Contents

Contents
3
Letter from Kathleen
4
How It Works
5-6
Opening Assembly
7
K4J & Apostles Send-It-Home
8
pre-K4J Send-It-Home
9-10
Get Moving Games
11-12
Cool Craft
13
Apostles Station
14-15
Saints and Scripture
16
Snack
17-21
K4J Certificates & Patterns
1
2
Club Activities Guidebook
Dear K4J Director,
February, Year 3
When I was expecting a baby, everyone kept asking me if it was a boy or a girl. I didn’t want
to know. “There are few surprises anymore,” was the reason I always gave. “I don’t want to know
until the moment he or she is born.” I know all you planners are squirming right now, but all of us
share a certain amount of flexibility. The truth is that life is full of little surprises. Some of them excite us, and some of them
cause us to take a serious look at life. We can think we have everything under control and well
planned when life throws us a curve. It is our love for Christ that helps us look at all of this with
a supernatural view. We know that the all-loving God has a plan for our lives. He is the one in
control.
Use this supernatural outlook when you are working with your group. Each child and each
parent is looking to you for answers. They may not say it in those words, but they feel relieved to
know that you are a role model they can look to for guidance and support. We have to be pillars
of strength and stand by our convictions when faced with sudden moral dilemmas. We have to
be willing to welcome others, change our plans in order to better meet the needs of others, and
be willing to change activities when the kids are too rambunctious for quiet time. We have to
listen to parents when time is limited and charitably instruct others when they need it. When we begin to look at each interruption and surprise as a gift to better serve God in the
moment, we are happy to be flexible and recognize God’s providence all throughout the day. It
becomes easier to be flexible by saying “no” and denying our children and ourselves when the
time is right. It becomes easier to say “no” at these times because we are really saying “yes” to the
best good of all - God’s truth and his plan for our lives. In this month’s Mission Pack, members meet the Flex family. They learn that surprises can be
good or bad. They learn they must either be flexible and “stretch” to welcome a surprise (as the
kids learn through their classroom missions), or be flexible and “flex their muscles” to stand
strong for Jesus and resist when the surprise is not good for them (as they learn through their
at-home Mission of the Month). Each time they watch TV or read a book, etc., they must ask
themselves, “Is Jesus happy to share this with me?” This question should guide them in choosing
a proper response no matter what surprise comes their way. In Christ,
Kathleen Conklin
Director of K4J
K4J Virtue: FLEXIBILITY
Sometimes Jesus wants us
to STRETCH ourselves to
welcome something new. But
sometimes Jesus wants us to
STAND STRONG to resist a
surprise that is not good!
3
Watch this,
Mission
Control!
..3..2..1
BLAST OFF!
WOW!
K4J Rotation
Stations!
Let’s see
Missionaries In Motion. Over!
Cool!
Wow!
What’s Coming Next?
How It Works:
The dynamics of each club are unique. You are the expert at deciding which activities best fit the needs of your club.
K4J offers some extra guidance by recommending certain activities for pre-K4J (preschool through grade 1). The
pre-K4J station activities should be held at a location separate from K4J activities.
K4J Club Meeting
Overview:
1. Opening Assembly: The Opening
Assembly activity is led by an adult
MC and Captains of K4J (grades 6-8).
2. Station Rotation: The four Club
Meeting Rotation Stations are led as a
rotation by Station Leaders. The stations
include Missionaries in Motion, Get
Moving Games, Cool Craft/Apostles in
Action*, and Saints & Scripture.
Assistance may be offered by Captains
(grades 6-8) at the stations.
3. Snack Time! Kids make and enjoy a
theme-related snack.
4
• Divide your large group into teams of up to 8-10 children. Each team chooses a team name and works
together throughout the year.
• Choose which activity will be featured at each station.
Station Leaders set up activities in the station rotation
space.
• A K4J Guide (adult volunteer) is assigned to each team
of 8-10 kids. As the kids arrive, the K4J Guides collect
kids’ mission cards from the previous month. After the
opening assembly, Guides move their teams from
station to station. He/She makes sure that each
member of the team knows each activity’s objective.
