Story 15: Jonah the Groaner

Open the Book website resources

Story 15: Jonah the Groaner

This section contains

· Ideas, photographs and instructions for conveying the whale

· Photograph and instructions for making a robust hinged boat

· Alternative poem script.

Big fish banner

This uses the idea of painting a fish/whale on a banner which is then big enough and light enough to sweep over Jonah and “swallow” him when he is thrown out of the boat.

Materials

· A stout pole. This one is 190cms long from DIY store. A broom handle is 115cms and would hold a smaller banner.

· Blue fabric for the sea. The banner in the photo is made from a single bed duvet cover 180cms x 125cms. If using a shorter pole, then reduce the size of the banner. Look in charity shops and supermarkets for a duvet of a suitable colour.

· Fabric for the big fish/whale of appropriate colour and texture. This could be grey, or blue or silvery. You might also want to get some black and white felt or fabric for the eye. Note: if you are using Copydex/fabric glue to stick the fish on the banner, the fabric must be heavy enough to absorb this.

Construction

· Make a hem at the top of the banner into which to insert the holding pole.

· Draw outline of big fish/whale onto the fish fabric. Many children’s story or picture books have simple pictures of a fish or whale on which you can base your design. Click here for help with Drawing and Painting.

· Cut out the fish and sew or glue on with Copydex. Glue or sew fabric eye, if desired.

Wooden Boat

This has no sides or stern so it is not actually a complete boat, but effectively creates the illusion of one. It means getting in and out is easy, especially when Jonah is thrown overboard! The hinged front is propped open at an angle and the characters stand in the “V” behind.

Diagram of boat sections

Materials

· Two sheets of 3mm or 6mm MDF (medium density fibre ‘wood’) 915mm x 610mm. Click here for information on MDF

· A piece of MDF or wood for the centre post 915mm x 100 – 150mm width.

· If using 3mm MDF, two thin pieces of beading 915mm long into which to screw the hinges so they bind better. Click here for information on beading. [Link to “Large cutouts”

· Six medium size hinges.

Construction

· Draw a pair of identical boat panels using the maximum width of the board at the base. Note the ‘sea’ section at the base is cut as part of the boat panel. Click here for information on drawing large shapes

· Cut the centre post to the correct length and attach 3 hinges each side spaced at the bottom, middle and top. Before screwing the hinge to the boat panel sides with 3mm board, glue the two thin pieces of beading to the outer side of the boat panels so the screws from the hinges will bind through the boat panel into the beading.

· Paint the boat outline, including the waves to indicate sea. Click here for information on painting.

Alternative poem script

Jonah and the whale (or fish) can be an overly familiar story to children and so this poem, written by an OPEN THE BOOK storyteller, offers a different and memorable way of conveying the same story. Although it is funny, it still conveys the Biblical truth of the story.

Storytellers needed : Narrator : Jonah, Captain and person to hold the fish banner. The simplest way is for the narrator to read the entire poem, but the characters can learn their lines if they are particularly keen.

Visual aids needed: A fish banner and large cut-out boat as described above: two signs, one saying “Nineveh”, the other saying “Tarshish”. Stick these on the wall, making sure the arrows point in the correct direction!

[

Sitting by a tree
And sulking all alone,
Jonah moaned and grumbled
About what God had done. / Arms folded, looking really cross
He’d woke him far too early
and got him out of bed,
But that was not the worst of it,
‘coz this is what God said:
“There is a place called Nineveh
whose ways are really bad.
I want you to go to them
And tell them I am sad.” / Use a different voice for God
“I’m angry at their wickedness,
I’m angry at their greed,
And if they do not change their ways
I’ll punish them indeed!”
But Jonah was scared of Nineveh,
And did not want to go,
So packed his bags and ran away,
And hoped God wouldn’t know! / Shakes head, looks rebellious
Creeps off
Nineveh was to the left
But Tarshish to the right.
So Jonah jumped into a boat
And to Tarshish he took flight. / Look at signpost
Point right
Get into boat where sea captain is waiting
But God sent waves to rock the boat.
He knew Jonah was on it.
The passengers were turning green
Oh no, they’re going to vomit! / Both characters rock from side to side : Jonah claps hand to mouth as if about to be sick
“Why is God tormenting us?”
the captain gave a cry.
“Jonah, will you pray to God
or else we all shall die!” / Looking despairing
“I think it is because of me..”,
Jonah gave a sob
“That we are being blown about,
I’ve run away from God!”
“YOU’VE RUN AWAY FROM GOD?” they said. “No wonder He’s so mad!
What should we do to calm him down?
You really must be bad!” / Look angry with Jonah
Jonah said above the storm
“Throw me overboard
Then God will calm the sea again
And you can praise the Lord!”
They threw him over there and then,
True to Jonah’s wish.
He splished and splashed and almost drowned
And then was swallowed... by a fish! / Throw Jonah overboard, where he thrashes about
Banner of fish on pole “swims” up and sweeps over Jonah
The wind died down, the sea was calm,
The sun began to shine.
The boat was saved because they prayed
Just in the nick of time! / Captain looks relaxed and happy and goes off with the boat
Meanwhile Jonah in the fish
Was glad to be alive
And thankful to his God above
For letting him survive. / Jonah emerges from under the banner and sits in front of it.
He sat there feeling lonely
And prayed for three days long.
There wasn’t much to do in there
But smell the dreadful pong!!! / Sit on floor
Look disgusted and waves hands about
“I’m sorry God” Jonah cried
“For not doing what you said.
You want them to stop being bad
And turn to you instead.
I was a fool to run away
I played a silly trick
I’ll try to love them like you do….”
JUST THEN THE FISH WAS SICK! / Talk to God : play this part more seriously
Jonah leaps out of ‘fish’ and lands on floor
When he awoke he found himself
Back on the clean dry sand.
He started off to Nineveh
To warn them of God’s plans / Brush off imaginary dirt and look for which way to go (check with the sign!)
“He’s angry at your wickedness,
He’s angry at your greed
And if you do not change your ways
God will punish you indeed.” / Jonah ‘says’ these words to imaginary Ninevites
The people all believed him
And stopped their wicked ways
So God forgave the folk of Nineveh
and gave them better days. / Jonah looks amazed
So what can we learn from this tale
Of grumpy Jonah and the whale?
Don’t run away when God asks you
Something you don’t want to do.
Just play your part as God would wish,
and you won’t be swallowed by a fish!! / Jonah could actually say the last two lines to the children

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