Always Do Your Best

Rules

  1. Keep Your Hands And Feet To Yourself
  2. Be Loud When It's Time To Be Loud
  3. Be Quiet When It's Time To Be Quiet
  4. Save Your Prizes Until The End
  5. Have Fun!
Prize Method - Punch A Prize

I made a punch board similar to the one on "The Price is Right" where the contestant punches a circle, and pulls out a dollar amount. The difference is, the kids pull out a prize. I made it using formica, (although cardboard would work), 24 applejuice cans, duct tape, poster board and tissue paper. If kids sit quietly, they may get a chance to punch a prize! Prizes are handed out throughout the program for kids who are following rules #2 & #3.
Game #1 - Shoe Race

Select 5 girls and 5 boys. The players need to take off their shoes. All the shoes are placed in a big pile at the finish line, The players run to the finish line, find their shoes, put them on, and run back. The next person in line repeats the process. The first team to each have a turn, and be sitting in a straight line, wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
Dudley the Dinosour - Puppet

Dudley is a Dinosour Puppet with a bit of an attitude. He seems to think he is better than everyone else. The kids will attempt to "blow Dudley off the stage" by yelling a statement. Today's saying is: "Always Do Your Best!" I usually let the kids have 3 tries at getting him off the stage. Each time they yell, Dudley sways back and forth as if it were very windy. To add excitement, I let the excitement go on for 2 or 3 days (programs) And finally, the kids are loud enough, and Dudley is blown off the stage. (disappears behind the puppet stage) To add some fun, the kids try things like yelling as quiet as they can, or doing a Silent Screem, to try and confuse Dudley. This helps emphasize today's theme.
Bible Story - Parable of the Talents

The Story is taken from Matthew 25:14-30 The kids can act it out, wearing costumes, while the leader narrates the story.

Once there was a very rich man. He had to go away on a trip, so he called some of his servants to look after his money for him. To the first servant, he gave 5 million dollars. To the second servant, he gave 2 million dollars. To the last servant, he gave 1 million dollars. Then the rich man went away on his trip.

Right away, the first servant went and put the 5 million dollars to good use, so that he made even more money! He mad 5 million dollars more! The second servant did the same thing with his 2 million dollars. He made 2 million dollars more too! The third servant did not put his 1 million dollars to good use. Instead, he dug a whole in the ground, a burried the 1 million dollars.

After a long time, the rich man came back from his trip. He called his servants together and asked them what they did with his money. The first servant said, "I put the money to good use, and made 5 million dollars more. Here is your 10 million dollars!" The rich man was very happy with this servant. The second servant said, "I put the money to good use too, and made 2 million dollars more. Here is your 4 million dollars!" The rich man was very happy with the second servant too! Then the rich man asked the third servant, "and what did you do with the money I gave you to take care of?" The third servant answered, " I thought you were a mean man, and I would get in trouble if I did the wrong thing, so I just put the money in a safe place until you got back. That way nothing could happen to it." The servant gave the 1 million dollars back to the rich man.
The rich man was not very happy! "You lazy servant!" You should have at least put it in the bank so I could earn interest from it! Then the rich man took the 1 million dollars and gave it to the person with the 10 million dollars. Then he sent the third servant away.
Explain the Story

You may need to explain what this story means to the kids. Apply it to a practical situation they can relate to. We used the illustration of doing your best at school. If you study hard, do your homework, and listen in class, then you pass the test! Then you move on to the next grade.
Game #2 - Drawing Relay

Put up a large piece of paper on each side of the room. (One for the boys side, and one for the girls side.) Place several crayola markers beside it. Place a "drawing list" beside each sheet of paper. The drawing list includes 5 different things to draw to make a picture. We used, 1) A man in blue jeans. 2) In a sailboat. 3) Drinking Coke. 4) Reading a book. 5) In a wavy ocean.
Choose 5 girls and 5 boys. On "Go" the first person runs to the large piece of paper, and draws item #1. Then, they run back and tag person #2. They run to the paper, draw item #2, and so on. The first team to draw each of the objects listed, and is sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
Elephant Visit

A person dressed in an Elephant Costume enters. Any costume would do, we just happened to use this one. People in full body costumes NEVER TALK! This ruins the illusion that the character is real! Only body language is used!

The Elephant enters, carring a picture that he drew. He is very sad. (Character shows he is sad by his actions, head down, walk slow, et.) The leader interacts with the Elephant.

Leader: What's wrong Elroy? You don't look very happy!
Elroy nods. Shows the leader his picture.
Leader: What do you have here? A picture? Looks like a very nice picture!
Elroy shakes his head in a "no" gesture.
Leader: I think it is a nice picture.
Elroy shakes his head again.
Leader: Well Elroy, did you try your best?
Elroy nods
Leader: Well then, that's all that really matters then, isn't it? As long as you tried you best, that's the most important thing. That's what God is looking for in everything we do!
Elroy looks at his picture again. Then he leaves, showing he is happy by jumping up and down, dancing, etc.
Leader: I'm glad you're feeling better! See Ya!
Salvation Message

At this time, you can mention that Jesus gave His best when He gave His life on the cross. He died so we could go to heaven someday.
Memory Verse

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians. 10:31"

Put the memory verse on an overhead transparency. Read the verse with the kids a few times. One by one, cover up the words with a small piece of paper. Let the kids try to compete, boys vs. girls, as to who can say the verse loudest. Give them a few practice runs. Then, allow for a few volunteers to say the verse by themselves, with no mistakes.
Close in Prayer




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