Active Learning
Bible Studies
Active Learning Bible Studies
Biblical Content
"Biblical content" is simply everything that the Bible teaches: each wonderful, powerful word. Active learning activities which teach content involve the learner in exploring a topic in order to discover biblical truth and grow.
Worship is a natural response to learning about our amazing God, often overlapping with biblical learning. This crossover is beneficial and can be informal (if your heart moves you to offer a thankful prayer mid-lesson, pause and pray!) or formal (incorporating the end result of the activity into organized worship). Whether worship is involved or not, structure an activity so that it explores, reinforces, or deepens what you want the student to learn. Effective activities enhance the lesson's main point. (Example: if teaching the Flood, do you want the student to leave the lesson remembering a bunch of animals or being impressed by God's holiness, justice, and mercy? Purposely select activities which will teach the desired concept!) Below are a few sample ideas to help start your own brainstorming.
CREATIVE
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Student creates art about the lesson: short- or long-term project.
(any lesson)
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Student writes about the lesson: a creed, poem, story, hymn, etc.
(any lesson)
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Student researches, designs, plants, and maintains a terrarium. (Noahic covenant, creation, providence)
WORSHIP
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Classroom coordinates with worship leader for each student to draw a bulletin cover about a service's Scripture selection. (any lesson)
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Student chooses a hymn tied to the lesson, playing it during worship. (any lesson)
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Student creates a video service opener or music video for use in congregational worship.
(any lesson)
FAMILY
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Child builds accurate scale replica with adult assistance. (ark, tabernacle, temple)
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Once or twice a month instead of attending regular worship services, child and family worship with a homebound congregational member and bring dinner. Ask first if that individual wants visitors! (spiritual family, Mt 25:34–40, Ro 12:1)
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Child helps family choose a nonprofit to donate to together or a community organization to volunteer in together.
(fruits of faith, Ja 1:27)
CREATIVE
-
Student creates art about the lesson: short- or long-term project. (any lesson)
-
Student writes about the lesson: a creed, poem, story, hymn, etc. (any lesson)
-
Student researches, designs, plants, and maintains a terrarium. (Noahic covenant, creation, providence)
WORSHIP
-
Classroom coordinates with worship leader for each student to draw a bulletin cover about a service's Scripture selection. (any lesson)
-
Student chooses a hymn tied to the lesson, playing it during worship. (any lesson)
-
Student creates a video service opener or music video for use in congregational worship. (any lesson)
FAMILY
-
Child builds accurate scale replica with adult assistance. (ark, tabernacle, temple)
-
Once or twice a month instead of attending regular worship services, child and family worship with a homebound congregational member and bring dinner. Ask first if that individual wants visitors! (spiritual family, Mt 25:34–40, Ro 12:1)
-
Child helps family choose a nonprofit to donate to together or a community organization to volunteer in together. (fruits of faith, Ja 1:27)
TIMELINE SCROLL
A timeline scroll project can span a yearlong curriculum.
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shows students & parents God's overarching plan
-
reinforces content learned in previous lessons
-
helps students grasp abstract lengths of time
This scroll was made by a 1st–2nd grade Sunday School class. Students drew all art based on the lessons studied.
Due to time constraints and students' age, I premade this scroll and its central timeline, adding lifespans of people we studied. But in day school or homeschool, this is an ideal multigrade activity! Older kids can figure out how to construct a scroll and add the timeline, dates, and lifespans. (This scroll is just rolling pins, butcher paper, packing tape, and glue to attach their artwork each week.)
TIMELINE SCROLL
A timeline scroll project can span a yearlong curriculum.
-
shows students & parents God's overarching plan
-
reinforces content learned in previous lessons
-
helps students grasp abstract lengths of time
This scroll was made by a 1st–2nd grade Sunday School class. Students drew all art based on the lessons studied.
Due to time constraints and students' age, I premade this scroll and its central timeline, adding lifespans of people we studied. But in day school or homeschool, this is an ideal multigrade activity! Older kids can figure out how to construct a scroll and add the timeline, dates, and lifespans. (This scroll is just rolling pins, butcher paper, packing tape, and glue to attach their artwork each week.)