Verse Memory Activities

Verse Memory Activities

Erase a Word (for readers)

Write the entire verse on the board
Children read the verse together
Erase one word. Children read the verse again, filling in the missing word from memory.
Erase a second word. Children read the verse again, filling in both missing words.
Continue until the entire verse is erased, and the children can still say it outloud.
Erase the words in random order

Verse Scramble (for readers)

After you have practiced a verse, you can play this game to solidify it.
Write out a verse on note cards. One word on each card, and the reference on a separate card
Make two or three identical sets (depending how many teams you want to make)
Divide kids into teams of 2 or 3 and give each team a set of cards
Have the cards mixed up ahead of time. Say "GO".
Each team races to get their cards in the right order followed by the reference.

Verse in Motion (any age)

Verse Circle (any age)

After you have practiced a verse, you can play this game to solidify it.
Kids sit in a circle
1st child says first word of verse, 2nd child says second word of verse, etc...
If a child can't remember the word that comes next, they can say "pass" and the next child tries to say the correct word
This is a team effort. The goal is to say the entire verse without a mistake.
A variation of this game is to use a ball.
After the 1st child says his word, he tosses the ball to the person he wants to say the 2nd word, Then that child tosses the ball to the child who should say the 3rd word.
The "pass" option still applies to this version

Verse Train (younger kids)

Clildren line up, holding the hips of shoulders of the child in front of them. (a train)
Repeat the verse over and over with a "choo choo" rhythm while the kids march around the room.
The strong rhythm helps children remember the words.
Active children (kinesthetic learners) retail information better if they can move while they learn.