idea!  Take kids on a trip to your local library; help them find some Bibles.  Look them over, and find the sections and the helps at the back.  Check out a couple of them; and talk about them with your children.

Name It:  Little Tot Names the Twelve Sons of Jacob

Here's the cutest half-minute video of a little guy about three pointing to Jacob who has on a coat listing his twelve sons. His sister coaches him from the side.  Amazing what little ones can be taught early on!  Perhaps you'd like to have your older kids draw a large Jacob with a coat dividing into sections so they too can do this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYlWHJO4KlQ

*  Notice that the twelve sons were not the twelve tribes.  This is an easy mistake to make; however one must remember it was Joseph's two grandsons--Manasseh and Ephraim-- who became part of the twelve tribes who inherited the land.  Understand too that the Levites were appointed as priests by the Lord and did not inherit any land.

Say It: God Led the Way

God Led the Way

God led the way.
He parted the waters.
(The Jordan!)

God set the bounds.
He ordered the borders.
(Their tribe places!)

God made the plans.
He gave them their lands.
(Their inheritance!)

God leads us too.
He'll take us through!
(He promised!)
                            LEP

!Idea!:  Divide kids into two groups.  Have one group say the first part; and the second group loudly say the words in the parenthesis.

Older Kids: (Ages 8-12)

Define It: Inherit and Inheritance

Use the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary to read definitions of "inherit" and "inheritance."  Use the thesaurus to find synonyms and antonyms.  Record your definitions and word lists in your journal.
 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inherit

Explore It:  A Cool Tool

Use the KJV site given here to view the word: "inherit" in the KJV Bible.  Choose three Deuteronomy verses and highlight them in your Bible.  Put an "I" for inherit beside the verses.

Also view the word "strong" in KJV Bible.  You'll find pages of it.  Especially look at the Deuteronomy verses.  Pick one Deuteronomy verse and one other verse from another book, and write them in your journal.  Explain why you chose those verses.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/inherit/

Say It:  "Be Strong and of a Good Courage!"

Just before Moses died he told Joshua:  "Be strong and of a good courage: for thou (Joshua) must go with this people into the land … and thou shalt cause them to inherit it."  Deuteronomy 31:7

Make-It: Deuteronomy 31:7 Marker

Search for Deuteronomy KJV Bible verse images with "Be Strong and a Good Courage!" on them.  Print one off. Cut out a marker strip to fit your print.  Onto it, stipple or press down hard with dark crayons to make tiny dot marks all over.  Glue on the verse.  Insert in Bible!  
 https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=deuteronomy+kjv+bible+images&qpvt=deuteronomy+kjv+bible+images&FORM=IGRE

Discover It: Explore More "Be Strong!" Verses 

At the start of Deuteronomy 1:38 Moses told the people to encourage Joshua.  Later in Deuteronomy 31:6, and 23 we read the words to both the people and Joshua to be "Be strong, and of a Good Courage!" as they went into the land.  If one skips ahead to Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, and 18, you will find three more "Be strong and of a good courage!" verses as well as "Only be thou strong and very courageous!" verse.  Highlight these verses, and note the ones that mention inherit or inheritance too.  And may you too ask the Lord today to help you be strong, and very courageous.

Sing It:  "Be Strong and of a Good-Good-Good-Good Courage!" 

Listen to this uplifting video "A Scripture Song: Joshua 1:9" with its "Be strong, Be strong, and of a good, good, good, good courage!"   Hear it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZjz73AFE4M

The next video also is a different version of Joshua 1:9 sung by the five children.  Listen:
 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=spencer+family+music+joshua+1%3a9&qpvt=spencer+family+music+joshua+1%3a9&view=detail&mid=9EBAA9284BE7E5E9E5E29EBAA9284BE7E5E9E5E2&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dspencer%2Bfamily%2Bmusic%2Bjoshua%2B1%253a9%26qpvt%3Dspencer%2Bfamily%2Bmusic%2Bjoshua%2B1%253a9%26FORM%3DVDRE

Make-It:  Twelve Tribe Tube Rings

Prep It:  Needed: toilet tubes, ruler, scissors, Tribal allotment map prints, tape …

Make It: Use a ruler to divide a toilet tube into four one inch rings; you'll have a sliver left.  Print off two twelve tribe maps; and cut strips to fit round each tube; and wrap each one in a 1' by 6" section.  You may wish to make small tribe name tags to tape onto each tube.  Hint:  You can pinch these tube rings into smaller circles with two tiny pieces of tape.

