The Formula to Children's Lessons in AG Fine Arts

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Purpose:

Throughout my many years of experience with AG Fine Arts in the biggest District, I found it odd that there were few resources to get someone started with their piece. Some categories were difficult to understand how to begin putting together. This was especially difficult for churches that were brand new to Fine Arts or had barely any students to go. Fine Arts was and still is one of my biggest passions in life. The impact it had on my life and the trajectory of my calling has been immense. This article is meant for those to be inspired either to write their own lesson or help those new students in youth groups get started. 

 

How to Write a Basic Children’s Lesson Solo:

When creating my lessons, I always looked at the needs of my own children's church. To do this, I had to regularly serve in the kids’ ministry and mentor the children I was around. When I discovered the need or prayed about what the kids needed to know, I typically had an idea or two about what kind of character I wanted to bring to life. When I did not, I did a brainstorming collage on Google Slides. Here is one that inspired most of the characters I have done.

 

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After I had my main idea and the character I would play, I got to writing. I used voice-to-text through my computer at home and spoke exactly what I wanted to say. Some people will need exact memorization of words, while others will just need bullet points. However, for the sake of my first couple of tries, I needed to write exactly what I would say. For the first couple of years I wrote children's lessons, I had to restart the drafting process many times. This was due to not being able to get my point across or losing my point in the way I portrayed the character. With children's lessons, I learned really quickly not to get attached to any specific character or lesson idea. After I had a rough draft of my lesson and a Google slide of themes and ideas to visualize the character, I brought my lesson to my children's pastor and my senior pastor's wife. The reasoning for this was that they were wiser than I was at the time. I had no idea what I was doing and needed help. Sometimes I brought my lesson and felt totally discouraged after I felt that they tore it apart. However, this was not the truth. It was a lie that I allowed myself to listen to. I needed someone to check my work in case the theology was unsound or things were not easily understandable. I had at least three people check my work every time I would edit it. (P.S. Thank you, Mom, for being my personal grammar editor)

             Whenever I had finished editing and rewriting my lesson and felt that I had perfected it, I started memorizing. While I memorized, I gathered items and costume elements. I never performed my lesson fully for anyone until I practiced doing it fully memorized by myself 10 times. After those 10 times, I would perform it for my kids’ pastor and his wife. I was ready to perform it for my whole church if there was nothing to fix. This was very nerve-wracking for me every time I got up and did it. I did have presentation nerve-calming techniques implemented every time I performed.

 

Pre-performance rituals:

1. Prayer that God would speak and help me to do my best

2. Double-check that all items are in their place

3. Check-in with help (If needed) to bring items on and off-stage

4. Breathe in and out slowly and “shake out” the nerves

5. Close my eyes and visualize each audience member that I would minister to

6. Sing a worship song to my Savior

7. Go on stage :)

 

Basic 5-Minute Lesson Outline

Introduction (character or attention grabber)

Transition (words to flow from one thought to the next)

Main verse or story

Object lesson or visual element

Transition

Altar call 

Prayer or call to action

Conclusion and final goodbyes

 

*This outline can be rearranged and is meant to get someone started in the writing process*

Example Lesson 4th Place Solo:

 

Introduction: Hello, space cadets! My name is space agent Amanda. I’m with the Galactic Space Agency. My mission is to teach cadets in training how to spread the message of hope, joy, and peace throughout the galaxy! 

 

Transition: Today’s lesson, Space Cadets, is about self-control. Now, you're probably wondering what self-control means. I'm so glad you asked! Self-control means being in charge of your thoughts, words, and actions.

 

Object lesson: Balloon- just like our balloon here. A person without self-control might show angry eyes, use hurtful words, or their body is out of control. A person with self-control will speak peacefully, be respectful, and bring calm in the end.

 

Central Verse: That reminds me of our Bible verse! It says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” Can everybody help me with this verse? Ok! Repeat after me! “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” Proverbs 29:11 Stellar job, space cadets!

 

Transition: So I’ve been thinking, how do we have self-control? And I think I have just the thing. Stop. Pray. Walk the other way. Let’s try that together! Stop. Pray. Walk the other way. This means whenever you start to feel angry, or you feel that maybe your face is getting a little red whenever you get upset, stop and think. Is what I am about to do or say make God happy or sad? Here’s an example. What if my little brother went into my room without asking and made a big mess? Should I go yell at him for a solid 10 minutes or should I go to him in a respectful and peaceful way? Do you think yelling at my little brother would solve any problems? Would yelling at him make God happy or sad? That's right! Whenever I feel like yelling and not exercising self-control, I stop, pray, and walk the other way. This helps to practice self-control. 

 

Back to verse: Just like what our Bible verse says. Repeat after me! “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” Proverbs 29:11 Stellar Job! I know I have struggled with self-control before.

 

Altar call: So that makes me wonder if anybody else struggles with self-control like me. If that is you, I’d love to pray for you. Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful day that you have made. Thank you for today’s lesson about self-control. Help us not to make foolish decisions but to be wise and bring calm at the end of every day. Help us to remember to Stop, Pray, and Walk the other way! We love and thank you for all that you do. In Jesus name, everybody says amen.

Transition to End: Well, I really enjoyed my time here on Earth with you space cadets. But I’ve got to get back to the Galactic Space Agency. Until next time!