VBS Daily Schedule

Designate specific areas for particular activities -- crafts, music, mission emphasis, snacks, recreation, storytime, lesson activities, etc. See the Facilities page for ideas about space use.

By rotating small groups of children through the activity centers, you allow space to be used for its best purpose and staff can work in those areas where they are most at ease. Each small group of children (6 to 12 in a group; younger children in smaller groups, older children in larger) spends the VBS day with a Helper (a Guide, or a Shepherd) who knows the schedule & the locations of activities. Careful planning allows for classrooms to be used by multiple sections. Bible story teachers may share the same lesson with multiple groups of students but since the groups are kept small, each child has a greater opportunity for individual attention.

Some churches have decided it best to plan for movement between activities only for their school-age children. Our experience has shown that even our 3-year-olds love the process of moving to a new area. With their limited attention-spans a change of scenery often is just what they need for renewed interest.

If you have one large age group, consider subdividing it and give each group a unique name. Last year with a safari theme we had "giraffes" and "tigers" roaming the church. The leader in each group had a sign to carry & the kids had no difficulty remembering who they were to follow.

While trying to keep to a schedule it is also important to watch for congestion & hazards of too many children in one place -- especially on the stairs. It may be best to give your youngest groups a head-start moving to their next activity so they won't be caught in the rush as upper-elementary kids head for their snack. If you are blessed with multiple access routes, you may find it wise to designate to staff that certain hallways or stairs are off-limits to the older children.

Sample schedule

9 am	whole group sharing
.	Music	Crafts	Snack & Rec	Bible Story	Worksheets	Missions	Memory verse activity
9:20	3 yr	4-5 yr	Kind	.	Gr 1&2	Gr 3&4	Gr 5&6
9:40	4-5 yr	Kind	.	Gr 1&2	Gr 3&4	Gr 5&6	3 yr
10:10	Kind	.	Gr 1&2	Gr 3&4	Gr 5&6	3 yr	4-5 yr
10:30	.	Gr 1&2	Gr 3&4	Gr 5&6	3 yr	4-5 yr	Kind
10:50	Gr 1&2	Gr 3&4	Gr 5&6	3yr	4&5 yr	Kind	.
11:10	Gr3&4	Gr 5&6	3 yr	4&5yr	Kind	.	Gr 1&2
11:30	Gr 5&6	3 yr	4&5yr	Kind	.	Gr1&2	Gr3&4
11:50	closing as entire group

Note that this preliminary schedule is only a starting point for your unique setting. You may need multiple groups for each age level but these can be accomodated by having multiple stations in each area. You may decide to split 2 different age groups, blend the ages for an activity such as music & schedule half of the group to rotate between the story segment & the music segment. In other words, half the 3 year olds join with a group of 4 & 5 year olds in music while half listen to the day's Bible story. During some other time slot in the schedule the process is switched so each has time in music & time to hear the story.

Other Ideas

Info to be added What are your suggestions?