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Program
This page lists a schedule and method for producing special Sabbath school programs.

Year | Program | Focus
--- | --- | ---
1 | Bible Heroes | Favorite Bible stories
2 | The Love of God | The Plan of Salvation. What is God doing to save us and to change us?
3 | Evangelism - Building the church | What we should be doing to change the world.
4 | The Creation | Taking care of the world. The wonderful creator Jesus.
5 | Rescue Me! | Great rescue stories in the Bible. God saves us.

Developmental Milestones
Ages | Interests | Physical | Cognitive Skills | Skills and Tools
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
3 | Imitation | Climbs, kicks, runs, screws and unscrews lids | Matching objects and pictures, sorts, simple puzzles | Mechanical toys, vertical, horizontal and circular strokes with crayon
4 | Fantasy play | Kicks ball, throw overhand | Draws circles, square, few numbers, some colors | Crayon
5 | Stories, sing, dance, act | Hop, climb, swing | Count to 10, four colors | Finger paint, clay, crayon, copies geometric shapes, draw person
6-8 | Magic, tricks, collections, simple table games | Tie shoe laces, catch balls | Copies designs, shapes, letters, numbers, reading, writing | Scissors and small tools, throwing at targets
9-11 | Competitive sports, strategy games, clubs, secret codes, rituals, collections, hobbies | Unlimited | Fictional stories, projects | Cooking, sewing, plays, puppet ministry
Plan crafts and activities based on skills and interests and on your moral teachings. This might be a good opportunity to introduce or enforce your beliefs if they conflict with the relics of the popular culture.

Program Format

Time | Activity | Sabbath School | Time | Special Program
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Length | One hour | Two hours
Format | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
15 | Early | Early birds | 15 | Early birds
10 | Songs | Songs | Songs | Songs | 15 | Songs | Songs | Check in | Check in
15 | Story | Story | Story | Bible games and group activity | 30 | Story or game | Story | Rotate to different stations | Story, craft, music, games and food booths
20 | Activity | Lessons | Lessons | 50 | Craft
10 | Snacks | Snacks | 15 | Optional
5 | Closing | Closing | Closing | Closing | 10 | Closing | Closing | Closing | Closing

Sabbath School Format

Group Rotation Schedule
Time Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Activity | Group Location
1 | Craft 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
2 | Craft 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1
3 | Craft 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2
4 | Craft 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3
5 | Craft 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
6 | Games | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
7 | Movie | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
8 | Snacks | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Group size maximum is 6 to 8 children.
The movie or snack stations can be used to hold the late children until the next rotation.

1. Regular Class - the traditional class. Children separate into individual classes.
2. Special Class - the traditional class with a special activity. Either snacks or a craft or a group project. It helps us to plan for special events that occur during the month that are significant to our culture.
3. Group - All classes meet as one group for a group activity or a special project.

Special Program Format
These programs last during Sabbath School and regular church service. The scheduled time for each activity can vary.

1. Entertain - Children are entertained by a single performer. This performance could include a group activity with the children. For example, puppet ministry, a game show format, or Bible drills.
2. Super Sabbath - Children meet to do a single activity. Generally, this is a major craft or it could be a major game or competitive activity. Unless the craft or activity is flexible, this format is not good if you have many late children.
3. Rotation - Scheduled rotations. Every 15 minutes, each group rotates to a new activity. New or late children must wait for the start of a next rotation to join in an activity. Until then, they can watch a video program or prepare for the next group by getting all the free items that are distributed to each group.
   If you often have children who come late, this format is good. It rewards those who are early because they get a chance to visit all the stations. It also helps the late children to complete a project.
4. Bazaar or Booths - Support multiple activities. Set up different booths or stations and allow each group of children to rotate to different stations. Children spend ten to 15 minutes at each station. Each station specializes in one activity. Use different devices to track the attendance of Children at different activities.

