Hobbies And Interests
Memory Word Hunt
The memory word hunt is a fun game to play that helps children learn Psalm 23. First print out Psalm 23, and then erase 13 of the words. Enlarge the poem to poster size. Write each of the missing words on sets of colored cards. Break the children into teams and give each team a poster with the verse. Hide all the colored cards and place the posters at one end of the room. When you say go, each team should run to find their cards. The team to find all 13 cards first and place them in the correct spots on the poster is the winning team.
Green Pastures Craft
The green pastures craft helps children to remember the first part of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.." Each child will need a small clay pot, potting soil, grass seed, glue, cotton balls, and Psalm 23 written on a piece of paper. Fill each pot with soil within one inch from the top and spread the grass seed evenly on the top of the soil. Be sure to water the seeds. Cut up Psalm 23 into verses and glue them on the outside of the pot. Glue cotton balls to the rim of the pot to resemble the sheep in the pasture. Over the next few weeks, keep the soil watered to the grass will sprout into a "pasture."
Lost Sheep Game
The lost sheep game is a variation of hide and seek. Begin the game by reading Psalm 23 to the children. Divide them into teams. One child from each team will play the lost sheep. Each lost sheep must hide in the same place while the teams look. Once found, the child who was the lost sheep switches with another player on their team until every child has had a chance to play the lost sheep.
Sheep Treats
Each child will need one jar of marshmallow fluff, crisped rice cereal, thin pretzel sticks, whipped cream, shredded coconut, green food coloring and small paper plates. In a small bowl, mix the marshmallow fluff and the cereal until the cereal is well coated. Don't make it too moist. Pour the mixture on a piece of wax paper and press into long oval shapes to make the sheep. Push the pretzels into the bottom of each sheep to make the legs. Put whipped cream on the sides of each sheep to make it appear fluffy. Mix the coconut in a bowl with the food coloring, then sprinkle the green coconut onto the paper plates to make grass. Stand the sheep in the grass and refrigerate for a few minutes before eating. You can have children practice reciting Psalm 23, or listen to it on tape while making the cookies.
Psalm 23 Word Search
Before this game starts, the Sunday school teacher or youth leader should make up a word search puzzle using the words from the 23rd Psalm. Sometimes these puzzles can also be found online or in children's activity books at stores that sell Bibles or Sunday school supplies. Make several copies of the word puzzle, then divide the children into teams. The first team to correctly find all the words in the puzzle is the winner.