Funny facts about Bible characters: a classroom activity for Key Stage 2

Martyn Payne

Introduction

The following activity could be used to introduce a session on the Bible. It has the added element of giving children a fun reason to look up verses from the Bible, making them familiar with using the contents page as well as chapter and verse references.

Preparation

The Bible references listed below and the key words for the different records should be printed on separate cards. If you are playing in teams then two or more sets of each will be needed. You will also need Bibles for each team.

Development

1. Introduce the record breaker theme by referring to some weird and wonderful records that have been set and which you can find recorded in one of the well-known books on this topic. In addition or alternatively you could try some of the following terrible Bible jokes on this theme e.g.:
Q: Who was the smallest man in the Bible?
A: Bildad the Shuhite (shoe height!) – Job 2:11
Q: Who was the strangest man in the Bible?
A: Joshua the son of Nun (none!) – Joshua 1:1
Q: Who was the biggest woman in the Bible?
A: The woman of Samaria (some area!) – John 4: 7

2. Introduce the categories of Bible record-breakers for which we are looking for contestants. These are listed on one set of cards – see the first column below. Then introduce the Bible references for discovering the identity of the contestants – see the second column below. If necessary, explain where to look in their Bibles for the contents page and how to find chapters and verses. The final column below gives the answers.

3.

Record breaking category	Bible reference	Contestant
the earliest	Genesis 2: 7	Adam
the oldest	Genesis 5: 27	Methuselah
the strongest	Judges 16: 3	Samson
the wisest	1 Kings 3:10-12	Solomon
the richest	1 Kings 10: 23	Solomon
the tallest	1 Samuel 17: 4	Goliath
the shortest	Luke 19: 1-2	Zacchaeus
the fattest	Judges 3: 17	Eglon
the meekest	Numbers 12: 3	Moses
the cruellest	2 Chronicles 33: 1-2	Manasseh
the fastest	2 Samuel 2: 18	Asahel

You may be able to think of some more or even have a few alternative contenders for these titles! It is over to you!