This summer, spend a week with your kids having fun and learning more about Torah, reminiscent of vacation Bible school. This year’s theme is “My favorite farm animals.” The kids helped pick out a farm animal for each day, and everything for that day is loosely tied to the animal. Here you will find a basic plan and lots of ideas to help you have a great week.
Animal of the Day – Sheep
Bible Story
Today we are going to talk about Cain and Abel. Abel was the very first shepherd! Their story gives a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about repentance. In particular, I would encourage you to teach your children about burnt offerings and sin offerings. Ahead of time, study the first few chapters of Leviticus and become familiar with burnt offerings and sin offerings. To give you a snapshot idea on both of them:
Sin offerings are given to the priest when a sin is committed. The person must sacrifice the animal, but is unable to eat it like other offerings such as peace offerings. The sin offering represents the requirement that we confess our sin and do what is necessary to make it right. This involves restitution.
Burnt offerings are completely burnt up, and no one eats them. A burnt offering represents our 100% commitment to not commit that sin again.
These two offerings represent the two sides of the coin called repentance. In order to be truly repentant, we must confess our sins, make restitution and commit ourselves to not committing that sin again.
To tell the story, you can have your children draw pictures for illustrations, make simple popsicle stick puppets, or act it out.
Craft
- Sheep are known for their wool, so why not try some weaving? You can try weaving with paper to make placemats or use yarn.
- Here’s a whole page of simple sheep crafts to choose from.
Snacks
- popcorn
Memory Verse List
This list will hopefully give your children enough verses for the whole week. I would recommend printing one for each child and hole punching next to each verse as they are able to recite it. And by all means, have some cute little prizes for them to earn as they learn.
Bible in Basic English Version
Enjoy day 3 of your Family Torah School!
