To make sure that whole classes could make use of the prayer activities (the room itself is only big enough for about 10 children at a time), we set them out in the hall and each class spent half an hour exploring and feeding back.
Here's what we did...
Thanks
Using playdough to make things we are thankful for...
Labelling duplo and building 'thank you' towers
PleasePrayers pegged to a prayer net
Sorry
Sorry prayers drawn or written into the sand and then smoothed over as a sign of forgiveness and a new start.
Worries
Worries written on mirror speech bubbles with dry wipe pens- the prayer room will have large mirrors on the wall that the children can write on! This was an incredibly profound station, even for the younger children.
Others
Laminated maps and post it notes
laminated people shapes and dry wipe pens
What would you like to say to God?
A chalk board to write questions and prayers to God. One of the walls in the prayer room will be a chalk board
We were amazed by the depth of the children's prayers and a few of the teachers were even moved to tears. It really brought home to us the importance of giving the children space and freedom to express their spirituality, fears, thanks and questions and we can't wait to get the prayer room established!
Thank you for these lovely ideas! We are about to hold a prayer week at our school and I am definitely going to be using these ideas. I'm tearful just thinking about it!
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Let me know how it goes :-)
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