Extension Lesson – Sacred Story
Volume 6 - Lesson 7: The Story of Ruth Includes: wooden model of Bethlehem, stalks of grain, crown, blue yarn to represent the river, two wooden people in an xs basket to represent Ruth and Orpah, felt underlay, icon w/Velcro, medium wooden tray, control sheet.
You will need your basket of People of God from your top shelf in your classroom.
BACKGROUND The story of Ruth is a connecting story. It connects the wilderness experience of the People of God and living in the Promised Land, with living in the Promised Land and King David. An important theme in this story is the fact that Ruth was an outsider. In fact, she was not simply a foreigner, but a Moabite, part of the despised people who were thought to be the descendants of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughter (Genesis 19:30-38). Even so, God chooses her to be the great-grandmother of King David, and an example of great faithfulness, loyalty, and steadfast love. She is one of four women listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17).
Information on changes: Dr. Cheryl Minor writes, "This orientation of the lesson was fixed to match the geography of that part of the world. In addition, with the recommendation to take the people in these lessons from the basket of People of God from the top shelf in your room, we had to decide what to do about Ruth and Orpah who were from a different land. We made the decision to place two figures in a separate basket (part of the lesson) to show they were different. At the end of the lesson when it is time put the materials away, the storyteller asks the children, "Where should I put Ruth?"
