Fight Winter "Blahs" With A Room Decorating Contest

During the long winter months, people of all ages tend to get a touch of "cabin fever." We all long for the newness and brightness of spring and the opportunity to get outside and enjoy it. Well, maybe we can’t hurry the arrival of spring, but we can bring some of the newness and brightness into our Sunday school classrooms at any time of the year.

One idea might be to conduct a "room decorating contest." Such a contest will motivate everyone in the Sunday school to clean up, paint and fix up their facilities. Such a contest can turn a dull, dirty and lifeless Sunday school room into a clean, attractive and exciting place to learn. And, it has been proven that students actually learn better in a bright, attractive and inviting environment.

A "room decorating contest" helps reflect the changes of the season. It can motivate and develop class spirit. Such a contest can even be used as a teaching tool for children and youth as they create posters and other displays related to lessons to decorate the room.

Classes can be urged to decorate their rooms with posters, pictures, mobiles, murals on large sheets of paper and in other ways. Doors and entrance areas can also be given special attention.

The "room decorating contest" should be judged using the following four criteria:

Creativity. How original is the theme and decorating?

Personal Involvement. Were the class members actively involved or did the teacher do everything?

Theme. Does the room have a central theme or have things just been thrown together? One thing ought to capture your imagination in every aspect of the decorated room.

Quality. It’s important for everyone to give their best, but as the same time, individuals who are creative and artistic should not be allowed to do everything while the less creative and less artistic sit on the sidelines.

(This article appeared in the "Winter, 1996-97" issue of "The Herald.")