This Is My Father’s World

Before the concert starts, play upbeat music, but at a lower volume. This will set the tone for a great day!

Make sure to leave house lights on during the announcements and countdown. The “Concert” time will have a lot more impact if you save the stage lights for when the music actually starts.

We have included choreography for all of the videos (except for “Bible Book Bop”… we would rather the kids watch the video and learn the books of the Bible!). You can find the choreography teaching videos in your video download.

We highly recommend using these to teach a small group of 6-8 kids and/or leaders the actions for these songs. As you will see, the actual music videos don’t always show the actions for all of the songs. That is why it’s very important that your on stage dancers are prepared so that the kids can look to them to learn the moves.

This also adds a lot of energy to your “Concert” and “Encore” times making them more visually exciting. With your lighting, our videos, and dancers on stage it will truly feel like a concert! We have found that utilizing Jr. & Sr. High kids for this role works wonderfully. When the younger children see their older peers getting into it, they tend to follow!

The people on stage can remain there during the daily greeting and wrap up videos by the Go Fish Guys. If you have the capabilities, we’d just suggest turning the stage lights on when they’re actively involved and off when the focus should be on the videos only.

Any time when there are no choreographed moves, these on stage leaders can sing along, clap, and encourage kids to stay actively involved in the music time. Having the right kids and/or leaders on stage can really add a lot to the “Concert” and “Encore” experience. Make sure everyone is smiling and having fun up there!

“Who Made Ice Cream?”

Written by John Cosper

Start with a greeting and announcements by the Concert Promoter or Concert Leader. Then play the Day 1 Concert video (from your video download) (house lights up during announcements and countdown, then house lights down).

Included when you buyDay 1 Concert video

The “Day 1 Concert” consists of:

After video, dancers leave and actors or puppets begin the “Who Made Ice Cream?” skit.

• Room decorated with things from nature, bring the outside in! (Flowers, plants, fresh veggies from garden, pictures or drawings of clouds, sun, rainbows, water, etc)
• Daily theme posters

Allow the children to draw what they love about God’s creation on a clipboard while you are talking. They can then choose one of their ideas to add to the wall with the large group at the end.

LeaderAllow some of the children to answer

Don’t worry if you didn’t get to share. After our lesson today, you will get a chance to help decorate our room and add your favorite thing.

Today we are going to talk about God as our Creator. Our verse is from Isaiah 44:24.

LeaderIt is important that the children see you reading the verse from the Bible so have it marked ahead of time.

It says,

God created everything. It wasn’t an accident and he didn’t need any help. He created the hot sun and the water you swim in to cool off. He created the sky and the rain that falls from it. He even created the lightning you see during a storm and the rainbow you might see after the storm.

Did you know that God’s creation has a voice?

LeaderAgain have passage marked and read verses 1 and 4 from Psalm 19

Psalm 19 says

Remember the song that we sang today called This Is My Father’s World? That’s what the song talks about! God created the world because he wanted to share his goodness with everyone.

Do you know what else God created that has a voice? You! We can use our voices to speak the truth about Jesus, to sing praises to him, to give thanks to him, and to tell others about him.

Play Go Fish Video: Day 1 Bible Study (from your video download)

Included when you buyDay 1 Bible Study video

Raise your hand if you know the story of Adam and Eve. Most of you probably even know right where to look in the Bible to find that story. The very first book of the Bible, Genesis, tells how God created everything, including the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. They were made in God’s image, just like you, and they lived in a garden that had everything they could want. God created this garden for Adam and Eve and told them that they could eat from any tree except for one. However a serpent, or snake, came and told them that eating from the tree would make them just like God. So instead of listening to and trusting God, Adam and Eve trusted the serpent. They disobeyed God and ate from the tree. When we ignore God and do things our way instead of God’s way, it’s called sin. Adam and Eve sinned because they decided for themselves what was right and what was wrong.

It says in the Bible that in the perfect garden there was no need for clothing. However, once Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their hearts changed and they felt shame because of their nakedness. Shame means guilt. Adam and Eve knew they made the wrong choice and they tried to cover themselves up with leaves and hide from God because they were guilty. God was very hurt that they did not listen to him and made them leave the garden. Adam and Eve could no longer be close to God because they sinned. God is perfect and holy and cannot be anywhere near sin.

God also covered Adam and Eve with something besides leaves. Let’s turn to Genesis 3:21 and see what God did.

LeaderProvide some time for leaders to assist the children in turning to the passage.

Because Adam and Eve sinned or disobeyed God, there had to be a sacrifice to make things right with God. The sacrifice was an animal. One sacrifice for Adam and his sin and one for Eve and her sin. Then God took the skins of the animals and covered both Adam and Eve.

Let’s continue reading Genesis 3:22.

