Welcome to a continuing series of tips on working with large groups of children. I hope that you will find these tips useful and be able to implement them in your dealings with large groups of kids. If you do, please leave a comment and let us know. For a complete list of posts in this series, please see the index page. So, without further introduction, here is today’s installment.
When you’re watching a movie, oftentimes the background score and many of the sound effects go unnoticed. But, have you ever watched a movie without sound effects and the background score? It is a completely different experience. There are specialists in Hollywood who do nothing but record background music and sound effects for motion pictures, and there work makes all the difference in the world. Sound, subtle though it may be, creates the atmosphere and tugs at your emotions. The sound creates a sense of doom or excitement or joyfulness depending on the scene, the music and the effects.
You can use these same techniques with your children’s ministry large group. With a minimal amount of funds, you can create the same effects that make a movie or television show stand out during your large group teaching. With an Ipod and a simple adaptor, I can use sound effects and play background music to create the atmosphere in the classroom that matches the story that is being told. Whether it’s game show music for a game show, storm sound effects for the story of Jesus calming the storm, or suspenseful music to play while telling the story of the crucifixion, sound adds a whole new element to your large group teaching. And don’t forget, louder is better!
Return to the Tips for Large Group Teaching in Children’s Ministry index page.