Leader Guide
Wisdom Game
- Bag of 100 multi-color pompoms, ½–1 inch in diameter
- Toothpicks, one per child
- Four large plastic bowls
- Table and two chairs
- Whiteboard and marker or chalkboard and chalk, to keep score
- Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with second hand, or timer app
- Sixth grade helper to keep score
Have a sixth grade helper or another volunteer keep score on the board.
Place half of the pompoms (about 50) in one plastic bowl and the other half in a second bowl. There should be a mixture of all colors in both bowls.
Choose 2 colors of pompoms to represent God’s wisdom, such as red and blue. All the other colors will represent the world’s wisdom.
Place two chairs at the table facing the class. Place a bowl of pompoms plus an empty bowl on the table in front of each chair.
We have been discussing how important it is to know the source of true wisdom. Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “True wisdom comes from God.”
You may have heard someone say, “You are just too picky.” Maybe you have even told someone this. Well, in this game, your goal is to be picky. And what better way is there to be picky than with a toothpick! Sit down at the table facing the children. Hold up the toothpick and tilt the bowl on the table so children can see the pompoms.
These pompoms represent godly wisdom and false wisdom. Even if others around us may accept false wisdom, it isn’t true wisdom, and we need to reject it as followers of Christ. This is why you need to be picky and only choose God’s wisdom.
Place an empty plastic bowl right-side-up on the top of your head and hold it in place with one hand. Hold a toothpick in your other hand and demonstrate as you speak. You will have1 minute to pick up God’s wisdom which is represented by the {color} and {color} pompoms and place them in your bowl. This represents believing God’s wisdom. All of the other colors are false wisdom. Be picky and don’t pick them up! Each pompom of God’s wisdom successfully placed in the bowl on your head scores five points. If you accidentally place a false wisdom pompom into the bowl, you lose five points. Pompoms that fall to the floor don’t count.
Divide the children into two equal teams; one player may need to play twice.
If any players are colorblind, pair them with other players who can coach them about what colors to pick.
Have teams form two lines a few feet away from the front of the table so they can all watch and cheer for their teammates.
Have the first player on each team sit in the chair directly across from their team.
The players will each hold the bottom of an empty bowlwith one hand on top of their heads.
Shout, “Be picky with wisdom!” and start the timer for 60 seconds (or a time that you choose).
Players try to put as many pompoms of the colors you specified into the bowls on top of their heads.
After time expires, players and teams count the pompoms that were picked. Score five points for each pompom representing God’s wisdom; subtract five points for each of the world’s wisdom pompoms. Record the scores on the board for each team.
Return all of the pompoms to the original bowls and mix them up again.
Repeat for each set of players. The team with the most points wins.
Conclusion: You were all very picky players—and in this game, that was good! It is so important for each of us to be selective about what wisdom we choose to listen to and use to guide our lives. We can always trust God’s wisdom to lead us on the right path so we can grow strong in Christ!