This story shows us how much God hates sin. Adam and Eve didn’t rob a bank or beat someone up. They ate from the wrong tree. God told them they needed to leave the garden, to move away from where God was, and that one day they would die instead of being able to live forever. The penalty for their sin was death.

How do we know what sin is? Once again, the Bible gives us the answer. God gave us the ten commandments which we also sang about today! The Bible says that God’s law, the ten commandments, helps us know what sin is and shows us how we can tell the difference between right and wrong (Romans 3:20).

The Bible also says that nothing can be hidden from God. Hebrews 4:13 says:

That means that God knows everything! He knows our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

Just like Adam and Eve, God gives us the choice to love him or ignore him. He gives us the choice to love others or to hurt others. What choice are you going to make? Are you going to choose to listen to God and what he says is right and wrong? Or are you going to listen to those around you?

From the very beginning every person has sinned against God. However don’t forget that he is still in control! The same God that created the whole world is the one who knows your name and loves you very much. Even though sin is all around us, we can be confident that this is still our Father’s world!

LeaderAllow time for children to decorate the room with their favorite part of God’s creation. If you have a large group, you can take turns and have the others look up additional verses with their leaders.

In the Bible lesson today, the children will hear how God created everything. Because of this, he is the one who determines right from wrong.

They also will review the story of how Adam and Eve trusted the serpent instead of God. Their sin required one sacrifice for each person to make things right with God again.

In Genesis 3:21 God used the animal skins from the sacrifice to cover them.

Our craft today will help remind children that from the very beginning a sacrifice was always required to atone for sin.

Supplies Needed

LeaderPrint the Animal Skins craft template from your curriculum download. The animal print templates are in full color format.

Kids can decorate their skins and then wear them around their necks, on their heads, or around one of their legs

LeaderTalk about kickin’ it old school!

LeaderIf you have extra time after completing the craft, group leaders can assist children in looking up these additional verses.

In the Bible lesson today the children will hear how God created everything. Today’s featured song is “This Is My Father’s World”. Children are learning that God truly is our Creator and that the world we live in belongs to him! Our snack today will help remind children that God is our creator.

LeaderOpen snack time by giving instructions on how to make the snack, re-emphasizing the verse and theme for the day, and with a time of prayer.

Option 1: Use a Rice Krispie or popcorn ball to create the earth.

Ingredients

Instructions

• Use toothpicks to fasten soft/chewy candies (like mini marshmallows, gummy bears, gum drops, etc) on the popcorn ball to create land
• Alternate idea: cover popcorn ball in blue frosting and stick items on instead of using toothpicks

Option 2 (simple): Make blue jello cups with gummie fish and gummie worms inside

Option 3 (ultra-simple): Animal crackers with or without icing

If you have extra time after completing the snack, group leaders can assist children in starting the karaoke times and/or looking up these additional verses.

• Genesis 1:1
• Genesis 1:27
• Psalm 50:12b
• Psalm 90:2
• Isaiah 40:28
• Acts 17:25b

We have included the karaoke option because several children’s workers observed that kids almost always finish their snacks early. Since the “Kickin’ It Old School” curriculum is so heavily influenced by our music, karaoke seemed to be the perfect solution to this problem!

After snack time, your kids can take turns rockin’ out with the Go Fish Guys! All you need is the Kickin’ It Old School video download and a TV or screen to play it on. Your Technical Coordinator may be able to help you add a microphone or two as well, but this isn’t necessary to make this an extremely fun part of your VBS week.

*All of the karaoke videos are in your Kickin’ It Old School video download.*

By the end of the week your kids will have these songs down pat. Have fun!

Games are up to you. You know your kids better than we do, so we left this backstage area wide open for you to use as you wish!

To get you started, here’s a suggested game for today, plus a ready-to-play game from our Backstage With The Bible VBS.

You’ll be great at this if you:

• love to play games
• love God and kids
• are positive and have lots of energy
• can encourage and motivate kids

You will:

• Decide on which games to play.
• Collect any materials needed.
• Set up your games area.
• Explain and coordinate each activity
• Lead all Intermission sessions each day

Games tend to be explained with several multi-step verbal directions. Remember to model each game and provide a visual example of what is to be done for those who struggle with processing.

Items Needed

Setup

Make a set of seven cards for each team. Number the backs 1 to 7. On the fronts, write or draw what God made on each day: light and dark; sky and water; land, plants, and trees; the sun, moon, and stars; fish and birds; animals and people; and God resting on the seventh day.

LeaderThe preschool Days of Creation coloring pages make ready-made cards.

Objective

To be the first team to put the days of creation in order.

How To Play

1. 1Line up each team behind the starting line. Scatter each team’s cards, picture side up, at the far end of the room.
2. 2On “Go!”, the first player runs to the pile, picks the card they think comes next, runs back, and lays it down in a row.
3. 3Players take turns until all seven cards are in the row. A player can use their turn to swap two cards if they spot a mistake.
4. 4When a team thinks it’s done, flip the cards over. If they read 1 to 7, the whole team shouts, “I am the Lord who made all things!”

