|
"The
Rainbow Fish" Lesson
|
|
"The
Rainbow Fish" by Marcus
Pfister is a delightful children's
tale.
Initially, the Rainbow
Fish snubs other fish as he thinks he
is far better than others however, he
learns that true happiness comes from
sharing all he has.
|
|
It is a great story to use as an
introduction to Bible lessons such as Who is the Greatest and
The
Rich Young Ruler. The discussion
questions below are designed to
be used in conjunction with the
reading of "The Rainbow
Fish", as a lead in to either of
these Bible stories. It is also
a great story to use as a children's
talk or sermon.
"The Rainbow
Fish" and "Who is the
Greatest?"
-
Prior to reading
together, discuss with children:
- What makes us feel
important?
- What makes us a good friend?
- Can the things that make us
feel important be the same as
being a good friend? Can
they also stop us from being a
good friend?
- Read "The Rainbow
Fish" together.
- Discuss together:
- What made the Rainbow Fish
so extraordinary?
- The Rainbow Fish was the
most beautiful fish but was he
the nicest?
- What did he do when other
fish invited him to
play? Why do you think
he did this?
- Do the other fish like
him? Why not?
- Tell children that the story of
the Rainbow Fish reminds you of a
story in the Bible. Read
Mark 8:33-35
- What were the disciples
arguing about?
- Explain that because each of
the disciples wanted to be the
greatest it was stopping them
from getting along together.
- Read Mark 10:43-44
- What did Jesus tell the
disciples they must do if they
wanted to be the greatest?
- What did the Rainbow Fish learn
he had to do if he wanted to get
along with others? Do this
make him the greatest fish?
What became the most important
thing for the Rainbow Fish?
- Relate this to things in
children's own lives and
experiences.
"The Rainbow Fish" and
"The Rich Young Ruler"
- Prior to reading the story,
discuss:
- What are the things that you
have that make you happy?
- Can we find happiness in
things?
- Read "The Rainbow
Fish" together.
- Discuss
- What made the Rainbow Fish
beautiful?
- The Rainbow Fish was the
most beautiful fish but was he
the nicest?
- What did the Rainbow Fish
say when the little blue fish
asked him for a scale?
- What did the octopus tell
the Rainbow Fish he should do
if he wanted to have friends?
- Did the Rainbow Fish like
what the octopus told?
Why not?
- What happened when he
followed the octopus' advice?
- Explain - that there is a story
in the Bible about a man who asked
Jesus what he should do to be
happy and go to Heaven. Read
Mark 10:17-23.
- Discuss
- What did Jesus tell the Rich
Young Man he should be to be
happy?
- Did the Rich Young Man
follow Jesus advice?
- Why not? What was the
result?
- Ask the children whether they
should be like the Rainbow Fish or
the Rich Young Ruler.
Discuss together the things the
can do to be happy and explain the
importance of sharing.
Craft
- Paper Fish Craft -
print out the scales on different
coloured sheets of paper.
Give one colour per child and
encourage them to share their
scales in order to create a more
beautiful fish. You may like
to reward their sharing at the end
with a silver foil scale to put on
their fish.
|
Please note:
all outside links open in a new window. | |
|
