Positivity Shot Put

For this activity, you will need to prepare 9 paper plates, 6 with smiley faces and 3 with frowny faces drawn on them. You will also need bean bags or a piece of paper that has been balled up. You will need something that won’t roll when it lands. Arrange the plates on the floor in a 3 by 3 grid with the frowny faces on the diagonal. It doesn’t matter which direction. Let each person shot put the bean bag toward the plates aiming for the smileys. (Basic shot put is hold the bean bag at your shoulder and lift and toss from there. Proper form is not necessary; it is just something a little different) If they land on a smiley face, everyone has to smile and the tosser needs to say something positive about your faith or Jesus or something for which they are grateful that God has provided them. When it lands on the frowny face, everybody frowns but nothing negative is said. You can keep score if you want but it isn’t necessary. Play until each person has had a chance to mention several positive or grateful things.

After you finish the activity, process it with these or similar questions:

• Did this sound like fun?
• What did it feel like when everyone was smiley?
• What did it feel like when everyone was frowny?
• Which one did you prefer?
• Which attitude do you think God wants us to have?
• If you prefer the smiley, what does that mean about your attitude?