Standing Together As One Group
Group Activities

ARM LINK GAME: Have children line up in front of the teacher. First child will come up and link elbows/arms with one arm of the teacher; the next child will come up and link up with the 1st child, etc until everyone is linked together. Try to walk together without UN linking the arms. For a little more fun with finding strength and "togetherness" in unity, form a circle with the arms linked and walk in a circle, first one direction and then the other. Discussion about standing TOGETHER during the temptations and struggles.

"NUMBER ONE" Name Art: On a large colored poster board, the teacher will draw or cut out (if desired) a very LARGE number "1". Let children use a colored marker or crayon and write their own name on that NUMBER 1. Discussion about all of us being ONE in the body of Christ and working together for strength against temptation by Satan.

CHURCH HOUSE: Have children each draw a very large church building with a steeple and cross at the top. Then have children pass their own church drawing around the class to be signed by each class member. Let children know that we are ALL part of the church together in UNITY.

BEAD NECKLACE: Have a few larger beads for each child (or buttons); give children 2 or more strings to "string through" the beads. Tell children that the necklace is much stronger with more than ONE string for their necklace and talk about "strength in unity" as in our Bible story today.

CRAFT STICK BUNDLES: (You could also use real sticks that children could collect from outside if available) Have children put their sticks in a bundle and tie with a string or cord. Attach a colorful card that children have colored and written on with the words, "STANDING TOGETHER AS ONE. JOHN 17:11). If craft sticks are used, children could quickly color each craft stick with a crayon before tying into a bundle.

"THE CHURCH" UNITED: Children can use ink fingerprints and make many stick men, holding hands together, for a picture to remind them that the church is US and we need to hold on together to be united and strong!

CIRCLE UNITY FUN: Children can go outside and one by one can try to get into a chalk drawn circle. This can symbolize UNITY and standing together. To make this a little more fun, the teacher can draw a smaller circle and children can one by one try to fit into THIS circle, and continue until the children fit VERY CLOSELY together.

TUG OF WAR GAME and BIBLE VERSE: Let children start out with a tug of war as one-on-one and then begin adding children to each side for a tug of war game to see that there is strength in numbers when we work together to help each other. For ADDED FUN, have children stand without tugging while they say the Bible verse together and THEN tug. When the teacher blows the whistle, they stop tugging and stand again and say the Bible verse and then tug some more. The Bible verse could be shortened, if needed.

KIDS TREAT while "working TOGETHER": Give each child a portion of a treat that would be in a trail mix. Have children add their portion of the treat and mix together. Let each child scoop some trail mix with a spoon into a bag for ANOTHER CHILD, instead of for themselves. This might make the treat- fun a little more interesting!! As children hand a treat bag to another child, they can say, EVERYTHING'S BETTER WHEN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER!

Song:  "Jesus Loves the Little Children"

Words and Music

Piano Accompaniment MP3