Aim: 1. To provide fun by introducing the concept of games of the
mind.
2. To encourage girls to follow the example of Jesus in caring for
others.
Introduction
Not every Brigader enjoys tearing around the church hall
knocking lumps out of her friends playing Duster Hockey, so, as an
alternative to this type of physical game introduce educational
gaming.
The important thing to remember is that educational or simulation games must
have a purpose. This purpose is often to solve a problem and it can be done
through role-play, discussion or personal involvement.
Get the girls to complete the ‘Letter from a chocolate addict’. Briefly, evaluate
the outcome, explaining that this is one of the simplest forms of educational game.
Board games
Discuss with the girls the point of board games and the
competitive element contained in them. Make, or adapt, a
board game which will highlight some environmental issues.
These games can be for Brigaders or a younger section of
the Company. An example of an adaptation of Snakes and
Ladders is given to demonstrate. Once the game has been
created, play it and then briefly evaluate the educational
content of the game.
Snakes and Ladders
Take some stiff card and draw a traditional Snakes and Ladders board.
The ‘messages’ at the bottom of the ladders should be good environmental points,
eg. ‘I recycle coke cans regularly’ or Conserve heat’ etc. So for good
environmental practices you climb a ladder. Bad practices like ‘Dig up some wild
flowers for the garden’ should be written in at the top of the snakes so that you
go down, down, down. You could substitute trees instead of ladders and spray cans
in place of snakes. So you go up the trees and down the cans! Remember if you
are making the game for Juniors - keep the message simple.
Role - play
Explain the value of role-play and how it can make the
participants think through how they would react in a
given situation. Either devise your own role play situation,
or, give out ‘After the crash’ and ask the girls to select a
role and make up the dialogue as they go along.
After the role-play talk to the girls about their feelings as they played out the
roles.
After the crash
A plane has crashed in the desert. On board are a minister, a
school headmaster, an elderly married couple, a keep-fit
enthusiast and two teenage girls. It is fifty miles to the
nearest habitation. The group only has water for two days and
it is decided that someone must go for help. But who? Each girl
should choose a role and act it out.
Who should go for help? Why them? See if a strong natural leader emerges.
Anyone not involved in a part should watch and take notes ready for discussion
later. The Officers should set a time limit on this game which could go on all
night!!
Role-play:
“In the Shoes of the Oppressed”
Using resources available from Christian Aid or Tear Fund ask the
girls to describe what it might be like to live in a developing/indebted
country. Videos, statistics, personal stories are available and could
allow girls to really get “into the shoes” of people who struggle with
real dilemmas.
In groups ask the girls to dramatise a particular situation that
a girl of their own age in a developing country might have to deal with.
For further consideration: After such role-play
opportunities enter into group discussion about
some things which the girls might do to alleviate
situations of poverty. What sort of action could
each of us take? Personally? Globally?
Christian Aid’s m:power
resource provides lots
of good info and ideas.
To order copies call
020 7523 2248. Also see
www.christianaid.org.uk
Group discussions
The importance of group discussion and the role they play in building a team
should be explored with the girls. Emphasise that in the following games it is a
group decision that is sought.
Split into groups and play the game provided (‘The end of the world’ or something
similar) and evaluate the game once it has been completed.
The end of the world
A massive explosion is about to take place, so big that it will be
the end of the world as we know it. Your groups have found a
rocket in which you can blast off to another planet to carry on our civilisation.
You have fifteen minutes to write down the ten most important people that you
think you would need to take with you to restart our civilisation. Their importance
depends on their occupation, e.g. a farmer, a plumber, a nurse, etc .
Work in groups, remembering that it should be a group list.
together and compare lists. Comments should be encouraged.
All groups come
Boxed games
The shops are full of different boxed games of varying skill, and you
should provide at least one which is compatible with the number of
Brigaders in the section and their interest, e.g. ’Monopoly’. Use this
game to highlight power building and the temptation to sacrifice
friendship for accumulation of wealth.
An alternative is ‘The development game’ which is available from Tear Fund shops.
