VBS 2019 VBX PRETEEN (GRADES 5 6) BASE CONFERENCE PLAN (2 HOURS) 1 Purpse Statement This tw-hur plan is designed t train and equip leaders t teach preteens using LifeWay s 2019 VBX materials. Needed Resurces 5 VBS 2019 VBX Preteen Bible Study Leader Guides (r cpies f each stry) VBS 2019 VBX Preteen Bible Study Leader Pack VBS 2019 Field Guide: Grades 1 6 VBS 2019 Tableclths VBS 2019 Kids Gspel Guide VBS 2019 Devtinal Bible The Gspel: Gd s Plan fr Me Leader pack items 1 3, 5, 7, 12,15, 20 and 24 Prepare the pack items accrding t the instructins listed n each item. Fr item 5 ( Habitat Psters ), cut apart the psters and label the habitats: Physical/Scial (beach), Intellectually (big city), Emtinal (cuntry), and Spiritual (muntains). Attach psters t different walls arund the rm. Item 1: Handut Cpy 1 per cnferee. Encurage cnferees t take ntes as desired thrughut the cnference. Tape Sticky ntes Pens Pictures f animals Cut ut animals (item 3) that belng t each habitat in pack item 5. Print ne f the fllwing statements n each animal cut-ut: Trpical birds (beach): Appear t cnstantly be n the g; are experiencing grwth spurts; lve t scialize and have gd sense f humrs; enjy sprts, cmpetitins, and games. City Animals: Can memrize and think quickly; try t avid tasks that appear difficult t learn; Imaginative and curius; can slve prblems easily. Farm animals (cuntry) Experience emtinal rller casters; may exhibit ppsitinal behavir at times; critical f themselves and thers. Muntain animals: Develping a value system; ready fr spiritual answers and directins; adpting a religius belief system; develping cncepts f lve and trust. 4 small Cmmand hks Attach t wall a few feet apart t create tw rws. String r twine Stretch string between bth sets f Cmmand hks. 8 clthespins Clip fur clthespins t each rw f string n the wall. Metallic permanent marker 8 Plarid frames (clip art available nline at vbs.lifeway.cm/dwnlads) Print ut the frames, then cut ut. Using a metallic permanent marker, print ne f the fllwing statements per Plarid, then clip the first fur t the tp rw f string with clthespins and the last fur t the bttm rw f string (in randm rder): VBS Scripture VBS Mtt Christ Cnnectin LOBL: Jesus But these are written s that yu may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Sn f Gd, and that by believing yu may have life in his name. Jhn 20:31 Zm in! Fcus n Jesus!
Gd Sent Jesus t fulfill His prmise f redemptin The Bible tells us what is true abut Gd and abut urselves. Jesus is the Messiah, the Sn f Gd. When we trust Jesus as Savir and Lrd, He frgives ur sin and gives us eternal life. Phtcpies f page 3 frm the leader guide Cpy 1 per cnferee. 5 small bags f animal crackers 5 cpies f the 5x5 Card (pack item 24) Print the fllwing wrds in randm bxes n each card: Messiah, Prphet, Jesus, Emmaus, Clepas, Scriptures, tmb, Jerusalem, angels, and fire. Fill in the remaining bxes with them wrds such as camera, zebra, bear, muntain, and s frth. 5 small bags Print a number 1-5 n each bag. Place each bag in a different area f the rm. Put the fllwing items in each bag: VBS 2019 VBX Preteen Bible Study Leader Guide (r make a cpy f each stry) Small bag f animal crackers 1 cmpleted cpy f the 5x5 Card Print five different sets f animal ftprints (OPTIONAL: Substitute the VBS 2019 Remvable Paw Prints.) Place ne set f ftprints leading t each f the bags. Phtcpy f the Critter Litter Cards (pack item 12) Cut apart n the dtted lines, then write the fllwing n the back f the cards (1 per