Large and Small: A Format for All

This format works well if you have several staff or volunteers who enjoy leading large group activities. It allows other volunteers to focus on connecting with students during small group time.

Here are some suggestions for adapting Answers Bible Curriculum lesson elements to a large group/small group format in the children and youth age levels.

Pre-K–1

If you start class in small groups, leaders can choose a Come On In game or activity to do while students arrive. Once everyone has arrived, gather the children for large group time. Sing the memory verse song along with other favorites, review the Bible Truths together, then teach the lesson using the Flip Chart and other props. If you have two teachers for large group, you could divide up the lesson content by highlighting what each teacher will say and do. Pray, then dismiss children back to their small groups.

The choices for small groups are flexible. Leaders can review the main points of the Bible lesson, take prayer requests, play a review game, practice the memory verse (sing the song or play a game), or do an optional activity. Leaders can read the Justin & Jessie story while children eat a snack or while they color or do another table activity like playdough. Make sure leaders have the Story Time content from the Teacher Guide so they can discuss and apply the story. Remember, if you do a craft or longer review game, it’s fine to skip other options. However, it’s a good idea to prepare extra activities since this age group has shorter attention spans and can move quickly through activities. Finish by making sure students have their coloring sheets, crafts, and Student Take Home sheets ready when parents arrive.

Grades 2–5

If you start class with small groups, leaders can use the Come On In games to learn the books of the Bible or attributes of God. Encourage leaders to ask students about their week so they can all get to know each other.

If starting class with a large group, have some fun trivia, review questions on slides, or icebreaker games for students to do until it’s time to start. Begin large group time with welcome and announcements. Sing worship songs using a live worship team (youth or adult volunteers) or videos, such as the Seeds Family Worship memory verse videos (available with lyrics and hand motions). Then have one or two leaders teach the Studying God’s Word section of the lesson. If you have two leaders, they can divide up the lesson content by highlighting what each teacher will read, say, and do.

Since students may not be able to complete Class Notes worksheets easily in an assembly setting, leaders can use the PowerPoint slides. Have students give the answers verbally or make it a competition between teams (left vs. right side of the room or boys vs. girls). Other options for large group include showing video clips, performing the Real World Skit (with props!), or playing a review game. Finally, pray and dismiss to small groups.

Small group time is flexible with many options. Leaders and students can discuss the lesson and application, complete or review the Class Notes together, play a review game, or share prayer requests. Make sure small group leaders have all the resources they need, such as the Application section of the lesson, the Class Notes worksheets and Answer Key, review questions, and game options from the Prep Chart along with instructions (in the Appendix at the back of the Teacher Guide). If there is time, leaders can review the memory verse or choose an optional activity that fits the students’ interests, such as performing the Real World Skit, playing a books of the Bible game, completing a word search or word scramble, or working on the Student Take Home Sheet puzzles. In lessons where there is a craft or snack option, small groups may focus on this activity and skip others.

Middle School/High School

The middle school large group can be similar to grades 4–5, or if the middle school is combined with high school, their large group assembly may be geared more for the older students. This age group enjoys icebreaker questions and games to kick off class time. If your church has a youth worship band or skilled musicians, you could have them lead worship time, along with adult staff or volunteers. Have an enthusiastic leader teach the Studying God’s Word lesson and end with prayer. Video clips from the teacher digital resources, Answers in Genesis website, or Answers TV are great supplements for the lesson content.

Small group time should include completing the activity worksheet, discussing the lesson, and answering the application questions. Sometimes the high school lesson has the same or similar activity as middle school, while other times it is different. For a mixed group, small group leaders can choose which activity to do depending on the age, maturity, and interests of the students. The middle school lesson includes Real World Skits and review questions. These skits could be adapted into interactive role-play skits the students create and perform for each other, while the review questions could be used with games or competitions the group enjoys. Small group time is a chance for leaders to get to know the students, for students to interact with each other and the lesson content, and to encourage each other in Christ.

Conclusion

Whichever format you use for Answers Bible Curriculum, the important thing is to spend time studying God’s Word. Make sure leaders and volunteers know the order of events and have the materials they need. Encourage students to ask questions and engage with the lesson content. Let them know that the Bible has the answers!