Commandment Mobile

To create a mobile that contains a descriptive panel for each of the Ten Commandments

The children will be able to express an understanding of the Ten Commandments as God's instructions for how to live in relation to God and other people.

• Brightly-colored sheets of poster board (14"x 22") cut in half lengthwise?one poster panel per small group or individual
• Magazines and/or newspapers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers
• Dowel rods (or something similar) of varying lengths (one 36", two 18", and six 12" dowel rods)
• String

• Divide the children into 10 small groups (or let some children work independently).
• Assign children to choose one of the Ten Commandments to work on for this activity.
• Distribute supplies (one piece of poster board to each group and/or individual, markers, scissors, glue, and magazines).
• Explain to the children that each group will make one part of a class mobile depicting their understanding of the Ten Commandments.
• Instruct the children to print the number of their commandment and what it says on one side of their poster panels. (The commandment should be printed vertically so that it can be read when the poster panel is attached lengthwise to the mobile.)
• The children should cover the other side of the poster panels with pictures, short articles, or any other symbols they can draw or find in the magazines and newspapers that explain the meaning of their particular commandment.
• When the children have finished and the glue has dried, punch holes in the top of each commandment poster panel and attach them to the dowel rods with string to form a large mobile to be hung in the area where the children gather each week. If possible, attach the first three commandments in a group to one side of the mobile and the other seven commandments in a group on the opposite side of the mobile.

Art/Space Smart, Word Smart

When writing out the Commandments, encourage the children to write plainly, with letters as big as possible, so that the entire commandment will fit on one side of their poster board panel.

Some children might want to write the commandment in pencil first and then trace over their printing with a marker.

Hang the commandment posters at different heights so as to create a balanced mobile.

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.