Leader Guide
Neighbor Game
- Neighbor Top Pattern and Neighbor Bottom Pattern
- Poster boards: one for each team of 10 students
- Sticky notes, one per child; or, make one copy of the Heart Pattern for every six children; cut apart the hearts, then place a small, rolled-up piece of tape on the back of each heart
- Pencils or crayons for children to draw hearts on sticky notes
For each team of up to 10 students, make a copy of the Neighbor Top Pattern and the Neighbor Bottom Pattern, and cut them out. Form one complete neighbor figure by gluing a top pattern above a bottom pattern on a poster board.
Repeat for additional teams.
Give a sticky note and pencil to each child. Tell them to draw a heart and write their names on their sticky notes. Optional: if sticky notes are not available, make one copy of the Heart Pattern for every six children, cut the hearts apart, and place a small piece of rolled-up tape on the back of each one.
Place neighbor figures on poster boards on or against a wall a few feet apart, at a height where all children can reach the top.
Mark or tape a line about 20 feet away from the neighbor figures.
If playing with just one neighbor figure for a smaller class, time the players to see how long it takes to cover up all the needs. You may play again to try to beat the first time.
Our game today is based on part of Jesus’ parable. Read Luke 10:33–34:
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”
The Samaritan cared for the wounded man’s physical needs. What are some needs that our own neighbors may have today? Here’s a hint: their needs may not be just physical. They may be hungry, sick, lonely, afraid, worried, disabled, hurt, sad, mocked, or lost—need to know Jesus.
Give sticky notes and pencils to each child to draw a heart and write his/her name on the front; or, pass out the Heart Patterns that are cut apart with rolled-up tape on the back.
We are going to play a game about caring for our neighbors’ needs. Instead of covering their wounds with bandages, we are going to cover them with the hearts we have drawn. Can you guess why? We want to share God’s love with our neighbors in need.
On your turn, you will take your heart and place it over a need on the neighbor. Each need must be completely covered up.
Divide the children into equal teams of no more than 10 players each. If teams are uneven, one player may play twice.
Have teams line up behind the line or mark. Teams play at the same time.
When you say “Go,” each player hops on one foot to the team’s neighbor figure and places a sticky note over a need.
The player then hops backward on the other foot back to the team, and the next player begins.
Continue until all players have played.
The first team to have all needs covered wins.
If a sticky note is not large enough to cover a need, other children may use their sticky notes to cover it. If time permits, allow children to peel off the sticky notes and repeat the game, but give different directions about how to travel to and from the neighbor figure, such as twirling, doing jumping jacks, etc.
After the game, discuss how to meet each of the needs with compassion.