Memory verses are an important part of the Sunday School lesson plan. It helps wrap-up the bible story, a take-home nugget of the day’s lesson. More importantly, it helps children know their Bible and grow to enjoy God’s word.
Putting the verse into song is one of the most popular ways of helping students memorize a verse. But if the teacher is not fully equipped with musical resources, there are other equally fun ways to launch into the memory verse in class:
1. Tape up or write the memory verse on the board and let the class read it aloud a couple of times. Then have each student tell the verse to a seatmate. In another round, have the class stand up and chose something in the room such as a bag, a crayon on the floor, a poster on the wall. Have them tell the verse to that object. Allow them to move about the room, picking out a new object or classmate to whom they will share the verse.
2. On slips of paper, write out action words that kids can do: jump, march, wiggle, dance, tiptoe, etc. Put these in a bag or box. After reading out the memory verse together, call out a student to draw a word from the box. Have the students say the memory verse while doing the action. After a couple of words, take down the verse from the board and continue with the game.
3. Another variation of the previous activity is to use descriptive words: sleepy, happy, angry, fast, slow, etc.
4. Draw a line in the middle of the classroom with colored tape or chalk. Assign which side of the line is loud and which is quiet. Have students go to the “loud” side and say the memory verse as loud as possible. Then have them skip over to the “quiet” side and whisper the memory verse. Other opposites you can try: fast/slow, happy/sad, sitting down/standing.
5. Play London Bridge, but singing a quick Sunday School song (such as the first part of Jesus Loves Me). Whoever gets caught has to recite the memory verse. An alternative game is “The Boat is Sinking”, where the incomplete group says the memory verse.
These games are suited for younger students such as preschoolers and early readers. Keep the memory verses short and opt for the simplest version with simple words.
For older students, the verse can be incorporated into arts and crafts. Long verses can be turned into puzzle games that can be done as a group or individually.
Thanks for sharing. got to suggest this to our SS Superintendent.
Sounds like these ideas might work. Thanks for sharing them.
super
glad you like them. I did variations of these in the kindergarten-level in our Sunday school.
Will you teach them that a slave should be obediant to his master? Will you teach them that a woman should remain silent in a public gathering and never teach a man? These things are also in the bible. Better to teach an objective system of ethics based on Justice and Fairness.
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