Leader Guide

Group Game

  • Five stones or pebbles small enough for children to hide in their hands
  • Small bag
  • A cane, yardstick or stick about 3 feet long
  • Music player with an upbeat song

Let’s pretend that David is looking for five stones, but he is having trouble finding any! Have the children sit close together in a circle. Choose one child to be “David” and have him or her stand in the middle. Hand David the bag and cane or stick. Here is a bag for your stones, and here is your “shepherd’s staff,” cane, or stick.

Begin playing the music. Without revealing who is actually holding the stone, the children quickly pass the first stone from hand to hand around the circle, continuing to make passing motions even if they are not holding it. When you stop the music, David must guess who is holding the stone by placing the tip of the “shepherd’s staff” on the floor in front of a child. When correctly guessed, that child places the stone in the bag, takes the shepherd’s staff, and becomes David. The previous David then sits in the circle. Start the music and give the second stone to the group to pass. Continue play until all five stones have been found.