Talk About It

None of it happened by accident. Isaiah 44:24 says, “I am the Lord who made all things.” He made all of it, and He made you too.

For Younger Players

Play as one big group without a race, and let the children take turns choosing the next card.

Preschoolers will learn that God created our world and everything around us.

• Bring the outside in!
• Plants, baskets of fruits and vegetables (real or play)
• Water could be included

LeaderPrint the numbers and creation visuals (the Creation Memory Match printable) from your curriculum download.

LeaderHave boys and girls sit in a circle

Boys and girls, take a look around our room today and tell me some of the things you see. (Plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, water, etc) Do you have some of these things in your garden at home? Today we are going to learn about God, who made everything in the whole world. Another way of saying this is that God created everything we see, including people. Sometimes it is hard to understand who God is because we cannot see Him. Have you ever seen the wind? You can see the trees or the flowers move from the wind. You can even feel the wind on your face, but you can’t see what the wind looks like. Do you think wind is real? Yes! So is God! Just because we cannot see Him doesn’t mean that He isn’t real.

Before we get started on our lesson, let’s go around the circle and learn our names and see what our favorite part of God’s creation is.

LeaderTeacher models first by saying name and what you love about God’s creation. Whole group repeats around the circle. If you have more than ten preschoolers, you may want to divide into smaller groups.

Names, names, names, we all have names.

I am part of God’s creation.

My name is ____________

and I love ____________.

It was so fun learning your names and finding out what you love the most about God’s creation! Can you think of some things in our world that God made that we didn’t mention? Why do you think God made all these things?

LeaderThis would be a great time to explain some of the lyrics of “This Is My Father’s World”. Specifically the phrase “by Him for Him” which answers the previous question of why God made everything. We can learn a lot about the Creator by looking at the creation!

Let’s thank God for making our world.

Dear God,

Thank you for making our world and for making us. Thank you for loving us so much that you made this awesome place for us.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

LeaderTeachers: Please open your Bible as you tell the story and show numbers and visuals as you teach about each day.

Today our Bible lesson is the first story in the Bible. All the stories in the Bible are true. They really happened. This is a true story that happened a long time ago but it is one of the most important things that God wants us to know.

A long time ago the world was dark and there was nothing in it except God. God chose to create the world and everything in it.

First… God made day and night. He made the daytime light and the nighttime dark. Do you think that God knew we needed the dark time to sleep? God had a perfect plan from the very beginning.

LeaderShow number 1 and put up a visual of night and day.

Second… On the second day, God separated the sky from the water. Have you been swimming yet this summer? Aren’t you thankful God made the water for us to enjoy?

Third… On the third day, God made the land. The Bible tells us that at the end of every day God saw what he made and said that it was good.

Fourth… On the fourth day, God spoke and the stars, moon, and sun came into being. I love that God made the moon and stars so we can see at night and the sun so we can see and enjoy other beautiful things during the day!

Fifth… On the fifth day, God created the birds and fish. Do you know the names of some of the birds that God created? Do any of you have any fish at home? Maybe you like to go fishing. We should always remember to thank God for the beautiful fish and birds that He made.

Sixth… On the sixth day God created animals. He also created Adam and Eve. They were the first people that God created. God wanted to have people so that he could share his creation with them and be their perfect heavenly Father. God told Adam and Eve to name all the animals, birds and fish in their new world.

Seventh… On the seventh day God rested because he loved what he had made.

God loved us so much that He did some very special things for us. We are going to learn about more of those things as we go through our week at VBS. I am so thankful that God loved me so much that He created this awesome world for us.

LeaderPOPCORN PRAYER: Have preschoolers add their own words to the prayer. You may want to brainstorm some choices first.

Dear God,

Thank you for our world. Thank you for creating ________ and ________ and ________ and ________ and ________, etc. We love you and we are so thankful that we can learn about you at Vacation Bible School.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Option 1: Creation booklet — Coloring pages for each day and made into a booklet (Days of Creation coloring pages).

Option 2: Coloring page with a picture of the earth, trace around child’s hand on the open space, and Bible verse. This craft template shows that they’re also a part of God’s creation! (“I Am Part Of God’s Creation” coloring page)

LeaderPrint the Days of Creation coloring pages or the “I Am Part Of God’s Creation” coloring page from your curriculum download.

Kix cereal and Cocoa Puffs cereal

LeaderKids can separate the two and remember how God separated the dark from the light on the provided preschool Day 1 snack worksheet (Day and Night). After they separate the cereal on their worksheets they can eat it up!

LeaderPrint the Day and Night snack worksheet from your curriculum download.

Match cards numbered 1-7 with the visuals representing what was created on each day (Creation Memory Match).

LeaderPrint the Creation Memory Match game from your curriculum download.