If you're teaching youth, you know that on occasion, students will ask disruptive or off-topic questions. I am always trying to encourage my students to ask questions, and I am always worried that shooting down a question too hard will frighten off others who have questions. I have made the mistake before of shooting down […]

This popular technique has been misused and abused in gospel classrooms for many years. It is rare that splitting into groups can be used effectively in the gospel classroom.  Read on to find out if you think you can use it in yours: Small groups should not be created from groups larger than 20 people. […]

For many teachers, there is an imaginary line about 5 feet in front of the chalkboard, near the table. Students do not cross that line, nor do teachers. One of the best Classroom management skills you can develop is breaking The Plane, or getting in the habit of moving about the classroom as you teach. […]

This is the easiest way to engage kids in scripture reading in my opinion. You'll need something soft like a beanbag or small stuffed animal. A wadded up piece of paper could even be used in a pinch. You may need to lay out some ground rules like : - do not aim above the […]

Since this is my first year teaching Seminary, I'm still learning and looking for ideas on how to teach students to use the Gospel Study Aids like the Bible dictionary, index, gazeteer, maps, footnotes, and other supplements during their scripture study. Here are a few of the things I've used with success, and I'll add […]

Items Needed: A feather, a large rock Lesson Idea: Place the feather on a table and ask someone to come and blow the feather off the table.  Place the rock on the table and have another person come and try to blow it off the table.  You may want to have several people together try […]

Items Needed: A raw egg, food coloring, hypodermic needle (see your local pharmacy), a clear bowl. Previous Preparation: Color the inside of the egg by injecting it with the needle full of food coloring. Lesson Idea: Show the egg.  Put it into the clear bowl.  Ask your family to tell you everything they know about […]

Items Needed: A fly swatter Lesson Idea: Show the fly swatter and ask your family what it is.  What is it for? (Killing flies.)  What other insects can we swat?  Why do we use fly swatters?  (To keep our homes cleaner and to be free from annoying insects.)  What are things in our spiritual lies […]

Items Needed: One small sewing needle or pin. Lesson Idea: Hold the pin up in the air and tell the participants that you are going to conduct an experiment. You are going to drop the pin on the desk and would like everyone to be quiet so they can all hear it. Drop the pin […]

Items Needed: A bowl of ice cream Delicious topping for the ice cream Ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise Lesson Idea: Begin by showing your participants a bowl of ice cream. Ask what kinds of topping they like on their ice cream. (Chocolate, caramel, whipped cream, etc.) Now place the delicious topping on the ice cream and […]