Karol Wojtyła of Wadowice, pope and saint - his life on rotating blocks.
John Paul II Memory is a large-format outdoor memory game about the life of Karol Wojtyła, from his childhood to his pontificate. Rotating blocks turn his life story into tasks to match, to check and to complete along an outdoor route. It stands at parishes, schools and shrines.
The blocks are set in a frame and each one turns separately. When they all show the same side, the board sets one task about Karol Wojtyła, and turning the blocks changes the task.
The photos, descriptions and fun facts on the blocks all concern one person, so each side adds something to the same life story. Groups can return to the unit in later sessions and start from a different side.
The fourth side of the blocks is a trail game in the footsteps of Karol Wojtyła. Children follow his path stage by stage and complete a task at each one, so they learn about the pope's life on the move, in the fresh air.
Customisation covers the content of the blocks: photos, descriptions and fun facts are prepared for a specific parish, school or municipality. The frame and the rules of the game stay the same.
The scope of changes is agreed with an advisor. Themed versions are also made, for example a mountain or regional version with the folk motifs of a given municipality.
The smaller size suits places with less room. The larger one has more blocks and therefore more content, which makes combined versions easier, for example the pope and the school's patron. The size is chosen with an advisor, together with the content.
Examples of content from the blocks: his birthplace, a treat from Wadowice, the pope's passions and an initiative from his pontificate.
“Karol Wojtyła was born in Wadowice - this is where our Polish pope comes from.”
Children learn about the pope's home town, his childhood and his path to the priesthood.
“The famous cream cakes from Wadowice - a treat the pope himself recalled with a smile.”
A small everyday fact that brings the pope closer as a person.
“John Paul II loved the mountains and hiking - he rested on trails and in kayaks.”
The pope's passions and interests: the mountains, sport, his love for people and for nature.
“He started World Youth Day - great gatherings of young people from all over the world.”
Children find out what John Paul II started for young people as pope.
Grandparents and parents remember John Paul II, and children get to know him from the blocks. At one board, each generation has something to add.
Matching a photo to a description means reading the description to the end and studying the details of the photo. This is how the game trains attention and memory.
The blocks suit religion lessons, Papal Days and papal anniversaries.
Delivery of the catalogue version takes 6 weeks from the signing of the contract, and of the customised version 8 weeks.
The unit is made in Poland and installed on site, by a church, at a school or at a shrine.
Several children can play at the blocks at once, and a group walks the trail game route together.
By the church, the memory game is there for children after Mass and during parish meetings.
Sessions at the blocks on school or kindergarten grounds, during lessons and after them.
An activity for children during meetings of families and formation groups.
Pilgrims' children have something to do at the blocks between services.
An advisor helps choose the size and content of the blocks, estimate the budget and plan the delivery. The first conversation carries no obligation to sign a contract.
