Children's resources
Want a fresh activity to get your kids excited about reaching the world? Have we got some "Bright Ideas!" for you!
Produced by Wycliffe's US team with ideas from around the world, these fun, interactive lessons, from simulations to stories, ethnic meals to hilarious games, slight-of-hand stunts to crafts to linguistic problem-solving. You'll love the easy-to-follow instructions, minimal outside preparation, masters for overheads and handouts, and thought-provoking Discussion and Application Sections.
Preschool age
Primary School Age
Teens and up
Extras for good measure
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Preschool age
Ashes, ashes . . . (pdf 127k)
| Description: | Nursery rhyme games with mission-oriented words |
| Aim: | Teach that kids can do missions too |
| Audience: | 2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 5 min each |
| Equipment: | Inflatable globe |
| Scripture: | Luke 18:28-30 |
Balloon Bibles (pdf 126k)
| Description: | A palm paddle game |
| Aim: | Learn that God wants us to take/send the Good news to people who still wait, and look for ways to do it |
| Audience: | 2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate help |
| Time: | 10-20 minutes |
| Equipment: | Balloons, paper plates, elastic, various other items for optional obstacle course |
| Scripture: | Matthew 28:19 |
Big Team (pdf 298k)
| Description: | Children draw their full body silhouettes and personalize with a job they could do |
| Aim: | Learn ways of serving on God's team |
| Audience: | 2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 15 minutes |
| Equipment: | Large rolls of paper, tape, crayons, scissors, photocopies |
| Scripture: | Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:16 |
Homes Afar (pdf 112k)
| Description: | Missionary playhouses from around the world |
| Aim: | Teach that missionaries live in many different types of homes and teach kids to pray |
| Audience: | 2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes, extensive set-up time |
| Equipment: | Large cardboard appliance boxes, paint, blankets, tents, crayons |
| Scripture: | Matthew 19:29, 1 Timothy 6:8 |
How We Travel (pdf 564k)
| Description: | A matching game and handwork page with sets of transportation |
| Aim: | Teach about missionary travel and learn to pray |
| Audience: | Pre-school, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes, extensive set-up time |
| Equipment: | Photocopies, 18" x 24" paper, music, glue sticks, and scissors for work page option |
| Scripture: | 2 Corinthians 11:26 |
Job Box (pdf 261k)
| Description: | Guess missionary occupations from clues, plus colouring pages |
| Aim: | Teach children that missionaries do different jobs and to pray for missionaries |
| Audience: | Preschool, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | Shoebox: 2-5 minutes, colouring pages: 2-3 minutes |
| Equipment: | Shoebox filled with items listed |
| Scripture: | Colossians 3:17 |
The Go-Rope (pdf 151k)
| Description: | Tight-rope walking on the floor, plus two crafts |
| Aim: | Teach that missionaries go to others |
| Audience: | 2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes each |
| Equipment: | Rope, Bibles, picture of Jesus, various items for stepping over; paper and crayons or paint, overhead projector |
| Scripture: | Romans 10:15, Mark 16:15 |
Travel Bag (pdf 120k)
| Description: | Pack a bag with items a missionary needs |
| Aim: | General missions education and learning to pray |
| Audience: | 2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes |
| Equipment: | Over-night bag or small suitcase, items listed on pages 2-4 |
| Scripture: | 2 Timothy 4:13, Philippians 4:19 |
Treasure Hunt (pdf 301k)
| Description: | Follow clues that lead to treasure letters hidden around the room, plus a craft to do |
| Aim: | Learn that God treasures people around the world |
| Audience: | Preschool, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes |
| Equipment: | Large cut out letters from A-Z, the book From Arapesh to Zuni, copies and listed supplies for craft |
| Scripture: | Revelation 5:9, Matthew 28:19, 20 |
Two Little Hands (pdf 155k)
| Description: | 2 finger plays and ethnic dress-up |
| Aim: | Teach children that they can give God's Word to people who wait |
