The following activities provide experiences that can lead to “teachable moments.” For the activity called “Falling with Confidence” some discussion questions have been provided that give an idea of how you can reflect after these activities by asking students to share their experiences and then use them to give biblical teachings.
You must be very careful. Some of these activities present real physical challenges, so the leader must take care that the boys are careful and attentive to prevent any accident or injury.
Pyramid
The idea is that they form a human pyramid. The three strongest, kneeling next to each other, will support their hands on the floor, in this way the central part of the body is stronger. Then two other boys will climb on top of them, with one knee and one hand on each of the ones below (the middle one will have to support the weight of two knees and two hands).
Finally the last person climbs to the top of the pyramid. It’s fun for them to see that they can be above others.
The Beach Tower
Get some old oversized t-shirts. Divide the boys of 12 or more into a team. Place a shirt on the floor in front of each team. You have to see how many of them fit standing on the shirt.
Everyone must have both feet on the shirt, not on the ground. See who could make the tallest “tower”. Most teams can get between 8 and 11 guys.
walk on water
Divide the group into two teams. Give each team three “rocks” (can be 18” x 18” cardboard). Mark the start line and the finish line (about 9 meters apart) and tell them that they have to cross the entire space without touching the “water” (floor) using only the rocks to cross.
They can move the rocks to move forward but they can only step on each rock with one foot. A father challenge to achieve! It’s great for achieving skill input!
up and on
Divide your group into teams. Place a rope or shopkeeper stretched 1.5 m approx. off the ground (such as a tennis or volleyball net). Tell them that their job is to get all team members over the rope without touching it. The last person is the hardest.
electric fence
The size of the group doesn’t matter. This game is enjoyed as long as the leader sets the stage. It forms an area of approx. 5 x 5 meters surrounded by a rope on a post at a height of 1.25 to 1.50 meters.
Put the group inside and tell them that they have to get out without touching the rope, nor the invisible field that is between the ground and the rope. (The best solution would be to throw people over the top, so make sure there is no broken glass on the floor).
You will have the opportunity to see their problem-solving skills as well as their teamwork. If they are having trouble, suggest that the taller ones go out first and then the smaller ones.
Blind Box
That the boys are blindfolded and with a large rope attached at its ends. Tell them that they must form a square.
The Back Name Game.
Put different names on pieces of paper and tape them to the back of each other. They could have a theme, for example biblical names or cartoon characters, etc. Then each one must go around asking “yes or no” questions to the other people in order to guess the name on the back.
The differences
Two teams are formed. One team stands in a row. The others should study them for a few minutes and then leave the room. The team that stayed will change some detail of its appearance. The other team will go back to observe again trying to identify the changes. The team earns one point for each change that is not discovered.
Straw Towers
Divide the group into teams of 6 or so (or as many groups as fit). The materials are regular non-flexible plastic straws, give 50 to 100 per team, two small rolls of clear tape, and a place in the room for each team.
Give about 10 minutes to see which group can make the tallest self-supporting structure or then tell them that each team should bring their artwork to the front to see which one stands the longest.
Idea for a short speech: When the time for construction has passed, if you have not done so before, you should transport your structures to the front. Then you can proceed to give a short speech about the basics of your life. As time goes by, these structures can fall through the air or for some other reason.
Notice each one as they fall and at the end you can discuss with the group what made the good ones stand and why the others are on the ground. It concludes that one needs a good foundation/solid or strong foundations (like Jesus/Christian values) for their life or something that achieves that effect. (the best structures seem to be the ones built like the eiffel tower or oil towers).
The Human Knot 4
Have the whole group stand in a circle facing each other (if it is a large group, it can be divided into teams of 5 to 9 people). Each one must reach the hands of two people, other than the ones on their right or left.
This will produce a large human knot. Now they must figure out how to make a straight line out of this mess without letting go of their holding hands.
elevated bridge
Divide the group into two teams and line them up alternating the feet of one with the head of the other. Youngsters rest their backs on the ground and may have their knees bent and their feet on the ground. Select the smallest of each team and put him at the beginning of the row. At the signal, each team passes the boy over, being careful not to drop him, whoever takes him to the other side first wins.
Back to back
Divide the group into pairs and have them sit on the floor with their backs to each other with their arms linked. Then tell them to get up. Then match pairs with group of four and keep increasing the number.