Memory Verse Activities

Overview

As children learn and grow, they will inevitably face many difficult situations. Being able to draw upon God’s wisdom immediately in times of fear, temptation, and hurt is vital to connecting with the power and comfort only God offers.

Many scriptures in the Bible, including many Psalms, are filled with verses about loving and hiding God’s Word in the heart. Memorising scripture is an important part of faith development and an important part of any Bible class or lesson. The children do not have to understand the full meaning of the verse when they memorise it, but it is helpful to have a basic understanding of its meaning and how it relates to their lives. Often times, children will discover new layers of meaning in a verse years later. This is natural and representative of how everyone learns- often slowly, and over time.

A suggested memory verse accompanies each lesson on this website. You can help the children learn one each time you teach, or you can make memory verse goals for the month or year. Many children can also learn multiple verses and larger sections of the Bible.

The activities below will help make memorisation enjoyable.

Suggested Activities:

1. Pick a Card Game

Materials:

Cards with written instructions

Description:

In this simple and fun game, instructions for reciting or explaining a Bible verse are written on cards. Instructions might include “Whisper the verse,” “Sing the verse,” or “Explain the Verse.” Children take turns drawing the cards and following the instructions. As they play the game, they hear and recite the verse a number of times and naturally begin to memorise it. Click here for full instructions.

2. Erase and Remember

Materials:

Chalkboard or whiteboard, chalk or whiteboard marker

Description:

Write the memory verse on the chalkboard or whiteboard. Read and say the verse together. Erase one word (or phrase) and read it aloud again. Continue erasing words and repeating the verse together. Soon, the children will know the verse. Another way to do this is to use “Post-its.”  Write one word on each Post-it and place it on a surface such as a wall. Read and say the verse together as above, and then remove the words one by one. Click here for full instructions.

3. Memory Verse Chalkboard Relay

Materials:

Chalkboard/whiteboard/Large piece of paper, chalk/whiteboard marker/pencil

Description:

Divide the group into two teams. When you say “go,” the first person on each team walks up to the chalkboard (or large paper) and writes the first word of a memory verse. Next, the child puts the chalk down and goes back and tags the next person on their team. Then, that person walks up to the board and writes the second word of the memory verse, goes back, and tags the third person. The first team to write the whole memory verse wins.

4. Memory Verse Relay Game

Materials:

Paper or cards, pencil or pen, board

Description:

Break the verse down into phrases or words and then write them on individual pieces or paper or cards. As in a normal relay race, teams race to stick these papers on a board in the correct order.  Click here for full instructions and a video.

5. Walking Down Memory Lane

Materials:

Papers with memory verses written down, a ‘path’ made of objects or simply marked

Description:

Children walk along a “path” that the teacher has created. Parts of the memory verse are written on papers placed along the path. As the children arrive at each paper, they read the part of the verse written on it. The children repeat the journey a number of times (saying the parts of the verse aloud every time they arrive at them in the journey). Soon, they have naturally memorised the verse. Click here for full instructions and an example.

6. Spinner Game

Materials:

Paper, paper clip, pencil

Description:

Create your own game by drawing a circle on a piece of paper and drawing lines to divide it into equal wedges (like a pizza). Write an instruction on each wedge. Hold a paper clip down in the centre of the circle and spin the clip around. Whichever wedge the paper clip lands in is the question the children answer. Examples of instructions are “Read the verse out of the bible,” “Read the verse with the person on your right,” “Close one eye and say the verse” or “Choose someone else to say the verse.” Children like the “chance” element of this game and will learn the verse quickly. Click here for the spinner instruction video.

7. Memory Puzzle

Materials:

Paper, scissors

Description:

Before the lesson, copy the memory verse and cut it into puzzle pieces. Hide the pieces around the room and let the children find them and put them together correctly.

8. Unscramble the Verse

Materials:

Paper, pencil

Description:

Choose a verse from the Bible. Write each word of the verse on an individual piece of paper. Lay the papers out on a table, floor or any flat surface. Show the children the verse with all the words in the correct order first. Explain and talk about the verse and any unfamiliar words. Mix the papers up and let the children put them in order again. Click here for full instructions and adaptations.