Kidmin: I Am Back!

I have rejoined the teaching world and I am excited! Only once a month to begin with but, I missed it!

I thought I would celebrate my return with a kidmin post. 
The most important part of kidmin is scheduling. If you don't have a plan for the kids they will make a plan for you. There are two foolproof plans that I use for my scheduling needs. 

First here's a real quick review of my Sunday.

I got teach on Prayer is talking to God. What a great lesson! I love teaching kids that they can pray. This was lesson 2 in the Fearbuster lesson by New Spring. This is a great resource for free curriculum, including inexpensive decorating ideas and videos. 
Thank you Kim for introducing me to it.

Schedule went great until 11 when church was supposed to be out. Apparently my first week teaching was also Genesis' longest service! So games were the filler same with more songs!

I choose to go with the hourglass schedule. Essentially if you picture an hourglass you want fun at top, serious in middle, and fun at end.

Example of:

5min: opening song

10min game

15min: praise and worship

10min: skit

15min: message

10min: memory verse

10min: review game

To really help this plan make sure all music and games reinforce the lesson. The best part of this lesson is it gets the sillies out, hits them with the lesson and gets them moving again before they get restless.

Second lesson plan is the up downs. Keep the kids moving is the goal.

An example is:

5min: welcome

10min: game

5min: bible story

10min: music

10min: message

10min: review game

10min: memory verse

10min: game

Split up your sit downs with stand ups. I love this schedule because it keeps the kids guessing, they don't know what's coming up next.

I hope these schedules help you in your kidmin adventures!

Kidmin loves,

Dorinda

Baby/ Mommy favorites 16 months

We moved the last weekend of September and with the craziness of trying to unpack and get adjusted I haven't had much time to post. So, I am glad things have finally slowed enough that I can post. Only problem I can't find my camera that had pictures for a new post. So, I decided to do a mommy/baby favorite since I haven't done one in awhile. 

I can't believe little miss is 16 months!! In fact on the 30th somebody asked me how old she was, and I gave my normal answer, "15 months" I then paused realizing wait, no I have a 16 month old baby!! It's kinda hard to post like I used to since not a lot of items are her favorites. So, I decided to change it up and make a list.

1. Animal sounds! Mackenzie know owls, monkeys, cows, sheep, dog, and lion. It is so fun asking her what an animal says and having her say them. The only one that doesn't change a kitty says; "kitty". 

2. Bringing mommy and daddy food. Our lower cabinets have become our "pantry" in our tiny kitchen. We haven't baby proofed yet. So, Mackenzie brings us food from the "pantry" and signs eat, pretty much all day. Annoying yes, but mostly cute. We also gave her a drawer with her dishes, trying to work with her on setting her own table. Kinda cute!

3. Pinterest Group! I look forward to Sunday nights when I get together with a group of girls and get my craftiness on! It has been a blast. Mackenzie usually comes with me, I think she likes it too. I made these cute mugs during my group.

4. Gymnastics! Max goes to gymnastics once a week. She gets to tumble, walk on a balance beam, jump on a trampoline, hang on bars, and jump in a foam pit. Afterwards, she takes a great nap. Too bad mommy is also tired and doesn't get much accomplished. It has really helped with her motor skills and listening/ attention.

5. Talking on the telephone. WORLD'S CUTEST THING!! She loves to talk on the phone. So, we call Gramma, Aunt Amy, and Daddy. She will talk for about 5 minutes telling them who knows what. Sooooo cute!

6. Leggings and baggy tee's. Lately I have been obsessed and pretty much that is all Mackenzie and I wear. So comfortable and cute. 

7. Fall decorations. I finally got to put up my fall decorations and I am in love!! I even reused some of Mackenzie's birthday decorations. A friends gave me a "Leaves" scented candle, I'm not sure where from, mixed with the spooky symphonies pandora station makes for a great craft time!! Next week at our pinterest group we are making wreathes. Mine will be falltacular!!

