Teaching kids to value God's Word at a young age by memorizing Scripture can have a huge impact later on in their lives. I still remember and am encouraged by Scripture that my mom had me memorize while in elementary school, or from songs I still sing that are set to Scripture.
Below are some ideas for whole class games and independent activities to include in your Sunday School Routine to help students memorize Scripture! I've tried to include activities that require minimal preparation and resources.
Write Scripture
Unless your students are preschool/kindergarten age or struggle with writing, you could have students write out their memory verse each week in a different way. Writing Scripture works whether your students are all practicing the same verse, or if they have chosen their own verses to memorize.
Below are fun ideas to have students write out Scripture. Choose one activity a week, or have students choose what they want to do!
Write it...
- with markers/crayons/colored pencils
- really, really small and then really, really big
- with rainbow letters - each word or letter a different color
- with chalk on black construction paper
- using "fancy" letters or cursive
- in all uppercase letters
- in block letters
- left handed (or right handed, if you are regularly left handed)
- outside with chalk
- using cut out letters from old magazines and glue
- in white crayon on white paper - then color over the verse in marker to "reveal" the words
- upside down
- backwards and then forwards
- on a whiteboard with dry erase marker
- using playdough - form each word
- using yarn - form each word
If you have students that get frustrated easily with writing then don't have them write the entire verse. They can write the first part of the verse or choose important words.
Whole Class Games to Practice Scripture Memory
Below are some other games you can play as a whole class to practice memorizing Scripture. If everyone is practicing memorizing the same scripture, these games can be a fun way to encourage each other.
One Word - Line students up. Have the first students say the first word from the memory verse. The second student says the second word. Continue until the entire memory verse has been said, and then repeat, starting with a different student. Allow students to "pass" on their turn if they want to.
Act It Out - Have students come up with hand or body motions for each word in the memory verse. Act out each motion together as you say the Scripture together.
Work it Out - Give students a "work out" activity to do like jumping jacks, squats, push-ups, arm circles, lunges, etc. Then, have students do one "work out" as they say each word in the memory verse. So, have students do 1 jumping jack as they say the first word, and a 2nd jumping jack as they say the second.
Beat the Clock - Write out each word from the memory verse on separate index cards. Mix the cards up, and hand a different card to each student. (Some students can get more than one card if necessary.) Then, have students work together to put the cards in the correct order while timing them to see how long it takes. Students can repeat the activity and try to beat their own time. If you have a lot of students, you could split them into groups and have them compete against each other.
Stomp - Write out each word from the memory verse on separate index cards. Spread the cards in random order around the room. Call one student at a time to "stomp" on the next word in the memory verse.
If you play Beat the Clock or Stomp, you can use the index cards you created as an arrival activity or dismissal activity as parents wait - have students put the memory verse in order independently instead of as a group.
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