Teaching a Verse to Non-Readers

Although we think preschoolers when we think of non-readers, many leaders have older clubbers who have difficulty reading or clubbers who can read, but are not fluent in English.

Here are some great ideas for teaching verses to energetic non-readers.

1. Set the verse to a rhythm. As you say the verse, clap your hands, thighs or tummy. Stomp your feet, use rhythm sticks or egg shakers to make a beat. Examples of verses that can be taught this way: 1 John 4:14 and Revelation 4:11.

2. As you practice a verse –

        — Roll a ball back and forth. When you get the ball, it’s your turn to say the verse.’

       — Toss a bean bag back and forth or pass a toy from person to person. When you are holding the item you say the next word in the verse.

      —  Rock back and forth.

      — Spin in a circle.

      — Dance or move.

      — Walk different ways around the room: tiptoe, march, walk backwards, etc.

3,  Act out the verse. Role Play. Can be used with Paul and Silas talking to Philippian jailer. Acts 16:31

4.  Hand motions—Ask kids to help you come up with hand and body motions that fit the meaning of the words.

5.  Stepping stones—Make “stones” out of felt or use rubber polyspots. You need one stone for each word in the verse. Place them across floor, spacing them apart so they can be walked on. Children say one word of the verse as they step on each stone. If they miss a word, they fall in the river and must wait for the next child to rescue them. (Caution: Only use felt on a carpeted floor. You don’t want anyone to slip.)

 6. Freeze dance — Dance to music but when music stops, everyone stops and recites the verse.

 7. Basketball—Play an indoor version of basketball. Whoever makes a basket must stop and recite the verse.

 8. Hot potato—Sit in circle and pass a bean bag while music plays. Whoever is holding it when the music stops, says verse. (Or whole group can recite it together.)

 9. Musical chairs—Include a chair for each person. No one is out. Walk around chairs while music plays. When music stops, everyone sits then recites the verse before playing next round.

10. Duck, Duck, Goose—Play the usual way, except between rounds the “ducker” or the group recites the verse.

11. Wonderfully made—(HoneyComb Bear Hug 4) I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Stand in a big circle and explain that God’s works are wonderful. Remind them that people are one of God’s works. God made us able to do some pretty amazing things. We can jump up high. Let everyone show you their highest jumps, then as a group recite the verse. God made us so we can hop on one foot. Demo/Recite verse. What else can we do? Let kids pick some actions for everyone to copy. Recite verse each time. End by praying and thanking God for the wonderful way He made us.

12. Treasure hunt—John 14:6 (HangGlider Red Jewel 2:4) – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Ahead of time hide a small “treasure” for each child and create a treasure map that shows the way to the treasure. “X marks the spot.” Give children their maps and let them follow them to find their treasures. Regroup and explain that there’s a verse in the Bible that’s kind of like a treasure map. It’s John 14:6. Jesus is like a treasure map showing us the way to God the Father. Draw another treasure map, showing the kids the way to God.

13. Verse picture hunt —For any verse, use pictures to correspond to words or phrases in the verse. Hide the pictures around the room/house. Let the child search for all the pictures then put them in the correct order and recite the verse.

14. Heart hunt— Apple Acres Entrance Booklet Bear Hug A or B, 1 John 4:10—God loved us and sent His Son or Jesus Loves Me. Ahead of time cut out an assortment of construction paper hearts and hide them around the room/house. Let the children search for all the hearts. Recite the verse or Cubbies Motto. Talk about how just as we found the hearts all over the house/room, we find God’s love all over in our lives. God’s love is never ending and no one can take it away from us. Isn’t it wonderful knowing God loves us so much that He even sent His own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins so we can one day live in heaven with Him? Let’s pray and thank God for His love. Let children take a few hearts with them to give to family and friends to remind them that God loves them

15. Color or paint a picture that corresponds to the verse.

        — Cubbies Bear Hug Activity Sheets.

        — Let children draw a picture of things God created. Recite Genesis 1:31— God saw all that He had made and it was very good.

         — Take children outside and let them use sidewalk chalk to draw self-portraits. Encourage them to include many details in their pictures. Recite Psalm 139:14—I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

16, Make resistible rainbows.
Genesis 9:13— I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
Give each child a large sheet of paper with the verse printed at the top of it. Read the verse. Review the story of Noah. Let children take turns telling you what happened at the beginning, middle and end of the story. Let everyone have a turn to add some details. While you are talking, encourage everyone to color a rainbow on their page. They will need to press hard with their crayons. Ask “Is there anything else we need to know about this story?” Explain that the verse we’re learning today says that the rainbow is a sign of a covenant or a promise. What was that covenant? What did God promise to do? What do you know about the promises God makes? God never breaks His promises. When children are done with their rainbows, pass out paint brushes and dark watercolor paints and let them paint over their entire page. Then ask “What happened to your rainbow when you tried to paint over it with dark paint? Even though the paint was dark, it couldn’t cover up the rainbow. And no matter what, God’s promises always remain true. God will always keep His promises. Every time we see a rainbow, we can remember that it’s a sign of God’s covenant and we can remember that God keeps His promises.

17. Make rainbow ribbons— Genesis 9:13. Let children wave rainbow ribbons while reciting this verse.

       — Loop ribbon on wooden shower curtain rings.

      — Give each child a length of rainbow colored crepe paper streamer.

      — Tape multiple colors of crepe paper streamers on the end of a paint stir stick.

18, Go on a Scavenger Hunt— Give each child a bag and go outside, maybe to a park. Give children ten minutes to collect items in their bags, but the items must be things that God created: grass, dirt, leaves, flowers, feathers, rocks, etc. Caution them against poison ivy or other dangerous objects. Gather back together and ask each child to share one or two items with the group. Repeatedly ask, “Who made these things?” Review verse. Works well with … AppleSeed Bear Hug 5 and HangGlider Green Jewel 1:3 – Genesis 1:31. HoneyComb Bear Hug 3—Revelation 4:11

19.  Obstacle Course— HoneyComb Bear Hug 13—Psalm 23:4—I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Ahead of time set up an obstacle course for your Cubbies. Have some things be “scary” — “dark caves,” “wild animals,” “raging rivers,” “mountatins,” etc. Give each child a sticker to wear. (Maybe a heart sticker or one that says “Jesus loves me.”) Have them complete the obstacle course, crawling, hopping, climbing, etc. When they are finished, ask them if their sticker is still with them. Explain that just like the sticker stayed with them, God also never leaves us so we never have to feel alone or scared. Ask kids to name some times or places that are scary and reinforce that God is with us in those places. Let’s recite our verse then pray and thank God for being with us all the time and in every place.