This shows the difficulties facing aid workers when the cultures of the West and
the Third World clash.
However, you may prefer ‘Environment - A Game’. This game,
from which a percentage of the sales go to help the work of
The Prince’s Trust, concentrates on the animals, plants and
natural resources which are fast disappearing from our world.
Encourage the Brigader to select a game and
play it to evaluate the learning potential.
Moral dilemmas
Never before have Christian morals been under such pressure from nonChristians. Discuss with the girls why this should be so. Act out a sketch where
Christian morals are questioned and where the girls find themselves in a situation
when they must choose between their Christian beliefs and the view of nonChristian friends. Suggestions of suitable situations are given or you could devise
some with the girls.
Scenario 1
Louise, who is a Senior, goes into the Church toilet and finds Anna, a Brigader,
changing out of uniform and putting on make up.
Louise:
“Hi there, what are you getting all dolled up for?”
Anna:
“I’m going to Andrew’s 18th birthday party. It’s in the Cross Keys,
and Christine is picking me up from Brigade.”
Louise:
“What, the Cross Keys pub? But you are under age”.
Anna:
“Yes, but it’s a party silly. Come on, I’m in a hurry.”
Another Brigader enters.
Fiona:
“Where are you pair going? You are supposed to be in at closing
worship”.
Louise:
“I’m just coming, but I don’t know what Anna is going to do. Captain
will never let you pass with all that make up on”.
Anna:
“I’m not going back in, I’m just slipping out and if you two keep quiet
no one will even notice”.
Fiona:
“Hold on! I was sent to get the pair of you. What if I’m asked
where you are?”
Spend a few minutes discussing what you think
Louise and Fiona should do about the situation.
Would you do as she asks and keep quiet? How do you feel about her going
straight from Brigade to a pub? What if her mother comes to collect her and
asks you where she is? Is it really any of Brigade’s business what she does in her
own time? It is any of your business?
Be honest, it’s not what you think we want you do,
it’s what you think you would do.
Scenario 2
Fiona is a happy friendly Brigader. Everyone likes her so when she turns up at
Company one night sporting a black eye everyone crowds round to find out what
happened. She says she ‘walked into a door’.
Later one of the girls sees her sitting alone looking miserable and asks if her eye
is painful. Fiona bursts into tears and the whole story comes out.
Her father, who is a Church elder, has developed a drink problem.
Fiona had gone into the house and found her parents arguing. Her
father was drunk and when he lifted his fist to hit his wife Fiona
rushed to stop him and he struck her instead. She does not know
if it was an accident or not.
How can you help your friend? Should you offer advice? Should you speak to one
of the Officers, or to your own parents? Is it any of your business?
Scenario 3
It is Company night and Helen, one of your friends, is pouring the juice in the
kitchen. She is taking too long to come back so Captain sends you to hurry her up.
When you go into the kitchen you find Helen sobbing broken-hearted.
You get her calmed down and she tells you that she has ‘gone too far’ with her
boyfriend Ian. They have slept together on several occasions and have just had a
row because Helen wants to stop. She feels dirty, and cheap and
is terrified she will become pregnant. She feels she has let her
family down, she has let Brigade down but worst of all she feels
she has let God down.
How can you help her?
Should you speak to Ian?
Do you tell the Captain who is about to come through the door to see what is
taking you so long?
Week 7
Teen discussion guides
Several ‘discussion starter’ books are available for this age group. Rainbow Books
produce a series ‘Teen Discussion Guides’ which provide games giving the group
real life situations and asks them to decide how best to respond to each problem
and, more importantly, to look at the consequences of their decisions.
These books are available from Scripture Union and other
Christian book shops as well as general book shops.
Ask the girls to split into groups. They should either work through a game from a
book or use ‘You and Your Church’ (see page 76).
Evaluate the learning outcome.
The Brigaders could produce
a simple educational game for
use in another section of
the Company. This should not
be the one which was made
earlier but another game to
illustrate the educational potential.
