Knights of God by NextGen4Christ
Scope and Sequence -
- The Bible is Our Sword - Jesus uses the Bible to Fight off Temptation - John 4
- Righteousness Protects our Heart - A Son Finds Sin is Blinding & Returns to his Father - Lk 15:11-32
- Faith Gives us Courage & Shields us From our Fears - Peter's Faith Keeps him Afloat - Mt. 14:22-32
- Jesus Died to Protect Us Then Rose Again - Jesus Dies The Comes Back to Life to Defeat Sin and Death - Mark 15:22 - 16:7
- Run and Tell Jesus' Story - Jesus Tells us to Tell Others About Him - Matthew 28:16-20
Setting - Medieval adventure in Narnia with castles, knights and swords.
Theme - Children will learn about the Armor of God and will discover Bible Truths and train to develop their faith as they advance from being knights in training to receiving their full knighthood and training children to be devoted to God!
Strong Points -
- Fully reproducible - this curriculum is downloaded from the NextGen4Christ website
- Solid Bible teaching - strong focus on learning to use the armor of God to grow and walk in their Christian faith. Children will learn they want to make right choices because they "know righteousness protects their heart and they want to learn to use God's Word because they know the Bible is like a sword and helps them fight off temptation."
- Creative and engaging lessons with strong focus on application -I really love the creativity used to intentionally engage all the children in the telling of the Bible lesson!
- Strong use of small groups for discussion and application
- Mission project - Gospel For Asia - Children will raise money to purchase Bibles for kids in Asian countries for just $3 each. Project connects extremely well with the over-all theme of reinforcing to children how important it is for them to know and live God's Word!
- Daily Live-it activities with time in each day's schedule for children to tell what they did and learned
- More complete director's information - need info on safety, screening volunteers, how to engage special needs students
- Opening and Close needs more activity to engage children and reinforce daily points
- I'd like to see more craft options - things children will take and use to remind them of the daily point
- better proof-reading - there are a number of spelling errors throughout the curriculum
Dollars and Cents -
- One kit - downloadable from their website - $59.99
- All student materials are reproducible.
My Dollar and Cents Thoughts - I love how affordable this VBS resource is - $59.99! This kit can be used any time of the year since all the student materials are reproducible! Consider using some of the artwork - or your own - to make daily "tags" with the point and then give the tags and a carabiner to children. (make tags on cardstock and then laminate them)
I really love this VBS! It is well thought out and designed to give children a medieval experience where they will walk away with a better understanding of God's Word and why and how to live it in their everyday lives! Definitely give this VBS serious consideration!
Kids of Courage by the Voice of the Martyrs
Scope and Sequence -
- China - Trust God - Proverbs 3:5,6; I Kings 22 - Micaiah: One man against 400!
- Egypt - Get Prepared - I Corinthians 16:13; Exodus 1 - Moses: The Baby in the River
- Nigeria - Remember Persecuted Christians - Hebrews 13:3; Selections from Acts - Paul and Silas; Paul and Barnabas
- North Korea - Witness Boldly - Philippians 4:13; Daniel 1-3 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
- India - Forgive Others - Matthew 5:44; Acts 9 - Saul: From Persecutor to Persecuted
Setting - Five different countries - children rotate each day to a different country
Theme - Children will learn about the Armor of God and will discover Bible Truths and train to develop their faith as they advance from being knights in training to receiving their full knighthood and training children to be devoted to God!
Strong Points -
- I really like the approach of this curriculum - it teaches children to trust God and stand for their faith while helping them understand what it means for children in other countries to do so
- Student materials are reproducible
- There are a wealth of additional resources available on their website - I love the idea of encouraging children to write letters to Christian prisoners through Prisoner Alert
- Mission project - there isn't a specific project, but their "Bibles Unbound" project would be excellent - Children will raise money to purchase Bibles for persecuted Christians for just $6 each.
- I appreciate the focus on teaching children how to pray for those who risk everything for their faith and how to become a Kid of Courage themselves!
- Daily Live-it activities with time in each day's schedule for children to tell what they did and learned
- More complete director's information - need info on safety, screening volunteers, how to engage special needs students
- Opening and Close needs more activity to engage children and reinforce daily points
Dollars and Cents -
- One kit - $49.99
- All student materials are reproducible.
