USCCB - (MRS) - National Migration Week

National Migration Week 2007

Passport to the World
An Educational Activity for Children

Educational Objectives

To make children aware of other countries and cultures.
To deepen appreciation of the different gifts God gives to each person.
To instill awareness of the child's own gifts, and a desire to share them with others.

Related Scripture

Romans 12: 5-6 "…we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them…"

1 Corinthians 7:7 "…each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another."

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.

Preparation

Make a "passport" for each participant. [Click here for Passport Template]
Purchase stickers to use as "Visa Stamps."
Invite representatives from local ethnic groups to participate in the event, or assign individuals or small groups to research each country to be included in the "world tour." Ethnic traditions, holidays, foods, clothing, and children's games may all be included in the presentations.
Prepare a sign for each country that will be represented.
Before the day of the "World Tour," have each child fill out the personal information in their passport. Fill out the first page for the United States. Discuss how many U.S. traditions, foods, and holidays have grown out of other cultures.

Action

On the day of the "World Tour," have each group set up a station to display the items, information, games, activities, and foods they have collected to represent their country.
Have each child take his/her "passport" to each of the stations, and fill out the information requested. As participants complete each page, they should receive a "visa stamp" for that country.
If time permits, try playing some international games.

Discussion

What is unique about each culture? How can these differences be understood as gifts?
How has the United States benefited from the gifts that various immigrants and refugees have brought with them?
How do you think Jesus would like us to share our gifts with others? Can you think of ways to make newcomers feel welcome?

Resources

Two web sites offer wonderful information about international traditions, foods, and cultures. Rice University publishes an online magazine called Topics, at: http://www.rice.edu/projects/topics/Electronic/Magazine.html. There also is a delightful site for international children's games featuring more than a dozen countries, at: www.gameskidsplay.net. (Once at the site, click on the link for international games.)