8. Pumpkin Pie Almonds, Spiced Caramel Apple Cider, Pretzel Rolls. All my favorite food right now. All not so healthy for me but I am still loving them just trying to keep them in moderation.

9. Family pictures. We are taking family pics next weekend. Colors are red, gray, black, white. I have about 30 outfits picked for Max, only to realize me and hubby have hardly any red. Time to go shopping!!

Those are our current faves. Although I am pretty sure I could have added a lot more. Here is a picture of my fall cutie to keep you until next week.

Falling in Love with Fall,

Dorinda

Get Movin'

With all this talk of getting healthy and working out; I thought I would post a few songs that get me movin'!

Now when I walk on the treadmill I don't listen to music, I either watch t.v. or watch my progress. Most headphones hurt my ears, so I don't like to wear them. But, there are a few songs that when they come on I want to dance to. I know some day this will embarrass my daughter while we are in the car but, for now she laughs and joins in. Don't forget dancing helps burn extra calories and I truly think that has been my secret to my weight loss, I just keep moving!!

Here are my favorite "Let's get moving" songs:

1. Wake - Hillsong Young and Free

youtube          itunes

This song is a new single from Hillsong's Youth Group and it is so AMAZING!!

2. Who I wanna be - Kids On the Move

youtube          itunes

Totally a kid's praise and worship song. Yet, I can't help but dance everytime I hear it!!

3.  Every Good Thing - The Afters

youtube          itunes

4. Good Times - Manic Drive

youtube          itunes

I personally prefer the remix. Although the original is good too!

5. Brand New Day - KJ 52

youtube          itunes

6. Me without You - Toby Mac

youtube          itunes

Anything by Toby Mac works!!

7. Move - MercyMe

youtube          itunes

8. Incorruptible - Bekah Shae
youtube          itunes

9. Bounce - Manafest
youtube          itunes

10. NY2LA - PressPlay
youtube         itunes

11. Wobble - Family Force 5
youtube          itunes

This one is Mackenzie approved!!



All these songs are also clean and family friendly. They would be great for pre or post kid service or a family dance night!!

Just keep moving,

Dorinda

Experiencing Sunday

At a Children's Ministers Conference I attended the main speaker said not to call Children's Church, "Sunday School". Kids don't like Monday thru Friday school, why would they want to attend Sunday School. That really stuck with me. I think a lot of times we take the fun out of Jesus and try to just teach the kids. Another quote that often stands out is "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and feed him for a lifetime." It was important to me as a Children's Director to make Sunday an experience for the kids! A place they can meet Jesus and experience His love. They weren't just hearing the bible stories, or learning how to pray, or listening to stories of what God can do. They instead got to experience Jesus and His love, they got to talk to God and know their prayers were heard, they could pray over each other and see the miracles take place. I called this the "movie"experience.

Every Sunday at our kid's Ministry, I called it kid's ministry because the kid's were in charge of our ministry, not really ran by them but, they were why we had a ministry. Back to what I was saying; every Sunday at our kid's ministry was a, "Movie Experience". Movie theaters are a common place to attend but, still are a fun experience. The smell, anticipation, larger than life screen, decorations, friends and family, and so much more.

This is how we created the Movie experience.

Smell/Look: Clean classrooms with no funky smells! At a movie theater the decorations are simple, they change the poster for new movies coming out but other than that they are constant. We went with an industrial theme with neon accents. I liked that theme because you could easily decorate it for any special theme lesson. Example, a Christmas tree for Holidays, bales of hay for farms, or a large fruit tree for fruits of the spirit, etc. Movie theaters smell of popcorn, our goal was to have no funky smells.

Larger than Life: The movie screens are so big it's hard to get distracted. So our goal ... to make sure your attention is drawn up front. Using object lesson, big personalities, large graphics, and fun.

Friends and Family: Of course encouraging kids to bring their friends but, also encouraging friendships in class with small groups. Another lesson I learned from Kids on the Move is to have leaders that are "who they want to be now" and leaders that are "who they want to be when they grow up". Who they want to be now are "cool"/younger leaders that love God. Who they want to be when they grow up fun, "older" that love God and lead a Godly lifestyle. 

