Last year I put together the VBS material for our
church from material on the internet. The main theme was Survivor - Out
of Egypt. We focused on Moses as he lead his people out of Egypt. The stories for each day were: Crossing the Red Sea, Manna and Quail, Jethro
visits Moses, 10 commandments part 1, 10 commandments part 2. We opened with Tribal council where the entire
group met with the pastor at the front of the sanctuary and she explained the
"tribal" symbols of our church. We also had a teambuilding
challenge center where each group performed challenges that made them
work as a team. Crafts were all related to the stories. For
attendance records, each child was given a foam board torch where we put a new
flame on for each day they were there. Everyone had a great time!
To get you started, here are a few sample
lessons:
Create a Tribal Banner
Each class or tribe will make a banner for their door and take it
with them to tribal council and
the team building center.
What you need: wooden dowel, a roll of craft paper or white
drawing paper, glue, markers, construction paper or paint, string.
·
Tell the learners that they will be one of the tribes
of your church. Each tribe has been given a name. We are all
excited to let everyone know what our tribe is and to welcome
anyone who is the right age to join our tribe.
·
Our task is to create a banner for our tribe - put
the name of your tribe on the banner and brainstorm about what
else the class would like to include. Think about putting the
names of the members of your tribe on the banner also.
·
Cut a piece of craft or white paper twice the length
of your banner. Fold it in half so it marks the top of each side
of the banner.
·
Draw, paint, or glue construction paper on both sides
of the banner to create your design.
·
Turn the banner over when it is dry. Spread the back
with white glue.
·
Fold the craft or white paper over the dowel with
glue sides together and press under heavy objects until dry.
·
Tie the string to each end of the dowel to make a
hanger.
Lesson 1: Crossing the Red Sea
Included at the end of the material for day one
are the following items that you can use as study helps or games
with your class. I have included everything for all age groups and
you can adapt as needed to your class. You have only 45 minutes of
class time I don’t believe you will have time to do all the
activities included with this lesson. Things included are:
·
Telling the story
- an overview of the bible story with questions for you to use with
your class
·
“Red Sea Escape”
- and alternate way to tell the story.
·
A pattern for a
“Crossing the Red Sea” Story telling aid -- If the teacher or
helper would like to make this and then they can act out the story
as they tell it and/or the kids can use it to retell the story.
·
A story script, “The
Hamster’s Great Escape”,
that you can use to tell the story from another
perspective - (You may want to change the type of animal to
something useful to take along like chickens or rabbits)
·
“Harm Removed”
- a fun little experiment that shows how something impossible is
possible.
·
“The Red Sea Run”
- an action poem - Good to use with the younger kids to run off a
little energy.
·
“Memory verse
footprints” and “God Guides Game” - some fun activities that
help “show kids the way” using their own footprints.
·
Pencil games and
coloring sheets - If you let me know before June 1st,
what you plan on using with your class, I will just copy those
exercises for the student survival manual for each class.
Telling the Story:
The Pharaoh of Egypt let the Israelites go. But it
was only after God sent ten plagues on Egypt, and in the end, the
Pharaoh’s son was even killed. The Israelites obeyed God, and left
right away. They left so quickly, they didn’t even have time to
let the yeast rise for the bread they were baking. They called it
unleavened bread, and it is still used today by Jewish people to
celebrate God’s protection from the tenth plague. Our story today
finds the Israelites once again in a predicament. Many people
thought it was a trap. Read from the Bible to see what happened. Exodus
15:5-31. The older kids can start at Exodus 13:17 if they would
like a little more lead into the story.
Discussion questions:
1. At first the Pharaoh let the Israelites
people go, why did he change his mind? (He wanted his slaves
back)
2. What did the Israelites do when they saw
the Egyptians? (Complained and blamed Moses, said they would
rather go back and serve the Egyptians then die in the dessert)
3. Who did Moses say would fight for the
Israelites? (God)
4. What would the Israelites need to do?
(Nothing, just be still)
5. How did God keep the Egyptians away from
the Israelites before they crossed the Red Sea? (He placed a
pillar of fire on one side and cloud of smoke on the other
between the two camps)
6. What happened when Moses stretched out his
hand over the sea the first time? (The red sea parted) The
second time? (The waters returned and Pharaoh’s entire army
drowned)
7. How did the attitudes of the Israelite
people change at the end of this story? (Instead of being
afraid, they trusted God)
8. How do we see God’s protection in this
story? (He performs a miracle to stop and enemy from doing harm
to His people)
Conclusion:
We use many things to protect us, like helmets,
gloves and heavy coats in the winter. People also protect us from
harm, such as firemen and lifeguards. But God’s protection is
always there, even when we don’t know it. He has a plan for us
just like He did for Moses. Although things may seem difficult at
the time, God is always working in us for the good. The Bible says,
and we know that in all things God works for the food of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans
8:28).
Activity:
Make a poster with two headings: What did the
Israelites fear? How did God Help? Post images or write down what
the Israelites feared and How God helped. Ask the kids what they are
afraid of and how God can help them. Be sure to pray for strength
and protection for each child’s fear in the closing prayer.
Lesson 5: Jethro Visits Moses
Included at the end of the material for day one
are the following items that you can use as study helps or games
with your class. I have included everything for all age groups and
you can adapt as needed to your class. You have only 45 minutes of
class time I don’t believe you will have time to do all the
activities included with this lesson. Things included are:
· Telling
the story - an overview of the bible story with questions for you
to use with your class
· “Parable
of the Talents” - a skit that will show students that they
should use the talents they are given.
· “What’s
My Talent” - help kids recognize their own talents
· “Knock
-Knock” - Each child gets a chance to be judge.
· “Help
the Missionaries” - This little game makes the children realize
that it is not always easy to set up a new church as a missionary.
· “Answers
Without Speaking” - Body language and unspoken words also send a
message to the world.
· “Selling God’s Word” - Your class does a commercial
announcement, which could be presented in church on Sunday.
· “Helping
Hands” - a neat little craft to remind the students that we are
all God’s helpers.
Telling the Story:
Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law
of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his
people. Jethro traveled to see Moses and warned him that what he was
doing was not good. Find out why, and what Jethro suggested by
reading Exodus 18:9-26
Discussion questions:
1. Could you ever imagine that some one thought
that Moses work could be seen as bad?
2. What did Jethro think Moses was doing wrong?
3. What should Moses do to help himself help
God?
4. List some ways you can help God’s leaders
on earth.
5. Do you think Moses helped the people more
before he talked to Jethro, or after he made the changes Jethro
suggested?
Conclusion:
Everyone needs help sometimes. Sometimes we don’t
realize it until someone else points it out to us. God’s helpers
on Earth need help to. God gave us each special talents and we all
can use our talents to spread the word of God.
Activity:
Good news telephone relay. Invite the learners to
sit in a circle. Whisper a “good news message” to one learner.
This learner is to whisper it to the next learner in the circle.
Repeat this until the message is whispered to the last learner. The
last learner is to say the message to the group. The fun will be to
see if the message is the same, or if it changed. To continue the
game, invite the learners to think of their own good news messages
and send them around the “telephone circle”
Pass it on. Share with the children how this weeks
stories provided us with examples of how god will be with us when we
follow his rules. During Bible times most news was shared by people
talking to each other. Today news is shared in many ways. Ask what
are some ways news is shared today. Create a newsletter article for
the church's newsletter, sharing what you've learned this week.
Copyright 2001 Amy
Asmus
* For a more
detailed description, e-mail me and I will put it together for you. aasmus@wctatel.net
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