— Activities, Games, Memory Work —

Activities with Books of the Bible

September 22, 2012

Today I did a teacher training session for the teachers at our congregation.  Included in that training, I spoke of the benefits of using pre-class activities for the time when students start arriving until the actual class begins.

We recently started a big focus on teaching memory work in our elementary age classes.  We are teaching “drills & skills” along with memory verses.  Since a basic drill for children to learn is the books of the Old & New Testament, I wanted to show a few ideas for pre-class activities where children can practice putting books of the Bible in order.

I found this first idea on Pinterest.  I took a package of clothes pins and wrote a book of the Bible on each pin.  Children will put the books in order by fastening the pins to a clothes hanger.

Next, I used a black permanent marker to write books of the Bible on plastic cups.  I bought these very inexpensive cups in a package at Walmart.  When the children arrive, I have the cups spread all over the table.  Children can work in a group or individually to stack the cups in order.

Cookie sheets purchased at the Dollar Tree make the perfect backing for these magnetic book of the Bible.  You can find 8 1/2 x 11 magnetic sheets at Walmart or office supply stores.  It is a little pricey (like $15 for a pack of 5 sheets at Office Depot), but I got all my New Testament books on one sheet.  You run the magnetic sheet through your printer like any other piece of paper.  Students can put these books in order.

 If you have any ideas for making activities, I’d love to hear from you!

18 thoughts on “Activities with Books of the Bible”

  2. Thanks so much for posting these activities! What a great addition all three will be in helping my Sunday school class learn the Books of the Bible.

  3. I would love to hear any other ideas you have for early arrivers. I have multiple ages in my group – grades 1-6. Any ideas for using this time in a fun and constructive way would be helpful. Thanks so much!

    1. That is a big span, but some ideas that I have are: listening to memory work, letting children review memory work with each other, worksheet type puzzles (different levels for older/younger), file folder activities that could be individual or pairing a younger & older child, signing cards for sick/shut ins, copying the memory verse off the board or from the Bible. Hope that helps a little!

      1. Thanks so much – I try to use this time for “extra credit” activities and making/signing cards for shut-in would be great. Re-writing memory verse would be good review too. Thanks for the ideas. Trish

  4. Rather than buying the magnetic sheets, I used the free magnets I get occasionally from businesses. They’re printed on magnetic sheets, and they are easily cut into the correct size. I love the cups idea; I’ll be doing that one next!

  6. I teach a class on Sunday night of 1-6 graders. We begin by using Lifeway’s “Bible Skills, Drills, and Thrills”. One of the activities I have made to teach books of the Bible or a Bible verse is to use empty toilet tissue rolls. You will be amazed at how soon you can accumulate these. I printed a book of the Bible on 66 2×4 labels and attached a label to each of the empty rolls. Using a long clothesline cord they string the rolls onto the cord while putting the books (or verse in order.) The kids love to do this.

    Another activity we use is to make a chain of books of the Bible. I cut strips out of cardstock making each division a different color. Write the name of the book on the chain (I printed labels with the names of the books on the labels.) The chains were then put together and placed on an expandable rod that was placed in the windows. These stayed up all year because we learned each division separately. The kids love these because they reach from the top of the window to the floor. We made 2 sets – one for the Old Testament and one for the New Testament.

  10. This works: find a good song of the books of the bible, like wee-sing. Once they have memorized the song work on saying the book names without the tune. We do jump-rope with each book as a pass of the rope. All bystanders also say the name out loud with each successful jump. It is thrilling to see how far they can get. For the pre and teens, ping pong balls with book names in muffin pans. Backwards is important for flipping faster. Have them group the balls by section type (history, law, poetry) or author.. so many uses! Also good to quiz where people would be found. (grab the ball that Balaam would be found in)

  11. Hi, a great Bible song is found on youtube, called Books of the Old Testament funny sony.
    It is very funny and catchy. The kids won’t be able to forget it. It’s to the tune of veggie tales. we form a circle, then bounce a ball back and forth as we say the books.

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