Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Line Walk
Materials: tape
Make two parallel lines on the floor, about 10-12 feet long and 3-4 feet apart. Tell kids that they should try to walk on the straight tape lines. Choose two volunteers. Spin each child two or three times and help him step onto the line. They should try to walk down the tape and back. Continue until all kids have a turn. Ask kids to tell what they thought when you said that they had to walk on the tape lines. Ask how they felt about it after you spun them around. Comment that sometimes it is hard to follow Jesus’s example. Tell them that today they will learn about following Jesus’s example to love others.
Live It Out
Game – Straw Pull
Materials: small bowl, 8-10 straws, paper cup
Set the bowl on a table. Lay the straws across the bowl to create a platform. Stand the cup on the platform. (Upside down will make the cup more sturdy.) Group the kids into two teams. Ask Team 1 a review question. If the team gets the question wrong, one player must slide/remove a straw from the bowl without toppling the cup. If the team gets the question correct, Team 2 must remove a straw. Then ask Team 2 a review question. Continue alternating questions and removing straws until the cup topples. The team that topples the cup receives 5 points. Reset and continue play. The team with the least number of points wins. (Or play without the points element.) As teams play, ask: “When is it challenging to love someone else?” Say the Life Point and comment that Jesus loved all people, even those who may be challenging to love.
Craft – Heart Reminder
Materials: red construction paper, scissors, markers, hole punch and yarn.
Recall the Life Point and talk about the Bible story. Guide children to cut out heart shapes. Each child can write the words of John 15:12 on their heart shapes. Talk about who Jesus showed love in the Bible story. Ask kids to think about people they should love. Ask them if they know someone who is difficult or challenging to love. Lead kids to punch holes around their heart shapes. Suggest they punch fewer rather than a lot. Help a child tie a length of yarn through one of the holes. Tell kids to weave the length of yarn in the holes to create a design around the verse or around the heart’s edge. They can add additional lengths of yarn as they choose. Tie a final length of yarn through one of the top holes to make a hanger. Tell kids to hang the heart reminder in their rooms.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – I’ve Done That
Materials: masking tape
Use tape to create a line across the middle of the game area. Lead kids to stand on the tape line. Make a statement, such as “I have been to Disney World.” Kids who have done that should take one step forward; those who have not should take one step backward. In your statements, include both positive and not so positive actions. Continue the game for several minutes or until someone reaches one end of the game area. Comment that everyone can make choices of how to treat others and how to show love. Tell kids they will hear how Jesus treated someone who others found difficult to like.
Live It Out
Game – Rolling Review
Materials: gift wrap tubes, scissors, tape, table tennis balls, marker
Cut the tubes into shorter lengths (about 3-6 inches). Tape the tubes to the floor or along one end of a table. The open ends of the tubes should face where the kids will roll the balls. Write a point value on the top of each tube. Group the kids into 2 or more teams. A player from Team 1 can roll a table tennis ball and try to get it in or through a tube. If he succeeds, ask the team a review question. Award the points to the tube to the team if the question is answered correctly. A player from Team 2 takes a turn to roll the ball through the tube. Talk about the Bible story and reinforce the Life Point. Ask kids to think of who may be challenging to love and what Jesus’ example tells us that we should do.
Adjust the rules as you see fit. Each player could have only one attempt to get through a tube or several attempts. You could close off tubes with points already claimed (by placing a plastic plate in from of the opening). You could award double points if the ball stays in the tube instead of rolling through it.
Craft – Verse Pouch
Materials: snack-sized zip lock bags, colored and patterned duct tape, scissors, small index cards, pens
Give each preteen a bag. Lead kids to cover the sides of the bags with duct tape. They should leave the top open. Tell kids to write the words of the Unit Verse on cards, one word per card. They can slide the word cards into the bag as they finish them. Talk about the Bible story and about how Jesus showed love to Zacchaeus. Talk about why the people were surprised at Jesus’ actions. Talk about people that may be difficult to love or even like. Ask kids to think of how they could follow Jesus’ example and how to love to others. When all kids have completed their cards, tell them to pull all the cards from their bags, mix them, and put the verse in order. Suggest they practice at home, trying to put the verse in order faster and faster. Pray and ask God to help you all love others around you.
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