Children’s Activities

Children and Youth Activities

In the book of Acts, we read that when the disciples were gathered together on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon them with a sound like the rush of a violent wind. These activities all focus on the wind and its movement, reminding us that the Holy Spirit moves just as the wind moves. While we may not be able to see God’s Spirit, we can discern the movement of the Spirit among us. Introduce these activities by asking a volunteer to read Acts 2:1–14 aloud, or read it yourself. What are the two ways Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, describes the Holy Spirit? (wind and divided tongues of fire). What do you know about the wind? Can you see it? If you can’t see it, how do you know it is there? (you can feel it; you can see flags flapping or leaves blowing). Say that the Holy Spirit is like that. We can’t see the Holy Spirit, so how do we know it is there? (allow time for responses). Say that we think we know the Holy Spirit is active in our world when we see Christians acting in ways that let us know the Holy Spirit is working in their lives. someone to read Psalm 104:30a. Say that this psalm praises God for the world and all that is in it, all creations of God. The verse tells us that when God sends forth God’s Spirit, creative things happen! Tell the children that they are going to have the chance to use the movement of the air to do some pretty creative things, too, as a reminder that God’s Spirit is active in our world, just like the wind. • Sheets of newspaper at least 36 inches x 40 inches • Three dowel sticks per kite, 3/8 inches x 40 inches •White shower curtain liners (one for every four kites) Option : Kites may also be constructed from sturdy, white trash bags • One roll of cloth sticky tape (minimum 80 inches per roll) per kite Option: Plastic packing tape may also be used • One ball of kite string • Permanent felt markers • Hole punch

What You Do
1. Cut a newspaper pattern using the dimensions shown. Tape the shower curtain to a table, and have a child help you outline the kite pattern with a permanent marker on the plastic.
2. Talk with the children about messages and symbols of Pentecost that they might use to decorate their kites. Let them use markers to draw doves or flames or to print words such as “Come Holy Spirit.” They can then cut out the kite shapes.
3. Show children how to cut seven 10-inch strips and one 6- inch strip from the roll of sticky tape. Have them lay the strips sticky side up and place a dowel lengthwise in the center of each strip. Show them how to press down on the dowel so that it adheres, then lay the dowel and tape carefully in place on the kite materials, pressing tape on either side of dowel.
4. Have children cut two 1–1/2-inch squares of tape and apply to the points where the bridle of the kite will be attached (see illustration). Punch holes for string.
5. Give each child 80 inches of string. They can tie one end through each of the holes in the kite.
6. Attach 30 inches of string to the bottom of the kite for a tail loop.
7. Children can tie a flying line to the midpoint of the bridle line. Now the kite is ready to fly. If they find the kite needs a tail, they can use strips of red cloth to make one.

Bubble Blowing
Blowing bubbles is a fascinating and fun activity for children and youth of all ages (even adults!). If possible, plan to do the bubble-blowing activities outside. The bubble craft can be done inside.

Bubble Prints
What You Need:
• Commercially available bubble-blowing solution, or homemade solution (see the recipes above)
• Shallow bowls
• Soda straws
• Red, orange, or yellow food coloring or water color paint
• White printer paper or construction paper
What You Do:
1. If you plan to use one of the homemade bubble-blowing solutions, mix it up and allow it to sit overnight. The solution seems to work better when it has had several hours’ resting period.
2. In advance, pour bubble-blowing solution into shallow bowls. For a small group, you can prepare one bowl for each color. If the group is large, you’ll want one bowl of each color for every four or five children. Add food coloring or watercolor paint and mix. Experiment by blowing gently into the solution with a straw to see if the color is intense enough. Continue adding food coloring or water-based paint until it is.
3. When the children arrive, tell them that they will be making bubble prints. By blowing into the bubble solution with a straw, they will see bubbles that tell them air is there and it is making the bubbles as it moves.
4. Give each child three straws (or one for each color you are offering). Show them how to blow gently but steadily until they form a mound of small, colored bubbles.
5. Ask them to take a sheet of white paper and gently lay it over the bubble mound to make a print. Set aside to dry.
6. If you like, mount the finished bubble prints on colored construction paper.
And More . . .
Go outdoors. Give each child a piece of white poster board about 6–8 inches square or a sheet of heavy paper. Have three adults or youth gently blow red, yellow, and orange bubbles into the air, and invite the children to catch the bubbles on their papers. The popped bubbles
make pretty designs.

