Day 2
Workshop
Art(guided)
There are four activities in this workshop; split the children into four groups or sets of four groups. Each group should ideally have no more than ten children but there is no desired minimum number. Each group will take part in each activity in turn on a rotation and each activity should take around eight minutes.
Before the session, make an‘A’ frame from bamboo sticks and held together with strong garden twine. Also for each set of four groups, draw round and cut out the shape of a large man (6 feet if possible) and also the shapes of a sword, shield, helmet and breastplate, large enough to be attached to the cut-out shape of Goliath.
How tall is Goliath?
What you need
• Plastic cups
• Newspaper andsticky tape
• Tape measure
• Step ladders
What you do
Read 1 Samuel 17:4 and ask the children what they learn about the size of Goliath. Ask the children to mark out three metres by walking nine paces. Then with a tape measure, show them how tall three metres is.
Challenge the children to make a tower which is three metres tall, using plastic cups, newspaper or any other materials. The tower must be free standing and actually measure three metres tall by the end of the session. The first group will make a start, sticking together cups or newspaper rolls, the next group continue and so on until the fourth group should complete the task. At the end of each eight-minute session, the leader should attach the next part to the tower. The step ladders will be needed eventually (ensure that adults only use these).
Goliath’s armour
What you need
•Silver foil
• Glue and scissors
• Yellow or gold tissue paper
• Coloured sticky paper
What you do
Read 1 Samuel 17:6,7 and ask the children to identify the armour that Goliath wore.
Work together to decorate the cut-outs of armour using the materials provided. Each group should decorate one piece, eg group one the breastplate, group two the sword.
Goliath’s head
What you need
• Balloons
• Felt-tip pens, string, wool, glue
• Googly eyes
• String pieces (cut in advance) or paper plates
What you do
Read 1 Samuel 17:8–11 and ask the children to talk about what kind of person Goliath was.
Ask the children to draw a face on a balloon that represents Goliath’s personality and facial expression. Tie a piece of string to each balloon and at the end of this eight-minute session collect and tie the group’s balloons together and put in a safe place. You could also do the same but use paper plates, googly eyes and stick wool or string for hair.
Personal ‘Goliaths’
What you need
• A5 paper
• pens, pencils and crayons
What you do
Read 1 Samuel 17:11 and ask the children how the Israelites felt when they came up against Goliath. The Bible says that they were frightened. Encourage the group to draw the things that make them frightened – according to the age of the children these things could range from spiders to global warming, bullying, war and poverty.
When everyone has finished, attach the decorated armour to the cut-out figure. Choose one balloon face to become the face of Goliath and attach to the figure. Finally, invite the children to stick their ‘personal Goliath’ picture also onto the figure. Display each ‘Goliath’ in the main activity area for the rest of the week.
Final activity: one small pebble
What you do
• Bean bags or water bombs (and mop)
Read 1 Samuel 17:45–50.Gather all the children in each set together around their three-metre tower. Ask them to share some of the things that frighten them. Remind them that David trusted and obeyed God and was able to defeat Goliath. Remind them that God will help them too when they are frightened.
Choose one child to be David and to throw a beanbag or water bomb (if you are outside) to knock the tower down. If it takes more than one go, choose a different child each time.