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GA
With the GA Journey Leader Guide, you’ll have the information and ideas you
need to inspire girls along the path of spiritual growth.
GA Journey helps girls in grades 1–6 personalize
and reinforce the missions concepts they learn
during regular GA sessions. This optional
achievement plan challenges girls to grow in
missions discipleship.
To assist you toward that goal, the GA Journey
Leader Guide provides more than 100 pages
of projects, forms, and advice for directing
your girls as they learn about prayer,
giving, serving others, and more.
GA Journey activity books and badges are also
available from WMU. To learn more about GA Journey,
visit www.wmu.com/children.
Leader Guide
GA Journey
Hop to It!
What You Need:
Bibles
Poster
Sticky-note flags
Markers
Sidewalk chalk
Penny
What You Do:
Print these memory tips on a poster:
_G
enesis is the first book in the Bible. It tells about first
things like the first people and the first sin.
_P
salms has an S sound like the songs of praise you’ll
find in the book.
_ L uke starts with the letter L. It’s a look at the life of Jesus.
_A
cts is about the actions and adventures of the first
Christians.
_H
elp GAs mark Genesis, Psalms, Luke, and Acts in
their Bibles with self-stick flags. Then read aloud the
related memory tip listed on the poster.
_U
sing sidewalk chalk, create a hopscotch grid on a
sidewalk outside to use as a sample. Print a Bible
book name inside each hopscotch square.
What GAs Do:
Bible Beady Buddies
Bible Telling
Concentrate!
What You Need:
What You Need:
What You Need:
Plastic pony beads
Chenille stems
Plastic foam blocks
“Bible Verse Slips” (p. 00)
Bibles
“Bible Telling Cards” (p. 00)
Bibles
Bible dictionaries
Blank index cards
Scissors
Envelopes
Fine-tip markers
Pens
Poster board or large sheet of paper
T
F
What You Do:
_U
sing wire cutters, snip chenille stems in half.
_C
ut plastic foam blocks into 3-by-3-by-1-inch pieces
for each GA to use as a foam base.
_P
lay a quick memory game to help younger GAs
identify times and places they can read their Bibles.
Player 1 begins: I can read my Bible under a tree.
Player 2 continues: I can read my Bible under a
tree and after dinner. Keep adding to the list until
everyone has participated or it becomes too long to
3.
remember.
2.
D
A
R
Create a hopscotch game to learn and review facts
about some important Bible books.
1. G
ather these items: a Bible, four sticky-note flags,
and a piece of sidewalk chalk.
2. O
pen your Bible and find these Bible books:
Genesis, the first book in the Bible; Psalms, found
in the middle of the Bible; Luke, the third book
in the New Testament; and Acts, the fifth book in
the New Testament.
3. P
lace a sticky-note flag on a page in each Bible
book you found.
4. Go outside and draw a hopscotch game with a
piece of sidewalk chalk. Look at your leader’s
game for an example of what to draw.
5. P
rint a Bible book name—Genesis, Psalms, Luke,
Acts—inside each hopscotch square.
6. Toss a penny onto a hopscotch square. Hop to
the square. Read the name of the book listed in
the square. Tell something you learned about the
book.
7. C
omplete pages 00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
Leader Guide
What GAs Do:
Make a “Bible Beady Buddy.” Use it as a reminder
to read your Bible every day.
1. C
hoose seven pony beads, one for each day of
the week.
2. Thread the beads onto a chenille stem. Bend and
twist the stem into a curly shape.
3. P
ush the stem’s ends all the way through the
foam base. Bend under to lock in place.
4. Ask your leader for a set of “Bible Verse Slips.”
5. R
ead and learn a Bible verse each day during
the upcoming week. After saying the verse from
memory, slide a bead from one side of the “Bible
Beady Buddy” to the other.
6. Complete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
What You Do:
_C
opy and cut apart the “Bible Telling Cards.” Make a
set for each GA.
_ L earn the Bible story of Jesus’ birth. Tell the story
to GAs while demonstrating the movements on
the “Bible Telling Cards.” Teach GAs the words and
movements from each card, or encourage GAs to
work with a partner to learn the movements.
_M
ention that many missionaries teach Bible stories by
using movements.
_M
ake arrangements for GAs to tell the story to
another preschool or children’s group in the church.
T
F
What You Do:
_P
rint the names of the Old Testament history books,
Joshua through Esther, on a sheet of poster board.
_D
emonstrate how to use a Bible dictionary to find a
definition or description of a Bible book.
A
R
What GAs Do:
What GAs Do:
Learn and tell the story of Jesus’ birth by using a
method used by missionaries.
1. F ind and read Luke 2:1–20, the story of Jesus’
birth.
2. Ask your leader for a set of “Bible Telling Cards.”
3. R
ead the sentences and movement suggestions
on “Story Card 1.” Practice each movement while
telling that portion of the story.
4. R
epeat step 3 using “Story Cards 2, 3, and 4.”
5. P
ractice telling the story to a friend.
