Step-by-step through a Y-Zone session

Y-Zone can be used in a variety of presentation styles. Our emphasis has been on small groups as we believe it is important that leaders get the opportunity to get to know and disciple the children they work with, but most activities can be adapted for use with large groups, and some of the games work better with more children. The colourful, simply laid out style of the Leader's Guides also means the material can be used for cell groups where older children are leading part or all of the session themselves.

Every session is divided into four steps. This ensures you will address the learning preferences for all the tweenagers in your group. For more information on how children learn read the reaching every child and the learning cycle articles. For a structured session, follow the four steps through in order, dividing your time into roughly equal parts – being generous to step 3 where possible (click here for more information on how to divide your time).

Before you start
As you start your preparation think about the Session Focus. This is the prime idea for the session – a key factor in judging the success of your session is being able to say that your tweenagers have grasped the focus by the end of your time together. Each step of the session should act to reinforce the focus.

Read the Key Scripture. Then read the Bible Background – someone else has looked up the commentaries for you! Taken together with Take a Moment you are given insights to help you teach the session with confidence. Of course you still need to read through the steps, planning any adaptations that you may need to make for your own group; gather together any extra resources you need (helpfully prompted by the list on the planning page); and pray.

As tweenagers arrive
Throughout the Leader’s Guide suggestions of what you might say are in bold type and suggested or desirable answers are in italic type, but are not always comprehensive!

Starters is an attention-grabbing, on-topic activity to use while your tweenagers are settling. If you don’t need a starter activity, you may often use the idea as an extra or alternative activity in step 3.

Bible teaching and application isn’t just for one week, but for all time, so before you get involved in the focus for this session, use the Link to last time to remind them about the previous session.

Step 1: Connecting with God's Word

This step seeks to help the tweenagers answer the following questions: ‘Why do I need to know this?’ ‘How does my life relate to this topic?’
It includes a brief activity, often with a linked discussion, to motivate them to pay attention to the topic.

Step 2: Studying God's Word
This step seeks to help the tweenagers answer the following questions: ‘What does the Bible say?’ ‘What does the Bible mean?’
It always contains a Bible study - read from a Bible version of your choice - followed by all-important questions to check that everyone understands the content of the passage.

Step 3: Interacting with God's Word

This step seeks to help the tweenagers answer the following questions: ‘Can I try this out?’ ‘How does this work in practice?’
It contains a range of activities that will reinforce the session focus, often including an activity based on the Y-Zone Green activity sheets and Y-Zone Red magazine content. Depending on time and space, you may offer all the activities simultaneously (allowing the tweenagers to choose their preferred activities) or you may choose those best suited to your group and situation. The icons against each activity will help you select activities, planning a balanced mix over a period. If you only have time for one activity we always recommend a key activity for you.

Step 4: Applying God's Word

This step seeks to help the children answer the following questions: ‘How does my life need to change?’ ‘How does this topic relate to my life?’
It is the final, ‘so what?’ phase of the session, helping the tweenagers to make a personal response to the session focus. It may include prayer, a challenge and worship (you may wish to expand the time spent singing including other, favourite songs). 

Memory verse
Every step 4 includes a relevant memory verse (taken from the NIV), along with a creative idea for committing it to memory. Don’t forget – if the leaders don’t learn the verse, the tweenagers will quickly follow their example. If you prefer, you may choose to focus on just one verse for each theme. Actually remembering eight or nine verses each year is a better achievement than forgetting fifty-two! 

 

Throughout each session the Y-Zone Green activity sheets and Y-Zone Red magazines and the CD Resource Pack will be referenced where they are incorporated in the teaching.

Y-Zone Green activity sheets are provided stacked, so that you can pull off the full-colour, four pages for the session for each tweenager. Y-Zone Red comes in a magazine format with each magazine covering five (Easter and Christmas) or six (other modules) sessions.