Open My Eyes Spy Glass

Based on the Bible verse, "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions", I designed this for preschoolers at our Bible school. It could be used for any any sea or pirate ship themed party or program.

Approximate Time: 10 minutes, plus play time.

Supplies:

• paper towel tubes
• old maps*
• green or blue plastic wrap
• sea animal/fish stickers
• double sided-tape
• Scotch tape

*I went to my local visitors welcome center located along the interstate and found beige and brown maps that looked "old world" inside some tourism books. I asked if I could take 20 and they were delighted to help. I think if you asked them to save you outdated materials, they would do that as well. There are some beautiful brochures you could do a lot with. Other map sources are old road atlases, National Geographic magazines, and old atlas books you can find for pennies at library book sales and flea markets.

Instructions:

1. Wrap a piece of double-sided tape around one end of the tube. Attach a square of plastic wrap.
2. Cut out a section of a map to fit.
3. Let the kids draw on some fish and/or add stickers. Older kids could write the Bible verse on it. You could also print out the Bible verse in colored ink on a sheet of plain address labels and stick on the finished project.
4. Cover the tube with the prepared map and secure with tape.
5. Now take them on a scavenger hunt, looking for children and adults being kind to one another, or go on a nature hike looking for creatures, real and imaginary.

By Cindy from Waynesburg, PA