Letter From a Chocolate Addict
Dear T - - - -
Just got back from a holiday in M - - - - - - - in Greece. It is a beautiful country
and A - - - - - - - - - each evening we would go for a stroll to see the M- - - - - - - on the water. The sea was so still, not a R - - - - - on the surface.
We went inland to one of the little villages. Instead of a bus we rode in an ancient
cart. It had huge creaky W - - - - - - - - - - with what little paint it had left
coming off in
F - - - - - at every bump. The driver told us not to stray away for
the cart because there was a L - - - about, but we certainly didn’t ever hear a W
- - - - of one. It was probably just someone’s strayed
K - - - - - !!! Jolting home in the evening we could see the M - - - - - - - and my
friends were pointing out M - - - away in the
G----- .
They are a pair of S - - - - - - - but great fun. The main T - - - - of their
conversation during the holiday was boyfriends. I was playing M - - - - - - - - and kept trying to help them but the old B - - - - - - - - - just did not seem to be
working. Or if they did get a boyfriend they certainly kept it a close
S----- .
So now we are back home with the B - - - - - we bought at the little Greek village
shops. It was a great holiday but it will be nice to N - - - - - down in my own bed
again. Pop round some evening and I’ll show you the photos and tell you about some
of our R - - - - - .
To read the letter,
Yours,
just fill in the blanks.
All of the words are
The M - - - - - - - kid.
associated with chocolate.
Letter From A Chocolate Addict - ANSWER KEY
Dear TERRY
Just got back from a holiday in MARATHON in Greece. It is a beautiful country
and AFTER EIGHT each evening we would go for a stroll to see the MOONLIGHT
on the water. The sea was so still not a RIPPLE on the surface.
We went inland to one of the little villages. Instead of a bus we rode in an ancient
cart.
It had huge creaky WAGON WHEELS with what little paint it had left coming off
in FLAKES at every bump. The driver told us not to stray away from the cart
because there was a LION about, but we certainly didn’t even hear a WISPA of
one.
It was probably just someone’s strayed KIT KAT!!!
Jolting home in the
evening we could see the MILKY WAY and my friends were pointing out MARS
away in the GALAXY.
They are a pair SMARTIES but great fun. The main TOPIC of their conversation
during the holiday was boyfriends. I was playing MATCHMAKER and kept trying
to help them but the old BLACK MAGIC just did not seem to be working. Or if
they did get a boyfriend they certainly kept it a close SECRET.
So now we are back home with the BOUNTY we bought at the little Greek village
shops. It was a great holiday but it will be nice to NESTLE down in my own bed
again. Pop around some evening and I’ll show you the photos and tell you about
some of our REVELS.
Yours,
The MILKY BAR kid.
YOU AND YOUR CHURCH
You go along to Church wearing your new jeans and matching
denim jacket. Another family is sitting in your usual place so
you sit beside an elderly couple in another pew. As you sit
down you realise that the woman is looking at the way you are
dressed and doesn’t look too approving.
To take your mind off this you have a look at the order of service and see that
some of your favourite hymns are to be sung that morning so you look forward
to a time of joyful praise. Then your eye catches one of the written
intimations. It seems that the Church Fabric Committee has decided to
replace the heating system because they do not feel that the Church is warm
enough on a Sunday morning. The cost will be in the region of £20,000 and
they ask that each member donate an extra £1 per week for ten weeks.
In front of you on the pew is a pile of Christian Aid envelopes
that you have volunteered to deliver. Inside each of them is a slip
of paper which says that £1 will feed a family of four for 4 weeks
in the Third World. Your Church is about to spend £20,000 on a
building which is used about 2 or 3 hours per week and you could
feed 80,000 for four weeks with that money or make it 15,000
people for one year or 1,500 people for ten years.
What can you do about this? What do you do about this?
(1)
It is obvious that the Fabric Committee would think this all through before
they made a decision, so leave well alone. Do nothing.
(2)
‘Phone the Church Officer or the Session Clerk and tell him you are not
happy that all this money is to be spent for 2 or 3 hours per week.
(3)
Speak to your friends in church and start a petition asking the Church to
re-think its Christian attitude.
