Leader Guide
I Spy Game
- Bibles or the Superbook Bible App
- Spy Card Pattern
- Scissors
- Timer: clock/watch with second hand, stopwatch, timer app
- Pencils
Make two copies of the Spy Card Pattern.
Cut out the cards. Keep one set of cards for Joshua—teacher/leader.
Scout your room and add or rearrange items that appear on card to facilitate game play. It is recommended that all items are in full view so children will not need to open drawers, cabinets, containers, etc. to locate items.
Note: there are blank cards on the backside of the Spy Card Pattern. You may create your own cards with things that are in your classroom already or items that you add in the room for this activity.
Do you remember how Joshua gathered information about the city of Jericho?He sent two spies to go inside Jericho’s walls.
Read Joshua 2:1a:
Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.”
Joshua needed to gather as much information as he could in preparation for attacking the city of Jericho. Do you remember what the spies told Joshua when they returned?
Read Joshua 2:23–24:
Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. “The Lord has given us the whole land,” they said, “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.”
How do you think Joshua felt when he heard the spies’ report?
We are going to play a game where each of you will become one of Joshua’s spies!
Divide the class into two teams. Two spies from each team will play at the same time. If the class is larger than 16 children, have four play at the same time. Explain that you are Joshua and you need each spy team to gather information and find certain items to help prepare for battle! Important: for each round, both teams must receive the same card and look for the same types of items. It is good strategy for each team to work quietly so the other team cannot hear!
Each team will search for the items on the card and write down the things they find that match the description. The teams get only 30 seconds, increase to a minute for younger children to “spy” and locate the items. Each team may list as many additional items that fit the description as possible for possible extra points. Once the time ends, stop the game and have the teams read their answers, pointing to and identifying as necessary the specific item/person they chose. If the teams chose the same item/person—those items cancel each other and no points are scored. For each item that is unique and accurate, the team scores one point. Record the scores for each team. After all teams have played, the team with the most points wins.
Conclusion: How did it feel to be a spy on an important mission for Joshua?
Would you have liked to be one of the actual spies that Joshua sent; why or why not?
Joshua showed great obedience and courage in following God’s plan of action to defeat Jericho! It may have seemed impossible to take that city, yet Joshua was convinced that nothing could stand against God!