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Jonah and the Big Friendly Fish

Jonah sails the wrong way, a great fish gives him a ride, and this time Jonah obeys

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 48
  • 📅 Sunday, November 29, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I can obey Heavenly Father, and He will help me.

I can obey Heavenly Father.

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Amos; Obadiah; Jonah)
Know the chapters

The Lord asked the prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh, a big city. He was to warn the people to stop doing wicked things. Jonah ran the other way on a ship. The Lord sent a great wind, and the sailors put Jonah into the sea. Jonah 1:17 says “the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” Inside the fish Jonah prayed, and the Lord heard him. That’s 2:1–2. The fish put Jonah on dry land.

Then “the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time.” That’s 3:1. This time “Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh.” That’s 3:3. The people listened and changed, and in 3:10 the Lord was merciful to them. The Lord gave second chances to Jonah and to Nineveh. He gives them to us too.

Your one tiny truth: I can obey Heavenly Father. Three-year-olds practice obeying all day long. “Come here.” “Gentle hands.” “Time to clean up.” Help them feel how happy it is to obey. Heavenly Father helps us when we try. If they ask about running away, keep it simple. Jonah made a wrong choice, said sorry, and tried again.

Make the fish big and friendly, never scary. It was the Lord’s way of rescuing Jonah from the sea. Amos and Obadiah are also in this week’s reading. Amos 3:7 teaches that the Lord speaks through His prophets.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring any stuffed animal to be the big friendly fish, or use the no-supplies versions. Peekaboo the fish. Tell the Jonah story, and let them say a few words back to you. Say “So Jonah arose, and went” while you jump up and march. Play Which Way, Jonah? End with, “I can obey Heavenly Father. He will help me.”

What to bring4 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Tuck the toy fish under the scarf or blanket by your chair.
  2. Choose one side of the room to be Nineveh and the other to be the sea. Tape up the signs if you made them.

If your class is wild

  • If a child worries about Jonah being swallowed, say, “The fish was a helper! It kept Jonah from sinking.” Let that child hold the toy fish.
  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Make the child your Fish Helper, holding the toy fish during the story.
  • For potty breaks, send the child with another grown-up or their parent. Never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep the class going.
  • When the swaying gets too wild, call, “The sea is calm!” Make smooth, flat hands. Everyone freezes like a quiet sea.
  • Fish crackers are a fun ending. Check allergies and your ward’s policy first.

The 25-minute plan22 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Peekaboo Fish

3 min

A peekaboo reveal introduces the big fish as friendly and fun.

  1. SAY“Something is swimming under here! Let’s count and peek. One… two… three… peekaboo!”
  2. Lift a corner, then cover it again. On the last peek, swim the fish through the air. Say, “A big friendly fish!”
  3. Let each child give it a gentle pat.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Jonah and a great big fish. Heavenly Father helped Jonah learn to obey.”

Class screen: 🐋 Peekaboo! What’s swimming? · 🐋 A big friendly fish!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A soft toy fish or whale (or any stuffed animal you can call a big fish), A scarf, dish towel or small blanket

Peekaboo Hand Fish

  1. SAY“Something is swimming back here!”
  2. Hide your hands behind your back. Count, “One… two… three… peekaboo!” Bring out your hands pressed together and swim them like a fish.
  3. Everyone makes a hand fish and swims it high and low.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Jonah and a great big fish. Heavenly Father helped Jonah learn to obey.”

Class screen: 🐟 Make a hand fish! Swim, swim!

2. Story

Picture Story: Jonah and the Big Friendly Fish

6 min

Seven short scenes show Jonah running away, praying, and obeying the second time, and everyone joins in from their spots.

  1. SAY“Let’s look at the pictures and meet Jonah. I’ll say a word, and you say it back!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Say the line at the bottom, and let them say it back.
  3. Keep the fish friendly. Say, “The fish was a helper!” At scene 5, get very quiet while Jonah prays.
  4. After scene 7, give a thumbs up and say together, “I can obey Heavenly Father!”
🌪️ If the storm gets too wild, say, “The sea is calm!” Make flat, still hands. Wait until everyone copies you.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ⛵ Jonah and the big friendly fish · 🔁 Say it back! · 👍 I can obey!

3. Wiggle break

Row, Storm, Calm

2 min

A stop-and-go wiggle burns energy and practices listening.

  1. SAY“Everybody in the boat! Row, row, row!”
  2. Everyone sits on the floor and rows. Call “Storm!” and everyone rocks, “Whoosh!” Call “Calm sea!” and everyone freezes with flat hands.
  3. Play three or four rounds, faster and slower. End on “Calm sea!”

