Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John Seminary Activity

Hurricane Sandy is getting closer to our area so today was our "Friday".

We work hard all week in class and I like to use Friday as a review and change of pace. We clean up our room and move to the Cultural Hall for the last 15-20 minutes of class time. I plan something lively and interactive to reinforce what we have been learning all week.

Today we played "Apostles Turnover"...what do you mean you haven't played Apostle's Turnover? Well, have you played Fruit Basket Turnover? If so, then you have played Apostles Turnover.

Click HERE for directions to this game. 

The Seminary adaptation is that instead of everyone receiving the names of a fruit...they were Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. When it was time to say "Fruit Basket Turnover" the person in the middle said, "Apostles Turnover" 

Below are some pics of the game. Some of the kids have had homecoming activities at their schools this week, hence the costume-type dress. Watch for my separate blog of Seminary ideas. I have so many I want to share and it will be easier to get them all in one place. It looks like I will be hunkered down trying to stay dry as the feeder bands from Hurricane Sandy dump on my area all weekend. School closes early today and totally tomorrow. Happy Weekend all!

Breakfast of Champions

This morning we kicked off our "TEN PER DAY" Scripture Reading Challenge. We are competing with the Seminary Class from Boynton Beach Ward from October 22-March 22 to see which class has the highest percentage of members reading from the New Testament at least 10 minutes per day. After our lesson, we headed to the Cultural Hall where a few moms had prepared a wonderful breakfast. After breakfast, we gathered in the center of the room and formed a tight circle aka a huddle! We huddled up and put our hands in the center as we chanted, "TEN PER DAY"

 Students are assigned a "Scripture Buddy" for this challenge. They are to motivate, encourage, and remind each other to read every day.

 Some of my students struggle with reading and have the New Testament on their ipod or on CD so they can listen to it. I told them they had to read along with the audio for it to count. I also discussed that this is a FABULOUS way to reinforce what they are reading and a way to build their reading skills and comprehension.

 Another great week behind us with many more ahead!

Seminary-Avoiding Temptation

Here is where my Cub Scout days pay off. I adapted the "Paper Plate Relay" for a Seminary activity. 

Yesterday, I had the students name the activities in our lives that help us avoid temptation. They named things like: personal prayer, worthily partaking of the Sacrament, daily scripture study, attending Seminary, dressing modestly, choosing uplifting music, movies, TV, media, etc.

I took those items and listed each one on a separate paper plate for today.

(I did this for 2 teams-each had the same things written on paper plates)

The Cultural Hall was set up for a large event for tonight, so our space was limited for the relay race, but we managed and I hope the students will remember what we learned while we were having fun.

Basically, the paper plates are stepping stones. 

The wood floor is temptation.

Staying on the stepping stones helps us avoid temptation and be spiritually strengthened.

Players stand in a straight line.

Before the game starts, each player is standing on a paper plate.

The last player in line is standing on a plate AND holding a plate.

At the word GO, each team needs to move forward only stepping on the paper plates (avoiding the floor, aka temptation)

The only way they can advance is with the extra plate that is at the end, so the last player in line passes the plate forward.

The first player in line places the extra plate on the floor and all players advance one plate forward.

Again this is repeated, with the last player sending the extra plate forward, etc.

When the last player in line crosses the finish line (safety at the end of the day) that team wins.

I likened the path they were walking to a day in their lives.

From start to finish, every day we need each step to help us resist temptation.

I showed them what would happen if we tried to skip a step (it is harder) or if we eliminate a step (can't get to the end of the day safely, etc)

There are so many parallels that can be drawn with this activity such as the need to help each other, team work, communication, etc.

I think they had a good time, and, most importantly, I think they will remember the principle I was trying to reinforce and teach.

This is an INCREDIBLE group of teenagers. Nothing ordinary about them.

Books of The New Testament

I'll get straight to the big news. I am now an early morning Seminary Teacher!!!! It is a clear example of being careful what you pray for. When we made the decision to move across town to a new Ward and Stake, I prayed that I would be prepared to serve in any manner the Lord needed. After years of being very busy and involved in my Church callings, the past few years, I have not had callings that require a lot of time or preparation. At some points this was a blessing because I was able to be heavily involved as a leader in School, Civic, Community, and Charity events. 

The Seminary Teacher who started the year with this class needs to step back and may not be able to complete the year. Before I even knew that, the spirit told me I would be teaching Seminary. I quickly responded to the spirit that there was already a Seminary teacher in place for the year and I dismissed the thoughts promptings as perhaps something down the road...like next year!

Minutes after those promptings came, I was met by the current Seminary teacher who asked me to substitute for a day, week, month, or longer. 

Well, it is for longer. The Stake President met with Ron and me and made it official. I am the new early morning Seminary Teacher for 24 INCREDIBLE teenagers. They will teach me more than I teach them.

I have taught them for the past 2 weeks at 6am every school day.

I am considering starting a separate blog to keep track of the things that work (and maybe don't work so well). This way I will have a "go to" place when my ideas run short.

I want to use Friday as a change of pace day. Perhaps games, activities, etc. to reinforce what we have covered during the week. Today, I had them leave the classroom and as they entered the Cultural Hall, I taped the name of one of the books of the New Testament on their backs. There was no talking allowed and no one was to ask or tell anyone what was taped on their backs.

Without talking, they had to line up in the order they are found in The New Testament. It was great to see the dynamics of the group work together. Once they were in order, I had another student (who missed getting a name on his back) confirm they were correct. Then they placed the names on the front of their shirts and we sang "The Books in The New Testament" from The Primary Children's Songbook. 

Very effective and fun way to reinforce what we are learning.  After this we played another game (see next post). Games are an effective fun way to bond as a group and reinforce principles and information we are learning.