Time allocation

How long should a session last, and how do the four steps fit together into the time we have available?

When we wrote the teaching programme, we had in mind (excluding the material for toddlers), a group of about half a dozen children with a maximum of 90 minutes available. This target means we can be sure to meet the needs of most groups. However, we recognise that some churches allow less time for teaching the children, or have a flexible ending time (which can cause some considerable complications!)

Please note: these are guidelines only - don't get bogged down with stopwatches or legalistically trying to get through the material in seven minutes or whatever. Trim your goal to fit the time available; if you find you never have enough time, consider asking to be released from the church meeting earlier occasionally. Or if that's not an option, consider spreading a session's material over two meetings.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toddlers
We have provided about 30mins worth of material in each session for this age group. The elements can be incorporated into a longer session with areas for free play, and times of rest and refreshment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3s-5+ groups with about an hour
Divide your time as follows:
5 mins welcome, settling, starter
10 mins step 1
10 mins step 2
5 mins break for refreshments
15 mins Step 3
15 mins Step 4

If you find the material for step 1 more exciting some weeks,
then 'borrow' the extra time from Step 4 and consider this
timetable:
5 mins Welcome
15 mins Step 1
10 mins Step 2
5 mins break for refreshments
15 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3s-5+ groups with about 45mins
Divide your time as follows:
5 mins welcome, settling, starter
7 mins step 1
7 mins step 2
3 mins break for refreshments
15 mins Step 3
7 mins Step 4
If you find the material for step 1 more exciting some weeks, then 'borrow' the extra time from Steps 3 & 4 and consider this timetable:
5 mins Welcome
12 mins Step 1
7 mins Step 2
3 mins break for refreshments
12 mins Step 3
6 mins Step 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3s-5+ groups with about 30mins
Divide your time as follows:
3 mins welcome, settling, starter
5 mins step 1
7 mins step 2
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
5 mins Step 4
This is a pretty tight schedule, and lots of self-discipline
will be required to achieve it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5s-9+ groups with about an hour
Divide your time as follows:
5 mins welcome, settling, starter
10 mins step 1
10 mins step 2
5 mins break for refreshments
20 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4

If you find the material for step 1 more exciting some weeks,
then 'borrow' the extra time from Step 3 and consider this
timetable:
5 mins Welcome
15 mins Step 1
10 mins Step 2
5 mins break for refreshments
15 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4

If you have a moveable ending time, (45 mins +
anything up to 15 mins) then
5 mins welcome
8 mins Step 1
8 mins Step 2
4 mins break for refreshments
10 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4
return to craft or game from step 3 until end
In other words, avoid allowing step 4 to be sacrificed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5s-9+ groups with about 45mins
Divide your time as follows:
5 mins welcome, settling, starter
8 mins step 1
8 mins step 2
4 mins break for refreshments
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
10 mins Step 4

If you find the material for step 1 more exciting some weeks,
then 'borrow' the extra time from Steps 3 & 4 and consider
this timetable:
5 mins Welcome
12 mins Step 1
7 mins Step 2
4 mins break for refreshments
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
7 mins Step 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5s-9+ groups with about 30mins
Divide your time as follows:
3 mins welcome, settling, starter
5 mins step 1
7 mins step 2
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
5 mins Step 4
This is a pretty tight schedule, and lots of self-discipline will be required to achieve it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9s-13+ groups with about an hour
Divide your time as follows:
5 mins welcome, settling, starter
10 mins step 1
10 mins step 2
5 mins break for refreshments
20 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4

If you find the material for step 1 more exciting some weeks,
then 'borrow' the extra time from Step 3 and consider this
timetable:
5 mins Welcome
15 mins Step 1
10 mins Step 2
5 mins break for refreshments
15 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4

If you have a moveable ending time, (45 mins +
anything up to 15 mins) then
5 mins welcome
8 mins Step 1
8 mins Step 2
4 mins break for refreshments
10 mins Step 3
10 mins Step 4
return to craft or game from step 3 until end
In other words, avoid allowing step 4 to be sacrificed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9s-13+ groups with about 45mins
Divide your time as follows:
5 mins welcome, settling, starter
8 mins step 1
8 mins step 2
4 mins break for refreshments
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
10 mins Step 4

If you find the material for step 1 more exciting some weeks,
then 'borrow' the extra time from Steps 3 & 4 and consider
this timetable:
5 mins Welcome
12 mins Step 1
7 mins Step 2
4 mins break for refreshments
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
7 mins Step 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9s-13+ groups with about 30mins
Divide your time as follows:
3 mins welcome, settling, starter
5 mins step 1
7 mins step 2
10 mins Step 3 (focus on key activity)
5 mins Step 4
This is a pretty tight schedule, and lots of self-discipline will be required to achieve it!

NB The moveable ending issue can be covered by adding additional songs or prayers to
the worship time, or by leaving space for individuals to
approach the leaders for personal conversations.

Perhaps your setting does not conveniently fit into any of these timetables: please adapt as far as you can. If you need further advice, do not hesitate to contact us.