Activity 1: Word List Competition
Activity time: 10 minutes
Materials for Activity
- Newsprint and a washable marker for each small group
- Optional: Card stock or newspapers to use as backing for newsprint
Preparation for Activity
- Identify areas where small groups can work without interrupting or overhearing each other.
Description of Activity
In this activity, teams compete to see who can come up with the most words meaning or relating to "virtue" or "sin." Divide the group into an even number of smaller groups, each with three to six participants. Say that each group is to make a list of as many words as it can think of related to either virtue or sin. Identify half the groups as "virtue" groups and half as "sin" groups. Set whatever guidelines you like about the types of words they should list. If you have limited time, you might say to list only synonyms, or words meaning the same thing, for either virtue or sin. If you have more time, you might say to list both synonyms and examples of virtue and sin. Give each group a sheet of poster paper, a marker, and, if needed, backing for the poster. Send each group to a different spot in the room. When they are settled, they should each select someone to record the group's words and wait for your signal to begin the list. When all are ready, say, "Go." Call a halt when you are running out of time or when the groups are running out of steam. Bring the groups together and share the results. Declare winners in the competition, but do not make a big deal of that. Review the lists with the entire group.
Conclude with words like these:
You are pretty good at identifying words related to virtue and sin. However, sometimes it is easier to talk about what is right and wrong than it is to decide just what we should do when we are faced with a problem. We know we should not run around lighting forest fires, for instance. Not all decisions are that simple, though. Today we will talk more about telling right from wrong. We will also learn more about our theme song and how it relates to telling right from wrong.