| Audience: | 2-year olds through preschool, any size class with adequate helpers |
| Time: | 3 minutes with A-Z story, 2 minutes alone |
| Equipment: | From Arapesh to Zuni, optional clothing |
| Scripture: | 2 Timothy 3:15 |
Primary school age
Global Graffiti (pdf 151k)
| Description: | Participants write and draw on a world map |
| Aim: | To focus on the world and options for missions involvement |
| Audience: | Grades 1-6, any size group |
| Time: | 20-30 minutes |
| Equipment: | Large outline of the world (example provided); photocopied cards; pens, crayons or chalk; pictures of your missionaries; atlas |
| Scripture: | Psalm 67:1-2 |
Heavenly Banquet (pdf 106k)
| Description: | A team game to play before snack or meal |
| Aim: | Illustrate need for Bible translation |
| Audience: | Primary through high school, 8 or more participants |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes |
| Equipment: | 2 pencils, 2 scissors, 2 pieces of paper plus a banquet table of very kid-desirable foods |
| Scripture: | Romans 10:8-15, Revelation 5:9 and 7:9-10 |
In one ear, out the other (pdf 103k)
| Description: | A game contrasting participants who pass a whispered and written message |
| Aim: | To illustrate the importance of having God's Word in your own written language |
| Audience: | Children grades 1-6, minimum 10 participants |
| Time: | 10 minutes |
| Equipment: | Pen and paper |
| Scripture: | Romans 5:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14-33 |
It's Not Impossible (pdf 169k)
| Description: | One of three seemingly impossible stunts with simple solutions |
| Aim: | To capture attention, then make missions application |
| Audience: | Primary through adults, any size group |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes |
| Equipment: | 2 paper clips, £5 note / $1 bill |
| Scripture: | 1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 28:19 (the Great Commission, not the Great Optional Activity!) |
Make it Snappy (pdf 285k)
| Description: | A game that teaches children about different facets of words |
| Aim: | To show one part of producing an accurate translation |
| Audience: | Children grades 1-6, any size group |
| Time: | 15-20 minutes |
| Equipment: | Sets of snap cards, for each group of three players you need 6 sets of cards, or use one set of huge cards for a combined game |
| Scripture: | Isaiah 1:18 |
Pass the Parcel (pdf 105k)
| Description: | A game in which a package is passed around and unwrapped |
| Aim: | To illustrate our responsibility to pass the Good News of Jesus on to others |
| Audience: | Children grades 1-6, any size group |
| Time: | 15 minutes |
| Equipment: | Wrapping paper, candy, cardstock, Bible, music (live or taped) |
| Scripture: | 1 Timothy 6:18, Romans 6:23, John 8:36, 10:10, 12:46 |
Prayer Cube (pdf 270k)
| Description: | A craft that teaches children how to pray for missionaries |
| Aim: | To stimulate prayer for missions |
| Audience: | Children grades 1-4, any size group |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Equipment: | Scissors, glue sticks, colouring pens, copies of prayer cube pattern from master |
| Scripture: | Ephesians 6:18-19 |
Prayer Games (pdf 142k)
| Description: | Fun ways to pray in an ice-breaker way, plus a work page |
| Aim: | To pray for Bibleless people in a kid-friendly manner |
| Audience: | Pre-school through high school, depending on the coolness factor, any size group |
| Time: | Various |
| Equipment: | The book, From Arapesh to Zuni, available from Wycliffe, plus various items listed |
| Scripture: | Colossians 4:2-4, Ephesians 2:10 |
Tug of War (pdf 187k)
| Description: | A team contest with audience participation |
| Aim: | To demonstrate difficulties of Bible translation, the need for a team, and God's power |
| Audience: | Grades 1-6, 10 or more kids |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes |
| Equipment: | A rope and costumes (signs can replace costumes) |
| Scripture: | 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, Jeremiah 17:5-8, 1 Samuel 17:45-47, Ephesians 6:12 |
Teens and up
All's Well That Ends Well (pdf 132k)| Description: | A translation problem to solve with audience participation |