Sample | General Schedule Format
--- | ---
Month | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Special Program
First Quarter | God and Me - A personal relationship | New Beginnings
January | Class | Class | Class | Special | Super Sabbath
February | Class | Special | Class | Group
March | Class | Class | Class | Class
Second Quarter | Family | Planting
April | Class | Class | Class | Special | Bazaar. Remember Passover or easter.
May | Class | Mother's day | Class | Group
June | Class | Class | Father's day | Class
Third Quarter | Growing in God | Growing
July | Class | Class | Class | Special | Super Sabbath. Coordinate with vacation Bible school.
August | Class | Class | Class | Group
September | Class | Class | Class | Class
Fourth Quarter | Celebrating the presence of God | Harvest
October | Class | Class | Class | Special | Super Sabbath or Bazaar. Remember Christmas and Hannukah.
November | Class | Class | Class | Special
December | Class | Class | Group | Special

Year 1 | Bible Heroes and Characters
--- | ---
Month | Topic | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Special Program
First Quarter | The Friends of God | God chooses a friend
January | Before the Flood | Adam | Abel | Enoch | Noah | The Fathers The Heros of God
February | The Call | Abraham | Isaac | Jacob | Joseph
March | Israel | Moses | Joshua | Peter | Paul
Second Quarter | The People | God chooses a people
April | Men | Gideon | Samson | Jonathan | Hosea | The 12 sons of Jacob.
May | Women | Eve | Ruth | Deborah | Jezebel
June | Children | Josiah | David | Moses | Jesus
Third Quarter | The Leaders of the People | God chooses a leader
July | Prophets | Daniel | Isaiah | Jonah | Elijah | The Leaders
August | Kings | Saul | David | Solomon | Hezekiah
September | Priests | Aaron | Eli | Samuel | Melchizedek
Fourth Quarter | God comes to His people | God leads his people
October | The Baby | Mary | Simeon | Eli | The Baptist | Jesus - the Gift from God
November | The Disciples | Peter | Judas | Matthew | John
December | Jesus | Birth | Life | Miracles | Mission

Year 2 | The Love of God
--- | ---
Month | Topic | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Special Program
First Quarter | A Relationship with God | Talk to God
January | Mothers | Sarah | Rachel | Hannah | Mary | Prayer Psalm 23
February | David | Courage | Thanksgiving | Protection | Forgiveness
March | Jesus | Submission | Lord's Prayer | Crucifixion | High Priest
Second Quarter | The Word of God | Knowing God
April | Bible | Books | Writers | History | Psalms | The Armor
May | Law | Love | Commandments | Grace | Faith
June | Jesus | Creator | Leader | Example | Redeemer
Third Quarter | The Holy Spirit | Work for God
July | Teaching | Samuel | Eli's sons | Sanctuary | Parables | The Gifts
August | Preaching | Children | Donkey | Stones talk | Disciples
September | Miracles | Storm | Possession | Ten Lepers | Lazarus
Fourth Quarter | Growing in God | The harvest
October | Love | Ruth | Jonathan | The Coat | Jesus | The Fruits
November | Patience | Job | Joseph | Abraham | Paul
December | Peace | David | Melchizedek | Jesus | Jerusalem

Year 3 | Evangelism - Building the church
--- | ---
Month | Topic | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Special Program
First Quarter | A family for God | Why I believe
January | Me | Who: Prayer | What: Bible study | Why: Worship | How Much: Commitment | Me and My House.
February | Parents | Priest | Counselor | Teacher | Discipline
March | Family | Work | Worship | Sabbath | Church
Second Quarter | Friends for God | Telling others
April | Neighbor | Knowing | Helping | Praying | Invitation | My Neighborhood
May | School | Teachers | Staff | Popular | Unpopular
June | Friends | Siblings | School | Church | God
Third Quarter | A house for God | Living the life
July | Reverence | Manners | People | Property | Service | My Church
August | Worship | Praising | Reading | Listening | Doing
September | People | Teacher | Deacon | Members | Pastor
Fourth Quarter | A world for God | Tell the world
October | Missionaries | Support | Medical | Bible workers | Inner cities | The Great Comission. The World
November | Foreign | Language | Culture | People | Religion
December | World | 10/40 Window | Atheist | Poor | Rich

Year 4 | The Wonderful Creation
--- | ---
Month | Topic | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Special Program
First Quarter | The Planet - "I am the light" | The earth
January | Earth | The Rock | The Pearl | The Ephod | Blue Stone | Recycling Caring for the earth
February | Water | Flood | Red Sea | Foot washing | Baptism
March | Sun, moon, stars | Joseph dreams | Matthew 24 | Menorah | Jesus
Second Quarter | The Trees - "I am the vine" | Body temple
April | Grain | Bread | Manna | Famine in Egypt | Daniel's beans | Health
May | Fruits | Grape | Olive | Forbidden tree | Tree of life
June | Temperance | Alcohol | Drugs | Smoking | Water
Third Quarter | The Animals - "I am the Lamb of God" | Clean and Unclean
July | Birds | Dove | Raven | Bees | Rooster | Care of Animals
August | Fish | Frog | Fish | Whale | Dog
September | Animals | Lamb, Bull | Lion | Goat | Donkey
Fourth Quarter | The Sabbath - "I will give you rest" | Time for God
October | Rest | Sabbath | Jubilee | Forgiveness | Heaven | Care for people
November | Friends | Jonathan | Delilah | Ruth | Moses
December | Celebrate | Communion | Baptism | Wedding | Tabernacles

