Are you ready to review for the Big Game?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
This Sunday at the downtown location, it’s time for the Big Game! Also known as Are You Smarter Than a Sixth Grader?

We’ll be playing a large group game to review Bible stories we’ve covered since September. It will be sort of like the old TV show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

This game is always loads of fun. We treat it as an end of school year celebration! (But Sunday’s Cool will continue during the summer.)

Big Game 2015 - 5th grade confiring on an answer

Class Teams work together closely. And checking the Bible for an answer is allowed (but you’d better be fast!)

The Big Game- a group huddle in 2011   The Big Game 2014 - checking the Bible for an answer

And, NEW this year! All parents are welcome to join the Parent Team to test their Bible knowledge against the 1st – 6th graders.

big game 2014 - Final scoreIn prior years the score has been close!

How will you prepare?

Review these stories: (And perhaps look at past review techniques I’ve suggested? Also here!)

See you at the Big Game!

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Photo credits:
Photos are from my archives.

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How to equip for the big game? Challenge memory!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
This Sunday at the downtown location, the Big Game transpires!

We’ll be playing a large group game to review Bible stories we’ve covered since September. It will be sort of like the old TV show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” This game is always loads of fun.

A group of kids works together to determine an answer
At a previous big game, a class confers on an answer
How can you help your kids to prepare for this event? How about playing a game!

Everyone likes to play games; how about around the family dinner table? After all, dinner table games can lead everyone into dialogue. And what could be better than a family talking – especially with regards to their faith journey.

Here’s a game idea… Play the game “Things that Belong to Something.”

With older kids you can name a list of items and have everyone guess what they “belong” to; for example: A bag of snacks, a blanket, and maps. (Answer: What’s inside my car.) Use the list below to review our Bible stories.

For younger kids ask them to name three items in a category. For example: name three things in your bed. This one works for older kids too! Ask them to name three characters in a Bible story or to identify three verbs or three adjectives, that describe a story.

Here’s a list of the stories we’ve covered this year and some “belongs to” suggestions:

  • David, God’s chosen King, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

    • Sheep; Anointing oil; Samuel

    Eight sons; A man after God’s own heart; Bethlehem

  • Jesus calls disciples, Matthew 4:18-22, 9:9 and in Mark 3:13-19

    • Fishermen, Tax collectors; Sons of Zebedee

    Apostles; Follow me; Can anything good come from Nazareth?

  • The overall story of the birth of Jesus (a compilation of gospel stories in Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-23, Luke 2:1-18

    • Gabriel; Nazareth; Immanuel

    The Holy Spirit; A census; Shepherds

  • Esther, the book of Esther

    • Haman; Mordecai; Xerxes

    Risky; Praying; Bow now!

  • David and Goliath, 1 Samuel 17: 1-49

    • A slingshot; Trust in God; “Giants” in our life

    Armor that’s too big; Philistines; Relying on God’s power

  • The tomb is empty – Resurrection appearances of Jesus, Matthew 28:1-10, and in John 20:1-20

    • Mary Magdalene; Spices; A big stone

    An earthquake; An angel; Woman, why are you weeping?

  • The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20

    • Important instructions; Teach; Baptize

    Go; Some doubted; I’ll be with you

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We’d love to have you join the fun at this Sunday’s game: “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth Grader” at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI.


Photo credits:
Photos are from my archives.

Are you seeing ads? They are not from me! They are placed by WordPress, who otherwise offers a free platform from which to share lots of good-ness. If you see an inappropriate ad, please report it to support@wordpress.com. Include the URL, the date/time the ad appeared, and a screenshot of the ad.

What is this Big Game?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Coming up this Sunday at the downtown location is THE BIG GAME!

It’s where we review the year’s stories, and see if the 6th graders are smarter than the rest of us! What’s it look like? Let’s review!

Everyone meets in the Social Hall and gathers in their grade groups. (These pictures are from former year-end Big Games. It’s an annual tradition!)

Everyone gathers together for the big game

The 6th graders (and any adults) get to sit on chairs! But that doesn’t guarantee a winning answer for the 6th graders!

The 6th grade gets to sit on chairs at the Big Game

We work as grade groups to collaborate on our answers to those tough questions…

A group gathers huddles together to work on an answer at the Big Game

Bibles are allowed (but we better be fast!)

The 6th graders search for an answer in the Bible

We take turns being the one to present our answer. Is it correct?

A group presents its answer

In review, here are the stories we’ve covered since last September (for the Big Game of 2014):

Another group huddles up for an answer

Help your kids by reviewing these stories.

And feel free to visit the Big Game and join in on the fun! (We’ll let you sit in a chair if you’d like.)

