Genesis Chapter 1, Verse 9

The Third Day of Creation

"Yikavu Hamayim Meetachat Hashamayim El Makom Echad Viteira'eh Hayabasha..."

"Let the waters be gathered beneath the heavens into one area and let the dry land appear..."

Overview of the Biblical Text:

On the third day of creation G-d redistributed the earthly water to form dry areas of land upon which mankind could live. The dry land He called 'earth' and the collections of water, He called 'seas'. On this dry land grew various forms of vegetation: grass; trees; flowers, etc.

With every tree that G-d made came along insurance that the fruit of the tree would never be completely finished. Even after we eat up a fruit or vegetable, the seed remains so that we can plant more and more trees or vegetable plants. This too is a gift from G-d which enables us to benefit from His world without depleting its bounty. In addition to this, there is another bonus. If someone lives far from a particular type of fruit tree, whose fruit he enjoys, he can carry the seeds back with him and plant new trees close to where he lives.

Discussion Questions:
  • If trees grow from seeds, where did the very first trees come from?
  • How big is a seed?
  • How does the ocean know to stop at the beach?

Activity Ideas:
  1. Class Garden - Have children save fruit and vegetable seeds from home, then bring them in and plant them in a garden created by the class.
     
  2. Natural Art - Use the multitude of leaves, pine cones, acorns etc. which are so available in the fall in related art activities. Day at the Beach- Have a "day at the beach" with pails, shovels and of course sand. Discuss oceans and beaches.
     
  3. Cooking fun - Prepare recipes with fruits and vegetables.
     
  4. Tree Stretching - Have the students imagine that they are trees. Have them crouch down small to begin as a sapling. Then have them stretch gradually until they "grow" into a huge redwood tree.
     
  5. Fruit Basket - Make a papier-mâché fruit basket.
     
  6. Field Trip - Go on a field trip to a local place where fruit, vegetables, flowers or trees grow (a plant nursery, an arboretum, a fruit orchard, a farm, etc.).
     
  7. Apple-Shaped New Year Cards - Make an apple-shaped Shana Tova (Happy New Year) card. Walk with the children to a local mailbox to mail it home.

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