6. Tell the story to another group in your church.
7. C
omplete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
D
Make and play a concentration game after
exploring some Old Testament Bible books.
1. L ocate the Old Testament history books, Joshua
through Esther. Read the chapter and section
headings to discover the stories and people found
in each book.
2. G
et 13 index cards and a pair of scissors. Cut each
card in half. On one half of each card, print the
name of each book of history. On the other half,
write a definition or description of the Bible book.
Use a Bible dictionary to complete this step.
3. S cramble your cards. Place them face down on a
table or the floor.
4. Play a concentration game, turning over two
cards at a time to match the Bible book name to
its definition or description.
5. Place your cards in an envelope to take home and
use again.
6. Complete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
GA Journey
Take a Hike
What You Need:
Pencils
“Hiking Guide” (p. 00)
Clipboards
“Parental Permission Slip” (p. 00)
What You Do:
_O
btain parental permission to take girls for a walk
outside the church.
_M
ake a copy of the “Hiking Guide” for each girl.
_ S hare your expectations for safety and behavior
outside the meeting room.
_ L ead the girls on a safe, supervised hike in the
neighborhood around your church or in an area of
your choice.
_M
ention that God is pleased when children pray for
people they do not know and people who do not
know Him.
“Just Between God
and Me” Prayer Journals
From-the-Heart
Words of Art
What You Need:
What You Need:
Bibles
Small spiral notebooks
Markers
Stickers
Pencils
Bibles
Old scenic calendar photos
Plain paper or parchment
Fine-tip markers
Scissors
Glue sticks
T
F
What You Do:
_H
elp GAs understand that they can bring their
greatest, most personal and private thoughts to God.
_E
xplain the meaning of the word praise.
A
R
What GAs Do:
Take a hike and pray along the way.
1. G
ather these items: a copy of the “Hiking Guide,”
a clipboard, and a pencil.
2. T
ake a hike with your leader.
3. Select stopping points. Write down what you see
and how you can pray for others. For example,
if you are near a school, you may write, I see a
school. What I see reminds me to pray for my
teachers.
4. Pray between stopping points.
5. W
hen you return to the meeting room, ask your
leader for an extra “Hiking Guide” to take home.
Take a prayer hike in your neighborhood with a
parent.
6. Complete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
D
Leader Guide
What GAs Do:
Decorate a notebook. Use it as a prayer journal to
record prayer requests and write about answered
prayers.
1. A
sk your leader for a notebook, markers, stickers,
and a pencil.
2. Decorate the cover of your notebook.
3. W
rite a list of six prayer requests in your
notebook. Leave several blank lines between
each request.
4. On a different page, write a prayer praising God.
5. T
ake your journal home. On the blank lines, write
how God answers your prayer requests. Record
additional prayer requests and praises in your
journal.
6. Complete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
“Letter Go!” Game
What You Need:
8 1⁄2 -by-11 envelopes
Markers
Index cards or card stock
Scissors
“Category Cards” (p. 00)
What You Do:
What You Do:
_E
xplain that it is very appropriate to use words of
Scripture in a prayer, or as a prayer. Say: The Book of
Psalms is filled with honest, from-the-heart prayers:
prayers of sorrow and loneliness as well as prayers
of joy and praise.
_G
ive each girl a Bible, a piece of paper or parchment,
markers, calendar photo, scissors, and a glue stick.
T
F
_C
ut 1-inch squares from index cards or card stock for
girls to use as a pattern.
_C
opy and cut apart the “Category Cards.”
_G
ive each girl an envelope, markers, scissors, and
index cards or card stock.
_E
xplain that a consistent, effective prayer life does
not happen by accident; good “pray-ers” work hard
to develop good prayer habits.
A
R
What GAs Do:
What GAs Do:
Create a collage of words that praise God.
1. L ocate the Book of Psalms in your Bible. Read one
of these psalms:
_P
salm 6
_P
salm 27
_P
salm 43
_P
salm 57
_P
salm 113
_P
salm 138
2. O
n a piece of paper, paraphrase (put into your
own words) some of the verses from the psalm
you read. Print large letters on the paper.
3. Cut apart the printed words or phrases.
4. Glue the words or phrases in order on the
calendar picture.
5. C
omplete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
D
Play a letter game and think about your prayer
habits.
1. D
raw a line down the center of the front of an
envelope. On one side of the line, make and
decorate a list titled Good Prayer Habits; on the
other side, make and decorate a list titled Bad
Prayer Habits. Share your lists with the girls in
your group.
2. O
n index cards or card stock, cut squares for every
letter in your first, middle, and last name. Ask
your leader for a square pattern to trace before
cutting.
3. P
rint a letter on each square, then seal the
squares inside the envelope. Cut a corner large
enough to allow the squares to fall out of the
envelope.
4. Play “Letter Go” with the girls in your group.
Select a “Category Card.” Shake three letter
squares from your envelope. When you think of a
word that begins with one of the letters and fits
into the category, stand up, slap the table, and
shout “Letter Go,” and then tell your answer.
