General Conference Countdown Part 2

We made our General Conference Countdown paper chain this morning. It was a wonderful activity that supported Acts 27 when Paul and the other prisoners were taken on a ship. He warned everyone that it was not a safe time to travel due to weather conditions. It was storm season. He tried to warn them but they tried to sail anyhow. This ended with the prisoners and crew shipwrecked. We discussed how heading the counsel of Prophets will help us avoid storms, whirlwinds, and experiencing our own "shipwreck"

With 31 days until General Conference, on 15 of the paper strips, we wrote the names of the current Prophet, his counselors, and the 12 Apostles.
On the remaining strips of paper, we wrote principles and doctrines we have received counsel on from Prophets.
Each day, during devotional, we will remove a link. If there is a name, we will learn about that person, if there is a doctrine or principle, we will discuss quotes and scriptures that teach and give counsel on that subject.

I love when I have an idea and I can feel the Lord take over and fine tune the details. He is in charge.

General Conference Countdown

Tomorrow, March 1, my Seminary Class will make a General Conference countdown paper chain.
I am still developing the idea, but each day that we remove a link, I would like to share a quote about preparing for General Conference, following the counsel received in General Conference, how to take notes, etc.

Will edit as this plan evolves.
Feel free to leave a comment as to how this can be memorable and effective.

Passover 2017

Each year, I host a Passover Seder with my Seminary Class.
It is a much anticipated event for my students and fondly remember for those who are graduated.

I just read that BYU is hosting Passover Seders this year.
Very exciting. I will be out there for at least one of the dates. Maybe I will attend?
Here is a link for past years of my Seminary Passover Seder

Your Seder does not have to be elaborate, simple is best.
Most important is the experience, the discussion of symbols, etc.

The Apostle Paul

As I am teaching the New Testament, I am developing a great love for the Apostle Paul (Saul) and his ability to teach and connect with a variety of audiences with confidence. I appreciate that he reaches "the one" yet can teach an entire town.
He teaches with the power of the Holy Ghost, knowing this is his greatest source of strength.
This is an example I strive to emulate in my teaching.

Illustration by Dan Burr

I recently read this article that describes much of what I admire about Paul.
It is fitting for all teachers. The Apostle Paul as Master Teacher
Enjoy!

Journal Writing Ideas

This is a wonderful article containing 100 Journal writing prompts.
It could be used in a Sunday Youth lesson, Fireside, Seminary Lesson, or a weekly activity for Young Women or Young Men.

Copy the list and cut into strips with each idea on one strip.
Place them inside a "Journal Jar" that the youth decorate during the activity.

JOURNAL PROMPT IDEAS

Scriptures Side By Side

Happy New Year!

Some lessons call for comparing scriptures from John in the New Testament and John in the JST (Joseph Smith Translation) or other books from the Bible.

Most of the the time when we do this comparison, we meet the following challenges or I lose half of my class for one or all of these reasons:

a) Merely finding the JST (although each of my students have a bookmark in the JST section of their Scriptures)
b)We don't use it often enough for them to be confident in locating it.
c) The switching back and forth as we compare verses, sentences, and words is confusing for some
d) The confusion caused by the switching back and forth is such a distraction that the messages and meanings are lost or, better yet, never found.

This morning, I had a brainstorm as to how to avoid the switching back and forth (the bookmarks help them find the JST but don't solve the switching back and forth) and more importantly, how to have my students gain understanding and find meaning in the messages.

This method took no advance preparation or extra supplies.

At the beginning of class, I divided my students in groups of 2.
In each group, I asked one student to turn to John in the New Testament and the other to turn to John in the JST.
Then they put their books side by side (some put theirs one above the other)

It was very effective for them to see each scripture at the same time. The students were able to compare words, meanings, and clarifications with ease. As a result of their understanding the messages, they gave meaningful input which created a discussion that demonstrated to me that a few lights were turning on in their understanding. At the end of our study, a few of my students even turned to both the New Testament and JST in their own scriptures and highlighted some points that were important to them.

Another noted benefit was have a "study buddy". If one was not sure where to look or what to read, they helped each other.

This method would  also work when the reading calls for several footnotes and cross-references. The two students could keep one book on the main scripture while they use the other book to turn the pages to the references.

***I will note that in our class, we use paper scriptures. It is the best choice for our class. Many of my students don't have their own electronics and I find it is important that we are all on the same page, literally and figuratively.
We do have  "Tech Tuesday" where we use electronic scriptures, lds. org, mormon.org, etc. so that my students who do have their own portable electronic devices understand how  and where to search for answers. Most of them have access to a computer of some sort and hopefully, "Tech-Tuesdays" will inspire them to use sites that will help them search and find answers to their Gospel and Doctrinal questions.

Turkey Shoot-Scripture Activity

This is a fun way to help students learn the Doctrines associated with each Doctrinal Mastery Scripture. It is not my original idea. 

This idea is from fellow teacher, Sharon Haynie, who uses marshmallow shooters for her Turkey shoot. Click HERE for directions she shared on how to make Marshmallow shooters.

I use Nerf guns because that is what I have.

You could also use rubber band shooters.

Set Up:

Turkeys on paper plates stapled to upside down large plastic beverage cups. (see photos below)

Inside each cup is written a point amount ( 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50) 

(I recycled my cups and plates from last year-they come apart easily and store in a small space-I don't like to do double work so anything I can use from year to year is a win!)

Divide students into teams ( I had 4 teams of 3 each-one team had 4 members)

Each team sat together on the perimeter of the "Turkey Coop" (see photos below for set up ideas)

 For each round:

• Students sit as teams in the chairs set up around the perimeter.
• Each team has a Nerf gun
• Call out the key words or phrases from a Doctrinal Mastery scripture
• Teams work together to locate the scripture ( all team members must  turn to the scripture), then a runner comes to me and shows me the scripture and states the Doctrine associated with that Scripture.
• When I confirm it is correct, I say, GO!
• The Team takes their Nerf gun and starts shooting the paper plate turkeys (each round a new team member takes their turn with the Nerf gun-some of them rotated during the same round so they all got more "shooting time")
• Each team  does the same to find the scripture and show it to me
• When the last team comes to me with the correct scripture and doctrine, I call out "30 seconds left" and set my timer.
• When I say stop, the teams would bring their turkeys to me and call out the points earned.
• Points are posted on the chalkboard and added up at the end.
• After each round, the turkeys are put back on the tables so we would have enough for each round.
• I would go scramble them sometimes as I could tell the students were catching on to some of the higher point turkeys.

As much fun as this is, the most important point is that the students had to dig into their scriptures match them to the doctrines associated with them. This was very effective.