Walls Of Jericho

Contributors	J. Boulos
Objective	Teach the lesson of Joshua conquering the city of Jericho
Materials Needed	Get several empty cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, etc. Also get clear fishing line and clear tape.
Summary	Attach the fishing line firmly to one box that will be the center stone of the building. Place this in the center of a clear area in the classroom and build the "city" of Jericho on top of this central block. Don't make any gap between boxes--ensure they are all supported on one another so that removing the central block will cause the structure to collapse. Lay the fishing wire along the floor discretely--perhaps along the crevice between tiles. If it is possible that someone walking over it might trip on it, discretely tape it down in sections to keep it flat, but keep the tape loose of the fishing line to allow it to pass through when pulled. Allow the class to enter and take their seats quickly. Select volunteers quickly and set them on the side. Designate a Joshua, soldiers, 2 priests to carry the arc of the Covenant between them, etc. Have the volunteers march around the structure 6 times (or once and tell them it counts for 6 times). On the seventh pass tell them the must yell as Joshua was instructed to shout on their 7th procession. The fishing line should be attached to something like a chair or left somewhere that you can conveniently and slyly take hold of it and yank it firmly. This will pull out the central block and give the illusion that the "city" collapsed on its own. Of course as always, the trick is easily revealed and it is no problem if you are called out; these are played for fun and to keep the interest, not to trick them into believing that the cardboard city actually collapsed by the power of God like the walls of Jericho did.
Additional Resources
Keywords	jericho, walls
Date Submitted	10/22/2008