Welcome to the Girls in Action ® training presentation

1. Welcome to the Girls in Action® training presentation

2. In the Summer of 2004, the Children’s Resource Team of the WMU® began an evaluation of the GA® curriculum. As a part of this year and half research project, WMU surveyed GAs, GA leaders, children’s ministers, parents, and state WMU leadership.

3. The research phase culminated with a month-long pilot project that included GA leaders and girls from approximately 60 churches across North America. • Based on their responses and our research, WMU created a new design for the GA curriculum. • WMU listened and responded to what girls and leaders said they wanted.

4. WMU is excited to announce the launch of a new line of Girls in Action resources in September 2007!

5. Grounded in Scripture learning and application Fun Interactive Easy to use Active Simple to implement Inspiring to girls, leaders, and parents The New Design is…

6. Another way to explain it is… • Relevant • Redesigned • Ready to Use

7. What’s new: • Redesigned publications: GA Leader, GA Leader Kit,and GA World • Bimonthly delivery of all resources, starting September/October 2007 • Fresh, vibrant designs for today’s children and leaders • Easy-to-use session plans for all groups • More ideas and features from real GAs and leaders

8. What’s the same: • WMU’s commitment to age-appropriate, learner-focused missions education • Fun, hands-on activities to help girls learn about missionaries and missions work around the world • Content that challenges children to understand and be involved in the mission of God

9. Presenting the new line of GA curriculum resources…

10. GA Leader • The essential planning resource for GA • Replaces Aware • 48 pages • Bimonthly • Recommended for every GA leader

11. GA Unit of Study • Each month, GA Leader provides plans for GA groups to learn about a different missions area. • Each month’s unit includes plans for four weekly sessions and one Live Action Project. • Sessions provide ideas for leading all GAs, grades 1–6, with options for prereaders and preteens.

12. Unit Structure • Each session introduces girls to a different aspect of missions, providing them with a holistic understanding of the missions area by the end of the month. • Each session builds upon the previous weeks’ sessions to help girls grow in their understanding and application of Scripture, discipleship, and missions.

13. Session One This session introduces the biblical basis of the month’s topic. It answers the question: What does the Bible say?

14. Session Two This session introduces the culture or missions need described in the unit. It answers the question: What is the need?

15. Session Three This session includes in-depth details about the missions work or ministry featured in the unit. It answers the question: What is being done to meet the need?

16. Session Four This session includes three options: WorldVentures, and two experiential activities to reinforce the information in the unit. It answers the question: What else do I need to know to personalize and apply my learning?

17. Live Action Project Each month, a Live Action Projectprovides a hands-on ministry idea related to the unit. It answers the question: How can I help meet this need or a similar need in my community?

18. A Glimpse of the GA Session Layout • Explore (10–15 minutes) • Explain (15–20 minutes) • Experience (20 minutes) • Express (10 minutes)

19. Sample Session Layout

20. Explore • Explore (10–15 minutes) • Active, hands-on introductory activity • GA Motto, GA Pledge, and GA Verse(s) • Includes options for prereaders and preteens (Choose the best option for your group.)

21. Explain • Explain (15–20 minutes) • Story and reinforcement activity for younger girls (grades 1–3) • Story and reinforcement activity for older girls (grades 4–6) (Choose the story that is best for your age group.)

22. Experience • Experience (20 minutes) • Three activities that will give girls hands-on, creative experiences related to the material they are learning • Activities include games, cooking, crafts, and drama • Options for prereaders and preteens • Girls can participate in activities in large or small groups (Choose the best activities for your group.)

23. Express • Express (10 minutes) • Review of unit Scripture verse • Prayer about what girls have learned, and for an MK featured in GA World with a birthday during the week

24. Sessions with Flexible Options Options include: • Just for Prereaders: idea boxes that explain how to adapt an activity for prereaders (1–2 graders) • Just for Preteens: idea boxes that explain how to adapt an activity for preteens (5–6 graders) • Stories: for both younger and older girls

25. Here is how it works… • Review the sample session plans. • Follow the highlighted area to view what options best fit the age group. • Choose the activities, options, and stories that work best for your group.

26. Blended Groups Choose the story that your girls will most relate to, or split the group for story time. 1 4 3 2 Choose the best experience(s) for your girls.

27. Grades 1-2 Consider using the prereader options. 1 Choose the younger story. 4 3 2 Choose the best experience(s) for your girls.

28. Grades 3-4 Choose the story that your girls will most relate to, or split the group for story time. 1 4 3 2 Choose the best experience(s) for your girls.

29. Grades 5-6 Consider using the preteen options. 1 Choose the older story. 4 3 2 Choose the best experience(s) for your girls.

