Outline a wide open whale mouth on the bottom and sides of a gallon plastic milk jug and cut it out in one piece. Remove the screw-top lid. Trim the leftover piece to resemble a whale's tale and cut two slits in one side to slide into the open spout end. Spray paint the whole thing in silver, gray or blue. When it is dry, use a permanent marker to draw in eyes, body and tail markings. Tape a picture of Jonah to small beanbags and let the children play toss and catch with Jonah, trying to catch him in their whale containers.
Make a list of questions that are answered in the book of Jonah, such as, "What was Jonah's father's name?" or "To what city did Jonah try to flee?" or "What did the king of Nineveh do when he heard Jonah's message?" Or "How did God respond to Jonah's anger?" Hold a team competition to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
Jonah tried unsuccessfully to hide from God by running away in the opposite direction of Nineveh but God's eye was always on him. Prior to the class, hide a small doll or plastic figure of Jonah somewhere in the room. As the children arrive, tell them that Jonah is hiding and challenge them to find him. Tell them this is the way God found him on the ship and in the belly of the whale in order to bring about His purposes regardless of Jonah's human failings.
Jonah's emotions run the gamut from hatred of the Ninevites, rebellion against God's command, guilt, remorse, vengeance, frustration, disgust, anger, bitterness, annoyance, relief, happiness and back to peevishness, discontent and resentment. Draw faces showing the different emotions and tape them to a straw or craft stick. Tell the story through reading or song and ask the children to hold up the puppet that shows how Jonah is feeling at various points in the story.