Editor's Note:  This game idea came recommended but without a lot of detail. If you use it, please post your details and improvements!

A Sower Soil Game Idea:

My kids LOVED this game workshop.

I created an obstacle course in our large room.  set up the obstacle course with a blanket or table tunnel they must crawl through, blocks they must stack, bean bags they have to toss in a bucket, lollipops hidden in a pile of costumes, and a Sower trivia section where they have to open a slip of paper and answer a question about the parable ....before time runs out!

Students pulled a slip of paper out of a bowl to see what kind of "soil" they were going to play as:

Hard path

Rocky

Weed/Thorn

Good

The different types of soil had to go through the obstacle course different ways depending on what type of soil they were. The different soils were hobbled by their condition.  Depending on your age groups, you could hobble the kids a little more than I did.

The Hard Path- the hard-hearted, had to go through the obstacle course with their arms to their side. (Use crate paper to wrap their arms loosely at their sides).

The Rocky Soil- The shallow-hearted had to go through the course on their knees.

Weedy/Thorny- The half-hearted, had to go through the course with only one arm. (The other arms wrapped loosely at their side with create paper).

The Good soil- The whole-hearted, goes through the obstacle course with out limitation.

Have the Hard Path go first and others watch. Pick an upbeat Christian song from a CD (about 3 minutes long) to play during the course and tell the kids they have to complete the course before the song stops.  Have the good soil go last.

Watching others difficulty is part of the demonstration aspect of this lesson. When everyone is done, sit down and discuss how we can all be like the Good Soil.

Then, reset the course and let all the "soils" play unhobbled.

Some improvements by member Neil.

I used this idea as a jumping off point last month and it was great!  Here is my adaptation:

The Sower’s Soil obstacle course

Begin by reading the story of “The parable of the Sower” p.218  The Big Picture Interactive Storybook Bible

Game Directions:

Obstacle course elements:

• Blanket/chair tunnel they must crawl through
• Children's puzzle they must put together
• Bean bags they have to toss in a bucket
• Find a penny hidden in rice
• Balance beam tape line
• Limbo
• Move balloon from one bucket to the next

Children pull a slip of paper out of a bowl to see what kind of “soil” they are going to play as (may want to prepare the choices so there is a good sampling of soil types for the number of kids in your class):

• Hard path (no arms)
• Rocky (no legs)
• Weed/Thorns (blindfolded)
• Good (no handicaps)

The different types of soil have to go through the obstacle course different ways depending on what type of soil they are. Depending on your age groups, you can “hobble” the kids a little more or a little less.

• The Path– they go through the obstacle course with their arms to their side. (Gently tie the child’s arms behind their back with a scarf – the ties should be loose and NEVER scary!!)
• The Rocky Soil– they go through the course on their knees.
• Weedy– blindfolded
• The good soil– they go through the obstacle course with out limitations

Have the Hard Path go first and the good soil go last.  Play track 4 from Seeds of Courage CD during the course and tell the kids they have to complete the course before the song stops. Alternative: use a stopwatch app and compare times.

Watching others difficulty is part of the demonstration aspect of this lesson. When everyone is done, sit down and discuss. Then, reset the course and let all the “soils” play as a different soil type.

Wondering:

Which one of these soils was the best?  The easiest?  Was there one that was impossible?

I wonder what these soils really are?

Can people be like these soils?

I wonder which soil is most like you?

Can the soils change?

Can you change?

Why would you want to?

What could be like this obstacle course? Life? School? Relationships?

I wonder what the seeds are supposed to be?  What about the plants that are trying to grow?

I wonder who the sower is? I wonder if he has a favorite soil?  I wonder why he planted in all the different types of soil and not just one…