6C
NLT
A Candy Cane Christmas
www.truthopolis.com
presented by TruthQuest® Ministries
www.truthquest.net
www.truthopolis.com
presented by TruthQuest® Ministries
www.truthquest.net
Tips for Teachers...
• Have Fun!
Be silly! The more fun you make this lesson, the more effective it will be!
• Connect With the Children!
"A Reason to Celebrate"
Shepherds Spread the News of Jesus' Birth
Adapted from Luke 2:8-20
Make eye contact with the kids, address them by name, and befriend them.
Involve shy and bold children alike so that everyone is actively involved. The
kids will respond better if they know that you care about them.
• Exaggerate Your Voice Inflections!
Exaggerated voice inflections can make the lesson more interesting to a child.
• Repeat Children's Answers to Your Questions!
An object lesson with Scripture showing how Candy Canes can remind
us of Christ's purity and sacrifice.
Repeat all children's answers to ensure that everyone can hear them.
Review this lesson, gather any needed supplies, and practice before you teach!
Memory Verse:
Luke 2:11
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem,
the city of David.
• Use Your Bible!
Although Bible passages used in this lesson are printed in the lesson itself, keep
your Bible open and in front of you for reference and visual impact.
• Pray!
Two-page lesson
Pray as you prepare for, open, and close this lesson!
Needed for Lesson, but Not Included:
About the Team Competition Format...
If your church is implementing the TEAM COMPETITION* format for Truthopolis
(where boys compete with girls or "Alphas" compete with "Omegas"), then the
following symbols in this lesson are worth points:
Watch for
and
Lesson Includes:
A Bible for the teacher
A pen or marker
Scoreboard Sheet* (see note below)
A candy cane (traditional red & white "J" shape) for every child
!
When you come to a QUESTION or a BIBLE DRILL, announce it to your class, and
then present the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse. The first child who thinks
he/she can answer the QUESTION (or, in the case of a BIBLE DRILL, the first child
who finds the BIBLE DRILL verse in their Bible) should STAND UP to be called on by
the teacher. To ensure fairness, DO NOT repeat the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL
verse once a child stands up.
This child should then answer the QUESTION or read the BIBLE DRILL verse out
loud. If the answer or verse is correct, the child earns one point for his/her TEAM†
on the SCOREBOARD SHEET**. In the event of an incorrect response to a QUESTION
or BIBLE DRILL, select a member of the OPPOSING TEAM to respond. If neither team
responds correctly, give the answer and move on without awarding any points.
* If your church is NOT using a team competition, do all of the above EXCEPT for awarding points.
†Team affiliations (boy/girl and alpha/omega) are indicated on the lower right corner of each child's name tag.
Name tags can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc, along with registration and scorekeeping materials.
**Scoreboard Sheets with directions can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc.
Photocopy the Take-Home Worksheet onto PINK paper and send a copy home
with every child so that he/she may continue to learn during the week.
Photocopy the Family Study Sheet onto a SEPARATE sheet of paper (not on the
back of the Worksheet) and send a copy home with every child to give to his/
her parents so that they may study along with their child.
*NOTE: See the "About the Team Competition Format" section on this page!
NLT Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996 owned by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered
Copyright Notice trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
• Be Prepared!
A Candy Cane Christmas
Today's Story:
"A Reason to Celebrate"
Shepherds Spread the News of Jesus' Birth
Adapted from Luke 2:8-20
I
t looked like it was going to be another boring night. For
a group of shepherds, every night was pretty much the
same. Watch the sheep. Keep away wolves and lions. Don't
let the sheep wander off. All night long, night after night, it
was the same thing. Being a shepherd wasn't exactly exciting
work. And as far as most people were concerned, it wasn't very
important work, either. After all, it didn't take a lot of smarts
to watch a flock of sheep all night long. But somebody had to
do it, so here they were.
Zach looked over the flock and turned to his friend Jacob.
"Well, it looks like they're all still here," Zach said, "none of the
sheep are missing." Jacob turned to Zach. "I know you're bored,"
Jacob replied," but just keep at it and someday, maybe God will
reward you."
