Activities for Journey Around the Block

1. Make reminders of lights that shine.
Read Isaiah 58:10. Explain that they will make a reminder of that verse and how they can make their light shine.

Young children make sun catchers. Cut clear adhesive plastic sheets into 6" squares. Each child will need two squares. Do not peel off the backing until ready to do the project. Cut various colors of tissue paper into different shapes. Each child will need several pieces of tissue paper. Make plenty so the last child has choices, too. The children place their tissue paper on the sticky side of one of the clear adhesive plastic squares. Explain that once it is put in place, it cannot be moved. When they have all the tissue paper on the plastic that they want, help them place a loop of string or yarn at the top for a hanger. Then cover the papered side with the sticky side of the other square of adhesive plastic. Trim any loose edges. Show the children how to hang them in the window to let the sun shine through.
(Materials: scissors, clear adhesive plastic, tissue paper of many colors, string or yarn)

Older children make stained glass lanterns.
Each child will need a glass jar; about pint-size works well. Be sure the jars are clean inside and out. In advance, pour white glue into a container. Add a little water and stir, continuing to add water until the glue is the consistency of milk. Have the children tear tissue paper of various colors into small pieces. Brush a portion of the outside of the jar with the glue mixture and place a piece of tissue paper on it. Then brush the glue mixture over it. Continue until the jar is covered with tissue paper. Point out that overlapping the tissue paper can create interesting colors as well. Let it dry. In a jar you prepared in advance, place a votive candle and light it. You might use this candle for the group's prayer time. Provide each child with a votive candle, but caution them not to light it without an adult present.
(Materials: glass pint jars, white glue, water, clean paintbrushes, scissors, tissue paper of several colors, votive candles, a fireplace match for teacher's use only)

2. Talk about the joy we have in helping others. After reading the story, invite the children to describe what it would be like to live in a car. What do they think happened in the building where the father went? Ask them to consider how the workers in that building felt helping others. If possible, invite a worker from a homeless shelter to tell the group about the shelter. Older children might be taken to a shelter as a field trip.

3. Make blanket reminders. Give each child a 6" square of felt or a similar dense fabric. Provide fabric paints for them to print "Blanket the World with Love" on it and add some decoration to the same side. (Painting on the other side cannot be done until the first side is dry.) When they have finished and the squares are drying, look at the Build a Better World! poster together. Where do they see blankets being used? How? (Materials: felt, scissors, fabric paints, poster)

4. Play Charades with a blanket. Show the children a blanket. (For information on how to get a sample CWS Blanket, see the instructions at the beginning of this booklet). Look at the picture of the children using blankets on the Build a Better World! poster. Then, invite the children, one at a time, to come forward and demonstrate a use for a blanket. The rest of the group tries to guess the use. Some ideas are: as a picnic table, as a shelter from rain, as a pillow, as a tent, as a cover for a doorway, as a baby carrier. Keep track of their ideas on newsprint or a chalkboard. When they have run out of ideas, count the list. Keep the list up for a day or two, if possible, so the children can add to it.
(Materials: blanket, newsprint and markers or chalkboard and chalk, poster)

5. Hold a Verse-a-thon. One year the third grade class at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, participated in a Verse-a-Thon on Bible Sunday. The children said the verses they had memorized and raised almost $250 for CWS Blankets+. Have the children in your group get sponsors who agree to donate money for each Bible verse memorized during a specified period, such as the week of Vacation Bible School. Provide the children with a list of verses that remind Christians of following Christ and helping others. Some to include are Isaiah 58:7 and 10, Matthew 25:40, Luke 6:30-31, John 21:17, and 1 John 3:17. Also encourage them to find their own verses.

6. Collect donations for CWS Blankets+. Monitor contributions by hanging a plain blanket in the meeting room. As money is collected, add fabric pieces to represent each dollar or each blanket. This is a visual reminder of the collection and often encourages children to speak to others about donating.
(Materials: blanket, fabric squares, safety pins)

NOTE: When you are ready to send your donation to Church World Service, please send a single check made out to CWS Blankets+ Program to CWS, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. If you have any questions or would like more information about the CWS Blankets+ Program, call 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

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