Plan in a Can: The Ultimate Classroom Saver
When your class time is over and the sermon isn’t, what do you do? Make sure kids are bored no more! Try a Plan in a Can!
It’s Sunday morning and you’ve just finished your entire lesson. You check the clock, and while the service should be ending…you hear no music, see no parents coming down the hall, discern no sounds of the benediction. What you do hear is your senior pastor, still excited about the message. And then you quickly begin trying to figure out what you’re going to do with a room full of kids and no lesson left—without letting them see you sweat.
The temptation may be to run; it’s not easy to think of creative and interesting ideas to keep kids engaged when you have extra time on your hands. But don’t run—think of it as an honor that God chose you to have a few extra minutes with your kids.
You might be thinking, “Are you kidding me? I signed up for one hour. It’s been an hour and 20 minutes and these kids are just staring at me.” Well, they should be. You’re pretty special. You’re the one person God selected for this moment. Every extra minute kids get with you is his gift to them.
And you? You need a survival kit. A bucket of back up—a plan in a can.
So we’ve created two kits you can build on your own and store in your room. When you have extra time with kids, don’t sweat it—just pull out your plan in a can and get busy! And just in case you’re wondering, “Why call it a can? Why not a box or a bin or a bucket?” It’s for those times when you’re wondering if you’ll be able to keep kids’ attention and bust their boredom, the name is a sweet reminder that yes, you can! (Get it?)
Games Galore (A Games Plan in a Can)
Print the instructions for the following Games Galore Plan in a Can activities, and place the paper in your Plan in a Can. Each activity has its own supply list and the master supply list (for the whole can) is as follows:
- laminated pictures of people printed on cardstock (see Easy Prep for Faithful Faces Memory Game)
- rubber band
- sidewalk chalk
- Christian music for kids (check out Group’s catchy tunes!)
- media player
- blacklight lamp (optional)
- 2 large happy face images
- 2 colors of plastic clothespins (enough for each child to have 3 of one color)
Faithful Faces Memory Game
Kids love memory games. So why not capitalize on this fun game model and reinforce the important faith faces in kids’ lives?
You’ll Need:
- pictures of people printed on cardstock (see Easy Prep)
- laminator or clear adhesive vinyl
- rubber band
Easy Prep:
- Gather pictures of members of your congregation, families your Sunday school class is praying for, and missionaries your church supports. With parent permission, you could even take pictures of kids in your class.
- Also gather artwork of Bible people you’ve been learning about in Sunday school.
- Print out two playing card-size photos of each person.
- Laminate each photo or apply clear adhesive vinyl.
Lead the Game
Shuffle the face cards. Then lay them face down in several rows. Have kids try to find matching cards by turning over two at a time. If kids don’t get a match, they turn the cards back face down and the next person goes. If they do get a match, they keep the matching pair and get another turn. Keep playing until all the matches are found.
For more faith connection, have kids name the person on the card and state one fact they know about that person.
The winner is whoever has the most matching pairs once all matches are found.
Sidewalk Chalk for Today’s Talk
You’ll Need:
Lead the Activity
Form teams of 2-6 kids. You can have as many or as few teams as you have the sidewalk space for. Have teams work together to draw one picture that says something about the day’s Bible story.
The best part of this activity is that when parents come for pickup, kids will tell their parents what they learned in Sunday school without even being prompted.
For a bonus, take photos of kids and their drawings for a quick recap to start off the following week’s lesson.
Music Freeze Dance
You’ll Need:
Lead the Game
If you think an hour is a long time for you, it’s like dog years to kids. They have wiggles they’ve got to get out. So when you have extra time, turn up the music and let kids be as goofy as they want-until the music stops. Then they have to freeze in place.
For a twist, add a blacklight lamp. Changing your environment is a great break from every day. And it lets kids know that you always have a few surprises in store.
Clothespin Tag
You can use this game to remind kids that no thief can steal our joy when we go to the source of joy: God.
You’ll Need:
- 2 large happy face images
- 2 colors of plastic clothespins (enough for each child to have 3 of one color)
- Christian music for kids (check out Group’s catchy tunes!)
- media player
Play the Game
Place the two happy face images on the floor at opposite ends of a play area.
Form two teams, and have each team go to one happy face. Assign each team a color of clothespin. Let each kid pin three of their team’s clothespin color to their shirt sleeve. These clothespins represent their joy. The goal of the game is for each team to try to steal the other team’s joy/clothespins and drop them on their own team’s happy face.
