Do your children know the amazing Bible story of how Ezekiel spoke to a valley full of dry, dead bones and watched them come to life right before his eyes? It’s found in Ezekiel 37:1-14, and it’s a tremendous testimony of God’s power over life and death.
I love sharing this story every October — there are skeletons everywhere during Halloween season, so why not use that as an opportunity to share a Biblical truth about bones and God’s amazing power over them?
🎉 Want FREE Bible Games for Your Kids?
Grab 6 free Bible resources instantly — perfect for Sunday Schools, homeschools, and Christian Classrooms!
YES, PLEASE! →🔒 No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
What is a “Bible Story Tapper” game? It combines a story from the Bible with great visuals to help kids learn and understand it. I’m not the creator of the “Tapper” concept — credit for that goes to Fenton Lee, who shares this idea as a resource for those working with individuals with special needs. Through my own work with special needs adults and children, I’ve found that many activities that work beautifully with them also work wonderfully with preschoolers — the Bible Story Tapper is a perfect example.
Video: How to play a Bible Story Tapper game — works with any Bible story
Here’s how to make your own “Bible Story Tapper” for Ezekiel and the Dry Bones:
First, separate the story into parts and find a simple picture to represent each one. Here’s how I broke it down:
Part One: An introduction of who Ezekiel is — Picture: Ezekiel
Part Two: God takes Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-2) — Picture: a pile of bones
Part Three: God asks Ezekiel a question (Ezekiel 37:3) — Picture: a question mark
Part Four: God tells Ezekiel to speak to the bones (Ezekiel 37:4) — Picture: Ezekiel speaking to the bones
Part Five: The bones come together — Picture: a full skeleton
Part Six: The skeletons become live bodies (Ezekiel 37:5-9) — Picture: a live body
Part Seven: God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1) — Picture: a picture of creation
Part Eight: God loved us so much that He raised Jesus from the dead — Picture: a heart
Take all 8 pictures and create a banner or bulletin board that kids can hit with a large fly swatter — that’s your “Bible Story Tapper”! A standard-size swatter works fine, though adding ribbons or beads makes it extra special. You can find one online or at your local stores.
You’ll also need a second set of the pictures to show the children after each part of the story — either as a PowerPoint presentation or just held up one at a time. Laminate everything for long-term use.
Video: LIVE — the Tapper game being played with real preschoolers
How to play:
Tell each part of the story directly from the Bible or with an appropriate retelling. Show the picture that matches the part you just read, then let a child come up and use the “Bible Story Tapper” to hit the matching picture on your banner or bulletin board.
That’s it — simple, but very effective!
Free Downloads:
9 Story Posters/Slides: Title Slide • Slide 1 • Slide 2 • Slide 3 • Slide 4 • Slide 5 • Slide 6 • Slide 7 • Slide 8
8 Tapper Pictures: Ezekiel • Bones • Question • Ezekiel Speaks to Bones • Skeleton • Body • Creation • Heart
Banner (24″ x 70″, PDF): Download Banner
Bonus: The “Dem Bones” Song
Love this story? Don’t miss the classic spiritual “Dem Bones” — the one that talks about how the “foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone,” and so on!
Watch the Animated “Ezekiel’s Dry Bones” Video →
Video: LIVE performance — “Dem Bones” sung with preschoolers
Video: The moves to “Dem Bones”
Free Download: Listen to or download the “Dem Bones” mp3
Suggestions for Success:
- Laminate both sets of pictures so they hold up year after year.
- Let a different child take a turn with the tapper for each part of the story, so everyone gets a chance.
- Sing “Dem Bones” together after the story to reinforce the skeleton imagery in a fun, memorable way.
🎉 Want FREE Bible Games for Your Kids?
Grab 6 free Bible resources instantly — perfect for Sunday Schools, homeschools, and Christian Classrooms!
YES, PLEASE! →🔒 No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Want to Make Bible Time Truly Unforgettable?
Who is the Scripture Lady?
This is one of my favorite stories to share every October — kids are captivated listening to this amazing vision given by God to His faithful prophet, and it’s such a powerful, visual way to teach them about God’s power over life and death.