Elementary Station LEADER MANUAL
n o i t a n i g a Im n o i t a St
Group resources really work! This Group resource incorporates our R.E.A.L. approach to ministry. It reinforces a growing friendship with Jesus, encourages long-term learning, and results in life transformation, because it’s: Relational—Learner-to-learner interaction enhances learning and builds Christian friendships. Experiential—What learners experience through discussion and action sticks with them up to 9 times longer than what they simply hear or read. Applicable—The aim of Christian education is to equip learners to be both hearers and doers of God’s Word. Learner-based—Learners understand and retain more when the learning process takes into consideration how they learn best.
Imagination Station LEADER MANUAL Copyright © 2018 Group Publishing, Inc. /0000 0001 0362 4853 All rights reserved. No part of this leader manual may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, except where noted in the text and in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. On the Clip Art & Resources CD you’ll find a handy Permission Release Form to help you use various pieces of art and content within this program without having to first contact Group Publishing to obtain permission. You may print out this form to take to your local bakery, T-shirt vendor, or office supply store; or to provide as documentation to church administration should they require release verification. There’s no need to return or send the Permission Release Form to Group Publishing, Inc. or to
[email protected].
Visit our websites: group.com n group.com/Shipwrecked We’d be a wreck without this VBS amazing crew: Laura Baldwin-Stout, Jody Brolsma, Stephen Caine, Shelly Dillon, Lyndsay Gerwing, Elisa Hansen, Jan Kershner, Laycie McClain, Michael Paustian, Kelsey Perry, Mike Porter, Joani Schultz, Patty Smith, Rodney Stewart, and Gabriele Woolever. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-4707-5075-6 Printed in Canada. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
20 19 18
ww Find out how many Crews you’ll have at each rotation. At Shipwrecked VBS, kids join small mixed-age groups called Crews, with up to five kids plus a Crew Leader. The total number of Crews at VBS is divided into four larger groups that rotate through the stations together, so you can expect one-fourth of the Crews to report for each session of Imagination Station. For example, if there are a total of 20 Crews, five of them will come to each session.
Imagination Station
Here’s What You Need to Know!
Tidal Tip See the Sciency-Fun Gizmos in action at group.com/vbsTools.
ww Order Sciency-Fun Gizmos™. These fun gizmos help connect kids with the day’s Bible Point. Kids experiment with the gizmos each day, and then each child gets to take one home and use it to share the fun with friends and family. Kids each need their own gizmos, and in our field test, we discovered that Crew Leaders always wanted to try out the experiments too! ww Give clear, concise directions while demonstrating the experiments. Imagination Station is where kids explore, experiment, test, try…and play! Guide kids in your expectations, but also give them some freedom to see what their fun gizmos can do! ww Get your room ready to energize imaginations! Choose a room with enough space for the Crews in each rotation to do the fun activities. Move chairs and tables out of the way so children can work on the floor. The cool posters in the Imagination Station Poster Pack set the mood of a Shipwrecked adventure, and you’ll use the engaging TalkStarter Posters at the start of each day’s session. This fun activity helps Crew members connect with each other in a unique way. ww Have Kit Carriers help distribute and collect supplies. Each day at Shipwrecked VBS, kids choose important Crew roles for the day. Each Station Leader will call on a different role to make sure all kids get to shine! In Imagination Station, you’ll call on the Kit Carrier. ww Repeat the daily Bible Point often. It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written. Repeating the Bible Point will help children remember it and apply it to their lives. Kids will be listening for you to pause at the ellipses in the Bible Point so they can shout the ending of each Point, “Jesus rescues!” Each time kids shout “Jesus rescues!” they’ll grab their elbows like a hug. (See photo.)
“Jesus rescues!”
Tidal Tip Play the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD as kids are experimenting. Playing the fun Shipwrecked VBS songs creates an exciting environment in your room. You’ll find that as kids focus on their experiments and gizmos, they’ll likely sing along with the songs. Music creates a fun atmosphere and, more important, reinforces faith!
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Day 1
Bible Point:
When you’re lonely…Jesus
rescues!
Bible Story: Jesus tells parables about lost things. (Luke 15) Key Verse: “The Lord will hold me close.” (Psalm 27:10) Consider This… w In Jesus’ culture, a shepherd with a large flock probably worked with other shepherds. If he needed to search for one lost sheep, he left another shepherd in charge of the rest of the flock. w In the parable of the lost coin, Jesus speaks of a drachma coin, worth about a day’s salary. The woman in the story likely wore it or carried it as a sign that she was married, like a wedding ring today. While the coin did have monetary value, people hearing this story would understand that the coin had sentimental value as well. w As you read the story of the lost son, notice how Jesus paints a picture of a young man who alienates himself from his family. In Bible times, sons simply didn’t request their inheritance while their father was still alive. Society considered such a request defiant. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 explains that a father could have a rebellious son stoned for his actions. w In the story of the lost son, the father didn’t pursue his son. However, verse 20 indicates that the father kept an eye out for his son, and he saw the young man approaching from a great distance. Further, the father excitedly ran to meet his son, showing his joy and enthusiasm at the son’s return.
Why It Matters… The kids attending your VBS know what it’s like to feel lonely, lost, or left out. They’ve been left out of birthday parties, chosen last for a team at recess, and watched from the outside as other kids played together. Psychologists compare friendships to food and loneliness to starvation. Kids who feel lonely for long periods of time are actually at risk physically, as well as emotionally. Loneliness happens to all of us, but Jesus promises his comforting presence. Today you can encourage kids with the truth that Jesus rescues us by being our forever friend who loves and pursues us. You get to be the arms of Jesus, hugging and nurturing hurting kids today! Take the opportunity to help kids discover that they’re never alone, because Jesus knows our hearts, understands our hurts, and is always holding us close.
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day 1 When you’re lonely…Jesus rescues! At Shipwrecked VBS, the daily Bible Point is carefully integrated into each station’s activities for unforgettable Bible learning. See how your station reinforces today’s Bible Point.
Castaway Sing & Play
Bible Discovery
w Learn the Day 1 Bible Point and key verse, and meet Bible Memory Buddy Hope. w Sing Shipwrecked songs. w Meet Jim Noland, a castaway who’s eager to find new friends.
Learn three parables about lost things, and find that Jesus will always rescue us.
Tropical Treats
KidVid™ Cinema
Sand-elicious Parfait
When Melda moved from Kenya to the U.S., she was afraid she might be lonely. But now a “family” of friends reminds Melda that Jesus is always with her.
Imagination Station
Sail Away Sendoff
Assemble and play with Lost-and-Found Flyers, and remember that Jesus can always find us.
Use Cool Cubes to explore how, even when we feel alone, God is always with us!
