INTRODUCTION
In this curriculum we will take a week (5 days) to discover what it means to be part of God’s flock, and learn about the Good Shepherd who leads us! From the Old to the New Testaments the Bible continuously refers to us as sheep, and God as our Good Shepherd. This week we will go on a journey, to discover first, that the Good Shepherd knows us. Then we will learn how the Good Shepherd protects, provides, and loves us. The last day will come full circle as we come to realize that the Good Shepherd invites us to know him!
We are all like sheep! So fluff up your wool and get ready for some fun!
Set up
What is this VBS supposed to look like?
The All we like SHEEP VBS is formatted to be separated into
three groups. (not including preschool). These groups can either be separated by age groups, or multi
age. This is really up to you and your staff, as to what you think will work
best for you. Each group will need to have a Group Leader that is assigned
to them. The Group Leaders roll, is to travel with their ‘group’ or ‘flock’ and
go to the various stations, throughout the VBS.
These sessions include:
Opening Corral(Gathering) a time when the whole VBS gathers together and does a fun opening time
with skits, worship, and so on .
Craft barn/Snack craft
and snack that apply to the lesson of the day
Pasture time(game time) games
that also apply to the lesson of the day
Sheep fold(Bible lesson)object
lesson and bible time
Closing Corral everyone
at VBS gathers again for a closing review and prayer before heading home.
f you anticipate a large VBS (bigger than 50 kids) you
might need to consider having six groups of kids with either two of each
station or extra-large stations.
NOTE: The preschool, aged children are intended to go with
their age group to have a special time that doesn’t involve so much moving
around. If you choose to have a
preschool program, you will also need a preschool teacher and helper.
Staffing Needs
The team you will need to assemble in order to run your VBS
are as follows:
Group Leaders
Corral Workers
(announcer, Jake the Sheep dog, Worship Leader, Sound/Technology Worker, and
drama extras)
Craft Instructor
Snack Leader
Game Leaders
Bible Lesson Teacher
Preschool Teacher and helper
Volunteers should fill out a volunteer
application/commitment form, as well as any forms required by your
church/ministry for working with children.
As the VBS director, please take the time to read over the
individual responsibilities for each volunteer, so that you can have a clear
understanding of what you need your volunteers to do before you assign
positions.
There is a list of staff devotions included with this VBS
curriculum. These are designed to help and encourage the staff/volunteers each
day. Please take the time to either encourage your staff to go on the website
and read each days devotion, or perhaps you could use the emails collected in
the Volunteer application form to create a list to send the day’s devotional
link to your staff.
Other ways people can volunteer for VBS would be as follows:
- Prayer partners who will pray over your VBS program and the children you will reach
- People who will help with registration
- Assistants to station leaders
- Snack or craft prep helpers
- Clean up
VBS Planning Aid
5 months
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4 months
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3 months
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2 months
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1 month
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During VBS
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Familiarize yourself with the All We Like SHEEP VBS curriculum.
Choose at date for VBS
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Decide on which offering projects you will be using for VBS.
Estimate the amount of staff you will need for your VBS.
Begin recruiting volunteers for VBS
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Review the leadership guides and assign key leadership roles for VBS
and connect with your volunteers.
Post your VBS dates and Theme in your Church bulletin!(see clip art
announcements available here)
Decided on facilities for your VBS location and map out where you
want to do the different activities of VBS.
Decide on a plan concerning how you plan on printing/ordering
handouts for children and preschoolers.
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Finish assigning leadership rolls, and volunteer positions.
Plan and set a time for a VBS staff meeting.
Make sure your staff have the appropriate links/information. You may
have to print things out for some of them.
Plan out prizes for extra the extra Bible credit on the back of the
handouts.
Think through how you want to recognize your staff at the end of VBS
Discuss Technology needs, with your sound/technology staff.
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Create a place where parents can fill out a preregistration form for
their children.
Plan a VBS dedication with
your pastor or appropriate church leadership.
Plan a closing party if you are having one.
Send out letters to parents.
Decide on how your will divide your groups.
Put up VBS invitations, and send out invitations to the neighboring community
Keep craft and snack leadership informed of preregistration numbers
and anticipated attendance so they can plan according ly
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Count and keep track of offerings.
Keep track of attendance.
Make sure you are communicating with staff so that you can make
adjustments as necessary.
Recognize/Reward students who have done their extra memory work.
Recognize/Reward staff and volunteers.
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Preparedness and Extras:
Pre VBS meeting with staff
Before VBS begins it would be good to meet with your
volunteers and help them to understand and get excited about your VBS program.