The goal of the K4J Guide is to help each child realize
that the virtue and Mission of the Month may be lived
as a personal commitment to Jesus.
* K4J Apostles (grades 4 & 5) meet twice each month.
They are introduced to a K4J Apostles service activity
during the first meeting in place of Cool Craft. They will
meet a second time to finish this apostolic work. The
goal of this station is to teach teamwork and give each
child the opportunity to use their time and talents to
help the Church and their community. This station is
key to the success of this age group.
OpenIng Assembly
Flex for JEsus!
Prepare
• Captains dress as FlexMan. They simply need to dress in one color and make a corresponding smileface mask out of a paper plate. • Super Spark makes a surprise appearance. Have one of the Captains dress in a superhero costume
with a Spark-shaped mask. • Exercise props, pretend barbell (wrapping paper tube and black balloons), mat, jump rope etc. • Adult MC dresses like a fitness trainer and practices playing FLEXMAN SAYS (a version of Simon Says). Use simple exercise moves and the words, FLEX and STRETCH. • K4J songs: “I’ve Got a Mission” and “Flex for Jesus” from the Year 3 K4J Mission Songs CD.
Perform
Play the entrance song, “I’ve Got a Mission” as the kids enter
the assembly room. When everyone is sitting, put on the “Flex
for Jesus” mission song. The Captain FlexMen tumble, run and
jump onto the stage and start performing various exercises and
flexing their muscles. Throughout the assembly, the FlexMen are
motivated! As the song ends, the MC begins. Those Captains sure are FLEXIBLE! They can FLEX their muscles
and STRETCH with FLEXIBILITY. In case you hadn’t guessed,
FLEXIBILITY is the name of this month’s virtue. Do you know
how to FLEX for Jesus? You have to know when to do the
right thing, no matter what happens. That isn’t always easy.
Sometimes we can have a surprise and we have to know what
to do. Some surprises are good, but some are not. MC takes a look at the FlexMen and says, Are you ready to show
them your Flex skills? I am going to tell you a surprise and you
show me FLEX and Stand Strong or FLEX and Stretch. Which
would you do? After doing a couple of the flex surprises with the
FlexMen, ask them to freeze and ask the audience to shout FLEX or
STRETCH to make the FlexMen move. 5
1. You are served beets at dinner again, and you don’t like them. (STRETCH!)
2. It’s time to get up for school, and you are TIRED. (STRETCH!)
3. Someone makes fun of you because you will not do something wrong. (STAND STRONG!)
4. You find out you have homework on your birthday! (STRETCH!)
5. Your friend wants to go to a movie that your conscience tells you is not good. (STAND STRONG!)
6. You find out you have to move to a new city. (STRETCH!)
7. Your friend asks you to text him during school. (STAND STRONG!)
8. When your teacher has to talk to someone in the hall, someone starts to play. (STAND STRONG!)
9. You want to finish your art project but it is time to clean up. (Stretch)
10. Feel free to add your own!
Now have all the kids stand up for a short game of FlexMan says… We have to listen to our
consciences, the little voice inside that tells us right from wrong. In K4J, we call him Spark. You
remember him, right? Each time we get a surprise that is good for us, we have to learn how to
flex and STRETCH ourselves to welcome the surprise. Each time we receive a bad surprise, we
have to learn to flex our muscles and STAND STRONG to resist the surprise for Jesus!
Super Spark comes out and leads the FlexMen and kids in the song “Flex for Jesus.”
“Flex for JEsus”
February YEar 3 K4J MIssIon Song
Chorus:
Flex
For Jesus (X6)
Flex muscles (in different poses each time)
Point up with one hand and spin around
Here it comes tempting me
I know just what to do
Flex and stand strong
To resist the surprise
What would Jesus want me to do
I want to do my own thing
and I can’t right now
But I know just what to do
I flex and stretch
To welcome the surprise
Tiptoe in place
Tap temple with forefinger
Flex muscles and then stomp left and then right foot
Stretch both hands straight in front with palms out
Shrug shoulders
Cross arms
Shake head no
Tap temple with forefinger
Flex muscles and then stretch hands toward the ceiling
Bring hands down in front with palms up
Chorus
6
K4J
&
s
tle
s
Apo
Station Rotation #1:
Send-it-home
Kids put a reminder table top card on their TV or computer and ask themselves “Is Jesus happy to share this with me?”