Play music to signal “go.”
Let kids play for one minute or so, and then turn off the music to signal “stop.” After a few starts and stops, end the game. Then let kids put their “joy” (clothespins) back on their sleeves and play again.
When you’re done, remind kids that although their “joy” was stolen in this game, they can find true joy from God—and no one can take that joy away.
Craft Creations (A Craft Plan in a Can)
Print the instructions for the following Craft Creations Plan in a Can activities, and place the paper in your Plan in a Can. Each activity has its own supply list and the master supply list (for the whole can) is as follows:
- Legos in a resealable bag
- sculpting sand
- play dough
- window crayons or other window writers
- dry-erase board markers
- giant chenille wires
- Wicky Sticks
- colored pencils
- construction paper
- washable markers
- other craft supplies
- one-subject notebook
- pens or pencils
- mini marshmallow launcher
- marshmallows
- alcohol wipes
- glitter putty
- squishy, sensory toys
- upbeat Christian music for kids
- media player
Creative Symbol All About You!
If you know you’re going to have extra time, use this idea as kids are arriving to your Sunday school or children’s church class.
You’ll Need:
- Legos in a resealable bag
- sculpting sand
- play dough
- window crayons or other window writers
- dry-erase board markers
Lead the Activity
Have kids use Lego bricks, sculpting sand, play dough, window writers, or dry-erase board markers to create a symbol of something that happened during the week.
Then have kids show their creation to the class as they say, “Hi, my name is __________ , and I created this__________ , because last week__________ .”
Marshmallow-Launch Meeting
You’ll Need:
Lead the Activity
Choose one child to be the Launcher. The Launcher will use the marshmallow launcher to blast their friends with marshmallows to eat. Have kids stand across the room from the Launcher. They’ll stand ready to catch a marshmallow in their hands (or mouth, if they feel really silly).
Whoever catches a marshmallow introduces him- or herself. Then the child can ask a lighthearted question for everyone in the group to answer, such as, “What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?”
Use an alcohol wipe to disinfect the blaster after each game.
Delectable Lesson Review
Play this game to review the day’s lesson or Bible story.
You’ll Need:
Lead the Activity
In this game, you’re the Launcher. Have kids stand ready to catch the marshmallow in their mouth or hands.
Whoever catches the marshmallow will answer a question based on what you discussed in class. If the Catcher needs help, he or she can ask the class. Use these questions to spark discussion and get kids to think about the Bible story.
- Who interested you most from our Bible story?
- What’s one question you have about today’s Bible story?
- What’s one thing you could pray about based on what you learned today?
- What will you do differently this week after hearing the Bible story?
- When have you experienced something similar to what happened in our Bible story?
- Why is this lesson important?
Creative Lesson Response
You’ll Need:
- giant chenille wires
- Wicky Sticks
- other craft supplies
- window crayons or other window writers
- dry-erase board markers
- colored pencils
- construction paper
- washable markers
Lead the Activity
Let kids use any craft supplies from the can to create a symbol of what the day’s lesson meant to them. For instance, kids can draw a picture or write how they’ll apply the point to life—on the windows, the dry-erase board, or paper. Or they might choose to create a symbol using giant chenille pipe cleaners or Wicky Sticks that reminds them of what they learned.
Invite kids to share what their creation represents.
Class Prayer Journal
Create a class prayer journal with a notebook that kids will write prayer notes in.
You’ll Need:
- one-subject notebook
- pens or pencils
Lead the Activity
Have all the kids write their name on the cover because it belongs to all of them. Then take out the journal throughout the year. Encourage kids to take turns writing their prayers or notes using colored pencils. Give kids prayer prompts if they’re stumped, such as “I thank God for…” “I need help with…” and “I pray for….” Close your time with a prayer, including requests from the prayer journal.
Let Kids “Chill”
You’ll Need:
Lead the Activity
Give kids glitter putty, sensory toys, or simply space. Play Christian music and let kids just “chill” as they quietly listen to the music. Use these tactile treats to help them focus on the music.
- Squish the glitter putty between their fingers.
- Play with squishy, sensory toys while listening to Christian music.
- Relax on the floor at least 5 feet from anyone else, close their eyes, and listen to a song.
Cynthia Crane has been a children’s minister for more than 20 years and is a mom to two great kids.
Sharon Stratmoen is an over 25-year kidmin veteran. She also leads national workshops.
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