Class screen: 🌊 Row! Storm! Calm!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jonah 3:3

3 min

Six Bible words with jumping and marching show what obeying looks like.

  1. SAY“The Bible tells what Jonah did the second time. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures and read, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh.”
  3. Teach the motions. Jump up for “So Jonah arose.” March in place for “and went.” Point far away for “unto Nineveh.” Then sit.
  4. Say it three ways: soft, loud, then slow like a big fish.
  5. Give a thumbs up and say, “Jonah obeyed! I can obey Heavenly Father too!”

Class screen: 🏙️ “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh” · ⬆️ arose · 🚶 went · 👉 Nineveh

5. Game

Which Way, Jonah?

5 min

Everyone practices going the right way, like Jonah the second time, and obeying at home.

  1. SAY“This way is Nineveh. That way is the sea. Listen for where Heavenly Father wants Jonah to go!”
  2. Call, “Heavenly Father says, go to Nineveh!” Everyone walks to the Nineveh side. Cheer, “You obeyed!”
  3. Mix in fun calls. “Storm!” means sway. “Big fish!” means gulp. “Pray!” means fold arms. Always finish with “Go to Nineveh!”
  4. Try home calls too, like “Mom says, clean up!” Everyone picks up pretend toys. Then thumbs up, “I can obey!”
  5. Say, “When we obey, Heavenly Father helps us, just like He helped Jonah.”
🌪️ Walking fast counts. Keep both sides close so nobody has to run.

Class screen: 👉 Which way is Nineveh? · 🏙️ Nineveh · 🌊 the sea

6. Testimony

I Can Obey

3 min

A calm, loving moment where the teacher shares a simple testimony.

  1. SAY“Let’s be as still as a calm sea. Fold your arms.”
  2. Softly say, “Jonah said sorry and tried again. And Heavenly Father helped him. When we try to obey, He helps us too. I know He loves you.”
  3. Look at each child and say their name, like “Sophie, you can obey Heavenly Father.”
  4. Invite them to be Quick Like Jonah this week. Have a child say the closing prayer. Whisper a few words at a time for them.

Class screen: 🙏 I can obey Heavenly Father.

7. Game

Jonah Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story; every child points or calls out.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Skip the teams. Everyone wins.
  3. After each answer, everyone does big fish arms, “Gulp!”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🐋 Point to the right picture!

8. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal names things from the story.

  1. SAY“Something is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Remove a square each time the kids do a motion, like “Whoosh!” or “Gulp!”
  3. When they guess, show it together. Row a boat. Sway for a storm. Gulp like a fish. Wiggle like a worm.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

The story

Jonah and the Big Friendly Fish

Jonah 1–3 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Fish HelperSits by you and leads the big fish arms “Gulp!” from their seat at scene 4.
  • Sound HelperTaps the waves, splash and march sounds on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. 🧔 The Lord gave Jonah a job

    The Lord told the prophet Jonah, “Go to the big city of Nineveh. Tell the people to choose good.”

    🙌

  2. ⛵ Jonah went the wrong way!

    But Jonah didn’t want to go. He got on a boat going the other way.

    🙌 Say it back: “Wrong way, Jonah!”

  3. 🌊 Whoosh! A big storm!

    The wind blew and the waves splashed. The boat rocked back and forth! Jonah told the sailors, “Put me in the sea.” Splash!

    🙌

  4. 🐋 Here comes a big friendly fish!

    The sea got calm. Then the Lord sent a great big fish. Gulp! The fish swallowed Jonah so he wouldn’t sink.

    🙌 Big fish arms. Say it back: “Gulp!”

  5. 🙏 Jonah prayed inside the fish

    Inside the fish, Jonah prayed. He said sorry and promised to obey. The Lord heard him.

    🙌 Fold your arms. Say it back softly: “Sorry.”

  6. 🏖️ Out onto the sand!

    The Lord told the fish to put Jonah on dry land. Out he came onto the sand!

    🙌

  7. 🏙️ This time Jonah obeyed!

    Then the Lord asked Jonah again to go to Nineveh. This time, Jonah went! The people listened. And they chose to be good.

    🙌 Thumbs up. Say it back: “I can obey!”

Key verse

Jonah 3:3 ↗
“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh”
In kid words: Jonah got up and went to Nineveh. He obeyed!
🙌 “So Jonah arose” = jump up from sitting · “and went” = march in place · “unto Nineveh” = point far away.

