Ancient Stories for New Conversations
  • Home
  • Children Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Contact

Driven Out (Pentateuch)

5/26/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Lord God made coats of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

After he (God) drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Introductory Debate
Divide the class into teams to debate one of the topics below.
Team A (more teams if needed)                                               Team B
Team A believes in angels.                                                         Team B doesn't believe in angels. 
Team A believes wearing animal skins should be allowed. Team B believes wearing animals skins should be illegal. 
Team A believes wearing clothes should be required.         Team B believes wearing clothes should be a choice. 
Each team takes turns defending their position while the teacher moderates. 

Synonym Matching
cherubim                                                        clothing 
guard                                                              expecting
Lord                                                                path
After                                                               angel
coats                                                              protect
placed                                                           God
wife                                                               later
way                                                               put
pregnant                                                      woman
               
Introductory Discussion Questions (for class or groups)
What are you wearing today?
What styles or colors of clothing are your favorite?
Have you ever seen someone driven out of a place? What happened? Examples are people being made to leave sporting events or quiet places. 
Have you ever held a newborn baby? How old was the baby? 

Listening Blank Fill
The Lord God made coats of skin for ______ and his wife and clothed them.

After he (God) _______ the man out, he placed on the east ______ of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a _________ sword flashing back and forth to guard the _____ to the tree of life.

Adam lay with _____ wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave _______ to Cain. She said, “With the help of _____ Lord, I have brought forth a man.” Later _____ gave birth to his brother Abel.

Word Bank Fill in the Blank
The Lord God made 1. (   ) of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

After he (God) drove the man out, he placed on the 2. (   ) side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a    3. (   ) sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree 4. (   ) life.

Adam lay with his 5. (   ) Eve, and she became 6. (   ) and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of  7. (   ) Lord, I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

a.       East
b.      Pregnant
c.       Coats
d.      Wife
e.      The
f.        Of
g.       Flaming 

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
Do you like animal skin clothing? Why or why not?
Would you eat something in order to live forever?
What kinds of people might not want to live forever? 
What comes to mind when you hear the word 'sword'?
What would be bad about being a guard? 
B:
Do you believe in angels? If so, what do you think they look like?
Why do you think God did not what man to eat from the tree of life?  
How do people guard important things today?
What would be good about being a guard?
What comes to mind when you hear the word 'pregnancy'? 

Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: cherubim-->angel, guard-->protect, Lord-->God, after-->later, coats-->clothing, placed-->put,       wife-->woman, way-->path, pregnant-->expecting. 
Listening Blank Fill: Adam, drove, side, flaming, way, his, birth, the, she
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: 1. (c) coats, 2. (a) east, 3. (g) flaming, 4. (f) of, 5. (d) wife, 6. (b) pregnant, 7. (e) the.

Key Words
Made 作
Coats 衣服, 外套
Skin 皮子
Clothed  them给他们穿
Drove him out  把他赶出去了
Placed 放置了
East side 东边
Garden 园
Cherubim 安琪
Flaming sword 火焰的剑
Flashing back and forth 闪光转动?
To guard 把守
Way 道路
Tree of life 生命树
Lay 躺
Wife 妻子
Became 发
Pregnant 怀孕
Gave birth 生了
Help of the Lord 耶和华的帮助
Brought forth 带来
Later 然后

0 Comments

The Animal People (Okanogan Legend Part 2)

5/18/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture


The ancients were people, yet also animals. In form some looked human while some walked on all fours like animals. Some could fly like birds; others could swim like fishes. All had the gift of speech, as well as greater powers and cunning than either animals or people. But deer were never among the ancients; they were always animals, even as they are today. 


Picture Matching Game: 
Write the following words on the board. Divide the class into teams. Display the power point pictures. Teams call out the correct match and receive a point if correct. Teams can either play simultaneously or take turns. 

Ancient people
Human
Animals
A flying bird
A swimming fish
A cunning animal
Deer
A gift

Power Point

Introductory Discussion Questions
How are animals and humans different? Discuss.
How are animals and humans the same? Discuss.
If you could be an animal, what animal would you be? Why? 
Have you ever seen a deer? Where? 
Are there deer in your country? 

Vocabulary Puzzle
Across
1.       Yesterday, _______, tomorrow.
2.       The beings of the early world were the __________.
Down
1.       They walk on all fours. They are _________.
2.       Birds can _____.
3.       Fish can ______.
4.       The opposite of always is _______.
Picture
Listening Blank Fill
The __________ were people, yet also animals. In form some looked human while some ________ on all fours like animals. Some could fly like ______; others could swim like fishes. All had the gift of speech, as well as greater powers and cunning than either _________ or people. But deer were never among the ancients; they were always animals, even as they are _______.

