It’s so easy to push back lessons on our faith, mainly because it’s the science and math questions that are on the list of standards for first graders by the government. “It’s The Man, I tell you,” I rage as I shake my fist to nothing in particular.
Orwellian jokes aside, it’s really my fault. I simply haven’t prioritized it.
I’ve resolved to study the Bible at the beginning of class rather than the end of it. It’s also good practice for me to remind myself of why we’re homeschooling in the first place.
Today’s lesson was all about the Tower of Babel. We first read the story from the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones. Then I used these guide questions to test comprehension:
- What did the people try to build? A tower that reaches the sky
- Why did they want to build it? To make a name for themselves
- What did God do? He changed their language to stop them from finishing the tower
I then explained that Babel means confusion. Speaking different languages made it difficult for people to understand each other so they couldn’t finish their work.
Conveniently, there’s a condominium building being constructed across our street and we could see it from our window. I then explained that God wants us build and create. He gave us brains to think and hands to make things. But, God doesn’t want us to have pride in our hearts.
Pride is a sin that puts ourselves first before God. The people built the tower it so that they can glorify themselves. God knows that anytime people do that, they are doomed to fail. He is the one who provides for us. Pride makes us think we can do it for ourselves. Like all sins, it separates us from God.
We also used a worksheet. You can download it here.