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Three elementary-aged boys are playing a simple, discussion starting game with potatoes.
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3 Elementary Activities to Start a Discussion About God

Looking to encourage discussions about God in your elementary ministry? Check out these three simple activities to get the conversation going.

3 Elementary Activities to Start a Discussion About God

1. Game: Snatch the Spud

Use this game to show kids God knows and protects those who are his.

You’ll need:

  • a Bible
  • 1 clean potato per child

Say: Look carefully at your potato. Tell us how it’s unique from the others. After kids share, collect the potatoes and spread them across the floor at the opposite end of the room.

Say: Let’s play a game. Find your original potato, and then balance it on the top of your hand. Use your free hand to try to snatch someone else’s potato without dropping yours.

After a few minutes, stop the game and read aloud John 10:27-28.

Ask:

  • Do you think Jesus knows his followers even better than you know your potato? Why?
  • How does our game remind you of the way Jesus protects his followers?
  • How is it different?

Sharon Carey
Washington, Illinois

2. Experience: More and More

Use this experience to lead a discussion on contentment.

You’ll need:

  • a Bible
  • scissors
  • catalogs
  • 1 envelope per child

Beforehand, cut out pictures of various “prizes”—some awesome, some goofy, and some lame. Place each one inside an envelope. Seal only half of the envelopes.

In your best game show voice, say: Pick a prize! If your envelope is open, peek inside but don’t show anyone what you’ve won. If your envelope is sealed, don’t open it.

After everyone has an envelope, give kids 60 seconds to trade as many times as they like.

Reveal what everyone “won.” Have kids pick the best and worse prizes.

Ask:

  • Explain whether you’re content with your final prize.
  • If you weren’t content with your prizes during the game, explain why.

Read aloud Ecclesiastes 5:10.

Say: Money isn’t bad in itself. What is a problem is when we always want more and we’re never content.

Ask:

  • Why might it be a problem to never feel content? 
  • How can we practice being content?

Christina Schofield
Rolla, Missouri

3. Experiment: See the Unseen

Use this experiment to show kids that God has blessings for us that are unseen.

You’ll need:

  • Bibles
  • 1 paper cup per child
  • food coloring
  • baking soda
  • vinegar in a squeeze bottle
  • markers

Ahead of time, add two drops of food coloring to each cup. Add a heaping spoonful of baking soda to each cup—just enough to cover the food coloring.

Ask:

  • What are troubles you face?

Read aloud 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Say: Sometimes we focus so much on our outside troubles that we forget God is doing good things we can’t see.

Have kids write or draw pictures to show their troubles. Then have kids each squeeze vinegar into their cups until the baking soda bubbles and the color appears.

An elementary-aged boy participating in a science experiment before having a discussion on God with his class.

Ask:

  • What things can we focus on instead of our troubles?
  • How can we remember to focus on what God’s doing, even when we can’t see it?

Emily Snider
Roseville, Michigan

Looking for more elementary ideas? Check out these posts!

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