Year 5 | Rescue Me!
--- | ---
Month | Topic | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Special Program
First Quarter | Noah's Ark | Noah
January | Sin | Adam | Cain | People | Babel | The Promise
February | Message | Noah | The Ark | The Animals | The Door
March | Judgment | Haman | Nineveh | Sodom | Flood
Second Quarter | The Exodus - escape from sin. The Plan of Salvation | Moses
April | Exodus | Slavery | Moses | Plagues | Freedom | The Sanctuary
May | Sanctuary | Outer Court | Holy Place | Most Holy Place | Heaven
June | Feasts | Passover | Pentecost | Yom Kippur | Tabernacles
Third Quarter | The Crucifixion - God keeps his promise | Messiah
July | The Seed | Eve | Isaac | Judah | Mary | The Pardon
August | The Lamb | Innocent | Sacrifice | Substitute | Cleansing
September | Messiah | Suffering | Death | Resurrection | Conqueror
Fourth Quarter | The Second Coming - God rescues me | Jesus
October | Sin | Gift | Repentance | Baptism | Communion | The Rescue
November | Message | Covenant | Gospel | Prophets | 3 Angels
December | The Coming | Judgment | Pardon | Reward | Heaven

Below is a sample of how each month is organized.

Year 5 | March: The Judgment
--- | ---
Lesson learned | The actions of God teaches us more about His mercy than his anger.
Memory verse: Matthew 7: 1-2 | Bible Verse | Activity
1 | Haman | Judged by your own standards | Esther 5-7 | Dinner party
2 | Nineveh | God prefers to forgive | Jonah 4 | Craft
3 | Sodom | Judgment of a city. A few righteous people can save a whole city. | Genesis 18 | Play
4 | Flood | Judgment of the world. God protects the righteous during the punishment. | Genesis 6-9 | Puppet Show
Special program | The covenant. The promise of God to provide a way for all to escape judgment.

Scheduling
The special program format is planned for the end of each quarter. A special class can be planned for the end of each of the other months or during months where there are five Sabbaths.
Staff
Some group activities such as games, allow some of the staff to take time off.

1. Greeters. Welcomes the child, takes attendance and distributes name tags
2. Craft Assistants. But others require many more helpers. Most crafts are designed to be personalized or includes a variety of choices. The process of doing this begins when the child arrives.
   This person writes the name of the child on their craft, allows them to choose a craft and keeps them in order until craft time arrives.
3. Music. Song service and music leaders.
4. Story Tellers. The major entertainment.
5. Teachers and Group Leaders. Helps distribute crafts and assists children with their crafts.
6. Security. Makes sure children do not leave the room or go to the bathroom unsupervised.
7. Leader. Makes sure each segment starts on time. Helps wherever possible.

Attendance Devices
These are designed to work with the Bazaar or rotation formats. An extra prize can be given to those who complete the assignments.

- Passport. This works well with international themes and the Bazaar format. They are handed out by the greeters. Children get a stamp or sticker for each booth that they visit.
- Stickers, stamps and prizes. Children receive a "goodie" bag when they check in.
- Treasure Hunt. Children search for hidden symbols, messages or answers to questions about each station that they visit.

