Tapestry of Faith: Creating Home: A Program on Developing a Sense of Home Grounded in Faith for Grades K-1

Activity 2: Now You See It, Now You Don't

Part of Creating Home

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • A large plate and an opaque cloth cover to cover it
  • Seven or more objects

Preparation for Activity

  • Arrange the objects on the plate. Cover with the opaque cloth.
  • Decide whether, and how, you will divide the group into teams to play the game.

Description of Activity

This game challenges children to not just look, but really see. Bring out the plate of objects you have covered with an opaque cloth. Invite the class to play a game.

Activity 2: Guided Labyrinth Meditation asked them to look at something with their imagination. Now you want the children to look at something real and tell you what they see. Ask the children to get ready to look at the items on the plate when you remove the cloth. Then, remove the cloth for ten seconds. Cover the plate again, and ask if anyone can name all seven objects on the plate. Chances are that no one will be able to do so.

Now tell them you will let them look for another ten seconds. If you want to have the children work in teams, form the teams now. Uncover the objects for ten seconds. Then replace the cover and see how many objects the teams or individuals can name.

To make the game easier, expose the items for longer than ten seconds, use fewer items on the plate, or use items that are related (such as seven animal figurines or seven writing or drawing instruments). If the children work together as a group, they will more quickly name all of the objects.

To make it harder, expose the items for a shorter time, add items to the plate, make smaller teams, or require that children also recall the color as well as the name of each object (such as red pencil or black stone).

Play until all children have achieved success.

Ask the children what they noticed about the game:

  • Was it easy or hard?
  • Was it easier to remember all the objects on your own, or by working together?
  • Once you knew you were going to be asked to remember the objects, did you focus on the plate a different way?

Say in your own words:

Sometimes we look at things without really seeing them. It might be something we see everyday - maybe on your way to school or something here at our faith home. We look at things, but don't always see them in great enough detail to recall them from memory. We remember things a lot better once someone reminds us to really look. Once we see something in a new way, we may begin thinking in a new way. Our story today is about a man who had such an experience.