Ship Rec Games
Shipwreck Buddies
Cool-Down Catch
Swim & Swap
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Day 1 Supplies You’ll Need Every Day… ••Talk-Starter Sloths* ••Try-This-at-Home Stickers* •• Imagination Station Poster Pack* fishing line •• ••Jungle Trees Plastic Backdrop* •• Plastic or Tissue Paper Vines* •• table •• Shipwrecked Table Cover* (optional) •• resealable quart-size plastic bags (1 per child per day) (Note: on Day 4 you’ll need 1 gallon-size bag per person instead) •• pens or colorful fine-tip markers (at least 5 per Crew per rotation) •• large colorful plastic bowls to hold supplies •• 1 or more helpers (2 would be great!) •• Castaway Sing & Play Music CD* and CD player ••Toucan Twister* or other attention-getting device
Day 1 Supplies •• Lost-and-Found Flyer* (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• Day 1 Talk-Starter Poster from Imagination Station Poster Pack* •• Day 1 Try-This-at-Home Sticker* (1 per child) •• photocopies of the “Super Spinners” handout •• feather duster •• scissors •• paper clips (1 per person, plus a few extras) *available from Group Publishing or your Group VBS supplier
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Get Ready ww Before Day 1, create a Sloth Sanctuary in a corner of your room. Cover the walls in that corner with Jungle Trees Plastic Backdrop, and drape a few Plastic or Tissue Paper Vines from the ceiling. ww Create two hanging sloth chains in the Sloth Sanctuary. Cut a length of fishing line long enough so when it’s hung from the ceiling, kids can reach it. Tie one end of the fishing line tightly around a Talk-Starter Sloth’s “paw.” Attach the other end of the fishing line to the ceiling on the left side of the Sloth Sanctuary. Hang several more Talk-Starter Sloths to the first by linking their arms, forming a chain that kids can reach. Repeat to make a second sloth chain to hang on the right side of the Sloth Sanctuary. ww In the Sloth Sanctuary near the two sloth chains you started, place two bowls containing Talk-Starter Sloths. (Kids will add to the chains when they answer the talkstarter question each day.) ww Place a table along a wall of your room. If desired, cover the table with a Shipwrecked Table Cover. You can place the day’s supplies on the table for easy access and store the rest of the supplies under the table. ww Hang the Day 1 Talk-Starter Poster on a wall at kids’ eye level near the Sloth Sanctuary. (You’ll hang a different TalkStarter Poster each day.)
Tidal Tip Use an attention-getting signal to let kids know to stop what they’re doing and look at you. You can use the Toucan Twister (available from Group Publishing or your Group VBS supplier) or another noisemaker of your choice. The first time Crews come to your station, introduce and rehearse your attention-getting signal.
w Hang the five unnumbered Imagination Station decorating posters around the room wherever you choose. (And you thought decorating would be hard!) w Tear out the “Super Spinners” handout at the back of this manual. Photocopy the page so you have at least one spinner per person, plus one for you. w Cut out the Super Spinners. Fold a sample spinner for yourself and one for each Crew Leader. w Create a bowl of supplies for each Crew, if desired. (You can restock the bowls between rotations.) w Be ready to play songs from the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD as kids enter your room.
Toucan Twister
Talk About Talk-Starters You’ll start each day at Imagination Station with a fun talk-starter question to help kids get to know each other. Plus, it’s a great way for kids to express themselves! Kids will “record” their answers by adding a Talk-Starter Sloth to one of two sloth chains. As the week progresses, you’ll see your sloth chains grow as they show kids’ unique preferences!
Got Imagination? Have the fun music from the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD playing as Crews arrive. Greet kids enthusiastically as they enter your Imagination Station. Then have Crews sit in kneeto-knee circles on the floor. Introduce yourself. Say: Welcome to Imagination Station! I’m so glad you’re here! I can’t wait to see what incredible things we’ll discover together. But first let me ask you something. Ask: id you bring your imagination today? Most kids will D shout “yes.” Well, I’m not so sure. Since it’s our first day at Imagination Station, I thought your brains might be a little musty and dusty. So I brought something to dust off those cobwebs! Grab your feather duster and hold it up. Look! A dazzling duster! Run around the room and pretend to dust kids’ heads. There! Now we’re ready to imagine! Each day at Imagination Station, you’ll get to be a part of fun activities and experiments that help us discover more about how Jesus rescues us! And you’ll get to take home a Sciency-Fun Gizmo every day! You can use your gizmos to teach the Bible truths you learn to your friends and family! We’ll get to our first activity in a minute, but first I have a question for you.
Field Test Finding Kids loved the talk-starter questions! What an easy way for kids to get acquainted and express their individuality. Kids couldn’t wait to add to the chains and compare answers with other kids.
Tidal Tip Knee-to-knee Crew circles ensure that kids are sitting close enough to hear each other during discussions. If necessary, demonstrate what “knee-to-knee” looks like. Having Crews automatically form these circles will make the week run much more smoothly.
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Tidal Tip Ham it up as you present the talk-starter question each day. You’ll set a fun mood and encourage kids’ imaginations at the same time!
Answer Talk-Starter Question Say: At Shipwrecked VBS, it’s easy to imagine being stranded on a deserted island! And on that island you might meet a sloth! To start Imagination Station each day, I’ll ask you a talkstarter question and you can choose one of two answers. You’ll record your answer by adding a Talk-Starter Sloth to one of these sloth chains. Hold up a Talk-Starter Sloth and demonstrate how to add it to one of the chains. Today’s talk-starter question is special because it has to do with growing food. And this week at Shipwrecked VBS, you’ll be hearing about a cool project called Operation Kid-to-Kid, which is also about growing food! We’ll be collecting money all this week so we can donate seeds to help people in Haiti grow their own food. That’s so great! But anyway, let’s get back to today’s talk-starter question. Are you ready? Here we go! Point to the Day 1 Talk-Starter Poster. Imagine you’re shipwrecked on a deserted island. You have to grow your own food. Ask: ould you rather plant hairy rambutan…or sour W soursop?
Field Test Finding As the week went on and the sloth chains grew, we just draped them from various points in the ceiling of the Sloth Sanctuary. You’ll be amazed at how fun they look by the end of VBS!
If you’d rather plant hairy rambutan, you’ll add a TalkStarter Sloth to the sloth chain on the left. Point to the chain on the left side of the Sloth Sanctuary. If you’d rather plant sour soursop, you’ll add a Talk-Starter Sloth to the other chain. Point to the chain on the right side of the Sloth Sanctuary. Invite Crews to come one at a time and add their Talk-Starter Sloths to one of the sloth chains. If necessary, you or your helper can lift small children who can’t reach the chains. This should be necessary only on Day 1. While Crews wait their turn, kids can tell their Crew Leaders which answer they chose and why. Each day at Imagination Station, I’ll ask a different talk-starter question. We can watch as our sloth chains grow! I wonder which one will be longer by the end of the week!
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Super Spinners Say: Okay, now it’s time to really rev up our imaginations! Today we’re discovering that when you’re lonely…Jesus rescues! Lead kids in the Point response by grabbing your elbows like a hug. Jesus loves us, and he wants us to be close to him. If we’re feeling lost or lonely, Jesus will search for us and bring us safely back to his family. He can always find us! Let’s see how good we are at finding things that might get lost! Give each Crew enough cut-out Super Spinners and paper clips so everyone can have one. Also give each Crew Leader a folded Super Spinner as a sample. Set out scissors and fine-tip markers to share. Hold up your own cut-out Super Spinner. Say: This, my friends, is a Super Spinner. When you fold it just so, it looks like this. Hold up a folded spinner. And when you do this…watch what happens! Add a paper clip to the bottom of the spinner. Holding the spinner by the paper clip, throw it into the air and watch it spin to the ground. That was super spinny! But now I have to go find it and bring it safely back. Retrieve your Super Spinner. Now it’s your turn to try. You’ll cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted lines. I’ll lead you through it. Lead kids in these simple steps. Encourage Crew Leaders to help kids by showing them the finished sample. Be available to offer help, but only as needed. (Kids like to figure things out themselves!)
