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I'm a Survivor! Tribal Hawaii
Example Day
1: Wisdom
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Theme:
Wisdom
Wisdom is an important survival skill because without it, we can end up doing
a lot of foolish things that can negatively effect us. The lesson today
contrasts those who are wise and those who are foolish and gives examples of how
to make wise decisions in our lives.
Puppet Skit, Part 1:
Introduction of Survivor Characters
Lesson: Wise and Foolish Builders -- Mathew 7:24-27
Older
Children
Younger
Children
Memory Verse:
"Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man
who built his house on sand." Matthew 7:26
Lesson Challenge:
Hat Relay
Craft:
Sand Art
Puppet Skit, Part 2:
Results of Challenge and Voting
Take Home Sheet: Highlights
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Puppet Skit Day 1: Introduction of Characters
Props:
All items should fit in puppet’s hands
Mirror
Caterpillar in jar (can be a paper caterpillar or pipe cleaner in a clear
plastic cup)
Fishing pole (made from string and a dowel rod)
Drum sticks
Pom-poms
Broom (from a play set or something very small)
Joke book
Teacher:
I want to welcome everyone to I'm a Survivor! Tribal Hawaii. This is going to
be very similar to the game on t.v. "Survivor" but if you’re not
familiar with that show, then let me explain how all of this is going to work.
We are going to have 7 contestants playing a game of survival on an island in
Hawaii. The only food our contestants will have to eat is what they can find on
the island—things like fish, coconuts, bananas etc. Except for their clothes,
the players must leave everything else at home. The only exception is what we
will call a "luxury item." This is something each player feels they
cannot live without while they are in Hawaii. This could be a toothbrush, a wash
rag, deodorant or whatever the player wants. Only one luxury item per person is
allowed.
Each day our players will compete in a challenge or a test. Whoever wins will
get a reward, but whoever loses will get nothing! Every day, each player will
vote for one person they want to see leave Survivor. The player with the
most votes must leave Hawaii and return home. That player will not be back the
next day. The object of the game is to be the last player left. Whoever is left
at the end of the game will win a chance to appear on t.v.
So, the name of this game is outwit, outlast and outplay the other opponents.
Only the smartest, the bravest and most courageous person will win.
Now, lets’ meet our players. (One by one the puppets pop up and
introduce themselves. When they are finished they pop back down, and the next
puppet pops up, so there should only be one puppet "on stage" at a
time.)
CHAZ:
(conceited, self-absorbed--enters with a mirror in his hand) Hey.
My name is Chaz. (looking in the mirror, patting his hair) I’m sooo
cool, and I’m also the best looking guy on this island, or anywhere in
the world for that matter. I brought this mirror with me as my luxury item
because I just couldn’t go six whole weeks without looking at myself! Man, am
I gorgeous! If it was up to looks alone, I’d win this game in a
heartbeat. But even if I don’t win, at least I gave you all a thrill just by
letting you be around someone as good-looking as me. I’ve got to go now and
practice my charming smile. See ya around kids. (exits)
CHELSEA:
(air-headed, ditsy—she has pom-poms in her hands) Hi everyone. I’m
Chelsea. Isn’t that Chaz a dream! He’s sooo handsome! Whenever he
smiles at me I feel all goofy inside and I think I’m going to faint. If I don’t
win this game, I hope he does. What a hunk! (In cheerleading fashion, she
jumps and yells, as a cheerleader would, rooting for her favorite team)
Goooo Chaz! In case you can’t tell, I’m the head cheerleader at my school. I
brought my pom-poms with me because I just love to do cheers! (As she does
her next cheer, she should wave her pom-poms and jump up and down again like a
cheerleader) Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar…..All for Survivor,
stand up and holler! Yeaaaa Survivor! Anyway, I can’t wait to play this game.