5. C
omplete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
GA Journey
Leader Guide
T ithes and Offering Plate Cell Phone Magnets
What You Need:
Paper
Pencil
Paper plate
Gold or silver crayon
Yellow felt
Scissors
Glue
Quarters
Gray construction paper
What You Do:
_D
raw five dashes on a sheet of paper to play a letter
guessing game. The mystery word is tithe. If the GA
suggests a letter that occurs in the word, write the
letter in its correct position. If the letter is not in the
word, write the letter to the side.
_E
xplain that tithes and offerings are part of our
earned money that we offer back to God.
Penny Challenge
What You Need:
What You Need:
What You Need:
Bible
“Cell Phone Pattern” (p. 00)
Pencil
Craft foam
Scissors
White, rectangular sticker such as a mailing label
Circle stickers such as 1⁄4-inch color-coding round labels
Self-adhesive magnets
Fine-tip permanent marker
Video camera
Offering plate
Bible
Pennies, about 25
Bible
Items for obstacle course
Craft sticks
Masking tape
Plastic foam cups
T
F
What You Do:
_M
ake a copy of the “Cell Phone Pattern” for each GA.
_G
ive each GA a piece of craft foam, a white label,
12 round labels, a marker, and two magnets.
A
R
What GAs Do:
What GAs Do:
Learn about tithes and offerings while making an
offering plate.
1. T
ry to guess the mystery word on the sheet of
paper by suggesting letters of the alphabet.
2. F ind out some ways your church uses tithe and
offering money by talking with your GA leader or
church staff.
3. Ask your leader for a paper plate, a gold or
silver crayon, a piece of yellow felt and gray
construction paper, scissors, glue, a small piece of
paper, a pencil, and a quarter.
4. Color the rim of the paper plate.
5. C
ut a circle out of yellow felt to fit the center of
the plate.
6. Glue the circle to the plate.
7. W
rite the Bible phrase, “Bring a tithe to church”
on a small piece of paper. Glue the paper onto
the center of the felt.
8. Trace the shape of a quarter onto gray
construction paper. Make and cut apart several
shapes.
9. Glue the coin shapes to the yellow felt on the
plate.
10. C
omplete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey
activity book.
D
Promotional Video
Make a cell phone magnet to use as a reminder to
be a cheerful giver.
1. L ocate and read 2 Corinthians 9:7 in your Bible.
2. T
race the cell phone pattern on craft foam and
cut it apart.
3. Attach a white, rectangular sticker to the top of
the craft foam to make a cell phone screen. If
necessary, cut the sticker to fit.
4. To make the keypad, attach circle stickers in four
rows of three. Write the corresponding numbers
and letters on each sticker.
5. O
n the screen, write the text message, “God luvs
a cheerful givr :).”
6. Place two self-adhesive magnets on the back of
the foam cell phone.
7. P
ut your magnet in a visible location at home.
8. C
omplete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
What You Do:
_T
alk with church staff or teachers to set times when
GAs can film various ministries taking place in the
church.
What GAs Do:
Create a promotional video to help the people in
your church understand who benefits from the
church offering.
1. Use
the script below:
_ Scene 1—A GA is sitting in a church pew and
putting money in an offering plate. She looks
at the camera and says, Why should I give my
money to the church?
_ Scene 2—Film the various ministries of your
church that benefit from the offering.
_ Scene 3—Show different materials used in
the church. Possibilities include: curriculum
materials, office supplies, hymnals, and so
forth. Say, Your offering helps to buy these
items for the church.
_ Scene 4—Interview a church staff member
about the importance of giving to the church.
_ Scene 5—Read 2 Corinthians 9:7.
2. S how the video to the group.
3. Complete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.
T
F
What You Do:
_ S et up an obstacle course.
_T
ape a tic-tac-toe gameboard on the floor.
_ If more than one GA is completing this project,
consider setting up stations. Ask an adult to stand at
each station.
_T
alk about numerous examples of how your church
uses offering money.
D
A
R
What GAs Do:
Complete four penny challenges while learning
about how you can give to missions and what the
Bible says about giving.
1. Build
a penny tower by stacking pennies, one on
top of the other, until the tower falls. After it
falls, read Psalm 96:8 and name three ways your
church uses offering money to help people.
2. W
alk through an obstacle course while balancing
a penny on a craft stick. If the penny falls, start
over. At the end of the obstacle course, pick up
a Bible. Find and read 1 Chronicles 16:29. Name
something you can do without to save money for
missions.
3. P
lay Tic-Tac-Toss. Toss pennies onto a tic-tac-toe
gameboard. When you get three pennies in a
row, pick up a Bible and read Deuteronomy 16:17.
Pray for people in your church to be generous
givers.
4. Play Penny Slide. Place a plastic foam cup near
the end of a table. Slide pennies across the table
until you knock the cup off the table. When the
cup falls, pick up a Bible and read 1 Timothy 6:18.
Name something you can share with people in
need.
5. C
omplete pages 00-00 in your GA Journey activity
book.