card): Cw: Wrship Rally Deer: Excite Gat: Snack Break Llama: Explre Swan: Crafts Seal: Missins Break Echidna: Excel Alligatr: Recreatin Calf: Sngs, applicatin vide, and intrductry time fr the day. Fawn: Intrduces the theme and Bible cntent with an icebreaker activity. Kid: Time fr preteens t get a yummy bite t eat. Cria: Engages preteens in the Bible stry and cnnectin t daily life. Cygnet: Time fr preteens t make a themed item as a reminder f the day s Pint. Pup: Time fr preteens t learn abut what Gd is ding arund the wrld. Puggle: Time t apply the Bible cntent t their lives and learn the Bnus Verse. Hatchling: Time fr preteens t burn ff sme energy. Backpack, camera bag, r VBS 2019 Jumpstart Bag Place the Critter Litter Cards yu prepared inside the backpack. Phtcpy pack item 20 and cut apart. Prvide ne respnse card per cnferee. Item 7: Snapshts Cpy 1 per cnferee nt 11X17 paper and cut apart. Rm Setup Arrange chairs in a semi-circle. Create a fcal wall using the suggestins n page 6 f the leader guide. Adhere the VBS Scripture Pster (pack item 1), Gspel Plan Pster (pack item 2), and Mtt Pster (pack item 3) t the fcal wall. Attach the Captins Pictures (pack item 15) near the fcal wall. Cver the fcal table with a VBS 2019 Tableclth and display the curriculum alngside tabletp decratins. Place a handut (Item 1) in each chair. 2
3 Teaching Steps 1. Welcme: T the Wild! (10 minutes) Welcme cnferees and explain that tday they will learn mre abut preteens and hw they learn. Encurage each cnferee t lk at the Captins Pictures and have them cme up with funny captins fr the animals. Give cnferees sticky ntes and pens t write their captins. Tell cnferees that regardless f what their favrite animal is, the VBX theme fr this year is ne that will be fun and exciting fr all preteens. This is an Excel activity frm Day 2. 2. Find yur Habitat (20 minutes) Call attentin t the Habitat Psters arund the rm. Ask cnferees t stand and walk up t the habitat where they feel they mst belng r where they wuld ultimately like t live. Explain that each habitat matches with an animal lcated in the chairs. Pint ut that each habitat is labeled with a categry (Physical/Scial, Emtinal, Spiritual, Intellectual) that relates t the characteristics f the preteens they will be leading in VBX. Invite cnferees t mve arund the rm, cllecting the animals and matching them t their habitats. Pint ut t cnferees that this game is similar t ne f the Excite games fund n Day 1 in the leader guide. Read and discuss the characteristics f preteens written n the back f each animal after they have been successfully matched t the crrect habitat. Trpical Birds (Beach habitat): Appear t be cnstantly n the g Are experiencing grwth spurts Lve t scialize and have gd sense f humrs Enjy sprts, cmpetitins, and games City Animals (city habitat): Can memrize and think quickly Try t avid tasks that appear difficult t learn Imaginative and curius Can slve prblems easily Farm Animals (cuntry habitat): Experience emtinal rller casters May exhibit ppsitinal behavir at times Critical f themselves and thers Muntain Animals (muntain habitat): Develping a value system Ready fr spiritual answers and directins Adpting a religius belief system Develping cncepts f lve and trust. Mentin that understanding wh preteens are will help cnferees as they plan each sessin f VBX. 3. Zm In (15 minutes) Explain that each day f VBX is unique and will have a specific lessn, but each lessn culminates with kids learning sme key spiritual truths.
