 | Teach by Example. |
| Alternate between active and inactive approaches.
For example, you could start with Brain Teasers.
Then you could lead a nature walk to identify all the things
God created (see Bible
Story Activities). Follow that with the Bible story where the children
listen quietly and answer questions. Then you could use a Game
to help the children learn the Memory Verse.
This approach provides for planned energy releases and helps prevent
boredom. |
| Go Outside.
Children love the outdoors. You can teach about Life
in Biblical Times by serving a snack of
unleavened bread and dates on a blanket spread on the ground outside.
Or you can reenact the story of the Fall of Man (Genesis 3). Or let
them learn to play together on the playground. Just be
sure to come in with the same number of children you went out with. |
| Use Music.
Recruit a guitar, piano, or keyboard player to lead songs that will help the
children learn the books of the Bible or the Ten Commandments. Or be
brave and lead it yourself. |
| Use Art. Children
love to express themselves. Choose an activity they can complete by
themselves or with minimal supervision to build their confidence. They
can draw a picture showing what they learned. Or they can color a Coloring
Page. Or they can write the Memory
Verse on papyrus paper using ink and a
stick. |
| Use Repetition.
Choose a Bible Story Activity,
Brain Teaser, Memory
Verse, and Game
that all reinforce the same lesson you are teaching that day. |
| Use Visual Aids.
Prepare a wall-sized version of the Challenge
activity, such as memorizing the Ten Commandments. List the books of
the Bible on the wall. Print out the Clip
Art and hang it on the wall to remind the
children of what they have learned. Or let the children draw pictures
of what they learned and hang those on the wall. |
| Use Bible Drills. Provide
a list of the Memory Verses
they have learned for the past month and ask them to find the verses in the
Bible. Or ask them to find one book named after a lady and one book
named after a man. First one finished, stand up. |
| Use Individual Activities.
Schedule at least one activity each Sunday that will require each child to
learn individually. Each student can say the Memory
Verse alone during a relay race. Or each student can draw
a picture or write in a journal. |
| Use Group Activities. For example,
divide the class into groups and play "Who Wants to be a Christian
Heir?" to review the Bible Truths
or facts learned during the month (See Games).
This encourages the development of
social skills and reinforces the Bible Truth
that God wants us to have friends and work together (Genesis 2:18). |
| Watch a movie.
There are a number of good short movies (20 to 50 minutes) that tell the
story of a Biblical character or event. |
| Use role play to act out the story.
Write each of the parts on a separate card using words the children can
read. |
| Play Bible Detective.
For example, let the children discover words they can use to praise God in Prayer.
Provide a list of verses they can read to find the words. Write their
discoveries on the board. Use this approach for other activities, such
as learning about a person in People
of the Bible
or foods of the Bible in Life in Biblical Times. |
| Recruit a Co-Leader that is your opposite.
For example, if you like the active approach, recruit a Co-Leader that likes the inactive
approach and you can both do what you like best. |
| Celebrate Successes.
A job well done deserves a pat on the back. Applaud for the students
after they learn a Memory Verse.
If the entire class masters a Challenge,
such as memorizing "The Lord's Prayer," consider celebrating with
a cake or a pizza party during snack time. Use the celebrations as Outreach
by encouraging the students to invite friends to these celebrations held
during the Sunday School hour. |
