Mancala Tournament

By Jennifer Outzs

I teach the kids how to play mancala (Euchre would be fun too) then we have a tournament to get a "winner". It's fun!! The kids learn how to play a new game and learn how to win (and lose) gracefully.

Materials: mancala boards (there are plenty of them in the math supply closet)

Two Truths and a Lie

By Ed Steitz

Each student writes down 3 statements of "fact" about themselves. 2 of them must be true, the other statement must be false but sound true. Skillful students will write 2 statements about themselves that sound like they could be false because they are pretty amazing. The other statement must also sound amazing but must be untrue, hence the lie!

Each day 2 or 3 students write their 3 "facts" on the board and each person in advisory tells which statement they think is false. After everyone has a chance to "vote" the student reveals one statement that is true. Then they reveal the statement that is false.

The result? Students get a chance to get to know interesting information about each other.

Materials: A working brain!

Bible & Snacks

By Judy Cox

On a selected day, one student brings in snacks for everyone. Another student selects a chapter of scripture to read while everyone eats their snack. A schedule is posted for the entire year for who is responsible which week. Students usually choose the week of their birthdays to bring in the snack. After the reading, students raise their hand to respond in any way to what has been read.

This works well because:

1. While eating, the kids are a "captive audience" to the scripture being read.
   
2. The scripture reader doesn't have to prepare a "devotion," just read!
   
3. We get to hear a "chunk" of scripture in context, instead of just a verse or two.

Materials: Bible

Cookbook

By Debbie Day

The students created an advisory cookbook and took turns bringing in a snack that they created on their own at home (keeping within the food allergy guidelines). Each student selected a snack, made it at home or brought in the materials to make it with the group, and then typed out a recipe for their snack. On the day they presented their snack, they shared their recipe, the background of it, and anything else they wanted to share and then passed it out. It helped to build connection among the students in my advisory and also was something really, really fun that the students looked forward to doing. I collected all of the recipes and then published a book of them for each of the students to take home with them. Many of them have re-created the snack ideas of others at their house. :)

It worked really well and was a big hit overall with the students. There were no real issues or pitfalls other than if a student forgot their snack or recipe or was absent on their presenation day (so just have a back up activity for them to do, if that arises).

Materials: none

Over The Hill If You ...

By ?

This is a fun game to play once a week for the first few weeks in order to get to know one another a little better. Place enough chairs in a circle to accomodate everyone in your advisory except for yourself. Stand in the middle and make a statement that is true of yourself such as "Over the Hill if you like to waterski." or "Over the hill if you have a dog", or "Over the Hill if you like shopping at Forever Young" or whatever it may be. Everyone for whom that statement is true must get up and move in order to trade seats. The person in the middle should try to take the seat of someone else who is moving. Whoever is left without a seat is then in the middle and must make a statement that is true of him or herself in the same fashion. You may need to give a few suggestions of types of things they can say like favorite foods or colors, places they have been, number of siblings, places they have lived, favorite activities, etc.

It worked very well with my advisory and they enjoyed it alot. They would ask to do it again. After a few times, however, they began to run out of things to say. I did bring it back in once or twice later on in the year.

Materials: chairs in a circle

Favorite Verse

By Todd Slaughter

Every Wednesday, a student is to come prepared with a Bible verse that they enjoy or from which the gain personal insight or benefit. The student reads the verse and then shares what he feels it means and how it applies to them. After sharing, the other students in the advisory are given opportunity to discuss, agree or disagree with comments made.

It worked great! Students were very involved and weren't afraid to share their faith or opinion. Discussions were not shallow but fruitful and it most always led to opportunity for spiritual growth, personal assessment of our walk and even opportunities for salvation.

Materials: Bible, paper, pen

Share Day

By Julie Dietrich

Think "show and tell" without the "show." Share day is an opportunity for the kids to share something that is going on in their lives that they want others to know. It can be as simple as "I'm getting a new puppy!" or as serious as "My parents are getting a divorce." There are rules to keep it moving along (and not become a play-by-play of their weekend). Prayer requests and praises are most welcome - but can also be kept as a separate part of advisory if already scheduled into your time

Depending on time restraints, you can choose "3 shares today" or give everyone a chance to share. If you limit the number of shares, you tend to get more meaningful content. If everyone shares, you tend to get more fluff. It can also be "themed" around things going on in school (bullying, Mexico mission trip, Thanksgiving, SLEW, etc.)

Rules:

1. Keep it simple - 3 sentences or less. (Gets them to the point and doesn't take away from everyone elses share time).
   
2. After they are finished sharing, they ask for "Questions or Comments?" from the group. (Allows for clarification and shows genuine interest - connection! - from the group)
   
3. All questions or comments must reflect directly back to the person who shared. (Cannot say "That happened to me once too! Blah, blah, blah - this shifts the focus away from the person who shared. Instead, they can say "I had a similar experience, I know how you feel and Im sorry/happy/excited for you")
   
4. There is absolutely no talking/fidgeting/etc during someone's share. (If you want people to pay attention to your share, you must pay attentiont to theirs.)

I have done this with 5th graders and 8th graders alike. Both enjoy it very much. I have had genuine conflict resolution experiences, tearful homelife stories, and really cool "God-moments" with my 8th grade girls advisory. My 5th graders find it more of show and tell time, but they are learning how to respectfully communicate with their peers. I will continue this activity once a week for any grade level advisory I teach.

Materials: none