Game

Do you remember what Isaac used to count the stars in the video? An abacus.

What did the stars represent to Isaac? God’s promise to bless Abraham with descendants that would outnumber the stars.

Today, we are going to use an abacus to play a fun game! Find someone you don’t know very well to be your partner. 

If you have an uneven number of children, ask an assistant or sixth grade helper to pair up with a child so everyone has a partner. Hand out an abacus pattern and ten “counters” — small pebbles, dried corn, beans, coins, etc. to each child. Have the children place them on tables where they can easily use them during the game.

Demonstrate how to use the abacus to count. As an example, count to 12 out loud, slowly while showing the children how to move the first counter across each of the nine spots in the the Ones row, then place it in the first spot in the Tens row to indicate 10. Then take a second counter and move it into the second spot in the Ones row to indicate 2. The counters in the two rows together then total 12. For older children, you may wish to test their understanding of the abacus by asking them to use it to show the number 321—a counter in the third spot of the Hundreds row, a counter in the second spot of the Tens row, and a counter in the first spot of the Ones row.

Explain that as you announce each task, one child in each pair will do the activity for one minute while the partner keeps track of the number of repetitions by moving one or more counters across the abacus. Then they will switch, so all the children have an opportunity to perform every task and also to count for their partners. Announce each task and briefly demonstrate how to do it, then start the timer for the first child in each pair to do the activity as many times as possible in one minute. At the end of one minute, stop the timer and have the children shout their scores. Restart the timer for the other child to do the task for one minute while the partner counts. Feel free to eliminate any activity and/or substitute your own! For large classes, optional balloons and stacking items may be shared. Have half the class do the balloon activities while the other half does the stacking activities, then switch.

Ready? One partner uses the abacus to count while the other partner does this activity:

1. One-hand toss: Child tosses the ball—or balloon—in the air and catches it with the same hand; partner uses abacus to keep count. Younger children or those with special needs may throw and catch with both hands. To make it harder for older children: count how many times the ball can be caught without being dropped.
2. Over head and behind back clap: Child raises arms over head and claps once, then reaches arms behind back to clap once; partner uses abacus to count each set of claps as one.
3. One-hand flick and catch: Child balances the ball on the back of one hand, then flicks it upward and catches it in the palm of that same hand; partner uses abacus to count how many times this can be done. To make it harder for older children: partner counts how many times the ball is caught in succession, without being dropped.
4. Stand on one foot: Child stands on one foot while partner uses the abacus and counts the seconds by saying “One second, Two seconds, Three seconds,” etc.
5. Ball balance on back of wrist: Child balances ball on back of wrist while partner uses the abacus and counts the seconds by saying “One second, Two seconds, Three seconds,” etc.
6. Hold your breath: Child holds breath while partner uses the abacus and counts the seconds by saying “One second, Two seconds, Three seconds,” etc.
7. Optional - Balloon punch: Child makes a fist and continually punches a balloon into the air while the partner uses the abacus to keep count. To make it harder: partner counts how many times the balloon is punched without being dropped.
8. Optional — Stack objects: One child makes the tallest tower possible while the partner counts how many objects are used before the tower falls.

You were very good at doing the tasks! Did you like doing the tasks or using the abacus the most? 

Did anyone run out of counters and need to get more? 

You can be sure Isaac would have run out of counters trying to count the stars! That is why God used sand and stars to describe His blessings to His children—they are beyond number! Now, let’s learn more about Isaac and Abraham’s test!