Wish me luck! (exits)
PETE:
(has a fishing pole in his hand) Hi everybody. I’m Pete. I’m sure
glad I got to come to Hawaii. I love the water! I like to swim and sail, and go
boating. I also love to fish. That’s why I brought my handy-dandy fishing pole
with me. I’m hoping I can catch us some good fish to eat while we’re out
here. When I’m not fishing, I like to play baseball and hang out with my
friends at home. I think I have a good chance of winning this game because I’m
a hard worker and can do a lot of different things pretty well. But you never
know, all the other people out here have a good shot too. I guess we’ll have
to wait and see. See ya later. (exits)
BOOMER:
(has drumsticks in her hand) Hey everyone. My name is Boomer. I guess
people call me that because I love to play the drums and I don’t go anywhere
without my drumsticks. I’ve got this great big set of drums at home that I got
for my birthday one year, and whenever I’m not doing something else, I’m
playing my drums. I don’t have to have my drums to play on though….I can
play on anything. Watch….(she begins to bang the drums on the puppet stage)
Pretty cool, huh? My neighbors say I drive them crazy with all my banging and
drumming, but maybe things will be different here in Hawaii. I sure hope I win
this game. I’d love to play my drums on Blue’s Clues. Maybe I could
even teach Blue how to play. I guess we’ll find out soon. See ya
around. (exits)
STANLEY:
(He has a caterpillar in a jar) Hi. My name is Stanley. This is my
friend, Squire. (He holds up the jar) He’s a caterpillar and he’s one
of my favorite bugs. I found him down the street where I live about a month ago,
and he’s been with me ever since. Whenever I get sad, I like to hold Squire
and let him crawl up my arm. It tickles and it always makes me laugh, which
helps me feel better. I love all kinds of bugs really, but Squire is my
favorite. At home, I have a great big indoor garden with lots of flowers and
plants. I keep all kinds of bugs inside, but none that could hurt the plants, of
course. I think it’s fun to go out there and poke around in the dirt and watch
the bugs. It’s not for everyone but I like it. That’s why I think I’ll do
well here on the island—a lot of people are afraid of bugs, but not me. Well,
it’s time to feed Squire, so I’ve got to go. Catch ya later. (exits)
LYLA:
(Has a broom in her hand) Hi kids. My name is Lyla. I don’t like for
things to be messy or dirty. That’s why I brought this broom with me, so I
could keep things neat and clean. There sure is a lot of dirt and sand on this
island. I’ll probably be busy sweeping quite often. I noticed that some of the
other players are pretty messy: they’ve got clothes laying around all over the
place and the sand has started to get into everything already. I don’t know
how they stand it! I try to keep my area as clean as possible. You’ll find no
grime anywhere near me! Oh no, I see a pile of dirt right over there. I better
go and clean it up before it gets any worse. See you later kids. (exits)
WILLIE JACK:
(has a joke book in his hand—he enters telling a joke) "What did
the teddy bear say when asked if he wanted dessert?" (waits a second,
then gives the answer) He said, "No thanks, I’m stuffed!" Haaa
Haaaa! (laughs hysterically at his own joke) Get it? Teddy Bears are
stuffed animals, and the Teddy Bear said he was stuffed, which meant he was
full. Get it? Isn’t that a great joke? I just love that one! Haaa Haaa! (He
finally settles down) Hi, I’m Willie Jack, by the way. I brought my joke
book along with me because I just love jokes. I like to tell jokes, I like to
read jokes, and I like to play jokes on other people. At home they say I’m a
"class clown" because I’m always getting in trouble for joking
around. I don’t know what the big deal is….a little joke never hurt anybody.
I can’t wait to try out some of my new jokes on these other players here in
Hawaii. I’ve got a million of ‘em! I don’t know if I’ll end up winning
this game or not, but I’m sure gonna have fun for as long as I’m here! I’m
going to go practice telling some more jokes, so I’ll catch up to you some
other time. Later taters. (exits)
Teacher:
Well, there you have it. There’s our 7 contestants for Tribal Hawaii. They’ll
be back later so we can see how they all did on their first challenge and also
to see who is the first to be voted off.
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Lesson: Wise and Foolish Builders (Older Children)
Matthew 7:24-27
Props:
Pictures of sand castles
Sand
A large, flat rock, stone or brick
Two heavy, identical objects to place on sand and rock (full pop cans,
soup cans etc.)
2 Bowls
2 Large pitchers of water
The many uses of sand
(As you ask each of these questions, allow for some answers and discussion)
How many of you have ever been to the beach? Someone tell me about the sand.
What does it feel like? What can you do with it?
Has anyone ever made a sand castle? Did you know that there are contests to
see who can make the best sand castles? Here are a few pictures of some sand
castles made by some very talented artists. (Show pictures of sand
sculptures)
Sand can be a really cool thing. As we’ve seen, you can build some
pretty amazing things with it. What are some other uses for sand? (Allow for
answers. Some suggestions: in the winter you can buy bags of it to weigh down a
vehicle; can use it in an hour glass to pass time; on art projects etc.)
So, sand has a lot of uses. One thing sand is not good for, however,
is for building the foundation of a house. Who can tell me what a
"foundation" is? (It’s the solid ground or base on which a
building rests. It’s the lowest load-bearing portion of a house) Why doesn’t
sand make a good foundation? (Because it is too soft and it can move) If
you build a house on top of the sand and then the sand moves, what’s going to
happen to the house? (It will start to crack and crumble, and eventually will
fall down)
Since sand doesn’t
make a good foundation, contractors (the people constructing the houses) use
concrete instead. Concrete is solid. It is strong and hard and it won’t shift
or move, if it’s poured right.
Sand Vs. Rock
Jesus talks about something similar to this in the Bible. He was talking to
his friends and other people who came to listen to Him speak. He often used
illustrations or examples while he was speaking, so people could relate to the
things he was talking about. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say. (The
teacher or a child reads Matt. 7:24-29)
Before we try to figure out what Jesus meant in these verses, let’s see if
what he had to say about the sand is true. Let’s put our object on top of the
sand. Jesus said "anyone who hears these words of mine and does not put
them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell with a great crash." (Pour water over sand
surrounding the object, until object moves or shifts) This is why we don’t
use sand as our foundation.
