Back to School: New Series for Kids

In this new series for 1st-5th grade, we use school items as illustrations to help kids understand what it means to follow Jesus as they go back to school. 

From backpacks to highlighters, erasers to pencil sharpeners, each week features a relatable object that helps kids connect everyday experiences to lasting spiritual truth.

Kids will discover how to lean on others when life feels heavy, why loving God and people is the most important rule of all, and how friends who follow Jesus can help them grow stronger in their faith. Best of all, they’ll hear the good news that Jesus erases our sin completely — no white-out needed. It’s a fun, faith-building way to kick off the school year.

Each week includes:

• A fast-paced game that gets kids moving and engaged
• A Bible story that connects God’s truth to everyday school life
• A hands-on small group activity designed to drive the message home

This series can be ordered individually here on this page, but is also one of many included in a year long curriculum.

ONE YEAR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY CURRICULUM, VOLUME 2

This series is one of many in the One Year Children's Ministry Curriculum, Volume 2 (and you save 72% on an entire year's worth of curriculum). 

SERIES OVERVIEW

Lesson 1: Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
Bible: Galatians 6:2 NIV
Bottom Line: When life gets too heavy, we can turn to others for help!

Lesson 2: Highlighting the Great Commandment
Bible: Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
Bottom Line: God’s greatest commandment is that we love God and others!

Lesson 3: Sharpening One Another
Bible: Proverbs 27:17
Bottom Line: God’s people sharpen each other!

Lesson 4: Erasing Sin
Bible: Psalm 51:1-2 NIV
Bottom Line: Jesus erases our sins and enables us to live righteous lives!

This downloadable series is designed for 1st–5th graders. After purchase, a download link will magically appear in your inbox (no cafeteria mystery meat involved).

FREE SAMPLE LESSON - THE LOST SHEEP

Download a sample lesson from from our Weird Science series on the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 18:10-14. In this lesson, we see an invisible ink experiment with an incredible chemical reaction! Then, there's an interactive magnetism experiment for the younger elementary group and an awesome water tension experiment for the preteen group — each to teach us that we are never too lost for Jesus to save.

LESSON FORMAT

Opening Game

• A fun game everyone plays connected to the main point of the lesson.
• A variation of active play, less active play, creative play, etc.

Creative & Interactive Teaching

• Creative & interactive teaching including: story telling, object lessons, visuals, science illustrations, and other attention grabbing elements.
• Our goal is to engage the 5th graders (they'll love the creative elements). Imagine no more 5th grade boys in the back of the room goofing around or checking out. Oh yes! And don't worry, we also aim to reach the 1st graders and everyone else in between.

Memory Verse

• One memory verse per series
• Fun ways to reinforce memory verse for younger kids (in small groups)
• Memory verse challenges to reinforce for preteens (in small groups)

Small Groups

• A completely separate small group guide for younger elementary and preteen.
• Preteen small groups are a huge priority for us. A lot of other curriculums really miss the boat here. Our writing team brings over 20 years experience in preteen ministry to the table. You'll find great activities and thought provoking discussions that preteens will love, and will help them to own their faith in Jesus.
• The small groups for younger elementary are also pretty amazing. We recognize the unique developmental needs of this age group, and include specific activities and questions to accommodate those needs.
• Hands on activities and discussion questions included in each lesson.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY CURRICULUM?

Our goal is to help kids fall in love with Jesus and discover what it means to follow him!

Here's what makes our curriculum unique:

Low Prep & Simple: Say goodbye to long hours of preparation! Our curriculum is designed with busy children's ministry leaders in mind. Each lesson is crafted to be effortlessly implemented with minimal prep time.

Promotes Relationships: We want kids to connect with each other and leaders, creating a place where they discover and nurture relationships with others who love Jesus.

Bible Based and Life-Applicable: A great mix of Biblical content and life-application.

Puts Your Leaders in the Driver's Seat: We intentionally do not provide a teaching video because it is important that kids learn from humans in real life.

Adaptable: Change it up and make it your own, or use it as-is. Totally adaptable to your church's unique setting.

Small Groups for Younger Kids and Preteens: A completely separate small group guide for younger elementary and preteen. Preteen small groups are a priority for us. Our writing team brings over 20 years preteen ministry experience to the table. You'll find great activities and thought provoking discussions that preteens will love, and will help them to own their faith in Jesus. The younger elementary small groups are also pretty amazing. We recognize the unique developmental needs of this age group, and include specific activities and questions to accommodate those needs.

Built-In Parent Resources: Each series includes customizable parent email scripts and ready-to-post social media slides for every lesson. These tools help parents know what their kids are learning and encourage meaningful conversations at home throughout the week.

WHO IS OUR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY CURRICULUM FOR?

• 1st-5th graders
• Churches of all sizes: big, small & everything in between.
• Churches of any denomination or non-denomination. Our curriculum is theologically broad enough for any church to use. We stay central to the core truths of Christianity and don’t focus on denominational differences.