Before Each Session

Choose a lesson

Look through the Topics to decide which lesson you would like to teach. The Lesson Plan lists everything you will need. Make sure you have enough copies of the relevant activity sheets based on the levels of the children attending the session. If possible, provide each child with a named work tray and folder.

Check who is coming

Hopefully, you will have already gathered information about the children who may attend. I ask parents to complete an enrolment form, in addition to the general consent form provided for all the young people in our church. This includes information that helps us determine which activity level would be the best fit for each child. See the Activity Levels section for a detailed description of all four levels.

To know exactly who is coming to a particular session, I have a WhatsApp group for parents and send out a poll two days before we meet. Parents simply respond by ticking Yes or No so that I can see who will be attending. I also encourage them to contact me personally if there are any issues we need to be aware of.

I also have a WhatsApp group for leaders so that I can let them know who will be attending and how I have arranged the 1:1 support allocation.

Setting Up

🤓 Preparing the Technology

The lesson plan includes all the teaching information, plus links to story videos and songs that can be downloaded and shown on a TV via a USB stick or embedded into a PowerPoint presentation.

Group Time

🤗 Welcome

We begin the session by playing a hello game or singing a welcome song. The game involves throwing a football to another person (child or leader) in the group while saying their name as the ball is thrown. This encourages children to learn and use each other’s names and helps build a sense of belonging within the group. We continue until everyone has had at least one turn. For some children, this can feel challenging, so we encourage and support one another throughout the activity.

An alternative option is for the leader to throw the football to each child in turn, with the child then throwing it back to the leader.

➔ Hello Game

If you prefer to sing a welcome song, you could use this: Hello Song

🎓 Teaching

The Lesson Plan and PowerPoint presentation contain all the information needed to teach the session, so you should be ready to begin with your prepared PowerPoint or USB stick and lesson plan.

The teaching is intentionally kept fairly short to take into account the mixed levels of ability within the group. The use of videos also helps engage children of all levels.

You may prefer to use musicians to play live music rather than using the suggested songs, but the visuals are often helpful for those who are unable—or reluctant—to join in.

I have added prayers to the PowerPoint presentations. These are not included in the Lesson Plans because they would need to be displayed for everyone to join in together. You may also prefer to pray more spontaneously for one another and take a more flexible approach.

The Aslan opening prayer can be downloaded if you are using the videos without a PowerPoint.

🍪 Snack Time

We have a biscuit and a drink of water and use this time to see whether anyone has any news to share. This social time is important and has become easier as the children have grown more comfortable with one another.

When there is a birthday, we always provide a cake and give a card. Not all children enjoy having “Happy Birthday” sung to them, so I always check with the parents or the child themselves first. After a few minutes, we move into the activity section of the morning.

Running a Session

Before Each Session

Choose a lesson

Check who is coming

Setting Up

🤓 Preparing the Technology

📺 Using a PowerPoint Presentation

🪑 Preparing the Room

🧸 Sensory aids — useful additions for the room

📋 Visual Timetable

🙏 Prayer

Beginning of Session

⏰ Timings

Arrival

Group Time

🤗 Welcome

🎓 Teaching

🍪 Snack Time

Activity Time

📁 Folders

End of Session