Jesus Calms The Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

Today, I had one of my regular Wednesday morning chapel services with the preschoolers from our half day program. One things I love about kids (and something that makes other people uncomfortable) is that you just never quite know what they are going to say! As they were leaving today, I was bombarded with sweet, knee-level hugs. Then, one little boy (about three years old) asked,"Are you Jesus?" Before I could even answer, a little girl in his class piped up, "No! She's God!" Ha!! I explained that I was neither Jesus nor God, but I knew about them both and like helping kids learn about them, too. 

I guess, maybe, their question was understandable since I had just led them in creating and calming a storm - like Jesus! 😉

I love teaching children this story because it is one they can really relate to - which is not always the case with some of the more abstract bible stories and very concrete-minded little ones. However, almost all kids have experienced a thunderstorm and I would venture to say that most young children are at least a little scared of them. So, they can understand that the disciples were scared when they heard the thunder, saw the lightening, and felt their boat rocking and rolling in the waves. 

They can also understand the aspect of something that brings them comfort when they are scared - maybe a teddy bear, a special blanket, a pet, or a parent. So, I am able to correlate that to the way Jesus brought comfort to the disciples - he calmed the storm which also calmed the people's fears.

Giving young children the opportunity to move and/or participate in the story is a great way to grab their attention, to get them excited about what they are hearing, and help them remember what they have heard. So, here is a great, fun way to tell this story. 

This part is optional, but I like to begin by playing the sounds of thunderstorm for the children. You can find CD's with these sound effects, easily download a thunderstorm track, or even play one via YouTube. (THIS is video and sound of a storm at sea you could even show them.)

After listening to the storm sounds, I tell the kids that the bible story we are going to hear is about a big thunderstorm and that we are going to make our own storm with our bodies. Here's how you do that:

1. Begin by leading the children in rubbing their hands together (as if warming them up). 
2. Then, have children tap two fingers (index and middle) on the palm of their opposite hand. (Older children can snap their fingers, but young children do not have the dexterity to do this.)
3. Getting louder! Now, begin fully clapping hands.
4. Then, pat thighs using both hands.
5. Add some stomping for thunder!
6. Now, reverse! Do it all backwards to represent the storm calming down. 

Confused? Here is a YouTube video of some children doing a version of that might help to offer a better example. 😊

If time permits, I like to have the children make the storm once. Then I tell the story. After that, we make the storm again and I interject repeated bits of the story such as, "Oh, the rain is getting harder and I bet the disciples are getting worried!" or "Wow! It's a really big storm now and their boat is rocking on the waves!" and "Okay! Jesus is awake and the storm is beginning to clam down just like he told it to!" 
It's really a fun one to do and the kids always love it!  Do you have any fun ideas for engaging kids in this story?