Word Bank Fill in the Blank
The ancients were people, yet also 1. (   ). In form some looked human while some 2. (   ) on all fours like animals. Some could fly like 3. (   ); others could swim like fishes. All had the gift of speech, 4. (   )well as greater powers and cunning than either animals or 5. (   ). But deer 6. (   ) never among the ancients; they were always animals, even as they 7. (   ) today.

a.       Birds
b.      Animals
c.       As
d.      Walked
e.      Are
f.        Were
g.       People

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
What did you think of this story?
How does this story describe animals?
How would you describe a bird?
How is language described in this story?
Are human languages and animal languages the same or different? Explain. 
B:
How would you describe an animal?
How would you describe a fish?
How does this story describe birds and fish?
Why do you think the writers of this story did not believe deer were people?
Are human languages and animal languages the same or different? Explain.

Writing: Compare and Contrast
Write about how animals and humans are the same (compare). Write about how animals and humans are different (contrast).
Writing Challenge
Or, compare and contrast human versus animal languages. 

Key Vocabulary
People 人
Animals  动物
Form 形状
Human 人 
Fly 飞
Birds 鸟
Swim 游泳
Fish 鱼
Gift  礼物
Speech 口语                                                                                                                                                                                                As well as 以及  
Powers  威力
Cunning   狡猾
Deer 鹿 
Never  从来没有
Among 其中
Always 总是
Today  今天
compare contrast 比较 对比

Exercise Answers 
Picture Matching Game: Ancient people-->picture 5, Human-->picture 3, Animals-->picture 4, A flying bird-->picture 8, A swimming fish-->picture 7, A cunning animal-->picture 2, Deer-->picture 6, A gift-->picture 1.
Listening Blank Fill: ancients, walked, birds, animals, today.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: 1.b. animals, 2.d. walked, 3.a. birds, 4.c. as, 5.g. people, 6.f.were, 7.e. are.
Vocabulary Puzzle: Across: 1. Today. 2. Ancients. Down: 1. Animals. 2. Fly. 3. Swim. 4. Never. 
0 Comments

A Blame Game (Pentateuch)

5/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
A Blame Game
And he said, Who gave you the knowledge that you were without clothing? Have you taken of the fruit of the tree which I said you were not to take?  And the man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree and I took it. And the Lord God said to the woman, What have you done? And the woman said, I was tricked by the deceit of the snake and I took it. … So the Lord God sent him (man and woman) out of the garden of Eden to be a worker on the earth from which he was taken.

Introductory Discussion Questions:
What do people often do when they are caught doing wrong?
When you were a child, were you ever blamed for something you didn't do? What happened?
When you were a child, was someone else ever blamed for something you did? What happened?
How do you think God punished the man and woman for eating the fruit?
What is your view of work? Do you love it or hate it? Why? 

Fill in the missing verb.
Now      yesterday            tomorrow

____     said        will say 

Give      _____   will give

Are         were     __________

__________     have taken         will have taken

Give      _____   will give

Take      took       ___________

Send      ______                will send

Is taken                                ___________   will be taken 


Synonym Matching
Worker                                                                 serpent                                               

Earth                                                                     cheated

Clothing                                                               upon

Tricked                                                                 apparel

Deceit                                                                   employee

Snake                                                                    world

On                                                                          dishonesty                                                                         

Listening Gap Fill
And he said, Who gave you the ___________ that you were without clothing? Have you _______ of the fruit of the tree which I ______ you were not to take?  And the man said, _____ woman whom you gave to be with me, _____ gave me the fruit of the tree and ___ took it. And the Lord God said to the _______, What have you done? And the woman said, I _____ tricked by the deceit of the snake and I ______ it. … So the Lord God sent him (man _____ woman) out of the garden of Eden to ____ a worker on the earth from which ____ was taken.

Fill in the blank with a, b, c, or, d.
And he said, Who gave you the knowledge 1(    ) you were without clothing? Have you 2(    ) of the fruit of the tree which I 3(    ) you were not to take?  And the man said, The 4(    ) whom you gave to be with me, she gave 5(    ) the fruit of the tree and I took 6(    ). And the Lord God said to the woman, 7(    ) have you done? And the woman said, I 8(    ) tricked by the deceit of the snake and I took it. … So the Lord God sent him (the man and woman) 9(    ) of the garden of Eden to be a worker on the earth from 10(    ) he was taken.

1. a. that b. which c. for d. whom                              2. a. took b. taken c. take d. token          

3. a. will say b. says c. say d. said                               4. a. dog b. girl c. woman d. women

5. a. me b. my c. it d. I                                                    6. a. she b. her c. of d. it

7. a. when b. what c. how d. where                         8. a. were b. am c. was d. be

9. a. out b. exit c. from d. of                                        10. a. that b. whom c. those d. which

Pair Work Discussion Questions:
A:
1.       Who do you think was most at fault, the woman, the man or the serpent? Why?
2.       What do you think of this story? Was it interesting?
3.       How would the man and woman’s lives change after going out of the garden?
4.       Although they did not die right away, in what way/s may they have died?
5.       Have you ever heard a husband or wife say to the other, “your child”? Why do they say this?
B:
1.       Do you like snakes? Why or why not?
2.       Who do you think was most at fault between the man and woman?
3.       How does this story make you feel? Do you wish something different happened?
4.       Was God right in sending the man and woman out of the garden?
5.       Does the man blame God by saying, “the woman you gave to me”?

