Walking in Sonshine VBS: 2. Jesus Feeds the 5,000

Jesus feeds the 5,000+ is the second lesson in the Walking in Sonshine VBS.

Depending on the age group, disciples were discussed first, and the older students discussed Jesus feeding the 4,000 and the 5,000 and the differences between both events.

I purchased the background here. This is the grassland background. Item No: BDNSW03386 Order early because they come from Shanghai, but I have found they are usually the best price. You can order any size and get a discount for a larger order, and the shipping is cheaper ordering a bulk order.  

I used a Jesus cardboard standup I bought from here several years ago. Since I didn't want to print and cut thousands of people, I put a group into ovals with the label 'group of 50' since that was how Jesus said to divide the people and I stapled them around on the grass. It actually looked good! The kids liked it. Click here to download the ovals with the crowds. There are groups of 100 for Jesus feeding the 4,000 included.

If you didn't know from my other VBS posts, I love the fabric backdrops! They are so much easier to put up than paper and so colorful. The kids (and adults) love them! AND it takes minutes to take down! Which is fantastic because you know how tired you are after VBS! Just pull a corner and pull down the rest of the background. Everything you staple on top will come off with it and it's so easy! Just fold, and I staple a small picture with the size on it so I can easily find it the next time. Because they can be used again and again! Best VBS find ever!

I purchased the background here. This is the Jesus Preached to Fishermen background. Item No: BDys-169 Order early because they come from Shanghai, but I have found they are usually the best price. You can order any size and get a discount for a larger order, and the shipping is cheaper ordering a bulk order. This was covering a corner where I have a tent. Super easy since everything is already printed on the background! My helpers loved it!

I purchased the lunch basket here, the fish here and I used the Stonefire Naan Rounds for the bread. My research shows the bread was probably 4-5" round and flat. John 6:9 tells us they were barley loaves. Before class, I put 5 in a quart size zipper bag for each class so they would be fresh. When I talked about the boy's lunch, I had the basket to show and showed them the fish. Then I removed the bread from the baggie, and we talked about the number and how this one lunch was not going to feed 5,000 people. We prayed like Jesus and broke (tore) the bread and everyone had a snack (which everyone loved). They got fish when they played the review game. 

To review the lesson, there is a page for the 5,000 and can be adjusted as needed for the combined lessons. I purchased this Let's Go Fishing game and put numbers 1-24 on the bottom with a black Sharpie. (The set I purchased has 24 fish.) We let the kids Go Fish using the card table again and they read the number which corresponds to the numbered questions. If they answered the question correctly, they were given an individual pack of Swedish Fish like this. Actually, they were all given the fish and we found it was easier (for us) and everyone could hear and discuss to let them all fish for a number first. Then everyone sat down, and we asked what number they had, and they answered the question.

Click here to download the lesson, Magnetic Board Visuals, and Review Game Questions.

Click here to download the visuals.

Click here to download the pictures to color.