Opening Activity
An icebreaker or something to get people focused as you begin.
OPTION 1: “WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
Divide your Sabbath School into two groups and have them face off with
“What Did You Say?” If only one person is present, you will face off with them. If you have two or more people, divide into equal teams. If you have more than six to eight people, just pick six to eight people from among them and have them form two teams in front of the rest of the group.
Have the two groups line up and face each other. The person at the head of each group should be facing the first person at the head of the other group. One of these two asks the other a question. Instead of answering it, the other person answers with another question. For example, the first person may ask, “What is your name?” Instead of giving them the answer (e.g. “My name is Tom”), the person facing them must respond with another question, even if it’s totally unrelated, such as “Why is the sky blue?”
These two people go back and forth until one gives an answer instead of another question or simply can’t think of another question and pauses.
To make it more challenging, tell everyone they can’t repeat a question someone has already asked.
When a person messes up, he or she goes to the back of their line and the next person takes on the winner at the head of the other line.
If an individual wins three times in a row, that person should also go to the back of their line so others can have a chance to play.
This icebreaker relies on pantomiming. When our communication is limited, we must rely on other clues to get our message across. Put people in teams of two and give the person who is taller a message they must communicate to their partner without using words. The taller person must pantomime the message, communicating with their actions until their partner guesses what they’re trying to say.
If you have only two people present, time how long it takes for each of them to guess
the other’s message. If you have more people than that, make it a contest to see who can guess the right answer first. You can also create other combinations, such as one person pantomiming with two or more people trying to guess their message at the same time.
You can come up with your own ideas for messages people should pantomime, or use some of the following ideas:
- The Flood
- Not listening
- Noah building the ark
- Forgiveness
- My way or the highway
- Old
- Selfish
- God judges
- God saves
- Animals entered Noah’s ark 2 by 2
TRANSITION: As we consider the lesson plan for today, think about how well we humans listen to each other, and how well we listen to God. How does God communicate with us?