Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 3
October 4, 1951
NUMBER 22, PAGE 9a

Talks With Teachers

Marian White, 4667 Ave. So., St. Petersburg, Florida

Ways To Increase Class Interest

The Bible, if properly taught, will hold the interest of any class. It is the only book that can be studied over and over without losing any of its appeal and without failing to teach new facts. Each teacher should study her group and use the teaching methods which create the most interest in her particular group. She should encourage class participation in Bible reading, asking and answering questions, Bible drills, composing questions, doing handwork, etc. Below are a few suggestions that have proved successful in Bible study classes.

Intriguing Titles

Children love stories with catchey or interesting titles. The Bible is full of stories that lend themselves to such titles. The teacher should give the title for next week's story for children love to anticipate the contents of a story. Below are a few examples of catchey titles.

1. The People Who Shouted For Two Hours (Acts 19)

2. Why the Lions Did Not Bite (Daniel 6)

3. The Most Famous Slingshot In History (1 Sam. 17)

4. The Man Who Fell Out of A Window (Acts 20)

5. The Man Who Ran Away From God (Jonah 1-4)

6. The Story of the Three Crosses (Luke 23)

7. A Miracle In Reverse (Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2)

8. The Snake In the Fire (Acts 28)

1,000 Questions

Mimeograph 1,000 Bible questions (500 on the Old Testament and 500 on the New Testament) on long sheets of paper. Provide blanks for answers; group the questions under the three ages. Assign a certain number of questions each week to be filled in at home unless you use the sheets as your regular lessons. Review weekly. The completed questions should give the student a bird's eye view of the Bible and its proper divisions. In one class the students submitted questions that they thought every boy and girl should know about the Bible.

Thought Questions

Older boys and girls like to discuss an interesting thought question at the close of a lesson. The lesson usually suggests a question. The teacher should be careful to keep the discussion along serious and worthwhile lines. Here are some sample questions:

1. What makes a happy marriage?

2. What are some good ways to study the Bible?

3. For what things can we pray?

4. Why does God say no to some prayer requests?

5. Why do you want to go to heaven?

Object Lessons

Many stories carry more meaning if the teacher, as she talks, holds up an object mentioned in the story. Patterns of the object can be made and given out for coloring after the story. The following objects may be applied to any number of Bible stories: idol, Bible, scroll, ship, stone, key, well, grapevine, unleavened bread, sandal, types of Roman crosses, etc.

Songs

Much can be learned by studying hymns and then singing them. A whole class period can be used in the study of one song. A discussion on the differences between psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is also very profitable. Teach the children that they worship as they sing.

Here is something your class will like to do. Sing one verse of, "The Old Rugged Cross," then of, "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone." Follow with the chorus of the first song. Alternate the remaining verses, each time singing the same chorus.

Handwork

Small children love to do simplified handwork. Stencils of objects mentioned in the story are easily made and quickly done.

Stick people drawn on the blackboard are easily copied. Make the figures large and with a minimum of lines.

Older children like to illustrate the parables following the lesson. Let them draw the parable as they see it.

Compiling A Bible Dictionary

Give each student a small alphabetical notebook. Each week, after the lesson, the class writes in the dictionary all proper names and important words of the lesson plus a short definition or identification for each entry.

These dictionaries are to be kept in the classroom until a certain unit of work has been completed. Blackboard Work 1. List as the class names them; prophets, kings, book titles, Christian events, etc.

2. Let the class match words taken from the lesson. (10 words in each list.)

3. Write the Pharisee's prayer (Luke 18) on the board and have the class underline and discuss the pronouns he used.

4. List Bible names that have a special meaning (Adam); names that occur in both Testaments (Saul); names within names (Christian).

Next Month: Teaching With Maps