Field Test Finding Kids at our field test had no trouble finding their own Super Spinners, but you could always have kids write their names on the Spinners, if desired.
A
B
1. Cut the solid line between A and B. 2. Fold A toward you, and fold B away from you. 3. Fold C and D so they overlap. C
4. Now fold up the bottom and secure with a paper clip.
D
5. Write your name somewhere on the Spinner, if desired.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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When everyone has finished folding a Super Spinner and adding a paper clip, collect the scissors. Then say: Great job, everyone! Are you ready to let these Super Spinners fly? Let’s do it! On the count of 3, hold your Spinner by the paper clip and throw it as high and as far as you can. Ready? 1, 2, 3! Let kids play with their Super Spinners for a few minutes. Then call time and have everyone sit in Crews again. That was super fun! And none of your spinners got lost, did they? You found them each time! That reminds me of what we’re learning about Jesus today. Sometimes we all feel lonely and lost. We need Jesus to find us and bring us back to his love. Remember, when you’re
lonely…Jesus rescues!
Those Super Spinners were great, but now let’s look at today’s Sciency-Fun Gizmo. It’s even better!
Field Test Finding Again, kids didn’t need to write their names or initials on the blades, but feel free to do so. Also, we didn’t go outside because our field test blades were green and would have gotten lost in the grass. But we changed the color so you can go outside if you want!
Lost-and-Found Flyers Say: This is a Lost-and-Found Flyer. Hold up the three pieces of an unassembled Lost-and-Found Flyer. Hmm…this doesn’t look like it can do much. But watch this! Demonstrate how to assemble the Flyer (instructions below). Then blow into it and show how it makes a fun noise as the top spins off. It flies away, but I can go find it—just like Jesus finds us when we’re lonely. Because when you’re lonely…Jesus rescues! 1. G ive each Crew enough Lost-and-Found Flyer Kits for everyone. Have kids open the kits and remove the three pieces. 2. Fit the wider end of the gray tube over the smaller arm of the blue base. 3. Carefully fit the little square in the center of the round helicopter blade over the notch on top of the base. 4. B low into the open end of the tube and watch the blade take off!
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Take the Fun Home When time is almost up, give each Crew a supply of resealable plastic bags and “Try This at Home” stickers. Have each child attach a sticker to a bag and write his or her name on the sticker. Have kids place their Lost-and-Found Flyers and Super Spinners in the bags. Crew Leaders can keep the bags in the Crew bags and give them to kids to take home after Sail Away Sendoff.
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Day 2
Bible Point:
scues!
When you worry…Jesus re
Bible Story: Martha worries and complains. (Luke 10:38-42) Key Verse: “The Lord comes to the rescue each time.” (Psalm 34:19) Consider This… w Luke 7:36-50 gives us a little background on Jesus’ friendship with Mary. Mary, a woman with a sinful reputation in her town, anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive oil, using her hair to wipe his feet. Her act of humility touches Jesus deeply, and he speaks to his host of her great love. (Mary repeated this act of servanthood and devotion in John 12.) w Some scholars point out that Jesus acted differently from the teachers of his day, in that he encouraged women to learn. In that culture, a student sat at the feet of his or her teacher. By sitting at Jesus’ feet, Mary assumed the posture of a student. w While it’s not clear in the passage, some scholars suggest that the disciples were with Jesus at Martha’s house. This would have required quite a bit of preparation and an additional expense for food and drink. w Every time you read about Martha, she’s busy “doing.” When her brother Lazarus dies (John 11), Martha rushes out to meet Jesus. Mary stays inside, talking with other mourners. When Jesus returns to Bethany for Passover (John 12), Martha serves the dinner.
Why It Matters… As adults, we may wave off kids’ worries as small in comparison to the burdens we carry. But, surprisingly, kids worry about many of the same things you do. Today’s kids are plugged in and very aware of the stresses and fears facing adults. As a result, kids have anxiety about things like their families, the environment, poverty, and violence. One study found that kids today are more worried than people who were hospitalized for anxiety in the 1950s! Yet Jesus reassures us repeatedly in Scripture not to worry. Jesus doesn’t rescue us by taking away our difficulties, but he promises to bear them for us (Matthew 11:28-30). Today take every opportunity to help children cast their anxieties on Jesus, resting in his power and care. Help kids practice turning their worries over to Jesus and replacing worry with wonder as they watch him care for their every need.
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day 2 When you worry…Jesus rescues! At Shipwrecked VBS, the daily Bible Point is carefully integrated into each station’s activities for unforgettable Bible learning. See how your station reinforces today’s Bible Point.
Castaway Sing & Play
Bible Discovery
w Learn the Day 2 Bible Point and key verse, and meet Bible Memory Buddy Beacon. w Sing Shipwrecked songs. w Jim is worried about a strange animal he hears in the jungle.
Experience how Mary and Martha felt when Jesus visited, and discover that Jesus is the one thing!
Tropical Treats
KidVid™ Cinema
Gone Fishin’
Shiloh has to face her worries about starting at a new school. Watch how Jesus rescues by providing a warm welcome from new friends!
Imagination Station
Sail Away Sendoff
Friction—like worry—can stop us in our tracks. But the Hopper Stopper reminds kids that with Jesus in our lives, worry doesn’t need to slow us down.
Help Wanda Worrywart let go of her worries!
Ship Rec Games
Rescue Rings
Tug of Water
Food Defense
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Day 2 Supplies •• Hopper Stoppers* (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• Day 2 Talk-Starter Poster from Imagination Station Poster Pack* •• bubble machine or bubble wand •• bubble solution •• Day 2 “Try This at Home” Stickers* (1 per child) •• permanent marker •• X-Acto knife •• yardstick •• foam board •• old towels •• scissors •• double-sided tape •• toy cars (1 per person per rotation) •• empty 16-ounce water bottles (1 per Crew per rotation, plus 1 extra) •• white rice •• funnel •• pencils (1 per Crew per rotation, plus 1 extra) •• large plastic bowl *available from Group Publishing or your Group VBS supplier
Get Ready ww Hang the Day 2 Talk-Starter Poster on the wall at kids’ eye level near your Sloth Sanctuary. (You’ll hang a different talkstarter poster each day.) ww In the Sloth Sanctuary near the two sloth chains you started, place two bowls containing Talk-Starter Sloths. (Kids will add to the chains when they answer the talk-starter question each day.) ww Color a Hopper Stopper as a sample. ww Create at least one “Friction Freeway” ramp for each Crew per rotation. Cut a sheet of foam board into long strips about 2 inches wide. On one side, use a permanent marker and yardstick to draw a line down the center of the “road.” ww Cut an old towel into strips that will fit on your freeways. Then turn each freeway over and use double-sided tape to affix a strip of towel to the freeway, creating a surface that will cause more friction. Draw a line down the center of the towel, too. ww At least an hour before your first session, prepare a bottle of rice for each Crew per rotation, plus a bottle for you. Use a funnel to fill each bottle with regular white rice, all the way to the top. Tap the bottom of the bottle on a table to compress the rice; then add a little more rice. Repeat a few times. Stick a pencil into one bottle; friction should allow you to lift the bottle with the pencil. ww Fill an extra bottle with rice, but don’t worry about compressing the rice. If needed, you’ll use this bottle to add a little rice to Crews’ bottles as they experiment. ww Be ready to play songs from the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD as kids enter your room.