Now let’s try this with our object on the rock. Jesus said "everyone
who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who
built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds
blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundations on the rock." (Pour water all around the base of the rock) The
rock is pretty strong. It’s not going anywhere. That’s why contractors use
rock for foundations.
Knowing God’s words
We get the idea now of the differences between the sand and the rock. But how
can this apply to our lives? The first part of our verse says, "Everyone
who hears these words of mine…" What words is Jesus talking about? (Allow
for answers) Simply put, Jesus is talking about all the good things we’ve
been taught about ourselves, God, the Bible, and other people. Things like the
Ten Commandments. Can anyone name some of the Ten Commandments? (Found in
Exodus 20: Don’t steal, lie, commit murder, commit adultery, not covet, obey
your parents etc) Also, things like treating other people the way you would
want to be treated, loving your neighbor etc. What does it mean to love your
neighbor? Does it mean we should send flowers and valentines to the people who
live next door? No, it means treat all others (anyone you come in contact
with) with respect and friendship. Be nice, courteous, friendly, helpful etc.
What if we want to know more of God’s words? Where can we learn more about
what God’s words are? (Allow for answers) Sometimes we can talk to our
parents and learn from them. Sometimes we can go to church, Sunday School or VBS
where there are teachers who can tell us Bible stories and give us examples of
things that God wants us to know about Him.
We can also read and study the Bible. Sometimes it’s hard to understand
what the Bible says. There are lots of big words and ideas in there that can be
hard to figure out. The good news is that there are Bibles now that are made
just for children. The words are written in ways that kids can understand and
the ideas are told in a more simple way, so it’s not so hard to figure out.
We can also pray. If there’s something we want to know about God or His
words, we can pray and ask Him to show us that, and He will. Sometimes He might
send a friend to help us understand or He may show us in some other way, like
through the things we’ve already mentioned: the Bible, parents, church etc.
So, as you can see, there are all kinds of ways that we can find out what God’s
words are, and what it is that He wants us to know.
Is knowing enough?
But if we look at our verse more closely, there’s even more to it than just
knowing the words. The second part of the verse says, "and puts them
into practice..." So, how can we do that? (Allow for answers) Maybe
this example will help.
What if I told you that I was going to give you a free trip to Florida? On
this trip you would be going to "Islands of Adventure" and
"Universal Studios," which are two theme parks there. (Or if they
don’t want to go there, have them name a place they would enjoy going) The
thing is, you can all go on this free trip as long as you agree to a few rules
but if you don’t obey the rules, you can’t go. In order to go on this free
trip, this is what you have to do:
- Clean your room every Saturday
- Take out the trash once a week
- Help set and clear the dinner table at least 2 times a week
 That’s it. That’s
all you would have to do. Now, does everyone know what the rules are? (Have
the kids repeat the rules back to you) Okay, what if I come to your house
next week, and when I ask your parents if you have obeyed the rules, they tell
me you have not? Will you get to go on the trip? (Allow for answers) But
why not? You knew what the rules were, so why wouldn’t you get to go? (Allow
for answers) That’s right, because even though you knew what the rules
were, you didn’t follow them, you didn’t do them.
Knowing Vs. doing
That’s exactly what Jesus is trying to tell us. Even if we know the
things we are supposed to do but we don’t actually do them, it doesn’t
mean anything. Jesus says that even if we know God’s words, but we don’t do
what He says, then we’re being just as foolish as a person who tries to build
a house on top of some sand. And as you saw from our demonstration earlier, you
know that’s not a good thing. Just knowing something isn’t enough. Knowing
is important, but if we don’t do, put the things we know into practice,
then we are being foolish. If God says to "Love your neighbor," which
we’ve already talked about means to treat others with kindness and respect,
then that’s exactly what we should do. Just thinking about being kind
doesn’t mean very much. We actually have to be kind. Can you think of
an example of a time at school when you can be kind to someone else? How can you
show kindness to a teacher or a friend?
Another way to put into practice the things we have learned is to be honest.
I think most of us know that lying isn’t a good thing. Why do you think lying
is wrong? (Allow for answers: You can get into trouble if the truth comes
out, people won’t trust you if lie all the time etc.) So if we know that
lying is wrong, then we need to tell the truth. If we know we should tell the
truth, but then don’t, we are being foolish. When we don’t do the things
that God wants us to do, especially when we know we should, we’re being
foolish and our lives will start to fall apart, just like the sand.
But, if we know what is right, and we do what is right, then Jesus says we
are wise. We are then like the rock—we are strong and we can handle anything
with God’s help.
Just like in our example of the trip to Florida--it would be foolish not to
follow those few rules. If you didn’t, you would miss out on a lot of fun.
Plus, that kind of opportunity doesn’t come along very often. That kind of
trip is pretty expensive and most of you probably couldn’t afford it if you
had to pay for it all by yourself. So, it would be foolish to blow your chance
to go on an amazing trip just because you knew the rules, but didn’t follow
them.
