We’re having so much fun during the first hour! What do we do about the “next hour” (that time after the first hour while grownups are in worship)?
Simple! Check out the great teaching ideas in Explore the Bible: Preschool Worship. Now some of you may be thinking, “We don’t do worship with preschoolers.” Well, whether you do the next hour as one large group in one location (what most folks think of as worship), or let preschoolers stay in their separate age-graded classrooms, you can use Explore the Bible: Preschool Worship. It actually works like the first hour. Let’s take a quick look.
- The weekly format for the worship suggestions includes a large-group opening (which equates to the “Arrival Activities” or “Let’s Gather” features in the first hour session).
- The opening is followed by 4 small-group explorations (which are structured like the 5 Exploration Stations in the first hour).
- Then you have a large-group closing. This part is like the Bible skills, Bible story review, and closing activities of the first hour plan.
Plus—the worship suggestions utilize many of the preschool leader pack and CD-ROM items that are suggested for the first hour session.
Preschool Worship teaching ideas and activities are not repeated from the first hour session. They are new and different, so your kids can have two hours of fun Bible explorations!
So, how do you get the worship plans for preschoolers? They are provided on the Preschool Worship DVD-ROM that comes in the Explore the Bible: Preschool Toolkit with Worship. You only need to order one kit with worship—you can print as many leader guides as you need. Music videos, missions videos, and CD-ROM printables are included on the Worship DVD-ROM. (The rest of the Toolkit can be given to a first hour teacher for session planning and resources.)
Wondering about younger preschoolers? “Next Hour” explorations are included in the Explore the Bible: Babies & Toddlers Leader Guide. You will find a page at the end of every session plan that provides more explorations for toddlers. You can duplicate as many copies of this page for each session as needed.
Next hour helps are easy to get and easy to use. And you’ll love the way the worship suggestions continue the Explore the Bible experience for your preschoolers.
Rachel Coe teaches younger preschoolers at her church and is excited to be using Explore the Bible: Babies & Toddlers with her group in just a few weeks.