| Aim: | To show how small words make a big difference in understanding God's word |
| Audience: | Teenagers and adults, any size group |
| Time: | 10-15 minutes |
| Equipment: | Overhead Projector, transparency masters (included) |
Babel (pdf 101k)
| Description: | A simulation in which participants have to create a language and then try learning one |
| Aim: | To experience a few of the many frustrations and challenges created by language barriers |
| Audience: | Teenagers or adults, any number of people minimum 8 |
| Time: | 35 Minutes |
| Equipment: | Scrap paper and pencils |
| Scripture: | Genesis 11:1-8 |
Bitter Words, Sweet Words (pdf 94k)
| Description: | A story to read or tell |
| Aim: | To show just how effective translated Scriptures are in evangelism and church-planting |
| Audience: | Teenagers through adults, any number |
| Time: | 5 minutes |
| Equipment: | None |
| Scripture: | Hebrews 4:12, 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 |
Call My Bluff (pdf 157k)
| Description: | Panel game in which the audience guesses meaning of idioms |
| Aim: | Show the difference between literal and true meaning |
| Audience: | Teenagers and adults, any size group, minimum 6 |
| Time: | 20-30 min |
| Equipment: | Provided: 3 Panel scripts, True/False cards master, transparency master. You provide overhead projector |
Choose Wisely (pdf 120k)
| Description: | Small group discussion and Bible Study |
| Aim: | Show how essential it is for Christians to have a Bible in their own language |
| Audience: | Teenagers through adults, minimum 4 people |
| Time: | 20 minutes |
| Equipment: | Bibles, pencils, discussion sheet copies |
| Scripture: | Various listed within |
Dirty Water (pdf 157k)
| Description: | A series of multiple choice discussion starters |
| Aim: | To highlight choices Christian workers face when working in different cultures |
| Audience: | Teenagers and adults, any size group |
| Time: | 20-30 minutes |
| Equipment: | Pencils, copies of discussion sheet |
| Scripture: | 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, Philippians 2:3-11 |
Ethnic Meal (pdf 124k)
| Description: | Ethnic foods eaten according to different cultural rules |
| Aim: | Awareness of and appreciation for different cultures |
| Audience: | Teenagers through adults, minimum 8 |
| Time: | 1 hour |
| Equipment: | Ingredients listed, cooking and serving utensils, jug, bowl, sheets, no silverware |
| Scripture: | 1 Timothy 4:4 |
Get Packing (pdf 100k)
| Description: | A Pictionary-like game followed by discussion |
| Aim: | To explore questions of lifestyle for overseas Christian workers |
| Audience: | Teenagers and adults, (children when there is a mixed group), any size group, minimum six |
| Time: | 25 minutes |
| Equipment: | Scrap paper, pencils |
| Scripture: | 2 Corinthians 8:9 |
Taste and See (pdf 112k)
| Description: | A game and a story |
| Aim: | To illustrate the impact of the Good News when people hear it for the first time in their own language |
| Audience: | Primary through adults, any size group |
| Time: | 10 minutes |
| Equipment: | A piece of apple, cheese, and chocolate, blindfold |
| Scripture: | Psalm 119:103-104, 1 Peter 2:1-3 |
Trading Places (pdf 303k)
| Description: | Market place simulation with 2 different cultures interacting |
| Aim: | Experience how cross-cultural conflict affects overseas Christian workers |
| Audience: | Teenagers through adults, minimum 15 participants |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Equipment: | Scissors, photocopied sheets, optional food, clothing, tools and cloth |
| Scripture: | 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 |
Extras for good measure
Alphabeti Spagetti (pdf 125k)
| Description: | An activity sheet |
| Aim: | To experience using an unfamiliar script and to teach that different scripts are used for Bible Translation |
| Audience: | Children, any number |
| Time: | 20 minutes |
| Equipment: | Activity sheets (photocopy masters included) pencils, coloured pens, scissors, glue sticks, card |
| Scripture: | Psalm 119:130, Hebrews 4:12 |
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"We have used some of the material with the children and have found it fantastic – great fun, with a clear message."
InFocus supporting Church