Leader Guide
Craft/Game
- Bible or the Superbook Bible App
- Flying Crown Pattern
- The Right Thing Pattern
- Stapler or tape
- Pencils, crayons, or washable markers
Make copies of the Flying Crown Pattern, one per child plus extras.
Make one copy of The Right Thing Pattern.
Make a model of the crown to display.
Mark or tape a line about 3 feet from a wall to be the target area. See illustration below. Place “The Right Thing” sign on the floor in the middle of the target area.
Mark or tape a throw line about 8–10 feet away from the target area. This can be adjusted for best distance as the game is played.
Mark or tape a start line about 10 feet from the throw line.
To Make:
- Print one “crown” per child, using landscape orientation.
- With the print facing down, fold diagonally along the black dashed line.
- Flip the sheet over so the crown is facing you and fold the bottom over itself in 1/4" increments following the gray dashed lines.
- Roll the sheet into a cylinder with the crown facing outwards and tape the two folded points together.
To Throw:
- Cradle the crown in the palm of your hand between your thumb and index finger. The base of the crown should be close to your little finger.
- Gently throw the crown in an overhand motion as if throwing a baseball.
- To add more weight to the crown and ensure a better flight, add some paper clips to the base of the crown.
Do you remember in the video when Joy tried on Queen Esther’s crown?
Have you ever imagined being a king or queen?
Do you remember the amazing story of how Esther became queen?
Optional: read Esther 2:16–17:
Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.
Now, you are each going to make your own crown to use in this game.
Hand out the patterns and supplies to each child. Have children write their names on their crowns before folding them. Display the model crown you made previously. Have the children follow the directions to assemble their crowns and assist them as necessary.
God had placed Esther in her position as queen so she could do the right thing and save the Jewish people from being killed. Remember the message Mordecai sent to Esther?
Read Esther 4:14:
“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Let's play a game using our crowns. Here is something fun: the crowns will fly when you throw them properly! We are going to aim our crowns at “The Right Thing”—which is our target area between the wall and the first line. Now, this game isn’t going to be easy, just like doing the right thing isn’t always easy.
Divide the children into two teams and have the teams line up behind the start line. Explain that the first player on each team must place the crown on top of his/her head and balance it while walking to the “throw line.” If a crown falls off, it must be placed back on the head before continuing.
When they reach the “throw line,” players remove their crowns and throw them toward the target area. Players must leave their crowns exactly where they fall—whether it is in the target area or not—and return to their teams. The next players take their turns. The game ends when all players have thrown their crowns. Each team receives one point for every crown that lands in “The Right Thing” target area. A team gets three points if a crown actually lands on “The Right Thing” sign. Have an assistant or a sixth grade helper read the names on the crowns to award points to the proper team. Play another round if time permits.
You did very well! Was it harder to balance the crown or to aim and hit the target area?
Esther had the courage from God to do what was right, even when it was difficult and dangerous for her. When we put our trust in God’s strength and not our own, we can have the courage to do what is right, too!
