Power Lab VBS Supplies

The source for your vacation bible school and Power Labs supplies.

Vacation Bible School Supplies

When Group Publishing, located here in Loveland, CO, introduced their Power Lab VBS program, we had no idea how many people would be interested in using Steve Spangler Science products to supplement their activities. We’ve received hundreds of phone calls and emails over the past few weeks and thought that this would be a great place to showcase what we’ve come up with for the Power Lab program. But... we couldn’t have done it without all the dedicated VBS leaders who have helped us hone our product connecting skills by sharing their science successes with us.

Here is what we hope is a helpful and comprehensive resource of materials for use with the Power Lab Vacation Bible School program. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have regarding this information.

Day One: Jesus Heals the Lepers, Luke 17:11-19

Day One of Power Lab is all about Jesus healing 10 lepers, but only one leper, the Samaritan, was thankful and praised Jesus.

Popular Activities:

OxiClean® Experiment: This activity goes along with the idea of “cleansing” the lepers. If you die a piece of cloth with iodine and then put the cloth in OxiClean, the stain is removed almost immediately. This is a great way to connect the power of Jesus’ healing touch with the concepts of chemistry. Click here to see the experiment in action! The video shows the original mixing instructions for making iodine... that requires some extra time and chemicals and isn’t really necessary, all you need is some iodine, cloth and OxiClean.
- Required materials: Iodine, OxiClean, cloth, water

Chromatography Experiment: This activity is a popular way to apply scientific principles and the end result gives you a beautiful flower for the students to give to someone they are thankful for, just like the Samaritan was thankful for Jesus. Click here to read more about the chromatography experiment.
- Required materials: Filter Paper, water soluble black pen, fuzzy wire, water

Day Two: Jesus Gives Sight to a Blind Man, John 9:1-41

Day Two of Power Lab teaches that Jesus is the Light of the World when He gives sight to a blind man.

Popular Activities:

Energy Ball: The Energy Ball is a small white, plastic ball that with two metal electrodes that illustrates open and closed circuits. When the electrodes are touched the ball lights up and makes a loud noise. Lots of students can gather in a circle holding hands and still activate the electrodes! The bright light and loud noise is a great visual for giving sight to the blind and praising Jesus for His blessings.
- Required materials: Energy Ball
Energy Beads: Energy Beads are white indoors and turn bright colors when they are exposed to sunlight. These beads work as a great take-home for students to help them remember that Jesus is the Light of the World. Students can even string them on cord to make a bracelet.
- Required materials: Energy Beads (available in various sized packages), bracelet cord (optional)

Day Three: Jesus Helps Peter Walk on Water, Matthew 14:22-23

Day Three of Power Lab talks about when Peter had to trust Jesus to walk on water during a storm.

Popular Activities:

Oobleck (cornstarch and water walk): Recreate the experience of walking on water with this amazing experiment! With just cornstarch and water you can create a Non-Newtonian substance that you can actually walk on. Check out the experiment page to find the perfect mixing proportions for the perfect batch and be sure to watch the video of Steve on the Ellen show with his cornstarch concoction!
- Required materials: cornstarch, water, food coloring (optional)
Water Gel: Water Gel is a superabsorbent polymer that sucks up LOTS of water. This experiment is a great lesson in trust as you flip a cup filled with water gel over someone’s head, only to find out the water gel doesn’t spill out! Watch Steve demonstrate this fun product.
- Required materials: Water Gel, water, opaque cup

Day Four: Jesus Dies and Is Resurrected, Luke 23:26-24:53

Day Four of Power Lab celebrates Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection three days later so that we may live eternally.

Popular activities:

Goldenrod Paper is a great accompaniment for this lesson. The paper starts out a golden color and when you touch ammonia to the paper it turns blood red. Then, when the paper dries the red goes away and it is golden again! Read more about the experiment here.
- Required materials: Goldenrod Paper, ammonia-based liquid such as Window Cleaner (with ammonia)

Day Five: The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost, Acts 2:1-47

The Fifth and final day of Power Lab focuses on the Holy Spirit coming to the disciples at Pentecost. The Word of God and the people of God spread to many lands.

Popular activities:

Smoke Rings/ Airzooka: A great way to demonstrate the Holy Spirit sweeping over the people is with an Airzooka or even larger air blaster like Steve used recently on the Ellen Show. Check out the video of Steve knocking cups off of peoples’ heads in the audience and read the experiment. The blasts of air are comparable to the Holy Spirit blowing fire on the people.
- Required materials: Airzooka or large air blaster as seen in the video, smoke machine (optional)
Superabsorbent polymers: Any of our superabsobent polymer products are great for demonstrating how Jesus’ followers started out as a small group and then grew and grew. Check out Spheres, Crystals or Insta-Snow!
- Required materials: Polymers!