Characters: A lot of times we choose our movie by who is starring in it. I wanted kids I come on Sunday's excited to see their favorite "character". Whether that be a favorite teacher/volunteer or a puppet, or a character in a skit.

Music: Soundtracks of movies are always a hit. So Sunday's I would incorporate music in every way possible. Before service, after, games, transitions, and praise and worship. I would not always use "christian" music. Sometimes using "secular" stuff with good message. i.e. Selena Gomez "Who says", Victoria Justice "Freak the Freak Out", Miley Cyrus "Ice Cream Freeze". Side note; if we were doing a new Praise song I would play it a lot before and during service, so when it came time for that song in praise and worship the kids got excited, thinking they already knew it. 

One of my favorite transition songs; by Kids on the Move

Transitions: Good movies have smooth transitions from one scene to the next. It is a must to practice transitions. Somethings you can use is music, videos, jokes, skits. These take practice, and still can go wrong. Just keep working at it!!

Fast pace: Nobody likes a slow movie that just keeps getting slower. Keep the service moving (my fool proof service schedules coming in a blog soon). Keep up the excitement level, anticipation and keep moving.

Teasers: Keep them coming back with cliff hangers or sneak peeks of the upcoming weeks. 

One place I got my inspiration for making Sunday's an experience was from Kid's on the Move, this will help inspire you to have a great Sunday experience!!

I hope this helps encourage you to make every Sunday an experience. Every 4 -6 months we would have a Super Sunday. I will blog more on that later. What are some ways you make Sundays an experience?

Chat and Catch

I was introduced to Chat and Catch in a Kidzmatter Magazine article a few years back. The first time I did this with my group of 2nd thru 4th graders, the results were emotionally moving! It was exciting to see the kids hear from God, and for them to know that they did. I try to do this every few months and plan on doing it in my upcoming kid's conference I am hosting for 8-12 year old.

Chat and Catch is a great way to end a series on prayer, hearing from God, or worship. Here is how I do Chat and Catch...

Items needed: crayons and paper for everyone.

I like to enter into it after a couple of worship songs, after worship (keep the lights low and continue to play worship music in the background) I instruct the kids to grab 2 crayons and piece of paper.  Then to find somewhere in the room, not by anybody else and make yourself comfortable. You need to be able to hear my voice and not get distracted, put the crayon and paper aside I will tell you when to use those.

Chat is the first part, this is where we talk with God. I spend about 10 minutes at this part. I will give you a few samples but the most part is to get them to talk with God and to help them realize that God is interested in all parts of our lives. I instruct them to talk out loud but quietly, so not to disturb others.

Here are the samples, allow time for the kids to talk to God.
Tell God your favorite joke
Tell Him your favorite part about school
Tell God what you are doing after church
Share with God your favorite movie
Tell God something that makes you sad
Tell Him something that makes you happy
Let God know about a problem you need help with

After a few minutes of chat it is time to go into catch. This is the part where they need to listen to God. I instruct the students to no longer talk but listen to what God says to them. This is also the time for them to use their paper and crayons. They can draw or write what they hear God say to them. I spend about 10 minutes here, during this time, I pray over each of the kids and that God will give them a life changing word. I also tell them that when they are done, they need to just sit quietly while everyone finishes up.

After everyone is finished I have the kids put away their crayons and let them know they can share with me their pictures if they want or they can hang on to them. After the kids share their pictures with me. I go into a short discussion about knowing that the voice you heard is from God.

#1 It always lines up with the Word.
           God is the Word and the Word is God. God can't say anything that isn't found in His word.
           This is why we need to know the Bible, so that we can't be fooled into believing something that isn't
           the Word.
(John 1:1)

#2 God's Word is always positive.
           God always has good thoughts to share with us and positive things to help us move forward.
(Jer. 29:11)

#3 This isn't the only way to pray but, this is a way to pray
           We need to make sure we have these two elements when we pray.
           We talk to God about all areas of our life. We listen to what God has to say to us.

