Junior High Game – Being Different
Just about the time junior high students start to figure out who they are, they are faced with the fact that they are different.
They notice they are different from mom and dad, their brothers and sisters, and most of all – from each other.
This realization can be super scary because all they really want to do is fit in.
As students begin junior high this is clearer than ever before.
Over the summer, friends from last year may have grown 3-4 inches and/or suddenly sound different when they talk.
Classmates may be wearing make-up and talking about shaving their legs. Some may be listening to music and watching Netflix shows that last year you had no idea existed.
This game is designed to help them look at themselves as how God does – as a masterpiece, an individual, as unique – just as He intended.
– Nick Diliberto, Junior High Ministry
JUNIOR HIGH GAME – BEING DIFFERENT
Written by Rob Quinn
Bible: Genesis 1:27, Romans 12:2
SUPPLIES
- Stop watch
- Multiple ink pads
- Lots of white note cards
- Tape
- Sticky notes
- Baby wipes
- Bag of candy for winning team
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
Divide your group into 2 equal teams with at least 8 -10 per team.
For smaller groups do this as individuals and “best time” wins.
Before the game, have each student stamp their thumb print on two cards.
Put a number on one of the cards and the same number on a sticky note with their name.
Tape the finger print card without the number to the student.
Stick the sticky note with the number and name to their back so no one can see it.
Have leaders stand behind the students with the sticky notes on their backs.
Now lay the remaining cards out across the room with the fingerprint side facing up – separate each team’s cards.
Teams will play one at a time.
Start the clock and send one player to the pile to grab one fingerprint card.
They will try to match the card to one of the other team’s players, without looking at the sticky note on the player’s back.
Once students choose a player, the leader will either let them know they are correct or incorrect by checking to see if the numbers match.
- If they are correct: Both students sit down and another person from the team takes their turn.
- If they are incorrect: Player will return the card to the pile, sit down, and another team will take a turn
This continues until everyone has been matched and is sitting down.
The clock stops as soon as the last person sits down.
Team with the quickest time wins.
TEACH
Congrats to the winning team!
You all did a fantastic job and deserve a prize.
But first, let me ask you a few questions about the game.
- What was the hardest part of the game?
- Was there a time you thought all of the cards looked alike?
- Did the fingerprints look mostly the same or were they really different?
- How does it make you feel that no one in this room has the same fingerprints as you?
- Have you ever thought about how different we are from each other?
- Why do we try so hard to be like each other?
- Why are we so different from each other?
Well, that final question is the one we are about to answer.
God, who created the heavens, the stars, the world, light and darkness, all animals and plants – He created you!
Many of you have probably heard that a thousand times, but it matters!
I realize that some of you just want to fit in.
Maybe all you want to do is blend in and not stand out in the crowd.
Or just be anyone else except who you are.
But, here’s what God has to say.
Read Genesis 1:27.
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God created you, and what do we know about what God creates?
Wait for a few answers.
Everything God creates is perfect because He is perfect.
Now let’s read Romans 12:2.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
God uniquely created each of us, so we don’t need to be like anyone else.
In fact, He doesn’t want us to be like everyone else.
God, especially doesn’t want us to be what world tells us to be.
As we allow God to transform us into who He wants us to be, we will see that the things that makes us different are the same things that God can use to draw others to Him.
This is what God wants for you – it’s why He created you.
Different and perfect just as He wants you to be.
Close in Prayer.
Written by Rob Quinn
Rob Quinn serves at Community Bible Church in Brighton, MI. He has been involved with preteen ministry for almost 8 years now. Rob is married to an amazing woman Jodi, who just so happens to be the Children’s Ministry Director at his church. They have one beautiful daughter Sydni, and an 8-pound attack dog named Lilly.