Tapestry of Faith: Faithful Journeys: A Program about Pilgrimages of Faith in Action for Grades 2-3

Alternate Activity 1: Toy or Book Swap or Rummage Sale

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Toys, books, or other items to be sold or exchanged
  • Optional: Price tags, pens, and cash box with coins and small bills to make change

Preparation for Activity

  • Several weeks before your sale or exchange, begin asking children to bring in items they no longer need, to sell or give to others. You may want to send a note home before this session, asking parents to help children look through their belongings for usable books, toys, or other items they no longer use.
  • Decide whether to involve only the children in this group, or a broader group such as the entire religious education program or congregation. If your exchange will be held in a social hall, courtyard or other space where your group does not usually meet, arrange for the use of this space with the appropriate congregational staff or leaders.

Description of Activity

This activity demonstrates that recycling is a win-win method of sharing resources and (if you hold a sale) provides an opportunity to raise money for the Faithful Journeys Action Club (Session 4) or a particular cause.

For a simple toy or book exchange, invite children to bring toys or books they no longer use or want. Arrange those items on a table. Have participants draw numbers from a hat to determine the order in which children will have the opportunity to select an item.

Or, use the session time for children to set up items they have brought for a rummage sale to which everyone in the congregation is invited. Children can make signs that give prices (e.g., "Books, 50 cents"), direct buyers to the sale location, or inform buyers where the money raised will be donated.