What does God give us to help us grow closer to him?Д«ible Connect: God Cares for Us ( Psalm 23:5).

What happens to a seed if it doesnвЂ™t have water?.Name something a seed needs to grow into a plant.If the Gardener makes it to the empty spot, the child who was sprinkled gets to be the Gardener. If the Gardener is caught, he or she starts over. Have kids sit in a circle on the ground and choose one child to be the вЂњGardener.вЂќ The Gardener taps kids on the head as he or she says, вЂњSeed!вЂќ When the Gardener says, вЂњGrow!вЂќ and sprinkles a childвЂ™s head with the watering can, the Gardener puts down the can and runs from the selected child. This game is a wet version of Duck, Duck, Goose. This water game will teach preschoolers about growing in their faith. What did Jonah do when he was captured?Д«ible Connect: The Parable of the Growing Seed ( Mark 4:26-29).How is this game like or unlike how Jonah felt when swallowed by the fish?.Was it easy or difficult to get away from the Big Fish? Explain.If no one is tagged, the Big Fish starts over.

The first person tagged is the next Big Fish. When the Big Fish shouts, вЂњBig Fish!вЂќ he or she tries to tag others in the pool before they can touch the sides of the pool. Select one person to be the вЂњBig Fish.вЂќ Have everyone else jump in the pool and swim around, but tell kids they arenвЂ™t allowed to be within 3 feet of the sides of the pool. YouвЂ™ll need a lifeguard and extra volunteers to monitor safety. This is a great water game to play at camp or at a church pool party.

How does God help us in these situations?Д«ible Connect: Jonah and the Big Fish ( Jonah 1).

What are some вЂњGoliathвЂ™sвЂќ that you have to defeat daily?.

How do you think David felt when he stoned Goliath?.

Was it easy or difficult to hit kids with stones? Explain.

How did it feel to throw вЂњstonesвЂќ at kids?.

Play several times, and have kids switch roles so everyone has a chance to cool off by getting вЂњstonedвЂќ with the wet sponges. Tell the other kids that the object of the game is to run from one end of the play area to the other without being вЂњstonedвЂќ by wet sponges. Give the stone throwers buckets of water and sponges. Place large obstacles kids can hide behind within the boundaries.Д¬hoose several kids to be вЂњstone throwers,вЂќ and station them just outside the boundaries. Play this water game to help kids re-create the battle between David and Goliath.Д¬reate a play area using boundary markers. Materials: Various large obstacle items, such as plastic garbage cans, tables, and chairs boundary markers, such as orange cones buckets large sponges and water

Why does Jesus compare heaven to a treasure?Д«ible Connect: David and Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17).

To what lengths would you go to pursue your treasure? Explain.

What, if any, obstacles did you face when trying to get the treasure?.

Challenge them to retrieve the green ice cubes-which represent the treasure-out of the pool using only their toes. Prior to the game, freeze a dozen ice cubes dyed with green food coloring.ДЇill the bottom of the kiddie pool with ice cubes and mix in the green ice cubes. This game will help kids understand the value of the kingdom of heaven. Materials: A kiddie pool, ice cubes, water, ice cube trays, and green food coloring

Tell about a time you experienced that kind of hope.Д«ible Connect: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure ( Matthew 13:44-46).

How do you think Noah and his family felt when they saw GodвЂ™s rainbow?.

Is this game like or unlike what Noah and his family may have experienced when it rained for 40 days and nights?.

How did it feel to be constantly rained on during the game?.

The game continues until teams fill their back buckets to the halfway marker. Then the line shifts forward and the cup carrier sits in the back of the line. On вЂњgo,вЂќ have the first child in line fill his or her cup and carry it over the heads of the other kids sitting in line before dumping the remaining water into the bucket at the end of the line. Place a lined bucket at the back of each line. Place one bucket filled with water at the front of each line. Form two teams, and have kids sit on the ground in straight lines. Use this water game to help kids imagine the Great Flood.Д«efore the game, poke holes on the bottoms and sides of the plastic cups.Дraw a line with a permanent marker to indicate the halfway point on both the outside and inside of two buckets. Materials: Two buckets per team, a plastic cup for each child, a permanent marker, water, and a sharp-tipped object such as scissors or a letter opener

Age of water game