1. Defining Activities

Defining the Words

List the Words on the Board.
Write difficult words and their definitions on the board.  Students refer to the definitions as they encounter the words in the scripture verse.
Print the Words
Print words and their definitions on a sheet of paper that students can keep in their scriptures.
State the Definition
Tell students the definition of a difficult word or phrase or have them look  up the definition in a dictionary.
List Words on a Bulletin Board.
Place difficult words and their definitions on a bulletin board or wall display for future reference.
Use a Footnote or Object.
Direct students to a footnote or show them an object that helps define a difficult word or phrase.
Define the Words.
Ask students to underline all the words in a passage that they do not understand, then define the words for them.

Use the Definitions

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After defining difficult words and phrases, it is important to have students read the verses, using the new definitions. The following are different ways this can be done:



Read Definitions Silently
Have students read the verse silently, substituting the definitions for the difficult words and phrases.
Students Read the Definitions
Have a student read the verse out loud, substituting the definitions for the difficult words and phrases.
Teacher Reads the Definition
You could read the verse out loud, substituting the definitions for the difficult words and phrases.
Write the Definitions
If there are not too many definitions, you may want to have students write them in the margins of their scriptures.




 

 2. Reading Activities

Look for Something

Look for the Answers
Students look in the verses for answers to the teacher's questions.
Look for and Underline
Students look for and underline key words,  principles, or doctrines.
Find the "W" Answer
Students identify phrases that answer the questions; who, what, why, when, and where.
Who did What?
Students read and identify what the people did who are written on the board.
Who Said It?
Students read a passage to find who said the quotes listed on the board.
Find a Movie Title
Students find words that could be a movie title.
Put Events in Order.
Students read the verses and put events listed on the board in order.
Fill in the Blanks. 
Students look for words that fill in blanks on the board or in a crossword puzzle.




Choose Something

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Complete the Phrase
Students determine the best way to finish incomplete phrases.
Categorizing the Verses
Students determine which verses fit under different categories listed on the board.
Choose an Answer
Students guess which answers on the board are correct and then look for that answer in the scripture verses.
Replace Pronouns with Nouns
Students choose names that would replace words like "they," "their," and "them."
Match Phrases to Verse.
Students match short phrases on the board with verses they read.
Choose True or False
Students read the verses to determine if statements on the board are true or false.
Select a Word or Phrase
Students select a word or phrase on the board that best summarizes the scripture verses.

3. Visual Activities
                     Compare Visuals and Verses

Explain the Picture
Students read verses to explain the meaning of diagrams or pictures about the scriptures.
Walk on a Map
Students walk on an outline, taped to the floor, of a geographic location or a structure in the scriptures.
Look at a Map
Students look at  maps to find locations that are mentioned in the scriptures.
Be a Visual Critic
Students determine if the scripture events portrayed in a video or picture are the same in the scripture verses.
Match a Visual to a Verse
Students match pictures and objects with principles and events in the verses.
Objects in the Verses
Students see an object mentioned in the verses and read the verses to determine what it represents.




Decide What's Happening

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Draw What You Read
Students draw a picture of what they read in the scriptures.
What are They Thinking?
Students select a person from a scripture picture and discuss what they think that person is thinking.
What Happens Before?
Students discuss what they think happened before or after the scene in a picture about a scripture event.
Students as Visuals
Students come to the front of the class and represent characters from the scriptures.  Other class members read to find out who they are and what they do.
Picture in Your Mind
Students visualize scriptures verses you read to them.

4. Marking Activities
                               Highlighting

Scripture marking activities help students note important words, phrases, ideas, people, and events.  Marking also makes it easier to remember and find information in the scriptures.




Teachers can encourage student scripture marking by saying something like, "This is an important principle.  You may want to mark that verse" or "here is an important cross reference.  I've written this in my margin.'  It is better to teach the basic elements of scripture marking than to teach a particular marking system.




One way students can mark is highlighting.  These activities help students accentuate important words and phrases in their scriptures.  These are some highlighting activities:
 

• Underline words and phrases
• Circle words and phrases
• Box words and phrases
• Draw lines between words, phrases, or ideas.
• Number lists of words or phrases.