Share that phtgraphers ften use a telepht lens t snap super clse up phts f animals. Explain t cnferees that we are ging t zm in n the fur key parts f VBX. Pint ut the Plarid frames n the fcal wall. Explain that the first rw f frames cntain fur key elements f VBS. Each frame matches ne f the frames n the rw belw. Invite fur vlunteers t take turns trying t match the frames. Debrief the activity after each crrect match is made: VBS Scripture Explain that this is theme verse fr 2019. Further, elabrate that there are Bnus Verses fr each day, but ne gal shuld be fr every preteen t memrize Jhn 20:31. VBS Mtt (Zm in! Fcus n Jesus!): Explain that the VBS mtt is a quick summary f all that preteens will be learning in VBX. Kids will fcus in n sme amazing, real-life encunters with Jesus. Each encunter is like a snapsht a specific mment in time captured n the pages f Scripture. And when put tgether, these islated encunters clearly reveal the mst amazing truth f all Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Sn f Gd, and by believing we can have life in His name. Christ Cnnectin The Bible tells us what is true abut Gd and abut urselves. Jesus is the Messiah, the Sn f Gd. When we trust in Jesus as Savir and Lrd, He frgives ur sins and Gives us eternal Life. LOBL: Jesus Gd sent Jesus t fulfill His prmise f redemptin. 4. Trace the Tracks (25 Minutes) Direct each cnferee t pen his leader guide t page 3 (r distribute pre-made cpies f page 3). Explain that this page has a quick verview f each Bible Stry fr VBX. Guide cnferees t frm five grups, assign each grup a day (1 5), and give the fllwing directins: Each grup must fllw Animal Tracks t the grup s bag. Chse ne vlunteer t be the Wildlife Manager fr yur grup. This persn will share the infrmatin frm the assigned Bible stry. (If yur grup is small, skip the secnd bullet and allw cnferees time t practice fr a few minutes befre presenting.) Other grup members will quickly reenact the Bible stry infrmatin as the Wildlife Manager reads. When yu get t Day 5 instruct the grups t pull ut the 5X5 Card (pack item 24) and animal crackers. Instruct the grups t listen carefully t the Bible stry and place an animal cracker n the wrd if they hear it. Instruct the grups t wait until the Bible stry is ver befre revealing if they gt five wrds in a rw. Encurage cnferees t be wild and let their tusk dwn. This will nt nly help them as they teach preteens, but will als make this a mre enjyable cnference activity. Start with the Day 1 grup. After each stry, share the apprpriate debrief belw: 4 Day 1 Encunter in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) Pint ut that Jesus knew why He came. Just like Gd had a purpse fr Jesus life, He als has a purpse fr each preteens life, and He invites them t be a part f His will. As yu teach remind preteens that as they fllw Jesus they als fllw the will f Gd. Day 2 Encunter at the River (Matthew 3:1-17) State that the pint f the day is t help preteens knw that Jesus is the Sn f Gd. Remind cnferees that when preteens understand wh Jesus is, they can respnd t Him in many ways such as wrshiping Him, beying Him, and telling thers abut Him.
5 Day 3 Encunter n the Water (Matthew 14:22-33) Tday s pint is, Jesus prved He is Gd s Sn. In tday s Bible stry Jesus pwer ver the creatin ffers prf that He is Gd s Sn and His resurrectin prves He has the ultimate pwer ver life and death. This lessn is an imprtant reminder that when ur hearts are trubled r ur circumstances are fearful, we can find cmfrt in the One wh has pwer ver all things! Day 4 Encunter at the Tmb (Jhn 20:1-18) Tday s stry shuld fill us all with hpe because Jesus rse frm the dead. He is alive! Withut this fundamental belief we have n hpe r frgiveness f ur sin. Day 5 Encunter n the Rad (Luke 24:13-35) And the week all cmes back t this pint the Bible was written s I can believe. That means the entire Bible as Jesus reminds the men n the rad t Emmaus. Jesus, Himself, used the Scriptures fund in the Old Testament t reveal His identity. And just as the tw men where eager t share what they had learned abut Jesus, we shuld als want t share what we knw abut Jesus and the Bible. Ask if any grups gt five wrds in a rw. Let cnferees knw that this activity can be fund n Day 5 in the Explre sectin f their leader guides. Remind Cnferees abut the first activity Find yur Habitat. With