Creative Teaching Ideas

Which Way?

Leave a comment

Materials
1. Several objects of different colors, one color for each team.
2. A large area that allows youth to travel around the building or an outdoor area without getting in each other’s way too much.

Activity
Position the objects that youth must retrieve as a group. Color code several teams and have them locate and retrieve the object corresponding to the color of their team.

Instructions
Each group is to form a circle by linking arms but facing outside. Each team will select a group member to stand in the middle of the circle. The objective is for the person in the middle to guide the group to the object that you have positioned. Reveal the object to the person in the center of the circle only. Nobody else in the team should know about it. As the team moves, they must listen to the instructions given by the person in the middle without unlinking their arms. The person in the center may only give directions to guide the team to the object but may not reveal anything about what the object is. If the object is revealed or hints are given to indicate the identity of the object then that team will be disqualified. The team that retrieves its object first, wins.

Debrief
At the end of the game ask the youth to discuss the difficulties they faced in finding and retrieving the object.

1. What things were essential for the team to win?
– Unity
– Listening to the one in the center though you cannot physically see him because everyone is facing outward.
-If each person wanted to move at his own personal pace the whole team suffers.

Application
God wants us to serve Him, and He gives us Jesus to be our life’s navigator. If my sights are always on Jesus, if my every decision is made in the light of his abiding presence, then I know my service to God will be accomplished. Let us keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, who inspires us and perfects our faith (Heb 12:2) Though physically we could not see the center of the circle we were relying on his direction. Even if the task of completing the job might be daunting His words inspire us. We need to give up our individuality and be one with the father just as Christ was one with Him. (Philippians 2:5-11)


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Creative Teaching Ideas

Freedom in Christ

2 Comments

Materials
Gather strips of soft cloth to tie the hands and ankles as well as to make blindfolds. (Strips torn from an old sheet work nicely) You’ll need enough strips for each person to have one.

Activity
Distrubute the cloth strips to kids and have them form three groups. Instruct one group to tie each other’s hands behind their backs. (You will have to help the last person.) Have another group use the strips to loosely tie each person’s ankles together. Have the remaining group use its strips as blindfolds. Provide instructions to the youth letting them know that as you call out various actions, they are to do each one in the best way that they can.

* Shake hands
* Touch your toes
* Walk across the room
* Wave to a friend
* Take one giant step
* Sit cross-legged on the floor
* Hop on one foot
* Point to the west
* Wink at someone.

Debrief
Have youth remain handicapped as they are and ask:
1. What kinds of problems are you having? Explain.
2. What can be done to solve these problems?
3. This game has taken away some of your freedom. What kinds of things bind us or take away our freedom in real life?
4. How can we be freed from these things?

Read John 8:31-36 and then walk around the room freeing kids from their bonds.
1. What kind of freedom does Jesus give?
2. What does it mean to be free?


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Creative Teaching Ideas

Hindered

Leave a comment

Activity
Two pairs participate in this activity. Each pair stands hand in hand with their adjoining hands tied together. With their free hands (one with the right hand and other with the left one) they must wrap up the package, bind the rope round it and tie it a bow. The pair which finishes the task the first is the winner.

Other options are:
* Threading a needle
* Putting on shoes and tying the shoe laces
* Making a sandwich
* Putting a puzzle together
* Folding a paper airplane
* Buttoning up a shirt

Application
In this activity we are free to accomplish the task, but even though free, that freedom is restricted. Because of this we are not as effective as we could be. This is similar to the sins and habits that bind us in life. Because of their influence we are not able to be as effective as we could be. Only when Jesus frees us are we able to be truly free and be most effective in our Christian life. John 8:31-36


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Ideas

Scatterball

1 Comment

Materials a couple soccer balls or whiteboard erasers

Activity
Start by finding a ball which won’t hurt you too much if you get hit in the head with it. Let the youth scatter about a large open area with clearly defined boundaries. If you are inside, use a room as your play area. To start Scatterball, just throw the ball against any old wall or roll it to the center of the play area. The first person to get the ball must plant a foot and pivot around on that foot (like in basketball) looking for someone to hit. They may not walk/ run around once they have possession of the ball. (If successful in hitting their target, that person sits down on the ground in the spot they were hit. The thrower, no longer in possession of the ball is free to move again. The person just hit is not out of the game. As long as they remain seated in their spot, they may grab any ball that is rolling by and hit someone who is still in the game. If any person catches the ball on the fly, the thrower of the ball is dead and must sit down. If an attempt to catch the ball is unsuccessful, but the ball is touched, it is considered a a kill so the person is out and must sit at that spot. Dead players may roll the ball to other alive or dead players. Kids usually try to go for their friends and, of course, the leaders. The ground will eventually be covered with sitting youth. In essence this is dodgeball with a twist, instead of going out of the game, you can still eliminate others. The winner is the last person standing.

