Thursday, September 24, 2020

Fun staff games to play over zoom or in person!

 


I've made a number of fun, Christian games to play over zoom or in person and sometimes we forget that adults like to play games as well :)  At our church, we get together once a month for an "all-staff" meeting and we usually open it up with an ice-breaker/get-to-know-you game or group building game.  It can be competitive or it can be everyone racing against the clock.  Here are some games and activities that you can play over zoom, or you can project them on a screen and play together in person.  These can be used in churches, for staff-building in Christian schools or Sunday school classes!  Or anywhere else you can think of! :)

 

1.  Guess the Bible story using emojis:  For the past few months, this has been my best seller :)  Basically, I give you 4-6 emojis and you have to figure out the Bible story that goes with it.  This would be pretty easy for adults, but it would still take a few seconds just to look at the emojis and figure it out.  It would be a fun  - who-can-find-it-the-fastest type game :)  There are 20 powerpoint slides with emojis, 20 slides with the answers as well as a quick synopsis of the story for kids to re-read and the Scripture.  You could give extra points if they can tell where to find the story in Scripture :)  $2.50

2.  Because the emoji game was so popular, I made a Guess the Parable with Emojis game.  It's the same idea, but it has 10 slides with 10 parables using emojis, and then the scripture/answer after each slide.  These are a bit harder simply because not all parables are well known.  $1.50  You can buy both together for $3.50 and save $.50.  If you wanted to play any of these in person without using a projector, you could print out the powerpoint presentation with 6 slides to a page and have people write their answers down (give them a time limit!).

                                   

3.  20 Questions is a fun game that everyone knows how to play.  This version that I made is called "Guess in 10" and it's the opposite of 20 questions.  I give you a clue (they start off obscure) about a character in the Bible and your participants can decide to guess or they can wait for the next clue.  If they guess correctly after the first clue they get 10 points (the 2nd clue gives them 9 points, and so on).  If they guess wrong, then they are out for that round (this eliminates random guessing).  There is a video at the link to see how it's played over powerpoint.  This is one you could play projected on the wall, or you could just print out the clues and then read them out to see who can guess the person first. There are different versions:  random people in the bible and  women in the Bible will be a little more challenging, and I also have well known people in the OT and in the NT.  Each version contains 10 people and is $2.50.

4.  Spot it - bible themed!  This is a fun game for any age.  You can form teams, let people go one on one, make a tournament...whatever works for your group!  You have two cards projected on the screen that have 8 objects on them.  One object is the same - who can find it the first it!?  $3.00  You can give extra points if the "finder" can name a story that involves the object!  There is also a Disney version.  $3 each.

5.  Everyone is familiar with Wheel of Fortune!  I have 12 games that are sold separately.  One is easy and is for kids, the other 5 could be played with adults - OT books, NT books, Parables, advanced and unusual categories.  Each one has 10 games and costs only $1.25 except Holy Week/Easter and Memory Verses which have 20 puzzles for $2.  You can buy different bundles and save money (here are all 12 on Etsy).  This would have to be played online or projected onto a screen with powerpoint.

6.  Escape Rooms!  These are a lot of fun to do with a small group of people.  I created one virtual escape room (focused around parables) - just be aware that I designed it to be completed in 30 minutes for youth.  For adults, it may take only 15 minutes.  I did this because I found that my kids/youth were struggling to focus for longer periods of time and would get bored and distracted.  So, if you're needing a short activity, this would be perfect.  I have also created many "in-person" escape rooms that require more work from you, but should take around an hour.    Here are the others that I created: scripture based escape room, Parable break out box, Paul and Silas escape room, Christmas escape room, Valentine's Day escape room, New Year's Eve break out box, church library escape room (must have a church or school library for this to happen), and a large group escape room for over 20 people.  Price varies.  

7.  The game, 5 second rule, is a fun, fast paced game that can be played a few different ways.  I made a Bible version of the game!  A category is projected on the screen, and the person has to name 3 things in that category in 5 seconds.  The game can be printed out as well and you can turn the cards over for each turn, or you can play the powerpoint version (a timer is built in to each slide).  For example, the card may say "parables".  Whoever's turn it is, has 5 seconds to name 3 parables.  If they can't, you can move on to the next card and the next person, or you can give the next person a chance to name 3 parables.  In addition, you could make each card last for 2-3 people and see how far you can go in each category.  Maybe you can come up with another way to play!  40 cards are included and many also have the answer provided to make it easier (ie 12 disciples is a category and the 12 disciples are included in a separate card).  Go to the link to see a video on how to play.  $3.00

So, there you go!  Lots of different games you can play with your teachers or staff :)  If you like the games, and your teachers would like to use them with their students, you can buy individual licenses for each class for a cheaper price!  You can also buy all the virtual/in person games listed here (15 games) in a bundle and save $6.25!  Just go here.  Not included are the in person escape rooms.  You can buy a bundle of all the generic ones here and all the holiday ones here.

