This lesson is all about 3 things, shoes, water, and humility. The first two are games idea gifts, if you have a favourite game that in some ways involves either, then do use that.
The big shoe dash
All Ages
Big group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
This is great if you have a big enough group. Throw a third of the left shoes into a massive pile under a large sheet or parachute. Lift the cover a couple of times and then hold it at waist height, and those missing a shoe race to get back to their places with the missing shoe replaced.
Broken Man
All Ages
Any size group
Requires setup time
Quiet game
Space needed
A character recognition tool, basically a simple puzzle game for any age but perfect for small groups and younger children. Find a bold cartoon picture of the character depicted in the lesson (you can use the image that I’ll provide with the lesson) and cut it out along the black lines. You’ll be left with many odd shapes and colours, which you pin round the room and reassemble as a group.
Drowning men
Ages 7+
Big group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
This is a variation of tug of rope. You mark out two areas of water and use a rope with 3 knots. The middle knot is the ‘man’ and the other two must be held at all times by one team member. If any of your team, or the ‘man’ reaches the water, they drown. The aim is to drown the other team, for every team member you drown you score 2 points, and lose 1 point if you drown the ‘man’! The game ends when 1 team score a score -/+5.
Shoe removal
Ages 7+
Small group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
It can be a tricky game when played with the original bucket of water, but can be made easier by varying the objects, perhaps an empty cardboard box would be better for a first attempt. The idea is that 4 youngsters of similar height, lay on their backs with their feet in the air forming a table on which a bucket of water is balanced. They must each remove their shoes without either standing up or spilling the water.
3 legged races
All Ages
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
The old ones are always popular and so simple to work. Using shoelaces is a good way into the lesson as well.
