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Resource: Veggie
Town Values for the Family!
Published
by:
Big Idea Production
and distributed by Gospel Light Publishing.
Denomination:
These are
non-denominational organizations.
-
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)?
While this curriculum is a permanent resource, Big Idea Production does publish a new resource every year. You can buy it once and you can reuse it in different settings. Most churches have only a one week VBS, but this is set up as a two week VBS. It could be used over two summers in one week VBS programs. There is no specific date on the curriculum and since it is not specific to any time of the year, it could also be used at any time of the year not just during VBS. The Starter Kit also comes with suggestions of how to use this program in Summer Sunday School, Midweek Programs, Day Camps, Backyard Clubs, and Family Ministry. The program also can be divided into 30 one-hour programs or 15 two-hour programs or a one-day program. - What
are the main goals or aims of this VBS resource?
The family values are based on Colossians 3:12-14. (Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.) This curriculum is designed to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to gather together in love. It is designed to teach “Godly values” that children can use in everyday life. It is designed to help make connections among various groups in a church (i.e. younger families, single adults of all ages, couples without kids, and seniors) in a sharing experience that bridges generation. It is also designed to be a terrific way of inviting families who aren’t currently part of the church to come and talk about important issues that families may be dealing with. Through this curriculum, participants will focus on practical values that will help them concentrate on both inward and outward development. They will hear Bible stories that will help them to understand how to take these values and put them into practice. And they will learn how to apply those values to everyday life. - What
is the content (i.e. particular Bible stories, a theological theme,
questions, etc.)?
It is a biblically based curriculum. Biblical basis for teaching family values is Colossians 3:12-14. It provides 10 complete lessons for the entire family which include Bible stories, theological themes, and questions that encourage participants to build strong family values by learning about love, compassion, kindness, humility, holiness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and being a friend. Extra activities have been provided in each lesson, which the participants can customize for their families or setting. - For
what ages is it intended, and how are they grouped?
There is flexibility in this curriculum. It can be an intergenerational learning experience for participants of all ages. The participants are divided into five groups that rotate between the different sites each day. It also can be designed so that groups are organized by age group. - 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?
The overall structure is: an opening, VeggieTown location, closing The opening is comprised of: Welcome Talk Show Host style interview Greeting from Bob and Larry puppets Family Tree—explaining roots of God’s word Review of Colossians passage Music Aunt Ruth dialogue Prayer Each VeggieTown location has 4 steps. They can also create a schedule of their own through the lessons. 1. Planting the seed for each generation: Opening Activity, Visit the VeggieTown 2. Discovering our generation roots: Introducting the Bible Lesson, The Bible Presentation, Bible Review Activity 3. Branching out in this generation: “In a Pickle” Problems, Activity Centers, Games, VeggieTown Snack 4. Bearing fruit for every generation: “In a Pickle” Discussion, Family Meeting, Building Your Family Album The closing is comprised of (a) Review of what they learned, (b) Review of Colossians passage, (c) Music, and (d) Prayer - What
kind of teachers would you need if you were using this VBS program?
No answer provided. - What
space, resources, additional staffing, and other resources would you need to
use this VBS appropriately?
Space: Five VeggieTown neighborhoods (areas where the lessons occur), area for town square (this is where the opening and closing happens each day), TV studio (place where groups go to watch the video for the day) Resources to be used during VBS in addition to the starter kit: TV/VCR, cassette player or CD player, Bob and Larry puppets, VeggieTown neighborhood set decorations, supplies for craft projects Staffing in addition to a director who coordinates the program: Larry’s Aunt Ruth (she is the MC for the opening and closing), family cluster leader (one adult per group who stays with the group for the entire time), neighborhood residents (two adults per neighborhood who stay in the neighborhood and teach that one lesson for five different groups), crew to construct the neighborhoods, music person for opening and closing, nursery staff, publicity people, registration people, closing celebration people (for a closing after the one week/two week long program is done) - What
view of children, their development, their faith, and their ways of learning
are implicit in this VBS material?
Children are created by God and are a part of the family of God. They, too, are God’s chosen people to share in the task of acting as steward for God in the family, community, and over the rest of creation. Planning the seed of faith in children’s heart is very important. This curriculum provides various activities that will help children to learn together with the rest of their families. In VeggieTown, participants will have an opportunity to evaluate their actions, attitudes, and word, and how they relate to their families. Everyone will be encouraged to use what they learn as they go out into the world and interact with the whole family of God. - As
this VBS resource treats it, what IS the Bible, how is it interpreted, and
how is it used in the VBS?