Life Application
Let’s see if we can apply this to some other situations that might happen
in your life. (Discuss the following scenarios and allow children to give
input)
Test
You’re at school and the teacher tells you there will be a test
tomorrow. What should you do? What would be an example of building our house on
the sand, (being foolish) and what is an example of building our house on the
rock (being wise)?
Sand: cheating off a friend’s test or not studying at all
Rock: studying hard the night before so you make a good grade
What are the consequences of each? (Explain that a consequence is a result
of an action that we take. A consequence can be something good or bad. Ex.- If
we jump from a cliff, we’ll drop to the bottom; if we never brush our teeth,
we’ll have ugly yellow teeth with cavities etc. Or if we eat all our
vegetables we can then have dessert etc. Then allow for answers)
Suggestions:
(Bad) Cheating can cause you to get caught which would cause
you to fail the test, get sent to the principal’s office or get you in trouble
at home. Maybe you would get grounded or lose your phone or t.v. privileges etc.
Your house would "crumble." Even if you don’t get caught, you would
never learn the concepts and you would have to deal with them over and over
again in your life. So, you still don’t win even if you don’t get caught.
(Good) Studying will get you a decent grade, you can be proud of yourself,
your parents can be proud of you etc. Even if you get a "C" you can
still be proud, knowing you did your best and that you didn’t cheat. You
wouldn’t have to continue to re-learn certain concepts, because you would have
learned it the first time.
The "Wants"
You’re in the store and you see a new video game or DVD that you want.
You ask your mom or dad if you can have it but they say "No."
What do you do?
Sand: Steal it.
Rock: You don’t have to like it, but you can accept the answer and
try to have a good attitude about it.
What are the consequences of each behavior?
Suggestions:
(Bad) You could get caught stealing and get into serious
trouble, your parents might be angry with you or punish you, you’d be embarrassed
etc. If you steal once you might be tempted to do it again in the future,
thereby creating a pattern for yourself—you could grow up to be a criminal.
If you didn’t get caught, you could never play with it or watch it when
anyone else was around—you’d have to sneak and hide, which would make you
feel guilty.
(Good) By accepting your parent’s answer, maybe you’d get it for your
birthday
or Christmas. You could feel good knowing you "earned" it instead
of stealing it.
Scary Movies
You’re at a friend’s house and they want you to watch a very scary or
violent movie that you know you shouldn’t watch. What do you do?
Sand: Watch it anyway
Rock: Suggest you play a game or watch something else
What are the consequences?
Suggestions:
(Bad) You may have nightmares, be scared all the time,
have trouble sleeping at night, or feel guilty for watching something you know is wrong
(Good) You wouldn’t have to worry about being scared and you would know
your parents would be proud of you for not watching something you know isn’t
good for you etc.
I want you to think about what is going on in your life right now, either at
home or school or with your friends etc. You don’t have to say anything out
loud, but what is something you know you should be doing right now but maybe
haven’t done yet? Is there anything you know, but haven’t put into
practice? If so, you can stop being foolish and start being wise—ask God to
forgive you for not doing those things yet, then ask Him to help you put into
practice the things that you know to do. Then, just do it!
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Lesson: Wise and Foolish Builders (Younger Children)
Matthew 7:24-29
Props:
Pictures of sand castles
Sand
A large, flat rock, stone or brick
Two heavy, identical objects to place on sand and rock (full pop cans, soup
cans
etc.)
2 Bowls
2 Large pitchers of water
Legos
Cotton balls
(As you ask each of these questions, allow for some answers and discussion)
The many uses of sand
How many of you have ever been to the beach? Someone tell me about the sand.
What does it feel like? What can you do with it? (Optional: You can have the
kids touch the sand you will be using for your demonstration)
Has anyone ever made a sand castle? Did you know that there are contests to
see who can make the best sand castles? Here are a few pictures of some sand
castles made by some people who are very good at it. (Show pictures of sand
sculptures)
Sand can be a really cool thing. You can build some pretty amazing things
with it. Can you think of anything else we use sand for? (Allow for answers.
Some suggestions: a sandbox to play in, in the winter you can buy bags of it to
weigh down a vehicle; can use it in an hour glass to pass time; on art projects
etc.)
We can
use sand for a lot different things. One thing sand is not good for,
however, is for building a house. Let me show you something. When a house is
built we can’t just start putting up boards any old place. We first have to
make what we call a foundation. Foundation is a pretty big word, isn’t it? Let’s
all say that word together: foundation. (Have the kids say it with you)
This is what we have to make first. The foundation is what the whole rest of the
house is going to sit on, so it has to be pretty strong.
A good foundation
Let’s take some of our cotton and put it down first. (Spread your cotton
balls in a type of square shape the best you can.) Are cotton balls very
strong? No, they are kind of like sand—they’re both soft and kind of mushy.