Teach the kids to FLEX & STAND STRONG to resist a bad surprise and to FLEX & STRETCH to welcome a good surprise.
Flex for Jesus!
Ready…
Say…
You will need:
• February K4J Mission
Packs
• February, Year 3 Mission
Song, Flex for Jesus
• Surprise slips pattern God wants your body to be strong and flexible, but he
also wants your heart to be strong and flexible.
But sometimes we are caught by surprise. How do we know if
we should STAND STRONG or STRETCH? We know God gave us a
conscience. Show the kids a picture of Spark. In K4J we call it “Spark.”
God gave us our conscience so that we would always know how
to follow him and reach heaven. When we get a bad surprise our
conscience tells us to FLEX & STAND STRONG to resist the surprise.
When we want to do our own thing but ‘surprise’ we can’t, our
conscience tells us to FLEX & STRETCH to welcome the surprise.
But just like an athlete has to train his body to do a sport, you
have to train your conscience to FLEX and choose what is good.
Go K4J!
Have the kids take their FLEX MAN out of the Mission Pack. Use the surprise slip
pattern as a guide to tell the kids about a surprise. Once you tell them one of the
surprises, they should either FLEX and STAND STRONG or FLEX and STRETCH their
FLEX MAN.
Mission Pack Chat: Show the kids their Mission of the Month card and their TV/
computer card; explain their mission and show them the stickers they will use to mark off their
mission. Give the Apostles a chance to sign their mission card and encourage the K4J kids to bring
back their card at the end of the month for a prize. 7
Station Rotation #1:
pre -K4J send-it-home
Kids put a reminder table top card on their TV or computer and ask themselves “Is Jesus happy to share this with me?”
Teach the kids to FLEX & STAND STRONG to resist a bad surprise and to FLEX & STRETCH to welcome a good surprise.
Flex for JEsus!
Ready…
Say…
• February K4J Mission Packs
• February, Year 3 Mission Song, Flex for Jesus
• Surprise slips pattern Who can show me your muscles? Give the kids a chance to
flex. God gave you muscles to make you strong and flexible
so you can run, jump and play. God wants your body to
be strong and flexible, but he also wants your heart to be
strong and flexible. Our heart becomes strong when we
do good things. Show the kids a picture of Spark. Do you
remember Spark? He is the little voice inside us that reminds
us of what is good and bad. He is called our conscience.
When we choose good things Spark helps our heart become
very strong. When we choose bad things, Spark gets very
weak.
Go K4J!
Have the kids take their FLEX MAN out of the Mission
Pack. Use the surprise slip pattern as a guide to tell the
kids about a surprise. Once you tell them one of the
surprises, they should either FLEX and STAND STRONG
or FLEX and STRETCH their FLEX MAN. Mission Pack Chat: Show the kids their Mission of the Month poster and their
TV/computer card; explain their mission and show them the stickers they will use to mark off their
mission. Encourage the K4J kids to bring back their card at the end of the month for a prize. 8
Station Rotation #2:
Get Moving Games
Stretch or Stand Strong
Ready…
Say…
You will need:
Set up two rows of the following relay stations:
We are trying to listen to our consciences
and learn to be FLEXIBLE. This means that we
STRETCH to accept a good surprise and STAND
STRONG to resist a bad surprise.
• A pretend barbell (can be cardboard cut-outs,
or balloons attached to ends of dowel or card board tube)
• Two people holding a rope or stick to limbo under
• A Frisbee and laundry basket
• 4 hula-hoops laying close together
• A men’s t-shirt, size
extra large • Two small inflated
balloons
Explain the different stations in the relay. Have the
kids tell you whether they are going to STRETCH
or STAND STRONG at each one. Help them think of
times they need to stretch or stand strong when
they get a surprise!