Free Writing on Blame
Write about your feelings toward blame, or share a story about blame.

Key Words:
blame ze bei24 责备
Worker      lao gong21 劳工                                                                      
Earth     di qiu42 地球
Knowledge       zhi shi10  知识 
Fruit       shui guo33 水果
Tree       shu4        树              
Clothing      yi fu10    衣服                                                  
Tricked    qi pian14   欺骗                                         
Deceit    qi pian14     欺骗                                     
Snake (serpent)     shi2     蛇                                            
On   shang4 上

Exercise Answers
Fill in the missing verb:
Now   yesterday   tomorrow
Say         said        will say
Give      gave      will give
Are         were     will be
Are taken   have taken   will have taken
Give      gave      will give
Take      took       will take
Send      sent       will send
Is taken                   was taken   will be taken
Synonym Matching: worker-->employee / earth-->world / clothing-->apparel / tricked-->cheated / deceit-->dishonesty / snake-->serpent / on-->upon
Listening Gap Fill: knowledge, taken, said, the, she, I, woman, was, and, be, he
Fill in the Blank: 1. a. that / 2. b. taken / 3. d. said / 4. c. woman / 5. a. me / 6. d. it / 7. b. what / 8. c. was
9. a. out / 10. d. which

0 Comments

The Kites and the Swans (Aesop's Fables)

5/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Kites of olden times, as well as the Swans, had the talent of song. But having heard the neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted with the sound, that they tried to imitate it; and, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to sing. 

(Moral) The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings. 

Match these animals.
Picture
Picture
swan

kite

horse
Picture

Introductory Discussion Questions
What talents do you have? What are you good at?
Do you know how to sing?
Do you sometimes forget things? What things do you forget?
Do you imitate some people? 
What kinds of people do you like to imitate?

Matching Words and Definitions
moral                                                                                      a wise teaching
neigh                                                                                       not real
imitate                                                                                    the sound horses make
talent                                                                                      to copy someone 
desire                                                                                     a special ability 
imaginary                                                                               to want something

Synonym Matching
blessings                                                                              benefits
enchanted                                                                           can't remember
forgot                                                                                    long ago
olden times                                                                         contains
involves                                                                                delighted

Listening Blank Fill
Kites of olden times, as well as the _______, had the talent of song. But having heard _____ neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted ______ the sound, that they tried to imitate it; _____, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to ______. 

The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the ______ of present blessings.

Word Bank Fill in the Blank
Kites of olden (1)____, as well as the Swans, had the talent of (2)____. But having heard the neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted with the (3)____, that they tried to imitate it; and, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to sing. 

The desire for (4)____ benefits often involves the loss of (5)____ blessings.

a. song
b. times
c. sound
d. imaginary
e. present

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
Did you like this story? How did it make you feel?
In what ways can imagination be good?
What things are enchanting to you?
B: 
What do you think of the moral of this story? Is it true or not? Explain. 
Do you have any forgotten talents? What are they?
In what ways can imagination be bad?

Writing Activity
Use the internet to research your favorite bird. Write about your bird by describing its appearance and habits.

Exercise Answers
Picture Matching: brown bird-->kite, white bird-->swan, horse-->horse
Matching Words and Definitions: moral-->a wise teaching, neigh-->the sound horses make, imitate-->to copy someone, talent-->a special ability, desire-->to want something, imaginary-->not real
Synonym Matching: blessing-->benefits, enchanted-->delighted, forgot-->can't remember, olden times-->long ago,
involves-->contains
Listening Blank Fill: swans, the, with, but, sing, loss.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: (1)-->b. times, (2)-->a. song, (3)--> c. sound, (4)-->d. imaginary, (5)--> e. present

Key Vocabulary
moral  教训
swan 天鹅
kite  鹰科
horse 马
neigh 嘶叫
imitate 仿效
talent  天才
desire 希望
imaginary  假想的
blessings  幸事
enchanted 使心醉
forgot  忘记了
olden times 往昔的
involves  需要
0 Comments

    Author

    My name is Paul. I am from Michigan, USA. I am a perpetual language learner and teacher, trading my time between two continents. I obtained my MA in TESOL from Cornerstone University. 

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All
    Aesop's Fables
    Confucius
    Epic Of Gilgamesh
    Fairy Tales
    Native American Legend
    New Testament
    Pentateuch
    Popol Vuh

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Keith Laverack, davidmulder61, Teddy Kwok, Dorron, frederic.yvon666, profepoppins, snapshot1183, Tambako the Jaguar, Roby Morocutti, crabchick, noushka31, nan palmero, zeevveez, bdesham, Kurosawa Michiyo, infomatique, OXLAEY.com, gurdonark, DonMiller_ToGo, final gather, bertknot, fimoculous, Marxchivist, dmytrok