Let’s pretend these Legos are what we are using to build a house. (Begin
building something with the Legos, using the cotton balls as a foundation. It
should be somewhat difficult to keep the structure standing upright, without
tipping over or falling etc.) This isn’t working too well, is it? That’s
because soft, mushy things don’t make a very good foundation. We need to use
something flat and strong. What if we use the table or the floor as our
foundation, would that work better? Let’s try it and see. (Take away the
cotton balls and build on a flat surface) That worked much better didn’t
it? That’s because our foundation, the table or floor, is solid. It’s
strong and hard and our Legos can stand up much easier.
I said that sand is a lot like our cotton balls, it’s softy and mushy. So,
do you think it would make a good foundation? If we wanted to build a real house
on top of the sand and then the sand gets wet or moves, or the wind starts to
blow real hard, what do you think will happen to our house? (It will move
too, and maybe start to crack and crumble, and eventually it will fall down)
Since sand doesn’t make a good foundation, the people who build the houses
use something called concrete instead. Concrete is hard and strong and it doesn’t
move around like sand. Sidewalks are made out of concrete. Just like in our
example with the Legos, the table or floor was a much better foundation than the
cotton balls.
Sand vs. rock
Jesus talks about something very close to this in the Bible. He was talking
to his friends and other people who came to listen to Him speak. Jesus liked to
use examples and stories, kind of like I just did a few minutes ago, to make it
easier for people to understand what he was saying. Let’s take a look at what
Jesus said about sand. (The teacher or a child reads Matt. 7:24-29)
Before we try to figure out what Jesus was trying to tell us, let’s see if
what he had to say about the sand is true. Let’s put our object on top of the
sand. Jesus said "anyone who hears these words of mine and does not put
them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell with a great crash." (Pour water over sand
surrounding the object, until object moves or shifts) Did you see how the
sand made our object move? And this is just a small object. What if this was a
great big house? Would you want to build your house on the sand? Me either! It
wouldn’t be very smart.
Now let’s try the same thing but this time let’s put our object on the
rock. Jesus said "everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down,
the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundations on the rock." (Pour water all
around the base of the rock) The rock is pretty strong. It’s not going
anywhere is it? I think if I was going to build a house, I’d want to use the
rock as my foundation. Wouldn’t you? I think that would be a very smart idea.
Knowing God’s words
Now that we’ve seen the difference between the rock and the sand, let’s
try to figure out what Jesus was trying to tell us. The first part of our verse
says, "Everyone who hears these words of mine…" What words is
Jesus talking about? I didn’t hear him say any words, did you? What did he
mean then? I think Jesus is talking about all the good things we’ve been
taught. Things we’ve learned about God, the Bible, other people, and maybe
even about ourselves.
Have your parents ever told you that when your friends or maybe your cousins
come to visit, that you have to share your toys with them? (Allow kids to
share their experiences) That would be an example of something good we have
learned. We’ve been taught that it is a nice thing to share our toys with
other kids. What about lying? Have your parents ever told you that they didn’t
want you to lie? (Allow for sharing) That’s another good thing we’ve
been taught to do. Those are the kinds of things Jesus was talking about when he
said "these words of mine." He means all the rules or good things we’ve
had to learn about how to behave or how to act or how to treat other people.
But what if you didn’t know how to do those things? What if you don’t
know how you are supposed to act or how you should treat other people? How can
you find out? (Allow for answers) You could ask your parents, or you
could come to church or Sunday School or even to VBS, like today. Your parents
or teachers could tell you Bible stories and give you examples of good ways to
act and behave--ways that would make God happy. You can also read about stories
in the Bible, and see how those people behaved. If you can’t read too well
yet, you could have your parents or some other adult read to you. Sometimes it’s
hard to understand what the Bible says because there are lots of big words and
ideas in there that can be hard to figure out. But did you know that there are
Bibles written just for children? The words are written in ways that you can
understand.
We can also pray. If there’s something we don’t understand, or that we
want to know more about, we can pray and ask God to show us that, and He will.
Sometimes He might send a friend to help us understand or He may show us in some
other way, like through the things we’ve already mentioned: the Bible, our
parents, our teachers, someone at church etc. So there are all kinds of ways we
can find out what God’s words are, and how He wants us to act.
Is knowing enough?
But there’s more to it than just knowing. The second part of the
verse says, "and puts them into practice..." What does it mean to put
something "into practice?" (Allow for answers) All that really
means is to do something. If you put something into practice, it means
you do it. Maybe this example will help you understand what I mean.
What if I told you that I was going to give you a free trip to Disneyland? (Or
if they don’t want to go there, have them name a place they would enjoy going)
The thing is, you can all go on this free trip as long as you agree to a few
rules but if you don’t obey the rules, you can’t go. In order to go on this
free trip, this is what you have to do:
- Clean your room every Saturday
- Help set the table at dinner time
- Go to bed when your parents tell you to, without arguing
That’s it. That’s all you would have to do. Now, does everyone know
what the rules are? (Have the kids say the rules back to you) Okay,
what if I come to your house next week, and when I ask your parents if you
have obeyed the rules, they tell me you have not? Will you get to go on the
trip? (Allow for answers) But why not? You knew what the rules were,
so why wouldn’t you get to go? (Allow for answers) That’s right,
because even though you knew what the rules were, you didn’t follow them,
you didn’t do them.
