SERIES KICKOFF & TRAINING

The P
​ URPOSE ​of a series kickoff is to:
1. Have ​FUN ​as a team
2. Be ​CHALLENGED​ to live out the spiritual truths we are teaching kids (​all volunteers)
3. Get ​EQUIPPED​ for carrying out the series vision through small group training or large group training
(​break into small group/large group teams)

Ideas for ​FUN:

● Snack and decoration ideas​, ​Snack ideas​, Yogurt bar with a different fruit for each Fruit of the Spirit
● Farm party games
● For Week 1, you can encourage families, staff, and volunteers to wear their farm clothes.

Ideas for ​CHALLENGE​:

● Series Teaching​ - When we follow Jesus, His Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and produces good
things in our lives. These good things are called the Fruit of the Spirit.
● Preschool & Elementary Memory Verse -​ “​But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians
5:22-23

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 1​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
SERIES OUTLINE

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 2​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
Ideas for ​EQUIPPING​ (Break into the following groups -- nursery, preschool small group, elementary small
group, preschool large group, elementary actors/media, elementary worship leaders)

NURSERY
● To keep even the busiest of Toddlers engaged in the songs, try giving them each an
age-appropriate instrument (Ex: egg shakers, maracas, tambourine).
● If a child is distracted during the Bible story, you can redirect their attention by saying
something like this with an excited tone: “​(Child’s name)​, do you see ​(something on screen)​?
Can you point to it?”

PRESCHOOL SMALL GROUP

● Wins for a Small Group Leader:
○ Each kid feels welcome
○ The Bible is read in an engaging way
○ Kids know how to apply what they’ve learned/can say “Need to Know”
○ Kids are memorizing parts of the Bible verse
○ Kids stay together until parents arrive

● Small Group Leaders play a huge role in helping make large group fun! ​There will be many
opportunities for kids to interact in Large Group, and the easiest way for them to know what to
do and when to stop is by watching their small group leaders do it, too. So join in the fun, and
when it’s time to water the plants, hold up your watering can, and do it with everyone.

● Don't throw everything away each week. ​This series, we are trying to make use of printed
materials for multiple weeks. These are noted on the Prep Lists, but they are also below:
○ Threes and Fours Memory Verse Card (Will be used every week)
○ Twos Memory Verse Cards (Will be used for two weeks at a time)
○ Farm Animal Cards (Will be used for Weeks 1, 3, and 8)

● The series memory verse is longer than normal, so here are some things that will help kids
memorize it throughout the series:
○ The verse has been broken up for our two year olds. They will be learning chunks of the
verse at a time, and then putting these chunks together to say the entire verse.

○ During Week 8, when Threes and Fours are trying to say the verse for a prize, here are
some ways small group leaders can help them remember it:
■ Silently do the motions to help trigger the word(s) for the child
■ Sound out the beginning of a word that a child can’t remember
■ Say part of the verse, and see if the child can finish the phrase
■ Have the group say it by themselves all together as you do the motions, and let
them feed off of what each other is saying

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 3​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
 ELEMENTARY SMALL GROUP
● Wins for a Small Group Leader:
○ Each kid feels welcome
○ The Bible is read in an engaging way
○ Kids know how to apply what they’ve learned/can say “Need to Know”
○ Kids are memorizing parts of the Bible verse
○ Kids stay together until parents arrive

● Training Tip - Setting Expectations

○ Small group leaders can set up their small group time for success by setting
expectations at the beginning of group time.
■ Remind kids to love God and love others during small group. They can do this
by respecting others, by listening when others are talking, and by following
instructions.
■ When kids are doing the right thing during small group, call them out and
specifically point out their positive behavior. This will often help other kids
mimic their behavior.

● Weekly Notes
○ Week 3 - Puzzle Bags - ​These will be used for the “Let’s Practice” activity this week.
It’s important to make sure each puzzle piece gets back into its appropriate bag so the
activity will run smoothly for the next service.
○ Week 8 - Fly swatters - ​These will be used to play a game during the “Let’s Practice”
activity. Set expectations for the game by reminding kids that they can ONLY use the
fly swatter to swat at cards! If kids do not use the flyswatter appropriately, they’ll lose
their privilege to continue playing the game.

● Special Needs Lessons

○ All Special Needs lessons will have separate documents. When prepping bins, be sure
the appropriate documents are in your folders.

