I am looking for something exciting to start January 1st, 2007.  KOW looks like it would be perfect for us.  I'm not sure how KOW material is sold.  I see that the material is Quarterly.  When does the winter quarter begin?  Do you think this is something that we could begin the first of the year without missing out on any of the material?

Thanks,

Christy Jasper

--------------

We shared this with her:

Hi, Christy. Thanks for your message! Yes, you could start at any time. Winter does include the story of Jesus' birth, but sometimes it's nice to cover this right after Christmas so the message comes through!

We do have dates on the back of the guide with suggested dates, but you can choose to use them whenever you want.

The Kit includes a leader guide, with info for 13 lessons (time for "Let's Praise God," "Let's Learn the Point" (3 activities each for preschool and elementary, with tips on how you can do preschool and elementary together), and "Let's Pray") including Bible backgrounds for your leaders. It also has a CD with the music for the whole quarter (and the CD includes electronic text files if you would like to put them into PowerPoint or some other presentation format). The kit also includes two DVDs: one has kids singing (with words on the screen) 10 of the songs for the quarter, and the other has about 8 or 9 2- to 3-minute discussion starters for use during the quarter. The kit also includes lyrics transparencies (if you like to use an overhead projector) and 3 hands-on point-makers (typically used in object lessons in the large-group "Let's Praise God" time). Your leader guide tells you how and where to use each of these items. And you also get a bonus craft ideas book in fall, winter, and spring quarters.

The leader guide (or the kit) doesn't include decorating ideas. The scope and sequence (included on the back cover, as well as free online) may give you some ideas, just by looking at which stories are covered. The FaithWeaver Director Manual (FaithWeaver covers the same Bible stories as KidsOwn Worship, but with an emphasis on Bible learning and life application as opposed to the attributes of God and how we respond to God with our worship and praise) includes about 4 pages of decorating ideas (about a page for each quarter -- with one theme per quarter). For example, the winter quarter decorating theme suggested is "The King Is Here!", with ideas to decorate.

I hope this helps. Let us know if we can help you in any other way.