A narrator reads a passage of scripture while actors dramatize it. When the teacher yells "freeze", the actors freeze and an actor (or actors -- you choose) comes in from the sidelines. They tap an actor on the shoulder and take his or her place in the action. The teacher says "Action!" and the dramatization […]

This is another form of student-directed randomized scripture reading. Students stand to read a verse and then call the name of someone else to stand and read the following verse. The kids are "popping" up to read. This is also a good technique when you're doing Everybody Writes (each student writes a a brief response […]

Write on the board the topic of your lesson. Write "[YOUR TOPIC] is like a ____." Give your students a scrap piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Set the timer for 15-30 seconds and let them write their answers. Give them a few minutes to share and explain their answers. When I did […]

A student suggested this method based on something they do in her drama class at school. A narrator reads a passage of scripture while students act out their roles. Someone (a teacher or another person) randomly chooses a character to "vote off the island". This selection can be done by tapping an actor on 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 […]