Type: Active Listening Game
Time: 10 minutes
Group Size: Any
Materials:

• A chair (the “Throne”)
• A stick or rolled-up piece of paper (the “Golden Scepter”)

Purpose

To help children understand how terrifying it was for Esther to approach the king uninvited, by playing a game where breaking “royal protocol” has immediate consequences.

Setup

1. Place the “Throne” at the front of the room.
2. The teacher sits on the throne holding the “Golden Scepter” (hidden behind their back).
3. Have all the children line up at the back of the room.

Exact Instructions

1. Explain the rules: “In ancient Persia, the king had a very strict rule. If you walked into his throne room without being invited, the guards would take you away! The ONLY way you could live is if the king pointed his Golden Scepter at you.”
2. Tell the children they must try to cross the room to the king.
3. When the teacher says, “Approach!” the children can take steps forward.
4. When the teacher says, “The King is looking!” the children must freeze instantly.
5. If anyone moves while the king is looking, the teacher yells, “Guards!” and that child must run back to the starting line.
6. The Scepter Twist: If a child gets all the way to the throne, the teacher will either bring out the Golden Scepter and point it at them (they win and stand next to the king), or keep it hidden (they are “banished” and must go back to the start).

Discussion

Ask: “Was it scary not knowing if the king was going to point the scepter at you?” “Imagine playing this game for real, where your actual life was on the line. Would you be brave enough to go see the king?”

Connection Back to the Bible Story

Explain: “Esther wasn’t playing a game. She knew that walking into King Xerxes’ throne room could mean death if he didn’t hold out the golden scepter. But she chose to be brave because she knew it was the only way to save her people.”