Only A Carpenters Son Group
Group Activities

COLORED HIDE AND SEEK: The teacher will name one child to be "IT" and the rest of the class will hide. The game begins when the teacher tells "IT" to go and find a child wearing RED. When found, that child becomes the next "IT" and will be told to go and find someone wearing BLUE. This will continue until all the children have been found.

"I'M A CARPENTER'S SON" RELAY: Divide the children into two groups. Each team member will take a turn running to a bag or box filled with carpenter's items (tool belt, hammer, cap, etc). They will put on or hold all the items and shout out I'M A CARPENTER'S SON. Then they'll all items back in the bag and run back to their team for the next team member to run the same race.

CARPENTER TOOLS: Let the children trace and cut out various carpenter tools. They will then write parts of today's Bible verse or words from today's lesson on each tool. Glue the tools onto a piece of construction paper or hole punch each tool and hang them all together on a piece of yarn tied to form a "tool ring" (as if on a key ring).

FAITHFUL AND TRUE TO GOD POSTER: Give the children a large poster board on which the teacher has written in large letters, FAITHFUL AND TRUE TO GOD! at the top of the poster. The children will then take turns writing ways that we can be faithful and true to God on the bottom part of the poster. Class discussion is important and children can take turns writing in various colored markers to decorate the poster which will be put up on a classroom wall.

JESUS THE CARPENTER'S SON: Let children write JESUS on a hammer cut out. Write Carpenter's Son on another tool, write HEALER on another tool, write PROPHET on another tool, etc. Give the children a long wide strip of poster board or construction paper taped together to form a TOOL BELT. Hang the tools from the tool belt and let children wear their tool belts out of class.

NAIL DRIVING ACTIVITY: Bring a piece of wood, approximately 2"x4"x18", a hammer, and nails. Talk about today's lesson and the fact that Jesus was a carpenter's son and probably drove a lot of nails into wood. Let each child take a turn driving a nail or two into the wood. Tell the children that just as they can drive a nail into the wood, they can be a part of building the Kingdom of God by telling others about Jesus and HIS love for them.

"WHO CAN?" BANNER: Write WHO CAN on the top of a long banner then write questions on the banner. (WHO CAN heal the sick? WHO CAN take care of us? WHO CAN part the waters? WHO CAN save our souls? WHO CAN provide all that you need? WHO CAN forgive?) The children can each use a different colored marker to write JESUS on the banner when it's their turn. After every question, the children can shout... JESUS, as each child writes JESUS on the banner. Give children stars and stickers to decorate the banner when activity is done.

ICE CREAM RELAY SNACK TIME: Divide the children into teams and have small cups with ice cream inside. As the children play out the relay, they will run to the ice cream line and eat the ice cream quickly and return to their team to continue with all players eating a small cup of ice cream and back to the team. (This should only be 2 or 3 little bites of ice cream - not much more). This could also be played at the end of class time as a little snack/treat.

Song:  "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" Traditional

Words and Music (pdf)