More ideas added here to consolidate topic...

Member Ruth wrote:
The material at the Church World Service website is excellent. They will also send you a free packet of material including a short video. You can purchase bells made from scraps from land mines for 30 cents a piece. It's a good base for the Art workshop. For the verse, we used Matthew 25:35-45 - 'whatever you did for the least of these...'

There is also some good information at the Food For the Hungry website.

Here's some more detailed info about Church World Service. The website address is https://cwsglobal.org/. When you get there, go to the Resources section. You'll find 'Build A Better World' which is great for the younger Rotation aged kids. 'Hungry Decisions' is a powerful simulation which would suit older kids and adults. 'We Can Do That Too' is full of fact, worship resources, games & drama ideas.

We are planning to do a mission rotation based on this material in November (Thanksgiving.) We're ending with an intergenerational Missions Fair during which we will not only display what we've been doing, but will sell our projects from the Art Workshop. The money raised will go to the charity. This way the kids will not only support a mission project, but will have to work to raise the money. We're hoping the sale is successful - end of November should be perfect for pre-Christmas shopping.

Member Valerie wrote:

We did a rotation for the Good Samaritan with an emphasis on local missions.
The congregation had contributed the following items several months before the workshop began: soap, wash clothes, brushes, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste and bandaids.

During the rotation, the children went to the "mission warehouse" to assemble Children's Health Kits in large zip-lock type freezer bags (freezer bags are stronger than regular storage and being clear helps in identifying the items)

The items were then given to the United Methodist Children's Home here in Atlanta.
Originally, they were going with our Mexico Mission Team - however, for several reasons, that mission trip had to be cancelled

The children really liked knowing that what they were doing was to help other children.
Valerie

Jan FPC Napa wrote:

One workshop we did was on the Wordless Book (the unit theme we did was "God lives in ... the tabernacle, the temple, Jesus, and me"). It was the "God lives in Jesus" art/craft workshop. We also talked about missionaries and the history of the Wordless Book, then made Wordless Bracelets ... one for them to keep (and retell the story to someone) and as many extras as they wanted to make that we sent to Teen Missions International. They use the books and bracelets in their ministry as teens are trained and sent on mission trips all over the world. My niece participated in this last summer, that's how I knew about it. Their website is: www.teenmissions.org.

We also had a blessing of the bracelets the kids made during our children's message in worship ... the kids each held some bracelets and we prayed together and asked God to bless them and whoever received them. It was touching.

Another time the kids made a baby quilt we donated to a women's emergency shelter (also did a blessing in worship on the blanket).

Member JanS wrote:

I have a book called Teaching Kids to Care and Share which is a great resource. Abingdon Press, ISBN 0-687-08428-8. I am sure you would find it useful.

Also, you may want to invite your mission/outreach committee members to lead a workshop and talk about how your church/denomination is involved in mission and outreach. Children could then have the opportunity to "interview" various members of the congregation on how they might define discipleship, or how they are involved in mission or outreach or whatever. Children could then put together a "documentary" and present it.

Another thing to consider is to invite the children to participate in the planning of an outreach Sunday or outreach event. Each group would work on their "part" in the workshop, with the goal of putting it all together at a future specified date. This would be most fun if there was a church wide emphasis and participation in the outreach event.

Member Mary B. wrote:

Good Samaritan rotation, kits for the homeless:
Our Discovery Kingdom Kids brought good, clean, used children's clothing. They also brought personal items for kids and packaged them in plastic ziplock bags (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, comb, washcloth, shampoo, small toy, chapstick).

One Sunday during our SS time, we visited Interfaith Good Samaritan whose director kindly offered to open up on a Sunday a.m. Kids placed clothing in proper sorting boxes, and filed personal care kits on shelves. Director told them how Interfaith/Good Samaritan works in our time. Great morning of mission!