Got Imagination? Have music from the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD playing in your room before kids arrive. Greet kids enthusiastically as they enter your Imagination Station. Then have Crews sit in knee-to-knee circles on the floor. Say: Welcome to Imagination Station! I’m excited you’re here! I can’t wait to see what amazing things we’ll discover today. Ask: Did you bring your imagination? It’s time to get those brains bubbling! Run around the room and blow bubbles over kids’ heads. There, that’s better! Now we can get started! Save the bubble solution—you’ll use it again on Day 5.
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Answer Talk-Starter Question Point to the Day 2 Talk-Starter Poster. Say: It’s time for today’s special talk-starter question! Imagine this: You need to block the hot sun. Ask: ould you make a palm-leaf hat…or a sun W umbrella? If you’d make a palm-leaf hat, add a sloth to the chain on the left. Point to the sloth chain on the left side of your Sloth Sanctuary. If you’d make a sun umbrella, add a sloth to the other chain. Point to the sloth chain on the right side of your Sloth Sanctuary. Invite Crews to come one at a time and add their sloths to one of the chains. While Crews wait their turn, kids can tell their Crew Leaders which answer they chose and why. After everyone is seated again, say: Those chains are really growing. Way to go! Something else that’s growing is our understanding of Jesus. Today we’re learning that when you worry…
Jesus recues!
Discuss Friction Say: Let’s face it—we all worry sometimes. Worry can stop us in our tracks and can make life bumpy. Worry makes it hard to go forward. Worry can cause friction. I looked up the word friction, and the dictionary explained it as “surface resistance to relative movement.” Hmm…I think we need a few examples. Let’s try this. Rub your hands softly together. Pause briefly as kids rub their hands together. Your hands are causing friction. Now push your hands together harder as you rub them together. Pause. Pushing harder is causing more friction, which makes it harder to move your hands. The same thing happens when you push hard on your brakes on your bike—it slows your wheels down, and you come to a quick stop. Which is like I was saying—worry is like friction. It makes it hard to move forward. It slows us down. Let’s look at another example.
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Field Test Finding You could use trays or even sheets of cardboard for the ramps and provide towels to cover them. But the “Friction Freeways” were so much fun, and they weren’t hard to make!
Kid Quote The bumps are like problems in life—they slow you down!
Friction Freeways Give each Crew at least one prepared ramp and a small toy car for each person. Say: Let’s call these Friction Freeways! We’ll experiment to see which surface helps the cars move smoothly and which causes more friction to slow them down. While you experiment, be thinking about how worry slows you down! 1. H ave kids first roll their cars down the smooth ramp surface. 2. Then let them turn the ramps over and test the towel-covered surface. 3. Have kids compare results. Ask: hat did you discover about friction in this experiment? W Have kids call out answers, and repeat each response so everyone can hear. Say: Bumps in the road can slow us down and throw us off track. It’s the same with worry. But thankfully, when you worry…
Jesus rescues!
Save one Friction Freeway for use on Day 5.
Rice Device Hold up the prepared bottle of rice with a pencil inserted so it is ready to lift the bottle. Say: I have another friction experiment for you to try! Ask: hat do you think will happen if I pull on this pencil W that’s stuck in the rice? Let kids call out answers. Then pull on the pencil to lift the bottle. Look! Friction held the pencil in place! Want to try? Give each Crew a prepared bottle of rice and a pencil. 1. H ave kids gently tap the bottom of the bottle on the floor to further compact the rice.
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2. Have a Crew member hold the pencil by the eraser and stick it into the bottle until only about an inch sticks out the top. If it doesn’t hold on the first try, have another child repeat the process. 3. Have kids take turns trying to pick up the bottle with the pencil. Move around the room with a large plastic bowl, a funnel, and the extra bottle of rice. If a Crew is having trouble getting the pencil to stick, place their bottle in the plastic bowl and use the funnel to add a little more rice. Then let them try again.
Field Test Finding A few Crews had a little trouble getting the pencil to stick, but they all eventually got it to work. And the excitement kids felt was worth the wait!
When every Crew has been able to life the bottle of rice with a pencil, say: Congratulations! You just demonstrated the effects of friction! The grains of rice became more and more compressed, rubbing against each other and the pencil. Eventually, the friction became strong enough to keep the pencil stuck in the bottle. And that’s like worry! Worry can get us stuck in life—it can keep us from solving problems and moving on. But like we’re learning, when you worry…Jesus rescues! I want to give you something to help you remember that.
Hopper Stoppers Hold up your decorated Hopper Stopper. Say: Look! It’s a toucan like Beacon! I don’t mean to brag, but I colored him myself. Pretty nice, right? Watch what he can do! Move the paper toucan to the top of the string, facing so you can read the verse. Pinch the toucan and the top of the string together, holding the toucan in place. Pull down on the other end of the string until it’s taut. Then, continuing to hold both ends of the taut string, release your hold of the toucan. He should hop down the string in a halting fashion. Ask: ow! What just happened? Let kids call W out ideas. Holding the string until it was tight caused friction between the toucan and the string. He couldn’t move smoothly down the string—he kept hopping and stopping. Like we’ve already discovered, worry is like that. It can stop us in our tracks. But we have Jesus to help us when we worry. We can talk to him about anything, and he’ll help us. Your Hopper Stopper can remind you that when you worry…Jesus rescues!
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Tidal Tip If you’re running short on time, kids can decorate their Hopper Stoppers when they get home.
Give each Crew colorful markers and enough Hopper Stoppers for everyone to have one. Have kids follow these simple steps. 1. Use colorful markers to decorate the Hopper Stoppers. 2. Position the decorated toucan so you can read the Bible verse, and move it to the top of the string. 3. Hold the toucan and the top of the string with the fingers of one hand, and stretch the string down until it’s taut with the other hand. 4. S till holding the top of the string, release the toucan and watch it hop and stop down the string! 5. Kids can experiment to see whose toucan can hop the fastest, whose takes the longest, and whose hops the most times.
Take the Fun Home When time is almost up, give each Crew a supply of resealable plastic bags and “Try This at Home” stickers. Have each child attach a sticker to a bag and write his or her name on the sticker. Have kids place their Hopper Stoppers in the bags. Crew Leaders can keep the bags in the Crew bags and give them to kids to take home after Sail Away Sendoff.
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Bible Point:
Day 3
When you struggle…Jesus
rescues!
Bible Story: Jesus’ friends try to rescue him in the garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:39-54; Matthew 26:36-56)
Key Verse: “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) Consider This… w In Gethsemane, Jesus struggled. Matthew 26:37-38 explains that he was “anguished and distressed” and his soul was “crushed with grief.” As he wrestles with what is to come, Jesus demonstrates that he experiences many of the same emotions and fears as we do. w In his struggles, Jesus turned to his heavenly Father for comfort and guidance. He also asked his closest friends to join him—both physically and in prayer. w As Jesus’ friends tried to defend him, Jesus reminded them (and the guards) of God’s awesome power. The “thousands of angels” Jesus spoke about would have been around 72,000! Jesus knew he didn’t need protection by a handful of swords. w Under different circumstances, Judas’ kiss would have been a sign of respect and obedience from a student to a master. Judas turned a demonstration of honor into a sign of betrayal.
