The Aquafresh Challenge

Materials:
Aquafresh toothpaste (1 tube)
Toothpicks (22, 1 per student)
Paper plates (11, 1 per every 2 students)

Challenge: To use the toothpicks to physically separate the toothpaste into the three distinct colors (red, white, and blue)

Hidden Challenge: To compare this 3-in-1 toothpaste to the Trinity (our Church's ultimate mystery of 3-in-1)

How'd they do? 

Well, there was some separation of the toothpaste, but all of the students soon came to realize that it was quite impossible to complete the challenge. It was then that we revealed the main reason for the activity - no, it was not really a partner exercise - and we asked why we would have them start a lesson on the Trinity with such an activity.

And that's when I was blown away by some responses to what the Trinity is/means for us and our faith. Students explained that since the Trinity is 3 persons in 1 God, they are really one and cannot be separated, just as the toothpaste has three distinct colors but can't be physically separated too. (That was the gist of it, anyways.)

The rest of the lesson wasn't anything special - in fact, some students got off task - but when we all came back together in the end, I showed them the hand signs for all three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

And for those 4 minutes at the end, they were engaged completely again.

This makes me realize that when these students do things focused on group discussion or group activities, they really have a hard time focusing. However, when they are hands-on and/or moving, they can stay focused.

But we can't make all of our lessons moving and hand-on all the time, can we? I don't even think we should necessarily. But I do think we really need to keep this in mind.

(As you can see, we're still working through the struggles of the chattiness and off-task-ness of our class.) Oh, where is that magic formula?

But seeing as that isn't likely to happen, we'll take the little victories...like the Aquafresh challenge...and Writers' Workshop...and dismissal...