Magis Deo Kids Lenten Activity: Guide for Facilitators During Breakout Room Sessions

GUIDE FOR FACILITATORS DURING BREAKOUT ROOM SESSIONS

For Story Buzz 

• Follow the Examen Format

• What struck you in the story of the Giving Tree?

• Struck - impression / feelings / observations that left a mark

• What struck you while listening to group members when they were sharing their responses?

• What are you thankful for after listening to the story and in the group sharing?

• Summary of sharing and responses

• Activity 1: Write or draw a prayer to God/Jesus 

• Activity 2 : Write or make a simple Thank You card to a friend or a family member

• Note: It is recommended that the activities be done weekly over the course of the Lenten Season. Encourage kids and parents to take photos of the activities to share with the community (in GC over Viber or in the Magis Deo Newsletter). Parents and children can use them for further reflection. Focus on feelings. Be aware of the emotion while doing the activities and after doing them.  Assist the child in identifying a feeling and connect it to a real life experience of the child. 

For example, I felt happy writing my prayer to God because it is like talking to a friend. Another example is, I felt happy making the Thank You card to my teacher because she is always on time during online classes.

If the child cannot express his/her feelings yet, as well as the reasons for it, do not force the issue. Allow the child to be. These things take time. Just like prayer, if done regularly and with fidelity, reflection skills will develop and the ability in knowing and understanding about feelings will eventually build up. 

• 3-2-1 Technique (Sanacore, 2012)

• Think of 3 important details you have on the story - characters / theme / problem-solution/drawings and illustrations

• Sentence stems to help them think through (use only when kids are struggling)

• The tree/boy is _________________________ because _____________.

• The story is about generosity / love / sacrifice. The new idea I got from it is _________________________________________.

• The drawings _____________________ because _______________. 

• Think of 2 things that are of interest to you from the story that was read aloud

• Ask 1 question you have on the story

• Sharing of 3-2-1

• For #1, you can collect the questions and post them on an electronic board or GC. Whoever wishes to answer any of the questions may do so. If you are ready to answer the questions during the breakout room session, you may do so keeping in mind the objectives of the Lenten activity.

• See the worksheet in the folder on Google Drive

• Introduce the worksheet, the instructions and the questions to the child. 

• Give them ample time to write their answers in preparation for sharing time.

• Recommend that they do the following activities for the duration of the Lenten season:

• Activity 1: Write or draw a prayer to God/Jesus 

• Activity 2 : Write or make a simple Thank You card to a friend or a family member