My Dollar and Cents Thoughts - I love how affordable this VBS resource is - $54.99! This kit can be used any time of the year since all the student materials are reproducible, but would make an outstanding choice for a church to utilize with it's children during a missions conference! Consider using some of the artwork - or your own - to make daily "tags" with the point and then give the tags and a carabiner to children. (make tags on cardstock and then laminate them)
I really love this VBS! It is well thought out and designed to open children's eyes to what it means to be a Christian in other places in the world and how they can choose to stand for Jesus as well! Definitely give this VBS serious consideration!
Mission to Mars by WordAction
Scope and Sequence -
- Encounter Jesus . . . the Son of God - Saul's Conversion - Acts 9:1-20
- Accept Jesus . . . the Risen Savior - Lydia's Conversion - Acts 16:9-15
- Worship Jesus . . . Worthy of Praise - Paul and Silas in Prison - Acts 16:16-40
- Follow Jesus . . . the One, True Way - Paul in Athens, the Unknown God - Acts 17:15-34
- Your Mission . . . Share Jesus - Blast-Off Outreach Event!
Setting - In Mission to M.A.R.S. children will travel to the red planet in search of the Risen Savior. They will meet Jesus in four, fun-filled days and then share His love with others at WordActions new "Blast-Off Outreach Event"
Theme - Children will learn about the life of Paul and how he went from being Saul to Paul
Strong Points -
- I really like the L.I.F.E. Challenge (Live It Faithfully Everyday Challenge) as it will equip children to live what they learn!
- Active, Biblically sound lessons engage the children actively in the lessons
- The Blast-Off Outreach Event gives children the opportunity to share their faith with others in a unique and fun way!
- Kids Reaching Kids Mission project - STAR Quest - Supplying Totally Awesome Resources for Christian Schools and Children Development Centers - Children will raise money to purchase supplies, curriculum and build buildings for Christian schools for children around the world
- Engaging music with a solid message - kids will want to continue singing these songs beyond the week of Vacation Bible School! I love that the music is reproducible!
- Basic kit option for churches on a budget
- Daily Student reminder option - in lieu of a student book/pages.
Dollars and Cents -
- One kit - $149.99
- Student pages - $12.99 - enough for eight children
My Dollar and Cents Thoughts - I really appreciate the work WordAction put into providing a complete kit - this one kit has everything - posters, media resources and more. I 'd like to see a basic kit option for churches on a budget. I typically do not purchase student pages and would like to see a daily reminder option next year, but would take advantage of the music being reproducible and be sure each child goes home with their own copy of the music! Once again, consider using some of the artwork - or your own - to make daily "tags" with the point and then give the tags and a carabiner to children. (make tags on cardstock and then laminate them)
While most Space setting VBS resources end up not being well developed, this one is the exception to that! It will be interesting to see how churches implement the Day Five Blast-Off Outreach Event and the results they experience from it! Once again I would definitely give this VBS serious consideration - and absolutely get their music for use in your ministry all year!
Treasure Quest by Bogard press
Scope and Sequence -
- The Treasure of Salvation - Lydia Found the Savior - Acts 16:11-15 - I Can Trust Christ as My Savior
- The Treasure of Prayer - The Church Prayed for Peter - Acts 12:5-19 - I Can Pray to God Anytime About Anything!
- The Treasure of Fellowship - The Church Focused on Fellowship - Acts 2:41-47 - I Can Appreciate My Church Family!
- The Treasure of Scripture - the Bereans Searched the Scriptures Daily - II Timothy 2:15 - I Can Read My Bible Everyday!
- The Treasure of Soul-Winning - Soul-winning in Gadara - Proverbs 11:30 - I Can Share the Gospel With Others!
Setting - Children will go on a Treasure Quest and visit Diamond Mountain, Ruby Cavern, Emerald Forest, Sapphire Glacier and Topaz River
Theme - Children will learn the Bible has true riches and be able to celebrate and testify they have found true treasure and riches in Christ!
Strong Points -
- I really like the fun setting - taking children on a treasure quest - certain to capture children's attention and interest
- Mission project - there isn't a specific project, but they encourage you to involve the children in collecting a missions offering for a missionary your church supports.
