Wandering in the Desert Game

Note: the original idea for this game came from this site, and I have added additional layers to the game play (such as the spies), and the questions may be modified to fit a variety of age ranges. To the original game- makers, thanks for this great game!

Students: age 7 and up
Number of players: 4 or more
Time allotment: 10-15 minutes

Guiding Scriptures:

Numbers 13, 14
Joshua 1-3

Objective:

Students will answer true/ false questions in an attempt to move forward as a team. 

Materials Needed:

2 scarves or visually designating items (for spies)
masking tape, two lines 10-15 feet long, laid out in parallel 15 feet away from one another
Optional: candy or gum, for keeping mouths occupied as a reminder to refrain from speaking

Instructions:

1. Have all the students line up along one line of tape, facing the other line. When all students have lined up, no student may talk- specify non-verbal communication is encouraged, especially hand-raising, but nothing may be said or vocalized. Tell students they will be asked true/ false questions, and when they believe the answer to be true, they raise his/ her hand- and if they believe it to be false, to keep his/ her hand down. Correctly answered questions result in the taking of a step, but incorrectly answered questions require a step backwards by the student.

2. Randomly assign the "spy" designations to two students, preferably standing relatively far away from one another. These students, on specified "spy" questions, determine the fate of the team as a whole: if both spies answer correctly, everyone gets to move to the point of the farthest team member. If one or both are incorrect, everyone must move back to the point of the least-advanced team member.

3. Instruct students they are about to embark on a journey as a team- the Children of Israel! They've just crossed the Red Sea, and now they must journey through the wilderness in order to get to the promised land- the other piece of masking tape on the floor. As you ask students questions, every fifth question can be designated a "spy" question. Remind students the goal is to reach the promised land as a team, as individual winners will be required to step back to the place of the person behind him/ her.

4. The game is truly won when every student steps across the finish line together, and at this point gum may be spit out before going to another activity or lesson.

Follow-Up Discussion Questions:

How did you feel, not being able to talk to one another? 

Who was it the real spies had to put their faith in, as they explored the promised land?

What happened to the other spies who listened to the people, instead of putting faith in God?

Why did no one individual person win the game?

Spies in the Flax Game

This game we played at VBS when studying the story of Rahab, as her faith saved both herself and her family. I originally found this game here- thanks so much for the idea! The kids loved it!

Students: age 5 and up
Number of participants: 5 and up
Time allotment: 7-10 minutes

Guiding Scriptures:

Joshua 2, 6
Hebrews 11:31
James 2:25

Objective:

Students will play this modified version of tag by either posing as stems of flax, the spies, or the king's men. Students will "hide" in the flax by sneaking in between the two flax team members, placing his or her hands on the other student's shoulders.

Materials Needed:

scarf, hat, or other easily identifying object (optional, but recommended)
a starting "x" or line out of masking tape- place at the edge of the room

Instructions:

1. Separate students into pairs spread out across the play space, instructing the students that these pairs are stalks of flax. Students must face each other and put hands on one another's shoulders.

2. Identify two students as spies, instructing them to keep away from the king's man by "hiding" in the flax. In order to hide, a spy must slip in between two "flax" students, placing his or her hands on the shoulders of one of the students. The student who the spy replaces (now behind the spy) becomes the spy, and he or she must hide from the king's man in like fashion- only in another pair of flax. Students may not return to a former flax partner, if possible.

3. Identify one student (or, if there's an even number of students, yourself) as the king's man. Place the object around the person's neck or on his/ her head to signify the title (optional), and have the student start at the starting "x" or line. This student's job is to attempt to tag the spies, at which point the king's man and the spy trade jobs. After the trade is made, the new king's man must first return to the starting point before he or she can successfully tag any spies.

4. Continue game play until each student has had the chance to become a spy.

Follow-up Discussion Questions:

Were the spies actually caught by the king's men?

What did God think about Rahab's hiding of the spies- was he pleased? Disappointed?

What did the spies promise Rahab?

What did Rahab still have to do, in order for the promise from the spies to be kept?

The Mercy Game

At our VBS, the last day's topic was the unmerciful servant. Our kids played the following game to help demonstrate the importance of sharing mercy which has been so graciously given to us through our Savior:

Students: ages 5 and up
Number of participants: 2-up, preferably an even number
Time allotment: 6-10 minutes

Guiding Scriptures:

Matthew 18:21-35; the parable of the unforgiving servant

Ephesians 2:4-5

Micah 6:8

(feel free to add more- there are many more in Scripture!)

Objective:

Students will discuss the need for mercy from God, with the coins will demonstrate how mercy from God is first received and then given to others.

Materials Needed:

chocolate coins
tulle bags, small clear boxes, etc.
(place 2-3 chocolate coins in each container, one per student.)
3x5 notecards
pencils/ writing utensils

Instructions:

1. Each student is handed a note card and pencil. Ask an open- ended question about sin's definition, and lead the line of questioning to the discussion of reasons why we need mercy from God. Have students write one action on the note card which requires God's mercy.

2. Give each student a box of chocolate coins, explaining God gives mercy where it's not deserved, and this mercy is a precious gift- more precious than money can buy.

3. Have each student flip over the note card, and ask the students to now think of (and write on the note card) an example of something they've done that required them asking for someone else's mercy and forgiveness, or an example of something they've forgiven of someone else. 

4. Divide the students into two (hopefully equal) groups. Have group 2's members hold up their note cards. 

5. Instruct group 1 to find a student in group 2 who is in need of mercy and give it to him/ her, in the form of the box of chocolates, with each student in group 2 receiving "mercy". Instruct the students to then sit back down when finished and each hold up his/ her card.

6. Instruct the students in group 2 to now, since they have 2 boxes of "mercy", to grant mercy to a student in group 1 by giving each student 1 box. 

Follow-up Discussion Questions:

Group 1: How did you feel, when giving chocolates to members of group 2- who already had a box of chocolate? (Direct the conversation toward a discussion of having faith that the other group would be doing the same activity in kind.)

Group 2: How did you feel, receiving a second box of chocolates- did this gift make it easier to give one box back to a student who now had no box of "mercy"?

All students: Who is the greatest giver of mercy to mankind? If HE has given us such great mercy, what does he then expect of us toward our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? What are some ways in which we can show mercy to others?