Who Cares Group
Group Activities

WHO CARES? SANDWICH SIGN: Have the children or teacher cut a sheet of poster board in half (or in quarters for small children). Tie strings to both halves to hang over the shoulders to form a SANDWICH SIGN on which the children (or teacher) will write the message WHO CARES? - JESUS CARES!

HAPPY/SAD PUPPETS: Give each child a paper lunch bag. On one side of the bag the children will draw and color a HAPPY FACE. On the other side of the bag, the children will draw and color a SAD FACE. Have the children place the puppet on their hand so that they can rotate it to show a HAPPY FACE or a SAD FACE. Tell the children to turn the puppet toward the teacher showing how they would feel as the teacher describes a situation. EXAMPLES:

You are playing outside on a warm sunny day.
It is raining and you can't play your baseball game.
You went fishing and caught a big fish.
Your grandmother is sick.
It is your birthday and all your friends are coming to your party.
There is a big thunder storm and the and you are frightened.
(Continue with other examples as time permits.)

JESUS BASKET: Give the children small pieces of paper on which to write some things that might make them sad or afraid. The teacher will provide a large basket labeled "JESUS". Without telling anyone what their fears might be, the children will take turns wadding up one of their fears and tossing it in the JESUS BASKET. Tell the children that they can always give their worries and fears to Jesus.

JESUS CARES BOOKMARK: Have a bookmark and a ribbon available for child to put together. Have the child write the following words on the bookmark, "WHO CARES? JESUS CARES!" (The teacher may prefer to have this typed out for each child to glue onto the bookmark and then decorate the bookmark with stickers.)

HE CARES FOR ME BOX: Place a mirror in the bottom of a box that has a lid. Have the children sit in a circle and pass the box around the circle. Tell the children, "When you receive the box, open the box and look inside to see someone that Jesus cares for and then close the lid an pass it to the next person." After the box has been all around the circle, ask the children, "Who does Jesus care for?"

HE CARES CIRCLE CHAT: Have the children sit in a circle and play the game "Does Jesus Care?" Select a child to begin the game who will tap the child to his right and ask, "Does Jesus Care for you?" The child who is tapped will give an answer that shows how he/she knows that Jesus cares for them. After the child has answered, he/she will tap the next child and ask the question. Continue around the circle until each child has had a chance to answer.

CHILD IN A BOAT DRAWING: Give the children a sheet of paper and some crayons or markers. Have each child draw a picture of a boat with a child in the boat. It could be a simple stick drawing. Beneath the picture, the child should write, "JESUS CALMS THE STORMS OF LIFE."

SHARE A SNACK: The BIBLE tells us about many miracles that Jesus did. Let the children take two graham crackers and place a little white frosting between them to form a "Bible". Use frosting gel to draw a picture of a cross on the front of their snack. If desired, the children can place a piece of red fruit ribbon to come out of their Bible snack as a red ribbon book marker!

Song: "Does Jesus Care?"

Words and Music (PDF)

Piano Accompaniment MP3

Song: "Jesus Loves Me"

Words and Music (PDF)

Piano Accompaniment MP3