Enhance Your Large Group Program

Leadership Journal March 8, 2005

The Large Group Program is an essential component of many children’s ministry curriculum products. During Large Group time children receive effective and creative Bible teaching and learn about the God who loves and created us. When getting started with Large Group Programs, it is important that you concentrate your energy on doing the basics of the Large Group Programs well. The Large Group Teacher and Creative Teaching Helpers need to prepare and rehearse ahead of time, memorize their lines rather than read them, and present their best to the kids so they will understand the Key Concept of each lesson. Simple props, as listed for each program, can be used as you have them available, and music can be incorporated for worship and for transition times as you choose.

Once these basics are running fairly smoothly for you and your team, you may wish to enhance the program with additional production elements. Sometimes the addition of a scene-setting prop or simple sound effect can help focus the children’s attention at an appropriate moment, as can using a set backdrop or lighting effect. When considering how to best enhance the program with production elements—sets, audio, and lighting and visual effects—the most important thing to remember is to keep it simple and to evaluate your wants versus your needs. One of the most frustrating things for you and your team can be developing a program that is beyond the capabilities of your time, resources, or room restrictions. Here are some questions to ask as you get started:

• What element do we want to add?
• Why do we want to do this?
• Will this work in our room?
• Do we have the resources to do this?
• Will this added element make or break the program?

Sets

Providing an appropriate backdrop for a Large Group Program can certainly enhance the look and feel of the teaching. Such backdrops do not need to be elaborate, however. The “keep it simple” principle still applies.

• Create sets by using existing materials and things that are easily accessible to you and your team.
• Bring materials from home or borrow them from your congregation or neighbors.
• Be creative and ask yourself, “What do we already have that we can work with?”
• Be sure to have adequate storage space for your set materials and props. You will be able to use some of the items in multiple lessons.

Watch the video clip“Metamorphosis Set Design”

Audio

Sound is another great way to draw kids into the program and help them get into the story. Audio effects are best used to support what the kids are seeing and learning; they should not be so overpowering that they detract from the teaching. When using audio, it is best to have an assistant who can operate the equipment so the teacher can concentrate on teaching. If you are considering using or purchasing an audio system, here are some guidelines to keep in mind.

• Evaluate your needs first. The audio system you will need depends mostly on the size of your room and the number of kids you have. A boom box with CD/tape capabilities can be very effective in most settings. Additional speakers can be used in conjunction with a boom box to further amplify the sound, if necessary.
• Invest in a basic sound system. If you require additional sound capabilities, for instance if your teachers need to use a microphone, start by talking with a music or audio professional within your church or community.
• The components of a basic system will most likely include a small mixer, amplifier, CD/tape player, speakers, microphones (lavaliere and/or hand-held), and cabling.
• The system can be portable (on a rolling rack or in a travel case) or permanently installed in your room (in a wall or booth). Since this will be a fairly expensive purchase, work with other ministries in your church to determine how you can best share the capabilities and cost of a sound system.

In addition to music, sound effects are relatively easy audio elements to utilize and enhance the Large Group Programs. If you have adequate resources to invest in this area, consider using the Internet to find and purchase one or two basic sound effects CDs that feature general sounds, such as laughing, coughing, barking dogs, dripping water, etc. You may also be able to find sound effects CDs at your local library.

Lighting

Effective lighting can enhance your Large Group Program by helping to create a mood or a moment, or to simply focus the kids’ attention up front. Appropriately lighting your up-front area ensures that the kids can see what you’re doing during the program. Lights can also be used as props to help set the scene. As with audio effects, it is helpful to have a volunteer who will turn lighting elements on and off at the appropriate times.

As you look at lighting options, it is important to remember that going beyond your existing room lights will require more creativity, more money, and most importantly, more concern for safety. The addition of lights may surpass the power capacity of your room, so be sure to work with a lighting professional and/or an electrician to ensure the safety and capabilities of added lights. Following are some things to keep in mind as you look at your lighting elements:

• Use your existing room lights. If you have the capability to do so, leave the lights on above the up-front area and turn them off over the children’s seating area during the Large Group Program (turn all lights off when you show video). This basic technique will help draw kids’ attention to the teaching.
• Talk with a stage or theater lighting professional about a basic lighting system. The components of a basic system will most likely be four to eight lights, white only or those that allow you to use color gels.
• Install the system in the ceiling or on portable stands.
• Work with other ministries in your church to determine how you can best share the capabilities and cost of a lighting system as this will be a fairly expensive purchase.
• Consider using halogen (not incandescent) work lights, but only as a last resort. The halogen lights can be purchased at a local hardware store, along with a power strip. Place the halogen lights on the floor, aimed up at the “stage” area, or hang them from the ceiling, aimed down at the “stage” area. Plug the halogen lights into a power strip and use the switch on the power strip to turn them on and off. If you need to use extension cords to accomplish this, be sure to use heavy-duty cords that can handle the power requirements of the lights.
• Consider purchasing a few gel sheets from a stage lighting professional to add colors to the lights. Blue and yellow are good color options. Remember to keep safety as your top concern and not to surpass the power capacities of your room.

PowerPoint®

PowerPoint is a computer program that creates presentations. It can be connected to a projector to project words and images onto a large screen. (Think high-tech overhead projector!) PowerPoint requires a computer with PowerPoint software on it, a projector, and a screen. You will want to place the projector in the back of the room (it can also be suspended from the ceiling to keep it out of harm’s way) and the screen in the front where all the kids can see it. Find someone in your congregation with computer equipment and experience to help you with the initial set-up.

If you have the resources and would like to add PowerPoint to your Large Group Programming, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Place the lesson’s Bible verse and bullet points that outline the main teaching points on PowerPoint. This will help the kids remember them as well as add visual interest.
• Teach the lesson as you would normally, without referring to the points as they appear on screen (that can feel a little like school). Simply teach the lesson and let the points come up to provide emphasis for what you’re saying. The kids will notice the words on the screen without you pointing at them.
• Recruit someone to type in the slides prior to the lesson and someone to run the program during the lesson. Many people in office environments have experience with PowerPoint. Running the program during the lesson simply involves hitting the space bar to advance the slides at the appropriate times. Consider recruiting a volunteer from your high school ministry to help with the setting up and running of the program—older students often have a great deal of computer knowledge and experience.
• Remember to use fun, readable fonts when creating your slides.

Video Clips

If you choose to use video clips to enhance your program, remember that in nearly all cases, it is necessary to get permission to show published videos during any of your children’s ministry programs. One-time permissions as well as blanket licenses are available. For additional information, visit the Willow Creek Association Web site at http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_info/copyright.asp.

Copyright © 2005 Promiseland.