Leader Guide
Game
- Unbreakable plastic plates: two per group of 4 or 6 children, depending on class size
- Painters tape or masking tape
- Whiteboard and marker, or chalkboard and chalk
- Eraser
Mark or tape two lines on the floor approximately 12 feet apart.
Have each team select a name and write it on the board.
Note: save plates for the Additional Activity, “Only One Thing.”
Jump up and down if you have ever been on a pogo stick.
Do you remember how close Chris was to the world record before he stopped to help Joy? He was halfway to the record.
Why wasn’t Chris feeling so good after he got off of his pogo stick? His stomach was doing flip flops from all of the jumping.
Martha wasn’t doing any bouncing, yet she was busy doing something else; do you remember what that was? Preparing to serve a big meal to Jesus and His disciples.
Yes; and we have combined both of these things into one game called Pogo Relay!
Have you ever seen a server in a restaurant carry two trays at a time? How do they carry the trays? Let a child demonstrate balancing the plates in the palms of their hands.
Very good; you would be an awesome server! Take the plates and balance them in the palms of your hands as you explain the game.
You will take a turn holding one plate in the palm of each hand. You cannot use your fingers to grip the plates; they must only be balanced on flat palms. The plates represent Martha, who was busy serving. Now let me think: what part do Chris and the pogo stick play in this game? Oh yes! You must hop or jump up and down as you balance the plates while moving from one line to the other. Demonstrate hopping with the plates from one line to the other.
Are you ready to bounce and serve?
Divide the children into even teams of 4 or 6 children. One child may need to take two turns if necessary.
Divide each team in half. The team halves stand at opposite ends behind the lines directly across from each other.
Give two plates to the first player of each team at one end.
The players place one plate on each palm. Start the game.
Players balance the plates while hopping/jumping to the other line.
They place the plates on the palms of the next teammate, who hops/jumps to the other line.
Continue this way until all players have taken one or two turns.
The team that finishes first wins.
Optional for Grades 1–3: Use only one plate if children find it too difficult to balance two plates.
Conclusion: Was it difficult to concentrate on doing both things at one time?
That is why Jesus said Mary made the right choice, to focus on the most important of all—spending time with Him. Let’s learn more about that now!