Variation 1 Play the game with partners. If either you or your partner gets hit you are both down. Also, you can pass the ball to your partner if your partner has a better shot at someone.

Variation 2 When the person that got you out gets hit then you are able to get back up again.

Variation 3 Play with partners, but holding hands. Partners are out if they break thier grip. Both partners must be hit before they are frozen and must sit down together. But while there is still one of the pair unfrozen, the frozen partner can act as a shield, deflecting the ball.

Variation 4 If you are sitting and manage to throw the ball and knock someone else out of the game you may get up again.

Take it to the Next Level

  • God lifts us up – When everyone is sitting down except one. Go and help all the kids up. Talk about how life and people knock us down but God comes around and helps us back up! Sometimes when it seems like life is knocking us down, God is there to pick us up.
  • Fallen NatureOnce we have fallen due to mistakes, sin, circumstances in life, only God can pick us back up. In our own efforts, we are unable to break free from the oppressions in our lives. Jesus must set us free. John 8:31-36

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Ideas

Freeze Tag

Leave a comment

Freeze Tag
This common game of tag, forces a person to freeze in place, when tagged. Other people who are not frozen can unfreeze a person by tagging them.

Application
A game of freeze tag serves as an active visual illustration of the fact that we are unable to break free from the oppressions in our lives. In a sense we are also stuck, frozen, unable to break free from the oppressions in our lives. Only when Jesus frees us are we able to be truly free. Unfortunately, sin often touches our lives again and we find ourselves back in the same condition. Jesus says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36) True freedom comes from being set free by Jesus Christ. True freedom is freedom to be myself as God made me and meant me to be. This freedom comes only when we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus and invite Him to be our Lord and Master of our life.

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Object Lessons

Taking the heat

Leave a comment

Materials
1 cm diameter and 6+ cm length of copper tubing or copper pipe, a couple sheets of ordinary paper cut to a length slight short than the copper pipe, cigarette lighter, matches, or a lit candle.

Activity
This is a simple demonstration from physics in that some materials conduct heat more efficiently than others. Take a strip of paper and place it in a flame. Within seconds it will catch fire and burn. Yet wrap an identical piece of paper tightly around a length of copper tubing or copper pipe and you can place it in the flame indefinitely without it catching fire. This is because copper is a better conductor of heat than paper and the copper tube dissipates the heat so that it never reaches the combustion point. (The easiest way to do this is to cut 4 or 5 cm wide strips from a piece of a4 size paper. Place the copper pipe in the middle of the strip of paper then hold the two ends of the paper together so that it grasps the pipe)

Application
When we are on our own and placed over the fire we are toast! We can’t take the heat. But when our lives are wrapped tightly around God he takes the heat for us. God helps us deal with the difficult times in life by taking the heat off of us.

 

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Creative Teaching Ideas

Pass it On

Leave a comment

Materials
A variety of objects of various sizes. Try to include objects that represent things in life people pursue such as a basketball or bowling ball – sports, a wallet or coins – money, a power tool might represent power, etc. Make sure the items you choose cannot be damaged if dropped and that thay will not cause damage to a person if dropped. Other ideas are a fireman’s helmet, a police badge, a judge’s gavel, a steering wheel, a bicycle tire, car kets, house keys, a door knob, a poer cord, loaf of french bread, pillow, name brand jeans, wedding ring, lipstick, hair color dye, diet coke, name brand shoes, Bible, trophy, cross, jewelry, crown, computer, a family picture, baby doll, photo of Christ, mechanics wrench, rose, light bulb, a watch (time), a TV set, a game boy, an encyclopedia. The objective is to use things that represent pursuits and goals people set for themselves in life. (If this were used with youth you might also use a condom to represent sex.)

Activity
The entire group forms a circle. Everyone is given an object which can be large, small or any shape (i.e.: bowling ball, trash can, shoe, etc.). On a signal, every one passes his object on the right, keeping the objects moving at all times. When a person drops any object, he must leave the game, but his object stays in. As the game progresses, more people leave the game making it harder and harder to avoid dropping an object since there are more objects than people. The winner is the last person remaining.

Application
At the end of the game, have children or youth explain what objectives in life the various objects might represent. Which objective is most worthwhile? Which are most important?

Christ and the Bible of course are the only two things that will last forever.