Go K4J!
Place a copy of the Grace pattern on each of the two chairs.
Are you ready for FLEX: Stand Strong or Stretch exercises? Divide the kids into teams. Have them move through the stations. 1. Put on a man’s t-shirt. Insert balloons up sleeves to make “balloon muscles.” 2. Do five barbell pumps. 3. Throw the frisbee in the laundry basket.
4. Jump from hoop to hoop then do a somersault before returning to give the t-shirt and muscles to the next team member in line. The first team to have all members complete the Tri-FLEX-athon Relay is the winner!
FLEXibility Fandango
Just how flexible ARE you?!
Have team members gather in groups of three or more, “tangle” themselves together, then all join
hands. Now can they untangle without letting go of each other’s hands?
9
k4j flflexercises!
Show off your flexibility for Jesus!
Ready…
Say…
You will need:
I am going to help you do your
FLEXercises! Whenever we get a surprise,
we need to be ready to STRETCH or STAND
STRONG for Jesus!
• A copy of each of the Flexercise characters, enlarged.
• CD player and a • K4J Songs CD
• Choose a song (Spark’s song from the Surfin’ CD - if you have it) and put together a small routine using the exercises. End your routine with STAND STRONG (flex your muscles) and STRETCH (raise your hands high.)
Go K4J!
Show the kids the pictures of the
“FLEXercise Characters.” Teach the kids each
character’s FLEXercise. Can they remember
them just by the picture cue? Now put it
to music! Put on the some K4J music. Do a
simple exercise routine to the music. Hint: The kids also love to time themselves to see
how fast they can do the routine.
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Incredible Spark race
Divide the kids into teams. Use the master for Incredible Spark masks and
make one mask for each team. Have the kids put on their costumes made
at the Cool Craft station and fly to the other side of the field, flex their
muscles and yell “Flex for Jesus!” and run back. 10
StatIon RotatIon #3:
Cool Craft...
House of rock
Ready…
You will need, per child:
• Rock with the name of the child and “Flex for Jesus” written on it
• Permanent markers or
paints
Say…
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a
wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the
winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set
solidly on rock.” Matthew 7:24-25
Jesus said that we should build our house on rock. That means when we get
a bad surprise, we should be strong enough to STAND STRONG and resist the
surprise for Jesus!
Go K4J!
Give each of the kids a rock and paints or markers. Have them decorate their rock to
remind themselves of this month’s Scripture verse and mission. You might want to
draw a house shape on the rock for younger children to decorate. Flexible Edible Necklace
Remind kids of the virtue definition of FLEXIBILITY. We sometimes have to flex and STRETCH ourselves, and other times we have to flex and
STAND STRONG for Jesus. This necklace is a combination of both! You will need: Flexible Necklace bead pattern for each child. Gummy
Lifesavers, shoestring licorice, Fruit Loops, Cheerios and candy with holes
such as Lifesavers Give the kids one or two shoestring licorice laces. String the pattern
included with the edibles on each side. Connect the lace ends with tape.
11
Incredible Spark Costume
Ready…
You will need, per child:
• Incredible Spark Mask pattern
• Incredible Spark Insignia pattern
• Brown grocery bag
• Crayons or Markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Any other additional decorations you might want to offer
Say…
We need to be like Incredible Spark and be able to STRETCH
or STAND STRONG for Jesus. Let’s make our costumes ready
and teach everyone how to be FLEXIBLE!
Go K4J!
Inredible spark mask
Cut out mask along the outer black line. Carefully cut out the eye holes. Punch a small hole on each
side of the mask and tie a piece of string through each hole. Tie the strings behind the child’s head.
Inredible spark Shirt
Cut neck and arm holes from a paper grocery bag for the shirt. Attach the Incredible Spark insignia to
the front of the bag. Have the kids decorate it. Complete the costume with a simple cape made from a
piece of fabric and a safety pin!
Flex
man
Trophy
Have the kids make a Flex Man by using colored pipe cleaners for arms
and legs. Bend the pipe cleaners into a flexi-position and tape on a smiley
face. Glue the feet of Flex Man onto a piece of wood, or stick them into
play dough that will harden. The kids can also make funny clothes out of
various types of paper. (Try wallpaper samples. They are wild, fun prints!)
