Note: These samples are intended to give you an idea of what the program is like but do not contain the entire contents for that week of the program
Here are a few pages of samples of the discovery learning material provided for one of the weeks of the Ground Rulz program.
To teach the children that if you treat people with kindness, you can soothe even the meanest person.
Luke 19:1-11 - Jesus and Zacchaeus
... books contains a paragraph to put it in perspective ...
Each week there needs to be a time set aside to worship God in song. It is a great way to start the time together and focus on God. Included in the package is a CD with 6 songs provided with vocals and/or backing tracks follow after on the CD. The masters of the words to these songs are in Appendix F. Copy them onto OHP transparency for the children to sing along with. You might like to get the children to make up actions for the songs. Alternatively, see Section 7 for details on a worship video which shows actions for many of the songs, taped in a live setting with kids enjoying worship.
Song Suggestions for this week:
1. Covered (CD- Track 1/ Backing Track - 7)
2. Be Like you (CD - Track 5 / Backing Track - 11)
Ben is feeling very destructive today. He plays a series of practical jokes on his friends and gets so hyped up that he loses control and doesn't realise that he ends up hurting Angie in one of the practical jokes. As the others fume, Angie decides to be nice and kind. This is not only part of her nature, but she decides to see if you can kill nastiness will kindness. Ben can't cope with her being so nice and finds it hard to continue to joke. He ends up helping her out and the others can't quite believe the change in Ben.
Character Spot:
Ms. Cruikshanks (See Section 4 for details of how to incorporate this character into the teaching.
Simulation Game
Set up a series of tabloid type games, placing the children in groups where they have 3 minutes to complete the task as a group and win points for their team. The team at the end with the most points wins the prize. Aim to have about 6 in each group.
Game ideas and further information in book...
The Catch:
Before they start the games, explain the catch. There will be a tax collector named "ZAC" roaming around. To be able to play this game, you have to obey him. He can “tax” you at any time that he likes. If you don't do what he says the whole team will be disqualified and will never have a chance to win the final prize. Have one of your leaders act as Zac, basically taking points from children for any reason. Watch for kids doing really well and take their winnings. The aim is to frustrate the children because it is not fair to lose their points for no reason.
The End of the game:
Have the tax collector leave, and get the kids to count up their points to see how many they have got and to see who the winner is. As they are doing this have the tax collector come running in saying “ stop stop. “
Leader: Oh, no are you going to tax the kids again , gee you're pretty rough. You certainly know how to make friends don't you... Who likes the tax collector ? ( to kids )
Zac: Well, I've got one friend
Leader: I find that hard to believe, why would anyone want to be your friend. All you do is take money from people.
Zac: Well, I thought nobody liked me anyway so it made me take more and more money from people. But I just met someone who wanted to spend time with me, just me, he was so kind ! He chose me to have dinner with. I've decided to be like him and be kind to others just as he was to me, so I'm giving all the money I've taken back , plus more - Here you are - ( throw all the points out for the kids to get ).
Leader: Alright ! What a change in him ! Just because someone was kind to him ! Hey Zac who was it ?
(Zac goes to leave)
Zac: Jesus!
Leader: Well, now count up your points and let's see who wins ! ( Award the group with the most points the prize. You might like to give all the children something for trying so hard , as you'll probably never know who the real winner was, and kids have a strong sense of fairness)
Colossians 3:12
"You are chosen by God for this new life of Love. Dress in the clothes God picked out for you...
Compassion Kindness"
See book for teaching instructions
Each week in your small groups discuss the following questions and see where they lead in discussion. They are good starters, feel free to be open to what the children want to talk about. You can do this while you are making your T-shirt design or you can do it before you design your T-Shirts. The questions are found in Section 6, make sure that each Small Group leader has a copy of their own well before the time. You can decide to have a central place to design T-Shirts where they come to at an allotted time or you can all have your own equipment and stay in the one spot each time for Small Group and Design. Section 6 also has more detail for how to make T-Shirts.
T-Shirt Design
Today the children will be sticking the patch or stamping the word "Kindness" onto their T-Shirt. (more detail in book)
Questions - A powerful Weapon
When someone hurts you what do you want to do to them?
How hard is it to be horrible to someone who is really kind to you?
Let's list 10 ways that we can be "Kind" to others?
Recap / Competition
See book for details
© 2012 Spot the Difference
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