30. More to GA Leader • Missionary Profiles • The first page of each curriculum unit will contain a profile of the missionary or ministry featured in the unit. • This information will give leaders more in-depth understanding of the month’s topic. • Leaders can share information from this profile with girls throughout the month, as desired.

31. GA Leader • Preteen Page • Includes unique and age-appropriate experiences just for fifth- and sixth-grade girls in GA-ministry projects, sleepovers, etc. • Includestips for talking with preteens about serious issues, and information to help leaders understand the world of today’s preteens.

32. GA Leader • Family Missions Focus • A reproducible page for leaders to give to parents to help reinforce missions learning at home. • This page will share with parents what girls will learn during the month, and includes suggestions for ways families can learn about and do missions together.

33. GA Leader • Activity Pages • Reproducible activity pages are now in GA Leader. • Pages contain games, fact strips, crafts, and other reproducible items. • Leaders are free to make unlimited copies of each activity page. (These pages replace the black-and-white items from the Aware Resource Kit.)

34. GA Leader • Leadership Helps • Hot Topic: multiple articles in each issue addresses a topic of interest to GA leaders • Ideas from GA Groups • GA Leader Spotlight • Live Action Project Idea Swap • Much more…

35. Reflections on GA Leader • Take a moment and reflect on the new GA Leader: • What are the major differences? • How will this affect planning? • How will this affect the girls experience in GA?

36. GA Leader Kit • The essential resource kit for GA • Combines Aware Resource Kit and Picture Set • 12 posters • Bimonthly • Recommended for every GA group

37. GA Leader Kit • Includes colorful photo montages of missionaries, people, ministries in action, and cultural settings. • Includes interactive games, activities, maps, and banners referred to in weekly GA sessions. • Combines the best of the Aware Resource Kit and Aware Picture Set. And it’s easier to use!

38. GA Leader Kit Details Month One • Posters 1–3: game, fact cards, banner, or activities • Posters 4–6: missionary photographs Month Two • Posters 7–9: game, fact cards, banner, or activities • Posters 10–12: missionary photographs

39. Reflections on GA Leader Kit • Take a moment and reflect on the new GA Leader Kit: • What are the major differences? • How will this affect planning? • How will this affect the girls experience in GA?

40. GA World • The essential student guide for GA • Replaces Discovery and GA World • 40 pages • Bimonthly • Recommended for every girl in GA

41. GA World • Girls will receive GA World every two months, for use during GA and at home. • To keep the second month a surprise, leaders are encouraged to seal the second month pages together with GA stickers.* *available from WMU

42. GA World for All Ages • Each issues includes mission stories, fun activities, ideas, and stories about GA groups. • GA Leader plans will reference different pages in GA World for different age groups. • GA World is designed to inspire all girls in grades 1–6!

43. GA World Features • Meet the Missionaries • Fun information about the missionaries, volunteers, or ministry, girls will learn about during the month in GA. (one per month) • Get Crafty • Instructions for making a craft project related to each month’s missions area. • What’s Cooking? • Tasty recipes from each month’s missions focus area.

44. GA World Features • More Missions • Articles, activities, fun facts, quizzes, journaling space, and much more. Many of these activities will be used in weekly GA sessions, as described in GA Leader. • MK Mini-Mag • Each month, girls will pull out from GA World a page containing profiles of four MKs with birthdays during the month. Girls can fold this page into a “mini-mag” to remind them to pray for the MKs.

45. GA World Features • MK of the Month • A more in-depth look at one of the MKs featured in the month’s mini-mag. • Calendar Pull-Out • Each month, girls will pull out from GA World a calendar page. Each date on the calendar will contain a fun fact, prayer request, or ministry action girls can take on that day.

46. GA World Features • GA Group Spotlight • Includes photographs of a GA group, information about the group’s activities, and other fun information. • Making a Difference • A story about a GA, Acteen®, or adult missions leader who is making a difference in the world. • Creative Corner • Contains jokes, drawings, and photographs from GAs.

47. GA World Features • Ask an Acteen • A national Acteens panelist will respond to a question sent in from a GA. Topics may range from “everything about being a teenager” to “getting along with your little brother.” • Just GAs • Letters and photos from GA groups around the country.

48. Reflection on GA World • Take a moment and reflect on the new GA World: • What are the major differences? • How will this affect planning? • How will this affect the girls experience in GA?

49. Subscriptions Subscriptions to Aware, Aware Resource Kit, Aware Picture Set, Discovery, and GA World will automatically transfer to the redesigned GA materials. To order additional copies of the new materials, or for questions concerning your subscription, please call WMU customer service at 1-800-968-7301.

50. Thank you! • I hope that this has been very informative for you. If you have questions, please email me at meaker@wmu.org. • I will address your questions through the 2007–2008 FAQ section on www.gapassport.com. • To learn more, contact your state GA consultant. Visit www.gapassport.com for contact information.