12
K4J Apostles STATION
4th & 5th Grade StatIon RotatIon #3:
K4J Apostles (grades 4-5) hold “Apostles In Action” in place of the Cool Craft station at the club meeting.
They may meet a second time during the month to carry out the off site apostolic activity!
Stand Strong for Jesus!
Ready…
Take a large piece of cardboard and make a TV shape. Write K4J TV on it and display it on the wall.
Say…
How much time do you spend on TV, computer, video games, etc. each day? Help the kids add up
the time they spend by walking them through a day. There is nothing wrong with spending time with
these things but we have to be very smart and very FLEXIBLE. Explain that what we watch on TV affects
the way we treat others, our mood, choices we make for ourselves, and our friendship with Jesus (after
all, we cannot hear him if the TV is always doing the talking). The best way to be smart and FLEXIBLE
is to plan how much time you will spend and which shows are good choices to watch. We can also
FLEX & STAND STRONG by helping others do the same.
Show the kids the K4J TV. Inside the TV, have the kids list some of the most common shows, movies and
video games that they and their friends are using as entertainment. Try to include good, wholesome
shows as well as ones that should be avoided. Invite the kids to make the FLEX PLEDGE by making a
personal plan and choosing which shows they will STAND STRONG and take off their list. Have them put
up a “stand strong for Jesus” barbell next to each show they choose to keep out of their plan. Make sure
they understand why: What kinds of bad surprises might you find in that show? Discuss attitudes
that Jesus wouldn’t be happy to share, such as disrespect and disobedience, immodest dress, sexual
content, language, bullying, unkindness, etc.
Go K4J!
Hand out the “STAND STRONG for Jesus” barbell cards. Have them decorate their cards. Make a plan to
visit a group within the school or parish to help others take the Flex Pledge.
Did you know?
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation… • Kids under the age of 6 watch and average of about 2 hours of screen media a day (2009).
• Kids and teens 8 to 18 years old spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost
2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games(2009).
• The average American child will witness 200,000 violent acts on TV by age 18. (2009)
• Kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior but also fear that the
world is scary and that something bad will happen to them. (2009)
• 70% of TV shows contain sexual content (2005)
13
Station Rotation #4:
Saints and Scripture
Scripture Memory Verse:
“Stand strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power.”
Ephesians 6: 10
Holy Hero:
St Clare
St. Clare
of
Assisi
Patroness of Television, Feast Day August 11
St. Clare was a rich young lady who became friends with St. Francis of
Assisi. She felt God calling in her heart, and left her family and her big
castle one dark night to become the first Franciscan sister. Under the
guidance of St. Francis, she quickly became very holy. One Christmas
Eve, Clare was too sick to get out of bed to go to Mass. She longingly
thought of Jesus in the tabernacle. Suddenly, her dark room was filled
with light. There on the wall appeared the Christmas Mass being
celebrated at the Franciscan basilica one mile away! She could clearly
see and pray along with the Franciscan brothers and priests who were
present. Best of all, she could see the consecration take place, and
adore the Christ Child present in the holy Eucharist! Clare knew that
Jesus would always find a way to share his love with her.
Jesus, help me be eager to share everything I have with you!
All contents copyrighted © K4J 2012 www.k4j.org
14
K4J Tele ‘Vision’
Ready…
• Wrapping paper tube and two
black balloons make a great
pretend “barbell.” Make one for
each team.
• Write the Scripture verse in a place that all the kids can see.
Say…
Read the following story and then retell it to the kids in your own words.
St. Clare, like all saints, had to FLEX & STAND STRONG for Jesus many times. Once Assisi, where
Clare lived with her nuns, faced a terrible surprise: an attack by an enemy army. Rather than
running away, Clare calmly went to the chapel. She took Jesus in the Eucharist and marched
out to meet the army. When the soldiers saw her courageously coming toward them, holding
Jesus up for all to see, they were filled with fear and confusion and ran away immediately. She
stood strong in the Lord, and his mighty power saved all the people of Assisi. She knew how to
“stand strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Go K4J!
