Children & youth ministry

Bibliography/Works Citied

Bolton, Martha. Never Ask Delilah for a Trim. . . and Other Good Advice. Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, MI. 1998.
http://www.funattic.com/game_icebreaker.htm accessed on April 15, 2003
http://www.youth.co.za/olympics/rules.htm accessed on April 15, 2003
http://www.youthpastor.com/index.cfm?G=70 accessed on April

Suzan Vermule

Video Game Night
For Video Game Night everyone will come dressed as their favorite video game character old or new. (With the exception that it isn’t anything dark or scary) We will play games that are similar to some old or new video games or that relate to the video game structure, adapted for human characters of course.

Icebreakers

Commons Sheet

Have a commons sheet with different types of video machines such as Nintendo, sega, playstation, etc. and then certain types of games and ask who either owns these machines or has played in the last few hours, days, weeks. You can also do this with games. They have to get the persons full name and age before they can win. (Garland Owensby)

Grouping

You can turn grouping into an icebreaker. For instance, you can ask who’s favorite was Mario and who’s was Luigi for splitting into two teams, and for splitting into teams of four with six on each team you can go around the circle and count off using video game names such as Mario Brothers, Tetris, Donkey Kong, and Pac-Man. After they are in teams they have to tell each others names and what they’re favorite video game is. Using different ones depending on the size of the group.

Rescue the Princess

This is a twist on the game you taught us in class where a group of five or six link arms in a circle and try to keep one person from getting in. Only in this version it’s a little different. In many video games the object is to rescue the princess so after you split the group in half, have one person in each team put on a tiara and feather boa then put them in the middle of the opposing teams circle, then choose one person to be the hero, next have the teams link arms forming a tight circle around the princess, then have the hero try to break through and save the princess from the opposing team, the first one to do so wins. (Garland Owensby)

Spider-Man’s Web

Explain how Spiderman catches villains in his web and it is impossible for them to get out and then have the teams do a version of the human knot but instead call it Spiderman’s web. First have them get in a circle then, each person grabs the hand of two different people across the circle and then they have to untangle without letting go of each other’s hands the first and fastest to do this is the winner. (FunAttic.com)

Atari

Split the group into two teams depending on the size maybe four, and then explain to those who may not know what Atari was. Have the two teams stand across the room from each other, then have each team link arms to form the blocking paddles used on Atari, next use a beach ball as the ball. The objective is to use team work to keep from getting the beach ball past the line, the first team to get it passed the other team three times wins. The teams may use any means necessary to move the ball except their hands, which are linked together. (Suzan Vermeule)

Games

Pac-Man Relay

Split the group into four groups of six for this game. Set up four posts at one end of the room with six balloons, with ghosts face drawn on them, taped to the pole. Then where the teams are lined up have a bowl of M&Ms (power pellets) poured in it at each line. Make sure there are six different colors of M&Ms (power pellets) even if you have to use pastels from Easter. To start the relay assign each person an M&M (power pellet) color (1 red, 2 yellow, etc.). Then the person has to eat all of his/her assigned power pellets, chewed, swallowed, and shown to a sponsor and then run to the other end of the room and pop one ghost any way possible, no biting, then run back and tag the next person. The next person follows suit. The first team to have all ghosts popped and is back across the line wins. (Fun Games for Children’s Ministry)

Tomb Raider

Basically you are just playing capture the flag but calling it a different name. Split the group into two teams and give them a flag and a certain area to protect. Then let them decide who will stay and protect and who will capture the other teams flag. If any one is tagged they become a prisoner and can only be freed by their teammate running across the line of safety. Set a line of safety for the two teams and then if they cross it they are on their own. The first team to capture the flag wins.

Tetris Competition

Have the group split into two teams and have two TVs set up with Nintendo’s and the original Tetris if possible. Have one kid to volunteer to be the player and then blindfold him. The rest of the team then has to figure out a system of telling the player how to turn the piece and how far over to drop it without having one person talking the whole time. The first team to successfully complete one level wins.(Suzan Vermeule)

Sponsor Bash

This is a human version of gator bash where they open and close their mouths and you bash one every time they come up. This is just for fun, well for the kids any way. Get a cardboard box for each sponsor and cut a hole out of the top big enough for his or her head, then get a foam bat so it won’t hurt them. Then have the kids line up by their favorite sponsor and give each child thirty seconds to wack the sponsor as they bob their head in and out of the hole.(Allison Gedrose & Suzan Vermeule)

Mario Cart

For this game you will need four scooters balloons and water balloons. Have the group split into four teams and pick one player to ride the scooter with three balloons tied to their belt loops. Then position the remaining team members around the parking lot with two water balloons a piece. The players on the scooters will try to remove the balloons from the other person’s belt loops before all their balloons are gone. The remaining players will throw the water balloons at any scooter person trying to remove their team’s balloons. The team’s player with the most balloons left at the end of five minutes is the winner.(Suzan Vermeule & Allison Gedrose)