Vacation Bible School
Click here for a chart that compares VBS programs from different publishers.
Click here for the Methodist Family Health VBS Mission Packet.
Click here for the 200,000 Reasons VBS Toolkit.
Sources for Virtual Vacation Bible School Links
Most VBSes are currently working on preparing material for you to upload links or material that you can create your own videos to upload. Whatever the VBS you decide that works best for your church is your choice; just make sure you are within the copyright of the publisher with what your release to your church members.
Illustrated Ministry is developing a low-tech option with downloads to send out. They have not made a public release date of their material.
Cokesbury has two virtual VBS packages available: “Knights of North Castle” and “Discovery on Adventure Island.”
*If you downloaded Grow’s “Mission: Deep Blue” VBS, do not use it! They currently have a cease and desist order on that curriculum. It would NOT be legal to use it in any capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
As people from the United Methodist faith tradition, there are certain basic beliefs we uphold and therefore look for in any curriculum we write or purchase. Click here for a 1 page overview of United Methodist beliefs.
Breathe! Being a director is a big responsibility but there are lots of resources out there to help. If you have borrowed or purchased a starter’s kit from a commercially produced curriculum, there will be a director’s manual included. This often will provide a step by step to-do list of what to do when. Here‘s a brief online article to get you started, here‘s a sample planning guide and timeline for you to download and use, and here‘s a copy of the VBS Director’s Workshop outline we use for VBS trainings around the state that will give you some ideas of questions you and your VBS team will need to address as you plan.
One of the easiest ways to capture the imagination of children is through decorating the church and creating a themed environment. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Here are two handouts from one of our our conference VBS workshops about inexpensive alternatives for crafts and decorating.
You can also use Pinterest. Click here to see our Arkansas Conference Pinterest page. It has LOTS of decorating ideas for the different publisher’s VBS themes. Finally, you can share with another church in your area that is using the same VBS theme that you are.
Yes! This may seem as though it’s a bunch of extra work for just a one week event, but our children and volunteers both need and deserve the protection that Safe Gatherings provides year ’round; not just part of the year.
Social Justice Themed VBS Curriculum
* denotes a United Methodist resource or resource with United Methodist origins.
The following low-cost Vacation Bible School curriculum sets do not offer all-inclusive kits with prepackaged crafts and ready to hang background sets. Instead, they encourage local churches to use the gifts and talents of local congregation members to provide the backdrop for their Biblicaly based social awareness curriculum.
Society of St. Andrew
800-333-4597
endhunger.org/vbs
Starter Kit cost: Free download
The theme of food is beautifully woven through the stories, activities, snacks and mission components of the Abundance Orchard VBS. Theological themes that run through the curriculum illustrate the abundance of God’s love and presence in our lives. The curriculum encourages the development of empathy, and invites the children not only into the Bible stories, but also to reflect on the meaning of the stories in their own lives.
The program’s strength is in its theological content, its detailed instructions, and its flexibility. With creative leadership, this program could be modified to fit a wide variety of situations, numbers, ages, and local circumstances and mission projects. For example, organizers could plant a few garden beds that would be ready to harvest at the time of the VBS, and children could harvest the food for the food bank, or take a field trip to a community garden or food bank.
Abundance Orchard contains two full sets of material, one Old Testament-based, the other New Testament-based. Since each day is self contained, sessions could be selected from either set.
Little in the resource is ready-made,but comprehensive instructions invite adult organizers to use their imagination and skills to build a fantastic learning environment. Although all children will enjoy the program, it especially speaks to visual and kinesthetic learners.This curriculum encourages sustainable practices by enlisting the help of a variety of people and using re-purposed materials. The program could be simplified, but it would lose some of its appeal.
Ages Levels: Preschool and Elementary age
Includes
- Two full VBS curriculums
- Music list with links
- Detailed instructions, checklists, and activities.
Strengths:
- Ten day curriculum is a free download.
- Sustainable in its theme and its practices.
- Very detailed leader instructions, including check lists, and links to music files.
