Preschool: Animals of the Bible
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Unit Essential Questions:
What can animals in the Bible teach us about God?
What animals are mentioned in the Bible? Why are they mentioned?
What are the context characters and who are they?
Lesson Essential Questions:
What is a hyrax?
What can the hyrax teach us about God?
Bible Text:
Psalm 18:2, Proverbs 30:24-26, Psalm 104:18
Contextual Lenses:
Learning Goals:
Learners will be able to identify a hyrax, and name its qualities.
Learners will be able to describe how God takes care of them just like the hyrax.
Teaching Points:
God is always with us!
LESSON INFORMATION
What you should prepare . . .
Either cut out the context character and glue it to a popsicle stick or use the context character plush toy.
Print off the included coloring page for each student in your class. Set out crayons and markers that learners can use to decorate their paper.
To keep track of the different characteristics of God embodied by the six animals, create an anchor chart that includes their names. As you’re introduced to each character, add what you’ve learned about the animal, and what the animal teaches us about God to your chart.
What you should know . . .
The Bible uses “pictures” to help us better understand who God is and what God is like. In order to better understand the meaning of God’s words we have to know and understand these “pictures.” As responsible readers of the Bible, noticing the metaphors helps us to read the Bible in its proper context.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Ask learners to think about these two questions before you play the video. Spend some time letting them share their answers.
Wonder Questions: (slides 1,2,3)
I wonder what kind of animal this is? (There are three powerpoint slides that each pull back and show more of the animal. See how quickly learners can guess the animal.)
I wonder where this animal lives?
ENGAGING WITH CONTEXT
Play the Video. (Slide 4) You can also show pictures and teach the content of the video if you would rather do that.
Video Script:
Have you ever heard of a hyrax? They are small, furry animals that live in the deserts we read about in the Bible. Hyraxes are really fast and tricky to spot. But if you look carefully, you might see one sunbathing on a warm rock on a sunny day.
Here’s something surprising: Even though hyraxes are small, they are related to elephants! Just like elephants, they eat plants and have strong back teeth to help them chew their food. They even have tiny front teeth that grow into little tusks.
Hyraxes live in rocky places and they get scared easily. When they feel frightened, they run and hide in the rocks to stay safe. The rocks protect them from anything that might hurt them. The Bible says God is like a rock for us too! Just like the hyrax runs to the rocks, we can run to God when we’re afraid. And God will always be with us, keeping us safe.
Introduce Henry the Hyrax. (Slide 5)
Use either the context character cut out on a stick or a plush toy.
Tell learners that Henry will be helping us learn more about God and the Bible.
EXPLORE THE STORY
Read Scripture (Slide 6):
One place we read about the hyrax in the Bible is in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs are wise sayings that help us live better lives. Here’s one that mentions the hyrax:
Proverbs 30:24-26: “There are four small animals that are very wise: Ants, who are strong because they store food in the summer. Hyraxes, who live in the rocks because they are not very strong. Locusts, who work together without a leader. And lizards, who live in palaces even though they are small.”
We also read about the hyrax in the Psalms. Psalms are songs, and here’s one that talks about them:
Psalm 104:18: “The high mountains are for the wild goats, and the rocks are a safe place for the hyrax.”
Sometimes we all feel scared. Maybe a thunderstorm makes you nervous, or you’re afraid of bugs, snakes, or the dark. Maybe you’re worried about making new friends. Everyone feels afraid sometimes, and that’s okay.
Even Jesus felt afraid. But here’s something amazing: God promises to always be with us. We can trust God’s promises, and one of those promises is that God will never leave us.
Deuteronomy 31:8: The Lord himself will go before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forget you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry.” (ICB)
No matter what makes us afraid, we can run to God just like the hyrax runs to the rocks.
RESPOND TO THE STORY
Reflection Questions:
What kinds of things make you feel scared or nervous?
How do we know that God is with us?
How can we be there for each other?
Prayer:
God, thank You for always being with us, even when we’re afraid. Just like the hyrax runs to the rocks to feel safe, help us to run to You when we’re scared. Thank You for loving us and for always keeping Your promises. Amen.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Color Henry the Hyrax. Bring Henry the Hyrax to life with this fun and engaging coloring page!
Make a mask. Get creative by designing your own hyrax mask or using the ready-made template provided!
Draw a hyrax environment. Pass out hyrax stickers, and ask learners to stick their hyrax sticker anywhere on the blank paper. This will be their starting point. Encourage them to draw the environment where their hyrax might live, including features like rocks, plants, and anything else that helps create a natural habitat. Once everyone has completed their drawing, invite learners to share their artwork with the group and describe their hyrax’s habitat.
Create a Safe Space for the Hyrax. Have learners design and construct a safe place for the hyrax to live using materials from the classroom. If the weather permits, bring learners outside to look for safe places that a hyrax might be able to live.
Introduction:
Explain to learners that they will use their creativity to design and build a "safe place" where a hyrax could live.
Classroom Task:
Gather materials from the classroom (e.g., blocks, cardboard, paper, tape, glue, string, or other available items).
Using these materials, learners will design and construct a model of a habitat that would keep a hyrax safe and comfortable. Encourage them to think about key elements like protection, space to move, and ventilation.
If working in groups, encourage collaboration and brainstorming about what a hyrax might need for survival.
Outdoor Exploration (if weather permits):
Take the learners outside to explore natural areas, like a schoolyard or nearby park.
Challenge them to look for places in the environment that might be suitable for a hyrax to live. These could be small spaces under rocks, dense bushes, or other hidden areas.
Discuss how natural elements in the environment compare to the habitats they designed in class.
Lesson Files Include:
Lesson PDF
Presentations Files (Keynote, Power Point, Google Slides)
Videos
Coloring Pages
Mask Cut Outs
Character Cut Out
Sample Anchor Chart
Context character plush toys and sticker sheets coming soon!
Contact info@lovegodloveothers.com if you are interested in trying out this unit with your students!
