Creative Programming

1. Creative Programming Part One- Teaching in your Large Group Program

2. Attributes Regarding Teaching • Know your content, memorize it • Keep eye content • Check your voice- pace, pitch (or tone), volume, and articulation • Listen to your audience • Watch your body language and use your hands and movement strategically. Use different visual levels to your advantage. • Be authentic, be you

3. Programming Tools • Re-enactment • Story tellers (narrative script with small key lines) • Drama that sets up a Bible story • Role-play • Readers Theatre • “an imaginary journey” technique • Narrative Pantomime • Theatre sports (games)

4. Other Programming Tools • Games shows • Videos • Movements, gestures and finger plays (age appropriate) • Team teaching (2,3, or 4 people) • Stories- personal, parable, interview, dialogue, folk, imaginary, and monologue • Audience participation- repetition (clearly explain what to do, cue them when, and make sure they know when to stop

5. Adding to your Style of Programming • Themes • Sound effects • Props/sets/costumes • Other things to use- pictures, books, masks, balloon twisting, puppets, stuffed animals dolls or action figures, illusions, signal cards, streamers ribbons or banners, maps mobiles or murals • Food • Story bags

6. Use art supplies • Clay • Chalk talks • String • Paint • Scissors and paper (origami) • markers

7. Creative Programming Part Two Lighting, Multi-media and Graphics

8. Technical Elements • Production …. What is it? It is the use of sound, lights, video, and staging • The Equipment room, audience, program elements, sound equipment (portable vs. permanent) • Resources- purchase, rent, repair and gleaning (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure)

9. Building a System • Level One- research and development- plan for the long haul • Level Two- purchase solid foundation- look at the latest technology • Level Three- maintain and upgrade your system over time • Level Four- let go of the old and embrace the new

10. Creativity and Equipment • Potential vs. face value (sometimes an investment is necessary- sometimes not) • Don’t let the equipment limit you • Identify your program goal and tap in to equipment potential to support it • Stretch the limits- anything is possible • Experiment with what you have • If at first you don’t succeed, make adjustments and try again • Be patient- sometimes the simplest solution is the most elusive

11. Resources • Gaff tape and griff clips • Hardware stores • Wal-Mart • Second hand stores • Yard sales (pray before you go) • Ask people for their junk • Appliance boxes, packaging, election signs anything you can recycle

12. Sound and Lighting • What equipment do you need? Start off simple and add to it. a c.d. player and/ or stereo Mini lights, Christmas lights, Flood lights, Rope lighting, colored bulbs all inexpensive “gobo” lights- cut out slides “black” light bulbs are cheap at Halloween Have fun with it!

13. Video and PowerPoint • Again start off simple and build up • Video player and tapes • Cd/dvd player • TV. • Projector • Computer

14. Staging • Transform cardboard boxes • Backdrops- on paper, an old sheet, or shower curtain • Flats- large, flat rectangular pieces joined together made of cardboard, old paneling, or foam core • Four scenes in one- use 2 refrigerator boxes, paint one panel on each box on all four sides

15. Great Programs need Great Rehearsals Cue sheets Production meetings evaluate- what worked, what can be done better, where did God show up?

16. Creative Programming Adding Music to Production

17. The Purpose of Music in a program • Worship/ celebration • A moment of prayer or reflection • To get the wiggles out- in younger ages • To create fun transitions from activity to activity

18. How to plan a music time … • Evaluate the songs you choose for your music times • Is it child targeted? Build a Bridge into their World • What’s cool? What are they listening to? What are their struggles? • Talk to them, constantly stay in touch with them. • Aim the music to the oldest boy in the program.

19. Target your Audience • Choose music with a catchy beat • Choose lyrics that communicate a clear truth in kid’s language relevantly • Can the kid’s easily sing it? • Is it memorable? The goal is to have them leave singing the songs. • Plant the word of God in their hearts.

20. Groov’n Moves • Put motions to songs to engage kids on more than one level • Keep motions big and simple focusing on key words and flow • Aim the motions to the oldest boy in the program avoiding “corny actions” • Be age and gender sensitive • Use sign language

21. Other important questions to ask • Where am I receiving them from? • Where do I need to take them? • How do I want to release them? Teaching Ties and Transitions Kids need music leaders to guide them in relating the meaning behind the song as it relates to the lesson. This involves two elements.

22. The Handoff • Use songs with lyrics that will introduce the teaching aim • This prepares hearts • Use music, drama, or video clips

23. The Sendoff The sendoff does the following specific things • Solidifies the lesson • Gives specific take-home application • Music is the “hook” to hang the truth on • How do you want to send them into their world? • SonGames VBS curriculum included a song “Do not be afraid”, the goal would be to have children when they are afraid to remember the lyrics of the song

24. Creative ProgrammingPart Four Working with a Team of Volunteers

25. Working with a Team • Identify and Develop your volunteers • Pray • Advertise • Contact potential volunteers • Interview- get to know them • Orientation- show them the ropes • Identify and fuel passion • Outline their role, recruit a “best fit”

26. More tips …. • Gift based not warm body based ministry • Assimilate- plug them in to the team • Observe- watch and see what happens • Cast vision • Have a healthy rotation • Responsibility- set high expectations • Commitment and consistency • Grace- excellence vs. perfection • Patience- give volunteers time to grow

27. Even more tips … • Look for strengths and weaknesses • Affirmation- celebrate strengths • Encourage- overcome weaknesses • Look at new challenges as growth opportunities • Trust them- exercise your belief in their ability • Community- grow together

28. Coach your Team • Build trust • Build relationship • Build community • Choose program tools to use that are based on what you have and build to what your aiming for

29. Training Volunteers • Workshops- start with the basics and build program over time • Seminars- expose them to experienced people • Have a dedicated training time • Group and one on one training

30. Training and Rehearsals • Provide cds and tapes ahead of time • Sheet music if used • Rehearse music ahead of time • Provide a schedule • Rehearse motions • Keep department meetings specific

31. Multiplying Volunteers • Build a strong foundation first • Create a fun environment that is inviting to potential volunteers • Develop genuine community that will attract others • Pray continually • Word of mouth- a great program will sell itself over time

32. Involving Kids • Recruit a team of youth helpers • Build a team of kids pulled from the audience • Have a schedule for helpers • Go over the serving roles with each volunteer • Responsibility, responsibility, responsibility let them know what your expectations are

33. Transitions with younger volunteers • College- plan for backup volunteers consider summer roles • First job- work around schedules if possible • School activities- plan ahead for replacements • Divorce- be flexible with family schedules

34. And Finally Evaluation Questions to Ask Yourself …. • Where did God show up? • What was a cool thing you saw happen today? • What really worked? • What can we do better next time?