The passage from Colossians 3: 12-14 is the guiding concept for this curriculum. Each site has it’s own Biblical text and family value question. Restaurant: Mark 10:46-52 (Blind Bartimaeus) What is kindness? Matthew 4:1-11 (Temptation of Jesus) What is patience? Church: Luke 19:1-10 (Zacchaeus) What is forgiveness? John 15:1-17 (I am the Vine) What is holy? Beach: Mark 10:13-16 (Let the children come to me) What is gentleness? John 13:1-17 (Washing the disciples feet) What is humility? Home: Luke 23:26-49 (Crucifixion) What is love? John 11:1-44 (Lazarus) What is dearly loved by God? Retirement Center: Mark 1:40-42 (Man with Leprosy) What is compassion? Mark 2:1-12 (Heals a Paralytic) What is a friend? - What
theological concepts or themes are central in this VBS?
The passage from Colossians 3:12-14 is the foundation for learning family values. Each site has it’s own Biblical text and aims. Blind Bartimaeus: I want to be kind because I know that pleases God. Temptation of Jesus: I want to be patient with others because God is patient with me Zacchaeus: I can forgive others because God can forgive me. I am the Vine: I want God to help me be holy because he is holy. Let the children come to me: I want to treat others gently because God treats me gently. Washing the disciples’ feet: I want to be humble because it reminds me that I belong to God. Crucifixion: I want to love others the way that God has shown his love for me. Lazarus: I know I am dearly loved by God because I am special to God. Man with Leprosy: I want to be compassionate because I know God loves everyone. Heals a Paralytic: I want to be a friend to others because God is a good friend to me. - 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)?
This curriculum is promoted through a website called www.veggietown.com where people can look at sample lessons before deciding to order. The kit contains publicity posters and clip-art which can be used in promoting the VBS. Also Big Idea Production gives churches the permission to make a sign to advertise their VeggieTown Values for the Family! Program. However, the sign must remain on church property and be used solely for the purpose of promoting this program. The Director's Guide provides churches with a variety of suggestions for promoting their program. The kit also comes with reproducible publicity materials found in both VeggieKids and on the CD-ROM. - 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 starter kit ($199.99) includes the following items: Director’s Guide, VeggieTots {book for leaders of preschoolers}, VeggieKids {book for leaders of elementary aged kids}, VeggieTeens {book for leaders of middle and high school}, VeggieFamily {intergenerational program guide}, Welcome to VeggieTown video {a 40-minute introduction and training program}, VeggieTown Stories {10 Veggie Tales video stories edited to 12-16 minute segments}, Music CD and cassette {10 puppet greetings from Bob and Larry, 7 new songs and some old favorites}, site poster {for the 5 locations in VeggieTown}, Family Album {75 covers for participants to create their own VeggieTown memory books} CD-ROM {VeggieTown clip art and promotional materials that you can adapt on your own computer}, Publicity posters {5 posters to advertise the program} and VeggieBucks {Coupons for VeggieTales videos to distribute to children who visit VeggieTown}. Most of these items may be purchased individually: Director’s Guide ($69.99), VeggieTots ($39.95), VeggieTeens ($29.99), VeggieFamily ($39.99), Welcome to VeggieTown video ($19.95), VeggieTown Stories ($29.95), Music CD ($10.95), Music cassette ($8.95), site poster ($5.95), Family Album {25 covers in a pack} ($4.95), Publicity posters ($5.95). If a church is going to put on this VBS for 25 children and they buy only the kit, it will cost $8.00 per child. If a church is going to put on this VBS for 75 children and they buy only the kit, it will cost $2.67 per child. If a church is going to put on this VBS for 150 children and they buy only the kit and 3 additional family album packs, it will cost $1.43 per child. In all cases there would be additional costs for snacks or other supplies you may need for crafts or decorating the facilities. - Over
all, what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this VBS resource?
Strengths: This curriculum has various kinds of materials that are very interesting to people of all ages. For example, videotapes, CD, cassette tapes, lesson and guide books. It provides clear instructions of how to set up VeggieTown and each site. This curriculum is flexible for leaders and teachers. It provides guidance on how to adapt VeggieTown to different settings, ways to involve the entire family, how to lead a discussion, and how to work with mixed age groups. It provides “fun-to-do” activities that can be done at home. The language is simple, but engaging. It is aware that children learn using different methods and while not all of the multiple intelligences are used, they do try to reach them using more than one. Veggie Tales, is well known, and may attract people from outside the church Weaknesses: It has lots of details and will take lots to people to coordinate and cooperate. It requires substantial preparation time. Cost can be more than some churches can afford. Some of the activities use food which is a waste of resources. Many children have seen the videos which will be used in the VBS program. While they are shortened versions of the videos, which are available in public, some children may not pay attention to the entire lesson. For some people this curriculum will be conservative as it uses the New International Version of the Bible and refers to God as He and Father.