Thanks for reading the blog and checking out my ideas and products!  God bless!








Friday, September 11, 2020

Quiet Resilience - Birthday blog for the 14 year old

Random thoughts about my 14 year old :) 

If you aren't aware, Paul (whom we affectionately call Pauli when we are around my parents to avoid confusion) was named after both his grandfathers.  Paul is my dad, Santiago is Noe's dad.  I find it very fitting that he be called Paul because he seems to be proving himself a worthy namesake of his American grandfather :) 
If I had to describe my dad in just a few words I would say, laid-back, quiet, compassionate, and in some ways, an activist - just from behind the scenes.  I would describe my son in many of the same ways.  
                                         

As a kid, Pauli kept us laughing, always joking and smiling :)  Now, as a teenager, of course this isn't as cool and he tries NOT to laugh around us or let us know he enjoys our company ;) lol.  I get it.  We've all been there.  But I still see the jokester that would make silly faces and jokes to make us all laugh ;) 

                                          

He has always been laid back and flexible as well.  He's changed schools 3 times, lived in 5 different houses in 3 different states and never seems to bat an eye.  It's life - roll with it :)  
"Hey paul, we're going on a 'year of adventure' to Peru."
"ok.  cool."
"Hey, we have to quarantine for a few months."
"ok, cool."
"You're going to have to go to school online."
"ok. cool"
:)  lol.  That's Paul!  
                                                  

On the flip side, as early as 6 months old, Paul would let us know - that he not only knew what he wanted, he also knew how to get it!  I laugh when people tell me that the "cry it out" method works for every baby.  HA!  It sure worked for Ella...asleep every time within 20 minutes.  Paul?  Forget it.  You've met your match "sleep specialists"! lol  After listening to him cry from 2am-4am one night determined to let him "cry it out", I officially gave in and let him beat me!  TWO hours...screaming at the top of his lungs!  All he wanted was to sleep in our bed.  Yep.  He got want he wanted. lol.  I admit it.  It progressed from there.  Sometimes with tantrums, sometimes with logic, and sometimes with expert arguing (he seriously would make a good lawyer one day lol).  No, I didn't give in...usually.  But those times when he would use his child logic on my adult logic and actually make more sense...I had to give in 😂.  The dude was right! 🤷

                                     

Paul has done everything in his own time - including sleeping in his room by himself - and once he decides to do it, he does it.  There has rarely been anything he has tried and didn't do well - piano, golf, math, reading...you name it.  Once he understood the "how" and "why", he was all over it and excelled - all in his own time.  He's still that way.  So, when I asked him recently what is something new that he'd like to learn - maybe a sport? instrument?  He said bowling.  Threw me off at first, but I get it...he was pretty bad at bowling last time we bowled :)  Lol  Being a lefty makes it a bit more challenging.  But he enjoys it and wants to get better so he's joined a league.  My guess, within a month of learning how it all works, he'll be throwing regular strikes.  That's just his way.  He's a kid that gets mad when he gets an A-!  The drive and determination will help him excel in whatever area he ends up in.

                                                                

One thing that I LOVE about this kid is his refusal to blend in and just be like everyone else.  Every teacher, since kindergarten, has told me that he would always spin assignments to make them more "him".  One that I still remember - the kids were supposed to make a silly pumpkin.  Not wanting to be like everyone else and make a regular looking jack-o-lantern, he made this...

Yeah...a pumpkin with 3 teeth - one coming out of the top, the bottom...and one coming out of the eyeball.  That's my kid!  He got into trouble a few times with his teachers for his "straying" from the task - but I love the creativity and originality!  Thinking outside the box is what turns a "good professional" into a "great professional"!

 Behind that quiet exterior and joking nature though, is a lot of compassion - that he doesn't always like to advertise.  His sweet and caring way with our little pup is something I feel privileged to witness as he doesn't show that side to just anyone :)   His questions and concerns about nature and animals are a sign of his compassion towards both.  Last year he found a hurt groundhog in our yard and he couldn't sleep that night because he was worried about it...I love that he cares for those that need help!


napping with the puppy :)
                                                                napping with the puppy
                                                     

And, even though he tells his friends and classmates that he wishes his sister "would disappear" sometimes, we know he loves her 💓 


Paul, I am proud of the man you are becoming and I pray that you always keep your sense of humor, your uniqueness, your flexibility and your drive to learn.  I pray you use all these wonderful qualities to make the world a better place.  I also pray that you keep questioning and learning about everything - faith, science, the world, and all the topics many find difficult to discuss.  You will do amazing things! 

Happy 14th!!