The best part of this thing is to see and hear what the kids learned. It is awesome to know that God has spoken to these kids.

Mark Harper has a great blog post called Does God Speak to Kids? if you want to read more about kid's and prayer.

I love this experience the kids get to have with God!

If you do Chat and Catch with your kids please let me know the experience you have with it!!

Kidmin and Science

I love using science as an object lesson in Kid’s Ministry, there is definitely a right way to do it though.  Before I get into that I want to mention the importance of using an object while teaching.

I always want some sort of object in my hand every time I am teaching, it helps in 3 ways. Number 1; it keeps the kids attention. They want to know why I am holding something, how my object has something to do with God, and they also instantly relate to the lesson. Number 2; when they leave every time they see that object, they remember the lesson. One time I taught on how our past can keep us from our future. I used a bicycle to reinforce my point. I asked the kids, “What happens when I am riding my bike and I look backwards?” They answered, “You crash!” I went on to explain that if we keep looking at our past we miss what’s in front of us and can get in trouble or miss a really cool blessing. The next week I had a parent come up to me and tell me about how their child went out to ride their bike but before they did they told them how they know to look forward so that they don’t crash. Just like the need to look to the future so they don’t miss God’s blessing and can look out for trouble. The 3^rd reason to use an object when you teach is it helps show the kids that they can find God in everything. Science can make an interesting object lesson.

There are some basic rules I use when using science in my lesson.

Rule number 1; Remember to teach the Bible, not how the experiment worked. 

Don’t tell them all about how vinegar and baking soda cause a chemical reaction causing gas and the gas inflates a balloon, let the schools do that. Instead talk about how even though we can’t see the gas the two cause the balloon to blow up. So when we pray even though we can’t always see our prayers working, they are!

Rule number 2: Safety first (it makes kids wake up).

 Every time I teach a science lesson I have 3 objects with me. One a fire extinguisher, even if I have nothing with fire going on. Once the kids see the fire extinguisher they sit up and think “oh cool I wonder what’s about to happen.” Two a lab coat, all scientists have one. Also when I put it on I go from teacher Dorinda, to Scientist Dorinda! Three goggles, again even if I don’t need them. It has the same effect as the fire extinguisher. Something cool is about to happen if you need goggles.

Rule number 3: Don’t be afraid to make a mess. 

All science experiments are messy that’s the fun. Kids are told at home not to make messes, so when they come to church where a mess could happen at anytime, it makes it an experience instead of just another lesson. Just know you will have to clean it up. I do things to try and make clean up a little easier. I have a plastic podium that’s easy to wipe down and I put a shower curtain on the floor that I can hose off. Other than that I let the mess go everywhere (when I do mentos and coke, I do take it outside. Cleaning ceilings not so easy).

Rule number 4: Practice.

 It’s really embarrassing and distracting when an experiment goes wrong. Although sometimes even after practicing it can still go wrong. Practicing helps you get the timing of the lesson, and helps make sure you get the end result that you want. Always, Always practice.

There are 3 resources that I use to find all of my science lessons.

1.       Steve Spangler http://www.stevespangler.com/experiments/

2.       Science Bob http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/index.php

3.       Pinterest  http://pinterest.com

Here is a few lesson ideas you can use with science experiments

Color Changing Liquid: Science Bob:  Sometimes when waiting on God you can feel like nothing is happening but all of a sudden something exciting happens! Matthew 7:7

Paperclip float: Science Bob: Story of Peter walking on Water. Matthew 14:22

Elephant Goo: Science Bob: Luke 6:38 for tithe or even Matthew 6:19

Water Balloon in a bottle: Steve Spangler: Luke 6:38

Burning Money: Steve Spangler: Malachi 3:11

Have fun making new ways for science and scripture to combine. I would give you more but, this is already a long post. We don't really want to make it longer. Maybe later I will post a part 2. I would like to do a video of me using a science experiment as a object lesson with my Kidmin class. It's fun to watch the kid's expressions.