Maybe, but of all people on earth, why should God or
anyone else care about a group of lowly shepherds.. "I don't
know," Zach answered, "I wonder if..."
Suddenly, Zach was interrupted when a bright light
shone all around the shepherds. They looked all around
them in a panic, wondering what was happening, and that's
when they saw him. There, right before their eyes was Gabriel,
the great archangel of God. It was an awesome sight, and the
shepherds were terrified. But then, the angel spoke.
"Don't be afraid," he said to the shepherds, "For I bring
you good news of great joy for ALL people!"
For ALL people? Whatever this good news was, this angel
wanted EVERYONE to know about it. Why else would he be talking
to a lowly group of shepherds? But the angel continued.
"Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to
you. He is Christ the Lord!"
Directions:
6C
NLT
During the story, the whole clas
s should perform special action
s
whenever they hear the Keywords
below. Explain and practice
these keyword actions, and the
n read the Bible story..
When you hear:
Do This:
NEWS
Point to heaven and say "Christ
is born!"
When you hear:
Do This:
Shepherds
"Baa" like sheep.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men
on whom His favor rests!" It was the most beautiful song the
shepherds had ever heard.
When the angels had finished delivering their wonderful
news, the shepherds raced into town.
It wasn't long before the shepherds saw it for themselves.
There, in a humble stable, was a manger, and in that manger,
wrapped in cloth, just as the angels had told them, was the Baby.
It was Baby Jesus, the Savior of all the world.
The shepherds couldn't wait to tell EVERYONE they
could find, and quite a few people heard the news. The Savior
was here at last! And all who heard the news were amazed–at
least for a few minutes. But strangely, even after hearing the
best news of all time, most people just went on with their
lives. And while Mary treasured up all that had happened and
pondered it all in her heart, there wasn't a big line of people
waiting at the stable to worship the Lord Jesus.
Strange, people KNEW that Jesus had come, but beyond being
amazed, most people didn't pay much more attention to Christ,
even on that night; the night that was the very first Christmas.
(1 point):
Why don't some people think about Jesus at Christmas?
Answer: They don't believe in Him or don't care enough.
T
(1 point):
Some people don't believe in Jesus. Should we be careful not to
talk about Jesus at Christmas so we won't hurt their feelings?
Answer: No! Christmas is ALL about Jesus, and we should
talk about him nicely to others!
n that first Christmas, Jesus was all the shepherds
could think about. The Savior had come at last, and
the shepherds who understood how wonderful that was
praised God, because their lives had been changed forever.
(1 point):
Jesus is sometimes called the "Good Shepherd." Who were the
first people to hear about Jesus' birth?
Answer: Shepherds.
he angel continued. "Look for a Baby wrapped in cloth and
lying in a manger." And suddenly, a huge choir of angels
appeared with Gabriel and sang a beautiful song.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but for many people,
Jesus isn't a big deal at Christmas. Just as the people didn't put
Christ at the center of their lives when Jesus was born, people
don't put Christ at the center of Christmas today. We need to
change that. Remembering Jesus when we eat candy canes
is one way we can remember that Jesus our Shepherd is holy
and pure. The red stripes on our candy canes remind us of the
blood Jesus shed to save us. Don't let anyone take Christ out of
Christmas. Keep Him at the center of your celebration, because
Jesus is the reason to celebrate!
(1 point):
Why was Jesus' birth good news of great joy for all people?
Answer: Because Jesus came to save us all from our sin!
he shepherds could hardly believe their ears. The good
news they had just heard was the greatest news in
history. It was news that the Jews had waited 700 years to
hear. And now it was finally happening! The Messiah; the
Savior who would save all of them, was HERE! And THEY had
been the first people to hear the news!
T
O
A Candy Cane Christmas
6C
NLT
Luke 2:11
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born
tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David.
Lesson Preparation:
In today's lesson we are discussing the Christian traditional
meaning of the candy cane. You will need a small, traditional,
red and white candy cane for every child in your group. They
should not eat them during the lesson time because they are
teaching props for the Lesson.
Action:
Pass out a candy cane to every child in your class. Make sure
to explain to the children to not eat the candy canes until you
tell them to.
(1 point):
What kind of candy is this that I am giving to each of you?