Knowing vs. doing
That’s what Jesus is trying to tell us. He says that even if we know
the things we are supposed to do but we don’t actually do them, it
doesn’t mean anything. He is saying that if we know how we are supposed to
behave, but don’t, then we are being foolish, or not very smart, just like the
person who tries to build their house on top of some sand. We saw how that
turned out, didn’t we? That wasn’t very smart. So, Jesus is telling us that
just knowing something isn’t enough. We have to put into practice, or do
the things that we know.
If we know that we should share our toys with our friends, but then when they
come over to play, and we don’t share, we aren’t being smart. We aren’t
doing what we know we should do, which is share. And Jesus says that’s not
smart. He uses the word, "wise," which is the same thing. When you’re
not being wise, (smart) then you are being foolish, which means, not very smart.
When your parents ask you to tell the truth, but you lie instead, Jesus says
you are being foolish (not smart). When we don’t do the things that God wants
us to do, especially when we know we should, we’re being foolish and our lives
won’t be very happy. They will be just like the sand—they’ll fall apart
and we’ll be sad.
But, if we know what is right, and we do what is right, then Jesus says we
are wise (smart). Then, we’re like the rock—we’re strong and we will be
happier because the things in our life won’t fall apart.
Just like in our example of the trip to Disneyland, it would be foolish (not
smart) not to follow those few rules, wouldn’t it? If you didn’t follow the
rules, you wouldn’t get to go on the trip, and then you would miss out on a
lot of fun. Plus, the chance to go to Disneyland doesn’t happen very often, so
it would be foolish to blow that chance just because you knew the rules, but
didn’t follow them.
Life Application
Let’s see if we can come up with some other situations where we have a
choice to be wise or foolish. (Discuss the following scenarios and allow
children to give input)
No Talking
You’re at school and the teacher tells you not to talk in class. Can you
think of something that would be foolish of you to do--something that would be
like building your house on the sand? What about something that is wise—something
that is like building your house on the rock?
Sand : talking in class when you aren’t supposed to
Rock: not talking in class, only talking when the teacher says it’s
okay
What do you think would happen if you continued to talk in class when you
weren’t supposed to?
Suggestions:
(Bad) You may get in trouble and have to miss your recess time,
you may get sent to the principal’s office, your parents may get a phone call
from the teacher etc.
What is something good that can happen if you choose to follow the rules, and
not talk in class?
(Good) You may get rewarded with a sticker or get extra recess time, a
note might get sent home telling your parents how well you behave in class etc.
The "wants"
You’re in the store and you see a new toy that you want. You ask your mom or dad if you can have it but they say "No." What
could you do that wouldn’t be very smart, that would be foolish?
Sand: Steal it, throw a fit in the store
Rock: You don’t have to like it, but you can accept the answer and
try to have a good attitude about it.
What do you think would happen if you stole the toy or threw a fit in the
store?
Suggestions:
(Bad) You could get caught stealing and get into serious
trouble, your parents might be angry with you or punish you, you’d be embarrassed
etc. If you steal once you might be tempted to do it again in the future,
thereby creating a pattern for yourself—you could grow up to be a
criminal. If you didn’t get caught, you could never play with it out in
the open—you’d have to sneak and hide, which would make you feel guilty.
You might get punished for throwing a fit etc.
What is something good that can happen if you choose to have a good
attitude about it, even though you didn’t get your way?
(Good) By accepting your parent’s answer, maybe you’d get it
for your birthday or Christmas and you could feel good knowing you
"earned" it instead of stealing it. You might get rewarded in some
other way by showing you have a good attitude (like playing a game with your
parents after you got home) etc.
Scary movies
You’re at a friend’s house and they want to watch a very scary or
movie that you know you shouldn’t watch. What do you do?
Sand: Watch it anyway
Rock: Suggest you play a game or watch something else
What would happen if you went ahead and watched the movie?
Suggestions:
(Bad) You may have nightmares, be scared all the time, have
trouble sleeping at night, or feel guilty for watching something you know is wrong
How would you feel if you chose not to watch the scary movie?
(Good) You wouldn’t have to worry about being scared or
having bad dreams, and you would know your parents would be proud of you for
doing the right thing etc.
Now, I want you to think about how you have behaved in the last few days.
You don't have to say anything out loud, but is there anything you know you
should be doing right now but maybe haven’t done yet? Is there anything about
your behavior that you know, but haven’t put into practice, that you
haven’t done yet? Maybe your parents told you to share more, or have a better
attitude, but you just haven’t done that yet. If that has happened, it’s
okay. You can stop being foolish and start being wise today—just ask God to
forgive you, and then ask Him to help you put into practice the things that you
know you should be doing. Then, all you have to do, is just do it!
