1. What does rotation model mean?

  2. How does rotation work?

  3. What if I don’t want to rotate?

  4. How are the various programs available in Cosmic City™ different from each other?

  5. What are the daily “Live it(s)!” (personal applications) of Cosmic City™?

  6. Our VBS is small; do I need to have a different teacher for each of the Tour Stops?

  7. Will Cosmic City™ work with large churches?

  8. Can I make copies of Cosmic City™ VBS for my church to use?

  9. Am I required to use Guides (teen help)?

  10. Can I use the program in something other than a 5-day format?

  11. Does the program provide any resources for children who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior?

  12. What happens in Wonder U? (Do I have to be a scientist?)

  13. Do I really need the student books?

  14. What’s different this year?

  15. Why are there so many books?

 

What does rotation model mean?

Rotation model is the teaching philosophy used in Cosmic City™ VBS. In this model, your kids will learn the day’s lesson as they rotate through five exciting tour stops—Bible drama, Bible memory music, crafts, games, and the science lab. All the children start together at the opening assembly. Then they divide into groups (based on school grade, age, or mixed age groups). Every day, each group will visit—or rotate to—every tour stop in Cosmic City™. Halfway through the day, the groups take a break and visit The Shooting Star Drive-in together for refreshments. A rotation-based VBS makes recruiting volunteers is a snap. Leaders teach to their strengths. If their gift is crafts, all they teach is crafts. No more trying to be all things to all kids!

How does rotation work?

Transition is easy in Cosmic City™! To get to the first tour stop from Alpha Base (opening assembly), one of your five groups will be led by their Tour Guides to Theater of the Galaxies for the Bible drama. The other four groups will go to four other Tour Stops at the same time. Use the helps in the Director’s Guide to plan out the order in which the groups will visit the Tour Stops.

What if I don’t want to rotate?

The program set-up generally assumes a rotational model. However, the Cosmic City™ Director’s Guide provides simple hints and tips for those who wish to turn this into a site-based VBS.

How are the various programs available in Cosmic City™ different from each other?

Activities that are challenging for preschoolers hold less interest for fourth and fifth graders. So, a preschool program is available that offers games and activities geared toward the physical, intellectual, and social development of this age group. While the elementary program can be used for children up to fifth grade, an upper elementary option for fourth-and fifth-graders is available. Here, applications points are more challenging, the games more extreme, and the Bible lessons more appropriate to what pre-teen children are experiencing. Through the programs available online, teens experience Cosmic City in a youth group atmosphere and adults discover God’s awesome wonder through an in-depth Bible study. Utilizing all these options maximizes Cosmic City’s impact and allows families to grow together in Christ.

What are the daily “Live it(s)!” (personal applications) of Cosmic City™?

Every day your kids will learn and experience an important Live it! (daily Bible application) that’s reinforced in everything they do. Whether demonstrated in the lively puppet scripts, discovered through fascinating science experiments, or brought to life in the Bible dramas and student books, children will learn to “put feet” on what the Bible story for the day teaches.

The five Live it(s)! for this year’s VBS are:
Day 1: God is awesome! I can worship him. (Genesis 1:1—2:4; Psalm 136:1-9, 25, 26)
Day 2: God is awesome! I can count on him. (Exodus 16:1-17; 17:1-6)
Day 3: God is awesome! I can believe in him. (Luke 5:17-26)
Day 4: God is awesome! I can trust him. (Matthew 14:22-33)
Day 5: God is awesome! I can tell others about Jesus. (John 19:1-6, 16-18; 20:1-8)

Our VBS is small; do I need to have a different teacher for each of the Tour Stops?

If you have fewer than 50 children, form two groups and lead the children to a simple two-group rotation followed by games and snack. Bible dramas and Bible memory/music go together well as do crafts and reproducible activity pages. Or choose to rotate through the Attractions all at one time in one large group with enough Guides (teen staffers) on board to help out.

Will Cosmic City™ work with large churches?

Absolutely. For 100 kids or more we suggest two, three or four leaders for the game and craft Tour Stops. One leader can do the actually teaching while the other adults help prepare and sort materials, pass out supplies and then get things ready for the next rotation. Guides (teen staffers) will help children finish their activities in time to rotate. For each additional 25 kids you’ll want to add an additional Tour Stop leader. You can also choose to set up duplicate Attractions (two stations for crafts, two stations for games, etc.) to keep groups small and relational.

Can I make copies of Cosmic City™ VBS for my church to use?

You will find many helpful reproducible pages throughout the various guides and on the Cosmic City™ CD-ROM. Feel free to reproduce these clearly marked pages as needed for use in the VBS program only. It is important to note that, aside from those pages, the guides and other written materials are not reproducible. No materials may be reproduced for commercial purpose. Cosmic City™ Music CD, Cosmic City™ CD-ROM, and Cosmic City™ DVD may not be reproduced. However, all of guides and student books; the Cosmic City™ Music C; and the Cosmic City™ DVD may be purchased individually.

Am I required to use Guides (teen help)?

You aren’t required to request the help of the teens in your congregation. But your kids—and the teens—will miss out. VBS field tests prove the valuable contribution that teens make with children. And children simply love teens. Be sure to hold a teen training (outlined in the Cosmic City™ Director’s Guide) before your VBS begins.

Can I use the program in something other than a 5-day format?

Cosmic City™ is flexible and the perfect outreach program for any setting including children’s church, Bible studies for kids, mid-week programs, backyard Bible clubs and camps. The Director’s Guide also contains a one-day program option as well as an intergenerational option. And don’t forget the Cosmic City™ adult and youth guides available on our website. These options allow for the whole family to be involved.

Does the program provide any resources for children who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior?

Yes. The Director’s Guide has reproducible resources that can go home with the child that day. All leader’s guides have helpful information on leading a child to Christ. These are especially helpful for the salvation lessons of Cosmic City™ on Day 3 and Day 5.
Is there a King James Version available?
No. Only a NIV kit is available.

What happens in Wonder U? (Do I have to be a scientist?)

Wonder U is an interactive science lab where awe-inspiring experiments bring the wonder of God to life. Here, children see first-hand that the world around them tells them about God in amazing ways. But don’t worry, the experiments are simple enough for anyone to do. They use everyday items that when put together demonstrate an attribute of God, such as his faithfulness.

Do I really need the student books?

With a little ingenuity, the program can work without the student books. However, the books are integrated into several aspects of the program. They provide activities to get children interacting with some of the sites, give parents tools to reinforce the lesson at home, and are essential to a game played through the week.

What’s different this year?

Several exciting changes make this year’s VBS truly exceptional. Outer Limits, a program designed especially for upper elementary students, makes it easier than ever to offer a VBS that meets the unique needs of any age kid. An interactive science lab offers an additional way to open hearts to God’s truths. Optional activities allow children a chance to slow down, enter God’s presence, and have time to personally hear from Him. And throughout the program, more options than ever before have been provided, making this a truly customizable VBS experience.

Why are there so many books?

Cosmic City’s multi-site design for the elementary program works best with one leader assigned to each tour stop. We provide a separate guide for each site leader so the Director can hand off those responsibilities.

The Director’s Guide provides general instructions to help the Director oversee the elementary program with tips on registration, recruiting, decorating, etc., the Director’s Guide will help you oversee the program from start to finish. It also contains helpful advice on adapting the program for a variety of church needs.

The separate preschool and upper elementary guides are complete, so they may be given to the directors of those additional programs.

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