Top Three Vacation Bible School Countdown for 2011 . . . Wednesday, January 12th - "Shake it Up Cafe'" by Cokesbury!

Welcome to the eighth day of my Top Ten Countdown for Vacation Bible School 2011 - I'll announce my Top Pick for VBS 2011 on January 14th, but today we are looking at "Shake it Up Cafe'" from Cokesbury - it tied for 3rd place in my review! This year Cokesbury invites you to take your children to a cafe' where they will learn about Biblical celebrations and feasts, will learn God has a "recipe" for them, be encouraged to carry out His recipe for them and celebrate all God has done for them!

Scope and Sequence - 

1. Be Ready for God - Israelites Celebrate Passover - Ex. 13:3-10
2. Give Happily to God - Festival Celebrations for the Israelites - Leviticus 23
3. Believe Fully in Jesus - Jesus Celebrates the Festival of Booths - John 7:37-44
4. Remember Jesus Often - Jesus Celebrates Passover - Lk. 22:8-20
5. Celebrate god forever - Celebrating the Festival of Weeks and Passover - Acts 2

Theme - Children will learn how Jesus calls them to "shake up" their lives   as they choose to carry out God's "recipe" and become His followers!

Strong Points -

1. Solid Bible Lessons - strong salvation emphasis and application for children who already know Jesus! I love the creative and engaging lessons - they are solidly grounded in God's Word and intentionally designed to engage children in the teaching of the lessons!
2. I love "Reflection Time" - "Spice it Up" is fun!
3. Fun songs reinforce the points - good mix of boys, girls and children of different races on the dvd - I'm glad to see elementary age children on the dvd. Hear a sample of the music here.
4. I love the "Carry Out Challenge" and the time worked into each day's lesson for children to share how they lived the previous day's challenge!
5. Creative ideas to teach children about eating healthy foods at the "Take Out Treatery" during snack time
6. I'm extremely happy to see both the basic kit and complete kit are affordable!
7. Excellent info on decorating - Cokesbury will help you transform your church into a fun cafe'!
8. Mission project - Non-Perishable Food Drive - children will collect nonperishable food to help families in their community through a local food pantry
9. Mostly complete director's information - excellent volunteer training
10. Excellent tips on involving children with special needs in each station
11. All stations reinforce and teach the daily Bible points and I particularly love the  "Discovery Time" station - kids will love being involved in science projects and remember how they connect with the Bible lesson/point!
12. Unique and fun setting - our Top Pick for VBS Setting 2011!

Would Like to See - 

1. I'd like to see information in the Director's book about how to screen volunteers, and develop a goal for your VBS
2. The opening and closing needs opportunities for children to be engaged and participate - add some activity and object lessons to "pep" it up!

I enjoyed the opportunity to see how Cokesbury combined the fun, new setting of a cafe' with their commitment to teaching God's Word to children in an engaging and active way! I really love the engaging lessons and the focus on intentionally helping children understand how to live what they learn by giving them opportunity to do so! If your primary goal for VBS is to help children understand God's Word can be understood and lived, be sure to take a serious look at "Shake it Up Cafe'!". Since the setting is a cafe'/kitchen, this VBS should make decorating fun and easy! Concordia utilizes the CEB Bible.  Tremendously well done Cokesbury - thank-you for sending "Shake it Up Cafe'!" for my review.


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