Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Sandy Search
Materials: dishpan or larger shallow container with sand, letter tiles or heavyweight paper with letters (f, o, r, g, i, v, e, n, e, s, s), tablecloth or drop cloth
Hide the letters in the pan of sand. Set the pan on a tablecloth or drop cloth. Lead kids to search for the letters in the sand. After all the letters are located, challenge kids to create a word with all the letters. Tell kids that forgiveness is the key idea in today’s session.
Live It Out
Game – Life Point Jump
Materials: paper, marker, tape
Print the words of the Life Point on paper, one word per page. Mix the words and tape them to the floor in a 3-by-3 grid. (Add some blank paper to fill in the grid.) Guide kids to stand in a line. Tell the first child to jump on the first word of the Life Point; then he can move to the end of the line. The next child can jump on the first and second word and move to the end of the line. Continue, leading kids to jump on the words in order and adding the next word. If a child makes a mistake, he can start over. Say the Life Point together. When you reach the complete Life Point, tell the next child to start with just the first word again; or all kids can take turns jumping on the complete Life Point as you say it together. Talk about the Bible story. Lead kids to talk about times that family members may need to forgive one another.
Craft – Forgive Pennant
Materials: large construction paper, markers, various art materials, straws, tape, scissors
Distribute paper to kids. Guide kids to cut their paper into a large triangle shape. Tell them to write Forgive on the triangle. They can use the materials to create a pennant of word. As they work, talk about the Bible story and the Life Point. Talk about situations when family members may need to forgive another family member. Tell each kid to tape two straws together and then tape the straws to the back of the triangle to make a pennant.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Verse Race
Materials: large pieces of paper with the Bible Verse words on them (one word per page), tape, stopwatch or timer
Tape the words of the verse to the floor around the room (not in order). Walk to the words and read them with the kids so they will know where the words are located. Gather in the center of the room to start. Tell kids they will take turns running to the words in order (run to first word, then second, then third, and so on). Challenge kids to run to the verse in order in one minute or less. Station other kids around the room to read the words as the runner runs to make sure he is going in order. Tell kids that they will learn about a bout someone who forgave a family member.
Live It Out
Game – Hot Potato Duel
Materials: two beanbags, bell or tap light, music
Set the bell or tap light on a table in the middle of the game area. Group the kids into two teams. Teams should move to opposite sides of the game area (opposite sides of the table). Each team should form a circle. Play music as each team passes a beanbag around the circle. Stop the music unexpectedly. The two kids holding the beanbags should come to the table. Ask a review question; the first kid to hit the bell or tap light gets an opportunity to answer. If the answer is correct, the team gets a point. If not, the other team may answer for a point. The two players move back to their circles; start the music again. After the game, challenge the winning team to say the Life Point.
Craft – Forgive Wheel
Materials: paper plates (two per kid), brads, colored pencils, gel pens, scissors
Lead kids to cut a triangular wedge from one of their paper plates. Help a preteen align her plates on top of one another, wedge-cut plate on top. Tell kids to use brads to attach their plates together. Show them how to rotate the top plate and move the wedge around. Tell kids to write one or two words of the Life Point in the space on the lower plate. They can turn the wheel to show another blank space and write one or two words in that space. Tell them to continue until all the words are written on the lower plate. (They may want to lightly draw each wedge on the lower plate before writing words.) Tell kids they can write the Bible verse or draw a picture about forgiveness in the space on the top plate. Tell them to use the wheel to remember that they should forgive their family members.
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