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: Way
to Go
Produced
by:
Cokesbury
-
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)?
It is a dated resource. - What
are the main goals or aims of this VBS resource?
The main goals of this “dated” resource seem to be to help children to: build relationships with God and neighbor understand Bible stories that show neighbors helping, sharing, inviting, giving, and telling others about Jesus explore the teachings of the Bible and understand that the way to live is to love God and their neighbor as themselves and to be neighbors - What
is the content (i.e. particular Bible stories, a theological theme,
questions, etc.)?
The contents seem to focus upon teaching children: about neighbors in the Bible ways they can love God and be neighbors how to help, share, invite, give and tell the good news of Jesus how they can involve their families in Way To Go activities how they can inspire their congregations to become neighbors who are actively involved in loving God and others by helping, sharing, giving, and telling the good news of Jesus Christ a memory verse that will last a life time (Luke 10:27) - For
what ages is it intended, and how are they grouped?
This material is designed for five major age-groups: preschool kindergarten young Elementary middle elementary preteen - 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 material is structured around 5 major activity centers: Jericho Inn Bethlehem Inn Emmaus Lodge Zaraphath Bed and Breakfast Gaza Royale Hotel Each center has music, crafts, Bible stories, recreation, and snacks, with a different city being focused upon each day. The basic structure of the day is as follows: Welcome Prepare for the Bible Story Tell The Bible Story (City Tour) Become the Bible Story Learn the Bible Story Crafts Snacks Recreation Prepare for the Mission Story Tell the Mission Story Closing There are a great variety of timelines available in this material. Detailed instructions are given for a One-Day Tour (with 1, 3, and 5-story options), a Weekend Tour, a Day-Camp Tour, and a One-Room Tour. The traditional Five-Day structure has specific instructions for both leaders and participants regarding Day 1, Each Day, and the Last Day. In addition, this Five-Day structure also has a number of variables built in, with guidelines for 2, 2.5, and 3-hour outlines, with 4 story options for each of these outlines. There is even Planning Timeline included, listing suggested activities from 6 months up to one week prior to the event. - What
kind of teachers would you need if you were using this VBS program?
Because of the nature of the material, it is essential that the teachers and leaders be very committed. It would also be helpful if they had a diversity of talents. Above all, the teachers need to be both prepared and trained. - What
space, resources, additional staffing, and other resources would you need to
use this VBS appropriately?
This program would flow more smoothly if a CD player is available, but the number of resources needed really depends upon which option is chosen. - What
view of children, their development, their faith, and their ways of learning
are implicit in this VBS material?
Children are the focal point of this program, and their learning is hands-on, visual, and participatory. They will learn by doing, and by hearing the stories. The material includes helpful information about the various learning styles and needs of the 6-8 and 9-11 age groups, including physical, emotional, and intellectual development levels, as well as ideas for the leaders. - As
this VBS resource treats it, what IS the Bible, how is it interpreted, and
how is it used in the VBS?
This material rotates around the stories of the Bible, and these stories act as both the centerpiece of all the activities, as well as the bridge that connects ancient and contemporary contexts. The Bible is interpreted as the basis for contemporary behavior and as such, is used liberally and thoroughly in the materially. - What
theological concepts or themes are central in this VBS?
The central them of this material is based upon witness and discipleship for/to or neighbors, as well as the greatest commandment. It asks the question, “Who is my neighbor, and what is my responsibility to them?” - 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)?
The packaging for the material is very relevant to the travel image, with all of the necessary materials coming in a small, brightly-colored suitcase. - 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 for this material costs $49.95, so the estimated costs for a 25-participant and 100-participant program are as follows: 25-Participant
100-Participant
Starter Kit $49.95 Starter Kit $49.95 Postcard books (2.50) 62.50 Postcard books (2.50) 250.00 Poster Pack 10.95 Poster Pack 10.95
Music 4.95 Music 4.95 Crafts 6.95 Crafts 6.95 Activity Center 4.95 Activity Center 4.95 Bible Storyteller 6.95 Bible Storyteller 6.95 Songbook .75 Songbook .75 Total $147.59 Total $335.09 - Over
all, what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this VBS resource?
This is an excellent resource, with very thorough instructions which cover almost every conceivable situation. It is easily adaptable to individual church needs, and its material is both very colorful and visually-oriented. It also takes careful note of the developmental and educational needs of children. The only drawbacks to this material is that in their effort to accommodate a wide variety of possible environments and structures, the authors have actually made the directions way to complicated. This material would probably work best in those churches that plan and prepare well, for the materials are often quite intricate and detailed. It would also probably best be used in a facility that had a fair amount of space.