How to teach children the Torah, from Genesis to Deuteronomy.
Teaching children the foundation of the Faith - the Torah - is a key way to connect them with God’s teachings and instructions. By focusing on engaging stories and lessons from Genesis to Deuteronomy, parents and educators can make the Torah accessible, exciting, and relevant for young learners in the House of Israel today. Using tools like our Torah Time Traveler Activity Book series can enhance this experience. This series provides 52 weeks of ready-to-use lessons that journey through the Torah story by story.
Book of Genesis: In the Beginning
- The Creation: Begin with the awe-inspiring account of how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Use visuals like drawings or models to help children imagine the beauty of creation. Highlight the Sabbath as a special time of rest and connection with God.
- Adam and Eve: Discuss the first humans and their choices, focusing on themes of curiosity, responsibility, and consequences. Encourage children to think about how their actions affect others.
- Noah’s Ark: A fun way to teach faith and obedience. Engage children with hands-on activities like building a mini ark or matching toy animals in pairs.
Our Torah Time Traveler Activity Book series offers engaging activities and Bible-based lessons to make these stories come alive for young learners, starting with the foundational accounts in Genesis.
Book of Exodus: Path to Freedom
- Moses and the Burning Bush: Share how God called Moses to lead His people, Israel. Emphasize listening to God’s voice and trusting His plans.
- The Ten Plagues of Egypt: Present these events as demonstrations of God’s power and justice. Use storytelling or crafts to help children remember each plague and its meaning.
- Red Sea Crossing: Share the miraculous escape of the Israelites, focusing on faith in God’s protection. Act out the scene using props or water-themed activities.
The lessons in our Torah Time Traveler series continue with Exodus, helping children understand these stories through interactive and thought-provoking activities, making it easier for parents to teach the principles of faith, courage, and trust.
Book of Leviticus: Laws for Set-Apart Living
- Clean and Unclean Animals: Introduce the laws about clean and unclean animals (Leviticus 11). Use animal figurines or pictures to help children learn which animals the Israelites could and could not eat. Explain how these rules reminded the Israelites to live in obedience to God.
- The Appointed Times (Feasts of Israel): Teach children about God’s appointed times, such as Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot (Leviticus 23). Explain the meaning of each feast and why it was important to the Israelites. Create fun crafts like decorating paper Sukkahs for Sukkot or making a timeline of the feasts to help children understand how these celebrations fit into the year.
- Camp of Israel: Explore how the Israelites set up their camp with the Tabernacle in the center, surrounded by the tribes. Use diagrams or build a model camp to show how God’s presence was always at the heart of their community.
Our Torah Time Traveler Activity Book series breaks down these seemingly complex topics into kid-friendly lessons, complete with activities, coloring pages, and discussion questions that make Leviticus fun and meaningful.
Book of Numbers: Journey and the House of Israel
- The Twelve Spies: Share how the spies scouted the Promised Land and what their reports meant for the Israelites. A fun way to teach children about perseverance and courage.
- Balaam’s Donkey: This famous story teaches children that God can use anyone—or anything—to deliver a message. Share how Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of God standing in the path and tried to protect Balaam, even speaking to him when Balaam didn’t understand.
- Korah’s Rebellion: Explain the consequences of challenging authority and ignoring God’s guidance. Emphasize the importance of respecting leaders and working together.
The structured weekly lessons in our Torah Time Traveler Activity Book series ensures that stories like Balaam’s donkey are both engaging and educational, providing maps, timelines, and hands-on activities to illustrate the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.
Book of Deuteronomy: To the Promised Land
- Moses’ Farewell Address: Share Moses’ final words of wisdom and encouragement. Invite children to think about what advice they would give if they were saying goodbye to loved ones.
- The Shema: Teach this beautiful declaration of faith, “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim is one.” Discuss what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
- Blessings and Curses: Highlight the importance of obedience to God’s laws and making good choices. Use relatable scenarios to show the rewards of following God and the consequences of disobedience.
By teaching the Torah story by story and incorporating resources like Bible Pathway Adventures' Torah Time Traveler series, you can make the Word of God relatable and exciting for children. The series provides a full year of lessons that guide families from Genesis through Deuteronomy, including done-for-you lesson plans, worksheets, and engaging visuals that bring the Torah to life.