ANSWER: A candy cane.
Action:
Hold a candy cane up for the whole class to see. Have the
children hold up their candy cane as well.
(1 point):
Why do you think the candy cane is shaped in the way it is?
ANSWER: It was originally shaped to look like a shepherd's staff, because Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Discussion Question (no points):
Q. What are some things that shepherds do for their sheep?
A. Allow for various answers.
Explain:
A flock of sheep rely totally on its shepherd for its survival.
Without a good shepherd, a flock of sheep can be destroyed.
Back in Bible times, a shepherd spent most of his days out
in fields where sheep could graze on grass and drink from
a nearby stream or lake. Too little grass or water, and the
sheep could die. He also had to be wary of wolves or lions who
would like to eat his sheep. Often robbers would try to steal
sheep. The shepherd was responsible for protect his sheep at
all cost. In fact, a good shepherd was willing to put his own
life in danger to protect his sheep.
John 10:11 (below):
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep."
(1 point):
Does Jesus provide for us and protect us?
Answer: Yes!
Explain:
Christ is called the good shepherd. He provides everything
we need. Without Him, we could not survive. He also protects us and guides us where we need to go. He also laid
down His life for us, His sheep, who had wandered away from
Him. He gave up His life so that we might live.
Isaiah 53:6 (below):
All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s
paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt
and sins of us all.
(1 point):
Who are the sheep Jesus died for?
Answer: You and me.
Action:
Now have all the kids turn their candy cane upside down.
Trace the shape of the candy cane with your finger and have
the kids do the same.
(1 point):
What letter does the candy cane look like?
Answer: It looks like a "J."
(1 point):
What do you think the "J" can remind us about Jesus?
Answer: It reminds us of Jesus, which begins with a "J."
Action:
Have the children pick up and smell their candy canes.
(1 point):
What does the candy cane smell like? What flavor is it?
Answer: Mint, peppermint.
Explain:
Even the flavor of the candy cane can remind us of Jesus.
Peppermint is similar to the flavor of hyssop, which was a
spice used back in Bible times. It was a symbol of purity,
which means to be without sin, and was a symbol of sacrifice.
To sacrifice means to give up something of great worth to
you. In Bible times, a lamb was killed when people sinned.
The lamb had to be perfect. Jesus is the only one who never
sinned. Because he never sinned, he was able to take our
place on the cross, and die for our sins. He was our sacrifice.
That means he died in our place for our sins.
John 1:29 (below):
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look!
There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Continued on Next Page...
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
Memory Verse:
A Candy Cane Christmas
6C
NLT
(1 point):
What does the peppermint flavor remind us of?
Answer: That Jesus was perfect and pure. He was our
sacrifice for our sins.
Action:
Now have the kids trace the red stripes on their candy canes.
(1 point):
How can the red stripes on the candy cane remind us of Jesus?
Answer: The red stripes stand for the blood that was
shed by Jesus for our sins. The three little stripes represent
how Jesus was beaten before he was crucified.
Explain:
The gift of Jesus is just like that. A lot of people ignore the
great gift of Jesus. They forget about Him and refuse to
accept Him. That's even crazier than ignoring a wonderful
present under the tree that's just for you. If there is anyone
here who hasn't accepted Jesus as their savior and wants to
today, then come and talk to me after class today, and I will
help you to ask Jesus to be your savior.
Action:
Have everyone hold up their candy canes again.
Explain:
The candy cane is a wonderful way to share with others the
meaning of Christmas. So every time you see a red and white
candy cane, it should remind you of Jesus. Let's see if you can
remember what we've learned from the candy cane.
Isaiah 53:5 (below):
But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was
beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we
were healed.
(1 point):
What does the shape of the candy cane remind us of?
ANSWER: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who takes good
care of us.
Hebrews 9:22 (below):
In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly
everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the
shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
(1 point):
What does the upside down candy cane remind us of?
ANSWER: It reminds us of a "J" which stands for Jesus.
(1 point):
Whose blood is the price of forgiveness?
Answer: Jesus' blood.