Why It Matters… Struggles are things that tie us up in emotional knots—things we battle internally. Kids struggle with succeeding at school, choosing right from wrong, and understanding why parents fight or divorce. Even young children struggle with things like discipline, mastering new skills, and finding the balance between exerting their independence and relying on parents for help. No matter what issues kids are working through, Jesus saves them from struggle by providing comfort, guidance, and reassurance every step of the way. Today you can encourage kids with the truth that they don’t face these struggles alone. Help kids rest in the loving hands of Jesus, allowing him to ease them through their inner battles.
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day 3 When you struggle…Jesus rescues! At Shipwrecked VBS, the daily Bible Point is carefully integrated into each station’s activities for unforgettable Bible learning. See how your station reinforces today’s Bible Point.
Castaway Sing & Play
Bible Discovery
w Learn the Day 3 Bible Point and key verse, and meet Bible Memory Buddy Rae. w Sing Shipwrecked songs. w Jim struggles to catch a pesky monkey who’s stealing his food.
Hear from Jesus’ friends who struggled to help Jesus when he was arrested in a garden.
Tropical Treats
KidVid™ Cinema
Castaway Cracker Mix
When Hudson struggles in the water, Gunnar jumps in to rescue his little buddy. A cool reminder that Jesus rescues us!
Imagination Station
Sail Away Sendoff
Create unique Decoder Bands to remember that Jesus helps us when we struggle.
Tie a mysterious knot, explore sea glass, and discover how God makes beautiful things from our struggles.
Ship Rec Games
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Wreck Riddles
Silly Lily Lagoon
Bop It or Drop It
Day 3 Get Ready ww Hang the Day 3 Talk-Starter Poster on the wall at kids’ eye level near the Sloth Sanctuary. ww Create your own Decoder Band using the Decoder Key on page 20 of the Castaway Logbook. (Instructions are in the “Decoder Bands” activity below.) ww On your smartphone or other device, download an audio clip of Morse code being sent. (If using a smartphone, placing the phone in a paper cup when you play the clip will amplify the sound in the room.) ww Place two bowls containing Talk-Starter Sloths in the Sloth Sanctuary. ww Be ready to play songs from the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD as kids enter your room.
Got Imagination? Greet kids enthusiastically as they enter your Imagination Station. Then have Crews sit in knee-to-knee circles on the floor. Say: Welcome to Imagination Station! I’m so glad to see you! It’s going to be fun to make more discoveries today! But you know what comes first, right? I have to ask! Ask:
Supplies •• Decoder Band Kits (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• Castaway Logbooks* (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• Day 3 Talk-Starter Poster from Imagination Station Poster Pack* •• length of Water Fabric* •• paper •• pencils (1 per person) •• paper plates (1 per person per rotation, plus extras) •• scissors •• small Glue Dots* •• small resealable plastic bags (1 per person) (in addition to the takehome bags) •• flashlight •• smartphone or other device to play a sound effect •• paper cup (optional) •• Day 3 “Try This at Home” Stickers* (1 per child) *available from Group Publishing or your Group VBS supplier
Did you bring your imagination today? Hold up your Water Fabric. Today’s Bible Memory Buddy is a manta ray, right? And manta rays swim in the ocean, right? So we need some waves! Rush around the room waving the Water Fabric over kids’ heads like waves. Whew! We all have a little extra imagination now! Let’s move on!
Answer Talk-Starter Question Point to the Day 3 Talk-Starter Poster. Say: It’s time for today’s special talk-starter question! Imagine this: You can take only one thing from the wrecked ship. Ask: Would you take your stuffed friend Fluffy…or your box of art supplies?
Field Test Finding Consider giving each child two Decoder Band Kits. It may sound like a sales pitch, but it’s not! So many kids asked for an extra to give to a friend that we felt terrible for not ordering enough.
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If you’d take your stuffed friend Fluffy, add a sloth to the chain on the left. Point to the sloth chain on the left side of your Sloth Sanctuary. If you’d take your box of art supplies, add a sloth to the other chain. Point to the sloth chain on the right side of your Sloth Sanctuary. Invite Crews to come one at a time and add their sloths to one of the chains. While Crews wait their turn, kids can tell their Crew Leaders which answer they chose and why. After everyone is seated again, say: Look how those chains are growing! I can’t wait to see how long they’re going to get. I also can’t wait to share today’s Sciency-Fun Gizmo! Let’s see what it is!
Tidal Tip We didn’t include any extra experiments today because there wasn’t enough time. Kids didn’t need any—they loved making the Decoder Bands.
Morse Code Background Say: So here we are, shipwrecked on a deserted island. It’s a struggle to be so far away from civilization. We need to get some help! But how? Ask: ow can we contact other people from this deserted H island? Have kids call out answers. If they say cellphones, say there’s no signal. If they say computers, say there’s no electricity or Wi-Fi. Hopefully someone will suggest writing SOS in the sand. If not, offer the suggestion yourself. Then ask: What do you think “SOS” means? Let kids call out ideas. Lots of people think it means “save our souls” or “save our ship.” But that’s not the case. Let me give you some really quick history. Back in the 1830s, an American named Samuel Morse was one of the first to develop the telegraph, which was a new way to communicate by sending signals along a wire. Remember, back then there weren’t cellphones—there weren’t any phones at all! So Samuel Morse developed a code using dots and dashes to stand for letters of the alphabet. This is what the code looks like. Hold up the “Decoder Key” on page 20 of the Castaway Logbook. Countries around the world agreed to use the letters SOS as an international distress call because those letters are easy to send by Morse code—they’re three dots, three dashes, and three dots. This is what it sounds like. Play the Morse code sound effect you downloaded.
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If a ship didn’t have a working telegraph, a person could flash a light to send an SOS signal. Use a flashlight to shine three short bursts of light, three longer bursts, and three short bursts. But SOS isn’t the only message you can send by Morse code. You can actually use the Decoder Key to make any message you want. Want to try?
Decoder Bands Hold up a finished Decoder Band. This is a Decoder Band. I created my band to say [explain what your Band says in Morse code]. In just a minute, you’ll get to make your own Decoder Band. There’s a Decoder Key in your Castaway Logbook, and I’ll give you a pencil so you can jot down which letters you want to use. Just make sure your message isn’t too long for your wrist and for the beads you’ll get. You know, you’d struggle to create a message without the Decoder Key. In real life, Jesus is our key! Whenever we struggle, Jesus is there to help. When you struggle… Jesus rescues! Ready? Let’s decode! 1. Give each Crew enough Decoder Band Kits for each person to have one. Hand out paper, pencils, small Glue Dots, small resealable plastic bags, fine-tip markers, paper plates, and Try-This-at-Home Stickers. Have Crew Leaders give kids their Castaway Logbooks. The Decoder Key is on page 20. 2. Kids can each use a paper plate to keep the beads on so they don’t roll away. After making the bands, they can put the extra beads in the plastic bags for use at home. 3. Encourage kids to think of what they want their Decoder Bands to say—for example, their names, a Bible verse, or a short phrase. Have them jot down their ideas and then look at the Decoder Key to see how many dots and dashes they would need to spell their idea. Explain that the round blue beads are the dots and the longer green tube beads are the dashes. The clear beads can be used as spacers between words.