- I appreciate the solid Bible content and strong salvation emphasis - might be a good outreach for a teen mission trip
- Director's manual seems to cover safety, screening volunteers and involving special needs children
- Active, engaging, creative Bible lessons that intentionally engage children in the teaching of the Bible lesson.
- Daily Live-it activities with time in each day's schedule for children to tell what they did and learned
- Opening and Close needs more activity to engage children and reinforce daily points
Dollars and Cents -
- Starter kit - $99.95
- Deluxe kit - $189.85
- Suggested Student materials - workbook - $1.75 per child; Collector Cards - .99 per child;
My Dollar and Cents Thoughts - If you plan to use everything, the deluxe kit would give you it all, but if you have a budget to deal with, I'd get the director's book - $12.95; Game book - $4.65; Lesson DVD/Music DVD - $20.00; Craft book - $5.50; and the Primary or Junior Teacher book - $4.10 for a total of roughly $47.00. I would absolutely re-write the lessons to be more engaging, but I like the idea behind this theme and it could be a great outreach/evangelistic resource. Consider using some of the artwork - or your own - to make daily "tags" with the point and then give the tags and a carabiner to children. (make tags on cardstock and then laminate them)
The rest of this week I'll share some additional ways to utilize VBS - they are one of your best curriculum buys all year!
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Do you think Kids of Courage by Voice of the Martyrs has enough content to utilize for a 10 week period for a Wed.night program if you planned to use 2 or 3 rotation stations a week?
ReplyDeleteThere are many additional resources on their web site - you could work them into the lessons and I'd make the Bible lessons more active and engaging - you could increase the Bible lesson time as well. There are enough activities for each country - only use one or two at a time.
ReplyDeleteWith some planning and thought you could expand it to work for 10 weeks. I'll be talking more about this the next few days!
Thank you for joining in the conversations!
Thank you. I had thought to use one country for two weeks. I have used The Great Kid Mission from Gospel Light before, but it's out-of-print.
ReplyDeleteEnchanted Learning website has some great coloring pages of maps, flags, etc. for different countries, too.
I just today found your webzine. I don't know how I've missed it all this time, but I love it and will return again and again. I have a VBS dilemma. I wonder if I could bother you for your opinion. Yes, I know I am a little late getting started, but there was a question as to whether we would do a VBS this year or not. Since that has been decided in the affirmative, I am under pressure to choose something. Here's the dilemma. We do things differently. Instead of the kids rotating to a different station each day (ie: craft, music, bible story, etc.) we do everything in one class room where the teachers do the Bible lesson, craft, games, etc. They teach the same lesson each day and the children rotate. That said, I need a VBS that does not necessarily have to be done in any specific order, so that it does not mess up the flow. (hope that makes sense). Also! We are not that huge of a church but we have a HUGE VBS. We like to decorate extensively. We serve a full meal. We put a lot into it....BUT, we are limited on space and workers. I need something that is do-able. We don't have a lot of "acting" talent. All these "stage productions" drive me nuts! We like a 15-20 minute opening and that is about all we can do. I typically re-write every year and to be honest, I am tired of doing that. I wish I could find something that I could use as is or at least with very little tweeking.
ReplyDeleteI know I am asking a lot. You have provided wonderful reviews. I am very hands-on and visual. I have to "see" things and without ordering a bunch of stuff....I do not really feel that I can make a good choice.
I was particularly interested in The knights of God VBS that is fully downloadable. I do not know if it would work with our system though. By the way, my teachers would string me up if I changed this method. They LOVE only teaching one lesson. By the second night they feel like they are experts. Who would want to do any thing different? Learn one lesson and learn it well or learn 5 lessons? David C. Cook use to write this way. I hate they stopped doing so. If I had time, I would write this way and sell mine. Ha.
Anyway, thanks in advance if you can give me any input. Blessings to you! I am also a little illiterate on how to post this, so I will include my email to you. Hope that is "legal". jones28092@bellsouth.net and my name is tammie.
Thank you for your message and your kind words about my blog! Take a look at Go Fish Guys and Rev It UP from RBP. Neither of these have extensive skits and both should allow you to take the lessons and distribute them to the teachers so they each only learn one lesson a day. I like Knghts of God - but there are dramas for this - wandering drama teams - you could delete or modify this part, but if you want something with a more "ready-to-use" design, try these two.
ReplyDeleteIf you have any additional questions, feel free to let me know! :^)