Scripture treasure hunt

I enjoyed teaching today. Today we studied sections 115 and 116. Why does the name of the church include references to both Jesus Christ and the Saints? We explored the connection between ourselves and the Savior. We also discussed the connection between the name of the church and our baptismal covenants. Through baptism we make a covenant to take Christ's name upon us. We also become members of Christ's church. How do we honor that name? Etc. I hit a few other topics also. These I wove through a "scripture treasures" theme. We picked "clues" from the scriptures and walked around the church to find the clues. Then in each location we had a discussion about that topic. It was a nice way to teach and good for keeping the kids awake and involved!! (except for when we went into the chapel and one of the boys laid down on a pew and went to sleep--but that didn't surprise me, from him anyway!! I think he listens, he just doesn't look like it!!)

Some scripture mastery ideas

Over this year, we have done some fun things in our class as we have studied scripture mastery scriptures. We have played scripture mastery bingo. We have played musical chairs. In this game the kids who are "out" search for the scriptures and become the "timer" for the kids doing musical chairs. When the kids who are out all find the particular scripture, then the music stops. Every time someone gets out they join the group to find the scruptures.

One week my co-teacher brought big sugar cookies along with stuff to use to decorate them with. He then had each student draw a scripture mastery scripture from a basket and they then had time to decorate their cookie to portray that scripture. The kids loved it and came up with some great ideas!! After all the cookies were decorated, they got to show them to the class and the rest of the class had to figure out which scripture it was.

We have also played jeopary with the scripture mastery scriptures. This week we played "the box game." To play the box game I divided the class into two teams. Then I gave a scripture clue and an item (pencil, chapstick, cell phone, etc.). The first team to have everyone on their team find the scripture that matched the clue and then get the item into the box at the front of the classroom got the point. The kids had a lot of fun with this one!

I know some teachers have said they have to be careful with competitive games in their classes, but my class seems to get along really well and not be ruffled by anything. They really enjoy the competition but don't take it too seriously. Sometimes we have candy--given to the winners first and then to everyone else--but just as often it's all for the fun and learning. You know your class best and what will work for them. I want my kids to feel the spirit in class, but every once in awhile, we need to let our hair down and have some fun!! Good luck!

New blog

I am in my first year of teaching an early morning seminary class for high school sophomores in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have a co-teacher who has some fabulous ideas that I don't want to forget, and I am interested in hearing what others do in their early morning seminary classes. I thought a blog would be a great forum for me to record some of the things that we have done in our class, and hopefully learn from others who may have some great ideas they are willing to share! I look forward to posting some specific ideas here in the next few days! Please comment if you have some ideas to share! Thanks for reading!