Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Verse Scramble
Materials: different colors of construction paper, marker, scissors
Print the Weekly Verse on different colors of construction paper. Cut each verse into 4-6 pieces. (Each kid will need a piece.) Mix the pieces. Guide kids to sit around the play area. (They can be spaced out; they do not need to sit beside one another.) Give each kid a piece of a verse. Say: “When I tell you, stand up and find everyone else who has the same color pieces as you. Then work the puzzle to read the verse. When your puzzle is complete, shout, ‘Got it!’” Give the signal and kids stand and scramble to find their groups. After all groups have shouted, “Got it!”, say the verse together. Say: “Today we will learn more about how the Holy Spirit helps people.”
Live It Out
Game – Star Chairs
Materials: chairs, index cards with stars of different colors on them, blank cards, tape, music
Set chairs randomly around the room (one chair per kid). Tape a card underneath each chair. Play music and lead kids to walk around the chairs in the room. Stop the music and every kid should sit in a chair. Say: “Red star!” All kids should look under their chairs. The kid(s) with the red star should stand. Ask a review question and those kids can answer. Play music and kids can move again. Continue stopping the music and calling out star color. After a few rounds, say: “No star!” All kids with blank cards should stand. Lead these kids to say the Weekly Verse.
Craft – Flame Headbands
Materials: construction paper, markers, glue, stapler and staples
Cut paper strips that will fit around the kids’ heads. Lead kids to print the Life Point on the paper strip. They can cut out flame shapes and glue to the strips. They can add other designs or shapes to the strips. Help them bend the strip around their heads; staple the ends of the strips together to create headbands. As kids wear their headbands, talk about the Bible story.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Communicate a Message
Materials: messages printed on paper: Good morning; God loves you; I am happy to see you; Sit over there; I am hungry; Good-bye. (Use whatever messages are pertinent to your group.)
Group kids into smaller groups. Give each group one of the messages. Tell groups to think of a way to communicate a message without saying it. After a few minutes, lead each group to try to communicate its message to the rest of the kids. After all groups have communicated their messages, tell kids that they will hear that the Holy Spirit helps people know about God’s plan of salvation.
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 play area. Group the kids into two teams. Teams should move to opposite sides of the play area (opposite sides of the table). Each team should form a circle. Play music and 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 – Verse Print Posters
Materials: cardstock paper, alphabet stamps of various sizes and types, stamp pads, washi tape
Open Bibles to John 14:26 and read the verse. Guide kids to use the materials to create posters of the verse that look like print shop posters. They can use the stamps in various sizes and styles to create the posters. They can use the washi tape to make borders and lines between words. As they work, talk about the Bible story and the Life Point.
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