Crafts and Activities

1. Story Quilt. I have designed a series of story quilts to go with the fourth quarter special Sabbaths.
2. Books. Creation books, prayer books, sticker collections, photographs and other collections.
3. Computer. Games can be used as one booth activity or as an activity for the early birds.
4. Acting. Each child acts a role in the bible story. This includes any significant animal.
5. Food and Allergies.
   - No Peanuts. Many children are allergic to peanuts and other nut oils. Peanut makes and excellent glue for creating crafts from fresh food.
   - Snacks. Many people are vegetarian or have rules about the junk food contents of their children's meals. If you can, avoid food or distribute only fresh fruits and vegetables especially with a group of unknown children.
6. Contests. I personally do not like competitive activities, but we can keep these to a minimum and use this time to encourage team building, listening, and good leadership skills. These activities are only to be done a minimum number of times. They are not meant to teach, but to reinforce information already learned.
   You can vary the teams.
   - Boys versus Girls.
   - By Birth month. Those born in January to June versus July to December.
   - Class versus Teacher. The teacher gets double any points the class loses and gets points for any misbehavior.
   - Color of clothes. Warm colors versus cool colors.
   - Alphabetical order. By the beginning of their first names.
   All the games are based on knowledge of the Bible. But you can make it more interesting. You can pattern the format of the game after several games and game shows.
   - Concentration. Five related categories of four or five questions. As each question is answered a hidden picture is uncovered. This is a series of drawings that are based on the sound of the word. Use only Bible words. Extra points are given for solving the clue.
   - Jeopardy . Five related categories of four or five questions. You provide the answer, they provide the question.
   - The Feud. This is based on lists of related items in the Bible. The real game gives more points for the most popular answer. You can give more points for the more difficult answers.
   - Tell the truth. The absent minded teacher. This form of story telling is good only for a group that knows the story. The object is to tell the story and let the children point out your mistakes. The teacher gets the points that the students lose. It is important to interrupt the story to correct the error as soon it is clear that they did not see the error.
     One tricky statement is to say that Jonah was caught by a whale, or that there were three wise men. The bible story only said a big fish - not a whale. We do not know how many wise men visited the baby Jesus.
     With younger groups you can modernize the story so that they can catch the errors. For example, Jonah went to Ninevah on a bus. If you have sound effects then that would be fantastic!
     Read Proverbs 30: 5-6 and Revelation 22: 18-19 to make sure that you are not in violation.
   - Teachinghearts games. Many of our games can be used as the main program or to entertain early birds or as ice breakers.
     - "In the belly of the fish". The game is based on the hang man game. There are several categories from which you can choose and the game can be personalized to fit your program. Teams can take turns guessing a letter. They lose their turn when they guess incorrectly. Give points for each letter guessed and a larger number of points for identifying the word. The number of points given for identifying the word decreases as more letters are chosen.
       For example, if there is 1000 points for identifying a ten letter word then, subtract 100 points for each letter correctly identified and 20 points for each incorrect letter. The value of the pot decreases to a minimum of 50 points.
       Both teams lose points if Jonah gets eaten by the fish.
     - "Match Game". The images can be personalized and the game modified to suit your needs.
       - Strangers How well do you know your group? Take pictures from a variety of angles of ears, teeth, nose, mouth feet, fingers of members of the group and see if others can identify them. Match the body part with either a picture or the name of the person.
       - Alphabet. This is appropriate for children learning the alphabet. Match Upper case to lower case letters, or match letters to the names of familiar objects.
       - Numbers. Match a number to the number of objects in the picture.
       - Colors. Match the name of the color with the object.
     - "Plastic Surgery". Reconstruct faces with Dr. Frank N. Stein. Allows you to use pictures of your eyes, mouth and nose.
       Play Strangers.
     - "Mad Scientists". Create new animals with Dr. Jack Hill and Mr. Hyde.

Security
We do not live in heaven and unfortunately many people join children's ministries simply to hurt children. This includes pastors, teachers, and nice friendly old people.

- Children should not be allowed to leave the room without an approved adult.
- Children should not leave the building without their parents or guardians. Set up a system that identifies the people who drop off and pick up children who are left alone.
- When you register children for special programs, make sure that parents understand that they should come inside to pick up their children. They should not be allowed to wait outside for their parents. You should also make it clear to parents that you expect them to accompany the children when they come in and to pick them up.
- Children should not go to the bathroom alone.
- It is probably good to periodically check the bathrooms to make sure that no one is hanging around there.
- Organize your space so that younger children are closer to the nearest bathrooms. They will not get lost very easily and you will have to make many trips there.
- Teenagers tend to be caught up in the moment, especially when they are together. As a result they are sometimes unreliable. Older children may play too roughly with younger children or ignore them or they may say inappropriate things. They should not be left alone to supervise children. Especially young boys.
- The children of your volunteers usually fall through the cracks.

I realize that it is impossible to put all the detailed instructions and examples and alternatives on this site. But I have included enough information so that you can make your own plans.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150: 6 | Time: 20 minutes Print: 7 pages
Copyright Updated : January 18, 2004 Credits: Original program from teachinghearts.org Author: Laverna Patterson