25 Ways to Teach Children

Scripture Memory

There is no better time to teach your children Scripture memory than when they are young. The younger the person is, the easier it is to memorize. 

The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is a love and appreciation for God’s Word, and the value of hiding it in their hearts. 

We should not underestimate the ability of our children to memorize God’s Word. I recently watched a video of a friend’s two year old quoting a rather long verse almost perfectly. The failure to memorize God’s Word is not their inability, but rather our neglect in teaching them. 

Some of the greatest joys in my life have been in helping young children to memorize God’s Word. A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to work with a young girl who had some disabilities. Every week, she would attempt to say the verse, but required much assistance. Finally the day came after a couple of years where she quoted the verse all by herself with no assistance after we had learned it as a class. After a long struggle, this was quite an exciting moment! 

Every child will have different abilities, but we must start where they are at and help them strengthen their memorization muscles. The more they work out memorization, the easier it will become. 

Here are twenty-five different ways to

teach children Scripture Memory:

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 Repeat the Verse Aloud Daily

• Pick a verse for the week and say it everyday. By the end of the week, they should have it memorized.
• Don’t underestimate the value of just saying the verse. Repetition is an effective tool. 

Chalkboard/Whiteboard

• Write the verse out on a white board.
• Erase one word or a phrase at a time, each time saying the verse.

Add-A-Word

• Start by saying one word of the verse. Repeat saying the first two words. Continue adding one word, starting over at the beginning of the verse each time.
• Start with the reference, to reinforce and solidify it in their minds.
• Great for use with a larger group alternating sides with each repetition and new word addition. The kids enjoy overemphasizing their new word each time.

Echoing

• Say a short part of the verse and have the child echo it back to you.
• This method is effective for non-readers. 
• You can also combine this method with the previous, Add-A-Word, method. 

Write the Verse

• Have the child write out the memory verse. 
• Find manuscript paper that has a fun border or illustration for the child to color in after writing the verse. Check out Teacher’s Pay Teachers website for free pages you can print. 

Use Coloring Pages

• The internet is full of Scripture coloring pages. There are many different options available that will appeal to a wide range of ages. 

Use Pictures & Objects to Illustrate the Verse

• Children do not understand the abstract as well as the concrete. Anything you can do to illustrate will help them remember the verse and it’s meaning.

Have the Child Draw a Picture to Illustrate the Verse

• Do not tell the child what to draw. Coach them by asking them questions. The more they do on their own without your help will show their level of comprehension and understanding.
• Download one of these options for children to write the verse and draw a picture:

• • • Primary Writing Paper with picture boxes and without (multiple levels)
    • Free Kindergarten Writing Paper Template
    • Lined Journal Writing Paper

Put-in-Order

• Write each word on an index card or large Popsicle/craft stick and have them arrange in order.
• For variety, use fun shapes from a teacher’s store or Dollar Tree.

Index Card Review Game

• Write the reference of each verse memorized on one side of the index card and the verse on the back. Lay the cards out to make a path on the floor (you will want to do this after they have memorized quite a few verses).
• Have one marker for each child (you can use a coin, rock or any small object). Place them on one side of the path. Roll a dice. The child moves his marker to that card. He must say that verse. He gets one point for quoting it correctly.
• Children can move their markers until they get to the end of the path. If you wish to keep playing, just have them start moving their pieces the opposite way back to the starting point. Game ends when one child gets however many points, you set at the beginning.

Create a Puzzle

• Create a puzzle of the verse by writing it out on a large piece of poster board. Cut the board into random shapes and sizes. Children have to put it back together again.
• Optional: Have the children help make the puzzle by drawing small pictures or illustrations on it before cutting it into pieces.

Put it to Music

• Music is an effective tool in aiding any type of memorization.
• Bible Truth Music offers a number of books and cd’s that are solely Scripture put to music. We have used these effectively in our family and children’s ministries for a number of years.
• If you can’t find music for the verse, try putting it to a tune you already know. I put II Timothy 1:7 to the tune of another song for a little foster girl. Bonus points if you can use a tune they already know!

Cup Stack

• Use Styrofoam cups that have a wide brim. Write one word on the brim of each cup (write it on the brim so you can see the words when stacked up). Have the child stack the cups up in the correct order of the verse.
• For multiple kids, use two sets of cups or time them to see who can do it the fastest.

Brick Wall

• Using large Mega Blocks or Duplos, write each word on a large white address label. Affix the labels to the side of each brick. Have the children make a brick wall putting the words in the correct order.

Hopscotch

• Create a hopscotch on your side walk or driveway. Write one word on each square. As they hop, they must saying the word of the verse.
• If your verse is longer than the number of squares, just get creative and create your own version of hopscotch board.

Ball Toss

• Have one child start with a ball. They must say the first word of the verse. Whoever they toss the ball to must say the next word, and so on until the entire verse is quoted.

Hot-Potato

• Play hot potato. When the music stops, whoever is holding the “potato” must say the verse.

Busted Review Game

• Write the reference of every verse memorized onto a large Popsicle/craft stick. Write the word “BUSTED” on 3-4 sticks as well.
• Put all of the sticks in an opaque container.
• Each child chooses a stick on her turn and says the verse that goes with the reference. If she says the verse correctly, she keeps the stick.
• If a child draws “BUSTED”, he must put all of his sticks back.
• The one with the most sticks at the end is the winner.

Football 

• Split the group into two teams. Each team will need their own toy football.
• Each child will say one word of the verse and pass the football to the next team member. 
• The child who says the last word of the verse will stand up and shout “TOUCHDOWN”.
• First team to yell “touchdown” wins.

Dominoes

• Use labels to attach each word of the verse to a domino.
• Have the child line up the dominoes in the correct order. 
• Have them read the verse before knocking the dominoes down. 

Bean Bag Toss

• Create a large grid on the floor with masking tape.
• Write one or two words on paper and place each paper in one section of the grid
• Students take turns tossing the bean bad into different squares.
• The word/phrase is removed from the square the bean bag lands in.
• Each time repeat the verse with one less word/phrase until all the words/phrases have been removed.

Clap-a-Word 

• Have the verse written on a whiteboard or piece of poster board.  
• Child #1 will choose a word while child #2 will leave the room or turn his back.
• Everyone says the verse, but claps instead of saying the chosen word.
• Child #2 must determine which word was clapped.

Sticky-Note Swat

• Write each word of the verse on a sticky-note. 
• Start by placing the words in order on a wall or table. 
• Have the child whack each word as they say the verse. 
• After they have done it several times in order, mix the words up. 

Define the Words

• For older children, have them look up any difficult words and define the meanings.
• Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is great for giving Biblical definitions for the KJV.
  • • Online Edition
    • For Purchase on Amazon

Journal

• Have your child write out the verse and a sentence or two as to what the verse means to them. 
• If they keep an ongoing journal, it will be a great keepsake of their spiritual growth throughout the years.

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I hope these ideas will inspire you to teach your children the eternal value of Scripture Memory!

Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 

 

 

 

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