Today on the podcast, Sean talks about an event Elevate had recently, Water Wars.
This is a great idea that you could use when the weather is warm. Elevate was doing a lesson on Jesus being baptized and started the night off with a great preservice time, “Water Wars”. As the preteens arrived the kids they were put into groups of 12-15-18 and then pulled aside and assigned a team (blue, green or orange). Now that they were in their color teams the teams would travel around together to the different stations and compete against each other to earn points for their respective teams.
Each group would go through an orientation and meet their team captain before moving onto the stations. The stations were the following:
1. 3 matchbox cars and 3 water guns: The teams would shoot their respective cars and try to move them down the strip of cement with only the water gun as its power. Meanwhile the rest of the kids in the group were trying to knock the cars off track using the splash bombs and a bucket of water. If the car got knocked off it had to start all over. The furthest down the track and the end of the time period was the winner and received 3 points, 2nd place 2 points and 3rd place 1 point.
2. Water Balloon Toss: Preteens were partnered with someone else on their team and it was a competition to see who could have the largest gap between partners when they tossed it and not break the balloon was the winner. Again, the points awarded were 1st -3; 2nd -2; 3rd -1.
3. 3 sponges up: All teams competing at one time the leader would throw the sponge into the air and kids would catch them. Based on their team they would take the sponge and squeeze any remaining water into their respective bucket. At the end of the time whichever group had the most water in their bucket was the winner. Points again awarded were 1st -3; 2nd -2; 3rd -1.
4. Sponges Bombs: Here the kids got to each create their own sponge bomb using a sponge and some string. If you go on google or pinterest you can look up the directions on how to make these. Whichever team created the most was the winner. Points again awarded were 1st -3; 2nd -2; 3rd -1.
5. Water relay: Teams would line up with a bucket in front of them. The first person would scoop up water in their cup pour it over their head to the person behind them and try to get it into that person’s cup. This would continue to the end and then pour the remaining water in the bucket. At the end of the time the winner was the team with the most water in their bucket. Points again awarded were 1st -3; 2nd -2; 3rd -1.
After all the rotations the kids took a break together with all the orange, blue and green kids now combining to make big orange, blue and green teams. While the students were taking a break, the field was set up for the actual water war. This was played like capture the flag except that it was “capture the towel” and instead of tagging people you were squirting them or throw water balloons. After adding the points from the stations, the team who had the most points, received the best part of the field along with the most forms of water arsenal. You could only get wet once you crossed into another teams’ zone. If they were able to get you wet, you became frozen for 10 seconds. Additionally, while you are frozen the team can continue to get you soaking wet until the 10 seconds are up at which time they had to return to their zone. After all of this fun everyone came together to hear a message about Jesus being baptized. This was a great set-up to the lesson, that Jesus was human and got wet like us and choosing to get wet he participated. It showed his great leadership that although he didn’t need to be baptized because he never sinned, he got into the water and stepped into the world with us.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.