Faithfulness

God is our rock

Science with a twist

Build a small structure on a rock, then try to build the same structure on sand.

Discussion point: The Bible describes God as being like a rock; He is dependable.

The purpose of this activity is to illustrate that God is as dependable as a rock.

You will need to find a large rock or concrete wall, a park with sand in it, small sticks, drinking straws and a bottle that will squirt or spritz water.

  • Prior to going outside on a walk, print out Psalm 18:30-31.
  • While you are on your walk, allow your children to stand up on a big rock or concrete wall. Take the verses along and read them while the kids are sitting on the rock. Talk about how firm the rock is and what a good foundation rock or concrete makes for a house.
  • Next, go to a park and have your children build and stand in a pile of sand.
  • To further extend the learning experience, have your children collect sticks and use them to build tiny houses using a firm and then a weak foundation. (If there are no trees around, you may need to take ice cream sticks with you to the park.)
  • Use “homemade” wind or rain to illustrate the difference between building on a strong or weak foundation. To do this, have your children blow air through a straw and squirt water from a water bottle onto their houses. As you are playing, use the questions provided to invite more discussion.
Questions for discussion
  • How was the sand different from the rock?
  • Which house withstood the rainstorm better, the one on a firm foundation or the one on the weak foundation?
  • Would we trust God if the Bible said He was like a pile of sand?
Relevant Scripture

Psalm 18:30-31 “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?”