Leader Guide
Game
- Sixteen pieces of cardstock or thick paper
- Optional: fine tipped marker
- Tape
- Scissors
- Match Cards
Make a set of 32 double-sided Match Cards. Four cards will be blank with numbers on reverse. If your printer cannot make double-sided copies, print the side with the images and write a number on the back of each, from 1 to 32.
Cut the cards apart and shuffle them.
Tape the cards (number side out) in four rows of eight cards on a wall; or if you prefer not to tape the cards, you may lay them out on a table or the floor.
The reason for the Christmas season is the birth of Jesus. Let’s play a matching game that compares symbols of the world’s meaning of Christmas to symbols of the true meaning of Christmas.
Divide the class into two teams. Have each team sit together as a group.
You are going to try to select two matching cards. Teams will alternate turns. A turn consists of two guesses by the same player of a team.
The player chooses one card number. The teacher turns the card over so all can see. The same player then chooses a second card number trying to match the first card. If the cards match, the cards are taken out of play and given to the player who matched them. If there is no match, the cards are placed back on the wall, number side out. The next team then takes a turn.
After each match, ask the children if the cards represent the true meaning of Christmas. Emphasize that symbols like the Christmas tree, gifts, etc. are not necessarily bad, but they are secondary to the spiritual significance of Christmas and should not become more important than Jesus’ birth!
The four blank cards must remain in play the entire game to make it more challenging. Continue until all cards are matched. The team with the most matches wins.