Sunlight and shadow wondering

Age: Early years (0–5s)

Length: 10–15 minutes

Approach: Godly Play style – slow, calm, open-ended, and relational.

Suggested wondering language

During activities involving light, shade, weather, or an eclipse:

• “I wonder what the sun helps to grow.”
• “I wonder how the plants feel when it’s warm.”
• “I wonder what helps the world rest.”

You will need:

• a sunny space (or a lamp/torch)
• a few natural objects (leaf, flower, stone, twig)
• a piece of paper or cloth

The activity

Invite the children to sit in a circle and place the objects in the middle.

Hold up a leaf.

Say slowly: “Look at this leaf.” (Pause.)

“The sun helps many things grow.”

Move the leaf into the sunlight and then into the shade.

“Now the leaf is in the light.” (Pause.)

“Now the leaf is in the shadow.” Allow children to watch.

Invite each child to place an object in the light and then in the shade.

As they explore, use wondering questions:

• I wonder what the sun helps to grow.
• I wonder how the plants feel when it’s warm.
• I wonder what helps the world rest.

Allow silence after each question.

Movement element

Invite children to become seeds.

Crouch down small.

Say: “The warm sun shines.”

Children slowly stretch and grow tall.

Then say: “The evening comes. The world rests.”

Children slowly curl back down and become still.

Repeat slowly a few times.

Creation link

Give each child a chance to water a plant or gently care for a natural object.

Say:

• “We're helping to look after what's been given.”
• “The world is a gift.”

Closing words

Gather together and say slowly:

“God made the light.
God made the dark.
God saw that it was good.”

Pause for a moment of quiet before finishing.