Sunday, April 5, 2009

Vacation Bible School - Boomerang Express

I just LOVE VBS! And there is only one place you'll find me during that week. In the crafts area! Over the last 5 years, I have taken on roles such as Preschool Crafts Director, Elementary Crafts Director, and just a crafts helper. As much as I love working with the little ones, I have to say, I LOVE doing Elementary crafts the most. So, this year I decided to take the roll again and make the Elementary crafts happen...from start to finish.
This task takes on a lot of time and time and responsibility. In our church, we usually average around 100 or so Elementary-aged children. Therefore we split them up into 3 separate groups when coming to crafts, each group getting 20 minutes each. My challenge is to create a craft that will take 20 minutes from start to finish. Something that requires little to no adult assistance, and most importantly, something that they can keep for years to come.
Today I started researching craft ideas. I wanted to post about this, not only to spread the word about VBS, but to ask for your help in brainstorming ideas for cute crafts. Here's the theme:

Hop on board the Boomerang Express as VBS 2009 takes a train ride across the Land Down Under! As kids wind their way through Australia, they'll discover the vastness of God's love, and they'll learn that no matter where they go or what they do in life—it all comes back to Jesus.

3 comments:

  1. Hey Heather!
    We're doing the same VBS program. Wish I could give you creative help, but I'm in the music and teaching areas... sorry. but once you know what you're doing and you want to share with me, I'll pass along here and see if they like and/or are doing the same. once I hear what the craft people are doing here, I'll let ya know!
    Hope you're doing good! I miss chatting with ya! Love ya, praying for ya!

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  2. Hey Heather!
    I know Oriental Trading had a lot of crafts for the Boomerang Express. I know a lot of times what I do is look at their crafts and then figure out how to make them myself. It saves money, but it allows me to start thinking of ideas. One thing that would be pretty easy is making boomerangs. You could come up with a pattern and allow the kids to decorate them with different types of wrapping paper or pictures out of magazines. You could then have a Bible verse (premade) that they could attach to it. You could even make a boomerang magnet. Get a recipe for homemade Playdoh. Premake the boomerangs. Then, get acrylic paint and allow the kids to paint them. Go back and add a Bible verse. hot glue big fat magnet on back (Get magnets at Walmart in packs of 50). Take picture of each group and include it w/ the magnet. You could also make a kangeroo out of paper bags. Just have the stuff premade. All the kids would have to do is cut/paste. You could even put a slit for a pouch & put a Bible verse, picture, or something else to pull out of the pouch. Okay, so hope that helps... know I just wrote A LOT. My first grade brain tends to function that way. Give me a theme and I will give you 100 ideas.
    Faith a.k.a. Hope's Sister :)

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  3. AnonymousMay 04, 2009

    I've been looking for the VBX pre-teen group. Since they are talking about Jesus is my Rock, I found several ideas from Family Fun.com:
    1- Jesus is my Rock paperweights made from Plaster of Paris base and small rocks with Googly Eyes.
    2- Rock (or jewel) necklace. Wrap rock in wire and hang on a leather cord
    3- Leaf and Flower print bandanas - use white bandanas and put paint on leaves and press to make print on cloth.
    4- small i-pod or phone "pouches" made from felt and simple embroidery thread stiching.
    Hope these ideas help.

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Thanks for sharing your comment! ~Heather