Some of the things you might want to include in such a meeting would be:
·
Introducing roles and going over
responsibilities
·
Review schedule
·
Make sure they have filled out the proper forms,
and have accessed their instructions and know how to access the curriculum.
·
Hand out a map of where each station will be.
·
Cover any church/ministry specific rules, and
first aid instructions
·
Make sure the staff can ask any questions, and
have the supplies they need.
VBS dedication
Your VBS dedication can be used to fulfill a few purposes.
- Introduce your VBS program and theme to your church congregation, so they feel your excitement over this ministry opportunity. Encourage them to be praying, and to invite friends, family and neighbors.
- Acknowledge your VBS volunteers and pray for them, and the VBS program.
Closing Party
A closing party for VBS is an opportunity to enhance your
VBS by ending it with a BANG! It is also a way to connect with your children’s
parents. If you have a closing party you
can also use that time to hand out any acknowledgements and rewards. Let the children sing some of the music they
have learned, and say the verses they have memorized.
A closing party can be as simple as inviting the parents to
the final Closing Corral on the last day, be a shared meal on a sixth day of VBS, or any
variation in-between. Keep in mind that
by the end of VBS your staff will be tired, so take that into consideration
when making your plans.
Successful First Day Helps
·
Have the children who have pre-registered already
assigned to groups. Make sure that
information is available to them. Have
their name tags already ready to go with their group listed on them.
·
Make sure the children know where there group is
supposed to sit when they go into the Corral. Having signs posted with their
group name/ age range will be helpful.
·
Have extra helpers who can help anyone who has
not preregistered.
Before and after VBS
·
If at all possible have your VBS staff assemble
for a quick moment to connect and pray together before each day. This doesn’t
need to be long, just a simple prayer together will help your team stay
connected and unified.
·
At the end of VBS if possible, gather your staff
back together, you can quickly recap if any issues need to be brought up, but
all pray and thank God for the day together. Remember your staff will be tired
at this point so try to keep a closing gathering very short.
VBS Leaders and Volunteer Appreciation and Acknowledgments
Find a way to acknowledge and thank your VBS staff in some
way. Some ideas could include:
·
A meal for your staff a week or two after VBS is
over
·
A small gift or thank you note handed out on the
last day(some ideas here)
·
An acknowledgement the next Sunday in church of
your staff
Bible Memory Reward/Recognition
There are various ways that you can reward children for
their bible memory. On the back of each day’s hand out there are extra verses
they can say to their group leaders.
Group leaders can keep track of this information on their group
attendance form. Rewards could be certificates, a prize box, candy, etc…
Forms and Paperwork
Parental waiver of responsibilities
It is important that you check with your pastor to see if your church needs there to be any waiver of responsibility/liability form filled out for the children attending VBS.
Volunteer application and commitment
form
Each volunteer needs to fill out both and application and
commitment form. Make sure that the application form fits the needs of your
church’s policies as well.
Registration forms and parent letter
Along with a waiver each child should have a registration
form filled out. The more registration forms you can have filled out before
VBS the smoother the first day of registration will go. Parent letters also
help keep parents informed and involved.
Student and staff Name tags
You can either print out the included name tags, using Avery labels or used a generic name tag
sticker from any office supply store. It
is recommended that you find some way of distinguishing between VBS staff, visitors,
and children. The name tag templates are made using the avery 5095 name tag stickers.
Door knockers,
invitations, and posters
Inviting children to VBS is a way to help to spread the
gospel. You could plan a door to
door invitation night, or simply provide
resources for your congregation members. Make sure they have invitations to
hand out with the VBS dates and location. Posters are another way to get the
word out. Make sure to print them out for hanging up in the church, as well as
local community shops and other places. Also included are announcements that
can be used in your church bulletin.
Group Attendance Records
Each group leader should have an attendance sheet to keep
record of who is there. They can fill this record out during the beginning of
VBS each night. Also they can use this form to keep track of who has said their
memory verse. Make sure that you collect these forms at the end of VBS.
Schedule for Staff
Daily Handouts
Each day there is a handout for each child. For the majority of the children they will have the regular handout. Each handout reemphasizes the theme learned that day, and had some take home projects. On the back of each hand out, is were you will find the extra verses the children can memorize. Preschoolers have their own handouts that are more age specific.
As the VBS director it is your responsibilty to print these handouts, and give them to your staff to use.
Normal Handouts
Preschool Handouts
Each day there is a handout for each child. For the majority of the children they will have the regular handout. Each handout reemphasizes the theme learned that day, and had some take home projects. On the back of each hand out, is were you will find the extra verses the children can memorize. Preschoolers have their own handouts that are more age specific.
As the VBS director it is your responsibilty to print these handouts, and give them to your staff to use.
Normal Handouts
Preschool Handouts
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