this game is used to create a discussion with young people
in four corners of you building place four signs, 1 in each corner with a statement on it saying
agree
disagree
strongly agree
strongly disagree
then all young people have to stand in the middle of the room, you read a statement out regarding an issue e.g sexual health example is ok for a 15 year old to sleep with a 17 year old then young people go to the corner to see wever or not young people agree with the statement or not then with ever corner they go to you challenge young people on why they think it is ok or not ok.
Danny Hughes, information support worker, Denbighshire
Bible crossword (with a difference!)
Setup
Prior to the service create a crossword using something like the EclipseCrossword editor you can download free. Make the across clues references to a location in your church, e.g. under the front pew, or on the organists back, and the answer should be something simple that you can find pictures for. Ie cross, star, boat, fish. Make the down clues references from the bible. If you are really clever you can theme this to a bible story, or the theme of the service. Create the pictures on small sheets of paper and prior to people arriving place the pictures in the correct location How to play
At the beginning you need to team up small groups of adults and groups of children so that each group has at least one child (or an energetic adult!) in it. This is great for getting kids to mix with older people, so make sure a fair allocation in the teams. The adults have to look up the down clues whilst the children have to find the across clues. The first team to finish can get a prize, chocolate works well J Tips!
If you do this activity make sure that
A: You write the crossword using the same version of the bible that the teams will be using (I didn’t and one of the names I used was not in the bible we used in church)
B: Check and double check your spelling!!
C: write the location on the back of the picture to remind yourself of where it should be placed in the church.
Have fun
Penny Price St Marys Church, Hutton
Hot Seat
A group of young people line up facing a basket ball hoop. They take a shot at the hoop if they get it in they go to the back of the line, if they don't get it in they sit on a chair next to the line. The next person takes a shot if they get it in, the person on the chair is out if they don't get it in they themselves sit on the chair.
Liam a youth worker from Walsall
SLOW-MOTION BASKETBALL
This is a hilarious indoor relay race. Fill a few 10- to 12-inch round, helium balloons with two deep breaths of air and the rest with helium. This slows down the ascent of the balloon (similar to leaving a regular helium balloon out overnight). Set a child’s basketball hoop to 3 to 4 feet in height. Now divide your group into two teams and have each team line up across the room from the hoop. On "go" have one person from each team attempt to dribble his or her balloon to the goal. This is difficult to do because the helium-air combination makes the balloon respond very slowly. Tell kids to slam-dunk their balloons through the hoop, then run their balloons back to their teams. The first team to finish wins!
BIBLE TREASURE HUNT
Use a concordance to locate verses in the Bible that describe various locations in and around your church. Look for words such as entrance, table, fountain (for drinking fountain), curtain, altar, trees, and so on. Write out the Bible references on separate slips of paper. Place each slip of paper in an envelope and hide all but one of the envelopes at the various locations, making sure you don’t put the verse with the actual location.
If you have a large group, have kids form teams and use two, three, or four colored envelopes at each location (depending on the number of teams). Teams will read the clue in their own colored envelope.
Hand kids a Bible and the envelope you didn’t hide. Have them read the reference aloud and begin to search, as teams, for the next envelope clue. The Bible reference in each envelope will lead the players to where the next clue is hidden. At the last location have a cooler full of cold soft drinks waiting as a treasure!
sent in by Dan
Tag Games:
British Bulldog
- One child stands in the middle of the gym and the rest of the children stand at one end. When the child in the middle yells "British", the rest of the children attempt to get to the other side without being tagged by the child in the middle. If a child is tagged, he/she joins the child in the middle and chases the children trying the get across the gym. This is repeated until there are only a few children left. Optional: To tag the child, you must lift the child off of the ground for three seconds.
Octopus
- This game is similar to British except that when a child is tagged the child sits down where tagged and attempts to tag the other children by swinging his/her arms. Tag - One child is "IT" and chases the other children. When that child tags another child, the tagged child becomes it. Frozen Tag - Similar to tag except that when a child is tagged they are "Frozen" and must wait to be unfrozen by fellow players or by a person designated as the unfreezer.
