Mission Briefing

The Operation Space day is divided into rotations, with 5-minute breaks between each rotation that allow for cadet crews to get to the next location. Rather than staying in one room for the whole day, children are on the move, rotating from site to site with their Cadet Crews.

The site rotation plan enables vacation Bible school crew members to specialize in just one activity rather than requiring them to be responsible for multiple areas. People may be more willing to help if they know their responsibility is limited to just crafts, teaching lessons, or games. This also allows your volunteers to specialize in an area they are gifted in.

Children enjoy the site rotation plan, as well, because they are constantly on the move, hearing and experiencing different sights, sounds, and people. The rotation schedule for each group is the same each day.

Operation Space is designed to take between 2 ½ and 3 hours each day to allow adequate time to complete each rotation in the curriculum. The three-hour plan is recommended because of the content-rich program. Decide which schedule works best for you (see sample schedules), and plan to venture through the day in the following order.

• Launch Site Opening Assembly: Everyone gathers in a large assembly area to start the day. The opening assembly consists of singing, a Space Probe lesson, Missions Moment, announcements, and prayer. See the Assembly Guide for more information. You’ll need one guidebook for each assembly leader.
• Rotation Stations: Cadet Crews travel to four different rotation stations.
  • Bible Briefing: At this site, children meet flight instructors who present the day’s Bible lesson and apologetics content in appealing ways. See the age-appropriate teaching guides for more information. You’ll need one age-appropriate Teacher Resource Pack (Toddler, Pre-Primary, Primary, Junior) for each flight instructor.
  • Cosmic Crafts: At this station, children create fun crafts that are theme-related and reinforce the day’s Bible content. See the Cosmic Craft Guide for more information. You’ll need one guidebook for each craft leader.
  
  • Galactic Games and Stellar Snacks: At these stations, children spend half the time playing games and the other half eating snacks. Games and snacks are theme-related and reinforce the day’s, Bible content. See the Galactic Game Guide and the Stellar Snack Guide for more information. You’ll need one guidebook for each game and snack leader.
• Launch Site Closing Assembly: The children gather again in the large assembly area for a closing drama, singing, contest announcements, and dismissal. See the Assembly Guide for detailed information.