After a couple of weeks off of Wednesday’s Around the World, we are back with a lesson and activity about Nebuchadnezzar II and puppet kings.  So what does Nebuchadnezzar have to do with puppet kings?  Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and imprisoned their king, Jehoiakim.  When he did that, they didn’t have anyone to rule over them, so Nebuchadnezzar appointed  someone.  The first king he appointed was Jehoiakin, the some of Jehoiakim.  Why did he do this?  So that he could still control the kingdom.  Jehoioakin was only on the throne three months though.  Just like his father, Jehoiakim, he was taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar.

The next king that Nebuchadnezzar II chose was Zedekiah.  He was Jehoiakim’s brother and Jehoiakin’s uncle.  The final invasion of Judah did not happen until 11 years later.  Nebuchadnezzar II had Zedekiah’s sons killed right in front of him and then gouged his eyes out!  Nebuchadnezzae and the Babylonian Army fulfilled the prophecy that Ezekiel has said would happen.  They took everything valuable that had been left after the first and second invasions and burned the city to the ground.  They were warned ro repend and never did, so they suffered the wrath brought on by God.

The activity for this lesson was to make puppets from small brown lunch bags.  I did not have any of those, but had a lot of other crafting material, so we made our kids with what we had on hand.

making kings.

I cut out robes with the purple felt we had.  Then the kids decorated the robes and glued them on to popsicle sticks.  I loved how each one made their own king.

Finished puppet kings.

 

Now for your turn?  What have you learned or what kind of project or activity have you done for history in the last couple of weeks?  I can’t wait to read all about it!  Link up and share with us!!

**Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post.  I am a huge fan of Bright Ideas Press and Mystery of History.  That is why I do this link-up. 🙂