More verses

Jonah 1:17 ↗
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah”
In kid words: The Lord got a great big fish ready for Jonah.
Jonah 2:2 ↗
“I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me”
In kid words: Jonah prayed for help, and the Lord heard him.
Jonah 2:9 ↗
“I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving”
In kid words: Jonah promised to thank the Lord.
Jonah 3:1 ↗
“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time”
In kid words: The Lord gave Jonah a second chance.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 🧔 Jonah
  • ⛵ Boat
  • ⛈️ Storm
  • 🌊 Waves
  • 🐋 Big Fish
  • ⚓ Anchor
  • 🏙️ City
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 🏖️ Beach
  • 🌬️ Wind
  • 🌿 Plant
  • 🪱 Worm
Clues for each word
  • Jonah: A prophet who rode in a big fish
  • Boat: Row, row, row!
  • Storm: Wind and big waves
  • Waves: Splash! They go up and down
  • Big Fish: Gulp! It swallowed Jonah
  • Anchor: Keeps a boat still
  • City: Nineveh had lots of people
  • Pray: Jonah did it inside the fish
  • Beach: Sandy land by the sea
  • Wind: Whoooosh!
  • Plant: Gave Jonah shade
  • Worm: A wiggly little crawler
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Where did Heavenly Father want Jonah to go?
    • A. 🏙️ The city of Nineveh
    • B. 🎠 The playground
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🏙️ The city of Nineveh Nineveh, the big city!

  2. What did Jonah ride to run away?
    • A. 🚲 A bike
    • B. ⛵ A boat
    • C. 🚀 A rocket
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ⛵ A boat He got on a boat going the wrong way.

  3. What rocked the boat?
    • A. 🌊 A big storm
    • B. 🎈 A balloon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🌊 A big storm Whoosh! Wind and big waves!

  4. What swallowed Jonah?
    • A. 🐈 A kitty
    • B. 🐋 A great big fish
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🐋 A great big fish Gulp! A big fish the Lord sent.

  5. What did Jonah do inside the fish?
    • A. 🙏 He prayed
    • B. ⚽ He played soccer
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 He prayed Jonah prayed, and Heavenly Father heard him.

  6. The second time, did Jonah obey?
    • A. 🙁 No
    • B. 😃 Yes!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😃 Yes! Yes! Jonah got up and went to Nineveh.

  7. Who can obey Heavenly Father?
    • A. 🐸 Only frogs
    • B. 🧸 Only teddy bears
    • C. 🙋 Me!
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🙋 Me! You can! Heavenly Father will help you.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Quickly I’ll Obey Children’s Songbook, p. 197

    Obeying right away, like Jonah the second time. Find it ↗

  • Follow the Prophet Children’s Songbook, p. 110

    It has a verse about Jonah; march to the chorus. Find it ↗

  • Do As I’m Doing Children’s Songbook, p. 276

    A copy-me wiggle song: row, sway, gulp and march. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Quick Like Jonah

When Mom or Dad asks you to do something, try to obey right away, like Jonah the second time. Then give them a big fish “gulp” hug!

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned about Jonah. He ran the wrong way, and a big fish swallowed him. He prayed, and the second time he obeyed Heavenly Father. We swayed like a boat in the storm, made big fish arms, and gave a thumbs up for “I can obey!” Ask your child, “What did Jonah do inside the fish?” The answer is he prayed! This week, when your child obeys, tell them, “You obeyed, just like Jonah!”

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🙏 Thank-You Fish · 3 min

  1. Open to Jonah 2:9. Say, “Inside the fish, Jonah said thank you to the Lord.”
  2. Sit in a circle and pass the toy fish or a hand fish. Whoever holds it names something they’re thankful for, like “Mommy!” or “Pancakes!”
  3. Say, “We can thank Heavenly Father for everything, just like Jonah.”

🌿 Jonah’s Shady Plant · 2 min

  1. Open to Jonah 4:6–7. Say, “After Jonah went to Nineveh, the Lord grew a big plant to give him shade.”
  2. Everyone grows from a tiny seed into a big leafy plant, arms stretched wide.
  3. Then everyone wiggles a finger like a little worm. Say, “Heavenly Father takes care of Jonah, and He takes care of us.”

🐟 Fish Cracker Count · 3 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s policy first. Then give each child a few fish crackers on a napkin.
  2. Count them together. Before eating one, say, “Jonah prayed, Jonah obeyed!”
  3. Say, “Heavenly Father helps us obey, just like He helped Jonah.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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