THE GREAT DIVIDE (4th and 5th graders from k-3rd)

[Michelle]

I'm trying something new and need some input/ideas. Right now we have lg group/sm group model. K-5th graders. Problem is.. curriculum for k-5 shoots to the middle and is not really relevant to all age groups. So my thought is to do P&W (music) all together then send 4-5 to small group while k-3 stay for teaching. then switch 4-5 to teaching while k-3 go to small group. Is anyone doing this? Does it work? Pros? Cons? Anything would be helpful. Right now We have about 70-90 kids in this range.

[Daniel Geer]

In the past, I have divided the service into a together/apart sort of format. We start together with praise and worship, offering time, then a skit/show/object lesson. Then, the older group breaks out to small group teaching and the younger ones stay for teaching in the service. The younger ones do a game in between two teaching sets. The older kids do a variety of differnt small group activities related to the lesson. This works because the older kids benefit from small group, where the younger kids really do not benefit as much. We bring everyone back together for Hot Line Time or Closing Rally, whatever you want to call it. Switching groups between stations, like a VBS, is time consuming. So we just move one group, rather than switching.

[Michelle]

That's a great idea Daniel!

Daniel Geer said:

In the past, I have divided the service into a together/apart sort of format. We start together with praise and worship, offering time, then a skit/show/object lesson. Then, the older group breaks out to small group teaching and the younger ones stay for teaching in the service. The younger ones do a game in between two teaching sets. The older kids do a variety of differnt small group activities related to the lesson. This works because the older kids benefit from small group, where the younger kids really do not benefit as much. We bring everyone back together for Hot Line Time or Closing Rally, whatever you want to call it. Switching groups between stations, like a VBS, is time consuming. So we just move one group, rather than switching.