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4. H ave kids each place a small Glue Dot at one end of the cord so beads don’t slide off. 5. Kids will thread the beads onto the cord in the order needed to spell out their words. 6. When they finish threading all the beads needed for their messages, have kids work in pairs to place the cord around a wrist to measure and then tie the ends of the cord together in a knot and pull tightly. Kids can trim off any extra cord. Have kids tell each other what their bands say in Morse code.
Take the Fun Home When time is almost up, give each Crew a supply of resealable plastic bags and “Try This at Home” stickers. Have each child attach a sticker to a bag and write his or her name on the sticker. Have kids place their small bags containing their Decoder Bands and extra beads in the bags. Crew Leaders can keep the bags in the Crew bags and give them to kids to take home after Sail Away Sendoff. The Castaway Logbooks will stay in the Crew bags for use tomorrow.
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Bible Point:
Day 4
s rescues!
When you do wrong…Jesu
Bible Story: Jesus welcomes a criminal before dying and coming back to life. (Luke 23:26–24:12)
Key Verse: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Consider This… w The criminal on the cross wasn’t the only condemned man who received life and freedom on the day of Jesus’ death. Earlier, the crowds chose the release of Barabbas—a convicted murderer—over the release of Jesus. w The account of Jesus’ crucifixion in Matthew and Mark says that the accused men ridiculed and mocked Jesus. However, Luke notes that after Jesus offers forgiveness (Luke 23:34), one man has a change of heart about Jesus. w Isaiah 53:12, a prophecy about Jesus, includes the phrase “He was counted among the rebels.” This statement comes to pass as Jesus is crucified amongst criminals. Roman law at the time didn’t demand death as payment for robbery, although the law did consider treason a capital offense. So it’s possible that the criminals had been part of some insurrection. w At the time, Jewish society wouldn’t have considered the news of the empty tomb very reliable, because it came from a group of women. Further, the men who heard the news thought it sounded like nonsense.
Why It Matters… While kids may not equate their wrongs with those of a criminal on a cross, the kids at your VBS readily admit that they’ve blown it. Kids know they’ve lost their tempers, lied, said unkind words, disobeyed parents, and broken rules. Those wrongdoings, or sins, create a chasm between us and a holy and perfect God—our loving heavenly Father who desires a relationship with us. What a precious truth to realize that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to rescue us from our wrongdoings! Today you can help children explore the depth of God’s love and the astounding sacrifice Jesus made to forgive our sin and restore our relationship with God.
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day 4 When you do wrong…Jesus rescues! At Shipwrecked VBS, the daily Bible Point is carefully integrated into each station’s activities for unforgettable Bible learning. See how your station reinforces today’s Bible Point.
Castaway Sing & Play
Bible Discovery
w Learn the Day 4 Bible Point and key verse, and meet Bible Memory Buddy Guac. w Sing Shipwrecked songs. w Jim tries to signal a passing plane...but just ends up burning his pants!
Explore how only Jesus can wash away our sins, and celebrate his coming back to life!
Tropical Treats
KidVid™ Cinema
Fruity Floats
Keizo forgot to return a video game to the library, ending up with a huge fine. Even though he did wrong, the librarians showed grace and forgiveness.
Imagination Station
Sail Away Sendoff
Use Ready Rescuers to remember that Jesus rescues us from our sins.
Participate in an interactive drama, celebrating Jesus’ forgiveness for our failure and sin.
Ship Rec Games
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Sea Turtle Travel
Fishy Feet
Landlubber Lacrosse
Day 4 Get Ready ww Hang the Day 4 Talk-Starter Poster on the wall at kids’ eye level near the Sloth Sanctuary. ww Place two bowls containing Talk-Starter Sloths in the Sloth Sanctuary. ww Create your own Ready Rescuer to show kids. Attach a small paperclip to the foam ring and drop it and the Ready Rescuer in a bottle of water. (Make sure the bottle of water is the pliant and squeezable kind. Usually cheaper bottles of water are more “squishable.”) Add a bit more water to fill to the very top, and then cap the bottle securely. When you squeeze the bottle, the Ready Rescuer should dive to the bottom to retrieve the ring. When you release the bottle, the rescuer will rise to the top. Don’t shake or tilt the bottle—your rescuer will become waterlogged. ww Practice the “Egg-in-a-Bottle Experiment.” Hard boil, cool, and peel enough eggs so you have one for each rotation, plus a few extra. You’ll want to practice the experiment, and you’ll want an extra egg or two in case you need a second try during a rotation. Make sure to use a clean and dry bottle for every try. Use a paper towel to rub a little vegetable oil around the mouth of each bottle. ww Practice the “Pierced Potato Experiment.” If you can’t find a non-bendy straw, cut the bendy part off to create a sturdy, non-bendable straw. (We used stiff party straws from Hobby Lobby.) ww Be ready to play songs from the Castaway Sing & Play Music CD as kids enter your room.
Got Imagination? Greet kids enthusiastically as they enter your Imagination Station. Then have Crews sit in knee-to-knee circles on the floor. Say: Welcome to Imagination Station! I’m so happy you’re here! But you know I have to ask. Ask: Did you bring your imagination today? Pause.
Supplies •• Ready Rescuer Kits* (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• Day 4 Talk-Starter Poster from Imagination Station Poster Pack* •• spray bottle set to “mist” •• filled “squeezable” plastic water bottles (1 per person, 1 for you, plus a few extras) •• small paper clips (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• large plastic bowl •• peeled hard-boiled eggs (1 per rotation, plus a few extra) •• glass bottles (1 per rotation, plus a few extra) (the mouths of the bottles should be slightly smaller than an egg) •• candle lighter or matches •• scrap paper •• vegetable oil •• paper towel •• potatoes (1 per Crew, 1 for you, and a few extra) •• non-bendy, stiff straws (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• paper plates (1 per Crew, plus 1 for you) •• Day 4 “Try This at Home” Stickers* (1 per child) *available from Group Publishing or your Group VBS supplier
Field Test Finding Kids loved being misted! Kids and water in any form—a perfect combination.
Today’s Bible Memory Buddy is Guac. As you know, Guac is an iguana, and iguanas like lots of humidity—it keeps their skin from getting dry.
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Hmm…your brains look a little dried out to me. But look! Hold up the spray bottle, and then run around the room misting kids with water. Watch out! Imagination is in the air!
Answer Talk-Starter Question Point to the Day 4 Talk-Starter Poster. Say: Are you ready for today’s talk-starter question? Imagine this: You need to find shelter for the night. Ask: ould you take your chances in this dark cave…or try to W build a lean-to? If you’d take your chances in a dark cave, add a sloth to the chain on the left. Point to the sloth chain on the left side of your Sloth Sanctuary. If you’d try to build a lean-to, add a sloth to the chain on the right. Point to the sloth chain on the right side of your Sloth Sanctuary. Invite Crews to come one at a time and add their sloths to one of the chains. While Crews wait their turn, kids can tell their Crew Leaders which answer they chose and why. After everyone is seated again, say: The sloth chains are taking over the Sloth Sanctuary! It’s so cool!
Egg-in-a-Bottle Experiment Say: Today we’re discovering that when you do wrong…Jesus rescues! Jesus’ love for you is so strong that it can wipe away the wrong things you do. Even though it seems impossible, it’s true! Kind of like this.
