[This post is part of my Guide for High School Bible Teachers.]
In a previous post, I listed 19 icebreakers for high school Bible class. But icebreakers only take five or ten minutes so what are we going to do for the rest of the class period?
Since the Bible aims to affect our head (intellect), heart (emotion/will), and hands (behavior/actions), I’ve separated my Bible class assignments into those three main areas. While all three areas are interconnected, seeing assignments under separate headings helps us intentionally target each area. Again, our goal is to help students know it, feel it, and do it.
Here’s my list of Bible class activities targeting the intellectual dimension. Feel free to add your own activities to the list.
Head: Content Work (Know it)
- Reading – There are a variety of ways to read a passage in class: silently, randomly call on people, popcorn reading where the reader finishes reading wherever they want and then calls on another student to read, dramatic reading, assigned character roles, etc.
- Observations – Help the students to see details in the passage. You can give guidance by tell students what to look for such as repeated words and phrases or you can give them freedom to record whatever they notice.
- Q and A – Have the students write out any questions they have about the passage and then discuss. (Of course, you can always prepare your own questions to test the students’ knowledge as well.)
- Partner discussion – Place students with a partner to read and discuss the passage together.
- Notes – Have students take notes on the lecture then collect at the end of class. Students can record notes in a variety of ways such as dividing the paper into four sections to write down facts, new ideas, questions, and action steps.
- Handouts – use the handouts included in your curriculum or make your own.
- Outline – Hand out the passage without subheadings and have the students outline it.
- Summarize – Give guidelines such as a minimum number of sentences to be written.
- Prior knowledge – Find out what the students already know about the topic before you explore it together, then end class by reviewing how they’ve grown in their understanding of that topic.
- Scripture memorization – Give a passage to be memorized by the end of class. You can also have students memorize a chapter or passage as a whole class – e.g., memorize one or two verses each, then go around the class.
- Translation comparison – Give three or four translations and have students compare the similarities and differences. Use www.biblegateway.com for free access to different translations.
- Surveys – Poll students in class or send them out to collect data on a specific topic.
- Crossword puzzle – Make one for the students or have the students make one for each other as a review activity.
- Research paper – Make sure to give the details of what you’re looking for and how you’ll be grading.
- Debate – Divide the class into two groups and assign positions to be argued for. Give class time for the groups to prepare their arguments then have representatives from each group debate then rotate in new representatives.
[This post is part of my Guide for High School Bible Teachers.]
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.