Games
Games can be a great way to introduce, deliver or bring home a teaching point. Using them just for fun is important too as it builds relationships and helps them to relax in a very stressful world. Helpful books on this include ‘Theme Games 1 & 2’ by Lesley Pinchbeck and ‘Everyone’s a Winner‘ by Ruth Wills.
Quiz: A ‘quiz’ can be a very effective teaching method. It can enable you to deliver knowledge on a topic in an engaging way. They enjoy working together to guess the answers and then listen to see which they got right. It is helpful for those who do not concentrate on listening for long! Take a look at the ‘Angels’ quiz and the ‘Is the Bible True’ quiz and then have a go at writing your own.
Treasure hunts are good in summer, particularly in exam season when they are too tired for anything serious but still need some positive input and encouragement.
Quiz 
A ‘quiz’ can be a very effective teaching method. It can enable you to deliver knowledge on a topic in an engaging way. They enjoy working together to guess the answers and then listen to see which they got right. It is helpful for those who do not concentrate on listening for long! Take a look at the ‘Angels’ quiz and the ‘Is the Bible True’ quiz and then have a go at writing your own.
Treasure Hunts
Treasure More than Gold Treasure Hunt – Word edition. Gold medals answers for Treasure Hunt Gold medals answers for Treasure Hunt pdf hunts are good in summer, particularly in exam season when they are too tired for anything serious but still need some positive input and encouragement. Try this one on the Bible.
Games
JAC Emotional Literacy Icebreaker Games
This is a good set of ice breaker games for discussion with any type of group, complied by the Charity Just Around the Corner. They use them in their schools Emotional Literacy courses.
Messy, silly and great fun both to create as well as play – in teams. One game for each of the plagues of Egypt – well 9 of them anyway. This can be used as an introduction to a session on Moses or used as the main activity with a short God slot at the end. Each of the plagues has a link to the ancient Egyptian gods.
Plagues of Egypt- Background Notes
This PowerPoint shows images that can be seen in 2 different ways depending on how you look at them It can make a good fun starter for looking at different points of view.
What do you see? PowerPoint in pdf form
Games and Interactive Ideas – Fit 4 Gold
Journeys
A starter game for themes about journeys or just for fun. This game clues has based on the London underground stations. There are extra clues for those not familiar with the London tube.
This ‘Guess the Country’ game can also be used to introduce the theme of spiritual journeys. The outline shapes and the series of clues help you.
Guess the Country Game PowerPoint in pdf
Art & Spirituality
Looking at the role and use of art within Christian spirituality at different times in history and seeing how some people use art as part of worship today. This session could be used in either schools or churches. It would need a little adapting if leaders are unable to use the PowerPoint (which is available in other forms on request.)
Art and Spirituality – Plan with notes
Art & Spirituality – PowerPoint in pdf
Other
Word searches: If you have an aptitude for word games you would enjoy writing them. Just draw yourself a blank grid in pen, write a list of possible words and start to play with them in pencil.
Think about: Right – Left; Left – Right; Up – Down; Down – Up. Diagonal can be hard to spot, especially if written backwards so think about the ability level of your group.
Here is a challenging word search on the names of God. Fun to use around Christmas time or as part of teaching about ‘What is God Like?’
Christmas Gifts – a Prayer Activity
Value – Interactive Ideas and Games on the theme of self-worth
See Pastoral page for the rest of the resource
Looking at the Bible – Activity Ideas
See Beliefs page for other resources on this theme.
Playdough can be used within many activities and with all ages. It is not just for young children.