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 4​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
 PRESCHOOL LARGE GROUP
● Wins for Large Group
○ Actors​: Script is memorized with no more than 1-2 deviations, talk and act like the
character
○ Media:​ Cues fire at the right time, lighting and volume is age-appropriate
○ Production Leader:​ Make sure all team members feel cared for, are present for team
meetings, participate in a run-through, and are held accountable for their wins above

● Weekly Storyline
○ Billy/Billy Jo will welcome kids and get them dancing to a music video as they enter.
○ Once everybody's on the farm, Billy/Billy Jo will go over the two farm rules.
○ Then they will will check the daily chore board to find out the two chores of the day.
○ The first chore always brings about a little hesitation from Billy/Billy Jo.
○ From inside the barn, Farmer Fred hears what’s going on, and comes out to offer help
with a story from the Bible​ (video).
○ After the Bible story, Billy/Billy Jo will get busy finishing the first chore off stage,
while kids cheer on three tractors as they watch them race via video to the fields.
○ After the tractor race, Billy/Billy Jo returns to the stage in a new setting--the fields.
○ Farmer Fred surprises Billy/Billy Jo with a fun game to play while he/she does the
second chore which always involves watering fruit plants or trees. (Week 8 is the only
exception. In this week, the kids will help Billy/Billy Jo collect fruit to place in a
basket.)
○ Once that chore is complete, Farmer Fred returns to the screen, always surprised to
see the yummy fruit that has grown in the field (video).
○ Farmer Fred invites everyone to stand on up and sing a song that will help them
remember all the good fruit God grows in their hearts! (“Fruit of the Spirit” song)

● Character Descriptions
○ BILLY/BILLY JO​: Born and raised helping out on the farm; loves taking care of the
animals and learning from Farmer Fred
■ Character Inspiration--​Sheriff Callie and friends
○ FARMER FRED (VIDEO)​: Owns the farm; gives BILLY/BILLY JO his/her daily chores;
teaches truth from the Bible and how to grow the fruits of the Spirit in our hearts
■ Character Inspiration--Mr. Renkin and The Man With the Yellow Hat from
Curious George

● Training Tips
○ Feel free to tap into your most country-sounding (but still understandable) voice!
The script has been written in way that will help you do this by leaving off the
beginnings and endings to some words (Ex: ‘cause instead of because and kickin’
instead of kicking)
○ Acting Cues​: Instead of being intermingled with acting lines, most cues have now been
separated into their own paragraphs. This should help with line memorization and
knowing what to do when. This change has made scripts look longer, but scripts have
been timed at around.

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 5​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
 ○ Review Game​: There is a separate Game Card that will be printed each week and
attached to the watering can on stage. This card has the questions and answers for the
game as well as the actor’s next cue.

● Learn the Songs/Motions​ - go over the song videos several times ​(try to make sure everyone is
very familiar with them before training ends)
○ “On the Farm”​ - This is the INTRO video each week. Once the large group space is 2/3
full, Billy/Billy Jo will have kids stand up and sing/dance before we actually begin,
○ “Fruit of the Spirit”​ - This song will remind kids of the nine fruit of the Spirit God is
growing in our hearts and help them learn the series memory verse.

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 6​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
 ELEMENTARY ACTORS/MEDIA
● Wins for Large Group
○ Actors​: Script is memorized with no more than 1-2 deviations, talk and act like the
character
○ Worship Leader:​ Create an atmosphere of energy and excitement, script is memorized
with no more than 1-2 deviations, encourage participation
○ Media:​ Cues fire at the right time, lighting and volume is age-appropriate
○ Production Leader:​ Make sure all team members feel cared for, are present for team
meetings, participate in a run-through, and are held accountable for their wins above

● Character Descriptions
○ Bobby​: ​Bobby has spent most of his/her life on his/her Uncle Earl’s farm. Accustomed
to clean air, open fields, and a simple lifestyle, he/she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hard working, energetic, and slightly naive at times, Bobby will help CJ discover what
it means to put the fruit of the Spirit into action in his/her life.
○ CJ​: ​Growing up in New York City, CJ is your stereotypical city slicker. He/she is edgy,
spoiled, dramatic, and overly concerned with his/her appearance. After getting into
some trouble, his/her worst nightmare happens--CJ’s parents send him/her to his/her
uncle’s farm! This “punishment” is more than CJ bargained for, but he/she will soon
discover there’s more to life on the farm than shoveling manure and feeding pigs.
○ Uncle Earl​:​ CJ and Bobby’s uncle and owner of the farm their on; only his voice will be
heard
○ Up & Adam​: ​Two friends on a farm who tell each week’s Bible story and lead us in the
“Fruit of the Spirit” song; not related to or referenced by Bobby and CJ.
○ LG Shopping List contains additional character information

