The following are video suggestions for lessons from the I AM: Names of God curriculum. Lesson 14 – David the Shepherd Boy (Song) (Kurtis Parks and Friends) Lesson 15 – Jesus Calls His First Disciples (Life Kids) How to Use Videos Effectively in Kids Club Using videos in Kids Club is an optional supplement to our…Continue reading Video Suggestions: God is My Shepherd …Continue reading Video Suggestions: God is My Shepherd
Verse Word Lineup
A Bible verse game. Materials Bible Verse cards, one per student Index cards A pen or pencil Write out the verse on a set of index cards, one word per card. Then, create a second duplicate set. Divide your group into two teams. Have each team lock arms, in a circle. In front of each…Continue reading Verse Word Lineup …Continue reading Verse Word Lineup
Verse Wipe Out!
Materials Whiteboard and dry erase marker (Note: Another option if a whiteboard is not available is to write on regular paper and cover each word up with sticky notes.) Write the verse on a whiteboard, and have the group say the entire verse. Then erase a vowel, and say the verse again. Then erase a…Continue reading Verse Wipe Out! …Continue reading Verse Wipe Out!
Verse Mystery Word
A Bible verse game. Materials Bible Verse cards Instruct students to look at their verse cards. Practice saying the verse together a few times. Then have one student volunteer turn their back and close their eyes. Let another student choose one word from the verse by pointing to it and showing the others, until everyone…Continue reading Verse Mystery Word …Continue reading Verse Mystery Word
Verse Balloon Toss
A Bible verse game. Materials One inflated balloon Sit in a circle with students. Toss a balloon in the air, and each student must say a word of the verse before they tap the balloon. You may allow them to reference their verse cards. Try to say the verse without the balloon hitting the ground….Continue reading Verse Balloon Toss
Verse Sticky Note Tic-Tac-Toe
Materials A sheet of blank copy paper A pen or pencil Nine sticky notes (or slips of paper) per group On a sheet of blank copy paper, draw a 3 x 3 table grid. (The boxes should be roughly the size of the sticky notes you are using.) Write out words or phrases of the…Continue reading Verse Sticky Note Tic-Tac-Toe …Continue reading Verse Sticky Note Tic-Tac-Toe
Verse Hot Potato
Materials: Bible verse cards, a squishy ball Have students sit or stand in a circle facing each other. Give one student the squishy ball and have them pass it around the circle, each student saying one word of the verse at a time (in order). Whoever is holding the ball on the last word is…Continue reading Verse Hot Potato …Continue reading Verse Hot Potato
Verse Over-Under
Materials A squishy ball (CKC Games Bag) Have students form a line. Using a squishy ball, the first person in the line says the first word of the verse and holds the ball over their head. The second person grabs the ball while the first person goes to the end of line, says the second…Continue reading Verse Over-Under …Continue reading Verse Over-Under
Verse Memory Match
Materials Index cards A pen or pencil Bible verse cards Write out the verse on individual index cards, one word or one short phrase per card. Create a second matching set. Mix up all the cards and place face-down on the floor. Students take turns trying to find the matches. Once all matches are founds,…Continue reading Verse Memory Match …Continue reading Verse Memory Match
Verse in Motion
Materials: Bible verse cards Challenge students to work as a group to come up with motions or actions to help them memorize the verse. Perform the actions all together until the students are comfortable with it and can remember the verse without referencing their cards. Let them perform their verse with their motions for another…Continue reading Verse in Motion …Continue reading Verse in Motion
Verse Cup Stack Relay
This game may be played in one small group, or by combining two small groups together. Materials: Fourteen plastic cups per group A permanent marker Bible verse cards (Optional, for students to reference) Preparation: Write each word of the verse in permanent marker on TWO of the plastic cups. You may write a short phrase…Continue reading Verse Cup Stack Relay …Continue reading Verse Cup Stack Relay
Verse Beach Ball Volley
Materials One inflated beach ball Bible verse cards (optional) Sit in a circle with students. Toss a beach ball in the air, and each student must say a word of the verse before they tap the ball. Try to say the verse without the beach ball hitting the ground….Continue reading Verse Beach Ball Volley
Race to Fill the Verse
This game works best if you have a verse is 12 words or easily divided into 12 words/phrases. Bible verse cards, one per student One playing mat per pair of students (blank copy paper) A pen or pencil per pair of students Two dice per students Divide students up into pairs. Each pair gets two…Continue reading Race to Fill the Verse …Continue reading Race to Fill the Verse
Verse Sort
Materials: Bible Verse cards (optional) Index cards Pen or pencil Create a set of index cards with one word from the verse written on each individual card. Distribute verse sort cards have students work with a partner or individually to arrange them in the correct order. Time how long it takes. Then, challenge the next…Continue reading Verse Sort …Continue reading Verse Sort
Verse Candy Pass
Materials Bible Verse cards A bag of individually-wrapped candies, enough for at least one per student Instruct the first player to say the first three words of the verse (you may choose to let them reference their Bible verse card or not) and pass the bag of candy to the student to their right. Each…Continue reading Verse Candy Pass …Continue reading Verse Candy Pass
Teaching Kids to Pray
Teaching Kids to Pray In your small group, you may find that kids have a variety of perspectives on prayer. Some may have learned about prayer from their family or a church setting or Crossroads. Others may have no experience whatsoever with praying. Teaching kids to talk to God and hear from him is one…Continue reading Teaching Kids to Pray …Continue reading Teaching Kids to Pray
4 Tips for Gifting a Bible to Kids
Earlier this fall, I was in a Kids Club where the large group teacher was introducing the children to Crossroads and the purpose of the club. They were told that in Crossroads, they would be learning stories from the Bible each week. One child raised her hand and said, “What’s the Bible?” I was reminded…Continue reading 4 Tips for Gifting a Bible to Kids …Continue reading 4 Tips for Gifting a Bible to Kids
Free printable: Legend of the Candy Cane Poem
Need a simple idea for your Kids Club at Christmas? This is an easy thing to make and send home with your students as a reminder of what you are teaching them in club about the meaning of Jesus’ birth. Click here to get the free printable and instructions. …Continue reading Free printable: Legend of the Candy Cane Poem
7 Habits of Highly Effective Small Group Leaders
Here are 7 tips for being an effective small group leader: #1 Proactively prepare. Read the lesson before club. Pray for God to help you teach and love the children in your group. Come to club early to make sure you are ready and have all your team leader’s instructions before the kids arrive. #2…Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Small Group Leaders …Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Small Group Leaders
5 Tips for Teaching Younger Kids
5 Tips for Teaching Younger Kids For leaders who work with small groups of kindergarteners, 1st or 2nd graders, try some of the following suggestions to maximize your small group time. Simplify the material. For the Bible story, stick to the facts of the plot and the main idea. Remove contextual or historical details that…Continue reading 5 Tips for Teaching Younger Kids …Continue reading 5 Tips for Teaching Younger Kids