Leader Guide
Optional Opening Game
- Gift Page
- Twelve water bottles 1/4 full of water (can substitute empty pop/soda cans)
- Four different color or pattern socks
- Painter's tape or masking tape
- Scissors
Make two copies of the Gift Page in color or black and white.
Cut out the twelve individual gift cards. There will be two cards of each design.
Tape one card on each bottle or can.
Make two sock balls by rolling up two different socks for each ball.
Someone is having a birthday at Quantum Labs and the big question is what to give for a gift. Jump up and down if you like to receive gifts. Children respond.
It's fun to receive a gift on a special day like your birthday or for no reason at all!
Stand next to the bottles. Gifts are not always the same, and they come in all shapes and sizes. That's part of the fun, to guess what a gift is before opening it. Look closely, do you notice anything about these gift pictures? There are two of each type of gift.
Yes, there are two of each kind of gift. In this game, we want only different gifts.
Hold up the sock balls. Even the balls are different! (Different colors and/or patterns). This game is played like bowling. You will get two turns to roll these sock balls to knock over gift bottles.
Hold up two of the same gift bottles. You will try to knock over just one of each kind. The goal is to only have six different gift bottles standing. Lay down one of each type of gift bottle.
Does everyone understand how to play? Children respond.
Stand the bottles up again. A leader will stand behind the bottles to coach the children, roll the balls back to Line #1 for the next child's turn, and to remove or stand up the bottles.
The first player rolls one ball at a time. When one of the pair of bottles is knocked over, it is removed from play. If the second bottle of that pair is knocked over, it is stood upright again.
Players take turns rolling the sock balls until only the six different gift bottles are standing.
Conclusion: The gifts look different, but no gift is better than the other. It's the same with people, God didn't create us exactly alike. He gave us each different gifts, abilities and talents. No person is better than another and because God made us all, we must show kindness and love to everyone, especially those who are different than us. Now let's talk about something that goes along with gifts!