**Everybody's it
- This game is similar to tag in the way that all of the children are free to run around the area but they all are it and must tag the other players before getting tagged. When someone else tags them, the tagged child must sit down and is therefore out of the game. If two children tag each other at the same time, then the children may shake hands and go their separate ways. The game continues until only one child is left standing.
**Blindfold Tag
- One child is picked to wear a blindfold and be "IT". After the child is blindfolded the other children are given a few seconds to find a safe place within the boundaries. The blindfolded child then attempts to find the children and tag them. If a child is tagged, the child must leave the playing area. The attempt is to tag as many children within a time limit as possible.
Flag Tag
- All of the children have flags except for a few who chase the children with flags. When they pull off a child's flag (flag football equipment) the child without the flag chases the others.
Crows and cranes
- The group is separated into two separate teams. They then stand 5 feet apart. The leader calls out either crows or cranes. If the leader calls crows, then the crows become the chasers. If the leader calls out cranes, then the cranes become the chasers. They must chase the opponents and try to tag them before they reach a safe zone on their side. If a player is tagged, the player then joins the team that tagged him/her.
**English Fortress
- The team is split into two and stand on opposite side of a gym touching the wall. A player is picked from one team at a time and goes to the other side. The player then tags someone from the opposing team and attempts to return to his/her team. If tagged, the player joins the other side. If the tagging player makes it to his/her side, the entire team chases the chasing player. If that player makes it to his/her side, that team chases the team chasing their player. (sounds confusing eh?) That is the end of that round and the bodies are sorted and all return to the walls. The tagged players to the opponent's side and the non tagged to their original side.
**Leap Frog Tag
- One player is chosen as it and another is chosen as a runner. The rest of the child crouch on the ground. The chaser chases the runner and attempts to tag him/her. If a tag is made the roles are switched and the tagger become the runner. This continues until the runner jumps over one of the players crouched on the floor. At that point the player jumped over becomes the runner and the player that jumped crouches on the floor.
Fox and Squirrel
- Similar to Leapfrog Tag except that the children are paired up and stand facing each other. Instead of jumping over the other children, the runner stands between a pair and faces one of them. The child left out of the pair is now the runner.
**Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag
- All of the children are given a marker that will identify them as being on the rock, paper or scissors team. They chase one another while avoiding being caught. The rock can catch scissors, the scissors can catch paper and the paper can catch the rock. If a child is caught then they are returned to the leader who trades in their marker for a marker of the team that caught them.
Shepherds and wolves
- Three children are chosen to be the wolves and one child is chosen to be the shepherd. The rest of the children are lined up against a wall. On the opposite side is a sheep den. The children when called (ie, grade/age) attempt to run to the den without being caught by the wolves. If they make it they stay in the den. If they are tagged they then are taken to the wolves den and wait there until the shepherd decides it is safe enough to attempt to run to the den and back. If the shepherd runs to the den, then all are free. Of course if the shepherd gets caught, then the game is over and a new round begins. The object is for the wolves to catch as many sheep as possible.
Duck Duck Goose
- All of the children are sitting on the floor in a circle. One child then goes around the group and taps each persons' head saying duck or goose. If the child says goose, then both children run around the group and attempt to be the first back at the empty space where they began. The last child back, repeats the process.
Wink
- Half of the group is sitting in chairs and the other half is standing behind the chairs. There is one chair that is empty. The person behind the chair looks around at the group sitting in the chairs and attempts to wink at on of them. If a person is winked at, they attempt to get up off the chair and run to the chair of the winker without being tagged. If they are tagged then the person remains seated. If they make it to the other chair then the person with the empty chair attempt to wink at the others seated. Option: Instead of winking, you may wish to have the players nod their heads.
Sharks in the water
- The center of the gym represents the water. A small perimeter around the water is the land. The children attempt to stay on land because the sharks cannot catch them there. Some children are chosen as sharks. The sharks may tag any child who is in the water. The leader then calls various things to force the children to find a different shore. Ie, an earthquake means that the children at the side that an earthquake is called must find a new shore. A tornado is when a leader walks along the wall and shout tornadoes. No child may be touched by that leader and must leave the shore till the leader passes. If a child is tagged in the water, that child then becomes a shark.