Have you ever used science to teach kids??

Games, Games, and more Games part 3

Continuing with our games theme. Random games, these will be great for the times service goes extra long and you have no idea what to do, or the kids are just a little too busy and need to run off some extra energy. Here we go:

Boredom Busters:

4 corners: (my Sunday class loves this, and even begs for it.) Assign 4 corners in your classroom a number (1 thru 4). One person is "it" stands against a wall with eyes closed. Everyone else goes and picks a corner to stand in, play music during this time so the hiding eyes person can't hear where they go. Before the "it" person opens their eyes they pick a corner, everyone in that corner is out. Continue on until only one kid is left, that person becomes it. Notes: As you get fewer and fewer people take out a corner. Also this game is only fun with 10 or more kids.

Captain midnight:

Have all the kids make a line at one end of the field/gym/open area. They all should be facing you while you are at the other end.

- Turn your back to them and have one child ask, “Captain Midnight, what time is it?”

- Tell them a time. For instance, if you say, “3 o’Clock,” then all children take three steps. If you say “10 o’clock” they take 10 steps.

- As the kids take their steps, have the same child ask again. Then give them an answer. Continue this process.

- At some point, depending on the size of your playing area, you will need to end things so you will scream “MIDNIGHT!!!” after they ask you what time it is.

- It is at this point that chaos ensues. After screaming “midnight” or better yet, while you scream it, turn around and chase after the kids as they scurry back to the starting line. They will go absolutely bonkers.

- Make sure you call “midnight” before a child gets to you. Their goal is to be the first to tag you. Therefore, expect some children to take large steps and even cheat a little. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to turn your head a few times and check the progress.

- As you run, tag as many kids as you can. Those kids are then out. Keep playing until there is one child left. That child then gets to take over your job as the caller if you choose to relinquish that duty.

Dead Cow, Live Cow, Sleeping Cow: Kind of like Simon Says call out one of the 3 and the kids must get in that position, last one in the position or if in the wrong position is out. I make the rule that all cows are quiet cows, if I hear a cow you are out.

Dead cow: Laying on back, arms and legs in the air
Live Cow: on hands and knees
Sleeping cow: laying on your side

North, South, East, West: Players must jump and face the direction called (in one jump) if facing the wrong direction or too late, they are out.

Dizzy Mummy: Played as teams of 3. Each team has a mummy, 2 wrappers and a roll of toilet paper. The 2 wrappers, wrap the mummy in a certain time limit (I go one minute). The team with the best coverage wins.

Clothespin: Set out clothespins, divide the class into 2 teams. The teams must pin clothespins onto each other's shirt. (give them 3 minutes or 5) the team with the least amount of clothespins wins!

Cheeto Face: Goggles, shaving cream, cheetos. One person puts on the goggles, squirts a bunch of shaving cream onto the goggles. The other player stand about 3 feet back and throw cheetos at the goggles. Team with the most Cheetos sticking to the goggles at the end of a set amount of time wins.

Drip, Drip, Drop: Played like duck, duck, goose, but with a large sponge soaked in water. Drip over peoples head and Drop over the person to be it.

I hope this series of games gave you inspiration or ideas to play with your little ones. Let me know if you liked them, tried them, or have others to add to the bunch. 

This ends the game series, what should I blog about next?

Games, Games and More part 2

The best way to make sure your kids know information is to review with them. I try to play review games right after my lesson, so it's fresh in their head and it just ingrained more. Kids also learn from playing, so playing a game that focuses their attention helps a lot. Parents this is a great way to help with their homework, and build family time! Here are my top review games.

Tic - Tac- Toe: Have two teams, one team is x's, the other o's. Use string to make the grid pattern on the ground for tic-tac-toe. Draw on paper 4 x's and 4 o's, or if you have enough people make them be the x's and o's.  Have one member for each team come up to answer the question, first one to answer the question right gets to put the paper or go sit in the square they choose. First team to get three in a row wins!!