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Challenge: Hat Relay
This challenge is based on today’s memory verse:
"Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish
man who built his house on sand." Matthew 7:26
Materials:
44-54 hats (baseball hats, visors, helmets or any other type of hat)
Optional: use colored paper with hat patterns drawn on them
Slips of paper with words to memory verse written on them
Slips of paper with words not pertaining to the verse written on them
Tape
Poster board
Preparation:
On a poster board, write out the memory verse and hang it at the front of the
room where it can be seen easily by the class. (**Note: see options for younger
children)
Write one word of the memory verse on each slip of paper, including where the
verse is found. (Title, chapter and verse) Other words not pertaining to the
verse should also be written on slips of paper. We’ll call those
"bogus" words. Tape one slip of paper, including bogus words, to the
inside of each hat. Since the kids will be competing in teams, you’ll need two
sets of identical papers, and two sets of hats. (If you have more than two
teams, you’ll need one set of hats per team) Once the words are taped inside,
place the hats for the first team into one pile, and hats for the second team
into another pile etc. Hats should be all mixed up, so the words inside aren’t
laying in order. If you are using a paper pattern, tape the word to one side of
the paper, and scatter them around in a pile, face down.
**Note: For younger children who may not have mastered reading, draw some
kind of symbol or shape underneath each word, so they will be able to identify
it easily. Do this on your poster board as well, making sure the symbols on the
poster are the same as the symbols on your slips of paper for each word. If you
draw a red star underneath the word "Everyone" on your poster, make
sure your slip of paper with the word "Everyone" also has a red star
underneath it. Looking for symbols may be easier for younger children than
reading.
Procedure:
Read over and review the meaning of the verse. (The meaning should have been
explained during the lesson time) Have kids say the verse out-loud several
times. See who can say the verse without looking at the poster.
Divide the group into two teams. When ready, the first child from each team
races to the other end of the room, to the pile of hats. The child must sort
through the hats, picking them up one at a time in order to find the first word
in the verse. When he finds the hat with the appropriate word on it, he puts the
hat on his head (or carries it) and runs back to his team. Then the next player
takes his turn, until all the words to the verse have been found. The first team
to find their complete verse wins.
If time allows, have teams switch piles and let them try again.
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Craft: Sand Art
Materials:
Several bottles of colored sand
Baby jars with lids or "shaped" containers (See **Note below)
Toothpicks
Permanent markers
Masking tape
**Note: A company called "Oriental Trading" offers a huge variety
of crafts, prizes and all kinds of other supplies at very affordable
prices. Amongst other things, they sell several kinds of small, clear, plastic
containers in various shapes: crosses, stars, flowers, hearts, animals,
ice-cream cones, castles etc. especially made for sand art projects. These
containers may be a necklace, a key chain, or completely free standing,
depending on what you want. Quantities are usually purchased by the dozen but
that varies from item to item, so read the details carefully before you place
your order. Colored sand may also be purchased from this company.
Their web site is: www.orientaltrading.com
On the home page, "search" for these containers by simply typing in
the words: "sand art."
This will bring up several items from which to choose from.
Similar types of supplies may be found at your local craft and hobby stores,
but it has been my experience that Oriental Trading has much more variety, and
is considerably less expensive.
Instructions:
Children’s names should be written on the bottom of the jars, or on masking
tape and then taped to the containers, prior to pouring sand.
Each child should be given a baby jar or necklace container. The colored sand
should be in several bowls or other containers, and should be spread out on a
table, giving children access to the variety of sand colors. Children pour one
color of sand at a time into their jar or necklace until it is full. Toothpicks
can be used to dip into the sand, thereby causing some colors to run into the
other to make a design or pattern. When the jars or necklace containers are
full, put the lid on, to prevent the sand from spilling.
Optional: Oriental Trading also has another product called "Super
Stained Glass Adhesive Sand Art" that may be another option to consider,
particularly for older children. This involves each child receiving a
"sticky" card with a pattern imprinted on it. Children then use the
sand to fill in the patterns, thereby causing a stained glass look. This product
will also be found by typing in the complete name, as mentioned above, or it
will appear if you search for sand art.
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Puppet Skit, Part Two: Results of Challenge
Teacher:
Since you had the chance to meet all of our players earlier, let’s check in on
them and see how they did in their first challenge. It is my understanding that
each player was to build some sort of hut to sleep in, using any kind of
materials they wished. Let’s find out how they did. Chaz, let’s start with
you.
Chaz:
(enters) Hey ‘teach, how’s it going?
Teacher:
Fine. What I want to know Chaz, is what did you use to make your hut?
Chaz:
Well, __________(insert teacher’s name) I decided to use seashells to
build my hut.
Teacher:
And why did you choose that?
Chaz:
Well, the shells are smooth and shiny and they reminded me of my own beautiful
teeth, so I thought they would make the best material.
Teacher:
And how did that work out for you?
Chaz:
Well, some guy came around in the middle of the night with this great big fan
and tried to blow all the shells away, but that didn’t work. So, then he took
this great big bucket of water and threw it all over the shells.
Teacher:
Then what happened?
Chaz:
Nothing. My hut of shells stood firm. Then the guy put a big pole in the ground
right next to my hut. The pole had a big yellow smiley-face on it. I guess I
passed the test.