Ball Games
: Dodgeball - The group is split into two different teams. They then stand on opposite sides of a dividing line in the center of the gym. There are two or three balls thrown in the center of the gym. The object is to get a ball and throw it at your opposing teammates. If you hit them below the waist then they are out of the game and must sit on the sidelines. If the ball is caught in the air without hitting anything else, then the thrower is out of the game. The object is to eliminate the entire team. Option: Instead of being out for the game, the player may switch sides and play for the other team.
Kingcourt
- This is the same as Dodgeball except that when players are hit they stand behind a line at the back of the opposing teams side. They may catch balls that land within their boundary and throw them at the other team. If they hit someone then the player they hit is out and the thrower may return to the larger seat he/she began on.
**Medicball
- This game is the same as dodgeball except that when a player is out, they must sit on the floor and call for the medic. The medic is a player who is chosen before the game begins. To rescue a player, the medic must drag the teammate who is out to the back line of their team's side. If the medic is hit by a ball, the medic cannot save anyone but does not sit down. To be saved and resume saving teammates, the medic must catch a ball in the air. The ball must be thrown by players on the other team. The game continues until there is no-one left standing on one team except for the medic.
5 Circle Dodgeball
- To begin the game, there must be five circles. Four evenly spaced apart and one circle in the middle. The group is split up into four different teams who each stand in one of the outside circles. They then throw balls at each other and attempt to get a player from the other team out. To be out a player must be hit by a ball below the waist or step outside of the circle. When a player is out they must go to the circle in the center of the gym and attempt to catch a ball. When they do, they join the team who threw the ball. The object is to be the only one left in a circle.
**Chinese Dodgeball
- All of the players are free to run around the gym. One ball is thrown in the gym. A player who has possession of the ball may not run with it. The player also cannot dribble it. To move, the player must bounce the ball off of a wall and catch the rebound. The player with the ball must attempt to hit other players below the waist in order to get them out. If the ball is caught in the air then the thrower is out. If a player is out, then they must leave the playing area for the remainder of the game. The game continues until there is only one player left.
Circle Dodgeball
- All of the players stand in a circle with a few players in the center. A ball is thrown from the outside in an attempt to hit the players in the center. If a player is hit below the waist then the player in the center switches places with the player who threw the ball.
Bombardment
- Two players start on the sides of a gym. The rest of the players stand at one end. The object is to run from one side of the gym to the other without getting hit by the ball when the leader shouts go. If the ball hits a player below the waist the player then joins the throwers on the side. The game continues until one player remains.
**Punchball
- All of the players stand in a circle with their feet shoulder width apart. A ball is placed in the center of the circle. The object is to get possession of the ball and to throw is through someone's legs. Players may attempt to block the ball with their hands but may not move their legs. If the ball goes through a player's legs then a point is scored for the thrower. The object is to accumulate as many points as possible.
Keep Away
- The group is split into two different teams and passes a ball around within their own team. The other team tries to intercept the ball. If they obtain possession of the ball then they pass around the ball in an effort to keep possession.
Garden Weasels
- Two players start a fair distance from the rest of the team who will be lined up against a wall. The object for the throwers (the two players) is to throw the ball at the people against the wall in an effort to get them out. If a player is hit by the ball then they join the throwers.
**Bird Dog
- a person is chosen as the hunter and another is chosen as the hunting dog. There are safe zones in each corner. The rest of the players are birds. The hunter gives the command for the dog to go to a safe zone and get birds. The players in that zone must leave the zone so that they are not tagged by the dog who may enter the zone. The hunter then attempts to throw balls at the players as they run from one zone to the other. The players who are tagged by the dog or hit with a ball must then go to a penance bench and complete some task. When the task is completed they may rejoin the group.
**Pin Knockdown
- The team is divided into two groups. They each then stand on one side of the gym, which is divided by a line. There are bowling pins set up in various places around the gym. The players then thrown balls at the pins attempting to knock them over. The players may guard the pins but if they touch the pins, then the pin is out of the game. The game continues until there are no pins left on an opponent's side. Option: If a ball below the waist hits players then they are out and must side on the sidelines. Also if a ball is caught in the air the thrower is out.