Jeopardy: I think this one is self explanatory. But make a reusable board by gluing name tag holders onto poster board. The one I made is a 5 x 5 square, with the top row being categories and the far left side being points.

Who wants to win 100 grand: Play who want to be a millionaire but with candy bars at each level the top level being a 100 grand bar. Have 10 questions (make sure to have multiple choices) and 5 candy bars. Starting with your smallest if they answer the first question right they get the smallest bar. If they answer the second question right they get the next one, then have it at 5 questions, 8 questions, and then the 10th one. They have 3 lifelines 1. 50/50 2. poll the audience 3. ask a teacher. You can play more than one round just make sure you have enough questions. Also if a kid gets out, I have a new volunteer take place starting at the  level the last player got out at.

Let's Make a Deal: I have 10 bags in front of the classroom each with something inside (i.e. a prize, candy, card for points, card for zero points, card with a action they have to perform for extra points.) After a kid answers the question they get to pick a bag.

Review Basketball: Have everyone sit in a chair in a square 6' around a garbage can. Each side of the square is a team. Once they answer a question right, they get to shoot a basketball into the garbage can for extra points.

Buzzer ideas: To see who gets to answer the question first can be tricky. So here are some things/ ways I have solved that problem.

          1. Tap lights: I found mine at Wal-Mart for $2.

          2. Whoopee cushions

          3. Your hand (first one to gently touch your hand gets to answer the question)

          4. Another kid

                     (have 2 kids sit in chairs, when their head is gently pushed they have to make a buzzer sound)

          5. Air horns (very loud)

          6. An action (first one to complete an action, i.e. spinning around 5 times and them sitting down)

          7. Some one in our church once made us a buzzer stand has lights and everything

          8. For Yes and No or True False questions write on spoons Y and N or T and F.
                Give each kid one of each then as you ask the question have them raise the one they think is right.

Another Favorite idea is to ask review questions and then have a challenge for extra points afterwards. My favorites place to get challenges is from Minute to Win it the game show.

Here's the link for minute to win it: http://www.nbc.com/minute-to-win-it/how-to/

You can get the blueprint videos on youtube! 

Those are a great media add to your service!!

Here are my 10 favorite after question challenge

1. (not a minute to win it) 3 buckets spaced apart by about 2 - 3 feet and 3 ping pong balls. The bucket closest to kid is 100 points 2nd bucket is 250 points last bucket is 500 points and about 8 feet away from the student. They must stand 2 feet away from the closest bucket and bounce a ping pong ball into a bucket for points, they have 3 attempts. I try to explain to the kids sometimes it's better to go for the closer one and get points yet they always go for the furthest.

2. ( A variation of a minute to win it) Fill a bowl with skittles or m & m's, plastic spoon, second empty bowl 8 feet from first. Assign a color (or don't) they have one minute to transfer m & m's from one bowl to the other. One at a time, using the spoon and one hand.

3. Baby Rattle: To make use 2 empty 2 liter soda jugs and a tornado tube (this is what I am talking about http://www.amazon.com/American-Science-Surplus-Tornado-Tubes/dp/B000GYSZOI). Break out all the innards of the tornado tube using a screwdriver, use to attach the jugs together (or use tape, I just find the tornado tube to be sturdier). Fill one jug 1/2 way with gumballs. Player has one minute to transfer all the gumballs from one jug to the other. 

4. Bobblehead: With a pedometer attached to the forehead, move the head around to record "steps". The amount of "steps" in one minute equals points.

5. Egg Roll: Move an egg (real or plastic) into a target area using a pizza box. (Great for Easter)

6. Hanky Panky: Using one hand pull out all the tissues one at a time from a box of 160 count. (Afterwards have a tissue war!)

7. Junk in the Trunk: Use the empty tissue boxes attach to a string and place 6 ping pong balls inside. Tie the box to players hip (around the lower back, so tissue box is on their back), using only hips wiggle out the ping pong balls in one minute.

