This great kids party game can be adapted to any lesson!

A wrapped gift is passed from child to child until the music stops. The child holding the gift unwraps it and finds instructions written on a card. The child completes the action and then the music starts again. This is repeated until a final wrapped prize is revealed.

Keep this simple and inexpensive and you will use it over and over.

Materials:

1. Action cards
2. A prize. This can be a candy bar, bookmark or an inexpensive toy.
3. Wrapping paper. Any scrap paper will do. Boxes aren’t needed. Try used wrapping paper, newspaper, grocery bags, or even paper towels or toilet paper!
4. Tape
5. Music or someone to sing

Preparation:

1. Make “action cards” by writing various review questions, applications and instructions on cards or paper and cut them out.
2. Wrap the prize with wrapping paper.
3. Tape one of the action cards on the wrapping paper and then wrap it all again.
4. Keep repeating this again and again so there is a parcel within a parcel within a parcel… It can also be fun to include a small lollie/candy in some of the layers of wrapping paper.

Instructions:

1. Children sit in a circle or around a table.
2. The teacher or appointed person will play music or sing while the children pass the parcel around the circle. When the music stops, the child holding the parcel unwraps the first layer of paper and then follows the instructions written on the card. (If you placed a lollie/candy in that layer then the child gets to have it too).
3. Once the child has completed the action, the music begins again and the parcel is passed around the circle again. When the music stops, the child holding it opens the next layer of paper and follows the instructions on that card. Repeat these steps until one child finally unwraps the last one and receives the prize.

Action Card Examples to Adapt:

1. Name a character in today’s Bible story.
2. Name the book of the Bible where today’s story is found.
3. What lesson have you learned from today’s Bible story?
4. What can you do this week to please God?
5. Tell the group one thing you love about God.
6. Tell the group where you would like to take Jesus if he came to visit your house today.
7. Name a bad person in the Bible.
8. Recite a verse from the Bible.
9. Sing a song about God or Jesus.
10. Lead the class in singing a verse of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”.
11. Act out a Bible character (no sounds). Keep acting until the class guesses who you are.
12. Name a Bible character that begins with the letter “M”.
13. What was the name of the first man?
14. In what country were God’s people slaves for 400 years?
15. Name one of the judges in the Bible.
16. Which book of the Bible tells about a famous queen who saved her people?
17. Where was Jesus born?
18. Name the 12 apostles.