We Make the Road – Kids’ Curriculum, 4 of 4

Churches around the world (literally) are using We Make the Road by Walking – in groups, in classes, and many, for a whole year of integrated programming. Here’s one more example of how Dominique Nash of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Naples, FL, is adapting the material for her kids’ ministry:
We Make the Road by Walking for Kids
By Dominique Nash
Week 4- The Drama of Desire
Introduction with Children
You will need a small bag full of lollipops and a volunteer who holds one big, lollipop
You: I’m so excited because my dad, who loves me very much, gave me all of these lollipops and they are so good and special. He told me I could have all of them and enjoy them. I can even share them with others to enjoy. I’m so thankful for the things my dad gives me…..wait (look over at volunteer across the room) what’s that? What do you have behind your back? I want to see.
(Volunteer pulls big lollipop out)
You: Oh wow! That’s a cool and gigantic lollipop. (Look at bag of lollipops)- I don’t want these, I want that one.
Volunteer: But you said your dad gave you those to enjoy. You have so many, now you want this one?
You: Yes, I’ll give you all of these lollipops for that one. That one looks better than these and I think I’ll like it better.
Volunteer: No, your dad gave you those, you can even share them. I don’t think you’ll be happy with your choice.
You: I don’t want these anymore I want the one you have, it’s better……….. (hastily put them aside).
Has something like this ever happened to you? You have something and you really like it, until you see someone might have something better or something you want more and then all of sudden you don’t like what you have? Maybe it’s a toy, a phone, a video game, or their house? Allow kids to answer. What that’s called is DESIRES. Who knows what it means to desire something? Allow children to answer. It’s simple, it’s to want something. Sometimes we want what others have and we compete with others to get it. Not in a good way though. We become mean, angry, and jealous. Sometimes we become sad. We even start to judge others and blame others. We pretty much make ourselves miserable. Does that sound like who God is? If we’re made in his image and he says to follow him, or to imitate him, shouldn’t we desire the same things he does? We need to have the right kind of desires, we have to have God’s generous desires…to create, bless, help, serve, care for, save, and listen to this one…..ENJOY!
Imagine what we could do for God and the world, if we all had God’s desires and worked together.
Read Genesis 3:1-13 (Act it Out): Use a stuffed animal snake, a fake tree, or human tree, and two volunteers to play Adam and Eve.
Prayer (have them repeat after you): Dear Lord, thank you for all that we have. Thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Please help be like you and want the same things you do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Discussion Questions:
1) What did Adam and Eve do when God asked them what happened? (They blamed each other)
2) Has there been a time when you wanted something and didn’t go about the right way of trying to get it?
3) What do you think it’s like when we desire the same things God desires? What does that look like in our lives?
Activity/ Game
Younger Children (Toddlers and Preschoolers): Have children build a tower of blocks taking turns and working together. Praise them for sharing, waiting, helping, etc.
All Children: Have the children stand in a line. Make sure they’re not lined up according to height.. Make a rectangle around them with tape. Tell them they have to get in a line from shortest to tallest without talking or stepping outside of the box.
After the game: How did it feel to work together? Did you desire, or want for all of you to do well?
Older Children: Supply a large blanket or sheet. Have all of the kids stand on it together. The goal is to turn the blanket over without anyone getting off.
After the game: Follow up with the questions above.
Craft
Option 1 (For younger children): Picture of Adam and Eve
Using people shaped sponges or cookie cutters, dip them in washable paint and make two prints on a piece of construction paper (Adam and Eve) Use a strip of brown paper to make a tree trunk. Dip the child’s hand in green paint to make the top of the tree. Let them add red, yellow, and/or green circles for apples. Talk about desires and choices. Keep it simple and relatable. Things like taking turns, nice hands, kind words, good helpers, kindness to animals and plants, etc.
Option 2: “Edible Art.” Put all of the children’s names in a basket. Have each child draw a name out of the basket. Explain to them that they are going to make a snack for that child and serve it to them.
Snack- Happy Faces
1 rice cake
Cream cheese
Raisins, blueberries, or any small fruit.
Have children wash their hands hen prepare the snack. Supply each child with the ingredients. Some may have more or less fruit than someone else. Have them work that out together. They will have to share and help. Using a craft stick, have them spread the cream cheese onto the rice cake. Take the fruit and make a happy face. If you offer several different choices, have them ask the child they’re making it for what they would like.
After everyone is finished, allow them to serve. Tell them with this craft, we desired, like God, to create, sere, and enjoy. We desired to make someone happy.
Option 3: Word Collage-
Grab a big stack of magazines and flip through each one. Cut out create, bless, help, serve, care for, save, and enjoy. Cut out several of each one. If you can’t find many, combine letters and words to make the words you need.
Use cardstock and lay your favorite clippings out and make them the focal points of your collage, and then trim the pictures down as closely as possible so that you can fit them all together.
Lay out your collage, fitting the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. Overlap pieces and just keep rearranging them until every inch of your surface is covered.
Remove each piece starting with background pictures and glue them down. Don’t worry of the pictures don’t end up exactly where they started. Fill in any gaps with smaller images and words. Trim the edges when you’re done gluing.
Cut a piece of clear contact paper that is about 1.5 inches bigger that the surface of the collage.
Peel the backing off of the contact paper carefully and slowly lay it over the collage. Start in one corner and work your way across. Be sure to leave excess contact paper around all the edges. Smooth out the contact paper to avoid air bubbles.
Fold the extra contact paper edges around the back of the surface like you’re wrapping a gift and trim any excess.
Activities to Do at Home:
1) Read Psalm 32:8 as a family. Discuss what it says about God helping us?
2) Cook dinner together and serve each other.
3) Play a board game and talk about winning and losing. How does it feel to win or lose? What should we do?