Teaching Memory Verses

Teaching memory verses is something that I think is important.

One of the most interesting tests to set yourself is to find a friend and have a memory verse-off with them. You say a memory verse then they say one and so on...

I've been teaching memory verses to full grown adults this week and apart from being fun it's allowed myself, and others to brainstorm great ways to teach memory verses.

There are three rules to follow when teaching memory verses.

1. The teaching must be engaging and preferably be fun!

2. You must repeat the memory verse at least six times.

3. You must explain the memory verse; don't just leave it hanging. No point knowing something without knowing what it means!

Here are some of the best that we've come up with.

1. Memory Verse on my Washing

Pull out six or seven items of clothing that have 'magically' appeared out of the washing machine with part of the memory verse written on them. Put them in order and 'hey presto' you have a memory verse.

2. Tennis Ball Game

Two teams of three. (Boys V Girls works nicely.) Two people get a tennis ball and one person is the 'hoop' from each team. The players throw the ball into the hoop and if it goes in, they get a piece of the memory verse. Put them in order and 'Bob's your Uncle', you have a memory verse.

3. Toilet Paper Memory Verse

Write the memory verse on a roll of toilet paper. Roll it back up and unroll it in front of your audience. Just be careful that it doesn't rip! You'll need to put it on powerpoint or a poster to practice it afterwards.

4. Lick it Up!

Write the memory verse on paper plates. Cover the plates in Nutella and have the players lick until the find the words. Put them all together and 'hey hey' you have a memory verse. (Note: Can't do this with contestants who have nut allergies.)

5. Email it

(Will only work in some contexts) Email your 'class or subjects' a word that they must print out and bring to the lesson. Put the words in order and 'voila' you have a memory verse.

6. Order it

Put the memory verse on one side of card, and a picture of something else on the back that can be ordered (like numbers, months etc) Put the cards in order. Then turn the cards around and 'ba-da-bing, ba-da-boong' you have a memory verse.

7. Sing it

Put the memory verse to the tune of a really silly song (I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts etc).

8. Ice Magic

Write the memory verse of laminated card. Freeze it in a bucket of water. Then the 'kids' have to back the ice off the memory verse and hold it up. Put them together and 'whatdoyaknow' it's a memory verse.

9. Silly Actions

Take a simple memory verse and put silly actions to it so that not only does everything feel 'goofy', but they learn a valuable verse.

10. Balloon Man

Put the memory verse into balloons. Take the six or seven balloons and safety pin them to a shirt. Then the shirt is put into the contestants (two or more) and the contestants need to roll around on the floor trying to pop the balloons and take the memory verse pieces out. Put them together and 'drumroll' you have a memory verse.

(11. Hangman

This is the standard memory verse learner which is quick, easy, but potentially boring and dull. However, if you do it with energy you can pull it off. Put the memory verse in standard hangman format and go your hardest.)

There you go; now blog away and add to these ideas. I think these ones are really great and cover a lot of contexts, but I'm convinced we can think of more. When we come up with some goodies, I'll type them up and post them out (either online or unonline).

(BTW: The credit for the above list must go to Serena, Jocelyn, Matt T, and John. )

Josh