Explain:
All of us are dirty with sin. The penalty for sin is death. All of
us are sentenced to die because of our sins. God in His mercy
and love, provided Jesus. He was born, He lived with us, then
He died for us. His blood paid the price for our sin. Now if we
accept Jesus as our savior, we can go to Heaven!
(1 point):
Why did Jesus have to die for us?
Answer: Because sin can only be forgiven through death.
Jesus had to die for us so we could be forgiven.
Explain:
Candy canes are often given as gifts. They can remind us
of the greatest gift ever given, which is Jesus. Christmas is
about the great gift of Jesus. But, just like at Christmas, a
present isn't any good to you until you get it and open it. Can
you imagine seeing all the presents under a Christmas tree
and never opening them?
Discussion Question (no points):
Q. Would you ever leave presents under the Christmas tree and
never open them if they were for you? Why or why not?
A. Various answers.
(1 point):
What does the flavor of the candy cane remind us of?
ANSWER: It reminds us that Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice for our sins.
(1 point):
What do the red stripes remind us of?
ANSWER: They remind us of the blood that Jesus shed
for us. His death paid for our sins.
Discussion Question (no points):
Q. What are ways you can use a candy cane to tell others
about Jesus?
A. You can tell your non-Christian relatives and friends about
Jesus by using the candy cane. You can also use the candy
cane to remind others of why we celebrate Christmas.
Action:
Have the children share how they will use the candy cane to
tell others about Jesus. At this point, if you desire, you can
allow your kids to eat their candy canes.
Conclusion:
The candy cane reminds us of so many things about Jesus.
We need to share with others the special meaning of the
candy cane and point people to Jesus.
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
Continued from
Previous Page
A Candy Cane Christmas
Hey Kids! Visit Truthopolis online at www.truthopolis.com
6C
NLT
TruthQuest® Ministries • www.truthquest.net
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GIVE your Mom or Dad the FAMILY STUDY Sheet we
sent home with you today.
That way, they can learn the same stuff YOU learned!
ANSWER
these
question
s
Luke 2:11
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight
in Bethlehem, the city of David.
What do the stripes on the candy cane remind us of?
What are some other things the candy cane can remind us about Jesus?
How will you make Christ the center of your Christmas celebrations?
APPLICATION Chall
Pass out three candy canes to fri enge:
ends or family and tell them how the cand
y cane can remind them about Jesus.
READ your BIBLE and PRAY
EVERY DAY!
Check off each day here:
Sunday
Thursday
Monday
Friday
Tuesday
Saturday
Wednesday
fy that your child made an
Please sign your name below to veri
lly. This sheet is to be returned
effort to learn and grow Spiritua
time your child attends.
to Truthopolis for credit the next
AST THREE
This Week, My Child Did AT LE
Sheet.
of the Things Listed on This
Parent Signature:
My Child's Name:
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
IZE
MEMORrse
this ve
A Candy Cane Christmas
6C
NLT
Learn More About our Ministries, Products and Resources at www.truthquest.net
How Can Candy Remind us of Jesus?
It's Christmas, and everywhere you look, whether people realize it or not,
there are reminders of Jesus. Nativity scenes, crosses, stars, and Christmas
carols remind us of what Christmas is about. But what about the candy we
eat? There is a legend about a particular kind of Christmas candy which
gives us multiple reminders of Jesus. It's the legend of the candy cane, and it
tells of how the color, consistency and shape of the candy all point to Jesus.
While it is not clear where this legend began or whether it is factual, the story
nonetheless shows us how even a piece of candy can remind us of Jesus. That
story, along with some Scripture references, is the basis of this Family Study.
We encourage you to use this sheet for your family devotions this week and
consider how many ways we are reminded of Christ this Christmas!
Ancient Beginnings
The symbol of the shepherds’ crook is an ancient one, representing the
humble shepherds who were the first to worship the newborn Christ. Its
counterpart is our candy cane – so old as a symbol that we have nearly
forgotten its humble origin. Anyone who’s even been near a child knows
the impossibility of keeping one of them still and quiet for any reasonable
length of time. And it’s even worse in church, especially if it’s a long service.