Spud
- The players are each given a number. Then a ball is thrown high into the air and a number is called. The player with that number attempts to catch the ball. When the play obtains possession of the ball, he/she yells "Freeze" and all of the players must stop running away from the ball. The player with the ball then attempts to hit a player who is frozen. If the player hits someone with the ball, then the player that is hit with the ball gets a letter. (S.P.U.D.) The player who threw the ball then throws the ball high into the air and calls a different number. If a player receives all four letters, then that player is out of the game. The game goes until most players have been eliminated.
**Bump
- This game is played with two basketballs and a basketball net. All of the players line up behind the foul line and the first two players in line have a ball. The first player shoots and is followed by the second player. If the second player get the ball in before the first then the first player is out of the game. If the first player gets it in first then he/she passes the ball to the next player in line. The next player immediately shoots and attempts to get the ball in before the person who was in line ahead of them. The game keeps going until only one player is left. After a player shoots and has returned the ball, they then go to the back of the line unless they are out. The players may hit the other ball with theirs as long as both balls are in the air.
Sports
- Ideas for sports are Hockey, Oakie ball, Soccer, Baseball, Borden ball or Basketball
Hit N Run
- The set up is similar to baseball in the fact that there are two teams. One teams is out field and one is at bat. A pitcher rolls a utility ball towards a batter and the batter kicks the ball. The batter then runs to the other side of the gym. The players in the field catch the ball and attempt to throw it at the batter. If they hit the batter, then the batter is out. The base that the batter is running to is clearly marked and large enough to hold a whole team. If the player makes it to the base, he/she may wait until they feel like running as long as a batter has kicked the ball. This continues until the whole team has batted. All of the players on the base must run when the last batter has gone.
Bowling
- Have the group sit in a large circle. They must attempt to roll a ball through the center of the circle and attempt to knock down as many pins as possible. Option: Have them attempt not to knock down any pins.
Steal the Bacon (or tofu) type games
:
**Steal the Bacon (plain)
- The players find a partner and stand on opposite side of the room. A large and awkward object is placed in the center. Each set of pairs is given a number. The leader calls out a number and the two children who have that number run and attempt to wrestle the object to a line close to where they began. The one to make the object cross the line wins. The object may be carried or pushed across.
Steal the Bacon Dodgeball
- The set-up for this game is similar to that of Steal the Bacon. There is a basketball placed on each side near the net and a utility ball placed in the center. When a number is called, the children run to the basketball and attempt to sink it. When the ball is put through the basket, that child runs to the utility ball and throws it at the other child. If the other child is hit, a point is scored. If the other child is not hit, that child continues to throw the ball and sink a basket. The child may not touch the utility ball unless a basket has been scored.
Steal the Bacon One on One
- This game is similar to Steal the Bacon. When a number is called, the two children run to the center and dribble a basketball across the gym and attempt to score a basket.
Face To Face
- Each child in the group finds a partner and stands on opposite walls. The leader then calls out a call, which the children must run and complete. The first to do it wins. The calls should be things such as "Foot to Foot" or other simple tasks.
Miscellaneous
:
Throw the Super Dummy
- The team is split up into two groups, one on each side of the gym. The object is to throw a large awkward object over a certain high in hopes that it will land on the floor on the opponent team's side. They attempt to catch it. Then another member from the team throws it. Keep going until each person has had a turn throwing.
**Rap Mats
- The children are free to roam around the gym as the music is played. When the music stops, they all attempt to find a matt to stand on. The last one to a matt is out. Option: When the music stops they move to the closest matt and an identifying characteristic of a matt is called. The children on that mat win a point.
Dead fish
- The children are free to roam around the gym while the music is playing. When the music stops, they all must lie on the ground completely still. The last child to stop moving is out.
Hot Potato
- The children sit in a circle. They pass around and object while is wrapped up while the music plays. When the music stops, the person with the object removes the outer laver of wrapping. Inside the wrapping could be a task or a prize.