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Improving Your Teaching, Object Lessons

How to Use Object Lessons

Leave a comment
  1. Choose the idea you want to illustrate and find an object that can represent that idea.
  2. Plan every step for using the object lesson carefully in advance.
    —Make an outline of the required steps.
    —Keep the demonstration simple.
    —Do not digress from the main ideas.
  3. Practice using the object to illustrate the truth until it is smooth.
  4. Rehearse your demonstration with a “guinea pig” if possible. Try to find someone around the same age as the intended audience.
  5. Tell a story the listener can relate to along with the object lesson. Stories have an emotional impact on the listener and provide a means by which younger children, who think in very concrete terms can identify with the truth.
  6. Be sure every member of class can see demonstration.
  7. Check frequently to make sure the demonstration is understood.
  8. Keep summarizing as you go along.
  9. Don’t hurry the lesson or drag out the lesson.
  10. Keep the punch line to the very end and build the suspense if you can. Make sure your draw the connection between the object and the idea.
  11. Resist the temptation to explain all the deep symbolism you’ve been able to uncover. The power of an object lesson is in its simplicity. One of the quickest ways to ruin an object lesson is try to make it more than it is. Make just one truth visible to your students – that’s enough. Be sure that all details are authentic.
  12. Remember that it’s the Holy Spirit, not your object lesson, that instructs and changes students. Never use a visual aid because you are caught short. They must work for you, not instead of you. Remember: They are a means to an end, not an end in themselves


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Improving Your Teaching, Object Lessons

Advantages and Disadvantages of Object Lessons

Leave a comment

ADVANTAGES

  1. Objects attract and hold the attention of observers
  2. Objects can help simplify complex ideas and concepts.
  3. The high interest level extends to all age groups even though they are usually used with children.
  4. Retention is very good due to the high interest as well as the identification of the truth with the object.
  5. Object lessons turn people’s “eyes into ears.” Because people think in terms of words and images, objects help them recall what is taught.
  6. Object lessons are fairly easy to use in a class and elaborate equipment is not necessary
  7. The student is given first-hand experience by coming into contact with the object
  8. Because of nature of object lessons, the teacher will develop the habit of graphic, colorful portrayal of truth which will make all teaching more powerful.

DISADVANTAGES

  1. The time is usually short so must be used as a part of a class. Usually as an introduction or an illustration or conclusion.
  2. Thinking of object lessons is very hard for many people. Keep your mind open to possible object lessons in your everyday life.
  3. Objects may obscure the truth rather than clarify and simplify.
  4. Small objects do not work well with large groups.
  5. There is a danger that students may become more interested in the object than the lesson that is being presented.



MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Improving Your Teaching

Object Lessons for Children, Youth, and Adults

Leave a comment

What is an Object Lesson?

An object lesson is the use of objects – insects, fruits, vegetables, animals, coins, thermometers, tools, weapons – to teach intellectual and spiritual truths. More than just a visual, an object lesson draws a truth from something you are showing or doing. Real objects, places and happenings can make learning come alive for children, youth, and adults.

The Bible Is Full of Object Lessons
The potter’s house, the fig tree and sheep were used by God to teach his people truths in ways they could understand, remember, and share with others. Lessons can be found not only the things of nature, but in the sacrificial service and observances of the Bible. The Scriptures themselves were given to reveal God. All of nature reveals the thought of God, but we often fail to see him through his creation. (Romans 1:20)

Jesus’ Use of Object Lessons
Jesus often used the objects at hand around him to teach people about God and His Kingdom. When he was by a well, He used water. After He fed 5000 people, He taught them about the bread of life. When He was on a fishing boat, He said the Kingdom was like a fishing net. He told his listeners to consider the lilies, the sparrows, and the hairs on their head. Jesus referred to a fig tree, a mustard tree, yeast, salt, a vineyard, money and other things from everyday life to reveal spiritual truth. When He spoke of a vineyard, He was probably by a vineyard. When He said, “consider the sparrows,” there were probably sparrows flying around.

In Christ’s teaching, the unknown was illustrated by the known; divine truths by earthly things, the spiritual by the natural, the difficult by the simple. He used the things with which the people were most familiar, the things of the earth to teach them the things that were unfamiliar, the things of heaven. Object lessons speak to the eyes and other senses so that they are received into the heart. In fact the more senses that are involved, the greater the learning that takes place. Christ’s teaching using object lessons was targeted at adults, not children, but everyone can learn truths from a simple lesson involving the senses.



MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Creative Youth ideas: 1700+ Resources for youth leaders, pastors, ministers to help plan camps, retreats, and meetings using games, illustrations, Children's Worship, Bible Studies, object lessons, sermons, creative ideas,creative activities