This was the concern of the Choirmaster of Cologne back in 1670. His solution was probably the same as any harried child-care provider: Give ‘em
candy. But not just any candy would do. He wanted the candy to remind
the children of Jesus. Hard candy was freely available. Legend has it that the
choirmaster handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them
quiet during the long Living Nativity ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he
had the candies bent into shepherds’ crooks. It became a mini-shepherd’s
crook, instantly transforming a bad distraction into a heavenly one. They
were pure white then.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
A candy cane is shaped like a shepherd's crook to remind us that Jesus is our
Good Shepherd. A flock of sheep rely totally on their shepherd for survival.
Without a good shepherd, a flock of sheep can be destroyed. Back in Bible
times, a shepherd was responsible for making sure all of his sheep were
well fed and watered. He also had to be wary of predators who would like
to feast on his sheep. Often bandits would try to steal sheep. The shepherd
was responsible for keeping predators and bandits at bay. In fact, a good
shepherd was willing to put his own life in danger to protect his sheep.
Christ is called the Good Shepherd. He provides everything we need.
Without him, we could not survive. He also protects us and guides us where
we need to go. He also laid down his life for us, His sheep, who had wandered
away from Him. He gave up His life so that we might live.
Psalm 23
John 10:11, 14-15 I Peter 2:25
White: A Symbol of Purity
It was not until the 1920’s that the candy cane’s more recognizable red and
white stripes and peppermint flavors were added. A candy maker wanted
to make a candy that would be a witness, so he created the Christmas candy
cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death
of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. White
symbolizes the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus. Back in Bible
times, a person was supposed to present a lamb for sacrifice when he had
sinned. This lamb had to be a very special lamb. It had to be spotless, and
perfectly white. It could not be sick or crippled. It had to be perfect for it to
be acceptable for sacrifice.
Leviticus 5:17-19 Exodus 12:5
Mint: The Flavor of Sacrifice
The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is
in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and
sacrifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God. He came to be a sacrifice for the
sins of the world. Jesus is called the spotless lamb of God without blemish
or defect. This means that Christ was perfect, without sin. Only perfection
was acceptable for the sacrifice of sins. Jesus was the only one who met that
standard. Only He could take away our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 Hebrews 4:15-16 1 Peter 2:22
Revelation 5:12
1 John 3:5
Christ the Solid Rock
The hard candy symbolizes the solid rock - the foundation of the church and
firmness of God’s promises. A rock is solid, heavy, and unmovable without
heavy equipment. Christ is our solid rock. He provides us with an unshakable foundation on which to stand.
Psalm 18:21 Corinthians 10:4
"J" for Jesus
The candy maker made the candy in the form of the staff with which the
Good Shepherd reaches down to the pits of the world to lift out the fallen
lambs that, like all sheep, have gone astray. It also represents the letter “J” to
represent the name of Jesus. Isaiah 9:6-7
Matthew 1:21
Luke 1:31-33
Stripes of Red
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it
with red stripes. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on
the cross. The candy maker used three thinner red stripes for the stripes
He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. It was
because of us and our sins that Jesus died.
Isaiah 53
Romans 6:23
Ephesians 1:7
Hebrews 9:22
Lest We Forget....
This nameless candy maker began making candy canes as special
Christmas treats for his children, friends and local shopkeepers. Since
that time, however, the candy has become known as the candy cane. The story of its creation has been lost to tradition and mass production,
and it is now available in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. But
we don't have to forget!
We encourage you as a family to share with others the meaning of
the candy cane. Use it as a witnessing tool to spread the good news of
Christmas. May your Christmas be filled with joy, peace, and love as you
celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
"A Candy Cane
Christmas"
6C
NLT
A Candy Cane Christmas
www.truthopolis.com
presented by TruthQuest® Ministries
www.truthquest.net
Tips For Game Time...
• Use A Coach's Whistle!
A whistle will help you to signal certain events during game play!
• Project Your Voice!
Speak loudly and clearly so everyone can hear you!
Upon scoring a point, the scoring team must ALSO recite today's
memory verse in order to win the point.
• Break Up Longer Verses!
If a memory verse is longer than about eight words, break it up into
smaller chunks. Play the game with the first part of the verse until
children get it, then add the second chunk, and so on, until finally the
entire verse is required to score a point.