● Series Storyline
○ CJ is sent out to his/her uncle’s farm to gain a new perspective. He/she is NOT thrilled
about this horrible “punishment”. Having grown up in New York City, CJ definitely has
a lot to learn when it comes to life on the farm.
○ At first, CJ is annoyed with his/her cousin Bobby, who has spent the last several years
on the farm. Bobby’s positive attitude and country accent can drive CJ crazy, but
he/she eventually realizes that Bobby seems to know a lot of things. Even though it
seemed impossible at first, CJ even begins to enjoy some things about life on the farm.
○ Along the way, Bobby and Uncle Earl help CJ grow, and we see the fruit of the Spirit
start to develop on CJ’s life.
○ But, after a rough camping trip, CJ has a setback. He/she gets so upset and even tries
to run away from the farm!
○ In the end though, CJ returns, and Bobby realizes just how much CJ has changed when
CJ sacrifices his/her own money to give Bobby an unexpected surprise!
● Training Tips
○ CJ’s lines​ are written to help anyone playing this character speak with a country
accent. Feel free to tap into your most country voice, but make sure your lines are still
easy to understand.
○ Acting Cues​: Instead of being intermingled with acting lines, most cues have now been
separated into their own paragraphs. This should help with line memorization and

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 7​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
 knowing what to do when. This change has made scripts look longer, but scripts have
been timed at around.
● One Actor Script Option
○ One actor scripts are also provided this series for campuses who do not have the
volunteer teams available (at one or multiple services) to execute two actor scripts
with excellence.
○ All presentations will be the same regardless of choosing the one actor or two actor
option.
○ One actor scripts will have CJ as the main character. He/she will reference his/her
cousin, Bobby, throughout the scripts. Most of his/her heart change/growth will take
place after he/she has gone off stage and run into Bobby or Uncle Earl. In addition,
he/she will interact with Uncle Earl via sound effects in several of the weeks.
○ The props are not always the same between the one and two actor options. This is
noted on the large group shopping list with asterisks, as well as on the prep list.

● Set Changes
○ For this series, most weeks are spent in the same “Farm” setting.
■ Week 3​ - the acting slide will change to show a darker sky and clouds to depict
a storm
■ Week 5​ - the actors will have scenes at the “Farmhouse” and the “Barn”
○ Even though the acting slides will change for these weeks, the set can stay the same. A
few props may be added, but no set pieces will need to change for these weeks.

● Shared Stages - ​Remove chalkboard from Preschool stage.

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 8​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes
ELEMENTARY WORSHIP LEADERS
● Learn the Songs/Motions -​ go over the song videos several times ​(try to make sure everyone is very
familiar with them before training ends)

● Weekly Worship Leader Outline - ​Worship Leaders will follow this outline for each week in this series
(except Week 8--see note at end).
○ Intro - Jump around/help kids get excited for Large Group!
○ Welcome kids to “On the Farm”
○ Pitch to Up & Adam
○ Facilitate Game
■ Worship Leader will come on stage in the middle of acting (once actors have exited the
stage) to give actors a break. An instructional video will be played each week to give
the audience and game contestants the rules of each game. Game instructions are also
written out in each script. It’s important for Worship Leaders to familiarize themselves
with each game to ensure that they go smoothly each week!
■ Feel free to choose contestants before games begin or have the Worship Leaders pick
contestants during Large Group. Either way works! Just be sure to introduce kids on
stage, so everyone knows names to cheer for during the game. Here are the games
played each week and who is needed to play:
● Week 1: “Mother Bird” - need 2 kids and 2 small group leaders
● Week 2: “Joy EGGstravaganza” - need 2 kids
● Week 3: “A Peace of Cake” - need 3 kids
● Week 4: “Wait For It” - need to 2 kids to play and 2 small group leaders to
assist
● Week 5: “Poison Ivy Control” - need 2 kids and 2 PRE-SELECTED small group
leaders who already have “poison ivy” by putting on red dot stickers
● Week 6: “Goodness Gracious” - need 2 kids that have been coming to KidSpring
for a while (not first-timers), because this game asks kids about Bible trivia
● Week 7: “Apple Stax” - need 2 kids
● Week 8: “Fruit Farmer Relay” - need 2 kids
○ Pitch Back to Acting
○ Recap Teaching
○ Pitch to Need to Know Video
○ Facilitate Need to Know with Kids
○ Lead Kids in Song:
■ Weeks 1-7: “Set an Example” - Kids should stand. Worship Leader leads motions.
■ Week 8: “Fruit of the Spirit” - Kids will stay seated.
○ Prayer & Dismissal
● Week 8 - ​There is no Up & Adam video this week, but you will still lead kids in the “Fruit of the Spirit”
song at the end of large group.

On the Farm 2 Preschool & Elementary

Weeks 1-8 Page 9​ of 9 Series Kickoff & Training Notes