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Photo credits:
Photos are from my archives.

Are you seeing ads? They are not from me! They are placed by WordPress, who otherwise offers a free platform from which to share lots of good-ness. If you see an inappropriate ad, please report it to support@wordpress.com. Include the URL, the date/time the ad appeared, and a screenshot of the ad.

Games at the dinner table

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Who likes to play games? How about playing a game around the family dinner table? (Or wherever your family is gathered together.) After all, dinner table games can lead everyone into dialogue. And what could be better than a family talking!

Want to know how to bring up Biblical topics in your family time?

A game is a great way to have your conversation include faith stories. How about a game of Concentration? Only preparation necessary is to print out the these cards. (Have your kids cut them apart as part of their dinner-prep duties.) At an appropriate time, spread out the cards picture-side down. Everyone takes a turn to see if they can turn over two cards that match. Who ever finds a match, says something about the image on the cards.

Bread and wine Bread and wine

Did you know that playing this game sometime this week can help your child to prepare for the big Cool Disciples review game this coming weekend? On Saturday evening and Sunday morning, we’ll be playing a large-group game to review the Bible stories we’ve covered since September. It will be sort of like the old TV game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” This game is always loads of fun.

A group of kids works together to determine an answer
A shot of last years 3rd graders formulating their answer.

Here are the stories we’ve covered since September 2011:

  • The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15, Luke 11:1-4)
  • Psalm 23 (Psalm 23:1-6)
  • Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
  • The Story of Jesus’ Birth (Matthew 1:18-23, Luke 1:26-38 and 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-15)
  • Moses: Bulrushes to Burning Bush (Exodus 1:1 – 4:17)
  • Moses: Plagues and Passover (Exodus 5:1-6:13, 7:1-12:42)
  • The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-20)
  • Nicodemus (John 3:1-17)

Regardless of whether your child can take part this weekend, add an occasional game to your family dinner. Need another suggestion? Check out last years review game idea.

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Photo credits:
Concentration card images from WPClipart and Open Clip Art Library. (Images are in the Public Domain.)
Photo of playing the “big game” is from my archives.

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A family dinner game to prepare for the “big” game?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
I have said this before: a way to spark faith conversations with your family is to make family dinner a priority.

But don’t just eat. Play games.

That’s right. To extend your time together as a family, add a “game” to your meal. And the game I have in mind – a variation of Twenty Questions – will surreptitiously help your kids to prepare for this coming Sunday’s Cool Disciples review game – AKA “The Big Game.”

Supplies needed:

  • Slips of paper no larger than someone’s forehead, 3 or 4 per person
  • Writing implements
  • Adhesive tape
  • A Bible (optional, in case someone needs a hint, or an argument needs solving!)

A child wears a game card on her forehead

Distribute the slips of paper and the writing implements and ask everyone to secretly write the name of a character on each slip of paper. The characters should be from the Bible stories that the kids have learned this year.

What were those stories?

The Beatitudes, Adam and Eve in the Garden, Four Friends Carry a Lame Man to Jesus, The Birth of Jesus from the viewpoint of his mother Mary, John the Baptist, The Parable of the Sower, and the story of Easter Week.

Right away you’ll probably not want anyone to write down God or Jesus. Way too easy to guess!

What are some possibilities?

  • Someone at the Sermon on the Mount
  • Adam
  • Eve
  • The snake (why not get creative)
  • The man let down from the roof
  • One of the 4 Friends
  • Angel Gabriel
  • Mary, mother of Jesus
  • Elizabeth
  • Joseph
  • John the Baptist
  • Daniel
  • King Darius
  • A farmer sowing seed (in Bible times)
  • Peter (the disciple)
  • The donkey Jesus rode on Palm Sunday
  • Judas
  • Caiaphas
  • Pilate
  • Herod
  • Joseph of Arimathea
  • Mary Magdalene

(Or you could just write out enough of the above characters ahead of time.)

Have everyone pass their pile of written characters (name-side-down) to the person on their right. Everyone will pick up one of the characters and paste it (name-side-out) on their forehead. (Pass the tape, please!)

Everyone takes turns asking yes or no questions about their character in an effort to determine who they are wearing. Have fun!

We’d love to have you join the fun at this Sunday’s game: “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth Grader” at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI.

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Photo credits:
Child eating a peach by Bruce Tuten, who licensed his photo under: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic. (Which allows me to re-touch this photo to add the forehead game card!)

Are you seeing ads? They are not from me! They are placed by WordPress, who otherwise offers a free platform from which to share lots of good-ness. If you see an inappropriate ad, please report it to support@wordpress.com. Include the URL, the date/time the ad appeared, and a screenshot of the ad.