Field Test Finding Kids in every rotation were so wowed by this experiment that they wanted to see it again! Be prepared to perform this experiment more than once. Each time you’ll need a clean, unused bottle.
Bring out a prepared egg and bottle, and hold them up for kids to see. Set the egg on the opening of the bottle, and say: This egg is too big to fit through the bottle’s opening. But I think I can get this egg into this bottle without touching the egg. Sound impossible? Just watch! Use the candle lighter or matches to light a piece of scrap paper on fire. Drop the lit paper into the bottle and immediately set the egg back on top of the bottle, small end down as shown. After the fire goes out inside the bottle, the egg may wiggle just a little, and then it will slide into the bottle with a plop! See? It looked impossible, but it worked! The science behind it has to do with air pressure.
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The fire heated the air inside the bottle and some of it escaped. When the fire went out, the air inside cooled. Then the air pressure outside the bottle was stronger than the air pressure inside, and it pushed the egg into the bottle! The air pressure outside the bottle was stronger and more powerful than the air inside the bottle. Jesus’ love for us is stronger than sin—the wrong things we do. I’m so glad that
when we do wrong…Jesus rescues!
Let’s try another air pressure experiment!
Pierced Potato Experiment Say: I don’t know about you, but sometimes in life I feel like a failure. And that can hurt! Kind of like this. Bring out a potato, straw, and paper plate. When we focus on our failures in life, that can hurt! Hold the potato with your non-dominant hand. With the other hand, hold the straw with your fingers and put your thumb over one end. Forcefully stab the potato with the other end of the straw. The straw should easily pierce the potato and can even go all the way through! With my thumb, I focused the air inside the straw and…poor potato! When we focus on our failures…poor us. But we don’t have to focus on our failures, especially the things we do wrong. Because we have a rescuer—Jesus! When we do
wrong…Jesus rescues!
Give each Crew a potato and enough straws for each person to have one. Let kids try piercing the potato with the straws. Walk around the room offering assistance and again cautioning kids to keep body parts away from the piercing end of the straw. Kids can try placing the potato on a paper plate rather than holding it in the air.
Tidal Tip Be careful not to have your hand or any other body part under the potato— you don’t want the straw to stab you! Make sure to show kids how to properly hold the potato and straw, and caution them to keep fingers, hands, and all body parts away from the end of the straw.
After everyone has had a chance to try, collect the supplies.
Field Test Finding One of our volunteers took the potatoes home to make potato salad. Good idea!
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Ready Rescuers Say: Now let’s experiment with today’s Sciency-Fun Gizmo that you can take home! Hold up your prepared Ready Rescuer bottle. Inside this bottle is my Ready Rescuer! It has three hooks on the bottom to help with rescue attempts. Also in the bottle is a little foam ring, just waiting to be rescued. Squeeze the bottle to demonstrate how the Ready Rescuer dives down to rescue the ring. Every time you play with your Ready Rescuer, you can remember that Jesus loves you so much that he was willing to come down from heaven and take the punishment for the wrong things you do. You can remember that when you do
wrong…Jesus rescues!
Field Test Finding We used an extra water bottle to top off kids’ bottles when necessary. We placed a large plastic bowl under the bottle to prevent spills.
But first a word of caution. Don’t shake or tilt your bottle—if you do, your rescuer will get waterlogged and won’t be able to dive anymore. If that happens, just take it out and let it dry. Then it’s back to the rescue! Give Crews enough Ready Rescuer Kits and bottles of water for everyone to have one of each. Then have kids follow these simple steps. 1. Have kids attach a small paperclip to the foam ring. 2. O pen the water bottle and gently place the Ready Rescuer and foam ring inside the bottle. 3. H ave the Station Leader or Crew Leader top off the bottle with water, if necessary. 4. Tightly replace the lid.
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5. Gently squeeze the bottle and watch the Ready Rescuer dive to rescue the ring and bring it safely to the top! 6. Kids can see how many times their Ready Rescuers can rescue the ring, and they can race with friends.
Take the Fun Home When time is almost up, give each Crew a supply of resealable gallon-size plastic bags and “Try This at Home” stickers. Have each child attach a sticker to a bag and write his or her name on the sticker. Have kids place their Ready Rescuers in the bags. Crew Leaders can keep the bags in the Crew bags and give them to kids to take home after Sail Away Sendoff.
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Bible Point:
Day 5
esus rescues! When you’re powerless…J
Bible Story: Peter and John heal a lame man in Jesus’ name. (Acts 3:1-26) Key Verse: “This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” (Ephesians 1:19-20)
Consider This… w While Jesus’ followers proclaimed Christ, they were also Jews who took time to pray and worship God faithfully, according to their Jewish traditions. That’s why we find Peter and John heading to the Temple to pray. w The Beautiful Gate where the beggar sat led into the court of the women. Because the beggar went there every day, it’s likely that he found kindhearted people going into the Temple who willingly gave him alms or other money. w After being healed, the exuberant man walked through nine gates to reach the inner courts near Solomon’s Colonnade! w Although Scripture doesn’t explain much about the man’s condition or lifestyle, we can assume that he had either friends or family members who carried him to the Beautiful Gate every day. Acts 4:22 reveals that he had been lame for more than 40 years, so we can suppose that his condition wouldn’t likely be cured or resolved without divine intervention.
Why It Matters… The kids at your VBS understand what it’s like to feel powerless in life’s storms. They don’t have control when a parent loses a job. They’re helpless when friends move away. They feel incapable of helping solve so many of the huge problems around them. Today is a celebration of the power we have in Jesus’ name. Because of Jesus, we have the ability to comfort others. We can uphold people in prayers to a mighty God. In our weakness, God’s strength can do powerful things. As you wrap up your time with kids, take the opportunity to empower them with reminders that we have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!
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day 5
When you’re powerless…Jesus rescues!
At Shipwrecked VBS, the daily Bible Point is carefully integrated into each station’s activities for unforgettable Bible learning. See how your station reinforces today’s Bible Point.
Castaway Sing & Play
Bible Discovery
w Learn the Day 5 Bible Point and key verse, and meet Bible Memory Buddy Moe. w Sing Shipwrecked songs. w Jim needs some power to propel his rescue raft.
Discover that faith in Jesus healed a crippled beggar, and learn how the same power can work in our lives!
Tropical Treats
KidVid™ Cinema
Graham Raft
When Seth got sick, he was powerless to run, jump, and play. He had to trust in Jesus’ power to get him through a hard time.
Imagination Station
Sail Away Sendoff
Discover how Power Paddlers move, and learn to rely on Jesus’ power.
Check out a jaw-dropping science experiment that reminds us of Jesus’ incredible power.
Ship Rec Games
Sinking Ships
Stretched to the Max
Storm Surge
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Day 5 Supplies •• Power Paddlers* (1 per person, plus 1 for you) •• Day 5 Talk-Starter Poster from Imagination Station Poster Pack* •• turkey baster •• pitcher •• bubble solution •• wet wipes •• 1 Friction Freeway from Day 2 •• 1 large marble •• 2 smaller marbles •• several balloons •• 1 ball (any size) •• small wading pools (1 for every 2 Crews) •• 1 small plastic bin •• water supply •• paper towels •• Glue Dots* •• small round stickers •• Day 5 “Try This at Home” Stickers* (1 per child) *available from Group Publishing or your Group VBS supplier
Get Ready ww Assemble a Power Paddler as a sample to show kids. Don’t attach the rubber band yet, but keep it handy. ww If possible, go outside today. Place small wading pools in a spot where kids can gather around them. ww Fill the pools with several inches of water. ww Inside, fill a small plastic bin with a few inches of water so you can demonstrate a Power Paddler for kids. ww Partially fill a pitcher with bubble solution. Set the pitcher and turkey baster aside.