that infrmatin in mind, ask cnferees fr any additinal thughts r ideas n hw they wuld teach the Bible Stries t preteens at their church. Direct cnferees t their leader guides t see craft and recreatin ptins fr each day. There is ne craft per day. Have thse available fr cnferees t see. There are 2 recreatin ptins fr each day. One ptin is tied t the biblical cntent and the secnd is a fun, theme related ptin. 5. Critter Litters (15 Minutes) Explain that VBX is based n the rtatin mdel f VBS that LifeWay has been using fr many years. It can be dne as a stand-alne preteen experience r as part f the traditinal VBS rtatin plan. Fr the purpses f this activity, cnferees will learn mre abut the suggested VBX schedule. Invite sixteen cnferees t cme up and pull ne f the Critter Litter Cards (pack item 12) frm the backpack. Explain that sme f the names printed n the cards are the names f baby animals and sme are the names f adult animals. Give 60 secnds t the cnferees t match up the baby animal name with the adult animal name. Allw the seated cnferees t assist by shuting ut the names f pssible matches. Reveal the crrect answers (n the bttm f the pack item). Then ask the cnferees t flip the cards ver the reveal the parts f the VBX schedule written n the back. Ask the cnferees t match up the parts f the VBX schedule with their descriptins as fllws: 1. Wrship Rally Sngs, applicatin vide and intrductry time fr the day. 2. Excite Intrduces the theme and Bible cntent with an icebreaker activity. 3. Snack Break Time fr preteens t get a yummy bite t eat. 4. Explre Engages preteens in the Bible stry and cnnectin t daily life. 5. Crafts Time fr preteens t make a themed item as a reminder f the day s Pint. 6. Missins Break Time fr preteens t learn abut what Gd is ding arund the wrld. Nte: missins is nt taught in the VBX class, preteens will g t the actual rtatin. 7. Excel Time t apply the Bible cntent t their lives and learn the Bnus Verse. 8. Recreatin Time fr preteens t burn ff sme energy. Nte: pint ut that there are tw ptins, ne related t the Bible cntent and ne theme-related.
6 Remind cnferees that this plan matches hw the curriculum is written, but each church is unique and may chse t rganize its schedule in any way it chses. Pint ut that if a church is having preteens rtate with the ther age grups, they will want t fcus n the Explre segment fr their Bible study time using activities frm Excite and Excel as needed t extend their time. 6. Fcus! Help Kids Discver Hw t Becme a Christian (15 mins.) Explain t cnferees that helping pre-teens discver what it means t becme a fllwer f Christ is the mst imprtant encunter a persn can ever have. Each and every day f In the Wild VBS ffers strng pprtunities fr preteens t respnd t the gspel, as every day is centered n wh Jesus is and why He came. Teachers can share the gspel every day, but n Day 4, mre attentin is given t what it means t believe. Give cnferees a cpy f the Respnse Card (pack item 20) Demnstrate hw it is used n Day 4 in the Explre sectin f the leader guide. Shw additinal resurces that culd be used in helping a child understand what it means t be a Christian. Pint ut that The Gspel: Gd s Plan fr Us is n the inside frnt cver f the leader guide. As time allws, invite cnferees t practice sharing the gspel with the persn next t them. Stp and pray fr the preteens that will be cming t VBS that they will be pen t the gspel and all that Gd wants them t hear. 7. Animal Rund Up (15 minutes) Give each cnferee ne f the Snapshts (pack item 7). Direct the cnferees t take a few mments t think f an Aha mment r a questin they still have abut leading preteens. After allwing time t think, ask the cnferees t write their questin r Aha in the white space n the bttm f their Snapsht. Ask cnferees t tape their Snapshts arund the Mtt Pster (pack item 3) n the fcal wall. Take a few minutes t share sme f the cnferees respnses and answer any questins cnferees may have. Allw ther cnferees t share hw they wuld answer sme f the questins as well. 8. Clsing (5 minutes) Cngratulate cnferees n being such a wild bunch. Ask them t gather in the center f the rm. Pray that Gd wuld use this year s VBS t draw preteens t Him. Dismiss by asking cnferees t refer t the VBS Scripture Pster (pack item 1) and read the VBS verse in their best wild vice.
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