Every VBS needs some games and activities! Not only do they promote learning and fun, they also help VBS students develop a sense of community and trust through teamwork. Take a look at these train games for kids and VBS railroad activities to see how you can incorporate them into your train VBS theme.
Conductor Races
Jesus leads us safely toward a life of faith and a relationship with Him and the Father – just like a train conductor safely moves passengers from one place to another. And just as a conductor keeps a train on the track, Jesus has taught us how to live a life of faith to stay on track in our relationship with God. Let's take that principle to kid-world with a game that depends on conductors and passengers working together to reach a goal.
What you'll need:
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Conductor hat, conductor vest and bandana per team
How to play:
1. Divide players into two teams
2. Have teams line up behind the starting line
3. Provide each team with a conductor's hat, a conductor's vest and a bandana
4. Give each player a train ticket
5. Place the two ticket boxes across the playing area
6. Blow a whistle to start the race
7. The first player puts on the conductor's hat, conductor's vest, and the bandana
8. Player runs across the playing area to the ticket box, we used a mini suitcase!
9. Player tears train ticket in half and places in the ticket box
10. Player runs back to the starting line
11. Player takes off the conductor's hat, conductor's vest, and the bandana
12. Play moves to the next player
13. The first team to get all of their train tickets in their ticket box wins the game
There's no need for everything to be elaborate. You can DIY some of the game elements quite easily:
DIY Projects
- Train Tickets
The train tickets can be as simple as an index card or plain pieces of paper. If desired, train tickets can even be designed or colored by the kids prior to the race.
- Ticket Boxes
The ticket boxes can be as simple as empty tissue boxes with an opening or slot. Ticket boxes could also be decorated prior to the race and can be made out of any type of empty box. We used our Gold and Black Mini Suitcases to incorporate the train travel theme.
It's a fun game for sure, but it's also a learning experience. Asking some questions (totally optional!) can help children make important faith-based connections. You can also make simple changes to make it easier for younger children.
Optional Discussion Questions:
1. How is Jesus like a train conductor?
2. We put on a conductor's uniform for our race. What can you wear every day to show you have a relationship with Jesus?
3. We compared the railroad track to our relationship with God. What helps power your relationship with God?
4. What is your ticket to a relationship with God?
5. What is your ticket to heaven?
For Younger Children:
- Shorten the playing area
- Do not make the players rip their tickets
- Only use a conductor's hat
Memory Verse Train
Use the following memory verse, or one of your choosing, for this activity.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Trains are quite powerful. They have the strength, or power, to travel up very steep mountains and they can carry heavy loads as well as lots of passengers. With great speed, they travel great distances through lots of different types of weather and various terrain.
As Christians we can do the same thing. Our strength comes from God, but when things are tough, it can be difficult to trust in the strength and power that is available to us. If we tap into the strength we get from Jesus, we can face our fears with confidence. With His power we can build our courage and defeat our fears.
For this activity, use the following memory verse, or another one of your choosing:
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
What you'll need:
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Train shapes (1 engine, 11 train cars, 1 caboose - see free printable template)
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Markers
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Cardboard or construction paper
How to play:
1. Prepare several cardboard train shaped cutouts. You can download our free printable templates here.
- These could be construction paper cutouts but we suggest laminating the pieces if construction paper is used
2. Place memory verse on the cutouts as outlined
- Engine: Philippians
- Train cars: FOR, I, CAN, DO, EVERYTHING, THROUGH, CHRIST, WHO, GIVES, ME, STRENGTH
- Caboose: 4:13
4. Hide the cutouts throughout the playing area
5. Practice the memory verse with the students
6. On "go," students race to find the cutouts and place the memory verse in the correct order
Of course, if you have a large group, you can create more than one set of cutouts in different colors, divide the students into teams, assign a color, and then have a race to find the cutouts and place the memory verse in the correct order.
Once the activity is completed, you can lead a discussion about using the strength of Jesus, using these questions as starting points.
Optional Discussion Questions
1. What challenges do you face that could be helped by relying on the strength provided by Jesus?
2. How does Jesus give you strength and power?
3. What can you do with Jesus giving you strength?
4. What does Jesus want you to do with the strength He gives you?
For Younger Children
- Put the words from the verse on one side of the train shapes and the numbers 1-13 on the other side
- Kids can put in numeric order and then flip over to reveal the memory verse
- Hide the shapes in easier places or in view and not hidden at all
- Do as a class activity and not a race
Musical Train Cars
Through Jesus, we have all been given a place in heaven. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have all been granted salvation. If heaven was like a train car, it would go on and on and on, and have a seat for everyone who believes in Jesus and asks God for forgiveness of his or her sins.
What you'll need:
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Chairs (one less than the number of students)
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Music and player
How to play:
1. Played like musical chairs except the chairs are set up in rows like those on a train
- 2 chairs, aisle, 2 chairs (per row)
2. Start with one less chair than there are children
3. Play a selected VBS song
4. Kids move in an "S" shape: outside one row of chairs, down the aisle, outside the other row of chairs
5. When the music stops, all students try to find a chair and sit down
6. One student will not find a seat and is out of the game
- Let the children who are out help play the music, remove a chair, or decide when to stop the music
7. Remove an additional chair each round until only one chair remains
8. The student who sits in the last chair when the music stops wins the game
Optional Questions:
1. How did it feel when you were not able to find a seat?
2. How did it feel to have a seat when someone else was not able to find one?
3. How big is heaven?
4. What do you have to do to be saved and have a place in heaven?
5. Why is heaven nothing like the game of musical train cars?
For Younger Children:
- Use carpet mats or pads instead of chairs
- Remove more than one chair at a time so no single child is left out
Be sure to stress that even though this was a fun game, it is not how God's kingdom works. There is plenty of room in heaven and the Kingdom of God. None of us have to win or compete for a seat in God's kingdom. Jesus loves you and if He lives in your heart, you have a spot with Him forever.
See more railroad VBS ideas to make it the best VBS yet! Get inspired with railroad activities plus fun snack station, craft station and check-in station ideas.
