MAKING MEMORY WORK INTERESTING
By: Molter
There is no greater honor than to endow a spiritually poverty stricken child with precious nuggets of God’s word which shall never grow dim. Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not
sin against thee.” In this changing world we need something to which we may cling, something which is sure and steadfast, something which never changes. Children need the sure word of God in their hearts.
The teacher should give plenty of memory work for a child learns more readily than an adult; and since his mind is plastic, he will retain what he learns. Ages 9-11 is the golden peak of memory, but we have a
command from God to begin teaching our children at home at a very early age. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Memory work should be interesting
Children will memorize much more readily if you make it fun rather than drudgery. There are ways to teach Scripture verses which appeal to the boys and girls to such an extent that they will love to memorize and to repeat God’s Word.
Methods of teaching
1. No visuals, just analyze the verse. Repeat till they know it
2. Use “visualized verses”, – You can order them from Christian Publications, Inc., 3rd & Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Penna. or you can make your own from pictures in magazines. If you’re an artist you can
draw your own.
3. Play games such as:
The sword drill — When men fought with swords they had to drill to learn how, just as the soldiers drill with their guns now. The Sword of the Spirit is our weapon God has given to use against Satan. The
Bible! Those on this side of the room will be the Reds, and the ones over there will be the Blues. Write on the board to keep score. The following orders are given in a military manner before each verse is located.
4. Use motions:
John 3:16: For God (point upward) so loved the world, (Fingers together above head, making a circle for “world”), that He gave (Arm stretched outward) His only begotten Son (Left finger raised “only one), that whosoever (Hands together near chest, stretch out), believeth in Him (Point upward), should not perish (Shake head side to side), but have everlasting life (Point on each word, starting on left).
Psalm 51:7 Wash me (Move hands as if washing), and I shall be whiter than snow (Raise hands above head, move fingers up and down and lower hands).
Matt. 7:24-27 : …Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a W I S E man which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended (Raise hands, move fingers up and down and lower hands), and floods came (Raise hands about 6 inches upward “coming up from the deep”), and the winds blew (Move hands from right to left, all whistle), and beat upon that house and it fell (All stomp
feet); and great was the fall of it.
What every Junior should know at the end of 3 years
Books of the Bible and Divisions
The plan of Salvation
Facts of importance about the Bible.
1. Number of books in entire Bible -O.T. ; N.T.
2. How long it took to write the Bible
3. The number of authors who wrote the Bible; The 8 authors of N.T.
4. The longest chapter; Ps 119 The shortest chapter Ps 117 The longest verse; Esth 8:9 The shortest verse Jn 11:35
12 Apostles
The Beatitudes
10 good Proverbs
Ps. 23:100
Important Chapters:
Faith chapter, Love chapter, etc.
Attention: Children sit erect.
Sword in hand: They place Bible on outstretched left hand.
Matthew 4:19 Teacher repeats slowly
Charge: They look for the verse.
The first one to find the verse stands and reads it. Just to stand is not to sin, but to stand and read the verse correct. You must watch carefully to be absolutely fair.
Write a verse on the chalkboard. Let the children take turns erasing a word at a time. Each time a word is erased, have the group repeat the verse.
Make a puzzle out of cardboard or posterboard with words on each part of the puzzle and let the team that puts it together first have special recognition.
Let two students get together making a team to memorize the scripture. The first team to memorize it gets a small prize.
Have a word picked out of the Bible verse written down and after they have memorized the verse, the first to guess the word gets a prize.
Have the words or phrases depending on the age group your teaching written on paper.
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD
Let a child put the verse together correctly. Let them thumbtack words in jumbled order to a bulletin board. Or clip jumbled words to a clothesline with clothespins.
To learn the verse explain: You will say the verse the way you would play ping pong. You start by saying one word then let each one say the next word in succession one at a time.
Some verses can be learned to a rhythm with the whole group clapping or standing up when reciting a key word.
Distribute a few key words from a verse and see who can recite the entire verse.
Give Awards
The following system may be used as a guide in memory work.
A star for each verse
10 stars… A book mark
50 stars… A new Testament
One teacher strung symbols on ribbon immediately after the child said a verse, with 100% results.
Feed a dog a bone each time they know a verse Add a scoop of ice cream to cone each time they know memory work.
Do not award for shoddy work and don’t spoil your children by starting out with expensive awards. Even if it be something very inexpensive, homemade, or costing one cent, the value of it to the child is enhanced immeasurably by the ceremony that accompanies it. The teacher could give a little speech before presenting the awards and the children earning awards would sit in special seats.
Reviewing Memory Work
Reviewing memory work is as important as the actual memorizing of it. There is great power in repetition. What you hear only once you may forget. Remember how you remembered the multiplication table? Each
time a verse is said in your class it will help fix it in the minds of the children. The problem is to see that the verses are said many times and yet maintain interest. The methods of reviewing will help:
Methods of Reviewing
1. Use answer and question method. Boys against girls
2. Have contests:
Flannelgraph ships… Find two ships identical except for color. Paste flannel on back. Make two identical sets of big waves which may be strips of blue flannel about four inches wide, reaching clear across
the flannel graph. Cut the waves with scissors. Divide the class in two groups. First one side, then the other, is given an opportunity to say the verse. Each successful attempt causes the ship to move forward one wave. After each unsuccessful one, it moves backward. The children’s desire to get their ship across the board first.
For variety on another day use airplanes with varying heights in altitude; or autos with miles marked, etc.
Children love rivalry and competition.
(The original source and/or publisher of the above material is unknown.)
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