Can you imagine catching a fish without bait? It probably does not happen very often. Bait attracts the fish to the hook and the hook catches the fish.
Sometimes teenagers need to be "hooked" into the scriptures. When they come to class it has been at least twenty-four hours since they last saw you. Because so many things compete for their time and attention, you should help them focus their attention on the scriptures. Learning is enhanced when a state of readiness exists in the students. One way to enhance student readiness at the beginning of class is to present an interesting question related to the scripture block. Then have the students discover the answer as they read the verses in the block. Unusual words and names, pictures, case studies, and objects are some of the items that you can use to create a question.
Use an Unusual Name
Suppose the scripture block is Job 1. In Job 1:1-3, Job is referred to as the "man of Uz." This unusual name could be used to create an interesting question:
Write "Man of Uz" on the board and ask students if they know who this man is. They will not know the answer until they look in the verses. Have students read Job 1:1 to find the answer.
Use a Picture
Suppose the scripture block is Joseph Smith History 1:12-20. A picture of the First Vision could be used to create some questions about these verses:
Show students a picture of Joseph Smith praying in the sacred grove. Ask them to share one thing they know about the event. List the events on the board. Ask students to determine if the events listed on the board are the same as those in verses 12-20.
Use a Case Study
If you were teaching 1 Nephi 2 you could use a case study to create a question.
Ask students what possessions, including the comforts of their home, would be the most difficult to give up if their family were asked to go on a mission and leave everything behind. Tell students that a family was asked to do this. Ask students to discover in 1 Nephi 2:1-4 what the family had to leave behind.
Use an Object
Suppose your scripture block is Genesis 1. You could use objects and pictures to create questions about this block.
Show students a clay ball, a glass of water, a box of dirt, some seeds, some small toy animals, a picture of the sun or stars, a light bulb, a picture of birds or of fish. Ask students to read Genesis 1:1-25 and determine what the objects and the pictures represent.
Focusing student attention should occur throughout the lesson. The attention span of students is limited. Readiness to learn rises and falls during each class period. The wise teacher looks for ways to rekindle interest and enthusiasm several times during the class. That is especially important when class periods are held for more than forty or fifty minutes.
The first readiness activity is most effective when you do it immediately after the devotional. At this time students are quiet and ready for the lesson. This is an ideal time to focus their attention. The readiness activity should have students in the scriptures within one or two minutes. If it takes longer than this, it may distract them from the message in the scriptures.
Make sure the readiness activity does not overwhelm or draw attention away from the scriptures. If students cannot stop talking about the activity or the only thing they remember when they leave class is the readiness activity, then it was inappropriate. Use the following guidelines to help you plan readiness activities.
Guidelines
1. Present an interesting question related to the scripture block. Choose things such as unusual words, case studies,visuals, and objects to create a question.
2. Send students to the scripture verses to find the answer.
3. Students should be in the scriptures within one to two minutes after you begin the first readiness activity.
4. Make sure readiness activities do not overwhelm or detract from the scriptures.
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