WHO IS THE GREATEST?	Grades 1-2

Spaghetti Signs
Kids use spaghetti to make a fish sign. Fish signs will remind them that we should welcome and serve others.

Supplies:
Spaghetti noodles, a handful for each kid
Cooking oil, 1 Tablespoon 
Construction paper, 9” x 12” [23 cm x 30 cm]
Plastic knives 
Waxed paper
Large books for pressing
Food coloring (optional)
Christian fish sign examples 

Set Up: 
1.	Boil a handful of spaghetti noodles for each kid. 
2.	Add a tablespoon of cooking oil to keep from clumping. 
3.	Make sure noodles cook until soft, but not mushy. Drain and rinse with cold water. 
4.	If you’d like, add food coloring to the boiling water to give the noodles some color.

Instructions:
We are going to use spaghetti noodles to make Jesus fish signs as a symbol of welcome. Hold up an example of a fish symbol. Many years ago, early Christians placed a fish sign outside their meeting places to let followers of Jesus know that they were welcome there. Today, we are still called to welcome everyone in Christ. Our fish signs will remind us that like early Christians, we should welcome and serve others.

1.	Place construction paper on table as a base.
2.	Place cooked noodles onto the paper and shape them into a fish sign. If kids desire different lengths for different sized fish, cut noodles with plastic knives. 
3.	Kids can keep the design simple with just one noodle per fish curve or they can keep adding noodles side by side to the original outline. Be sure noodles always touch the paper.
4.	Cover the noodle fish with waxed paper and set something heavy, like a book, on top of it.
5.	Allow time for noodles to dry. Then remove waxed paper.

These fish signs would definitely let me know I am welcome as a believer in Jesus. Where can you hang your fish sign at home to let everyone know your home is a welcome place? Allow time for kids to respond. Please pray with me:

Dear Jesus, 
Thank you for noodles and for the fish sign that lets everyone know they are welcome in your name. Wherever we gather, remind us to serve others. Amen. 

If you have less time …
A final product isn’t necessary. Allow kids to play and experiment with making noodle fish shapes. Don’t worry if it’s not pressed to stay.

If you have more time …
Add noodle designs to the inside of the fish outline, by swirling noodles or laying them line by line, as if coloring in the fish with spaghetti.