Internet
Explorer users will notice that the reviews are organized in a collapsible
outline. Simply click on a question and the answer will appear below it.
Resource: Celebrate,
Jesus Loves Me
Puplished
by:
Urban Ministries Inc.
Denomination: It is not affiliated
with a denomination.
-
Is this a "permanent" resource (i.e. you buy it once and you can reuse it over many years) or a "dated" resource (i.e. it is produced for just one summer, with a new one coming out each year)?
This resource is produced for just one summer, with a new one coming out each year. - What
are the main goals or aims of this VBS resource?
The goal of this particular course, entitled Celebrate, Jesus Loves Me, is to help students understand and appreciate the fact of God’s love. The performance objective of this course is that students will seek ways to show how God’s love is reflected in their lives. Additionally, this course is designed to make learning happen, make life application happen, and develop youth and children in the following areas: spiritual development, Bible learning, social development, cultural awareness, educational development, and self-esteem. - What
is the content (i.e. particular Bible stories, a theological theme,
questions, etc.)?
Each lesson includes the subject/topic/theme for the lesson, knowledge objectives for students, the Bible text, a memory verse, and supplemental activities for all age groups except adults. - For
what ages is it intended, and how are they grouped?
This resource is intended for pre-schoolers (ages 2-5), primary (ages 6-8), juniors (ages 9-12), teens (ages 13-17), and adults(for whom there is a separate book). This resource also includes guides for the teacher and the VBS director. - What
is the structure of a week, a day, and/or class session in this VBS
program? What kinds of activities do learners engage in?
Each lesson is structured in the following way: lesson, aim, suggested materials, vocabulary, lesson introduction, lessons from the Bible, lesson application, and lesson wrap up. In addition to that, the preschool lesson includes craft work, worship, games and snacks. The primary lesson incorporates worship, Bible story and questions, and singing. The junior lesson also includes worship and Rap Time (creative ways to learn different points from the lesson). The teen lesson includes a heritage focus, and Rap Time. - What
kind of teachers would you need if you were using this VBS program?
This VBS curriculum is user friendly. The teacher's manual comes with background and additional information concerning the lessons. It also provides an outlined lesson plan for the teacher to follow. Any volunteering member of a congregation who has a desire to teach and an adequate knowledge base can use this resource. - What
space, resources, additional staffing, and other resources would you need to
use this VBS appropriately?
One would need to plan for five different classrooms if he/she were to break the groups up according to the VBS's curriculum. I would suggest that all teachers have an assistant due to the large amount of activities in each lesson. This would help the lessons to run smoothly and efficiently. Those who desire to use this curriculum should also plan to acquire crayons, construction paper, craft sticks, pencils, food, scissors (rounded and pointed), videos, radios and flags (specifically Christian and American or National flag that applies). - What
view of children, their development, their faith, and their ways of learning
are implicit in this VBS material?
This VBS curriculum is learner sensitive. It teaches the same lessons but uses different activities depending upon the learners age There are components of the lesson plan that are universal throughout the curriculum but vary in their approaches toward the learner's age group. - As
this VBS resource treats it, what IS the Bible, how is it interpreted, and
how is it used in the VBS?
The Bible is treated as story and truth in this curriculum. The biblical story is presented for the learner to memorize and become familiar with it. Next the story is applied to contemporary situations so that the truths (principles) can be engaged and learned. - What
theological concepts or themes are central in this VBS?
Theologically, the lessons seek to provide the learner with an understanding of the love God has for them. The lessons seem to primarily have a strong Christological appeal. Jesus is at the center of the whole curriculum as God's evidence of his love. - How
does the promotional material (advertising or marketing pieces) relate to
the substantive content of the VBS (in other words, does it have slick
packaging, and does the packaging really have anything to do with the
content of the VBS program)?
When looking at the packaging this curriculum seems to cater to young children. The pictures on the box are of excited and happy children and fireworks. The only visual elements that coincide with the theme (love of God), however, are the title and scripture. The title is in big bold letters (Celebrate, Jesus Loves Me) and the Scripture (John 3:16) is the sub-title. The packaging could be more symbolic or in line with the content. - What is
the cost of this resource? If a small church with 25 people attending
VBS wanted to use this material, how much would they have to spend? If
a large church with 100 people attending VBS wanted to use this material,
how much would they spend?
The cost of this VBS resource for a church with 25 people who just wanted the basic materials (10 adults and 15 children of varying ages) would be $272.58. The itemized costs: Pre-school (3 children) 36.19; primary(5) 41.17, juniors(2) 31.41, teens(5) 38.88, and adults(10) 124.93 because of the cost of the adult book. The cost of this VBS resource for a church with 100 people(40 adults and 60 children of varying ages) who wanted more than the basic package would $1172.92 or more. The itemized costs: Pre-school (12) 144.76, primary (20) 164.68, juniors(8) 125.64, teens (20) 155.52, and adults (40) 499.72, and 100 enrollment cards, four supplemental videos. - Over
all, what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this VBS resource?
Some of the strengths of this resource include the fact that there is a VBS director’s planbook, that there is uniformity of lesson structure across all age groups, and that it gives suggestions for a closing night program. Some of the weaknesses of this material include the fact that there are no creative activities for adults, the adult book is not included in the sample packet(kit), and the cost of these materials. To me, this material seems as if it would be cost prohibitive to all African-American churches except those that have a lot of money set aside to spend for Vacation Bible School.