Dragons Jewels
- The children all sit in a circle. One child is chosen to be the dragon and sits in the middle blindfolded. Near to the "dragon", is an object, which cannot be moved without making noise (ie, tambourine). A child is picked from around the circle and attempts to steal the jewels. The dragon attempts to tag the intruder. The round is finished when the jewels are stolen or the intruder is tagged.
Fruit Basket
- The children all sit in a circle. One child stands in the middle of the group with a soft object. The leader starts by saying his/her name followed by the name of another member of the circle. That member then does the same thing. The person in the middle attempts to hit the person speaking before the new name is called. If the member is hit, then the players change places.
Bolo
- A leader lies on the floor in the middle of a group and spins around a rope. The players gather around the leader and attempt to jump the rope as it comes near them. If they fail to jump over the rope and it hits them, then the player is out.
Limbo
- The group lines up and attempts to go underneath a pole that is held out in front of them. The player must go underneath the pole forwards and may only bend backwards to get lower. The player is out if they touch the pole or fall down thus causing them to touch the ground with anything other than their feet.
**Balloon Stomp
- Each player is given a small piece of string and a blown up balloon. They then are free to move around the gym and stomp on the balloons of other players. When a player's balloon is broken, then that player must sit down. The game continues until there is only one player left in the game.
**Four on a couch
- The players all switch names by writing the names on a piece of paper and placing them into a hat and drawing a new name. The group sits in a circle with one couch in it. There is also one chair that is empty. As the game begins, the player to the left of the empty chair calls out a name in an attempt to get a person of the same gender on the couch or some one of the opposite gender off of the couch. When a name is called, the person who has that name on their piece of paper goes to the empty chair and switches papers with the person that called the name. Thus, a new space is empty and the person to the left calls a name. The game continues until there are four players of the same gender on the couch.
Personal Scavenger Hunt
- All of the players stand on one side of room and the players stand on the other. The leader then calls out an object and a player with that object runs and tags the leader. The first to get to the leader wins. The things that are called out are items that a player may have with them at that moment (ie, red socks, a hat, etc.).
Guest spot
My name's Dave Kuivala, a youth and play worker employed by Nottingham City Council. I work in the Meadows area of the city, I'm 23, and some games I've played with the kids are suggested below:
FOR LARGE GROUPS (no age limits)
Split the kids up into groups of 4 (or 3 or 5 for awkward numbers, but I think 4 is best!). Each group has a large plastic hoop laid on the floor with 10 items inside. Anything at hand can be used, but a) Remember Safety - soft items, not too heavy, NO sharp edges or points, and b) try to ensure an equal distribution amongst groups. I normally use a few tennis balls, ping pong balls, a football, a plastic tennis racket.....
The leader shouts "GO!", and each group has to try and grab items from each other's piles. Some teams may wish to leave one or two people to defend their piles. The winners (if you want to have winners) are the group with the most items WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR HOOP.
Variations Vary objects - huge soft toys are great fun to use, balloons (minus points for any that burst), or even water balloons. Set a time limit
Again, for large groups.
In a sports hall, or other large suitable space, select one young person to start. They have a soft ball (we have a foam rugby ball that is ideal), which they then throw at other people, who can run around, dodge, etc. When the ball hits someone, the join the original person, so that now the ball can be passed between them before being thrown. The game continues untill only one person remains who has not yet been hit by the ball, who may be declared the winner.
NOTES: A strict referee may be required to prevent any arguments!
Hope these may be of use or inspiration to yourselves or others, and I will be back to the website soon! Dave Kuivala
Scavenger hunt Variant
Divide into teams, then give them a list with a few things on it like this:
Find a hill that looks the most like Calvary, then gather at the foot of it and sing "Were you there when they crucified my Lord" (or anysong the young people know)
Go to public restaurant/pub and sing "Go tell it on the mountain" (or any song the young people know)(ask first)
Go to public shopping center and tell 20 people in 10 seconds"Merry Christmas, Jesus is the reason for the season" (did that at Christmas time)
Go to a rest home and share a personal testimony with an elderly person. *** BONUS: Find someone in need and help them!
If you can give each team a camcorder to record all their things. Then watch the tapes at the next youth group and talk about the original and creative way they did things. Many of the above submited by Kinfish