April 13th, 2013 "The 10 Plagues"

Kids PM Time Schedule (4pm-6:30pm)

4-4:45 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet/Centers

5:05 Sing a song to gather for worship

5:07 Worship with Song & Dance

5:20 Pass the Peace and Go around

5:25 Solidarity Prayer

5:30 Ages 3-5 go to Snack & Centers

and remain there until the end of our PM Time. 

Ages 6-10 sit for Snack/Readings & Dialogue

5:50  Ages 6-10 join Art Making & Centers

Center Time (Games, Building, Books, Art Center):

These do not necessarily need to be connected to the theme of the evening. Rather than have each center totally wide open, select a few things you would like the kids to play with. If they want to swap out for a new activity, they must first clean up the old one. Give kids a heads up to let them know what time they will be called to gather for worship.

If you want, check out some of our links for coloring pages and word games and print them out for your centers.

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions: You can find song links on our Network Music Log and touch base with the music leaders listed on this weeks PM Plan.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: The adults continue to go back for prayer. Take a moment to ask the kids if they have any prayer requests. It's good to learn to pray for each other. 

I have found it best to quickly go around and have the conversation, then start the prayer and ask the kids to call out one or a few words that describes their request/blessing. Then we all close with Amen.
You may have other creative ways to do this as well. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions:

This season's we are starting at the begin of the Bible and working our way through chronologically some of the more popular stories of the Old Testament. Remind the kids that the old testament is before Jesus's time. Some of the stories can be strange, and God can seem very angry and mean at times. Remind the kids of what is to come, and what the differences are between the old and new testament. If you want to talk more about this, see Lauren.

Today we will can continue the story of Moses and be reading "The 10 Plagues". If you haven't read this before, please do before you read it to the kids. The last plague is of death, and I'd like you to think carefully about how you share this with our children. Feel free to give Lauren a call if you'd like to talk about it more.

While I read to you, look for these 2 things________&________and I will ask you about them when I am done reading.  

• Giving kids a "job" helps them pay attention and stay engaged.
• Try having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• Try having them act out the story. 
• Try having or creating props or visual aides. 

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways you can remember to ________ this week?

Art Making/Process Suggestions:

It's a glorious evening. Bring some chalk outside and maybe try a chalk Mandela  Draw a circle for each kid and ask them to fill it with shapes, lines, images, etc.

• Make sure you inform parents of this as they drop kids off. 
• Do a bathroom check before you go out.
• Assign cell helpers to keep an eye on specific kids.
• Set some ground rules before you let kids loose. 
• Have specific games for them to play. (They love Duck, Duck, Goose, Red Rover, Red Rover, Red light, Green light, Freeze Tag, etc.).

If it becomes chilly, chalk can also be used on colored paper.