Do not make a tube for Joseph, but instead for his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim--Joseph's double portion-- who were part of the twelve tribes.  In addition make two for Manasseh.  Also do make a tube for Levi.  Why?  The Lord designated them as priests who were very own "inheritance!"

Model It:  Land for the Twelve Tribes

In my freshman Bible course at college I recall the professor telling us if we knew where the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea were located we could then fill in much around them.  Keeping that in mind use playdough or pipe cleaners to make the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan, and the Dead Sea  laying them on a desk/table/floor. Place your tribe tubes at the correct locations.  Check a map as you work.  Perhaps, you might even wish to add little city name cards at various spots.

Color It: Egg Carton Map 

Visit the image page which includes maps of The Promised Land divisions.  Print off one of the black and white outline maps that shows the tribal allotment sections.   Use colored pencils to color it in.  You may wish to print off more than one map and use it as follows:

*  Outline it round its four edges.  Print a smaller matching map to use as a book marker.
*  Choose four or five colors to fill in the various sections.
*  With small scissors cut out the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and Mediterranean Sea areas.
*  Glue to a blue paper.  Use use white colored pencil or crayon around edge of map to add  N., S., E., and W. onto map.
*  Put a teensy bit of glue on the Dead Sea area; sprinkle on some salt.
*  Glue map to top of large egg carton; store pipe cleaners, chips, or verse cards inside.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=black+and+white+twelve+tribal+allotment+maps&qpvt=black+and+white+twelvetribal+allotment+maps&FORM=IGRE

Play It:  Zap It!-- A Map-It Game

*  Needed: one map per child, and small chips or clips. Make a deck of cards with two cards for each tribe name, bodies of water, cardinal directions, other locations, and extra cards.

* Cards to make: Tribes: East Manasseh, Gad, Reuben, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, Manasseh, Ephraim, Dan, Benjamin, Judah, and Simeon; Bodies of Water: Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, and Dead Sea; Directions: North, South, East, and West; Other: The Promised Land, 12 Tribes of Israel, Edom, Moab, and Ammon; Additional Cards: zap it, lose a turn, extra turn, draw an extra card etc.  .

Directions:  Place a map in front of each player.  Each person then draws a card; if that spot is empty he puts a chip on it.  A child drawing a "Zap It" card can swipe two chips from any other player and transfer them to places he needs to fill in.  Place each card drawn at the bottom of pile.  The child  who gets all spaces filled, or has the most after a certain period of time, wins.    

Teachers, Parents, Grandparents, YOU!

Read It, Write It, Heed It:  "Be Strong, and of a Good Courage!"

In these days of upheaval, reading, writing, and meditating on God's word has so blessed me keeping  me from focusing on the endless virus news.  For it I use what I've dubbed "the cool tool" KJV Bible site that allows one to find a word or words throughout the entire Bible.  For this lesson I keyed in "strong" in the KJV Bible.  Then I proceeded to copy many of the verses I found; I have done that for any number of words.  Focusing on the word and writing it out brings such joy and peace.  Warren Smith of Light House Trails has also written some wonderful booklets that do just that.  Two you should order are: "Standing Fast Through It All," and "Pressing On Through It All."  Find them here:
https://www.lighthousetrails.com/booklets-by-warren-b-smith/754-booklet-standing-fast-through-it-all.html

Consider It!:  What Are You Leaving Behind-- Some Baubles or Bibles?

What will you leave for your children or grandchildren to inherit?  Will it be houses, money, land, jewelry, prized collections, possessions, or will it be things that pertain to the Lord?  When my parents went Home to be with the Lord I received some money and a few other things, but that was not what I cherished most.   Instead it was my parents' photographs, letters, diaries, personal Bibles, and books that I so treasure.  And it was also the precious memories of my parents and me reading the Word, quoting scripture, singing hymns, praying together, and listening to Christian books read aloud. May you too be assembling some Bibles, books, and scrap books to pass down to your children and making family memories that honor the Lord Jesus -- items and memories that have eternal value!