Leader Guide
Game
- If possible, play this game outdoors or in an area where spilled water doesn’t cause problems
- Two large water containers which will serve as “wells,” such as five-gallon buckets, clean plastic trash cans, or cooking pots
- Water: about 2 gallons
- Two plastic cups that a hole can be punched in
- String: 8 feet
- Two “camel troughs,” such as wallpaper trays, rectangular metal cake pans or plastic plant containers, etc.
- Towels: about six to place underneath containers and wipe up spills
- Scissors, knife, or power drill to make holes in cups
- Sixth grade helpers or other volunteers to dip cups into water and wipe up spills
- Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock, or timer app
Cut the string into two 4-foot pieces.
Near the top of each plastic cup, carefully make two holes on opposite sides using the drill, knife or scissors.
Feed the string through the holes on the cups. Leave equal lengths of string on each side. You may wish to knot the string on either side of the cup so it doesn’t slide.
Place two towels on the floor near one end of the game area, with several feet between them.
Place a container of water on each towel.
Place two towels on the floor about 15 feet from the first set of towels, leaving some space between them.
Place a “camel trough" on each towel.
Hold up the cups with strings, then point to the “camel troughs” and “wells” as you talk. Demonstrate how two children should each hold one string of the cup, dip it into the “well” to get water, then walk with it to the “camel trough.” Emphasize that they must work together to balance the cup so it doesn’t tip and spill!
Let’s start by answering the question that was asked in Large Group. How did Rebekah show hospitality to Eliezer? She gave him water to drink and watered all of his camels. She said he could stay with her family. She agreed to go with him to be Isaac’s wife.
Today, you have an important job to do, water Eliezer’s thirsty camels! You will work in pairs to dip the cup into the well to fill the “trough.” Rebekah did all the hard work by herself to lift the jugs of water and carry them to the trough. Can you imagine how much water it would take to give ten camels a drink? Gizmo told us that just one thirsty camel can drink up to 25 gallons! Can someone do the math and tell us how many gallons that would be for ten camels? 250.
Yes; 250! Rebekah had to draw water dozens of times to satisfy Eliezer’s camels.
You will have an easier job than she did because you will work with a partner. Each player holds onto one end of the string to carefully take the cup to the camels’ watering trough. There you will dump the water from the cup into the trough. Let’s get going; those camels are thirsty!
Divide the class into two teams.
Each team’s players form a line with pairs of two children behind a water container.
Give a cup to the first pair of children on each team. Each player holds one end of the string.
Shout, “Water the camels!” A pair of children from each team will dip their cup into the water, using their hands a little to submerge the cup to gather water. Optional: Tell the players they must keep their hands dry, and have a sixth grade helper or another volunteer dip the cups.
The pair must raise the cup from the “well” only by lifting the strings together at the same time to keep the cup level; they may not use their hands to level the cup!
The pair carefully holds the cup only by the strings and walks to their team’s “camel trough” to carefully dump the water—again, without using their hands!
They must then walk back to their team carrying the cup between them, give it to the next pair on their team, then go to the end of the line.
The next pair of children takes a turn and does the same thing.
If teams are even, play until everyone has had a turn, then see which team’s trough has the most water. Or, set the timer for 5 minutes or longer, as time allows, to see which team can put the most water in their trough.
Conclusion: Which was most difficult: filling the cup, walking with the water, or dumping it into the trough?
Eliezer knew that God had answered his prayer when Rebekah brought water for all of his camels! Now, let’s learn more about how God hears our prayers!