Jonah and the big fish!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 10 May 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Polystyrene boats

Make a boat out of this polystyrene tray.  See if it will sail on the water

Jonah set off in a boat which was going to Spain

Have you ever been on a boat?  What kind of boat was it?

Snakes and ladders

Play snakes and ladders but go up the snakes and down the ladders

Jonah went the opposite way from the way God told him to go

Do you every do the opposite from what you are asked to do?

Storm in a bottle

Put some blue water into your bottle. Now add some oil. Ask the helper for part of a tablet and put it in the bottle. Watch the storm erupt1

As the boat got further out a storm started and the sailors thought they would drown

Have you ever been frightened by a storm?  What was it like?

Fish scene


Put some fish, gravel and sea weed into the bag. Now add some gel. Remember to seal the bag up tightly.

Jonah knew it was his fault for disobeying God.  He told them to throw him into the sea and it calmed down at once.

Do you like swimming in the sea?  Jonah didn’t like it

Sewing fish

Sew the pieces of material together to make a fish. Remember to put some stuffing in.

God sent a large fish to swallow Jonah and he was inside the fish for three days and nights

How long would three days and nights be?  Would it seem a long time, or would it go quickly?

Lollystick fish

Make 4 lollysticks into a diamond shape and stick them together.  Then stick some paper to fill in the hole in the middle.  You can draw a man on the paper to be Jonah praying inside the fish

While Jonah was in the fish he prayed and God heard him.

What do you think Jonah would have said to God?

Gazebo fish

The gazebo is like a big fish.  Go in through the mouth and see what you find inside

While Jonah was in the fish he prayed and God heard him.

How big do you think the fish must have been to swallow Jonah?

Party blower whale

Attach Jonah to the party blower and put him behind the fish. When you blow the blower you will see Jonah being spewed out!!

God ordered the fish to spew Jonah up on the beach and it did

What do you think this was like for Jonah?  I expect he lay on the beach for a while to recover

Spitting Jonah

Colour in the picture

God ordered the fish to spew Jonah up on the beach and it did

It must have looked very strange if anyone was watching.  What would you have said to Jonah if you were on the beach?

Jellybaby in custard

Put the custard in a tray and add a jelly baby.

God ordered the fish to spew Jonah up on the beach and it did

Do you think this looks like Jonah on the beach?  How do you think he would have felt?



Build a shelter

Can you build a shelter out of construction sticks?

Jonah built a shelter and sat in its shade waiting to see what would happen to the city

Have you ever been camping?  Do you enjoy it?

Plants and plant pots

Decorate a plant pot and put a plant in it

 God made a plant grow over Jonah to give him some shade so that he would be more comfortable

What sort of plant might be good to sit under for shade?






Wafer picture

Put some blue icing on the wafer. Use the red lace to make the shape of a fish. Put Jonah inside. Decorate with some green seaweed.

 God sent a large fish to swallow Jonah and he was inside the fish for three days and nights

What kind of fish do you think it was?

Vine and worm

Colour in the picture and add the split pin.

A worm attacked the plant and it died.  Jonah was very cross

Ask an adult if they have ever had a plant that died.  Did it make them cross?