Teacher:
That’s great Chaz. Good for you. (Chaz exits) Okay, now let’s hear
from Chelsea.
Chelsea:
(enters) Hi again.
Teacher:
Hi. So Chelsea, tell us about what material you used to build your hut?
Chelsea:
Oh, well I used sea shells too.
Teacher:
I see. And how did you come up with that idea?
Chelsea:
Well, I saw Chaz doing it that way, and he’s such a hunk and all, and I
figured he must be smart too, so I just did what he did.
Teacher:
I see. So, you got a smiley face too?
Chelsea:
I sure did! Yeaaaa, Chelsea! (she uses her pom-poms and jumps up and down.)
Teacher:
Thank you Chelsea. (she exits) Okay, Pete, what did you use?
Pete:
(enters) Hey there. I used sticks and branches for my hut.
Teacher:
And how did that work?
Pete:
They did okay with the water test, but some blew off when the wind from the fan
hit. I ended up with half a smiley face.
Teacher:
Well, then you didn’t do half bad. Thanks Pete. (he exits) Okay, let’s
hear from Boomer now.
Boomer:
(enters) Hey teach.
Teacher:
We’d like to know what you used to make hour hut.
Boomer:
Why, I used coconuts of course.
Teacher:
Why?
Boomer:
Because they made the best sound when I used my drumsticks on them.
Teacher:
Of course. And did they pass the wind and water tests?
Boomer:
Sure did. Met them both with flying colors.
Teacher:
Okay, so that’s a smiley face for you too. Great. (she exits) All
right, Stanley, how about you next.
Stanley:
(enters) Hi. I used leaves to make my hut. I thought it would be good because
Squire would have all kinds of food to eat then. He likes eating leaves.
Teacher:
And how did that work out for you?
Stanley: As it turns out, not so good. The wind blew all the leaves away,
so there wasn’t anything left to even do the water test on.
Teacher:
Sounds like the leaves weren’t such a good idea after all.
Stanley:
Nope. I got a big frown face. I’m so embarrassed.
Teacher:
Sorry to hear that Stanley. I hope you have better luck next time.
Stanley:
Me too. (exits)
Teacher:
Lyla, you’re next. (Lyla enters) How did you do?
Lyla:
Not very well, I’m afraid.
Teacher:
Oh no, you didn’t use leaves too, did you?
Lyla:
No.
Teacher:
What did you use then?
Lyla:
Nothing.
Teacher:
Nothing? I don’t understand.
Lyla:
Well, I started to use sticks but then they had all this dirt all over them. I
started sweeping the dirt off of each branch and before I knew it, time was up
and I hadn’t built anything.
Teacher:
Don’t tell me, you got a frown face?
Lyla:
Afraid so. But at least all my sticks are clean now.
Teacher:
Yes, well I guess that’s something. (Lyla exits) Okay, I guess that
leaves Willie Jack.
Willie Jack:
(enters) Why wouldn’t the crab share with the raccoon?
Teacher:
Willie Jack, I don’t think this is the time for jokes.
Willie Jack:
Aww, come on. (begging) Pllleeeeaaase!
Teacher:
Okay, why wouldn’t the crab share with the raccoon?
Willie Jack:
Because he was so shell-fish! Get it? Selfish, shell-fish! I crack myself up!
Teacher:
(not amused) Anyway, what did you use to build your hut?
Willie Jack:
Well, I thought it would be fun to make my hut in the shape of a huge rocket,
and the only way I knew how to do that was to make it out of sand.
Teacher:
Oh no! You didn’t!
Willie Jack:
I did, and as you may have guessed, that was the wrong decision. As soon as the
wind hit the sand, sand started flying all over the place. There was some left
though, but when the water hit it, that was it. The whole thing came crashing
down and there wasn’t anything left but a big heaping mess.
Teacher:
I’m sorry Willie Jack. What a shame.
Willie Jack:
Yeah, I got a frown face. Bummer!
Teacher:
Better luck next time I guess.
Willie Jack:
Yeah., I hope so. (he exits)
Teacher:
Well, there you have it. You’ve met all the players and heard about their
first challenge. Now, let’s see who got voted off and who will be back next
week.
The End
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Results of Voting
The following list of names and explanations should be written on
individual pieces of paper and placed in a box or container ahead of time. This
is to show the kids that the puppets are actually voting each other off the
island each week. The Teacher should call on children one at a time to
draw a piece of paper out of the box and read what it says. The names can be
pulled out and read in random order. This is how the puppet characters will get
voted off each week. The Teacher can ask the kids who they think will be voted
off that day.
LYLA because she’s too busy cleaning up everything
CHAZ because all he does is look at himself in the mirror. It’s annoying.
WILLIE JACK because I can’t stand those dumb jokes he tells.
BOOMER because she drums too loud.
LYLA because she’s always sweeping up my area and when she’s done I can’t
find any of my stuff.
CHELSEA because she’s always waving her pom-poms in my face.
STANLEY because his caterpillar is creepy.
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Skits
and
Stuff