- Leader preparation for storytelling invites leaders to engage deeply with the material.
- Reflection questions could be modified to create a program for an older audience.
- Variety of fun activities are engaging and instructive.
- Food themes are cleverly inserted throughout the program.
Children are introduced to the programs of the Society of St. Andrew to reduce food waste and hunger, and also encouraged to connect with local food organizations.
Weaknesses:
- Requires creative leaders who are committed to the program. Detailed description of set up is provided, but few pictures or drawings are included
- Is not designed for large numbers, but could be modified into rotating station
Living Waters for the World (Presbyterian Church USA)
(615) 261-4008
livingwatersfortheworld.org/pray
Cost: $47
Who is this curriculum intended to serve?
- Congregations with an interest in fostering mission awareness among their children
- Churches who want to educate their members about the world’s water crisis and what can be done Designed for children K-5, with special section for pre-school inclusion
What does this curriculum teach?
- What scripture teaches us about water and about our responsibility for the goodness of Creation and for the care of the physical health of others
- How children in other countries live, and how they deal with limited access to clean water
How does this curriculum work?
- Children move among 5 stations: Bible Story, Mission Stories, Crafts, Music, and Recreation (preschoolers, however, have a slightly different schedule)
- Station leaders teach the same lesson each day to multiple groups
- Group guides stay with the same group of children for the entire VBS to build relationships Children begin and end each day’s time together in assembly
- Includes a CD with all music in the VBS and a flash drive containing the entire VBS in electronic form, as well as several PowerPoints with photos and maps for enhancement, should you choose to use projection equipment
Why is this curriculum a good choice?
- It is flexible and user-friendly for various sizes of congregations
- It is a thoughtful curriculum, encouraging children to use their imaginations and to reflect upon the Bible stories and the mission activities
- It is portable – curriculum can be used from year to year in a variety of settings – VBS, Sunday School, retreats, Wednesday night programs
- It is inexpensive and invites creativity of the planners and teachers
Note: This curriculum promotes involvement in the Living Waters for the World water project sponsored by the Presbyterian Church USA. This is not a requirement for using the curriculum and can be easily adaptable for other denominations.
*Heifer Project International
heifer.org/what-you-can-do/faith-communities/feed-5000.html
Cost: FREE
Feeding 5,000 provides engaging hour-long workshops in Art, Drama, Geography, Make Your Own Photography, Storytelling and many others. The lessons can be used in a variety of venues, including a Workshop Rotation-Model Sunday School, a Traditional Sunday School, a Mid-Week Program, an All-Church Half-Day Event and a Church Camp Retreat. Each of these venues has its own planning guide, so you can organize it to best fit your congregation’s needs and Sunday School curriculum.
Note: This can easily be adapted to a VBS format.
800-747-3016
nextsunday.com/under-construction (Non-Denominational)
Cost: $35
“Under Construction” is a vacation Bible school curriculum developed by NextSunday Resources in consultation with Habitat for Humanity International.
About the Curriculum
The curriculum uses construction metaphors to teach children about community and the need for decent shelter for all people. “Under Construction” shows children how to help others in their neighborhood through Christian service by introducing them to the ministry of Habitat for Humanity.
The Benefits
Children learn Biblical scripture, and churches gain vital witnesses for Christ. In the process, Habitat for Humanity gains potential advocates and builders.
Most importantly, families in the community immediately benefit from the teachings of “Under Construction.” Some vacation Bible school children have made and presented crafts to Habitat homeowners. Others have raised hundreds of dollars to help local Habitat affiliates build houses
The “Under Construction” kit contains:
- 1 Administrative Guide
- 1 Preschool Teaching Guide
- 5 “Job Site” Teaching Guides
- High Quality Music CD
- Music & More Songbook
Excellent article about social justice themed summer curriculum by Religious News Service. Many resource links are included.
* Click here for a list of resources/links from Discipleship Ministries. (PDF document)
Click here for a list of recommended children’s books that teach children about social activism.