Bubble Solution Recipes
Basic Bubbles
What You Need:
• 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
• 9 ounces water
• 1 tablespoon glycerin (available at drug stores)
• Container (with a lid) in which to mix ingredients
What You Do:
• Stir gently to avoid making the solution foamy
• Store overnight in the covered container
Sweet Bubbles
This solution makes great giant bubbles for blowing outside, but avoid using if your outdoor space attracts wasps or bees.
What You Need:
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
• 1 cup water
• Container with a lid
What You Do:
• Stir gently to avoid making the solution foamy
• Store overnight in the covered container

Bubble Blowing Outdoors
Invite the children to use any of the following wands to blow bubbles outdoors:
• Bend coat hangers into a diamond or circular shape (you may want to wrap masking tape around the handle to make it easier to hold).
• Take a 12-inch pipe cleaner and insert both ends into a rigid, reusable drinking straw. Form the loop into a 2–3 inch circle.
• Stretch a piece of toweling or several thicknesses of cheesecloth over the top of a plastic foam cup. Secure with a rubber band. Poke a small hole in the cup near the base and insert a straw (be sure it is a tight fit). Children can dip the toweling in bubble solution, scrape off the excess, and then blow gently in the straw to make a long, connected series of bubbles.
• Cut the centers out of plastic margarine tub lids and tape the resulting plastic rings to a stick.

Bubble Prayers
This activity might follow a period outside when the children just enjoy experimenting with blowing bubbles.
What You Need:
• Bubble-blowing solution (the small, commercially available jars with wands work well for this activity)
• Outdoor space
What You Do:
1. Tell the children that while bubble blowing is usually just for fun, we can use bubble blowing as a way of offering prayers to God. Remind the group that there are many children living both near us and around the world who do not have enough to eat or a safe place
to live, children who may be frightened, alone, or sick. Then say that one way the Holy Spirit is at work in the world is when Christians try to find ways to help children like them.
2. Say that a portion of the Pentecost Offering goes to help congregations learn about the problems children face and to do something about them. If your congregation has already designated its portion of the Pentecost Offering to a particular program to benefit children at
risk, tell the children a little about it.
3. Invite the children to think of a prayer they might make about children who need help.
4. Give each child a bottle of bubble-blowing solution and a wand. Ask them to form a large circle in the outdoor space and to think quietly about what they would like to pray about. Say that each child will be given an opportunity to pray, either silently or aloud, and then to
blow bubbles up in the air as a sign of offering the prayer to God.
5. Begin by praying a short prayer of intercession yourself and blowing bubbles up into the air.
6. Continue around the circle until everyone has had a chance to offer bubble prayers. Close by saying, “Send forth your spirit, O God. Amen.”

Prayer Windsock
This group windsock is a tangible way to show the children’s prayers on behalf of other children. If possible, hang the completed windsock outside the entrance of the sanctuary where it can move in the wind.
What You Need:
• White poster board
• Narrow red, yellow, and orange ribbons of varying lengths 3 to 5 feet long
• Stapler
• White printer paper
• Dove pattern (download at www.pcusa.org/art/08pent/dove.jpg)
• Scissors
• Black fine-line felt-tipped marker pens
• Red yarn
What You Do:
1. If you are using poster board for the ring, cut a strip about 6 inches wide and the length of the sheet of poster board.
2. Use the dove template to make enough copies on white paper for each child to have one.
3. Invite the children to choose a ribbon and staple it to the poster board strip. If you are using a metal ring, the ribbon can be overlapped and taped.
4. Remind the group that there are many children living near to us and around the world who do not have enough to eat or a safe place to live, children who may be frightened, alone, or sick. Then say that one way the Holy Spirit is at work in the world is when Christians
try to find ways to help children like them.
5. Say that a portion of the Pentecost Offering goes to help congregations learn about the problems children face and to do something about them. If your congregation has already designated its portion of the Pentecost Offering to a particular program to benefit children at
risk, tell the children a little about it.
6. Invite the children to think of a prayer they might make about children who need help.
7. Give each of the children a dove and invite them to cut it out. They can then print their prayer on the dove and staple it to the end of their ribbon.
8. Overlap the ends of the poster board strip and staple firmly to make the ring.
9. Using a hole punch, make four holes equidistant from each other on the ring. Children can tie 18-inch pieces of yarn through the holes, pull the four pieces up, and knot them together to join them about 12 inches above the ring. Attach a longer piece of yarn to the three
(see diagram).
10. Hang the completed windsock where it can move in the air. Remind children that it is a sign of offering their prayers up to God.
And more . . .
If your group is very small, adjust the size of the ring and the number of ribbons, or invite children to make more than one prayer dove. If the group is large, make one windsock for every ten or twelve children.
PDS 11144-08-046
These activities were prepared by Martha Bettis Gee, associate for child advocacy, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Photos and children by Mark Thomson.

Dec 13, 2011 | Parish Ministries |