Walk About
Page Summary
This activity includes asking questions and instead of saying the answer, the children / young people move to the answer.
Good For...
- Understanding how children/young people experience church.
You Will Require
- An empty church building (prefereably the one in which you usually meet!)
Preparation
- None
What To Do
- Gather centrally in the church.
- Explain that you're going to ask questions and instead of saying the answer, you want people to move to the answer.
- Emphasise that there are no right or wrong answers but they might need to think what is the right answer for them.
- After each response, gather back centrally and tease out why the children/young people went to the place they chose.
- It might be helpful to have someone record any key findings or suggestions
- Reflect - what have you learned? How might that feed in to what you (or the church) do? Who can help things change?
Related Questions
How could you be involved in church? >
Activities Related To:
How could you be involved in church?
Mind-mapping
This activity includes inviting the children / young people to create a mind map on a particular theme to show their ideas and suggestions.
ViewDotty Voting
This activity includes using coloured dots to vote on a chosen subject.
ViewLights, Camera, Action
This activity includes using video cameras to capture the children / young people's opinions about the church.
ViewWould you like to be involved in a worship service, if YES how? >
Activities Related To:
Would you like to be involved in a worship service, if YES how?
Rock and Sand
This activity includes using the two cards of Rock and Sand to say what the children / young people like and don’t like about something by holding up the appropriate card after each question.
ViewTop and Pants
This activity includes using the two cards of Tops and Pants to say what the children / young people like and don’t like about something by holding up the appropriate card after each question.
ViewMind-mapping
This activity includes inviting the children / young people to create a mind map on a particular theme to show their ideas and suggestions.
ViewDotty Voting
This activity includes using coloured dots to vote on a chosen subject.
ViewHave you ever come close to God? Where? how? >
Activities Related To:
Have you ever come close to God? Where? how?
Mind-mapping
This activity includes inviting the children / young people to create a mind map on a particular theme to show their ideas and suggestions.
ViewIs there anything to help you feel closer to God when you are at your church?
Activities Related To:
Is there anything to help you feel closer to God when you are at your church?
Do you feel close to God when you are at your group, if Yes How, if No why not?
Activities Related To:
Do you feel close to God when you are at your group, if Yes How, if No why not?
Where could things be done differently? >
Activities Related To:
Where could things be done differently?
Lights, Camera, Action
This activity includes using video cameras to capture the children / young people's opinions about the church.
ViewWhat would you change about church / your children’s group? >
Activities Related To:
What would you change about church / your children’s group?
Pick a Card
This activity includes a set of playing cards with a question on each to provoke discussions amongst a group.
ViewParachute Conversation
This activity includes discussing a few questions on a particular subject by using a parachute and making a parachute mushroom.
ViewAct It
This activity includes getting the children / young people to produce a play so that they can act out their ideas and views about something.
ViewWhy? Where? What? When? Who? How?
This activity includes dice and 6 cards, to facilitate a conversation with children / young people in order to share their views about particular subjects.
ViewAngels Voices
This activity includes using angel cards and getting children / young people to write or draw their ideas on some questions.
ViewA T-shirt or Wellie Say
This activity includes decorating a T-shirt or wellie boot using words, statements, pictures, or cut out text to share their views and ideas.
ViewJunk Model Say
This activity includes offering a question based on a particular subject and then inviting the children / young people to respond by making a junk sculpture model.
ViewPost-its Ideas Storm
This activity includes dividing children / young people into groups and giving each group some post-it notes and a pen to write some questions or statements on some sheets of paper.
ViewSpeech Bubbles
This activity includes asking each child / young person to fill in speech bubbles to complete prepared sentences.
ViewIf you could change anything about your church, what would it be? >
Activities Related To:
If you could change anything about your church, what would it be?
Roll of the Dice
This activity includes dice and 6 numbered cards, with a question on each to provoke discussions amongst a group.
ViewVox Pop
This activity includes asking individuals (or pairs) in an interview style on camera to comment on what they think about a subject.
ViewTable Top Activity
This activity includes placing paper on a table / floor and ask a series of questions. Inviting the children / young people to write their responses on to the sheets of paper.
ViewLights, Camera, Action
This activity includes using video cameras to capture the children / young people's opinions about the church.
ViewIf you could change one thing about church, what would it be? >
Activities Related To:
If you could change one thing about church, what would it be?
Matchstick Debate
This activity includes using matchsticks to ensure everyone has a say in group discussions.
ViewWhere do you feel left out?
Activities Related To:
Where do you feel left out?
Where is your favourite place?
Activities Related To:
Where is your favourite place?
Where might people pray?
Activities Related To:
Where might people pray?
What do you think about the way our church prays? >
Activities Related To:
What do you think about the way our church prays?
Rock and Sand
This activity includes using the two cards of Rock and Sand to say what the children / young people like and don’t like about something by holding up the appropriate card after each question.
ViewTop and Pants
This activity includes using the two cards of Tops and Pants to say what the children / young people like and don’t like about something by holding up the appropriate card after each question.
ViewWhere might the Bible be read?
Activities Related To:
Where might the Bible be read?
Do It Differently
- Give participants digital cameras and ask them to photograph their answers. Together create a presentation called 'Our Church' to show to the PCC or congregation.