8. Cup Stack: Players must stack 24 cups into a pyramid and tear them down in one minute. (I also use this as a random game time)

9. Paper Dragon: Using one large roll (or 2 for a challenge) of crepe paper streamers. Player must use arms and hands to completely unroll. Place roll at players feet, they may not kick, throw or grab spool directly. They have 1 minute to accomplish this.

10: Roll with it: Toilet paper roll on a broomstick. Teacher holds the broomstick horizontal and player must unroll the toilet paper using only hands in one minute.

Tips: 

~ I like to give points to the best cheering team. Adds excitement!!

~ Find a great minute timer (youtube has lots).

~Play music while playing the games, during the question asking time just mute the music that way next time you turn it up it's in a different place or even different song.

~Use Pandora to find songs you never knew of.

~ Have your helpers write down questions as you give the lesson. I used to pre write questions, only to forget to hit those points so that they could know the answer. It also helps ensure your helpers are paying attention.

I hope you found these games helpful. Let me know if you play any and the reaction of those involved!!

Games, Games and More Games part 1

As a children's ministry director, I am always looking for great games to play with the kids. So here are a few of my favorites. This blog would be really long if I put all the games into one post. So I will be doing a series of 3 game posts.

Memory Verse:
We call our Action Verse because we want the kids to put the Word in action. Moms you could use these games to help kids with things they need to memorize for school.

Puzzle: Write down your verse on poster board or construction paper and cut out in funky shapes. Then have races to put it back together.

Hide - a - word: Write each word of the verse onto a index card, then hide each card around the room. Time them how long it takes to find the cards and put them in the correct order.

Erase the Verse: Each time the kids say the verse erase one word. Repeat until all the words are gone.

Hangman: Each kid picks a letter one at a time, first kid to get the verse right wins! You can combine this with a review game and each time a kid gets the right answer they get to pick a letter.

Hot Potato: Everyone stands in a circle, pass a ball around as music plays. When the music stops last person to touch the ball gets to say the verse.

Sparkle: Everyone sits in a circle, pass the ball around the circle. When a kid gets the ball they have to say the next word in the verse including the address (where it's found). Once every word is said the next kids says sparkle, then the kids after the one that said sparkle has to sit down. Continue until only one person is left standing.

Echo Mountain: Say the verse then have the kids repeat. To make it exciting put different actions, or ways to say it on index cards, draw a card and say it that way. I.E. shout, whisper, while acting like a chicken, like your underwater, holding your tongue, jumping up and down, plugging your nose etc.

Arrange the team: Write each word of the verse on a plain white t-shirt, or you can write it on construction paper. There are 2 variations to this game:

Variation 1: Have a group of kids put on the shirt, or hold the paper and mix themselves up so they are not in order. Then have another kid put them in the right order

Variation 2: Pile the t-shirts or paper on the floor. Time a group of kids to race, put on the shirt, or grab a sign, and get into the correct order

Bop it: Kids are sitting in a circle on chairs. You give them each a word of the memory verse. You 'bop' them on the head and they have to say their word. You bop the next person, they say their word etc. Once you have gotten through the whole verse, they all move one seat to the left.  They then have to say the word that the previous person sitting in the chair was saying. 

Once they start to get good at it, increase the pace. I got to the point where i was sprinting around the circle. Once you've done a lap, SCREAM 'change!!"...i think the key to this game was being quick and intense. They loved it, were screaming and laughing and what's best, they all knew the verse by the end of the game. 

 

Musical Chairs: Before playing the game cut different shapes in different colors out of construction paper, make sure to have 2 sets. Tape one set under each chair, the other set put in a non see through bowl. Make sure each kid has a chair and place them in a circle. Play music when music ends everyone sits in a chair. Draw a shape out of your bowl and the kid with the matching one, gets to say the verse. This is great because no kid gets out.

I hope this gave you some new game ideas. Have you ever played any of these? Which one do you like the best? Do you have a different game idea to help with memorization?