Game 1: MY SHEEP KNOW MY VOICE
(decipher code)
*MATERIALS (1 set per team):
– One pen and piece of paper.
– One morse code chart.
– One whistle.
*HOW TO PLAY:
– Split the class into teams, the size and number depending on how many people there are.
– Give a command for the sheep to follow, but by using the special code only the shepherd and sheep know.
– The teams have to pay attention and listen carefully so that they can quickly write down the shepherd’s message. Once a team gets the message, without saying anything, they will carry out whatever the command was.
– Whichever team deciphers the most secret messages and correctly acts them out the quickest wins!
– Some examples of secret messages are:
– Now let’s sing
– Now let’s dance
– Loudly cry
– Jump on one foot
– Bleat like sheep
– Smile
– Etcetera
*PURPOSE/CONCLUSION:
Sheep and shepherds spend a lot of time in close contact with each other, so sheep often understand how their shepherd calls to them. If we are God’s sheep, then a very clear sign of that is hearing and recognizing God’s voice.
Game 2: MY SHEEP KNOW ME
(follow signals with eyes closed)
*MATERIALS (1 set for the class):
– Something to cover the sheep’s eyes (enough for 5 – 10 people).
– Sheep hats (5 – 10)
– Strings/cords for the shepherds to wear that match their sheep’s colors.
– Secret codes for each pair of sheep and shepherd (5 – 10 pages).
– Suggested codes: the sound of bleating, clapping your hands, stomping your feet, singing, calling out your sheep’s name, whistling, blowing a whistle, etc.
*HOW TO PLAY:
– Let the players loose to get into pairs, and have the shepherds and sheep work out their own rules together. The number of pairs depends on however many codes you hand out.
– Each pair of sheep and shepherd receives a hat and cord along with the secret code they will use to recognize each other.
– The teacher arranges the sheep in one line at the back of the classroom and the shepherds at the front, facing each other. Before the game starts, the sheep are blindfolded and their positions are mixed up. The shepherds don’t need to be blindfolded.
– When the command “MY SHEEP KNOW ME” is given, the shepherds start giving their signal. The sheep have the responsibility of listening carefully to figure out the direction they need to go in order to find their shepherd. The shepherds have to stand still; they aren’t allowed to move.
– You can assign a time limit for the sheeps’ journey to their shepherd, and whichever pairs aren’t able to find each other lose.
*PURPOSE/CONCLUSION:
Nowadays, there are lots of loud noises all around us, interfering with our focus and distracting us from listening to the voice of our Shepherd and finding Him. This game teaches us that sheep must focus and listen very carefully in order to hear the sound of their shepherd if they want to avoid being lost.
Do you know what ways can help us listen to the voice of God?
Game 3: PROTECT THE HERD
(use a racket to get balls out from the fence)
*MATERIALS (1 set for every group of 2 teams):
– 10 rackets.
– 20 small balls (with a sticker of a sheep on them).
– Tape to make the fence.
*HOW TO PLAY:
– Split the class into an even number of teams of five players each.
– Appoint opposing pairs groups of two teams. In each pair of teams, one team are shepherds, and one team are wolves. Each team gets 5 rackets.
– The balls represent sheep, and they are stuck to the fence on the shepherds’ side.
– When the signal “THE WOLVES ARE COMING” is given, the wolves are allowed to start and run towards the sheeps’ fence to try and to knock the sheep out of the fence. Make note that the rackets can’t touch the ground.
– After this, you can give the command “FREE THE FLOCK”, and the shepherds can start looking for the sheep that had been stolen and scoop them back up. The shepherds and wolves can each try to come up with their own strategies to try and split up between who’s protecting the sheep and who’s trying to scoop up the sheep.
– Each pair of teams keeps playing until time’s up, at which point you will count and see how many sheep were stolen and lost.
*PURPOSE/CONCLUSION:
– If the shepherds couldn’t protect the sheep: This game shows us two realities: The first – wolves are real, and the second – wolves always want to wrench sheep away from safety. The shepherds here don’t have enough strength to protect their sheep. But Jesus, the true Shepherd, says that: “All of the sheep that the Father has given to Me, I have protected. I have not a single one.” We will be able to learn about this Shepherd in the next lesson. Try your best to wait! Now we’ll learn the memory verse together.
– If the shepherds protected the sheep: This game shows us two realities: The first – wolves are real, and the second – wolves always want to wrench sheep away from safety. The shepherds here are so courageous and sacrificed their own safety to protect their flock. Jesus, the true Shepherd, says that: “All of the sheep that the Father has given to Me, I have protected. I have not a single one.” We will be able to learn about this Shepherd in the next lesson. Try your best to wait! Now we’ll learn the memory verse together.