Hoop-La:
A basketball-style game where everyone can shoot for goals
at once.
Supplies Needed:
An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet
About 20 baseball-sized foam or hollow plastic balls
Two large rubber/plastic storage tubs to serve as goals
Three 8-foot lengths of yarn or rope
• Review the Game Rules!
Make sure everyone knows what to do!
• Promote Good Sportsmanship!
While these games may be competitive, don't allow children to be
poor sports–either as winners or as losers. Poor sports should be
made to sit out the game.
• Be Encouraging and Have Fun!
Encourage children during the game and have fun!
• Remember the Objective!
The point of these games is to give children a fun way to memorize
Scripture!
About the Team Competition Format...
If your church is implementing the TEAM COMPETITION* format for Truthopolis
(where boys compete with girls or "Alphas" compete with "Omegas"), then points
scored by TEAMS† in these games should be MARKED on the SCOREBOARD SHEET.
Each group who comes to you for Game Time will bring a SCOREBOARD SHEET
with them, upon which you will record points scored in these games. Complete
directions for using the Scoreboard Sheets are printed on those sheets.
Hoop-La:
A basketball-style game where everyone can shoot for goals
at once.
Supplies Needed:
An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet
About 20 baseball-sized foam or hollow plastic balls
Two goals, which can take any of the following forms:
•
Clean, empty five-gallon buckets
•
Clean, empty bathroom or kitchen-sized trash cans
•
Medium-sized moving boxes with open tops
Three 8-foot lengths of yarn or rope
* If your church is NOT using a team competition, do all of the above EXCEPT for awarding points.
†Team affiliations (boy/girl and alpha/omega) are indicated on the lower right corner of each child's name tag.
Name tags can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc, along with registration and scorekeeping materials.
**Scoreboard Sheets with directions can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc.
NLT Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996 owned by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered
Copyright Notice trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
• Memory Verse is Required for Points!
A Candy Cane Christmas
6C
NLT
Memory Verse:
Today's Game:
Luke 2:11
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born
tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David.
"Hoop-La"
A basketball-type game with a twist
What you Need:
• An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet
• About 20 baseball-sized foam or hollow plastic balls
• Two goals, which can take any of the following forms:
• Clean, empty five-gallon buckets
• Clean, empty bathroom or kitchen-sized trash cans
• Medium-sized moving boxes with open tops
• Three 8-foot lengths of yarn or rope
Preparation and Setup:
1. Divide your game area in half by laying a length of yarn or
rope on the floor to mark the center line.
2. On opposite ends of your game area, place your goals on the
floor.
3. Around each goal, form a semicircle perimeter by laying a
length of rope or yarn on the floor.
4. Have each of your teams take one end of the game area and
give each team HALF of the balls.
5. Game area should look like this:
When a Goal is Made:
• The teacher blows the whistle to stop game play.
• The team who made the goal must jointly recite today's
Memory Verse correctly to score a point for their team.
NOTE: For younger children, do not require that the verse be
recited perfectly.
If the Team Recites the Verse Correctly...
• The scoring team will win one point on the Scoreboard
Sheet, and game play will resume.
goal
Before the Game:
• Practice today's Memory Verse out loud with all of the children. Have them recite it with you about three times until
they become familiar with it.
Object of the Game:
To throw balls into the opposing team's goal and THEN to correctly recite today's Memory Verse.
When a team succeeds in putting a ball into the opposing goal
AND in jointly reciting today's Memory Verse, that team earns
ONE POINT on the Scoreboard.
If the Team Cannot Recite the Verse...
• No points are awarded.
• The teacher will blow the whistle again to resume game
play.
Ending the Game
• The game ends, regardless of the score, when your designated time for game play expires.
• The team who has scored the most points on the Scoreboard
is declared the winner of the game.
©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net
goal
yarn center line
goal perimeter lines
Game Play and Rules:
• Children MAY NOT cross the center line and MAY NOT stand
inside the GOAL PERIMETER LINE. They must all stay on their
own side of the court and must not stand inside their goal
perimeter line to block opposing goals.
• Children may pick up balls anywhere on their side of the
game area and may take as many shots as they can.