Jonah and the Whale for Preschoolers

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To teach the story of Jonah and the Whale for preschoolers, it is important to keep the story simple and focus on the main points.

The story of Jonah and the Whale is a well-known story from the Bible. It tells of how Jonah was swallowed by a whale and then spit up on shore.

The story is often interpreted as a lesson about obedience, as Jonah was disobedient to God when he refused to go to Nineveh as instructed.

The Jonah and the Whale story can also be seen as a lesson about forgiveness, as Jonah was forgiven by God after he repented.

For activities, preschoolers can make whale puppets or draw pictures of whales. They can also act out the story using toys or plush animals.

By doing these activities, preschoolers will be able to learn about this important story from the Bible in a fun and engaging way.

The story of Jonah and the Whale is a Bible story about a man named Jonah who is swallowed by a whale.

Jonah is told by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach repentance. Instead, Jonah runs away to Tarshish.

A storm arises and the sailors toss Jonah overboard. A whale swallows him and he spends three days and nights in its stomach.

God speaks to Jonah inside the whale and tells him to go to Nineveh. He preaches repentance and the people of Nineveh believe.

The story of Jonah and the Whale teaches about God’s mercy. It also teaches that God can use even someone who disobeyed Him to accomplish His purposes.

Jonah and the Whale for Preschoolers

The story of Jonah and the Whale is a great story for preschoolers to learn. It’s a story about obedience, consequence, and forgiveness.

Here are three ways that you can teach the story of Jonah and the Whale to your preschooler:

Introducing the story of Jonah and the Whale.

You can introduce the story of Jonah and the Whale by reading it from a children’s Bible or by telling it in your own words. If you’re telling the story in your own words, be sure to keep it simple and age-appropriate.

Start by telling your child that Jonah was a man who was supposed to obey God but didn’t. Ask your child if they’ve ever disobeyed their parents or other authority figures.

Then, explain that because Jonah disobeyed God, he ended up getting swallowed by a big fish (or whale). You can use a stuffed animal or puppet to demonstrate how Jonah would have felt inside the whale’s stomach.

Finally, tell your child how Jonah learned his lesson and was forgiven by God. Ask your child if they’ve ever made a mistake and been forgiven.

Explaining the story of Jonah and the Whale

After you’ve introduced the story, take some time to explain it in more detail. Talk about what obedience is and why it’s important. Use specific examples from the story to help illustrate your points.

For example, you can explain that when Jonah disobeyed God, he put himself in danger (by getting swallowed by the whale).

You can also explain that when we make mistakes, we can learn from them and be forgiven just like Jonah was. 

Activities for preschoolers based on the story of Jonah and the Whale

There are lots of great activities that you can do with your preschooler to help them learn more about the story of Jonah and the Whale.

For example, you could make a giant paper mache whale and pretend to be Jonah inside its stomach. Or, you could act out the parts of the story using puppets or stuffed animals.

You could also make a collage with pictures from a children’s Bible or find pictures online of whales, fishes, boats, etc.

And finally, you could read one of many amazing books about Jonah and the whale or watch a video version such as “Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie“. 

Jonah and the Whale Worksheets

After teaching your preschooler the story of Jonah and the Whale, you can use the worksheets in my Jonah and the Whale preschool pack to work on important skills with your little ones.

WHAT IS INCLUDE?

This packet of free printables contains eleven Jonah and the Whale activity pages kids can complete alongside a reading of the Bible story.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• copy paper
• pencil
• crayons

PREPARING THE ACTIVITY

Fill out the form at the bottom of this post to get the free worksheets for your little ones. Then, download and print your desired pages.

• Color and Trace: There are two color and trace pages – one featuring Jonah and the other featuring the whale. Color the picture and trace the words at the bottom of the page.
• Handwriting Practice: There are two handwriting pages – one featuring J is for Jonah and the other featuring W is for whale. Trace the letters and words and then color the picture at the bottom of the page.
• Do-a-dot Pages: There are two dot pages featuring J and W. Use dot markers to build the letters and then color the pictures at the bottom of the page.
• Vocabulary: Color the pictures and trace the words – Jonah, pray, ship, whale, and swim.
• Letter Hunt: Search for and color all of the letters J and j on the page.
• Sort by Size: Cut out the pictures and paste them in order from smallest to largest.
• Color, Read, and Write: Color the picture and read the word. Trace the word, build it, write it, and stamp it. Then, cut and paste letters to form the word.

BOOKS ABOUT JONAH AND THE WHALE

Picture books are a great way to introduce young children to Biblical stories. The story of Jonah and the Whale is a popular one that has been retold in many different ways.

Here are some picture book versions of the story that your child is sure to enjoy.

 

Jonah and the Whale – Enjoy this traditional retelling of the classic Biblical story about Jonah and the Whale with beautiful illustrations!

Jonah’s Big Fish Adventure – Uh-oh! Jonah didn’t listen to God, and now he’s in the belly of a big fish! What will happen to Jonah next?

The Hard to Swallow Tale of Jonah and the Whale – The story of Jonah is full of ingredients that children love: a dangerous mission; a man on the run; danger at sea; an incredible whale rescue; and a grand finale about forgiveness.

Round Out Your Unit with These Activities:

This wooden Jonah in the Whale 4 piece shaped puzzle exercises manipulative skills and helps children remember the Jonah bible story.

Set up a Bible-themed sensory bin with these Jonah and the Whale story kit pieces including a peg doll, playdough, fish net, and more.

More Jonah Worksheets

• Jonah and the Whale Coloring Pages
• Jonah and the Whale Preschool Printables
• Jonah and the Whale Sequencing Activity

The story of Jonah and the Whale is a great one to teach preschoolers. It is full of adventure, suspense, and teaches important lessons about repentance and forgiveness.

There are many fun activities that can be based on this story, which will help children learn and remember the lesson God wants us to learn from it.