Harvest Party Games
Halloween Alternative Fall Festival Outreach
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Don't miss the opportunity to tell children about Jesus!
The month of October, and specifically Halloween, is a great time for outreach to the children in your community who don't normally attend church. And since the time with the children we regularly teach is limited, don't miss this opportunity to tell them about Jesus either! Make every minute count!
The following games include Bible connections, but feel free to connect the game with other Scriptures that may fit your programming. We'd love to receive your feedback and suggestions! Email us at info@sundayschoolnetwork.com.
(Show pictures of scarecrows.)
Ask, "Why do people use scarecrows"? (Receive answers.)
Ask, "What are some things that scare you or cause you to be afraid?" (Receive answers.)
In God's Word, the Bible, there are hundreds of verses about being fearful or afraid. God knows that scary things happen in our lives. Yet, he has promised to be with us, to protect us, and to never leave us. Listen to these promises from God's Word, "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid" (Psalm 118:6); "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble" (Psalm 32:7); "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5); and "For in the day of trouble [God] will keep me safe . . . " (Psalm 27:5). It is a great idea to memorize these verses, to be reminded of God's love and care over your life.
Life can be scary, but when we trust in Jesus, he promises to never leave us alone! To remember these promises we will play some fun Scarecrow games.
Build-a-Scarecrow
Teams compete to build a scarecrow body by stuffing straw into "scarecrow-type clothes," (floppy hat, long-sleeved shirt and overalls). Bible Connection: 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." Download a Scarecrow Craft to coordinate with this game.
Scarecrow Races
Divide children into teams. Give each team a set of "scarecrow-type clothes" (floppy hat, oversized long-sleeved shirt, overalls). Teams divide, with half the team on one side of the playing field and the other half on the other side. At the go, first player on each team puts on the scarecrow clothes, races to the other side of the playing field, then takes off the scarecrow clothes and shouts, "God is with me when I'm afraid," then hands off the clothes to his or her teammate and proceeds to the back of the line to sit down. Player who received the clothes, puts them on and races to the opposite side of the field, playing as before. Play continues like this until all the players have put on the scarecrow clothes, raced to the opposite side of the playing field to take them off and shouted, "God is with me when I'm afraid."
Bible Connection: Psalm 30:11, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. . ." See also Matthew 25:36, 2 Corinthians 5:2-4, and Galatians 3:27.
Pumpkin Roll
Play a bowling game using mini or pie pumpkins, or have players compete to push their pumpkins using small brooms or sticks along an obstacle course from start to finish. Afterwards, allow children to decorate their pumpkins using permanent markers, feathers, buttons, etc.
Bible Connection: Hebrews 12:1, ". . . let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. . ."
Apple Harvest
You will need mini brooms and dozens of small balls, such as playground pit balls, to represent "apples." Children can play in teams or solo. Give players or teams their own basket or bag to hold the "apples." Have the kids or teams write their name on the basket. Spread the balls throughout the playing area.
Players line up along the outside edge of the playing area. At the go, players race to the apples and use their mini brooms to sweep the apples, one-at-a-time, back to their baskets. (If you prefer, children use their hands to pick the apples rather than use the brooms.) Play continues like this until all the apples have been harvested. Player with the most apples wins.
Bible Connection: Psalm 85:12, "The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest." See also, Matthew 9:37-38; Matthew 21:33-45.
Apple Toss
You will need small buckets for each player or team, and dozens of playground pit balls, "apples." Establish a throw line from which players toss their "apples." Place buckets for each player a few feet away from the toss line. At the go players toss their apples into their buckets. The first player who fills his or her bucket full and overflowing wins. The winning player must then go find the least filled bucket, and pour his or her apples into it. The owner of that bucket must do the same, that is find a bucket least full and pour his or her apples into it. Play continues like this until the last bucket overflows with "apples"!
Bible Connection: Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." See also, Philippians 4:19.
Copyright 2014 S.A. Keith
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