We have done this a lot the past couple of years with the Followers.
We’ve combined kinetic movements with Scripture and it really makes memorizing fun and engaging.
I’m curious if it sticks with the kids long-term, however; especially if you add new ones every week. Anyway, here are some tips to doing your own hand motions:
Tips for Bible Verse hand motions:
(Quoted from Ministry-to-Children)
- Keep it simple enough for preschoolers. Each symbol should correspond to a phrase. Sign language can be helpful but is often too complicate for most kids to retain long term.
- Make them fun. A little playfulness makes the whole exercise more enjoyable. In the example above the phrase “with all your soul” was supposed to be acted out with great enthusiasm. We even had children volunteer to see who had the most passion in their soul movements.
- Re-use the same movements. Many Bible memory verses for kids will include similar concepts. Consistent hand motions will help with recall. We typically will point to heaven when speaking of God but make a nail sign when the word is Jesus.
- Challenge the kids to invent their own. I try to include at least one motion for each verse where the kids get to pick their movement. In the example above the phrase “with all your might” could be rendered as a karate punch, muscle pose, or even dance move. I offered these options when kids first learned the verse.
- Get ideas from others. You can find some on YouTube (here and here and here) but often your Sunday School teachers are the best source for these motions. Assign verses to different classes or small groups, then have them teach the whole children’s ministry.
- Write them down or make a Facebook video for parents. These Bible memory hand movements are a great take home activity. Send a note with motion explanations so kids can teach them to their parents. You could also upload examples on video to you church Facebook page.
via Ministry-To-Children
source YouTube
