Old Testament Eras Teaching Resources

 

In my college classes on education, I remember my professor constantly pushing that students needed a framework on which they could hang their knowledge. If they only shoved information in their brains without any organization or connection, it wouldn't be retained or understood. Think of a pile of facts about someone's ancestors compared to an illustration of their family tree. The visual framework is much easier to understand and helps them retain information about their ancestors. Instead, we need to provide students with a framework, so that they see how it connects to other information and can see the big picture. This educational philosophy has always stuck with me.

As I saw my children learn about the Bible at church, camp, and home, it dawned on me that they are learning many Bible stories but don't really have a framework on which to hang this knowledge. They knew about Samson but didn't know what judges were or why Israel had them. They knew about Daniel but didn't know why Daniel was in Babylon and not Israel. I needed to provide a big-picture framework for them to see what was going on.

I started by creating a chart and then a timeline. It snowballed from there. Now I have resources to teach them the time periods or eras themselves, and resources to see how the Old Testament events, people, and books fit into the eras. The whole purpose is so they can see the big picture so that as they learn more details they can make connections.

The ten eras are: 

1. Pre-Patriarchs - before Abraham and the promise of Israel
2. Patriarchs - when the nation of Israel was promised, but before they had their land
3. Exodus - when Israel was in Egypt and journeying to their Promised Land
4. Conquest - when Israel was conquering the Promised Land
5. Judges - when Israel in the Promised Land was ruled by judges
6. United Kingdom - when Israel was ruled by a king in their Promised Land
7. Divided Kingdom - when Israel's Promised Land was broken into two kingdoms 
8. Captivity - when Israel was conquered and exiled from their Promised Land
9. Return - when conquered Israel was allowed to return to their occupied Promised Land
10. Silence - when no prophecy was given to Israel

As you can see in the chart above, the ten eras can also be broken into six broader eras (five if you exclude the period of Silence. 

While these resources were originally created with children in mind, most of them would work very well for teenagers and even adults. Many of the worksheets and card games would be great to help them understand how all of the Bible stories that they have learned throughout their life fit together.

If you want your children or Sunday School students to see the big picture as well, these resources are available on Teachers Pay Teachers. Some of the handouts and charts are available for free. Most of the resources are available in full color, easy-print (in color, but uses less ink), and black-and-white (for use with a photocopier). They are also available in money-saving bundles. There are both smaller bundles and a full bundle available. Here is a breakdown of the resources. 

Old Testament Eras: Starter Bundle

In the Starter Bundle, students learn the time periods of the Old Testament, their order, and what the characteristics are of each. The following resources are included:

• Old Testament Eras: Charts (FREE RESOURCE)- These charts show the ten eras, their order, and their characteristics. Also, five broader eras (Patriarchs, Exodus, Conquest, Kingdom, and Conquered) are included.
• Old Testament Eras: Signs and Cards - The signs are great for hanging up as you learn the eras and the cards work well to learning their order. Both the signs and cards can be used in games on their own or along with other resources about the Old Testament people, events, and Books.
• Old Testament Eras: Maps - These maps show where some of the major events of the Old Testament take place. It's basically an overview of the movement of the eras.
• Old Testament Eras: Hopscotch - This physical game helps students learn the eras as they get to move around.

Old Testament Eras: Events Bundle

In the events Bundle, students how key events fit into the Old Testament eras. Events that begin or end each era are a major focus, but four events from each time period are also covered. The following resources are included:

• Old Testament Eras: Events and Timeline (FREE RESOURCE)- The timelines show how 4 major events fit into the eras.
• Old Testament Eras: Event Cards - Multiple versions of these event flashcards allow you to play many games to connect how these events fit into the Old Testament time periods. Some cards include the eras' colors and symbols and some don't to create more of a challenge.
• Old Testament Eras: Cut-and-Paste Timeline - This timeline includes only the events that divide the eras and includes a cut-and-paste version.
• Old Testament Eras: Cut-and-Paste Events - Cut out all of the events and put them in their correct time period.
• Old Testament Eras: Events Pretzel Game - This active human pretzel game has you decide what era each event is in.

Old Testament Eras: People Bundle

In the People Bundle, students see what people's stories are in the Old Testament and where these people fall into the Old Testament eras. There is a core group of 45 people, but also a larger group of 108 Old Testament characters. The following resources are included:

• Old Testament Eras: People (FREE RESOURCE)- These charts show where the core group of 45 people and the larger group of 108 people fit into the eras.
• Old Testament Eras: Key People Cards - Multiple versions of flashcards for the core group of 45 people allow you to play various games. Some cards include the eras' colors and symbols and some don't to create more of a challenge.
• Old Testament Eras: People Cards - This expanded pack of flashcards that includes the larger group of 108 Old Testament people has many games you can play, especially when used with the Eras Signs and Cards. These flashcards are also available with or without the eras' colors and symbols. 
• Old Testament Eras: People Cut-and-Paste Activity - This cut-and-paste activity allows the students to place the people in the correct era. This is one step toward putting them in chronological order if you are working toward that.
• Old Testament People Bingo - This is a great way to familiarize students with the names of the core group of 45 people. They are broken into the five broader eras. 

Old Testament Eras: Bible Books Bundle

In the Bible Books Bundle, students see how the books of the Old Testament line up with the Old Testament eras. The following resources are included:

• Old Testament Eras: Books of the Bible - A completed chart and a cut-and-paste version tie together my Old Testament Eras resources and my Old Testament Books of the Bible resources.
• Old Testament Books: Color by Era -  Students color a picture by coloring areas labeled with Bible books using different colors for each of the five broader eras.
• Old Testament Books of the Bible Cards - These cards are actually a part of my Old Testament Books of the Bible resources, but are very useful for games, especially when combined with the Eras Signs and Cards.

Old Testament Eras: Major Events Review

The Major Events Review Bundle has activities for four of the key events that divide the Old Testament eras. These activities are meant to teach or review the stories of these events. The following resources are included:

• Abraham's Family Tree - Look up Bible verses to construct Abraham's family tree so they can make connections between people that are mentioned often throughout the entire Old Testament.
• Moses' Life Sequencing Cards - Moses' life summarizes the entire Exodus era, so using these sequencing cards allows a review of an entire era.
• Judges' Cycle Puzzle - Judges is well-known for its repeated cycle. Students can put the steps of the cycle in order with this puzzle.
• Israel Divided: Chart and Coloring Activity - Distinguishing the kingdom of Israel from the kingdom of Judah is very helpful in understanding many Old Testament books. This resource allows students to process the key differences between the kingdoms.

Old Testament Eras: Full Bundle

The Full Bundle includes all of the resources on the Old Testament Eras. It also includes a bonus resource guide and progression, a three-level guide for teaching this across multiple years, and Old Testament people figures that you can print and use when teaching Old Testament stories.

Hopefully, these resources can help you and your children or students understand the overview of the Old Testament better so that you can see how it all leads toward Jesus in the New Testament and His death for us.