The theme runs after the Bible story each week; see the Program Overview for more informaion.  Depending on the response of the children, the theme is usually changed every quarter.

Each theme program includes:

• Suggestions for the what the leader would say. 
• Ideas for the leader to illustrate what they are saying, e.g. pictures to hold, felts to board.
• Activities for the children to do, e.g. hold a stuffed animal or felt loop, bring out plastic fruit to a basket, or felt to board etc. 
• Songs to go with each activity, including where to find the song.  In some cases I sing different words to a familiar tune.
• The basket list is all the things that each child will need for the program.  We have a small basket for each child and the basket list is on the wall where they are kept so it is a simple job to redo them each week.  When teaching kindegarten age children I sit 5 or 6 children around one teacher and give the teacher a box containing all the things for their children. 
• I currently print the song words onto A3 paper and paste them in a large book which sits on an easel for the teacher. At other times I have printed them onto A2 cards and hung them in order as a giant flip chart on a frame.

To help the theme program run smoothly I buy 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15cm) cards and cut them in half to make 2 x 3 inch (5 x 7.5cm) cards.  I punch a hole in one corner and thread the cards onto a 25mm ring; they fit comfortably in the palm of my hand with my finger through the ring so I won't drop them.  

I write one song per card, colour coding as follows:

• Blue - is a brief summary of what I will say.
• Black - is any aid I will hold or place on the felt board as I am talking.
• Green - is the activity that the children will be doing.
• Red - is the song words written out in full including song number and book that it is found in; this helps if you have a mental blank.

I number the cards so that if I accidently drop them and the ring comes undone it is easy to put them back in the correct order.
When we have nearly finished singing the song I then flip that card over and glance at the next card to remind me of what will come next.
The cards are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand so they are not intrusive to anyone else watching.
 
TIP: When I first started using cards I was placing two songs per card and not cutting them in half, but discovered that occasionally I would miss a song out.  Having only one song per card has resolved this problem.

Quarter	Suggested Theme Programs
Q1 - Creation, sin, Noah, Joseph, Moses, Samuel.	Creation Sabbath Jesus wants me to be...
Q2 - David, Elijah, Naaman, Joash, Jonah, Daniel.	Jesus wants me to be... Jesus loves me Angels care for me
Q3 - Baby Jesus, boy Jesus, Jesus and the storm, Jairus' daughter, feeding the 5000, the 10 leppers.	Angels care for me Jesus loves me Baby Jesus Boy Jesus
Q4 - Zachaeus, cleansing the temple, Jesus death and resurection, Dorcas, Peter escapes from prison, the second coming and heaven.	Angels care for me Heaven Sabbath