YOUTH GROUP GAME: BRAIN FREEZE
Depending on where you are in the country, winter could be anything from a snow blizzard to just cooler than average temperatures.
No matter where you are or how cold it is, you always have that student who lets you know, “It’s freezing!”.
Combine that with a national, year-round love of ice cream, toss in a little trivia and a giant virtual thermometer, and you have our special winter game for your students!
Use this youth group game followed by a quick lesson to enjoy some “cool” fun!
– Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth
YOUTH GROUP GAME: BRAIN FREEZE
Written by Mike Sheley
Bible: Matthew 25:34-40
Bottom Line: You never know how a small, simple act can demonstrate the love of Jesus to others!
SUPPLIES
- Blue gaffer’s or painter’s tape – wide rolls
- Black permanent markers
- Paper and pens(for tiebreaker)
GAME PREP
Create two long, parallel straight lines with the tape.
The length will depend on how much space you have and how many students are playing.
Make it long enough so that if all your students were standing in two single-file lines, they would be on the line.
Across each line, make vertical lines with tape at the beginning, 1/4 way, 1/2 way, 3/4 way, and end.
Then add four more lines between each of those.
Use the marker to write on the perpendicular lines the temperatures.
If you use Celsius, start with 100º at the beginning, then: 87º, 75º, 67º, 50º, 37º, 25º, 12º and 0º or “Freezing.”
If you use Fahrenheit, start with 212º at the beginning, then: 189º, 167º, 144º, 122º, 99º, 77º, 54º and 32º or “Freezing.”
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
All students start at the starting line, either 100º C or 212º F.
Tell them you are going to be reading trivia questions related to ice cream.
If the question has multiple choice, they will raise one hand for “A.,” two hands for “B.,” curve both arms to make a “C” for “C.,” and have both arms at their side sticking straight down for “D.”
If the questions are a true/false question, they will stick their arms straight out to their sides for “T” or “true.”
They will only stick their left arm straight out for “F” or “false.”
If they get a question correct, they step forward one line.
If they get a question incorrect, they step backward one line.
If they are at the starting line or boiling point, the stay where they are if they get an answer wrong.
If more than one student makes it to the freezing point, we have a special tie-breaker planned.
No digital devices may be used to search for answers during this game. Either you know it, or you guess.
After explaining the how to play the game, begin!
1. Ben and Jerry’s recommends storing ice cream at this temperature to keep it solid and perfectly frozen. (C)
A. 32º F
B. 0º F
C. -10º F
D. -32º F
2. Graeter’s Ice Cream is still made in a small-batch, French pot process in Cincinnati, Ohio. What size are the batches? (A)
A. 2.5 gallons
B. 5 gallons
C. 10 gallons
D. 25 gallons
3. Irv and Irma Robbins invented the flavor “Pralines and Cream” for Baskin Robbins while they were at home enjoying pralines that were souvenirs from their trip to (D)
A. New York
B. Phoenix
C. Portland
D. New Orleans
4. True or False, although Blue Bell Creameries in Texas are known now for their ice cream, they started off making butter. (TRUE)
5. The most popular flavor from Graeter’s Ice Cream is: (B)
A. Buckeye Chocolate Chip
B. Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip
C. Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip
D. Mocha Chocolate Chip
6. If you visit a Ben and Jerry’s Scoop Shop, what temperature range do they keep their ice cream in so that it is the perfect scoop-able softness, while still being frozen? (A)
A. 8-10º F
B. 10-12º F
C. 12-14º F
D. 14-16º F
7. True or False, Baskin Robbin’s Jamoca Almond Fudge flavor was created using coffee from Starbucks. (FALSE)
8. In America, which month is the National Ice Cream Month? (C)
A. January
B. June
C. July
D. August
9. Blue Bell Ice Cream is based out of which Texas city? (D)
A. Dallas
B. Plano
C. Houston
D. Brenham
10. True or False, scientists have experimented with using sound waves to refrigerate ice cream? (TRUE)
TIE BREAKER
Give everyone who made it to the freezing line a sheet of paper and a pen.
If only one person did, you could have them play this tiebreaker against one of your leaders for fun.
You can also have everyone play this just for fun to see how well they would do.
They are to number from 1-10, with one being the most popular and 10, the least in this list.
They get 60 seconds to list the ten most popular ice cream flavors in America.
After time is up, have students compare their list to the list below.
For every flavor they have that matches one on the list, they get 1 point.
For every flavor they have in the correct order, they get five bonus points.
The person with the most points – wins!
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Cookies and Cream
- Mint Chocolate Chip
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Butter Pecan
- Cookie Dough
- Strawberry
- Moose Tracks
- Neopolitan
Still, have a tie? End it with good old rock, paper, scissors.
Close out the game with ice cream cones for everyone.
TEACH
Say: In that game, much of what we did centered around a sweet treat that we enjoy the most when it is hot outside.
To be honest, a simple ice cream cone is a pretty small and cheap treat.
But when was the last time you bought one for someone else?
Or when was the last time you offered someone else something that you had, whether it was ice cream or hot chocolate or a bottle of water?
Matthew, one of Jesus’ apostles and a former tax collector, wrote about something Jesus described regarding helping others.
Read Matthew 25:34-40, NLT.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
So, Jesus pointed out that small actions like giving food to those who are hungry or a drink to those who are thirsty are ways that we can serve and worship him.
Ice cream is a simple treat.
The next time you are hungry for some, invite a friend to join you.
And maybe offer to pay instead of your parents – maybe even pay for a treat for your parents!
Or, since it’s winter, maybe you make a mug of hot chocolate for your brother or sister, mom or dad when you are making one for yourself.
You never know how a small, simple act can be a sweet treat offering someone else a taste of the love of Jesus!
Close in prayer.
Liked this lesson? Then you’ll like this…
YOUTH GROUP GAME ON LOVING OTHERS