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The Gleaning Game

preschoolelementary Active Collection Game ⏱ 10-15 minutes

Activity: The Gleaning Game

Type: Active Collection Game | Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials Needed

  • Lots of small items to scatter on the floor (e.g., cotton balls, crumpled pieces of yellow paper, or yellow blocks) to represent 'grain'.
  • A basket or bucket for each team.
  • Masking tape or painter's tape to mark off areas.

Printables & Templates

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Gleaning Game Instruction Card Download PDF

Materials Needed:

  • Lots of small items to scatter on the floor (e.g., cotton balls, crumpled pieces of yellow paper, or yellow blocks) to represent 'grain'.
  • A basket or bucket for each team.
  • Masking tape or painter's tape to mark off areas.

Purpose

To teach the biblical concept of gleaning (God’s command to leave the edges of the fields for the poor and foreigners) while providing a high-energy activity.

Setup

  1. Use the tape to mark a large square in the center of the room. This is the “Main Field.”
  2. Scatter the vast majority of the “grain” (cotton balls or paper) inside the taped square.
  3. Scatter a small amount of “grain” outside the tape, around the edges of the room.
  4. Divide the children into two groups: “The Harvesters” (a larger group) and “The Gleaners” (a smaller group, maybe 2 or 3 children).

Exact Instructions

  1. Explain the rules to the children before they move:
    • The Harvesters are only allowed to gather grain inside the taped square. They cannot pick up anything outside the tape.
    • The Gleaners are only allowed to gather grain outside the taped square. They cannot step inside the tape.
  2. Say: “Ready, set, HARVEST!”
  3. Let the children run and gather as much grain as they can into their baskets. It will go quickly.
  4. Call everyone back to the center and have them sit down.

Discussion

Ask the Harvesters: “Did you want to pick up the grain outside the square? Why did you have to leave it behind?”

Ask the Gleaners: “How did it feel to be able to pick up the grain left around the edges? Did it help you?”

Connection Back to the Bible Story

Explain: “In Bible times, God gave the Israelites a very special rule. When they were harvesting their crops, they were not allowed to harvest all the way to the edges of the field, and they weren’t allowed to pick up anything they dropped. They had to leave the leftovers for the poor people, the widows, and the foreigners traveling through. This was called ‘gleaning.’ It was God’s way of making sure everyone had food. Because Boaz obeyed this rule, Ruth was able to gather food to keep herself and Naomi alive!”