Leader Guide
Scoop Game
- Bibles or the Superbook Bible App
- Two identical small scoops, like for a powdered drink mix, or measuring spoons
- Two small dish towels or hand towels
- Four containers, such as small plastic buckets or wastebaskets
- Dried beans, popcorn kernels, uncooked rice, or pea gravel
Put the dried beans or other dry material in two containers and place them at one end of the room, several feet apart from each other.
Place a small scoop on top of each full container.
Place the empty containers at the other end of the room.
Read Ruth 3:15–17:
Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town. When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
Divide the children into two equal teams. One child may play twice if necessary.
Have the children line up beside the empty containers.
Choose an older child from each team to be Boaz, who will each stand beside a filled container and scoop the beans or dry material for the other children.
You will each be Ruth on your turn. First, place the towel on your shoulders, which represents the cloak Ruth wore. You will leave home, walk quickly to the other end of the room, and spread the towel out on the floor. Boaz will carefully place six scoops of grain into the middle of your towel. Carefully gather the ends of the towel and carry it home on your shoulder, then empty it into the container. If any grain is spilled, the player and teammates must pick up every piece and put it into the container. Each player will repeat this on their turn. The first team to do this—and get ALL of their grain into the container!—wins.
Option: To make the game easier, you may have Boaz place just one scoop of grain on each child’s towel. Children may gather the towel with the grain and carry it in front of them instead of placing it over their shoulders.
Conclusion: Ruth went to see Boaz on the threshing floor and carefully followed all of Naomi’s instructions. Boaz blessed Ruth and Naomi with six scoops of grain that Ruth did not have to glean in the hot sun! God also redeems us and places blessings in our lives when we follow His Word!