Leader Guide
Relay Game
- Two bedsheets, tablecloths or blankets; blue if possible
- Sixteen paper plates
- Marker
- Marbles or pennies; two per child plus extras
- Painters tape or masking tape
Make a disc out of two paper plates by placing them face to face and taping them together. Repeat this for the remaining plates to make a total of eight discs.
With the marker, write SUN on both sides of two discs. Repeat this for MOON, EARTH, and CLOUDS.
This will make a complete set of four SUN, MOON, EARTH, and CLOUDS discs for each team.
Spread out a sheet on the floor near one end of the room to make a flat rectangle.
Repeat with the other sheet, leaving at least 3 feet between them.
Tape or mark a line about 5 feet from the sheets.
Tape or mark a second line about 5 feet from the first line.
Tape or mark a third line about 5 feet from the second line.
Adjust the distances as necessary to fit your room.
Let’s play a fun game to fill the heavens with God’s creations.
The sheets on the floor represent the heavens or sky above us. The sky is empty, and it is up to you to fill it!
Hold up a marble or a coin. Each of these represents a star that God created.
Hold up a disc. The discs represent Earth, the sun, moon, and clouds that God created.
Divide the children into two equal teams. One child may need to play twice or a leader may join in.
Have the teams line up behind the first line.
Give a set of four different discs (sun, moon, Earth, clouds) to an older player on each team. Note that throwing the discs accurately is harder than tossing the coins or rolling the marbles—so you may wish to ask for volunteers who want a harder challenge! Each of those players will have 2 discs (any 2 of the 4 discs). This gives each team a set of four different discs.
Give the remaining players on each team two marbles or pennies.
Tell the children that this is a relay, but not a race, so there is no need to hurry.
Teams play at the same time.
The first player from each team will walk from the starting line to the middle line. Each player will toss a coin, roll a marble, or throw a disc to try to land it on the sheet (sky).
The player then walks to the next line, which is closest to the sheet, and repeats the action with the second coin, marble or disc.
The player returns to the team and the next player takes a turn.
Each coin or marble that lands and remains on the sheet (sky) scores 5 points for the team. Any coin or marble that is partially on the sheet when play ends is awarded one point.
Each disc scores 10 points when it lands at least partially on the sheet (sky).
The team with the most points after each player has taken a turn, wins. Play again if time permits.
Optional: Give children one marble and one coin instead of two coins or two marbles; or give one child one disc and one coin or marble, etc.