2 Dec 2012, Advent and Waiting for Christmas

16 children, aged 8-11

What we did:

1. Game - What's In It?

We had 9 pre-wrapped objects available for display on the table.

 

The kids have to guess what is in each wrapped present. No touching! Their answers are written on paper, we then go thru each one, seeing what people have & seeing who is right.

Kids loved this game, it had a Christmas feel!

Point of this was to introduce the idea of Christmas and waiting for it & waiting for good things

Items used included: Stapler, pen, computer mouse, DVD case, keys, skittle, Christmas tree (a small one, not a 6 foot one!)

 

2.    Discussion  - Who Does What at Advent?

We spoke about Advent, and it’s meaning.

Then thought about what we should be doing in the run up to Christmas.

The Children then had 3 post its, coloured Pink, Yellow and Green. On these they wrote down what their Mums/Aunts (pink), Dads/Uncles (green) and themselves (Yellow) would be doing on the run up to Christmas.

We then looked at how many of them are to do with Jesus – and not many of them were. Some examples are below. (Mums get stressed, Dads jump around happy and Children EAT CHOCOLATE)

 

 

 

3.    Video  - 'The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe' (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Clip played was from approx.  01:14 & showed the kids crossing the frozen lake as it melted.

Before this happened I gave them questions (to focus their attention)

¨      What are the signs of the spring coming?

¨      Why do you think Winter disappears after Aslan comes into Narnia?

¨      How has this affected the people of Narnia?

¨      What does it help them to believe about Aslan?

¨      Do you know how Aslan is like Jesus?

 

After the clip was shown we discussed the questions. The link between Jesus and light in a dark world was picked up by a couple of kids.

 

 

4.    Christmas Worship & Calendar drawing

Whilst we played a “Christmas song”, the kids thought about how much God Loves them, not just at Christmas but all year. They drew a picture on some coloured card and stuck on a 2013 calendar on it. They all took this home.

Song played was Steven Curtis Chapman “Our God is With Us”  

 

 

We discussed the meaning of “Emmanuel” (used in this song a lot)

Some photos of the calendars are below.

 

6.    Baby Taboo/Charades

To link  back to the “baby” Jesus, we played a fun game of Taboo- where the kids have to describe a word without saying it. Words were baby related  = Bib, Cot, High Chair, Nappy, Dummy and others….

 

7.    Bible Story & with Actions

A story based on Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-24 was read out. Actions for the words “Baby” “Angel” “Afraid” ”Holy” were made when those words were said. The kids liked that -  they seem to love dramatic actions!

 

8.    Final Prayer & finish

 

Lessons Learnt: 

The kids were lively, but controllable. We didn’t get as much done as needed because of the time taken to be quiet.

The initial game took longer than expected, but they liked it.

Some kids clearly saw the link with the film with Jesus being the light.

 

 

18 November 2012 - Robots & we are wonderfully made

Approx. 30 children, aged 5 – 11,     Time: approx. 45 minutes

What we did:

1.      Game  -  Rampaging Robots - as per John Hardwick Razzmatazz Robots game (page 44)

2.      Talk - Overview of what we are doing.
first looking at Robots, leader shows a robot already made & discusses how rubbish it is,

       but God made us and we are much better than a robot. So we are thinking today about how wonderful and great we are as human beings.
Discussion about what else God created …. Leading to animals….

3.      Song  - Lovely Jubbly

4.      Craft  - Robot mask and box robot, shown below – as per John Hardwick Razzmatazz Robots craft (Page 76 & 77]
2 options, 1 was a simple “robot mask” another was a more complex “box robot”minature versions are shown below for information, each printed out on A4 white card.

 

5.      Memory verse  “I praise you because I’m fearfully and wonderfully made” Ps 139v14

Each word was written on a sheet of paper. Paper was handed out one for each child. All the kids with paper lined up and worked out which order the words go. Leader read out bible verse to give a clue (different translation). Remaining kids (without paper) helped them.

When in order, all kids read out memory verse.
some kids with paper are taken out of the line, and verse is said with less words.

With actions of course.

6.      Final Prayer (we had to quickly join the main service)

Memory verse was quoted in front of church without any words (but with actions!)

What went well:

• Rampaging Robots went well.
• Kids loved the craft, I made 20 copies of each, however the easier one (mask) ran out - lots of the kids wanted to do this. None of the more complex robots were completed (box robot), but the kids took them home. One child completed the box robot during the rest of the church service, and showed me afterwards.
• Could have done with more time (story of my life)
• Most of the kids joined in the memory verse in front of church, including all the actions. One child was eager to show what the British Sign Language for "Because" was. This was incorporated in to the actions.
• Feedback from one of the helpers, "it went well" :) nice to have some feedback!