Got Imagination? Greet kids enthusiastically as they enter your Imagination Station. Then have Crews sit in knee-to-knee circles on the floor. Say: Welcome to Imagination Station! I can’t believe it’s our last day together! I’ve had so much fun making discoveries with you this week! And I can’t believe I only get to ask you this one more time. Ask: Did you bring your imagination today? I think you might need a little more! Since today’s Bible Memory Buddy is Moe the sloth (hold up your turkey baster), I just happen to have my Dazzling Drippy Dropper with me today! And…some sloth snot! Fill the turkey baster with bubble solution. This will help get those creative juices flowing! Circulate around the room, dripping a little bubble solution near kids. There! Now we’re ready! Place the baster and pitcher out of sight. Have your helper use a wet wipe to clean up any solution that hasn’t already evaporated.
Answer Talk-Starter Question Point to the Day 5 Talk-Starter Poster. Say: Well, it’s time for our last Shipwrecked talk-starter question. Imagine this! Ask: hat’s the favorite thing you’ve found on the island so W far? Is it a new friend…or a stash of sand dollars?
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If you chose a new friend, add a sloth to the sloth chain on the left. Point to the sloth chain on the left side of your Sloth Sanctuary. If you chose a stash of sand dollars, add a sloth to the sloth chain on the right. Point to the sloth chain on the right side of the Sloth Sanctuary. Invite Crews to come one at a time and add their sloths to one of the chains. While Crews wait their turn, kids can tell their Crew Leaders which answer they chose and why. After everyone is seated again, say: Wow! Look at those chains! That’s a lot of sloths! Way to go! Now let’s move on to more Imagination Station discoveries!
Discuss Energy Say: Today we’re discovering that when you’re powerless…Jesus rescues! Let’s talk about power for a minute. When I think of power in a science-y way, I think of the word energy. I did a little reading about energy, and I found something called potential energy, as opposed to kinetic energy. Here’s what I learned. Hold up a ball. When I hold this ball in the air, that’s potential energy. When I drop the ball (drop the ball), the energy changes to kinetic energy. Or how about this? Hold up the balloon, blow it up most of the way, and hold it shut with your fingers. Right now this balloon has potential energy. But when I let it go, the energy changes to kinetic. Let go of the balloon so it flies around. Pretty cool, right? Wait! I thought of another example!
Marble Mania Grab one of the Friction Freeways from Day 2, and set it on a table or on the floor—wherever kids can see better. Say: Remember the Friction Freeway from the other day? Well, today I’m calling it the Highway of Life! Hold up the two smaller marbles. These marbles are going to represent you and me on the Highway of Life. Set the two smaller marbles next to each other in the center of the highway. Here we are, wanting to go places and do great things…but we’re lacking the power to move on our own.
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Hold up the large marble for kids to see. Then Jesus comes into our lives. He fills our minds and hearts with his incredible power, and boom! Set the large marble on the highway a few inches from the other two. Flick the large marble at the small marbles so they fly off the highway. Wow! The large marble gave the smaller ones the power to move! And Jesus gives us his amazing power when we can’t do things on our own! When we’re powerless…Jesus rescues!
Power Paddlers Place your bin of water and your sample Power Paddler on a table or the floor so kids can see them. Say: And now it’s time for today’s Sciency-Fun Gizmo that you can take home! Hold up your sample Power Paddler. This is called a Power Paddler. Set it on a table or on the floor. On its own, it can’t do much of anything. It can’t move. It’s powerless. But when I attach a rubber band, it gives the Paddler power! Attach the rubber band, place the Power Paddler in the bin of water, and watch it go! Yay! The rubber band gave the Paddler its power! And Jesus gives us his incredible power! Because when you’re powerless…Jesus rescues! Remove your sample Power Paddler from the water and dry it with a paper towel. Then disassemble it so you can lead kids in putting theirs together. Now it’s your turn! Give Crews enough Power Paddlers so everyone can have one. Also distribute Glue Dots, small round stickers, fine-tip permanent markers, Try-This-at-Home Stickers, and resealable quart-size plastic bags. Have kids assemble their Power Paddlers while still inside so kids can easily hear your instructions. 1. H ave kids punch out the center rectangle from the boat. (They can save the little extra pieces, if desired.) 2. Show kids how to fit the notched rectangle through the center of the other rectangle. Then show how to twist one of the rectangles so the thin edges of the rectangles are all on the outside of the “X” shape.
2.
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2.
3. Then have kids secure a rubber band across the center of the boat, looping each end of the rubber band over the small slits in the sides of the boat.
3.
4. N ext, show kids how to place the X-shaped wheel through the center of the rubber band so that half of the wheel is below the rubber band and half is above. You can explain that the X is like a person, and both of the person’s legs will go through the rubber band to be below and the person’s arms will stay above. 5. Have kids write their names or initials on their Power Paddlers. Or they can name their boats instead—SS Shipwrecked! 6. They can use Glue Dots to attach the little extra pieces to the Power Paddler as blocks to hold lights or as other parts of the boat, if desired.
4.
7. H ave kids attach Try-This-at-Home Stickers to plastic bags and write their names on the stickers before going outside. 8. Explain that kids will get to be the power so these boats can move. Show kids how to turn the wheel multiple times in one direction so the rubber band is twisted. When they set the boat in water, it will have the power to sail! 9. Outside, have kids play with the Power Paddlers in the water, twisting the rubber band in both directions to watch the boat move forward and backward. As kids play, remind them of today’s Point: When you’re powerless…
Jesus rescues! 8.
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Take the Fun Home A few minutes before your session is over, have kids dry off their Power Paddlers and put them in the plastic bags. Crew Leaders can keep the bags in the Crew bags and give them to kids to take home after Sail Away Sendoff. Thank kids for coming to Imagination Station and making so many discoveries about Jesus this week. Encourage kids to keep exploring more and more about Jesus, even after Shipwrecked VBS ends. The Scripture references on their Bible Memory Buddies are a great place to start!
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B
D D C D C
B
D C
A
C
A
D C
A B A B
B
A
A
Super Spinners
D C
B A D
B
C
Permission to photocopy this resource from Group’s Shipwrecked VBS granted for local church use. Copyright © 2018 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO. group.com/vbs
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Notes:
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Notes:
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Day 3
Create unique Decoder Bands to remember that Jesus helps us when we struggle.
Discover how Power Paddlers move, and learn to rely on Jesus’ power.
978-1-4707-5075-6
Questions: Follow Group VBS on:
VBS Programming
The Easy VBS® group.com/vbs
Printed in Canada.
Use Ready Rescuers to remember that Jesus rescues us from our sins.
Friction—like worry—can stop us in our tracks. But the Hopper Stopper reminds kids that with Jesus in our lives, worry doesn’t need to slow us down.
Day 5
Day 2
Assemble and play with Lost-and-Found Flyers, and remember that Jesus can always find us.
Day 4
Day 1
Imagination Station
