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Human Robot

When we pray, God does not want us to be like human robots.

TOPICS:

Attitude, Honor God, Prayer

MATERIALS:

Jar of peanut butter*
Few slices of bread
Paper plate and plastic knife
Two adults

DURATION:

Approximately 10 minutes

robot 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

One of the two adults will be the human robot. Inform the kids that the object of this exercise is to get the robot to make a peanut butter sandwich. The robot cannot do anything on its own. The robot must get every instruction from the kids. To be successful, the children must give very specific instructions to the robot.

For example, a specific command may be, "Robot, pick up and hold the jar of peanut butter with your left hand. Grasp the lid of the peanut butter jar with your right hand and twist the lid counter clockwise. Let go of the lid with your right hand. Pick up the knife with your right hand and put it into the peanut butter in the peanut butter jar."

Vague commands such as "make a peanut butter sandwich" will not work. The robot will look confused and shrug its shoulders. Vague commands such as "put the peanut butter on the bread" may cause the robot to put the jar of peanut butter on top of the bread. If too many kids talk at once, the robot will get confused. The other adult, if needed may help the children with giving specific commands. Let the human robot ham it up, the kids will love it.

Afterwards, explain to the children that God does not want us to be like human robots. When we pray, God wants us to pray from deep within our hearts and talk to Him as our Father, telling Him everything. We should not just repeat prayers without putting our hearts into it as a robot would.

* Make sure no one is allergic to peanuts. If so you can substitute jelly (fruit preserves).