Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Chalice Children: A Program about Our Unitarian Universalist Community for Preschoolers

Activity 6: Circle Games

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Paper chalices (red, blue, and yellow), one for each child

Preparation for Activity

  • Cut chalice shapes from red, green, and yellow paper, enough for each child to have one.
  • Familiarize yourself with the games and songs.

Description of Activity

Invite the children to play the Chalice of Colors game. Sit in a circle on the floor. Give each child a paper chalice in one of the three colors, then sing the following song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot," leading the children in the actions noted:

If you have a red one, stand up now,

If you have a green one, stand up now,

If you have a yellow one, stand up now,

Then jump up high and take a bow!

Do the song and actions three times, getting faster each time.

Invite the children to sit back down in their circle and play the next game: Chalice, Chalice, Flame. Tell the children that this game is just like Duck, Duck, Goose. Describe how to play the game. For example, you might say:

Sit in a circle. One person is "It." "It" walks around the circle, tapping each person on the head lightly, saying, "Chalice." Finally, "It" decides who will be a flame and taps that person on the head, saying, "Flame!" The "Flame" jumps up and chases "It." If "It" makes it to "Flame's" space in the circle, then "Flame" becomes "It" and the game repeats. If "It" is tagged before reaching the space, then "It" jumps into the middle, does a little dance, and rejoins the circle. The leader appoints another "It."

Play Chalice, Chalice, Flame, as often as time allows. Make sure everyone has been chosen to be "Flame" at least once before you end the game.

Including All Participants

If any child might find jumping and standing difficult, consider substituting other actions, such as clapping, stepping, or wiggling. You can change the words so they include the possibility of staying seated, for example, "If you have a red one, hold it up now, If you have a green one, hold it up now, If you have a yellow one, hold it up now, Then bend from the waist to take a bow." Children with mobility limitations can be noisemakers while the chase for Chalice, Chalice, Flame is on. Give them a maraca, a shaker, or a clicker to provide noise while "It" and "Flame" are running around the circle.