Keep it simple Children s Resources A pack of fun-filled and inspiring resources for children s groups and creative church activities.
Intro Welcome to the Keep it simple children s resource. All We Can is an international development and emergency relief organisation. All We Can helps find solutions to poverty by engaging with local people and organisations in some of the world s poorest communities to end the suffering caused by inequality and injustice. This resource engages with communities in Zimbabwe who, with support from All We Can, are overcoming the effects of insufficient rainfall and failed crops by starting up new initiatives to provide for their families. These communities represent the kind of difference All We Can is making across the world, which we hope will inspire the children in your groups. We also hope that this session will motivate all involved to raise money to support this vital work. Contents Page 1: Session plan Page 2: Energiser games Page 2: Bible focus Page 2: Community story Page 3: Photocopy of Tulani Page 4: Activities Page 4: Prayer ideas Page 5: Donation form Order and download resources at allwecan.org.uk/simple 020 7467 5132 info@allwecan.org.uk facebook instagra twitter @allwecanuk An example session plan (45 minutes) Introduction / Welcome 5 mins Energiser game 10 mins Bible focus 5 mins Community story 5 mins Activities 15 mins Prayers / Close 5 mins Page 1
Inspired Energiser games Games / Bible / Story Choose one or more of the following games: Good friends What you need: Paper, pencils, masking tape Method: Depending on the age of the children, either get them to think of words to write down or give them a selection of words/images to choose from that they think show the characteristics of a good friend, such as: caring, loving, kind, fun, smiley, nice, sharing, listens, trusting etc. They can stick these words onto a doll or onto another child in the group. More in common Method: Option 1: Put the children in small groups and get them to find five things that they all have in common. Option 2: Invite a child to stand in the middle of the group and say a thing that they like, such as their favourite colour, then the children who agree with their statement stand up and say, me too. Each child has a few goes in the middle. Explain that it is possible for each of us to relate to other people across the world, because as humans we have a lot in common because of our shared humanity. Meet Community story If it is appropriate for your situation, play All We Can s film of Tulani and his family: allwecan.org.uk/tulani Think Bible focus Read: John 15:15-17 Reflection In this passage, Jesus calls his followers his friends. That means that you and I are friends with Jesus. As his friends, we receive his love and we love him back. Question to discuss: Who do you love? How do you show them that you love them? When we love someone, usually we spend time with them and we do things to make them happy. We can do the same with Jesus. We can spend time with him and even talk with him as a friend. Also, we can make him happy by loving and caring for the things that he loves and cares for: people, animals and nature. Alternatively, hand out copies of the picture of Tulani and his family available from the next page. Then share what is written below: Tulani and his family live in a place in Southern Africa called Zimbabwe [find out what the children may know about Zimbabwe]. Tulani and his family struggle to provide for some very simple things: food to eat, money to pay for the children s school fees or for a doctor when they get sick. These are things that many of us do not have to worry about. Most of us have more food than we need, and we can go to school for free and see a doctor for free when we are sick. With the help of All We Can, a charity supported by people in the UK, Tulani has been shown the simple gift of friendship. Tulani has joined with a group of people who he now calls his friends, to start a new business which will provide him with regular money. This is money he can use on food, school and medical costs for his family. We too can show friendship to people across the world by helping them when they are in need through charities like All We Can, and by praying for them. Page 2
Photocopy Page 3
Do Activities Activities Prayer Choose one or more of the following activities Chatterbox What you need: Paper, pens, scissors Method: Get the children to each create a chatterbox (if you are unsure how to create one there are plenty of videos online of people demonstrating how to do it). Instruct them to write encouraging words that they like to say to their friends such as, Thank you for being kind on the bottom layer. They can then play this with each other. Keep it simple Method: Friendship is a simple and free gift. Invite the children to live simply, by giving up something for a period of time, such as their favourite snack or TV programme. They could be sponsored for this activity and donate the money to All We Can. They can spend this time planning what they are going to do, either as individuals or as a group. One simple idea would be for them to collect loose change on an ongoing basis for All We Can. Friendship bracelets What you need: Embroidery threads or yarns, scissors Method: Invite the young people to create friendship bracelets. When they wear the bracelet, they should think of how they are a friend of Jesus and a friend to people across the world. Friendship chain What you need: Paper, pens, scissors, string Method: Get the children to cut out a friendship chain constructed from paper cut to the outline of a person. They can decorate the people and write the name of their friends on them. Prayer ideas Choose one or more of the following prayer ideas Holding hands Method: Standing in a circle, invite the children one at a time to take the hand of the person on their right and say, Thank you God for my friend [insert name]. Once everyone has said their prayer, place a globe or a world map in the middle and invite all of the children to place their hands on it. You can say, Thank you God for our friends around the world, Thank you God for Tulani and his family in Zimbabwe, and invite the children to name countries that they know. Explain that Jesus cares for all the people in all the countries around the world and he wants us as his friends, to help him look after people. Daily bread Pray What you need: Bread Method: Give the children a piece of bread at least enough for two bites. Invite them to consider what a simple, but often important and filling, part of the daily diet bread is for many people across the world. As they take their first bite, invite them to pray for Tulani s family and other people in the world who are struggling to meet their basic needs. During their second bite invite them to thank Jesus for the food which fills our tummies, and for his friendship which fills our hearts. Page 4
Donate Share Donation form Thank you for fundraising for All We Can. Please complete this form and send it with the money you raised to All We Can at the address below. Please also send any Gift Aid envelopes and regular giving forms you have collected. You can send a cheque or make a card payment. Donations will be used where they are most needed. Title: First Name: Surname: Address: Postcode: If you would like to receive updates by email about our work and how you can donate to us, please enter your email here (you can unsubscribe at any time). Email: Tel: Name of church/group: Type of event: We raised for All We Can and: I enclose a cheque payable to All We Can or I would like you to debit the following card (circle type): Visa Visa Debit Maestro MasterCard Solo Card number: Expiry date: Valid from (Maestro): Security code: Issue number (Maestro): [Please ensure that the card used is registered to the name and address provided above.] All We Can holds your details to thank you for your gift, process Gift Aid, to send you occasional updates about our work and how you can support us. If you would prefer not to receive these updates by post, please tick here We promise to never sell or swap your details and you can change your preferences at anytime by contacting us using the details below. All We Can, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR cell 020 7467 5132 email info@allwecan.org.uk allwecan.org.uk All We Can is the operating name of The Methodist Relief and Development Fund, a charity registered in England and Wales, number 291691. LENT 2018 Page 5