If you answer (1) that’s it. You certainly do not have much commitment to your
Christian beliefs.
If you answer (2) go to sheet 2. Æ
If you answer (3) go to sheet 3. Æ
SHEET NO. 2.
You ‘phone the Session Clerk and he tells you that many elderly people have
complained for some time that the Church is too cold on a Sunday. The
heating system is, after all, over thirty years old. He tells you that they feel
that they will not be able to attend Church unless there is an improvement.
Apart from the loss of Church Family every week the Session Clerk says that
this would make quite a difference to the Sunday offerings, a portion of
which goes each Sunday to Third World countries.
What do you say now?
(1)
Remembering the look that the elderly couple gave you and the way that
you were dressed you think maybe that is would do the Church good to get
rid of some of the ‘Old Crocks’.
(2)
You say that you feel that since it is the elderly who feel the cold and are
the ones complaining then maybe they should foot the bill themselves.
(3)
You work out how much the older members of the congregation have
donated to Third World countries over the years and realise that £20,000
is not such a huge sum as you had first thought.
If you answer (1) to to sheet 4. Æ
If you answer (2) to to sheet 5. Æ
If you answer (3) do no more.
SHEET NO. 3.
You speak to some of your friends and they agree to discuss it at Youth
Fellowship and if it is agreed then you can start printing a petition for signing.
The Minister is at the Fellowship meeting the night it is discussed and he asks
if he can point out a few things to your group which have a direct bearing on
your proposed petition.
He explains that (as you should have realised) every penny that the Church
spends is discussed at the appropriate meeting and committees. If the Church
is not heated then they lose a big portion of the Congregation. If they lose
that portion then most of the other Church Organisations would suffer also.
The Womans’ Guild, the Men’s Association, etc. The Minister also explains
that these groups raise thousands of pounds every year for different charities
around the world. The Christian Aid envelopes which had started your train
of thought had been paid for by the Womens’ Guild and the Young Wives
Group had agreed to organise the distribution and collection of them.
Members of the choir had agreed to do all the banking and administration
involved.
So the Church seemed to be showing tremendous Christian
commitment.
What do you do now?
(1)
Thank the Minister for taking the time to explain a point of view which you
had not seen and agree that the spending of the money on the heating was
for the good of the majority in the long run.
(2
Say that what the Minister said seems to be good Christian practice but
wasn’t the Womans’ Guild and the Men’s Association still a part of what
traditional Church is supposed to be and was it not time that the Church
Organisations got themselves and their way of thinking ready for the 21st
Century?
(3)
Thank the minister but point out that you still think that the feelings of
the majority of the Congregation should be tested and that you want to go
ahead with your petition.
If you answer (1) then that is enough.
If you answer (2) go to sheet 4. Æ
If you answer (3) then get on with your petition.
SHEET NO. 4.
The Session Clerk thinks that maybe a few statistics would be of interest to
you. First of all he asks you what age group you define as being ‘Old Crocks’.
What do you answer?
1.
Old Crocks are aged between 50 and 60 years of age.
2.
Aged between 60 and 70 years of age.
3.
Aged over 70 years of age.
If you answer any of these turn to sheet 5. Æ
SHEET NO. 5.
The Session Clerk has passed your thoughts over to the Church Treasurer
who ‘phones you about the matter.
He points out that at the moment the older members of the congregation
make up about 60% of the attending members. Another 30% + falls into the
middle - aged group leaving less than 10% of young members footing the bill at
present.
Since it was hoped that the intended new heating system would still be going
strong for quite a number of years the middle aged group would be able to
enjoy the comforts when they had reached the ‘elderly’ status.
The Treasurer points out that the Committee had taken into account the
fact that the present heating system was not only inefficient but wasteful of
both money and the earth’s resources.
Although he knows that you do not feel the Church is cold under the present
system he wonders how you would feel if the Committee decided not to
bother heating the Church at all.
That would save even more money but would not encourage a comfortable
Sunday visit to the Lord. By the way, who do you think pays the biggest
percentage of the heating bill at the moment? That’s right - the elderly.