Divide the kids into teams. Have them divide up the Scripture verse and the Bible reference, one to
two words for each child. Place the barbells at the end of the room. On the words, “Ready, FLEX!” the
first person on the team runs down, picks up the barbells, pumps them up and down and says the
first word of the Scripture verse. He runs back and the next person says the next word etc. until the
entire Scripture verse has been announced. The game stops when the first team finishes and can say
the entire verse together. 15
How About A Snack?
FLEX
sundaes
Read this month’s Scripture and remind the kids that surprises like
the floods in the scripture can be difficult surprises. We have to be ready. Today we going to practice being
FLEXIBLE! There is a surprise in store for you. You are going to
have to decide whether to STRETCH or STAND STRONG for Jesus!
Are you ready?
You will need, per child:
• Scoop of ice cream in a
paper cup with spoon
• Ice cream toppings
• Napkins
1
Set up a toppings assembly line and
give the kids a bowl of ice-cream.
2 The kids walk through the line and fix
their dream sundae! 3 Now ask the kids to be FLEXIBLE. Once everyone is seated, tell them they have to pass their sundae to
the person on their right. “Be FLEXIBLE!” Give them instructions not to begin eating. After they do their
best and you have shown them how hard it can be to STRETCH and be FLEXIBLE, surprise them again
and tell them to go ahead and pass back their neighbor’s dream sundae and eat their own!
Grocery Store Option:
Cookies and Milk
Give the kids some cookies and milk. Ask them to take a bite of the
cookie without milk. Now try it after dunking it in some milk. The “tough”
cookie just got FLEX-i-delicious!
16
S-t-r-e-t-c-h or
STAND STRONG
for Jesus!
Certificate of Accomplishment
awarded to _________________________
Name
for ________________________________
___________
Date
_____________________
Signature
S-t-r-e-t-c-h or
STAND STRONG
for Jesus!
Certificate of Accomplishment
awarded to _________________________
Name
for ________________________________
___________
Date
_____________________
Signature
17
Incredible Spark Mask pattern
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Incredible Spark Insignia pattern
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Flexible Edible Necklace patterns
Flexercises pattern
Grace’s Finger Folly
Geronimo Antennae Flex
Put arms above head, cross straight arms
10 times then put bottom arm over top hand.
Put fingers next to ears and touch thumb to each
finger starting with the index to the pinkie and back.
Spark’s Scissor
Cuts
Same as Geronimo
Antennae Flex only
arms are pointed
straight down with
palms up.
Throw Away Vice
With elbows bent, put fisted hands in front of
shoulders and extend arms in a throwing motion.
K4J Kids Silly Mouse Ears
Place clenched hands next to ears, extend your
fingers and then make fists.
K4J Good Morning Stretch
Hands hold opposite elbows and lift in a
single motion over the head. Return to
waist and repeat.
I got a new bike.
Mom is having a baby.
My sister went to visit Grandma.
My friend wants to go see a movie that I am not allowed to see.
I want to get angry with my brother.
I lost my favorite baseball card.
I found out I have a lot of homework and it’s my birthday!
II do
a PSP
like everyone
donot
nothave
have
a game
boy likeelse.
everybody else.
My dad could not take me to the ball game.
I found a bird’s nest in my tree house.
I went to my friend’s house for dinner and they had pizza. I hate pizza!
Dad asked me to take out the garbage and that is my brother’s job!
Someone asked me to lie.
I broke a window.
Everyone is making fun of the new girl.
No one is listening to the teacher.
My lunch is missing!
The person next to me in school asked me to cheat and show him my
answers on a test.
I found $5 in the hallway.
No one will let my friend play football with us.
My aunt gave me a present I did not like.
All the TV show I was watching did was make fun of people.
The TV show I was watching started using bad language.
The TV show I was watching showed people who are immodest in the
way they dress.
The TV show I was watching was hilarious.
The TV show I was watching was boring and a waste of time.